On Saturday, the Confederations Cup starts with the match between Russia and New Zealand, a competition that, in its nearly 10 editions, already has its classic, curious, tragic, heroic, and even comic history.
WE RECOMMEND: Where and how to watch Portugal vs. Mexico?
MOURNING ON THE FIELD
The Cameroonian Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed at the Gerland stadium, Lyon (June 26, 2003), during the second half of the semifinal against Colombia. The player died in a hospital at the age of only 28.
WHEN LUIS GARCÍA SURPASSED BATISTUTA
In the 1995 Saudi Arabia edition, still Copa Rey Fahd, the forward won the top scorer title (3), surpassing the Argentine Gabriel Batistuta (2). The Mexican team finished in third place, with Denmark as the champion and Argentina in second place.
WE RECOMMEND: Mexico's schedule in the Confederations Cup 2017.
CONFEDERATIONS OF A FORETOLD TRAGEDY
Korea-Japan 2001 was one of Mexico's worst performances in the tournament: Under the command of Enrique Meza, who did not complete the process to the World Cup the following year, the Mexican team lost all three group stage matches, with one goal in favor and 8 against.
FROM GERMANY 2005 TO SOUTH AFRICA 2009, USA IN ECSTASY!
The Confederations Cup was no longer celebrated every two years; the prelude to the African event had as champion a Brazil that struggled in the final against a United States team that amazed with its defensive organization, which almost led them to win the tournament; even in the semifinals, they defeated Vicente del Bosque's dominant Spain by two goals to zero.
24 GOALS ARE NOT WORTH AS MUCH AS ONE FROM TAHITI
Nigeria, Spain, and Uruguay defeated an amateur team (Marama Vahirua, the only professional who played in Greece), a squad that holds the record for being the most heavily defeated in a Confederations Cup, with 24 goals against; however, they won the affection of the fans in Brazil 2013 with their only goal in the competition, worthy of a World Cup final celebration. Despite the 1-3 loss, the crowd cheered as if it were a decisive goal.
THE DATES
The 2017 Confederations Cup will be held between June 17 and July 2 in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Sochi.
WE RECOMMEND: GRAPH - Get to know the venues of the Confederations Cup 2017.
THE GROUPS
GROUP A
- Russia
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Mexico
GROUP B
- Cameroon
- Chile
- Australia
- Germany
MEXICO'S MATCHES
- June 18 vs. Portugal
- June 21 vs. New Zealand
- June 24 vs. Russia