1997 FIFA Confederations Cup

1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup 1997
Number of nations	8th
winner	Brazil (1st title)
venue	Saudi Arabia
Opening game	December 12, 1997
Endgame	December 21, 1997
Games	16
Gates	52  (⌀: 3.25 per game)
spectator	333,500  (⌀: 20,844 per game)
Top scorer	Romário 7 goals
Best player	Denílson
yellow cards	58  (⌀: 3.63 per game)
Yellow-red cards	2  (⌀: 0.13 per game)
Red cards	2  (⌀: 0.13 per game)

The 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup ( English FIFA Confederations Cup 1997 ) was the first intercontinental football competition for national teams under this name and under the care of FIFA , after the two previous tournaments in 1992 and 1995, the third overall and took place from 12 to December 21 also held for the third time in a row in Saudi Arabia . The field of participants was increased to eight teams. In addition to the host and the continental soccer champions, the reigning world champion was also allowed to start. Despite the waiver of European champions Germany, all six football continents were represented at this tournament for the first time because of the participation of vice European champions Czech Republic.

World and South American champions Brazil clearly won the tournament 6-0 against Oceania champions Australia.

The top scorer of the tournament was the Brazilian Romário with seven goals.

Venue

All matches of the competition took place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, as part of double events in the King Fahd Stadium.

Riad	Riad 1997 venue in Saudi Arabia
King Fahd Stadium
Capacity: 67,000

Attendees

The eight participating nations (red is group A, blue is group B)

The 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup included all winners of the continental association competitions, as well as the reigning world champion and the host. Were qualified

• Saudi Arabia - host
• Brazil - World Champion 1994 (Brazil also won the 1997 Copa América )
• Czech Republic - second in UEFA EURO 1996 (European champions Germany decided not to participate)
• Uruguay - 1995 Copa América winner
• Mexico - Winner of the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
• South Africa - Winner of the African Cup of Nations 1996
• United Arab Emirates - Second in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup (winners Saudi Arabia had already qualified as hosts)
• Australia - 1996 OFC Nations Cup Winner

groups

Group A Group B  Australia  Czech Republic  Brazil  South Africa  Mexico  United Arab Emirates  Saudi Arabia  Uruguay

Preliminary round

Group A

Pl.	country	Sp.	S.	U	N	Gates	Diff.	Points
1.	Brazil	3	2	1	0	006: 200	+4	07th
2.	Australia	3	1	1	1	003: 200	+1	04th
3.	Mexico	3	1	0	2	008: 600	+2	03
4th	Saudi Arabia	3	1	0	2	001: 800	−7	03

December 12th at 4:15 p.m.
Saudi Arabia	-	Brazil	0: 3 (0: 0)
December 12th at 7:00 p.m.
Mexico	-	Australia	1: 3 (0: 1)
December 14 at 5:50 p.m.
Saudi Arabia	-	Mexico	0: 5 (0: 1)
December 14th at 8:00 p.m.
Australia	-	Brazil	0-0
December 16 at 5:50 p.m.
Saudi Arabia	-	Australia	1: 0 (1: 0)
December 16 at 8:00 p.m.
Brazil	-	Mexico	3: 2 (1: 0)

Group B

Pl.	country	Sp.	S.	U	N	Gates	Diff.	Points
1.	Uruguay	3	3	0	0	008: 400	+4	09
2.	Czech Republic	3	1	1	1	009: 500	+4	04th
3.	UAE	3	1	0	2	002: 800	−6	03
4th	South Africa	3	0	1	2	005: 700	−2	01

December 13 at 5:50 p.m.
UAE	-	Uruguay	0: 2 (0: 1)
December 13th at 8:00 p.m.
South Africa	-	Czech Republic	2: 2 (1: 2)
December 15 at 5:50 p.m.
UAE	-	South Africa	1: 0 (1: 0)
December 15th at 8:00 p.m.
Czech Republic	-	Uruguay	1: 2 (0: 1)
December 17th at 5:50 pm
UAE	-	Czech Republic	1: 6 (0: 4)
December 17th at 8:00 p.m.
Uruguay	-	South Africa	4: 3 (2: 1)

Final round

Semifinals

December 19 at 3:15 p.m.
Brazil	-	Czech Republic	2: 0 (0: 0)
December 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Uruguay	-	Australia	0: 1 according to GG

3rd place match

December 21 at 5:50 p.m.
Czech Republic	-	Uruguay	1: 0 (0: 0)

final

December 21 at 9:00 p.m.
Brazil	-	Australia	6: 0 (3: 0)

The final took place in front of 65,000 spectators in the König Fahd Stadium in Riyadh . Ronaldo and Romário each scored three goals for the Brazilian national soccer team of national coach Mário Zagallo . Australia had nothing to counter this.

List of goalscorers

rank player Gates 1  Romario 7th 2  Vladimír Šmicer 5 3  Ronaldo 4th 4th  Cuauhtémoc Blanco 3 5  Francisco Palencia 2  Helman Mkhalele 2  Pavel Nedvěd 2  Dario Silva 2  Nicolás Olivera 2 10  John Aloisi 1  Harry Kewell 1  Damian Mori 1  Mark Viduka 1  Júnior Baiano 1  César Sampaio 1  Denílson 1

rank player Gates 10  Luis Hernández 1  Braulio Luna 1  Ramón Ramírez 1  Mohammed Al-Khilaiwi 1  Brendan Augustine 1  Potter Ndlanya 1  Lucas Radebe 1  Horst Siegl 1  Edvard Lasota 1  Hassan Mubarak 1  Adnan Al Talyani 1  Christian Callejas 1  Antonio Pacheco 1  Álvaro Recoba 1  Marcelo Zalayeta 1  Mohamed Obaid ET

→ Main article : List of FIFA Confederations Cup Top Scorers

Awards

Golden Ball The “Golden Ball” for the best player of the tournament went to the Brazilian Denílson , the “Silver Ball” to his compatriot Romário and the “Bronze Ball” to the Czech Vladimír Šmicer .

Golden shoe The “Golden Shoe” for the best goalscorer was also given to a Brazilian, Romário, for his seven tournament goals , the “Silver Shoe” went to the Czech Vladimír Šmicer and the “Bronze Shoe” with Ronaldo went to a Brazilian.

FIFA Fair Play Trophy The fair play award for a correct sporting appearance on and off the pitch went to the South African national soccer team .

Web links

• Details of the 1997 Confederations Cup on FIFA.com