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Confederations Cup

• Confederations Cup

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 18:34

  Final Preview
  
  It might not be a ‘proper’ tournament, but there’s plenty of worse ways to spend a Sunday evening than watching Brazil play Spain, at the bloody Maracana no less! Tahiti aside, the quality of football on show in this competition has been very good and the big nations have all taken it seriously by sending pretty much full strength squads. It’s great preparation for next year’s World Cup and there aren’t so many international tournaments that you can afford to turn your nose up at them, so here we are, Brazil v Spain, a proper final.
  
  The importance certainly isn’t lost on Big Phil Scolari. It’s not been an easy few weeks for him and his team. They’ve come in for criticism for not doing things the ‘Brazil way’ and the competition has been played out against a backdrop of nationwide protests at the amount of public money being spent on the World Cup. A win tonight would go a long way towards placating those critics. “Victory will challenge those in Brazil that doubt us," he said. "My players are very motivated, we want to make ourselves respected at home.”
  
  Vicente del Bosque has no plans to take it easy either. His team came through a gruelling semi-final against Italy on Thursday night and will surely relish the opportunity to make it four international successes in the space of five years. If that wasn’t motivation enough, at the risk of repeating myself, it’s Brazil, at the Maracana. Here’s the man himself on the subject, "I am highly satisfied, and for all of us this is something very beautiful. We are playing Brazil, the kings of football who have lived through marvellous moments in their football history, and to play in Maracana is something very special. I am delighted we are playing the final here and perhaps we can come back and play the World Cup final here as well in 2014."
  
  Looks set to be a cracker I reckon, you looking forward to it?
  
  
  I’ll be back here later, spamming the forum with live updates on the game :)

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 22:55

  The teams for tonight
  
  Brazil: Cesar; Alves, Silva, Luiz, Marcelo; Gustavo, Paulinho; Oscar, Fred, Neymar; Hulk. Subs: Jefferson, Cavalieri, Fernando, Lucas, Hernanes, Dante, Luis, Jean, Rever, Bernard, Jo, Jadson.
  
  Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Mata, Torres, Pedro. Subs: Valdes, Reina, Albiol, Martinez, Azpilicueta, Villa, Fabregas, Soldado, Monreal, Cazorla, Silva, Navas.

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 23:06

  Just the start we were all after!
  
  A bit of a scramble in the goal mouth and it's 1-0 to Brazil. Fred the scorer on 2 mins.

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 23:13

  Oscar goes close for Brazil but pulls his shot just wide from 12 yards.
  
  Still 1-0 to the hosts. 10 mins played

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 23:17

  Paulinho tries the lob from outside the area. Casillas struggling but gets there. All Brazil so far.

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 23:19

  Yellow card for Arbeloa after bringing down Neymar on halfway line. Was he the last man?
  
  Did look like a massive dive from Neymar, mind.

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 23:33

  Hulk just hulked a free kick from just outside the area over the bar.
  Still rising now etc...
  
  Also, I hate Mark Lawrenson.

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 23:43

  Sideshow Dave! Take a bow son. Spectacular hook off the line as Pedro looked nailed on to score.
  
  Amazing.

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 30/06/2013, 23:47

  2-0 Brazil.
  
  Cracking finish from Neymar just before half time. Assisted by Oscar with a lovely threaded ball.
  
  Not looking good for Spain at all, they've been 2nd best all half.

• RE: Confederations Cup

  StrumSolo > 01/07/2013, 00:05

  Second half about to get under way. Let's hope it's as good as the first!
  
  One change at half time, Azpilicueta on for Arbeloa.
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