BRAZIL 2013 CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Italy 2 - Mexico 1: Pirlo lights up 100th cap with stunning free-kick as Balotelli strikes to grab win in clash

Mario Balotelli scored the winner for Italy after Andrea Pirlo had earned the lead through a stunning free-kick on his 100th cap for the national side in Group A of the Confederations Cup.

Balotelli collected a perfectly placed acrobatic pass from Emanuele Giaccherini 12 minutes from time and muscled in between two defenders before striking to hand Italy the win in the first official match at the renovated Maracana Stadium.
Man-of-the-match Pirlo had given Italy the lead with a stunning trademark free-kick in the 27th minute, dipping the ball just out of the reach of Mexico keeper Jose de Jesus Corona.

Maestro: Andrea Pirlo celebrates giving Italy the lead on his 100th cap with a stunning free-kick (below)

Match facts

Mexico: Corona, Rodriguez, Salcido, Flores, Moreno, Torrado, Aquino (Mier 53), Zavala (Jimenez 85), Guardado, Giovani, Hernandez.
Subs Not Used: Ochoa, Reyes, Molina, Barrera, Reyna, De Nigris, Meza, Herrera, Torres, Talavera.
Booked: Moreno, Giovani.
Goals: Hernandez 34 pen.
Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, De Sciglio, Abate, Barzagli, Marchisio (Cerci 68), De Rossi, Montolivo, Pirlo, Giaccherini (Aquilani 88), Balotelli (Gilardino 85).
Subs Not Used: Sirigu, Maggio, Astori, Candreva, Giovinco,
El Shaarawy, Bonucci, Diamanti, Marchetti.
Booked: Barzagli, Balotelli, De Rossi.
Goals: Pirlo 27, Balotelli 78.
Att: 80,000
Ref: Enrique Osses (Chile).

Manchester United striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez converted a penalty six minutes later to give Mexico an equaliser after Andrea Barzagli tripped former Tottenham midfielder Giovani Dos Santos in the box.
Hernandez, who plays for Manchester United, is on course to better the Mexico record of 42 goals held by former great Jared Borgetti.
But Balotelli won the spoils for Italy with his instinctive strike, ripping his shirt off in celebration to earn himself a yellow card.
Italy moved level with Brazil on three points in the group after the hosts beat Japan 3-0 in the tournament opener Saturday.
The Azzurri had not impressed in their last two matches, drawing with both the Czech Republic in a World Cup qualifier and with Haiti upon arriving in Brazil earlier this week, but Pirlo and Balotelli made the difference this time.
At one point midway through the second half, the temperamental Balotelli kicked his boot across the area after being thwarted by Mexico's stubborn defence.
For Mexico, who entered amid a stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign, the loss will extend pressure on coach Jose Manuel De la Torre. However, they showed promise and came close to taking the lead in the second half.

Hero: Mario Balotelli celebrates with Daniele De Rossi after snatching Italy a win against Mexico (below)

Balotelli

Mexico have won only one of six qualifiers with three goals scored, and failed to find the target at all in its last two drawn matches against Panama and Costa Rica.
Despite their squad's recent troubles, Mexican fans, many of them wearing their customary sombreros, hugely outnumbered blue-clad Italian supporters on a comfortable afternoon.

The result means Mexico will almost certainly have to register a positive result when they face tournament hosts Brazil on Wednesday, while a win for Italy against Japan should see them progress.

United front: Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez struck from the spot to equalise for Mexico in the first-half

Battle: Mexico's Gerardo Torrado (left) and Italy's Emanuele Giaccherini challenge for the ball

Sombrer-oh no: This Mexican fan wasn't smiling at the final whistle

Group hug: Italy rally round Mario Balotelli after the former Manchester City man scored the winner

 

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WHO IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM IN THE TOURNAMENT?
That would be Brazil, who won the competition in 1997, 2005 and 2009, and were also runners-up to Mexico in 1999. France took the honours in 2001 and 2003, while if you include the tournament’s forerunner, the King Fahd Cup in Saudi Arabia, then you can add Argentina (winners in 1992) and Denmark (1995).

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION?

The eight teams have been divided into two group of four, with the top two in each advancing to the semi-finals. In Group A, we have Brazil, Japan, Mexico and Italy. In Group B, we have Spain, Uruguay, Tahiti and Nigeria.

WHERE CAN I WATCH THE MATCHES?

Well, if you’re not fortunate enough to be jetting out to Brazil, the good news is every match will be screened live on either BBC One, BBC Three or the BBC Red Button (full details below). The matches are at reasonably social times, with kick-offs usually at 8pm UK time, though there are also some 11pm starts for night owls.

Beach football: Brazilian men play a game on Impanema beach in Rio de Janeiro

Security measures: The Brazilian Army and other security are also preparing for the World Cup

The stadiums: Six World Cup venues will be tested during the tournament

WHERE WILL THE MATCHES BE PLAYED?

Six of the stadia to be used next summer will host the Confederations Cup. They are:
Rio De Janeiro Maracana (top left); Capacity: 78,639; Two group matches, Final
Brasilia Estadio Nacional (top middle); Capacity: 70, 064; Opening group match
Fortaleza Estadio Castelao (bottom middle); Capacity: 64,846; Two group matches, semi-final
Belo Horizonte Estadio Mineirao (bottom right); Capacity: 62,547; Two group matches, semi-final
Salvador Arena Fonte Nova (top right); Capacity: 55,000; Two group matches, third-placed play-off
Recife Arena Pernambuco (bottom left); Capacity: 44,248; Three group matches

Got my eye on you: Neymar and Paulinho will be hoping to dazzle their way to victory

WHO ARE THE PLAYERS TO WATCH?

NEYMAR (BRAZIL)

Club: Barcelona Age: 21 International caps: 33 International goals: 20
You could single out almost every player in Brazil’s star-studded squad, but there’s no doubt it will be Neymar who will receive the most attention in this tournament and at the World Cup finals next summer. Having just made the move from Santos to Barcelona for an eye-watering £48.6million price tag, we will now see just how accurate those comparisons to Pele and other Brazilian greats are. With the forward set to grace the Champions League for the first time next season, Europe will be scrutinising his every twist, turn, trick and flick too.

PAULINHO (BRAZIL)

Club: Corinthians Age: 24 International caps: 13 International goals: 3
While Neymar has already made the move to Europe, it’s likely that Corinthians’ Paulinho will be next, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter Milan among the clubs interested in the powerful box-to-box midfielder. Despite constant statement that he’s content playing in Brazil, the next 12 months will be an audition for the young man, whose stock rose ever higher with that volley against England in the recent 2-2 Maracana draw.

Little maestros: Juan Mata and Jesus Navas will provide English viewers with lots of interest

JUAN MATA (SPAIN)

Club: Chelsea Age: 25 International caps: 25 International goals: 7
The Mata Marathon goes on, with the playmaker spending his summer at yet another tournament. Part of Spain’s victorious 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa, he then played in the 2011 European Under-21 Championships, the 2012 European Championships and the London Olympics. And now, despite a hectic season leading Chelsea’s attack, he won’t be getting a long summer holiday again. Just one asset in a phenomenally talented Spain side, there will be plenty of scouts monitoring his performances closely after incoming Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hinted he would listen to offers for the 25-year-old.

JESUS NAVAS (SPAIN)

Club: Manchester City Age: 27 International caps: 24 International goals: 2
There will be plenty of English viewers interested should Navas get onto the field out in Brazil, following his £14.9million transfer to Manchester City. If the speedster from Seville can show the blistering pace and excellent crossing ability he showed last season in La Liga in this tournament, it will truly whet the appetite for the Premier League campaign to come.

Hitman: Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani is one of the hottest properties in Europe

Heir apparent: Stephan El Shaarawy, 20, had a stellar season at AC Milan scoring 19 goals

STEPHAN EL SHAARAWY (ITALY)

Club: AC Milan Age: 20 International caps: 8 International goals: 1
Talented young striker who will enter the Confederations Cup brimming with confidence after a prolific 19-goal season with Milan. Relatively new to the Italy set-up, this is a real opportunity for El Shaarawy to demonstrate on the world stage why observers in some quarters have been happily comparing his style of play to Cristiano Ronaldo.

EDINSON CAVANI (URUGUAY)

Club: Napoli Age: 26 International caps: 50 International goals: 14
There doesn’t seem to be a day go by when the supremely talented Cavani isn’t linked with a move to a big club. His undoubted class and potency was once again proven beyond doubt this season as he scored 38 goals in 43 appearances for Napoli, a club for whom he has been phenomenally prolific since he arrive din 2010. A successful tournament for Uruguay here will add a few more million to his price tag.

Newcomer: Brown Ideye (right) only has 15 caps but scored 21 goals for Dynamo Kiev last season

BROWN IDEYE (NIGERIA)

Club: Dynamo Kiev Age: 24 International caps: 15 International goals: 3
A relative newcomer to the Nigerian side but a player on which great hopes have been pinned, Ideye helped his country to Africa Cup of Nations glory earlier this year and scored 21 goals in 40 matches for his club, Dynamo Kiev, this season. As ever, the Nigeria side could be dark horses in this competition.

Prolific: Shinji Okazaki's goals have fired Japan to World Cup qualification

SHINJI OKAZAKI (JAPAN)

Club: Stuttgart Age: 27 International caps: 63 International goals: 33
Okazaki has played an instrumental role in guiding Japan to next summer’s World Cup finals - they became only the second side to qualify last week - and he will give us a sneak preview of his potential here. His international scoring record of 33 goals in 63 outings speaks for itself, even though his goalscoring ratios at Stuttgart could do with some improving.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ (MEXICO)

Club: Manchester United Age: 25 international caps: 50 International goals: 32
A familiar name, of course, to followers of the Premier League, where opportunities came usually from the subs’ bench as Manchester United claimed a 20th league title, but what is less known is Chicharito’s impressive international scoring record of over a goal a game. Given regular pitch time at this tournament, expect him to add to that tally in his customary goal poacher’s style.

STEEVY CHONG HUE (TAHITI)

Club: AS Dragon Age: 23 International caps: 22 International goals: 11
Little is known about Pacific minnows Tahiti, but this tournament is bound to be a great experience for them. Chong Hue became a national hero when he scored the winner in the 2012 Oceania Nations Cup final against New Caledonia. He played for AS Dragon in the Tahiti first division.

Known/unknown quantity: Javier Hernandez and Steevy Chong Hue will be hoping to fire their sides to glory

THE FIXTURES IN FULL AND TELEVISION COVERAGE

The Final Countdown: Pele at the unveiling of the clock that marked a year to go until the World Cup

Saturday June 15

Group A - Brazil v Japan (Brasilia, 8pm BST) BBC Three, Highlights BBC One 10.30pm

Sunday June 16

Group A - Mexico v Italy (Rio De Janeiro, 8pm) BBC Three
Group B - Spain v Uruguay (Recife, 11pm) BBC One

Monday June 17

Group B - Tahiti v Nigeria (Belo Horizonte, 8pm) BBC Three

Wednesday June 19

Group A - Brazil v Mexico (Fortaleza, 8pm) BBC Three
Group A - Italy v Japan (Recife, 11pm) BBC One

Thursday June 20

Group B - Spain v Tahiti (Rio De Janeiro, 8pm) BBC Three
Group B - Nigeria v Uruguay (Salvador, 11pm) BBC Three

Saturday June 22

Group A - Italy v Brazil (Salvador, 8pm) BBC Three
Group A - Japan v Mexico (Belo Horizonte, 8pm) BBC Red Button

Sunday June 23

Group B - Nigeria v Spain (Fortaleza, 8pm) BBC Three
Group B - Uruguay v Tahiti (Recife, 8pm) BBC Red Button

Wednesday June 26

Semi-final - Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B (Belo Horizonte, 8pm) BBC One

Thursday June 27

Semi-final - Runner-up Group A v Winner Group B (Fortaleza, 8pm) BBC One
Sunday June 30
Third-place Play-off (Salvador, 5pm) BBC TBC
FINAL (Rio De Janeiro, 11pm) BBC One

 

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