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Brazil are three times winners of the Confederation Cup Final
- Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari stills looked very serious on the touchline - he wanted even more. And he nearly gets a fourth as Neymar marauds through the Spanish midfield again, only to be denied by Cesar Azpilicueta's vital touch which takes the ball back to a grateful Iker Casillas.
Football grounds rarely get any louder than this. Two-goal hero Fred receives a rapturous reception as he trudges off to be replaced by ex-Manchester City and Everton striker Jo.
Final score: Brazil 3-0 Spain
Brazil win their third successive Confederations Cup and their fourth in total.
87 min: Paulinho goes of for Hernanes. "I dunno,
don't think the atmosphere is THAT good," writes Patrick Crumlish. Wait
for it, wait for it … "Severely lacking in vuvuzelas." Very good,
Patrick! Brazil playing keepball in the centre of the park, much to the
crowd's delight.
85 min: "Justin Kavanagh is right in saying that
Spain have missed Xabi Alonso's long passes at times, but I don't think
he would have coped well with Brazil's heavy pressing - he isn't the
most mobile of players and often doesn't perform well in the high tempo
Clasicos," writes Aisling Daly. "But his absence has prompted Del Bosque
to drop the double pivot system of two defensive midfielders in favour
of only Busquets. But I'd guess he'll be back in the team once he's fit -
in this game and against Italy, Spain could have used the solidity a
second defensive midfielder would bring." Julio Cesar has made another
excellent save, this one from David Villa.
84 min: "Isn't the atmosphere at this game
fantastic?"asks Richard King. "Every game should have noise like this.
Wonderful stuff." It's tremendous, Richard.
83 min: Shot from Jo as he storms down the left,
with Neymar bettre placed. Casillas parries it away to the keeper's left
and Spain clear.
81 min: Julio Cesar earns his clean sheet bonus (if
he's on one) with a low save from Pedro's diagonal shot from the left,
pouncing down to tip it away.
79 min: Brazil sub: Jo for Fred. "I think this
could be a good thing for Spain in a strange way as it will make them
realise that some players will need to go before the next World Cup
(Arbeloa, Torres etc) and maybe blood some of the younger ones (take
your pick from the under 21s)," writes Carl Finch. "And not just think
they can simply play one way turn up and cruise to victory (I.e. putting
a defender/defensive midfielder upfront as they did against Italy). It
will also give some of the other teams belief that Spain can be beaten.
This however does not apply to England whose prospects are looking even
grimmer in my eyes (if we qualify that is)!"
77 min: Neymar through the middle and forced out of room by Azpilicueta who just nicked the ball off his toe.
74 min: Dani Alves crosses from the right to Fred
who shoots in the box but it's a rolled shot rather than a powerful one
and Busquets blocks. "I almost glad about the way this is going," says
Matt Dony. "I supported Spain before it was cool, and now hopefully the
fair weather fans will Man City themselves over to Brazil, leaving me
looking like less of a glory boy. And I think you've been harsh on
Torres. He had almost nothing to work with. Arbeloa was a disgrace,
though." Yeah, you're right on Torres. Thought he allowed Paulinho to
win two headers from corners though that he could have won.
71 min: "Whenever Marcelo is mentioned I keep getting images of intense discussions about foot massages
rather than defensive duties," writes Ian Copestake of Ving Rhames.
Brazil sub – Jadson for Hulk. "Humour me with a rare bit of
Confederations Cup kit-chat, but am I the only one who finds the
ribbon-like collar on the Spain shirt, inferring yet another winner's
medal dangling around the neck, to be a bit presumptuous?" writes Grant
Tennille. "Hubris ahoy!" They're getting it tonight. It's as if a statue
has been pulled down. But what does it mean in the long run? Who knows.
It's too soon, surely, to tell.
69 min: Neymar chips the free kick over the wall,
curling towards the right post but it didn't descend quick enough and
hit the outside roof of the net, the slates bit. (It's late).
Red card
67 min: Gérard Piqué is deservedly sent off for
tripping Neymar who sprinted past Busquets and closed in on the box.
Pique and Casillas protest ridiculously because he kicked him on the
shin when he slid in and he was the last man. Shakira, watching, is
taking some of the goading aimed at her chap, too.
65 min: Nice move by Spain up the left with Pedro
whipping a near post cross that Villa only just misses when he slides
in. "Brazil, when they play like this, remind me of Germany under Löw,"
writes Gabriel Piller. "Fast, functional and with just enough style."
63 min: Marcelo played through on the left of the
box after a slick Neymar pass. The angle's tight and Fred is in the
centre of goal but marcelo shoots and into the side netting. "The GIANT
has come back!" writes Wellingtton Mireali mesquita. "Where is
Spain?Welcome to the country of football!" Scotland?
61 min: Now this is an interesting point from David
Yates: "Anyone else got the feeling that'll have been the last time you
see Arbeloa and Torres in a Spanish shirt?" That would be a fair punt,
Tom. Both were pretty hopeless.
58 min: Torres off for David Villa. Torres manages
to look affronted. Corner to Spain, Xavi to the near post where Pique
heads without power. A minute earlier Hulk was racing through 30 yards
out and attempted to toe poke it high up and over Casillas who was
haring out to sweep up but couldn't direct it so it ended up going more
vertically than horizontally.
55 min: Just before the award of the penalty my
inbox was beginning to fill up with emails from Brazil of the "form is
temporary, class is permanent" variety. It's quite refreshing really
that so many people are so chuffed. Pedro's on the left now, cutting in
and rolling it back to Iniesta who shoots weakly at Julio Cesar.
Penalty missed by Sergio Ramos
Screwed wide of Julio Cesar's post – or so it seems but Cesar is claiming he touched it even though he was given a goalkick.
Updated
50 min: "Pray for Tahiti," honks Cleyson. Here's a
point from Nicholas: "Hook Torres? What about Casillas? Mourinho must be
mouthing I told you so in Catalan." Off goes Mata, on comes Bitty
Navas.
48 min: This tactic Brazil are using, getting David
Luiz to bring the ball up the left and Marcelo switching into the
middle has caused Spain all sorts of problems, Arbeloa not being able to
cope with it and Azpilicueta neither for that goal.
GOAL!! Brazil 3-0 Spain (Fred)
Played up the left, Marcelo cutting inside and tapping through to
Neymar in the centre who flicks it to his left and Fred steers a shot
around Casillas into the opposite corner
46 min: "I love when Brazil plays like this,"
writes Nathaniel Davis. "I wouldn't say they're playing with style: more
like a full-blast/nonchalant/savage prowess. The Dunga years seemed to
put the shackles on, but I still remember a few games from that period
when they turned into a wildly formless herd of very good footballers.
Always an invigorating sight." Spain sub – Arbeloa off, Azpilicueta on.
Rightly so, too. He was terrible that half.
Correspondence
"Once again this Brazil side is showing that it is not quite as bad
as many believed," writes Andreas Remy. "It might not be a brilliant
side (were they brilliant in '94 or 2002?), but with home support I
think they have a legitimate shot at the title next year. And Spain just
does not really care about the Confederations Cup; I reckon come next
year they will still be the No1 favourite to win the whole thing - and
rightly so." Fair point Andreas. They do care, I think, but not that much.
Oh to be young. "That was brilliant," writes Alex Perring. "That was quite possibly the greatest 45 minutes of football I have witnessed in my 21 years of existence." Either that or we have a new Father Jessup.
"Whatever Alex in Spain says," writes Justin Kavanagh, "the pitch at the Maracana looks like the Rio riot police have been practising on it all week. And the one man on the Spanish team that can unlock a defence with a long ball, Xabi Alonso is missing. If they want to retain their World Cup, Spain need a plan B. So let's see what they come up with in the second half." Indeed.
Too soon? "Right now millions of pseudo 'soccer' fans taking off their red tops, and putting back on their yellow ones," crows Lorenzo Fernandez, a Watford supporter, presumably.
Oh to be young. "That was brilliant," writes Alex Perring. "That was quite possibly the greatest 45 minutes of football I have witnessed in my 21 years of existence." Either that or we have a new Father Jessup.
"Whatever Alex in Spain says," writes Justin Kavanagh, "the pitch at the Maracana looks like the Rio riot police have been practising on it all week. And the one man on the Spanish team that can unlock a defence with a long ball, Xabi Alonso is missing. If they want to retain their World Cup, Spain need a plan B. So let's see what they come up with in the second half." Indeed.
Too soon? "Right now millions of pseudo 'soccer' fans taking off their red tops, and putting back on their yellow ones," crows Lorenzo Fernandez, a Watford supporter, presumably.
Half time
That was loud and such an entertaining half. "Surely Spain will have
to hook Torres ASAFP if they really want to get back into this game?"
writes Tom Yates. "I think the current exchange rate is four goals
against Tahiti equates to 0.04 of a goal against anyone else." He's not being allowed to play tonight is he?
Here's George Young: "Brazil seem to have invoked the spirit of Van Bommel tonight, clattering Spaniards at every opportunity. That nice Iniesta seems to have really riled them." Fifa, I believe, supply the pictures and there haven't been nearly enough replays of some incidents, George, for me to be sure. I don't mean to get splinters in the arsch but this is an odd job, you have your head down typing half the time rather than watching.
"Is it a good time to throw in the stat that the Confederations Cup winners have never won the following year's World Cup?" asks Simon Frank, who is always welcomed at parties for spreading some sunshine into every corner.
Here's George Young: "Brazil seem to have invoked the spirit of Van Bommel tonight, clattering Spaniards at every opportunity. That nice Iniesta seems to have really riled them." Fifa, I believe, supply the pictures and there haven't been nearly enough replays of some incidents, George, for me to be sure. I don't mean to get splinters in the arsch but this is an odd job, you have your head down typing half the time rather than watching.
"Is it a good time to throw in the stat that the Confederations Cup winners have never won the following year's World Cup?" asks Simon Frank, who is always welcomed at parties for spreading some sunshine into every corner.
Updated
45 min: I was reading somewhere this morning about
neutrals wanting Brazil to be given a footballing lesson by Spain. Well,
who really is neutral? And it's great to see Brazil turning on the
style.
GOAL!! Brazil 2-0 Spain (Neymar)
Glorious finish on the left of the box, played in by Oscar with a
delayed one-two and smashed high, almost like Ryan Giggs v Arsenal in
the FA Cup semi-final in 1999 hard and high at the near post above
Casillas. Magnificent.
Updated
39 min: David Luiz can't defend? He's just made a
superb goalline clearance when Mata played a glorious little dink across
the box to the right to Pedro who was clear in on the keeper, He placed
it around Julio Cesar without huge power but very precisely yet David
Luiz slid in and knocked it clear an inch or so before it went in.
37 min: Interesting what Alanaõ and Alaninho have
to make of this having backed Spain all the way. Paulinho's very good
isn't he? He isn't going to Spurs really is he.
35 min: Xavi takes a free-kick from the left into
the box, aiming for Busquets but Brazil win the header and clear,
eventually getting Neymar free to run at Spain from 70 yards with three
defenders back. He gets past the first but when he tails right he
stumbles and Spain get it back. "Spain aren't passing like Spain, not
dominating like Spain, not winning like Spain," says Matt Dony. "I was
starting to doubt who was really playing. BUT then Ramos got booked.
Looks like it is Spain after all." Ha.
32 min: Big save from Casillas after Jordi Alba
misplaced his pass and Brazil broke at lightning pace, working a chance
you would have expected Fred to convert, a shot from 15 yards after a
lovely threaded pass from Neymar from the left and Casillas blocked it
brilliantly diving low to his right. From the corner Fred almost has a
free header, smack in the middle of forehead but he can't get it on
target.
31 min: Spain have a free kick now by the corner
flag after Ramos is shoved while trying to work an opening. The cross is
blocked out for a corner which Xavi again takes, aiming for Torres but
Paulinho is there to stop him heading it.
29 min: Long delay while Hulk and Neymar debate
who'll take the free kick. Neymar touches it to his left and Hulk spanks
it over the bar with his left foot.
27 min: "Never thought i would hear Guy Mowbray's
comment 'Brazil expect periods where the opposition dominate
possession', writes Ian Morgan. Well Spain aren't bossing it now. Sergio
Ramos's hand on the back of Oscar as he broke past him and towards the
area wins Brazil a free-kick 20 yards out and Ramos a yellow card. Again
Brazil suggest it should have been red.
25 min: "They call him Fredje. He looks like he's
been in the fredje," says Lawro. What does that mean? Fridge, yes. But
really? Osacr is booked for a rake down the calf.
23 min: Spain have worked their way back into this,
the usual way, bossing possession, keep ball, triangles and remarkably
well-placed flicks but Brazil are defending well and breaking fast,
Marcelo shifting it forwards qquickly and Fred dropping his shoulder
past to go to the right of Ramos but drags his shot.
21min: It's Sunday night and as everyone in the UK knows, it's time for Poetry Please. Here's Rudyard Copestake:
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and are on the ground along with the goalie;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make space to hack it over the prone 'keeper:
If you can anticipate and not be tired by moving into that space,
Or, lying on the grass, don't worry about lying on the grass,
Or being obstructed don't give way to obstruction,
And yet don't look too good, when the ball finally goes in;
Yours is the Copa America or whatever its called these days, and all the rights that come with it,
And---which is more---you'll be an icon, my son!
19 min: Now Iniesta hits a curling, dipping shot to
Julio Cesar's right and he turns it past the post. It wasn't going in.
Whoever the TV director is, I'm not a fan. Replays are taking ages. The
corner from Xavi is headed high over the bar by Torres after a near-post
run
17 min: "Phil Brown is many things, lover, crooner,
tanning booth enthusiast," corrects Niall Mullen. "But he is no
Geordie. He hails from South Shields and supports Sunderland." Ah, yes.
Busquets gets the ball and slots a 25-yard pass down the inside-right
channel to Mata who has made a clever diagonal run across Torres but his
touch is so heavy he knocks it straight to Julio Cesar.
15 min: Arbeloa is yellow carded when Spain lose
possession and Neymar chases on to the through ball, Arbeloa taking him
out on the halfway line. Brazil claim that if Neymar hadn't have been
fouled he would have been oneon-one with Casillas and Arbeloa should
have been sent off.
13 min: Xavi on the right crosses but puts too much
on it, The ball comes back to Iniesta who rolls it to Xavi but Hulk is
doing his defensive work on the right and blocks the pass.
Updated
11 min: This is ace. Noise of this volume would
make any match seem like a classic. Brazil are hustling in midfield. Big
Phil is up and waving his arms about. David Luiz takes possession on
the left and clips it up. They win a throw in and when it comes infield
after a couple of "phases" Paulinho tries to chip Casillas who has to
push it out from behind the line.
8 min: Neymar's cross from the left hits Arbeloa's
heel and falls to Oscar, 15 yards out and he screws his shot wide of
Casillas's right post. Good chance. Very good chance. "I think it was
Sergio Ramos flying through the air like Hong Kong Phooey," writes Simon
Frank. A mild mannered janitor named Penry? "In other news, Brazil in
yellow and white – it's just not right." Agreed.
7 min: Big shout for a Spain penalty when they
played the ball across the Brazil box from a free-kick on the left, when
it hit Marcelo on the hand.
5 min: Brazil certainly look determined to get the
ball forwards quickly and not give Spain any time when they don't have
the ball, trying to make sure they're not hypnotized by possession and
made to dance their legs to stumps.
3 min: It's flaming loud. The crowd is going
berserk. Piqué tried to knock the cross out with his foot, leaping in
the air, missed it and it bobbled back of Neymar and on the ground Fred
chipped it over Casillas who was also on the turf.
GOAL!! Brazil 1-0 Spain (Fred)
Ugly, from a long cross from the right, Neymar and Fred go up,
Casillas misses it after Piqué fails to head it clear and Fred turns it
in while falling to the floor.
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