5 of the Best Confederations Cup Finals Ahead of Sunday's Finale Between Germany and Chile

One of the last stops on the way to the World Cup, the Confederations Cup means we're at the last stretch of the long journey to Russia next year.

While Germany are not at their strongest and Chile are unlikely to be battling for the World Cup next summer, Sunday's final will give us an intriguing look at some of the fascinating battles that next year's event could throw up.

In the buildup to Sunday's match, here are our top five Confederations Cup finals.

1. Brazil 6-0 Australia, 1997

Back when Brazil were one of the best teams in the world, players like Ronaldo, Romario, Dida and Cafu reigned supreme.

Canarinho were looking good in the build-up to the 1998 World Cup, where they would lose in the final to a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France, and they had no trouble in running riot against Australia.

Ronaldo and Romario both grabbed hat-tricks as Australia failed to respond, despite fielding a strikeforce combination of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka.

2. Mexico 4-3 Brazil, 1999

Brazil went into the 1999 competition looking to defend the title they won two years before, but ran into one of the best Mexico performances in modern times.

The North American nation raced into a two-goal lead within half an hour thanks to strikes from  Miguel Zepeda and Jose Manuel Abundis, but Serginho's penalty halved the deficit before Roni equalised.

Another three goals were scored in the next 15 minutes, but Mexico held firm to secure their only Confederations Cup triumph.

3. Brazil 4-1 Argentina, 2005

This thumping win was supposed to signal the continuation of Brazil's dominance at global level, and yet they haven't won a World Cup since 2002.

Goals from Adriano, Ronaldinho and Kaka saw Brazil overwhelm South American rivals Argentina, who managed a consolation through Pablo Aimar, and many expected the football giants to triumph at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Alas, it was not to be and Brazil exited the competition at the hands of France.

4. Brazil 3-2 United States, 2009

The United States produced one of the biggest shocks in Confederations Cup history when they ousted Spain from the competition in the semi-finals, but they couldn't manage another step further in the final as Brazil again came out on top.

Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan took the US into a surprising lead before Luis Fabiano's brace brought the game back to level terms.

Centre-back Lucio stole the show in the 84th minute to earn Brazil the third of their four Confederations Cup titles.

5. Brazil 3-0 Spain, 2013

This result signalled the end of Spain's four-year reign as the best international side in the world.

Having won Euro 2008 and 2012 as well as the 2010 World Cup, Spain were rightly seen as the team to beat in 2013, but Brazil seemingly had no trouble in delivering a massive wake up call to Vicente del Bosque's side.

Both nations were embarrassed a year later as Spain exited the World Cup at the group stage before Brazil were beaten 7-1 in the semi-finals by Germany.