However, now that they will be facing the Azzurri in their first match of this tournament, they will fancy their chances of springing another surprise on the strength of that performance in their second group game at the World Cup.During that game, Italy took an early lead thanks to an Alberto Gilardino header in the 22nd minute, but it lasted only five minutes because of Cristian Zaccardo’s clumsy 27th minute own goal. The FIFA Confederations Cup was an international association football tournament for men's national teams, held every four years by FIFA.It was contested by the holders of each of the six continental championships (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA), along with the current FIFA World Cup holder and the host nation, to bring the number of teams up to eight. He was inevitably sacked, and World Cup winner Lippi made his return soon afterwards.In terms of the way they’ve played lately, it can’t be said Lippi has brought much improvement to the team. They will be facing some World Cup-level teams in the group stages (they face Egypt, a team on the rise, and Brazil after this game), which means we could get a good idea of where Italy stand at the moment. Realistically, they will need at least a draw from their opening game against the World Champions, because avoiding defeat to Brazil will be very difficult, so just an eventual victory against Egypt in their last group game would probably not be enough to see them through. A recent friendly defeat to Brazil showed that there is currently a bit of a gulf in class between the Azzurri and the Selecao. Confederations cup är en turnering som går av stapeln året innan Fotbolls-VM för herrar och deltagande lag är åtta nationer från olika delar av världen. That was all in a breathless opening 12 minutes, and both sides continued to push forward before the US took a shock lead through Altidore in the 26th minute. U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday that the USWNT will take part in a training camp in Commerce City, (…). After winning the World Cup in 2006, Italy will be making their first-ever appearence at the Confederations Cup, as the international tournament in Germany … However, Donovan wasn’t quite as successful as the English superstar, making only rare substitute appearences, and only scoring in a friendly. The Americans started brightly and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas found his goal under threat from Altidore and Charlie Davies early on. Nevertheless, there were no more goals in the remainder of a chaotic match, in which the US managed to disrupt their opponents with some seriously heavy tackling and hold on  for a prestigious draw.On paper, it looks difficult for the Americans to qualify from this tough group, which also includes Egypt and an always dangerous Brazilian team. It was played at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was contested by the United States and Brazil. The shots continued to rain in on Howard's goal, with the Everton custodian doing well to keep out efforts from Fabregas and Sergio Ramos in quick succession. By: Larry Henry Jr. For the first time in seven months, the U.S. Women’s National Team will come together as a group. United States at the FIFA Confederations Cup From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The United States men's national soccer team represented the United States at the FIFA Confederations Cup on four occasions, in 1992, 1999, 2003 and 2009. FORM GUIDEUSA06/06 (World Cup Qualifier): USA-Honduras 2-103/06 (World Cup Qualifier): Costa Rica-USA 3-101/04 (World Cup Qualifier): USA-Trinidad & Tobago 3-028/03 (World Cup Qualifier): El Salvador-USA 2-211/02 (World Cup Qualifier): USA-Mexico 2-0Italy10/06 (Friendly): Italy-New Zealand 4-306/06 (Friendly): Italy-Northern Ireland 3-001/04 (World Cup Qualifier): Italy-Republic of Ireland 1-128/03 (World Cup Qualifier): Montenegro-Italy 0-210/02 (Friendly): Brazil-Italy 2-0TEAM NEWS USANo injury worries for Team USA.Possible formation (4-4-2): Howard; Spector, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Bornstein; Dempsey, Clark, Bradley, Donovan; Altidore, Casey.ItalyCaptain Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out for this one due to a calf injury. He also scored the opening goal in Italy’s last meeting against USA in the 2006 World Cup, so the Americans will certainly keep an eye on him.PREDICTIONItaly to get a hard-fought victory, but don’t be too shocked if the USA spring a surprise.USA-Italy 1-2Danilo Pochini, Goal.com, Copyright © 2020 Goal.com All rights reserved. The United States will contest the Confederations Cup final after causing a huge upset in Bloemfontein tonight by inflicting a first defeat on Spain since 2006. For much of Sunday's FIFA Confederations Cup final in Russia, Chile was the far superior team. A replica of The Adidas Kopanya (the official match ball of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup) with the traditional 32-panel structure. The official match ball has the same structure and surface as the Adidas Europass. Particularly going forward, Italy have shown a lack of creativity, which is why Lippi’s decision to exclude Antonio Cassano has infuriated many fans.Still, the Azzurri will always be one of the toughest sides to beat in international tournaments, which is why they should always be included among the favorites. That was the first goal Spain had conceded in their Confederations Cup campaign and only the third since Vicente del Bosque took over last summer, with this being the 14th match under the former Real Madrid boss. Just two minutes after the re-start Howard produced a superb save to tip away Villa's effort, before Xabi Alonso fired a rising shot just over the crossbar. USA Confident Ahead Of Third Appearence At Confederations CupAfter winning their fourth CONCACAF (the Confederation of North and Central America and the Caribbean) Gold Cup on home soil in 2007, Team USA have earned the right to participate to the Confederations Cup for the third time, after 1999 and 2003. Their performance in this tournament will probably also give an indication of whether Lippi is going in the right direction with this team, or whether he needs to make some adjustments. Cesc Fabregas sent a dipping shot over the bar and then the Arsenal captain threaded over a superb cross that Fernando Torres was just unable to convert at the far post. He may also miss the Azzurri’s second match against Egypt.Possible formation (4-3-3): Buffon; Zambrotta, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso; Gattuso, Pirlo, De Rossi; Quagliarella, Gilardino, Rossi.PLAYERS TO WATCHLandon Donovan (USA)Having already played in two World Cups, the 27-year-old winger is one of the more experienced member of USA’s squad. Long considered one of the most talented US football players, earlier this year he moved to Bayern Munich on loan from LA Galaxy, in a move similar to the one David Beckham made when he joined Milan. The European champions would also have claimed the record for the longest unbeaten run if they had avoided defeat tonight, having drawn level with Brazil's run of 35 in that South Africa match. The 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup was the 10th and final FIFA Confederations Cup, a quadrennial international men's football tournament organised by FIFA. Clint Dempsey of the USA celebrates his side's second goal against Spain in the Confederations Cup semi-final in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Two US players were unmarked at the far post as they raced in to meet Landon Donovan's free-kick, but while captain Carlos Bocanegra was probably the better placed, Dempsey stretched to get his head to the ball and could not get it on target. 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After two weeks of action that only whet the appetite further for a return to Russia in 2018, we look over the numbers and the standout memories from the FIFA Confederations Cup … Welcome to SBI Soccer's European Union Experience. Even the 86th-minute dismissal of Michael Bradley - son of coach Bob - could not deny the USA, who were left to celebrate a famous victory. The information contained in Goal.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal.com. The euphoria of knocking off Spain last week dissolved Sunday in the Confederations Cup final when Brazil unleashed its "Beautiful Game." No team in the world can match their record of having no defeats in normal time in knockout games over the last twenty years. Spain got a brief glimmer of hope when Bradley was shown a red card for a heavy challenge on Alonso, but Del Bosque's side could not take advantage as the slumped to their first loss since going down 1-0 at home to Romania in a friendly in November, 2006. The U.S. men's national team will play its first rematch from the 2006 World Cup today as they take on defending World Cup champion Italy (2:25pm, ESPN). The U.S. team was the only opponent not to lose to Italy at the 2006 World Cup, battling for a 1-1 tie in one of the most memorable matches in recent national team history. Davies' then threatened again with a glancing header across the face of goal, and when Dempsey drilled a 25-yard shot just wide in the eighth minute, the Spanish must have wondered what was going on.