Confederations Cup 2013: X-Factors Who Will Decide Final Outcome

It comes as no surprise that Brazil and Spain reached the Confederations Cup final. The two star-studded sides were on a collision course from the moment the groups were released. Both survived tough semifinals and stand one win away from the title.

As you'd expect, certain players are dominating the headlines. For Brazil, it's led by Neymar along with the likes of Oscar and Hulk. The dominant Spanish side is highlighted by Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Gerard Pique, who have helped lead the squad to plenty of success.

That said, there are a couple players who haven't been in the spotlight quite as much that will need to have strong performances for their respective teams to capture the trophy. Let's take a closer look at one player from each side who falls in that category.

Brazil: Thiago Silva

The Brazilian defense has allowed just three goals in four tournament matches. Silva is a significant reason for that success. His ability to completely control the match at the back is a major asset for a revitalized Selecao squad.

What makes the 28-year-old centre-back special is how he can impact the match in so many ways. Whether it's winning a key header, keeping the rest of the back line on the same page, helping cover for a mistake or simply defending one on one, it's hard to find a weakness.

When Silva is in top form he can turn a good defense, which Brazil have, into an elite one. That's why there was so much hope for the Selecao coming into the event. With him coming off a strong season with Paris Saint-Germain and Neymar leading the attack, it was a very potent group.

They have lived up to the hype and now stand one win away from their third straight Confederations Cup title. But it's going to take an extraordinary effort from Silva to slow down the dangerous Spanish attack, which is led by its terrific midfield.

His main task will be disrupting La Roja's rhythm. He can't allow them to spend extended periods of time in the final third. Silva must place and direct plenty of pressure in order to get Spain out of their comfort zone and start counterattacks the other way.

Spain: Iker Casillas

During Spain's amazing run of international dominance, which includes triumphs in the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championships, Casillas has often been overlooked. The goalkeeper's steady play doesn't get recognized as much as it should.

It's not hard to understand why, of course. La Roja feature a roster full of superstars at every level of the field. Whether it's a great finish by a David Villa, a perfect cross by Xavi or a well-timed clearance by Sergio Ramos, it becomes tough for a keeper to stand out.

That said, without Casillas' consistent, reliable play between the posts, the tournament journeys wouldn't have been nearly as smooth or successful. Whenever Spain have needed a big stop, he provided it and has continued to do so over the past few weeks.

He made a couple key stops against Italy to ensure the semifinal remained scoreless through extra time. Spain's attack wasn't operating at its usual level of efficiency, which put more pressure than usual on him, but he was up to the task.

In the final, Casillas goes up against a Brazilian attacking group that isn't afraid to unleash shots from long range. Neymar in particular is going to take a crack whenever he gets an opening. Anything less than the veteran keeper's best showing shifts the advantage to Brazil.