Brazil and Italy clash at Confed Cup

Brazil, Italy, Egypt and the United States were drawn together Saturday in much the tougher of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup first round groups.

The other group includes hosts South Africa, Spain, Iraq and New Zealand in a draw conducted by FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke with assistance from the reigning Miss World and seven contestants for the 2008 event here.

Highlights of the first phase include World Cup holders Italy against South American champions Brazil in Pretoria on June 21 and South Africa against European 'kings' Spain one day earlier.

Italy coach Marcelo Lippi was excited at being drawn with Brazil in a competition which he regards as an important test ahead of their World Cup title defence in 2010.

“Something that hasn't happened throughout your whole life can suddenly take place,” he said.

“I've never come up against Brazil or even a Brazilian club, also as a player and now I'm going to get that chance twice between February and June: it will be wonderful.

“I'm happy, we've got a good group, very tough, which I like. It will be a good test with a view to the World Cup.”

Maintaining tradition, the opening fixture will feature the host nation so South Africa tackle Iraq at Ellis Park on June 14 followed that evening by New Zealand against Spain in the north-west town of Rustenburg.

Bloemfontein and Pretoria are the other Confederations Cup venues with the fifth choice, the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, sidelined owing to jitters about whether their new stadium would be ready for the June 14-28 event.

“We are happy to face top quality teams. Our project is to renew the team and so far we have found 80 percent of our new team,” South Africa coach Joel Santana from Brazil said after the draw.

“South Africa will face solid teams that are not coming for tourism. All the teams have been champions on their continent, but I remain optimistic. South Africa will surprise the world.”

Spain coach Vincente Del Bosque said: “We can't underestimate our rivals and say that the group is easy. It's an interesting draw with a group that mixes different styles.”

Brazil-born Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira was upbeat: “I find it an interesting draw and hope we will reach the semi-finals. We have a huge responsibility: we represent a country, a continent, Asia.”

New Zealand football federation president Frank van Hattum was hopeful despite their 'outsiders' tag: “We hope to be the surprise of the tournament. We are like 'Tom Thumb', but some 'Tom Thumbs' can walk very fast.”

United States coach Bob Bradley is clearly relishing tackling the Group B giants: “Although it is a strong group, we are impatient to rub shoulders with our three opponents.”

And Egypt coach Hassan Shehata had a warning for his 'Pharaohs': “We must value our position as African champions and not tremble, because if we tremble in our first match against Brazil, we will tremble in all our matches.”

Branded the “festival of champions”, the quadrennial two-week tournament will serve as an on and off-field dress rehearsal for the World Cup one year later.

South African government and football authorities have been told by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to use the tournament to dispel doubts about their ability to stage the first World Cup hosted by Africa.

Concerns have been expressed about five new grounds being completed on time, power disruptions in a country hit by national cuts this year, and spectator security around a crime-infested country.

A lop-sided draw was inevitable after the lowest ranked of the eight qualifiers, South Africa, were given the only seeding and automatically dodged Brazil and one of the two European giants.

But the group line-up will bring relief to FIFA officials stressing over the form of Bafana Bafana (The Boys), who were eliminated two months ago from the 2010 African Nations Cup qualifying competition.

While two losses to bogey team Nigeria were not unexpected, the failure to win or even score in home and away encounters with lightweights Sierra Leone marked the darkest hour in the 16-year Bafana Bafana history.

After strong criticism from Blatter during a recent visit to South Africa, the national team strung together four wins on the trot, but three were in friendlies against virtual second-string Malawi, Ghana and Cameroon line-ups.

Brazil and France have won the Confederations Cup twice each and Mexico once and the Brazilians are the only country to feature in the five previous editions.

The South Americans also hold the record for record winning margins – 8-2 over Saudi Arabia and 6-0 against Australia – in a competition gaining in stature after heavy initial opposition from Europe.

Goalkeeper Dida is another Confederations Cup record holder from Brazil, making 22 appearances, while compatriot Ronaldinho is joint leading scorer on nine goals with Mexican Cuauhtemoc Blanco.