The Following is an article about the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013

Headline: The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup was the ninth FIFA Confederations Cup, and was held in Brazil from 15 June to 30 June 2013 as a prelude to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The most recent winners of the six continental championships appeared in the tournament, along with hosts Brazil and UEFA Euro 2012 runners-up Italy, who were admitted because the Euro 2012 winners, Spain, had also won the most recent FIFA World Cup in 2010. Generating Ideas: (Points):[ Actually these are facts. But we can generate and customize our own ideas and create a healthy an article. ] Brazil successfully defended their title with a 3–0 win over Spain in the final. It was their fourth Confederations Cup title and third in a row, after previous wins in 1997, 2005 and 2009. #According to FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup was the best version of the tournament ever played. The competition was the first national team tournament to employ goal-line technology, which will also be used at the 2014 World Cup. #Italy was awarded a spot in the competition because Spain had won both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012.

Since both competitions award their winners a place in the FIFA Confederations Cup, the runner-up of UEFA Euro 2012 received an invitation to the tournament. #six stadiums are used, each in a different city. #The Official Emblem of this tournament features a stylized interpretation of Brazil’s national bird, the Rufous-Bellied Thrush (Sabia-Laranjeira). The colouring of the bird is the result of a creative interpretation inspired by the colours of Brazil’s national flag, whilst simultaneously showcasing the country’s colourful fauna. The lightness of the bird’s flight symbolically eflects the warm, hospitable nature of the Brazilian people and acts as a reminder of their national pride. #Teams had to name a 23-man squad (three of whom must be goalkeepers) by the FIFA deadline of 3 June 2013.

The squads were announced by FIFA on 7 June 2013. #the competition’s dates were confirmed by FIFA on 27 July 2011 in the build-up to the draw for the 2014 World Cup’s preliminary qualification rounds. #All eight teams entered the group stage. The group winners and runners-up advanced to the semi-finals, while the bottom two teams in each group were eliminated from the tournament. Prior to the opening ceremony at the Brasilia National Stadium on 15 June, demonstrations took place outside the stadium, organised by people unhappy with the amount of public money spent to enable the hosting of the FIFA World Cup. Police used tear gas and pepper spray to quell the protests.

The demonstrations were part of wider unrest and rioting in Brazilian cities initially sparked by increased ticket prices on public transport, but growing to express deeper public disenchantment with the financial management of the country by its Government, specially due to the high inflation. In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of normal playing time, extra time would be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. #Fernando Torres was awarded the Golden Boot award on tie-breakers. Both he and Fred scored five goals and made one assist, but Torres was given the award due to having played fewer minutes over the tournament #The official match ball for the Cup was produced by Adidas.

It was unveiled during the draw for the competition. The ball is named “Cafusa” #The FIFA Confederations Cup final attracted the largest sports television audience in Brazil this year, and topped 2013 viewing figures in Spain. #The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final was a football match to determine the winners of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. The match was held at the Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 30 June 2013 and was contested by the winners of the semi-finals, Brazil and Spain.

Brazil defeated Spain 3–0 with goals from Fred and Neymar, thus breaking Spain’s record of 29 games without a defeat. #Neymar inspired Brazil to a crushing Confederations Cup victory over World and European champions Spain in the Maracana. The Barcelona superstar scored a stunning strike just before the break and his goal was sandwiched by two Fred goals early in each half, the first a scrappy affair and the second a neat curled finish. Spain did not help themselves, with Sergio Ramos missing a penalty before fellow centre back Gerard Pique was sent off.