Italy will face Japan in a Confederations Cup 2013 match on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, a game the European country is vying to win in order to advance past the group stage.

Italy, who defeated Mexico 2-1 in their last match on Sunday, is neck-and-neck with Brazil over competing for a first place position within the group.

Although Brazil defeated Japan 3-0 on Saturday, garnering more points for the South American host team, Italy is trailing behind them with aspirations of earning a bid to the second stage of the Confederations Cup 2013.

Japan, regarded by soccer analysts as the underdog within the group, will aim to earn points from their match against Italy.

Mexico, who is also in Group A of the Confederations Cup 2013, fell to Brazil 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon after rising Brazilian superstar and recent FC Barcelona acquisition Neymar da Silva Santos scored in the 9th minute.

Japan's closest rival within Group A of the Confederations Cup 2013 is Mexico, but the Asian country will hope to earn a third-place rank within the group for a chance at upward mobility.

Japan's head coach, Alberto Zaccheroni, was born in the northern Italian town of Meldola, where a number of Italy's most well-known soccer stars originate from.

The Confederations Cup 2013 featuring Italy and Japan continue despite the rising number of political protests in the area.