World football’s number one country, Spain, and Iraq will be the ”rookies” when they compete in the Confederations Cup Group A for the first time.
The other countries in Group A, New Zealand and South Africa, have featured in the tournament previously, but both have poor records at this level.
Bafana Bafana, who have one appearance in the competition — where they finished last of the eight teams in 1997 when it was staged in Saudi Arabia — face Asian champions Iraq in the opening Group A clash at Ellis Park on June 14.
Italy, Brazil, the United States and Egypt face off in Group B, which is the toughest of the two groups. The two top teams in each group qualify for the semifinals.
How Group A shapes up:
New Zealand
New Zealand are viewed as cannon-fodder for star-studded Spain and Bafana, who hope to use both the Kiwis and Iraq as their stepping stone to the semifinals. The All Whites have the worst record in the competition, having played in two tournaments as Oceanic champions, in Mexico in 1999 and France in 2003, losing all six matches.
The Kiwis are the least prepared of all the participating teams, last playing a competitive match against Fiji in November 2008.
Their coach, Ricki Herbert, is a former international star. He played in all three of his country’s matches in their only World Cup finals appearance in 1982. The All Whites are captained by veteran Ryan Nelson, who is a teammate of Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena at English Premiership outfit Blackburn Rovers.
Iraq
They have a new coach in the well-travelled Serbian Bora Milutinovic.
Due to political problems, Iraq are forced to play most home matches on neutral ground. They last played in their capital, Baghdad, on July 22 2002 when they beat Syria 2-1.
Like New Zealand, they are an unknown quantity but are expected to put up more resistance that the All Whites, and Bafana face a potential banana peel on June 14 at Ellis Park if they underestimate the Asian champions.
Spain
Spain are the Group A favourites and certain to get through to the semifinals. They finally came in from the cold by winning the European Championship last year. They are one of the most skilful and talented sides in world football, but they have never won the World Cup or played in the Confederations Cup.
Spain are unbeaten in 31 matches. They appointed Vincente de Bosque, the former Real Madrid coach, when Luis Aragones retired after winning Euro 2008 and he kept faith with Aragones’s squad.
The key lies with Spain’s potent twin strikers, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Valencia’s David Villa, who combine well with a world-class midfield.
Bafana Bafana
Head coach Joel Santana has not filled the country with much confidence with his stubborn approach to his defensive 5-4-1 system and reluctance to adapt. Defensive systems are fine until a goal is conceded.
When that happens, Santana and his players have shown they are unable to change gears or think on their feet.
Santana’s squad selection was strange: how can one explain the absence of the Absa Premiership’s leading striker, Richard Henyekane, who scored 18 goals in the league, and the inclusion of Mamelodi Sundowns target man, Katlego Mphela, who scored four goals all season.
Santana deserves credit for dropping bad boy and leading goal scorer Benni McCarthy of Blackburn Rovers. But he has failed to fill the huge gap left by McCarthy.
Another critical area is in the goalkeeping department.
Santana failed to qualify Bafana for the 2010 African Nations Cup, which has meant that for the past eight months and for the next few years Bafana will rely on friendly games, with no competitive Fifa fixtures except for the Confederations Cup, until they play in the 2010 World Cup. It is vital for Bafana’s morale and for South Africa’s 2010 hopes that Bafana at least reach the semifinals of the Confederations Cup.
For more information on the Confederations Cup go to www.fifa.com. — Sapa