Confederations Football Cup is an official FIFA tournament held in the host country of the World Cup. Historically, the tournament is held a year before the mundial itself for two June (sometimes July) weeks, being its main rehearsal. The competition is attended by six winners of their continental championships, the organizer of a football tournament and forum and the last world champion.
Past
The Confederations Cup grew out of the King Fahd Cup, held in Saudi Arabia twice in the first half of the 90s, and originates in 1997. Since then, 32 teams have tried their luck, but the new trophy has been submitted to four teams: Brazil, France, Mexico and Germany. His forerunner was won by the national teams of Argentina and Denmark.
The record holder for the number of games is the Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, who spent 22 matches in the Cup - a little less than a quarter of all his matches for the national team. The top two scorers are the wizard Ronaldinho and the magnificent Mexican Kuatemok Blanco. They scored nine goals in two different tournaments. There is also a tragic page in the short history of the Confederations Cup: in the semifinal match of 2003, the player of the Cameroonian team Mark-Vivienne Foe died on the field from a heart attack. The French team that won the tournament dedicated their victory to the illustrious African athlete.
The present
The last Confederations Cup was held on the sidelines of our country, which is preparing to host the main world football forum in the summer of 2018. His organization coincided with a number of innovations that had never been used before. For example, Russian Railways launched free trains between the host cities for the comfortable movement of fans - to make a trip it was enough to have a ticket for the match and a fan passport. The ticket price was also quite acceptable, which allowed thousands of Russians to see firsthand the game of world football stars.
Outstanding players such as the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, the Chileans Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez, the Germans Leon Goretzka and Julian Draxler, the Mexicans Hector Herrera and Miguel Layun shone on the fields of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa also played in the last team . The winner of the tournament was expected to be the German national team, which in the difficult arena St. Petersburg minimally defeated the national team of Chile.
The match for third place was held in Moscow, and the Portuguese team won it, thanks to a goal by Adrian Silva, scored from the penalty spot in extra time. The best scorers of the tournament were Gorecka and Stindl. The best player in the Confederations Cup was recognized as Julian Draxler, the best goalkeeper - Chilean Claudio Bravo.
Future
Unfortunately, the Confederations Cup in Russia was perhaps the last. FIFA is considering an option in which this tournament will be replaced by the club world championship, currently taking place in December. Also, in addition to replacing teams with clubs, the number of participants will be tripled. If this happens, then the first Confederations Cup held in our country will always be the only one.