Spain vs. Brazil in Confederations Cup Final

7-6Pen 

Spain and Italy met today in the second semifinal of the 2013 Confederations Cup.  Spain defeated Italy last summer to clench their second consecutive European title in a 4-0 victory.  Today the score-line was much tighter as neither side managed to score after a full two-hour match.

Over the first ninety minutes Italy were the better team and kept Spain from playing their usual high-possession football.  Italy's Maggio and Giaccherini were making plays all over the field, while Spain's Xavi and Iniesta were unable to string together passes like we are accustomed to seeing.

After regulation the momentum changed, however, as Spain began to put the pressure on Italy and create almost all the scoring chances.  The weather seemed to be the real deciding factor though.  The heat and humidity took its toll on the players from both sides and the quality of play was visibly diminished.

With neither team scoring after the two-hours of play, a penalty shootout would determine the winner.  The first six shooters for both Spain and Italy finished from the spot, and it came down to a miss over the crossbar by Bonucci that gave Spain the final advantage.  Navas was the last shooter for Spain giving them a final 7-6 score in the shootout.

Spain will face host nation Brazil in the final on Sunday and it will be interesting to see if the number one team in the world will have anything left in the tank for this battle of football titans.

More Misery for Mexico, Lose to Italy

1-2

Mexico and Italy squared off in Rio De Janeiro today in their first matches of the 2013 Confederations Cup.  Italy got off to a better start and were first on the board thanks to a perfect freekick by the veteran Pirlo.  From about twenty-five yards out, Pirlo was able to lift the shot over the wall and get the ball to dip back down, upper 90º (27').

The lead was short lived as Italy conceded a penalty when defender Barzagli fouled Mexico's Dos Santos in the box.  Hernandez then finished form the spot to level the score (34').  Aside from scoring the penalty though, Hernandez was quite ineffective today and had only one other shot on target.  Dos Santos and Guardado were more involved throughout, but the Italian defense was too strong and shut down Mexico's attack for the remainder of the match.

The match was there for Italy's taking, and late in the second-half Mario Balotelli delivered the game-winning goal.  Giaccherini was able to flick a ball into the path of the striker and Balotelli powered through defender Rodriguez to get the shot away (78').  Not surprisingly Balotelli earned a yellow card for his celebration (taking his shirt off) but he was quickly substituted to make sure he was unable to see another card.