22.06. (Sat) 21:00 Italy - Brazil

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ITALY
Buffon
Abate • Barzagli • Chiellini • Sciglio
Marchisio • Aquilani • Montolivo
Giovinco • Shaarawy
Balotelli

BRAZIL
César
Alves • Luiz • Silva • Luis
Hernanes • Gustavo
Lucas • Oscar • Neymar
Fred

With top spot up for grabs and a potentially difficult clash against Spain to avoid, both Cesare Prandelli and Luiz Felipe Scolari are unlikely to make too many changes as they seek three valuable points.

Having picked up yellow cards against both Mexico and Japan, Daniele De Rossi is suspended for the Azzurri whilst Andrea Pirlo is ruled out with a calf injury.

Claudio Marchisio and Alberto Aquilani are likely to deputise in the duo's absence whilst Prandelli must also decide who to play behind Mario Balotelli.

The 55-year-old coach could opt to rest Emanuele Giaccherini with Stephan El Shaarawy, Alessandro Diamanti and Sebastian Giovinco, who scored the winning goal against Japan, all vying for starting berths.

As for Brazil, David Luiz has been declared fit to start despite breaking his nose in the 2-0 win over Mexico and there is further good news for the Selecao as the in-form Neymar has shaken off a slight thigh injury.

However, Paulinho is unlikely to be risked by Scolari after the Corinthians midfielder suffered a minor ankle sprain and his place could be taken by Lazio's Hernanes.

Elsewhere, Hulk has failed to impress in the opening two matches and his spot on the right wing could be taken by PSG youngster Lucas Moura as Scolari looks to give some of his younger players international experience.

DID YOU KNOW?
Italy have not tasted victory against the Selecao for over 30 years. A Paolo Rossi hat-trick guided the Azzurri to a 3-2 win in the 1982 World Cup.
A double from Luis Fabiano and an own goal from Andrea Dossena gave Brazil a 3-0 victory over Italy in the 2009 Confederations Cup - a tournament they later went on to win.
A 2-1 victory against Mexico before Wednesday's 4-3 thriller against Japan ensured that Italy advanced to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup for the first time in their history.
Current holders Brazil are the most successful side in the history of the tournament, with Luiz Felipe Scolari's team bidding for their fourth title.
The Selecao famously defeated the Azzurri on penalties to win the World Cup in 1994.
Brazil have only suffered one competitive defeat on home soil in the last 50 years - a 3-1 defeat to Peru in Belo Horizante at the 1975 Copa America.

PREDICTION
Cesare Prandelli's side were fortunate to escape with a win against Japan, who really exposed their defensive frailties. As for Brazil, Scolari is slowly starting to win over the home support and with five unanswered goals in the competition so far and Neymar in scintillating form, I expect the Selecao to emerge as narrow victors.

Editor's Prediction
Italy 1-2 Brazil

22.06. (Sat) 21:00 Japan - Mexico

PROBABLE LINEUPS

JAPAN
Kawashima
Uchida • Konno • Yoshida • Nagatomo
Hosogai • Endō
Okazaki • Honda • Kagawa
Maeda

MEXICO
Corona
Mier • Rodríguez • Moreno • Salcido
Torrado • Reyna
Santos • Zavala • Guardado
Hernández

With their hopes of reaching the Confederations Cup semi-finals dashed, Japan and Mexicowill face each other at the Mineirao on Saturday playing for little more than to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom of Group A.
Neither team have registered a single point in the tournament so far, but major line-up changes are not expected on either side as they both aim to conclude their fruitless campaigns on something of a high.

Japan, who were eliminated on Wednesday after a devastating 4-3 defeat against Italy, have only one significant change to make, with captain Makoto Hasebe suspended after picking up two yellow cards.

Hertha Berlin’s Hajime Hogosai is the most likely candidate to replace the skipper, who conceded a penalty against the Azzurri, though Kengo Nakamura or Hideto Takahashi could also see action in midfield.

Meanwhile, Jorge Torres Nilo is in line to be dropped by Jose Manuel de la Torre from the Mexico defence, after a terrible performance during their 2-0 loss against Brazil, which ended their chances in the tournament.

In that event, Carlos Salcido is likely to win his 116th cap for el Tri by reverting to a left-back role, with Angel Reyna expected to assume Salcido’s place in midfield.

DID YOU KNOW?
After their first meeting in 1996, which ended in a 3-2 Japan victory, Mexico have won the last three matches between the two sides – including a 2-1 triumph in the 2005 Confederations Cup.

Javier Hernandez has struck Mexico’s only goal of the tournament; a penalty against Brazil. El Tri are scoreless from open play.

Japan hit the woodwork three times against Italy on Wednesday, and ended up losing the match despite holding a 2-0 lead by the 34th minute.

Both teams have qualified for the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments. Japan will also contest the 2014 edition, while Mexico are in Concacaf’s final phase of qualifying for the competition.

PREDICTION
The pressure is off at the Mineirao for both sides, so expect to see a lot of goals as both coaches will probably set their teams up to give the fans a last hurrah before departing the tournament. However, Japan have shown themselves far more capable of putting the ball into the back of the net than Mexico, with four goals to one in Group A, and will likely triumph with the same swashbuckling style that caused Italy so many problems.

Editor's Prediction
Japan 4-2 Mexico