Brazil vs. Spain Confederations Cup Final 2013 Preview: Why Brazil Will Win

Brazil will look to win its third straight Confederations Cup when it takes on Spain on Sunday. Even though Spain is the defending World Cup champion and one of the greatest squads ever compiled, there are many reasons why the Seleçao can be confident in its chances.

While Spain and Italy attacked one another up and down the field for 120 minutes, Brazil was home resting and watching the game. Spain may have gotten out alive from its game against Italy, but La Roja will have 24 hour less rest than its opponents. The match against Italy also pushed the Spaniards to their limits as they were constantly under attack and, if not for a few Italian mistakes, they would have easily lost.

If the rest is not a big enough factor, one must consider the weather and climate. Brazil is used to playing in the heat while the Spanish have already complained about it. After their match against Nigeria, the Europeans repeatedly noted that the climate slowed them down. Midfielder Cesc Fabregas was even taken off the field due to fatigue and was unable to play against Italy.

Neymar

Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, Neymar is in line to obtain the player of the tournament award. The 21-year old has scored three goals and set up two other ones; he has been the star that the Samba Kings have been hoping for. With a chance to further elevate his profile, the future Barcelona star will likely play the best game of his young career and help vault his nation past Spain.

Attacking Style

Nigeria gave Spain trouble in the early going the group match between the two clubs. Why? Because the African side used its speed to pressure Spain and force its players into mistakes. The Nigerians even created a plethora of opportunities with this tactic and if not for better technique, they would have scored a few against the European champions. The Brazilians play a similar attacking style but they also have superior players than their African counterparts. Look for Luis Felipe Scolari to implement similar tactics to take down the Spanish empire.

Home Field Advantage

Brazil has not lost a competitive match at home since 1975. Moreover, the Samba Kings have upped their game tremendously in front of their fans after mediocre displays in prior 2013 matches. The crowd will surely be on their side and should provide a massive boost to the host nation.