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For some observers, the Confederations Cup may have a hokey, inauthentic feel -- hey, let's jam a competition into an otherwise quiet summer, fill it with authorized vendor zones, official beer, Sepp Blatter and generally low-stakes soccer -- but to ...

In the time since Nigeria last competed in the Confederations Cup - 18 years ago - nothing has changed for Africa's representatives in the pre-World Cup event. No team from the continent has won the competition, so the Super Eagles fly into Brazil wi...

Japan can't wait for the 2013 Confederations Cup. On June 4, minutes after becoming the first team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda was telling fans that the team's target was to win the eight-nation tournament. ...

There is a fair case to be made for the view that Brazil started to lose the past two World Cups a year earlier when they won the Confederations Cup. The aging 2010 side might have done better had key members been rested rather than trek out to So...

Mexico has always been a bit of an international wild card. The squad has often been inconsistently brilliant, tending to be inspired by its opposition. Right now, in CONCACAF qualifying, Mexico is in full Mr. Hyde mode and not looking at all like a ...

Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta have, separately, given their interviewer what's called an "old-fashioned look" -- as if to say, "Are you off your head?" -- when asked whether it's a bit of a pain to be in Brazil on FIFA duty this summer. Iker Casi...

Two years ago, Uruguay fans had every right in the world to feel bullish. After narrowly missing on a World Cup final, the Celeste came out on top at the 2011 Copa America, lifting the trophy for the first time since 1995 -- the cherry on top being t...

The tournament's Cinderella team, hailing from French Polynesia, will represent not only the Oceania Football Confederation. The Tahitians carry the hopes of all of those who love the pain of rooting for the underdog. Ranked 135th in the world, ...

Cesare Prandelli is a mild-mannered, arm-around-the-shoulder kind of coach. The Italy Commissario Tecnico isn't usually one to raise his voice. But prior to last Friday night's World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic, he was heard shouting at ...

The Confederations Cup (June 15-30) is the ritual eight-team dry run designed to give the World Cup hosts the chance to iron out any kinks in their stadia and transport systems a year before the big show begins. The tournament pitches the hosts, reig...

Well, the season is two weeks over and just as we thought we could take a breath and enjoy (loosest sense of the word) England v Ireland, it all starts again. Yes, not only have I already completed my first 2013-14 season preview questionnaire, bu...

In the fifth part of my Swansea season preview, I will be looking at the Swans attacking midfielders. In Michael Laudrup's flexible system, wingers such as Pablo Hernandez and Wayne Routledge have lined up in the hole, as have Jonathan de Guzman and ...

Five burning questions on Saturday's all-German Champions League final.

Dirk Nowitzki made an appearance with the "Men in Blazers" at Grantland to talk basketball and a little soccer with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund preparing for an all-German Champions League final. Nowitzki offered Michael Davies and Roger B...

It was billed as the grand finale to a topsy-turvy season for Wigan Athletic. The home match with fellow strugglers, Aston Villa, was to be crucial in determining Latics' future in the Premier League. But sometimes things just don't work out as you h...

There has been a lot of clamour from frustrated QPR fans to "play the kids" for this, the last game for the club in the Premier League. Harry Redknapp rightly poured cold water on that bad idea -- even though we have a young side currently at U18 ...