Confederations Cup 2017: Fixtures, teams, group, TV, guide, preview

          

              

 

THE Socceroos are on their way to Russia for the dress rehearsal for the 2018 World Cup, returning to the Confederations Cup for the first time since representing Oceania in 2005.

The 2017 Confederations Cup will take place in host country Russia from 17 June to 2 July, 2017.The Confederations Cup acts as a test event before the 2018 World Cup, also to be hosted in Russia. Nations gain entry by winning their Confederation’s tournament, meaning Australia gained entry through winning the 2015 Asian Cup.In addition to the six winners of their respective confederation tournaments, the reigning World Cup winners (Germany) and the host nation (Russia) compete.WHO IS COMPETING?Click on the links below for profiles of each team.Australia – 2015 AFC Asian Cup Champions (Asia)Chile – 2015 Copa America winners (South America)Germany – 2014 FIFA World Cup ChampionsMexico – 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup winners (Central America)New Zealand – 2016 OFC Nations Cup winners (Oceania)Portugal – EURO 2016 winners (Europe)Russia – Host NationCameroon – Winner of African Cup of Nations

                         

  SOCCEROOS FIXTURESNote: All dates and times are AEDT.PODCAST: Daniel Garb, David Weiner and Kate Cohen, back from covering the Socceroos in Adelaide and Melbourne, dissect the state of play and preview the Confeds Cup.

 CLICK HERE FOR FOX SPORTS’ SCORE CENTRECLICK HERE FOR GROUP TABLESSocceroos v Germany (Group B match)Tuesday June 20, 1am, Fisht Olympic Stadium, SochiSocceroos v Cameroon (Group B match)Friday June 23, 1am, Saint Petersburg StadiumSocceroos v Chile (Group B match)Monday June 26, 1am, Otkrytie Arena, MoscowREST OF THE FIXTURESRussia v New ZealandSunday 18 June, 1amPortugal v MexicoMonday 19 June, 1amCameroon v ChileMonday 19 June, 1amRussia v PortugalThursday 22 June, 1amMexico v New ZealandThursday 22 June, 4amGermany v ChileFriday 23 June, 4amMexico v RussiaSunday 25 June, 1amNew Zealand v PortugalSunday 25 June, 1amGermany v CameroonMonday 26 June, 1am 

                  

 Semi-final 1Winner Group A v Runner-up Group BThursday June 29, 4am, Kazan Arena, KazanSemi-final 2Winner Group B v Runner-up Group AFriday June 30, 4am, Fisht Olympic Stadium, SochiThird place play-offLoser semi-final 1 v loser semi-final 2Sunday July 2, 10pm, Saint Petersburg StadiumFinalWinner semi-final 1 v winner semi-final 2Monday July 3, 4am, Saint Petersburg Stadium 

                     

 WHAT IS THE CONFEDERATIONS CUP?The Confederations Cup is played the year before the World Cup in the host country, as an event where each world and Confederation champion face off.There are two groups of four with the top two teams then facing off in semi-finals.The winner of each semi-final progress to the final, while the two losing teams play in the third place play-off.HOW HAS AUSTRALIA PERFORMED IN THE CONFEDS CUP?The Socceroos have played in three previous Confederations Cup, qualifying as champions of the Oceania Cup.The first appearance came in 1997 in Saudi Arabia when Australia reached the final before falling 6-0 to Brazil. 

                       

    Then four years later in South Korea and Japan in 2001, Australia beat France and Mexico in the group stage before losing 1-0 to Japan in the semi-final.Australia’s most recent Confederations Cup appearance was in 2005 when they finished bottom of Group A without a point having lost to Germany, Argentina and Tunisia