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Fifa Confederations Cup final
- Venue & date: Estadio Maracana, Rio; Sunday, 30 June
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)
Brazil
- 12 Julio Cesar
- 02 Alves
- 03 Thiago Silva
- 04 David Luiz
- 06 Marcelo
- 11 Oscar
- 17 Dias
- 18 Paulinho
- 09 Fred (Jo - 80' )
- 10 Neymar
- 19 Hulk (Jadson - 73' )
Substitutes
- 01 Jefferson
- 22 Cavalieri
- 13 Dante
- 14 Filipe
- 16 Rever
- 05 Fernando
- 07 Lucas Moura
- 08 Hernanes
- 15 Jean
- 20 Bernard
- 23 Jadson
- 21 Jo
Spain
- 01 Casillas
- 03 Pique Dismissed
- 15 Ramos Booked
- 17 Arbeloa Booked (Azpilicueta - 46' )
- 18 Alba
- 06 Iniesta
- 08 Xavi
- 16 Busquets
- 09 Torres (Villa - 59' )
- 11 Pedro
- 13 Mata (Navas - 52' )
Substitutes
- 12 Valdes
- 23 Reina
- 02 Albiol
- 05 Azpilicueta
- 19 Monreal
- 04 Martinez
- 10 Fabregas
- 20 Cazorla
- 21 Silva
- 22 Navas
- 07 Villa
- 14 Soldado
Ref: Kuipers
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari reported no injuries following
victory against Uruguay and could name an unchanged side for Sunday's
final.
Hulk has failed to score in his last nine international
matches, meaning his starting spot could be under threat from Bernard
or Lucas Moura.
Spanish duo Roberto Soldado and Cesc Fabregas missed the semi-final against Italy because of minor muscle problems.
However, both players are likely to be available against the Brazilians.
MATCH PREVIEW
Spain were arguably fortunate to book their place in the Confederations Cup final, but few neutrals will complain ahead of Sunday's mouth-watering Maracana showpiece.While Italy would have also been worthy opponents for the Selecao, the Azzurri have already met Brazil twice this year. Instead the tournament climax will be what many are calling the "dream final" - a surprisingly rare clash between Brazil and Spain.
Highlights: Spain 0-0 Italy (7-6 on pens)
Since then Spain have taken on and beaten all-comers. Brazil are the last big scalp left for them to claim, just as the Confederations Cup is the only senior title to elude them.
Victory against the Brazilians, who have not lost a competitive home game since 1975, will cement their legacy as one of the greatest sides ever.
It would also exorcise the memories of their 6-1 defeat at the Maracana 63 years ago, a result that extinguished Spain's hopes of winning the 1950 World Cup and remains their heaviest ever defeat at the tournament.
In addition to home advantage, Brazil will benefit from an additional day of rest. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admits the gruelling semi-final against Italy has left his camp drained."Even I am exhausted and I have barely moved, so imagine how the players must feel, " he said.
Brazil's record against Spain
- 1934 World Cup first round: Lost 3-1
- 1950 World Cup final round: Won 6-1
- 1962 World Cup group stage: Won 2-1
- 1978 World Cup: Drew 0-0
- Friendly, 1981: Won 1-0
- 1986 World Cup: Won 1-0
- Friendly, 1990: Lost 3-0
- Friendly, 1999: Drew 0-0
However, Del Bosque has refused
to criticise the tournament scheduling. "I'm not looking for excuses… We
have 72 hours, others have a bit more, but we want to put on a good
show."
Spain have kept clean sheets in their last eight
knock-out games at international tournaments, but expect goalkeeper Iker
Casillas to be kept busy.
Brazil may not quite play the "Jogo Bonito" (beautiful game) purists demand, but with 22 goals in their last eight games they certainly possess firepower.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is pleased with his side's Confederations Cup campaign, but insists they remain a work in progress.
"We achieved our goal of getting to the final and giving the players a sense of unity and the fans an idea that we have a good team that can get to the final of the World Cup," Scolari said.
"This team has to face a lot of difficulties and grow, it needs to mature in certain situations. The [World Cup-winning] 2002 team was much more prepared…We are still young, we struggle a little when it's a different game."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head- Brazil have won four of eight games against Spain (W4, D2, L2).
- The Spanish are unbeaten in the last two encounters (friendly matches in 1990 and 1999), but their only competitive win against Brazil came in the first round of the 1934 World Cup.
- Brazil beat Spain 6-1 in the final round of the 1950 World Cup (which was settled by a round-robin format).
- Brazil have netted at least twice in their last eight matches, scoring 22 goals in total. They have also scored in 12 successive Confederations Cup matches, winning the last 11.
- Victory would make Brazil the first team to win three successive Confederations Cup titles. France also won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2003.
- Brazil's four successive victories at this tournament represents their best run of form in competitive matches since winning 10 games in a row in 2009.
- Brazil failed to score in their last penalty shoot-out at a major tournament, losing 2-0 to Paraguay in the quarter-finals of the 2011 Copa America. They missed all four spot-kicks.
- Spain had scored in 15 consecutive matches prior to their goalless draw with Italy. The last time they failed to net in back-to-back matches was in June 2003 in European Championship qualifiers against Greece (a 1-0 defeat) and Northern Ireland (a 0-0 draw).
- The Spanish are unbeaten in 29 competitive games (W24, D5), an ongoing world record which began after their 1-0 defeat to Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup.
- They are also undefeated in 26 games (W20, D6) in all competitions, including friendlies, since losing to England in 2011.
- Spain have won their last three penalty shoot-outs, scoring 15 of 17 spot-kicks.
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