The 2009 Confederations Cup just finished up on Sunday with Brazil taking out the big prize in a dramatic 3-2 win over the United States, with skipper Lucio grabbing a late winner.

All in all, the tournament was a big success on-the-field, with plenty of decent football played and plenty of quality drama-filled matches witnessed, breathing new life into the continental competition.

Off-the-field, there were a few issues with crime, security, public transport and low crowds. But mostly everything went rather smoothly by all reports, which is good news for South Africa ahead of the big one in 2010.

But focusing on the football side of things, I thought I’d collaborate a short list of five conclusions from the 2009 Confederations Cup.

1. Brazil Are Favourites For The 2010 World Cup
After all the talk of Spain’s beautiful football at Euro 2008 and their unbelievable unbeaten run since, it was the Brazilians who really stole the show, despite being slightly ignored by many onlookers prior to the Confederations Cup.

The Brazilians really are the heavyweights of international football as they consistently challenge for top honours and with the World Cup less than a year away, it would be hard to discredit them as favourites after their latest success.

With 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka returning to regular football after a couple of injury-interrupted years, the signs are good for Brazil. Captain Lucio had a fine Confederations Cup and FC Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano showed his class at the top level taking out the Golden Shoe with 5 goals.

And while the Brazilian class of 2009 may not seem as strong as Selecao sides of the past, they somehow seem to keep getting the job done in style.

2. Landon Donovan Is World Class
A lot is made of Landon Donovan in the USA, but until now, not many outside North America really understood what all the fuss was about. But the 27-year-old American’s performances at the Confederations Cup showed his true class as a top player as he almost took the USA to an unprecedented title victory.

After the US emphatically lost their first two matches, coach Bob Bradley changed his formation to a 4-4-2 with Donovan roaming free in behind the front two and it was no coincidence that after that move, the Americans began to make inroads.

Indeed, it was Donovan’s ability to play end to end football, helping out in defence before setting up attacks which enabled the Americans to stun Egypt, Spain and almost Brazil.

Donovan has tried his luck in Europe twice without success, at German Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, and has had varied success at World Cups in the past so the Confederations Cup was arguably his finest hour to date on the world stage.

Now he needs to take that form into next year’s big one for the Americans to have any chance of recreating their heroics in South Africa.

3. The World Champions Need To Move On
Without doubt, Italy were the flop of the Confederations Cup. It seems ever since the Azzurri’s success in Germany in 2006 they’ve been trying to recapture that glory with an ill-fated stint in charge by Roberto Donadoni before their World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi was re-installed as boss in mid-2008.

Lippi, with all respect, returning to the helm is indicative of where Italy are at.

National team veterans like Gennaro Gattuso, Luca Toni, Mauro Camoranesi, Gianluca Zambrotta, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino (all part of the 2006 squad) didn’t impress at the Confederations Cup and may need to move aside and make way for the new talent.

Indeed, Italy need to learn to move on and put their faith in the new breed. Giuseppe Rossi impressed in South Africa while others including Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Cassano, Antonio Di Natale, Claudio Marchisio, Sebastian Giovinco and Mario Balotelli should get more opportunities.

4. South Africa Need Benni McCarthy
For all of the achievements made by Bafana Bafana at the Confederations Cup, it seems clear they could have gone further with a finisher. Indeed, 31-year-old former UEFA Champions League winner Benni McCarthy fits the bill perfectly, except for the side issue of a dispute between him and the South African FA.

South Africa showed good signs ahead of 2010, with Itumeleng Khune, Tsepo Masilela and Teko Modise, amongst others, all impressing.

But their big problem was scoring goals, considering prior to Katlego Mphela’s dramatic late brace against Spain, the Bafana Bafana had managed just 2 in 430 minutes.

With better finishing they would have beaten Iraq in the opening game, thrashed New Zealand by more and perhaps knocked off the Brazilians when they had them in trouble.

But the answer could be right there for South Africa, with accomplished Blackburn Rovers striker McCarthy waiting in the wings. African football has been hurt by politics in the past, but with the continent’s first showcase World Cup event on their soil next year, surely the SAFA and McCarthy can put their differences aside and reconciliate for the good of the nation.

5. New Zealand’s Quest For World Cup Qualification Is Going To Be Very Tough
The All-Whites came into the Confederations Cup hoping to gain some quality preparation ahead of their World Cup intercontinental playoff later in the year against either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia. But after barely half an hour of the Confederations Cup, New Zealand would’ve realised they’ve got a long way to go as they were torn apart by European champions Spain in a 5-0 rout.

Putting the Spanish result aside, New Zealand did break their Confederations Cup duck and claim their first point ever in the tournament. But it was against a very ordinary Iraq side. Realistically, New Zealand didn’t look up to the required level to compete in South Africa next year.

They’ll need a lot of change, and perhaps a lot of luck, if they’re going to get the better of either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia. The return from injury of experienced skipper Ryan Nelsen will help them, but they’ve got a long way to go.

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