Brazil to face Japan in Confederations Cup opener

SAO PAULO (AFP) –

FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke draws Italy in Sao Paulo on December 1 during the draw for June’s eight-nation Confederations Cup which is a dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup football. Hosts Brazil will face Japan in the opening match.

Hosts Brazil will face Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on June 15 next year in Brasilia following Saturday’s draw in Sao Paulo.

After their curtain-raiser against the Asian champions Brazil, under the re-appointed Luiz Felipe Scolari, will face CONCACAF champions Mexico and then four-times world champions Italy, Euro 2012 runners-up, in their pool matches.

World champions Spain are in Group B along with double world champions Uruguay, Oceania champions Tahiti and whoever wins the Jan 19-Feb 10 Africa Cup of Nations.

Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, returned to the hotseat only on Thursday and insisted his team were not favourites – but had set lofty goals.

“We’ve been drawn in a good strong group.

I don’t think Brazil is favourite and I don’t think Spain is the only favourite.

Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, has returned to the hotseat

Brazilian head coach Luis Felipe Scolari attends the draw for next June’s eight-nation Confederations Cup in Sao Paulo. Hosts Brazil will face Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on June 15 next year in Brasilia.

“Our purpose is clear – to win the World Cup and the Confederations Cup – that is our goal,” said Scolari.

Coach of fellow seeds Spain, Vicente del Bosque, insisted nobody should ever write Brazil off.

“We cannot say Brazil is sleeping – they are the defending champions from four years ago,” Del Bosque observed.

The intercontinental showpiece, a dry run for the 2014 World Cup which Brazil will also host for the first time since 1950, runs to June 30, when Rio de Janeiro will host the final at the Maracana stadium.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter lauded Brazil for the giant country’s efforts on readying its infrastructure for both events with six venues staging the Confederations Cup and 12 the World Cup.

Although FIFA has at times been critical of the country’s efforts, in recent months the game’s world body has been more conciliatory and Blatter, noting the country last staged a World Cup in 1950, struck a positive tone.

“A lot has changed in this country since 1950,” said Blatter, noting that “it is a question of trust and confidence” to hand organisation of a major event to a country.

“Now, Brazil has developed – not only in their culture but also in their economy. We are very happy to be in a country which is the sixth economy in the world.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter (right) lauded Brazil for its efforts on readying its infrastructure

FIFA President Joseph Blatter (right) embraces Brazil’s national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari during the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Draw in Sao Paulo. Hosts Brazil will face Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on June 15 next year in Brasilia.

And he assured listening Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff that “FIFA is behind you.”

Rousseff responded by saying Brazil would seek to win on the pitch and off.

“Winning is a mission in itself – but we also must win beyond the stadiums by putting the organisation in place. The venues will be ready,” she insisted.

“We will make the World Cup the most organised and most joyful,” added Rousseff.

The eight-nation Confederations Cup brings together four former world champions in reigning top-ranked side Spain, five-times winners the Brazilians themselves, four-times champions Italy and Uruguay, inaugural world champions in 1930 and then 1950, when they beat their hosts in Rio.

Asian champions Japan, CONCACAF champions Mexico, and Oceania surprise package Tahiti are also invited to the party for which 132,000 tickets have already been sold, FIFA indicated Friday.

The winners of January’s Africa Cup of Nations will likewise compete.

“There is great passion for football in Brazil, the mecca of football,” added Blatter, who is confident that all will be in place for the opening game in Brasilia before further encounters in Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Recife, final host Rio and Salvador.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, who earlier this year infuriated Brazil by saying it needed a “kick up the backside,” was effusive Saturday as he looked forward to June.

“Brazil will receive the cream of the cream,” he enthused.