Confederations Cup - top three players to watch
The 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup is just around the corner. Considering that Germany arrive in Russia with a severely-weakened squad, Portugal are regarded as main favourites to win the tournament and, once again, all eyes will be on Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo. Alexis Sanchez is likely to play the main role in Chile’s team, whereas New Zealand attacker Chris Wood could be the revelation of the tournament in Russia. With the inside information of FootballPredictions.com we do think these 3 players will play a key role in the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Over the years Cristiano Ronaldo has established himself as one of the best players in the world. CR7 won his third Champions League trophy with Real Madrid earlier this year, with the Portuguese attacker scoring a brace in the final against Juventus. Unlikely Germany coach Joachim Low, Fernando Santos will count on his star players for the 2017 Confederations Cup and, no doubt, the European champions have big ambitions for the upcoming tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo, will, as always, be the man to watch in Fernando Santos’ team and he will be looking to build on a performance he produce in Portugal’s last World Cup qualifier against Latvia (3-0). It is well known that CR7 wants to win everything and it remains to be seen if he is going to help Portugal clinch their first ever Confederations Cup trophy.
Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez impressed in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign, with the Chilean ace scoring 24 goals in 38 appearances for Arsenal in the English top flight. “El Nino Maravilloso” was producing splendid showings last term and he will be looking to put icing on the cake on a very successful season when he takes part at the 2017 Confederations Cup. Alexis Sanchez has netted eight goals for La Roja in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and he is likely to prove a handful for opposition defenders at the tournament in Russia. The Arsenal ace won his second Copa America with Chile last year and the South Americans are definitely capable of going all the way at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Sanchez will play his first ever game at the Confederations Cup on June 18 against Cameroon and, no doubt, the opposition back-line should have him at bay.
Chris Wood
Despite being regarded as big underdogs in Group F at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, New Zealand did well to share the spoils with the likes of Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay at the show-piece tournament in South Africa. The All Whites eventually failed to make it to the knockout stages of the World Cup, but Leeds United top scorer Chris Wood was a youngster back then. The prolific attacker was used as a substitute at the World Cup in South Africa, but he will be the man to watch in Anthony Hudson’s team at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Chris Wood was scoring goals for fun in the 2016/2017 season and he totally deserved to win the Championship Top Scorer Award (27 goals). The 25-year-old striker has netted 19 goals in 47 appearances for New Zealand.
We can conclude the 10th edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup will be an interesting warming up before the World Cup which will take place next summer. Several Confederations Cup predictions show that Portugal, Chile, Germany and Mexico will be the teams that make the biggest chance of lifting the trophy.
