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The draw for the Confederations Cup has been made:
 
 
I would have copied and pasted into here but it is a PDF file and I can't be bothered typing it in right now!
 
In Summary:
 
June 18 NZ v Japan PARIS 6pm
June 20 NZ v Colombia LYON 7pm
June 22 NZ v France PARIS 9pm
(Brazil play the day after us for the first two games at the Paris and Lyon respectively so if you want to see them in action you can...)
 
Brazil draw big guns
 World champions Brazil must escape from a tough group if they are to avenge their defeat against France in the Final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The Selecao, who were beaten 3-0 in that memorable encounter at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, were pitted against USA, Cameroon and Turkey in Group B at the draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup France 2003. In Group A, holders France face Japan, New Zealand and Colombia in the tournament to be held from June 18-29.

France will be looking for a big improvement after a poor showing at last years FIFA World Cup. A repeat of the result the last time they hosted a FIFA competition, five years ago, will definitely be on the menu for Les Bleus. First they must qualify in the top two from a group including Colombia, New Zealand and Japan the respective champions of South America, Oceania and Asia.

Japans Brazilian coach Zico said he was happy with the outcome of the draw.

I judge the three teams alongside France in the group to be of roughly the same standard, so we must have high hopes of qualifying, he said immediately after the draw was made at the Stade de France. But at the same time, it wouldnt have bothered me to have been drawn in the other group. Im always happy to play the best teams.

Turkey and Brazil, who crossed swords in two memorable matches at Korea/Japan 2002, meet again in Group B, where they are joined by CONCACAF champions USA, and Cameroon, winners of last year's African Cup of Nations.

Chairman of the Organising Committee for the tournament Chuck Blazer described its global importance.

The FIFA Confederations Cup is a continental showdown the opportunity for regional champions to come together in the spirit of competition and fair play, to challenge each other for the right to claim the continental crown, he said.

Click here to view tournament page

Group A Group B
1. FRANCE 1. BRAZIL
2. JAPAN 2. UNITED STATES
3. COLOMBIA 3. CAMEROON
4. NEW ZEALAND 4. TURKEY

Must be the best draw we could have hoped for in terms of having a chance to get into the semi (as slim as that chance might be...). 

 
 
Meanwhile, the following warm-up games are scheduled:

The build-up for the All Whites ahead of the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup took another turn over the past 48 hours with a full international against the USA confirmed in place of the planned match against Croatia in Zagreb.

 

The Croatians cancelled the planned match on June 5th, with no reason given by the Croatian FA. NZS quickly made representations to the USA and a proposed behind closed doors match on June 14th in Europe quickly became a full international for the All Whites on June 8th, at a yet to be determined East Coast USA venue. The match will lose nothing in intensity, with the Americans ranked 10th compared to Croatias 34th in the latest FIFA Rankings. The USA will play in the opposing group at Junes Confederations Cup.

 

The All Whites will fly to America on 31st May, after playing Scotland at Tynecastle on the 27th. They will then fly back to Europe on the 10th June and take up residence at the French National Rugby Centre at Marcoussis in Southern Paris. The complex will then be home for the team until their departure from the Confederations Cup.

 

The squad of 23 players for the Confederations Cup will be named on April 28th and will assemble in Birmingham on May 22nd. Home for the first stage of preparation will be the Springs Health Resort, a venue frequented by full England squads and various professional club teams from throughout Europe.

 

May 27th            v Scotland       Edinburgh                                   FIFA Ranking 58th
Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, kick-off 8.00 pm
Ticket prices £10 / £12 / £15 / £7 & £3 family.
Live on Sky Sports.

June 8th*         v USA   East Coast USA (TBC)                          FIFA Ranking 10th

 

 

Confederations Cup June 18-29

 

France will play host to the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, which will be held next year from 18 to 29 June. The champions of the six confederations - France (UEFA and defending champions), Colombia (CONMEBOL), Cameroon (CAF), USA (CONCACAF), Japan (AFC) and New Zealand (OFC) - will compete alongside world champions Brazil and Turkey. The country, which finished third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, have been invited as the other European representative as France also qualify as hosts.

The FFF will once again use stadiums that will be familiar to fans across the globe from France 98. The stadiums are situated in two different regions of France: The Stade de France (Saint-Denis) in the Paris area; and the Stade Gerland (Lyon) and Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Etienne) in the Rhone-Alps region.

Allocation of Slots

Confederation Representative
 FIFA World Cup Champions 1. BRAZIL
 CAF Champions 2. CAMEROON
 CONMEBOL Champions 3. COLOMBIA
 UEFA Champions And Hosts 4. FRANCE
 AFC Champions 5. JAPAN
 OFC Champions 6. NEW ZEALAND
 GUESTS 7. TURKEY
 CONCACAF Champions 8. UNITED STATES