Overmatched Tahiti stealing Confed Cup spotlight

CBC News reporter Nick Purdon examines why the 138th-ranked Tahitians are the talk of the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Watch Purdon's report on The National from the video above.

Many criticized Tahiti's inclusion in this tournament prior to the team's opening game against Nigeria on Monday.

Before the match, CBC Radio host Scott Regehr wrote: "When facing Goliath, at least David had a slingshot. The reality is the Tahitians shouldn't be in this Confederations Cup.They just haven't had enough competition in the lead-up. With due respect to the likes of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, victories over those soccer nations should not justify a seat at the table of a tournament this big."

A 6-1 loss later that day didn't quell the critics.

CBCSports.ca soccer writer Nigel Reed said FIFA has to have better quality control at events such as the Conferations Cup. When writing about the match against Nigeria, Reed didn't hold back.

"Nigeria started off at half speed and then regressed to walking pace — such was the ease with which the Africans controlled the play. Tahiti's woefully inadequate defence was breached time and time again, removing any suggestion of a spirited fight back."

The worst may be yet to come.

"If you thought Tahiti was out of its depth against Nigeria, consider the fact its next game, on Thursday (CBCSports.ca, 2:45 p.m. ET), is against Spain," wrote Reed.

The Spaniards are the reigning World Cup and European champions.

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