Confederations Cup

Germany and Chile have joined Portugal and Mexico in the semi-finals of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup after finishing their respective Group B campaigns on Sunday.

Chile made it through but only after a 1-1 draw with Australia at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow. Meanwhile, Germany topped the group after beating Cameroon 3-1 at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia.

Die Mannschaft will now meet Mexico in the last four, while Chile prepare to face Portugal. The competition's official Twitter account provided some schedule details for the semi-finals:

And then there were four...#PORCHI | KAZAN | WED#GERMEX | SOCHI | THU#ConfedCup pic.twitter.com/4Fk9FD7ouo

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 25, 2017

For a look at all the scores and results from the group stage, visit the FIFA official website.

     

Germany Progress in Style

Timo Werner was the star for Germany, as the 21-year-old found the net twice to help down Cameroon. Kerem Demirbay was also on the scoresheet against Cameroon, who got a late consolation from Besiktas striker Vincent Aboubakar. 

RB Leipzig forward Werner marked a first at international level with his goals, per OptaFranz:

1 - Timo Werner (@RBLeipzig_EN) has scored his first international brace for @DFB_Team_EN. Goalgetter. #GERCMR #diemannschaft #confedcup

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 25, 2017

Werner also made history for his nation in this tournament:

Timo Werner is the first Germany player to score two goals in a #ConfedCup match 🇩🇪🙌#GERCMR pic.twitter.com/6NRLNR8dM4

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 25, 2017

The success of Werner owes a lot to the creativity and drive defining the German midfield. Liverpool workhorse Emre Can is an energetic, box-to-box runner, while Paris Saint-Germain's Julian Draxler adds pace, shooting power and flair from the flanks.

Another gem proving his worth is 22-year-old Bayern Munich ace Joshua Kimmich. The versatile burgeoning star showcased his technique as a provider during the win over Cameroon, per Squawka Football:

Joshua Kimmich has now recorded 6 assists in his last 6 six games for Germany. 🇩🇪

Dangerous crosser of the ball. 👌 pic.twitter.com/xabq1O9WUC

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 25, 2017

Kimmich did his part to help ensure a milestone for manager Joachim Low, per DW Sports:

Congrats to the Bundestrainer!

Löw wins for the 100th time as Germany boss - in his 150th game.#GERCMR #ConfedCup pic.twitter.com/njEQNYt2bp

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 25, 2017

With this much quality in midfield and forward areas, Low's men are sure to pose a challenge for a gifted Mexico squad. Of course, El Tri are loaded with match-winners of their own, specifically, attackers Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela and Giovani dos Santos.

Expect goals galore in this semi-final.

       

Chile Back Into the Last Four

It took an equaliser from Martin Rodriguez to send Chile through after James Troisi had opened the scoring for the Socceroos. La Roja needed Rodriguez to save them because their familiar stars struggled to thrive against Australia.

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, Bayern midfield talisman Arturo Vidal and Tigres winger Eduardo Vargas didn't click in the final third. Yet this trio can usually be counted on to boss matches between the lines.

They will be a tough test for a formidable Portugal midfield featuring the Sporting duo of Adrien Silva and William Carvalho as well as Monaco's Joao Moutinho.

However, the main focus in this one will be on the duel between Sanchez and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. Both are the talisman up top for their nations, and their performances will decide this semi-final.

The way things look, Germany and Portugal should be contesting the final on July 2. However, both Mexico and Chile have the talent to beat anybody on their day.

Portugal beat New Zealand 4-0 in Group A of the 2017 Confederations Cup on Saturday, qualifying for the last four.

A penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after 32 minutes, and Bernardo Silva doubled the lead before half-time.

Andre Silva blasted home with 10 minutes remaining to claim the victory in style after a busy performance for the young striker.

Nani scored a fourth goal in stoppage time for Portugal.

The All Whites battled hard throughout the contest but could not convert when in the box.

Portugal topped the group after their endeavours.

Having already been knocked out of the competition, the All Whites played the game in the correct spirit, but their lack of talent was the deciding factor.

Portugal included Nelson Semedo and Danilo Pereira in the starting XI, with Ronaldo not given the day off despite playing inferior opposition.

Joao Moutinho was drafted in to the side to earn his 100th cap for the Portuguese team.

Tommy Doyle was handed a start in the New Zealand defence as they made just a solitary change from the 2-1 defeat against Mexico.

New Zealand started positively as Chris Wood fired at goal, but Portugal quickly regrouped.

Ronaldo saw his shot blocked midway through the first half, with his team now on the front foot and looking for an opener.

The deadlock was broken by the Real Madrid icon from the penalty spot after Danilo was clipped by Doyle for a soft foul.

BT Sport Football highlighted Ronaldo's international efforts:

Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 75th goal for Portugal.

60 in competitive games ⚽️
15 in friendlies ⚽️

Incredible record. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/P8QamU4Nr6

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 24, 2017

Moments later, it was 2-0, as Manchester City new boy Bernardo Silva scored after excellent work from Ricardo Quaresma.

Wood had a good chance to pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time, but the forward fluffed his lines at the final second.

The All Whites continued to work hard in the second half, but there was a gulf in true quality.

New Zealand began to create more as Portugal relaxed with their lead intact, but Wood could not find an elusive strike—with a shot cleared off the line.

Ronaldo was replaced with 27 minutes remaining as Nani was given a run-out for his former Manchester United team-mate.

The substitute winger almost made an immediate impact, but his shot flashed wide.

Andre Silva secured the points in the 80th minute as the attacker burst through to emphatically finish into the roof of the net.

The summer AC Milan signing almost grabbed his brace in the final moments, and there was enough time for Nani to make it 4-0 as the clock ticked towards the final whistle.

Mexico turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win and a spot in the next round of the 2017 Confederations Cup against hosts Russia on Saturday.

Aleksandr Samedov gave his side a deserved lead after 25 minutes, but Nestor Araujo and Hirving Lozano took advantage of some sloppy goalkeeping to turn the situation around. Yuri Zhirkov was sent off for the Russians.

The two teams' Twitter accounts announced the lineups for the game at the Kazan Arena:

🚨 ALINEACIÓN LISTA 🚨

XI Inicial presentado por @MovistarMX:#PasiónQueConecta | #SomosMéxico pic.twitter.com/ln7ZgMLaR2

— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) June 24, 2017

Squad of @TeamRussia #MEXRUS pic.twitter.com/MLFiSUsTll

— Сборная России (@TeamRussia) June 24, 2017

Russia needed a win to advance and made the brighter start to the match, although the first chance fell to El Tri, with Lozano putting goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to work, albeit with a tame shot.

Fedor Smolov wanted a penalty after a rash challenge from Hector Moreno and perhaps should have earned the spot-kick, and the FC Krasnodar man didn't have any more luck when a Mexican defender impeded his shot.

Smolov hit the post after 24 minutes, blasting a shot through a crowd and past Mexico 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa, but Samedov finally broke the deadlock a minute later.

Per ESPN FC's Gabriele Marcotti, the lead was well-deserved:

Mexican nightmare continues... Russia hit post, then Samedov puts host nation ahead. Russia 1, Mexico 0.

— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) June 24, 2017

Russia's advantage didn't last long, however. Just five minutes after the opener, Akinfeev didn't respond in time to a floating cross into the box, and he was caught in no-man's land as Araujo lobbed a header into the far corner.

Lars Pollmann of Bleacher Report UK didn't understand the goalkeeper's thought process:

https://twitter.com/LarsPollmann/status/878636894367739904

Aleksandr Erokhin missed a golden opportunity to restore the lead from close range, and he ended the half with another poor miss, sending a header high and wide.

Russia started the second half well and Samedov even had a goal correctly ruled out for offside, but the hosts were undone by another Akinfeev blunder. The goalkeeper came off his line to clear a poor pass but got his timing completely wrong, allowing Lozano to nip in and head home.

Marcotti gave the scorer some credit:

Uh-oh Akinfeev! Mexico 2-1 up... more questionable goalkeeping but plenty of bravery from Hirving Lozano...

— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) June 24, 2017

Erokhin fired a curling shot wide before the video review system robbed Moreno of a goal, with the defender judged to be in an offside position.

Russia needed some momentum badly, but Zhirkov had other plans, striking Miguel Layun with an elbow and getting himself sent off in the 68th minute. Toke Theilade of Russian Football News thought it was almost fitting:

And now the embarrassment is total as Yuri Zhirkov, the oldest player in the squad, is sent off. Horrible. Another Russian disaster.

— Toke Theilade (@TokeTheilade) June 24, 2017

Diego Reyes came within inches of adding to the lead, just missing a great cross, before Igor Smolnikov could have tied things up but sent his volley high over the crossbar.

Russia tried to put together a late offensive but could barely threaten, with El Tri exploiting their one-man advantage. Mexico held on for the win to book their spot in the next round alongside Portugal, who beat New Zealand 4-0.