13 Confederations Cup Trends

13 Confederations Cup Trends

By Michael Gales Jun 4, 2013

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The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil will be the seventh edition since its formation in 1997.  What twists will the dress rehearsal for the World Cup reveal? Take a look at the trends for the past six “Festival of Champions” for an indication.

0 – No winner has ever gone on to win the World Cup

No winner of the Confederations Cup has gone on to win at the World Cup the following year.

This will be the fourth edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup to be played one year before, and in the same host country, as the FIFA World Cup. The first was Korea/Japan 2001, followed by Germany 2005 and South Africa 2009.

1 – Tahiti become 30th team to partake

This year Tahiti will become the 30th team to have participated in at least one edition of the Confederations Cup. Tahiti qualified after winning the Oceania Cup in 2012. They are ranked 135th in the world and have a record win of 30-0 against the Cook Islands in 1971.

2 – Brazil & France only teams to defend title

Brazil (2005-2009) and France (2001-2003) are the only teams to have defended the Confederations Cup. The Seleo will become the first team to win three consecutive Confederations Cups if they win in 2013.

2 (Again) – Hosts have won twice

Brazil are aiming to become only the third team to win the Confederations Cup on home soil. The two previous hosts to win were Mexico in 1999 and France in 2003. Japan came close in 2001 but lost to France in the final.

2.86 – Expect goals

In 96 Confederations Cup games there have been 275 goals at an average of 2.86 per game. The most (56) goals were scored in the 2005 edition in Germany, while just 31 were scored in 2001 at South Korea/Japan.

There have been exactly two goalless draws (before extra time) at every tournament, while the highest scoring game saw Brazil thrash Saudi Arabia 8-2 in the 1999 Semi-Finals.

3 – Brazil most successful Confederations Cup nation

Brazil are the most successful Confederation Cup nation with three wins (1997, 2005 & 2009), while they also finished runners-up in 1999 after loosing in the final against Mexico.

3 (Again) – Continental derbies

Continental derbies have been rare at the Confederations Cup. Two teams from the same confederation have only played each other on three occasions. The most recent encounter was the super clsico between Brazil and Argentina in the 2005 final. The two before that were Mexico and USA in 1999 and France and Turkey in 2003.

There could be two continental derbies in 2013 if Brazil play Uruguay or Spain play Italy in the latter stages.

4.3 Red Cards

On average there are 4.3 red cards per Confederation Cup, which averages out at a red card every 3.7 games. From the 22 players sent off, 12 have been straight red cards, while three players have been sent off in the final of the Confederations Cup.

4.8 – Average goals scored to win Golden Boot award

On average, 4.8 goals are required to win the Confederations Cup Golden Boot award. Four of the past six winners have been Brazilian, while Romrio holds the record for most goals in a tournament after he scored seven in Saudi Arabia 1997.

5 – South Americans & Europe Dominate

In the six competitions held to date, South Americans and Europeans have lifted the trophy in five of the six tournaments – Brazil (1997, 2005, 2009), France (2001, 2003). The other title went to North America after Mexico beat Brazil on home soil in 1999.

7 – Brazil a permanent fixture

Since 1997 Brazil have been an ever-present force in the Confederations Cup and will compete in a record seventh event on home soil.

8 – Hat-tricks scored in the Confederations Cup

In a tournament renowned for its goals, it comes as little surprise to see eight hat-tricks have been scored. The latest player to do so was Spain’s Fernando Torres who scored three against New Zealand in 2009.

9 – Ronaldinho tops scoring charts

Ronaldinho’s surprise omission from the squad means the samba star will not have the chance to be the outright Confederations Cup’s all-time leading scorer – he has nine goals alongside Blanco.

Spanish strike duo Fernando Torres and David Villa scored three apiece in the 2009 edition and are the highest all-time scorers expected to play at this year’s Confederations Cup.

Click here to see the latest Confederations Cup odds.

*Odds subject to change

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