The group stages of our Confederations Cup were low on surprises, are both groups finished in order of world ranking:
This leaves us with this line-up for the knockout stages:
We're finishing the tournament today, so we'll go through the semi finals fairly quickly, and focus on the final. Who will win the newest tournament on the DWC-land circuit? Let's find out!
Semi final 1: France vs England
It's a swift reunion for two sides that met in the second round of this year's Draft World Cup. There, France came through impressive 2-0 winners. Can they repeat that outcome?
With two teams playing high-tempo football, this was a very fun end-to-end encounter. The only goal of the first half came in the 36th minute, as Roberto Firmino - making a rare start for England - hit a delightful early cross that Kevin De Bruyne expertly volleyed past Keylor Navas.
The world champions were never going to take it lying down, and they equalised soon after half time as Marco Verratti's early pass played Neymar in, and he steered his shot into the bottom corner. The teams continued to trade blows, and in the 76th minute England regained the lead - smart passing between De Bruyne and Mo Salah left the latter through one-on-one, and he powered his shot into the bottom corner. France couldn't find a way back this time, and so England gained some measure of revenge.
Final score: France 1-2 England
Player of the match: Kevin De Bruyne
Semi final 1: France vs England
It's a swift reunion for two sides that met in the second round of this year's Draft World Cup. There, France came through impressive 2-0 winners. Can they repeat that outcome?
With two teams playing high-tempo football, this was a very fun end-to-end encounter. The only goal of the first half came in the 36th minute, as Roberto Firmino - making a rare start for England - hit a delightful early cross that Kevin De Bruyne expertly volleyed past Keylor Navas.
The world champions were never going to take it lying down, and they equalised soon after half time as Marco Verratti's early pass played Neymar in, and he steered his shot into the bottom corner. The teams continued to trade blows, and in the 76th minute England regained the lead - smart passing between De Bruyne and Mo Salah left the latter through one-on-one, and he powered his shot into the bottom corner. France couldn't find a way back this time, and so England gained some measure of revenge.
Final score: France 1-2 England
Player of the match: Kevin De Bruyne
Semi final 2: Spain vs Brazil
The 2018 DWC final. There, Spain romped home 4-0 winners, and their form so far make them strong favourites for this one.
This was a quiet game, with not much happening in the game's opening hour. But in the 64th minute Eden Hazard burst away into the Brazilian half, played a neat one-two with Luis Suárez and slotted the ball beyond Fábio to put Spain ahead. Despite their trademark attack-mindedness, Brazil couldn't lay a glove on Spain.
The European champions killed the game off with a brace of late goals - firstly Hazard put away a penalty after Filipe Luís tripped Lionel Messi, then Messi's free kick found Gerard Piqué to head home.
Final score: Spain 3-0 Brazil
Player of the match: Eden Hazard
The 2018 DWC final. There, Spain romped home 4-0 winners, and their form so far make them strong favourites for this one.
This was a quiet game, with not much happening in the game's opening hour. But in the 64th minute Eden Hazard burst away into the Brazilian half, played a neat one-two with Luis Suárez and slotted the ball beyond Fábio to put Spain ahead. Despite their trademark attack-mindedness, Brazil couldn't lay a glove on Spain.
The European champions killed the game off with a brace of late goals - firstly Hazard put away a penalty after Filipe Luís tripped Lionel Messi, then Messi's free kick found Gerard Piqué to head home.
Final score: Spain 3-0 Brazil
Player of the match: Eden Hazard
Final: England vs Spain
So, the final sees the two Group B qualifiers clash again. Spain won their group stage battle 1-0 in a very even contest. Whoever wins here will become the first team to hold two DWC-land trophies at the same time. Spain are former DWC winners who won this year's European Championship, whilst England - perennial underachievers - claimed their only title in last year's Nations Cup.
The only selection issue between the two teams is that José Gaya is carrying a knock, and so Jordi Alba comes in, a fairly seamless swap. England's side contain 6 members of the newly-crowned champions of the Premier League, Liverpool (that's nice to say). Spain, meanwhile, will be hoping their star wingers Hazard and Messi will shine.
So, the final sees the two Group B qualifiers clash again. Spain won their group stage battle 1-0 in a very even contest. Whoever wins here will become the first team to hold two DWC-land trophies at the same time. Spain are former DWC winners who won this year's European Championship, whilst England - perennial underachievers - claimed their only title in last year's Nations Cup.
The only selection issue between the two teams is that José Gaya is carrying a knock, and so Jordi Alba comes in, a fairly seamless swap. England's side contain 6 members of the newly-crowned champions of the Premier League, Liverpool (that's nice to say). Spain, meanwhile, will be hoping their star wingers Hazard and Messi will shine.
The first chance falls to England in the 4th minute. Trent Alexander-Arnold's free kick is nodded goalwards by Virgil Van Dijk. It looks like a tap-in for N'Golo Kanté, but Koke produces a remarkable point-blank block... it falls to Raheem Sterling but he can't get his shot past the three Spain players on the line and it's deflected behind! How that didn't go in is beyond me.
It's a strong start by England. Salah fires wide following a rapid counter from a Spain corner. And in the 9th minute they open the scoring with the same combination as against France, as Firmino slides in De Bruyne to finish neatly!
It's a strong start by England. Salah fires wide following a rapid counter from a Spain corner. And in the 9th minute they open the scoring with the same combination as against France, as Firmino slides in De Bruyne to finish neatly!
It takes Spain until the 17th minute to get their first shot - after England had already had 7 - when Hazard's deft dribble and switch gives Messi space to run into the box, but his shot is pushed behind by Alisson. England retort quickly, and Sterling nearly doubles the lead, but he can only find the side netting.
Late on in the half Firmino nods an Andy Robertson cross narrowly wide, as England repeatedly pull Spain out of position to create chances. At the break it's a very deserved lead for England, but they really need a second goal for comfort, given the quality in the Spanish XI.
England continue their control of their game in the second half. They begin to build an attack in the 52nd minute, but Van Dijk dawdles on the ball... he's dispossessed by Suárez who races through and clinically puts it away! Spain level, and it was an England error rather than Spanish genius which delivers it!
Late on in the half Firmino nods an Andy Robertson cross narrowly wide, as England repeatedly pull Spain out of position to create chances. At the break it's a very deserved lead for England, but they really need a second goal for comfort, given the quality in the Spanish XI.
England continue their control of their game in the second half. They begin to build an attack in the 52nd minute, but Van Dijk dawdles on the ball... he's dispossessed by Suárez who races through and clinically puts it away! Spain level, and it was an England error rather than Spanish genius which delivers it!
England try and quickly regain the upper hand. A sensational early cross from Alexander-Arnold finds Sterling free 7 yards out, but he hits it straight at Jan Oblak; it's fair to say the England winger has been wasteful today. However, it's Fernandinho who is the first player to be replaced, as he's on a booking, with Fabinho coming on.
Whilst England continue to rack up shots, Spain are more active at the other end. Hazard has a good sight of goal from a corner, but his effort is held by Alisson. De Bruyne smartly buys Robertson some space, but the his powerful effort hits the outside of the post on its way wide. A minute later and the Scot tees up club teammate Firmino, but his powerful shot is well-blocked by Oblak.
We enter added time with no winner yet. Spain try to sucker-punch England with a Hazard break down the left. He chips it inside to Luka Modric on the edge of the box, and he unleashes a volley... it beats Alisson but clangs against the bar and away! It's the last action of normal time, meaning we now have 30 minutes to find a winner...
Spain make their final sub, replacing Sergio Busquets with Frenkie de Jong, and it's his raking pass that plays in Alba down the left. He whips a cross over to Messi, who should score with Alisson scrambling over from the right of his goal, but Messi can only hit the base of the post, and it's cleared. Soon after Alba gets in another good cross, but Suárez heads over.
It's not all Spain, however, and Firmino has a great chance from De Bruyne's knock-down, but he is denied by Oblak. England make their final change and it's an attacking one, with Kanté replaced by Sergio Aguero.
Ironically, this ushers in the quietest part of the game, with no more shots until the 117th minute. It's a tame Messi effort from range that's blocked, but Spain come again and Messi fires in an early cross that finds Hazard at the far post to tuck it away! Is that the winning goal? No... it's offside!
Whilst England continue to rack up shots, Spain are more active at the other end. Hazard has a good sight of goal from a corner, but his effort is held by Alisson. De Bruyne smartly buys Robertson some space, but the his powerful effort hits the outside of the post on its way wide. A minute later and the Scot tees up club teammate Firmino, but his powerful shot is well-blocked by Oblak.
We enter added time with no winner yet. Spain try to sucker-punch England with a Hazard break down the left. He chips it inside to Luka Modric on the edge of the box, and he unleashes a volley... it beats Alisson but clangs against the bar and away! It's the last action of normal time, meaning we now have 30 minutes to find a winner...
Spain make their final sub, replacing Sergio Busquets with Frenkie de Jong, and it's his raking pass that plays in Alba down the left. He whips a cross over to Messi, who should score with Alisson scrambling over from the right of his goal, but Messi can only hit the base of the post, and it's cleared. Soon after Alba gets in another good cross, but Suárez heads over.
It's not all Spain, however, and Firmino has a great chance from De Bruyne's knock-down, but he is denied by Oblak. England make their final change and it's an attacking one, with Kanté replaced by Sergio Aguero.
Ironically, this ushers in the quietest part of the game, with no more shots until the 117th minute. It's a tame Messi effort from range that's blocked, but Spain come again and Messi fires in an early cross that finds Hazard at the far post to tuck it away! Is that the winning goal? No... it's offside!
Ultimately, it's England who are relieved when the final whistle goes. It means that this will be the first DWC-land tournament to have its final decided by penalties! It remains to be seen whether England share their real-life equivalent's bad penalty record, but it's worth remembering that Spain were knocked out of this year's DWC by Argentina on spot kicks. They did, however, beat reigning champions Germany on their way to winning the 2018 tournament.
Roberto Firmino is up first for England... Oblak goes the right way but it beats him into the bottom corner!
Lionel Messi goes first for Spain... and he compounds a bad game with a shot that Alisson parries!
(England 1-0 Spain)
Trent Alexander-Arnold has the chance to put daylight between the teams... and sends Oblak the wrong way!
Sergio Ramos for Spain, one of the players to miss against Argentina... puts it away this time!
(England 2-1 Spain)
Fabinho now for England...smashes it into the bottom corner!
Toni Kroos, on as a sub in this game, to keep Spain to within one... side-footed into the bottom-right corner!
(England 3-2 Spain)
Sergio Aguero, never got a sight of goal in his cameo, can he make it match-point England? ... he can!
Luka Modric has to score. He too missed against Argentina... but he scores here to prolong the shootout!
(England 4-3 Spain)
So now, it's Mo Salah's chance to win it for England... he goes to his left, as does Oblak... but the shot eludes the goalkeeper and it's in! England win the inaugural Confederations Cup!
Final score: England 1-1 Spain (England win 5-3 on penalties)
Player of the match: Kevin De Bruyne
Roberto Firmino is up first for England... Oblak goes the right way but it beats him into the bottom corner!
Lionel Messi goes first for Spain... and he compounds a bad game with a shot that Alisson parries!
(England 1-0 Spain)
Trent Alexander-Arnold has the chance to put daylight between the teams... and sends Oblak the wrong way!
Sergio Ramos for Spain, one of the players to miss against Argentina... puts it away this time!
(England 2-1 Spain)
Fabinho now for England...smashes it into the bottom corner!
Toni Kroos, on as a sub in this game, to keep Spain to within one... side-footed into the bottom-right corner!
(England 3-2 Spain)
Sergio Aguero, never got a sight of goal in his cameo, can he make it match-point England? ... he can!
Luka Modric has to score. He too missed against Argentina... but he scores here to prolong the shootout!
(England 4-3 Spain)
So now, it's Mo Salah's chance to win it for England... he goes to his left, as does Oblak... but the shot eludes the goalkeeper and it's in! England win the inaugural Confederations Cup!
Final score: England 1-1 Spain (England win 5-3 on penalties)
Player of the match: Kevin De Bruyne
A dramatic finish to an epic final! England claim their second title, moving them equal with Germany and Spain - although it's fair to say those tournaments are not equally-weighted. But they will take huge heart from victories over France and Spain to secure the trophy, because they have struggled to put the other big sides away when push came to shove in previous tournaments.
That's it for DWC men's football this season. We'll be returning next year once there's a new Football Manager, or at least a 2020/21 database (we don't know yet how the pandemic will effect the release of FM21).
However, there will still be the 2020 Women's Draft World Cup, so stay tuned!
That's it for DWC men's football this season. We'll be returning next year once there's a new Football Manager, or at least a 2020/21 database (we don't know yet how the pandemic will effect the release of FM21).
However, there will still be the 2020 Women's Draft World Cup, so stay tuned!