Confed Cup Final

Who do you like?

I'll take the Neymars, in penalties.

 

Brazil jumped on them early and didn't let up.

 

It certainly didn't help that Spain had to go 120 minutes on Thursday, but credit to Brazil for coming up with the right gameplan and then executing it to near perfection. Brazil pressed Spain throughout, meaning they would have to play very quickly to advance the ball. Not Spain's style to begin with, and with the gas tank on empty, they couldn't come up with a solution.

Brazil, on the other hand, looked calm and collected on the ball, and were effective when they had their chances.

It's important to remember that no Confed Cup winner has followed that up with a World Cup win. And that Spain lost in embarrassing (at least to them) fashion in the 2009 semis (trying to look at that from their point of view) and look what happened a year later. But a threatening Brazil will no doubt make 2014 that much more exciting.

 

I wish I was in Vegas, because halfway through the National Anthem with the tidal wave of emotion in the stadium for the home team you knew Spain was in big trouble. It reminded me of when France won the WC at home, they (the team/fans) were not going to be denied. As Tim said Spain looked like they had no legs, and losing like that could really help them next summer. As bad as the final score was, David Luiz made one the sickest goal line saves late in the first half when it would have tied it. The biggest question I had is when Spain got the PK and with all these great attacking players on the pitch, why in the hell was a defender taking the kick???? When Sergio Ramos was walking to the spot, I almost fell off the couch. You telling me that Spain's most reliable penalty taker is a defender? :angry-banghead: I saw him and told my wife I wouldn't surprise if he blasts it over the bar, I was wrong, he kicked it wide left of the target :lol:

 

Brazil gave them a spanking, that's for sure. Don't know what to make of Spain right now. They appeared set to successfully defend their 2010 title, but now, not so much. They've got plenty of time to get it together, but will they? The Brazilians took them completely out of their game, although the ref let a lot go early, and couldn't rein them in late. Gotta like their chances at home next year, but I look for the Spanish, and the Azzurri, and the Germans, and the Belgians, and the Mexicans, and the Dutch to improve a lot between now and next summer.

As for the match itself, very entertaining, good effort and a high skill level seemed pretty obvious on the teevee to me. Enjoyed it, hope next summer is just as exciting, if not more so. Sphincters seem to tighten once the real thing kicks off, and managers seem to get more conservative as well. Let's hope that doesn't happen, and we get a good show. This one was a good appetizer.