Confederations Cup 2017: 5 things we learned

The Confederations Cup gave us a sampling of what’s to come in Russia at next year’s World Cup. Here are the five things we learned from the tournament.

For a competition no one says they want to watch, the Confederations Cup proved to be loaded with entertaining moments, end-to-end games and wonderful individual performances.

Here are five things we learned from the Confederations Cup.

5. Host with the most

The Confederations Cup is, after all, a dry run for the host nation ahead of next year’s World Cup. It really serves no other function (other than put on some international games at a time when the soccer calendar is quiet) than to see how stadium personnel handle game day situations and whether mass transportation can respond to high volume of fans streaming into a host city.

Despite some of Russia’s past problems with fan violence, the country demonstrated that it’s prepared to hold a large-scale tournament such as the World Cup. There were no major incidents during the two-week tournament in the four cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi) where matches were played. Volunteers and police officers have all taken English classes to help foreign fans in need and free travel between host cities for ticket-holders made moving around this massive country a lot easier. Russian fans, on the other hand, had little to be excited about after their team crashed out in the group stage.

Of course, the tournament was not without controversy. The corruption within FIFA bubbled over once again during the tournament after the Garcia report was made public. We learned that the World Cup bidding process was rife with corruption, but that Russia’s successful 2018 bid (won after a secret FIFA ballot conducted seven years ago) had not included any collusion with other nations or bribery of executive members who voted.

4. VAR’s mixed results

The use of the video assistant referee for the first time at a major tournament didn’t go exactly as planned. In the end, the technology proved what we already know: the video may be accurate, but humans still make mistakes.

Goal Line Technology we saw used for the first time at the 2014 World Cup was infallible because it was solely based on computers. GLT software would let a referee know, with the help of a microchip, whether the ball had crossed the goal line. VAR, on the other hand, needed referees — the same humans who made blunders in the past by blowing calls — to review goals and determine offside using instant replay.

There were many cases where calls were made, with help from the VAR, that were either wrong or open to interpretation. As Paul Gardner noted in a column for Soccer America: “To wit: in deciding whether fouls are committed or goals are scored, soccer already operates using a skewed system. It cannot be doubted that the sport, through its rules and its referee interpretations, makes it as difficult as possible to score goals. Nor can there be any doubt that referees persistently under-call rough play – fouls are not called, penalty kicks are not given, yellow cards are issued instead of reds. In Russia, there are three referees sitting in the VAR booth, making decisions based on video evidence, including, of course, replays. But those referees will all, to a greater or lesser extent, share the failings listed above (and I do consider them serious failings).”

3. Mexico impress … and depress

Mexico revealed two sides during the tournament. In the first round, we saw a Mexico side determined to win at all costs, combining fluid play and physicality to overcome deficits and win games. Juan Carlos Osorio’s side had to come from behind in each group-stage game (against Portugal, New Zealand and Russia), a sign of their tenacity and strong attack. It even looked as if El Tri could actually win the title.

Then came this past Thursday’s semifinal match versus Germany. Unable to score against the defending World Cup champions’ B team, the Mexicans made a series of defensive blunders that wound up costing them in the form of a 4-1 defeat. The loss left many scratching their heads and asking questions of this Mexican team. For example, how could defender Hector Moreno, who had had a great game against Russia in the final first-round contest, flub two plays that led to German goals? And why didn’t Osorio start Carlos Vela? How could Oswaldo Alanis play at left-back after he did so poorly recently versus the United States in World Cup qualifying?

Osorio has again come under fire for his tactical decisions and constant lineup tinkering. Nonetheless, he has a chance to mute some of the criticism at the upcoming Gold Cup, where his Liga MX-based roster hope to lift the trophy for El Tri once again.

2. Australia come up from down under

The Socceroos turned out to be a nice surprise at this tournament. Although they failed to get out of the group stage, the Asian champions proved that this is a nation on the rise and the strongest team among the nations that didn’t reach the Confederations Cup semifinals.

Coach Ange Postecoglou’s decision to use three men in the back proved a great experiment as the defense put in a solid showing and the team amassed a 0-2-1 record. Their 1-1 draw against Chile was more than impressive. After taking the lead in the 42nd minute through James Troisi, the Australians relented in the second half. Nevertheless, the Aussies put in a great performance, one that very few would have predicted on the eve of the match.

This all bodes well for Australia as they try to qualify for the World Cup. They’re surely a contender to reach the knockout round should they stamp their passports for Russia come the fall. Although Tim Cahill, the former Everton star, rightly earned lots of attention and praise for earning his 100th cap versus Chile, the 37-year-old isn’t the one who will help them attain future success. This is a roster teeming with exciting young players, such as midfielder Jackson Irvine of English Championship side Burton Albion, whose best may still be yet to come.

1. Goretzka puts on a show

This tournament has lots of MVPs. Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was exceptional for his country once again, while Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo showed bursts of greatness on a team that doesn’t always supply him with a strong enough supporting cast. Indeed, the experimental German side assembled for this tournament by coach Joachim Low made a mockery out of a competition already deemed by many as unnecessary. However, Low’s decision ultimately paved the way for a player to emerge as one the most exciting at this tournament.

That player is Schalke 04 midfielder Leon Goretzka. With only four caps and no goals to his name coming into the tournament, he quickly emerged as a team leader. His goals — two of which came against Mexico in the semis — showed the hunger of a young player wanting to make his country’s World Cup roster. Strong in the air, Goretzka’s eye for goal and his knack for unleashing powerful shots made him a wonder to watch.

Goretzka can do it all. The 22-year-old can play as a defensive midfielder, on the wings or as a playmaker. Low will certainly call on Goretzka come World Cup time. He can either come off the bench or be used as a starter. He’s already been called Germany’s next big talent, something he proved this month at the Confederations Cup.