Real Madrid, Spain dominate European club scene

by Andy SCOTT

Thursday, December 18, 2014    

If, after years of unbridled success, 2014 was brutally disappointing for Spain on the international stage, it was a glorious year for the country at club level.

A thrilling title race in La Liga, home to the world’s best player Cristiano Ronaldo and his great rival Lionel Messi, made it the envy of the rest of the continent, while Spain took a clean sweep of the European trophies and Real Madrid are in line to cap it all by becoming club world champions.

More than anyone else, it was a year to remember for Real, who finally won the European Cup for an unprecedented 10th time, ending a 12-year obsession with ‘La Decima’.

After years of frustration since Zinedine Zidane’s stunning volley in Glasgow secured their ninth European Cup in 2002, and more than a billion euros spent in the transfer market by president Florentino Perez, Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat city rivals Atletico 4-1 after extra time in a pulsating final in Lisbon in May.

It was so nearly a nightmare for Los Blancos, with only a stoppage-time equaliser by Sergio Ramos keeping their hopes alive before they ran away with the game in extra time once Gareth Bale had put them ahead.

“This squad is full of young players, talent and desire. This can be the start of a great cycle,” coach Ancelotti ominously declared later, having matched former Liverpool manager Bob Paisley’s achievement of winning three European Cups.

“When I signed for Madrid the Champions League was the primary objective for this season. Here the history with ‘La Decima’ made it even more important,” added the Italian.

So much so that Casillas, who would later endure a disastrous World Cup as the holders were eliminated in the group stage, said the night in Lisbon felt “like something even bigger than winning the World Cup.”

For Atletico, meanwhile, it was a reminder that they remain the David against their city neighbours’ Goliath and could only continue to upset the odds for so long.

Diego Simeone’s side have been a breath of fresh air across Europe and their Spanish title triumph, secured with a final-day draw away to rivals Barcelona, came against all odds.

After almost a decade in which Real and Barcelona had utterly dominated La Liga, Atletico broke the mould with a side led by the bruising centre-forward Diego Costa.

It seems hard to believe that such a story will be repeated any time soon, however, making their failure in the Champions League final all the more agonising.

An elite few continue to dominate in Europe’s leading leagues. Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich may have been humbled by Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League semi-finals, but they won the Bundesliga in record quick time and conceded just three goals in going unbeaten through their opening 16 games of this season.

Overcoming the blow to their prestige of seeing president Uli Hoeness jailed for tax evasion in the spring, Bayern’s all-conquering team are being taken to new levels by Guardiola, of whom Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “I have never seen such diligence in any other coach.”

In France, Paris Saint-Germain won last season’s Ligue 1 title with a record points tally from Monaco and remain favourites to win this season’s crown, despite Marseille’s revival under Marcelo Bielsa.

And in Italy, the country’s richest and most decorated club Juventus won the league with a record tally of 102 points last season, and few would bet against them winning another Scudetto in 2015.

But on the European stage, Spain has outshone the rest, with Sevilla winning the Europa League and then losing to Real in the final of the European Super Cup.

Spain has dominated the transfer market too, with the biggest moves seeing Colombia World Cup star James Rodriguez join Real from Monaco for 80 million euros ($99m) and the controversial Luis Suarez leave Liverpool for Barcelona for a similar amount.

And while Italy was as active as anywhere in terms of coaching changes, with Massimiliano Allegri replacing Antonio Conte at Juventus, Filippo Inzaghi taking over at AC Milan and Roberto Mancini returning to Inter, the highest-profile appointment came at Barcelona, where former player Luis Enrique arrived in the summer.

The Catalans, after a glorious era under Guardiola, are currently playing catch-up with their great rivals Madrid, though, just as Messi has played second fiddle to Ronaldo, at least at club level.

While Messi reached the World Cup final with Argentina, Ronaldo was eliminated at the group stage with Portugal, but he has broken the 60-goal barrier for a fourth calendar year in a row, and his goals have powered Real on an incredible run of 21 straight wins, with a Club World Cup final still to come.

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Real Madrid, Spain dominate European club scene

EU, Spain, IDB to help Caribbean develop renewable energy

Monday, September 29, 2014 | 9:44 AM    

NEW YORK, (CMC) – The Inter America Development Bank (IDB) says it is prepared to work with donor organisations and countries to avoid duplication on projects as the Caribbean seeks to reinforce collaboration in the field of renewable energy.

“Our long and close relationship with the Caribbean has allowed us to gain extensive knowledge of the region’s current conditions and future needs and of what it will take to achieve its energy targets,” said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno following the signing of a joint declaration involving the European Union, Spain and the IDB on energy efficiency in the Caribbean.

The IDB said renewable energy and energy efficiency can help the Caribbean accelerate its development, mitigate the impacts of climate change and achieve greater energy security.

“By renewing its commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency, the partnership will work to foster conditions for attracting more investments in sustainable energy; identifying, replicating and scaling up best practices, and coordinating policies and activities among Caribbean states,” the IDB said.

It said the renewed collaboration will also explore opportunities such as involving the private sector and civil society in energy-related efforts, and promoting the use of sustainable energy technologies and solutions to limit the negative consequences of energy generation, among other issues.

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EU, Spain, IDB to help Caribbean develop renewable energy

The shame of Spain is not yet over

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Spain will take on Australia in their final Group B match today in the knowledge that defeat will officially make their defence of the World Cup the worst in history.

Following two straight defeats for both teams, neither can qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup.

But Spain in particular have something to play for, despite having already made history of the wrong kind. They are the first defending champion in modern times to be eliminated after two matches, following a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the Dutch and a 2-0 defeat to Chile. In 1934 Uruguay did not defend their trophy while in 1950 Italy failed to get through a three-team group despite winning a match.

Today, Spain will seek to avoid notching up another negative milestone.

No defending champion has ever exited a tournament without securing a single point. France came closest in 2002 when they came last in their group, having only managed to draw one of their games in a goalless campaign in South Korea.

Following a six-year period of domination which has seen them win two straight European Championships as well as the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, Spain’s woes at the World Cup have come as huge surprise.

Many of the players that took the field in the opening two games are likely to be on the bench at the Arena da Baixada in the southern city of Curitiba.

In the wake of the Dutch thrashing, coach Vicente del Bosque already rang the changes in the second match against Chile when he dropped Xavi Fernandez and Gerard Pique from the start. Koke, for one, is expected to play against Australia, after he replaced Xabi Alonso in the Chile game.

“We’re going to put together the best line-up for that game,” said del Bosque. “All my players are potential starters without a doubt. We’ll try to put together the best team.”

Striker Fernando Torres, who has been a part of Spain’s success in recent years, said the players want to finish with a win as the team rebuilds ahead of the 2016 European Championship in France.

“We didn’t show our strengths in the first two games and now we have the chance against Australia,” said Torres. “We’re expecting a real tough game. It’s our last chance to win a game at this World Cup and to go back to Spain with three points and show everyone we have a lot of football for the future.”

The future of the Spanish national side remains uncertain. Though the Spanish Football Federation has indicated that it wants del Bosque to remain in place during the rebuilding, it’s uncertain whether the 63-year-old coach has the inclination to carry on.

For Australia, despite their two defeats, the World Cup can be viewed in a far more positive light.

Following a lacklustre loss to Chile, Australia pushed the Netherlands during their narrow 3-2 loss. Australia will be without the suspended Tim Cahill, whose 20-yard left-footed volley against the Dutch could end up being the goal of the tournament.

“We came here to play football, and as a nation I think we have earned the respect of the world,” Cahill said. “I’m proud of this team, the kids. It’s one of the best soccer teams I have ever been a part of.”

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The shame of Spain is not yet over

Atletico go top in Spain for 1st time since "96

MADRID, Spain (AP) — Atletico Madrid took full advantage of Barcelona’s rare slip-up as they pummelled Real Sociedad 4-0 yesterday to take sole possession of the lead in the Spanish league for the first time this season.

David Villa, Diego Costa, Miranda, and the newly arrived Diego scored the goals that put Atletico clear at the top of the standings, having shared the lead with Barcelona for much of the campaign.

Atletico hold a three-point advantage over Barcelona and Real Madrid after Athletic Bilbao rallied to draw 1-1 against Madrid, who finished without Cristiano Ronaldo after he was red carded.

Substitute Ibai Gomez’s volley cancelled out Jese Rodriguez’s opener for Madrid, who played the final 15 minutes a man down after Ronaldo was sent off for swiping his hand across Carlos Gurpegi’s face following a shove from his opponent. The contact seemed light, but Gurpegi fell to the ground as if he’d been hit hard.

Atletico honoured former player and coach Luis Aragones before the match and fed off the emotion at the Vicente Calderon Stadium to boost their attempt to break the Barcelona-Madrid monopoly with a first championship since 1996.

Barcelona lost 3-2 to Valencia on Saturday, and Atletico did not waste the opportunity to go top by themselves for the first time since that championship-winning season. Not since Valencia’s league title a decade ago has a club other than the big two won the Spanish league.

Diego Costa was lively from the start, and the Brazilian-born Spain striker fed Villa inside the box in the 38th minute to finish off a quick break by scoring the opener.

Villa sustained a leg injury moments later and had to be replaced by Raul Garcia.

With the home fans chanting Aragones’ name throughout, Atletico came alive in the second half as Garcia found Diego Costa racing free between defenders in the 72nd and the forward beat goalkeeper Claudio Bravo with a right-footed shot for his 20th league goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Miranda headed home a corner kick out of Bravo’s reach for 3-0 before Diego, who came on in the 58th for his first appearance in his return to the club, marked his return to Atletico by dribbling into the box to unleash a rising shot into goal with three minutes remaining.

Atletico lead with 57 points, while Barcelona and Madrid share 54 points.

Jese lunged to guide Ronaldo’s cross into the area beyond goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz for the 65th-minute opener in a game that was dominated by Bilbao up to that point.

Gomez made up for earlier misses by Aritz Aduritz and Ander Herrera when he ran onto a cleared ball outside the area to rip an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the 73rd.

The intensity boiled over moments later when Ronaldo and Gurpegi tangled, the Ballon d’Or winner’s straight red card means he will miss Madrid’s next game.

Gomez nearly scored the winner in the 85th from another volley, but Lopez tipped it over as Bilbao improved to 43 points in fourth.

Earlier yesterday, Cristian Herrera’s second-half goal gave Elche a 1-0 victory against Almeria to lift the club above its relegation adversary, while Ruben Castro scored two goals as last-placed Real Betis beat Espanyol 2-0 to end a four-game losing streak.

Elche improved to 24 points, two more than Almeria who are 17th. Valladolid are 18th with 20, Rayo Vallecano have 17 and Betis 14.

All games held a minute’s silence in honour of Aragones, the former Spain coach who died on Saturday at age 75.

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Atletico go top in Spain for 1st time since "96

Spain crash driver was "careless"

29 July 2013 Last updated at 03:15 ET The train crash driver, seen arriving here arriving at court, “said he wanted to die” after the crash, a witness tells the BBC

The driver of the Spanish train that derailed last week killing 79 people says he was “careless” when he drove at speed around a bend, reports say.

Francisco Jose Garzon Amo was released from custody on Sunday. He faces multiple counts of reckless homicide.

A large funeral Mass is due to take place in city of Santiago de Compostela, where the train crashed.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who comes from the city, and members of the royal family are expected to attend.

Correspondents say the tragedy has shocked residents of Santiago de Compostela, a Catholic pilgrimage site in the north-western province of Galicia.

The area has been in shock since the accident

Santiago officials had been preparing for the religious feast of St James of Compostela – Spain’s patron saint – but cancelled it after the crash on Wednesday.

The city’s sports arena was temporarily turned into a morgue.

At the cathedral gates, pilgrims have left flowers and candles to commemorate victims of the crash.

Officials say 70 people remain in hospital, 22 of them in a critical condition.

Passport surrendered

Mr Garzon, 52, arrived at court in handcuffs on Sunday, his head scarred by an injury he suffered in the crash.

He was questioned behind closed doors for almost two hours by Judge Luis Alaez.

Later, a court statement said he had been released pending further investigations but must appear before a court once a week and is not allowed to leave Spain without permission.

His passport has been surrendered to the judge and his licence to drive a train has been suspended.

The crash is one of the worst in Spanish history

Under Spanish law, his legal status is that he is suspected of being involved in 79 counts of reckless homicide but has not been formally charged.

But officials said he had admitted negligence by being careless when rounding a bend too fast.

Reports have suggested the train was going at 190km/h (118mph) as he took the bend, where the speed limit is just 80km/h.

All eight carriages of the train careered off the tracks into a concrete wall as they sped around the curve on the express route between Madrid and the port city of Ferrol on the Galician coast.

The crash was one of the worst rail disasters in Spanish history.

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Spain crash driver was "careless"

Spain train driver to be questioned

27 July 2013 Last updated at 23:10 ET The crash was one of the worst rail disasters in recent Spanish history The driver of a train that crashed near the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday killing 78 people is due to appear before a judge.

Francisco Jose Garzon Amo has been detained on suspicion of reckless homicide and the judge will decide whether to press formal charges.

Mr Garzon is suspected of driving too fast on a bend.

Reports say the train was travelling at more than double the speed limit at the time of the crash.

Mr Garzon, 52, was pictured being escorted away from the wreckage by police, blood pouring from a head injury. He left hospital on Saturday and was immediately taken to the central police station in Santiago.

He has so far refused to make a statement or answer questions.

Francisco Jose Garzon Amo suffered a head injury in the crash

Sunday’s court hearing will be closed but the judge will decide whether to remand the driver as an official suspect, release him on bail, or free him without charge.

If the judge finds enough evidence for a criminal trial, Mr Garzon will be charged and a date set.

At least 130 people were taken to hospital after the accident and 30 remained in a critical condition on Saturday.

All eight carriages of the train – packed with more than 200 passengers – careered off the tracks into a concrete wall as they sped around the curve on the express route between Madrid and the port city of Ferrol on the Galician coast.

Leaking diesel burst into flames in some of the carriages.

The train’s data recording “black box” is with the judge in charge of the investigation. Officials have so far not said how fast the train was going when it derailed.

Continue reading the main story August 2006: Inter-city train derails in Villada, in the province of Palencia, killing six people and injuring dozens moreJuly 2006: At least 43 people killed in a metro train crash in the Valencia area1972: Andalusia crash leaves between 76 and 86 people dead.1944: Hundreds believed dead after a crash in Torre del Bierzo, in Leon province – official account gave the figure as 78 killed. Gonzalo Ferre, president of Spanish rail network administrator Adif, said the driver should have started slowing the train 4km (2.5 miles) before the spot where the accident happened.

The president of Spanish train operator Renfe, Julio Gomez Pomar, has said that the train had no technical problems.

He said the driver had 30 years’ experience with the company and had been operating trains on the line for more than a year.

People from several nationalities were among the injured, including five US citizens and one Briton. One American was among the dead.

Some victims have had to be identified using DNA matches due to the extent of their injuries.

PM Mariano Rajoy, who hails from the city of the crash, declared three days of official mourning on Thursday.

The crash was one of the worst rail disasters in Spanish history.

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Spain train driver to be questioned

Int"ll Seabed Authority assembly holds minute of silence for Spain train crash

Latest News

Thursday, July 25, 2013 | 2:26 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 142nd Assembly of the International Seabed Authority now underway in Kingston, Jamaica observed a moment of silence in solidarity with the Spanish delegation for the train crash which claimed 80 lives Wednesday night.President of the Assembly Ambassador Vladimir Polenov moved the motion at the start of the meeting this morning.The crash, which occurred near the holy city of Santiago de Compostela on the eve of the feast of St James, has been described as the worst of its kind in Spain in the last 40 years. In addition to the 80 recorded deaths so far, over 100 passengers have been injured, 20 in critical condition.Reports are that the high-speed train was travelling from Madrid to Ferrol, in Galicia, when it derailed as came around a bend at twice the recommended speed.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Int"ll Seabed Authority assembly holds minute of silence for Spain train crash

80 dead in Spain train crash; speed likely factor

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain (AP) — A train that hurtled off the rails and smashed into a security wall as it rounded a bend was going so fast, that carriages tumbled off the tracks like dominos, killing 80 people, according to eyewitness accounts and video footage obtained Thursday.

An Associated Press analysis of video images suggests that the train may have been travelling at twice the speed limit for that stretch of track.Spain’s government said two probes have been launched into the cause of Wednesday night’s crash near this Christian festival city in northwest Spain. The Interior Ministry raised the death toll to 80 in what was Spain’s deadliest train wreck in four decades, while 95 remained hospitalised, 36 in critical condition, among them four children.State-owned train operator Renfe said the crash happened at 8.41 pm.Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a native of Santiago de Compostela, toured the crash scene alongside rescue workers and went to a nearby hospital to visit those wounded and their families.“For a native of Santiago, like me, this is the saddest day,” said Rajoy, who declared Spain would observe a three-day period of mourning. He said judicial authorities and the Public Works Ministry had launched parallel investigations into what caused the crash.Eyewitness accounts backed by security-camera footage of the moment of disaster suggested that the eight-carriage train was going too fast as it tried to turn left underneath a road bridge. The train company Renfe said 218 passengers and five crew members were on board. Spanish officials said the speed limit on that section of track is 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour.An Associated Press estimate of the train’s speed at the moment of impact using the time stamp of the video and the estimated distance between two pylons gives a range of 144-192 kph (89-119 mph). Another estimate calculated on the basis of the typical distance between railroad ties gives a range of 156-182 kph (96-112 mph).The video footage, which the Spanish railway authority Adif said probably came from one of its cameras, shows the train carriages start to buckle into the turn.Murray Hughes, consultant editor of Railway Gazette International, said it appeared that a diesel-powered unit behind the lead locomotive was the first to derail. The front engine itself quickly followed, violently tipping on to its right side as it crashes into a concrete security wall and bulldozes along the ground.In the background, all the rear carriages can be seen starting to decouple and come off the tracks. The picture goes blank as the engine appears to crash directly into the camera.After impact, witnesses said a fire which engulfed passengers trapped in at least one carriage most likely from the diesel fuel carried in the locomotive units.“I saw the train coming out of the bend at great speed and then there was a big noise,” one eyewitness who lives beside the train line, Consuelo Domingues, told The Associated Press. “… Then everybody tried to get out of the train.”Santiago officials had been preparing for the city’s internationally celebrated Catholic festival Thursday but cancelled it and took control of the city’s main indoor sports arena to use as a makeshift morgue. There, relatives of the dead could be seen sobbing and embracing each other.The US State Department said five American citizens were among the injured.The Interior Ministry, responsible for law and order, ruled out terrorism as a cause.It was Spain’s deadliest train accident since 1972, when a train collided with a bus in southwest Spain, killing 86 people and injuring 112.Rescue workers spent Wednesday night searching through smashed carriages alongside the tracks.As dawn broke, cranes brought to the scene were used to lift the carriages away from the tracks. Rescue workers collected passengers’ scattered luggage and loaded it into a truck next to the tracks.Rescuers described a scene of horror immediately after the crash. Smoke billowed from at least one carriage that had caught fire, while another had been torn into two parts.Residents of the residential neighbourhood closest to the rail line struggled to help victims out of the toppled cars. Some passengers were pulled out of broken windows. Television images showed one man atop a carriage lying on its side, using a pickaxe to try to smash through a window. Other rescuers used rocks to try to free survivors from the fiery wreckage.Nearby, rescue workers lined up bodies covered in blankets alongside the tracks.Spanish media said the train had two drivers aboard and both survived.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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80 dead in Spain train crash; speed likely factor

Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Confederations Cup has the final many wanted: a long-awaited matchup between world champion Spain and host Brazil.

The most dominant national team in recent years and the most successful team ever in international play will meet Sunday at Maracana Stadium for the title of the eight-nation warm-up tournament for next year’s World Cup.It will be the first meeting between the nations since 1999 and their first competitive match since Brazil’s 1-0 win on Socrates’ goal in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.“It’s the match everyone wanted to happen,” said 21-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar, the star of the five-time world champions. “The entire world wanted it and everybody will be watching it.”With more than 70,000 Brazilian fans packing the iconic venue, Brazil will be seeking its third straight Confederations Cup title. Spain enters unbeaten in a world record 29 competitive matches over three years since losing its 2010 World Cup opener to Switzerland.“For us it’s a dream game,” Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque told FIFA.Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hasn’t won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.“They are the current world champions, they have to be praised,” Brazil captain Thiago Silva said. “But anything can happen in a final, and I’m certain that Brazil will be fully prepared for the matchup.”Spain hasn’t lost in 26 matches overall since a 1-0 defeat against England at Wembley in 2011. Brazil struggled after coach Luiz Felipe Scolari replaced Mano Menezes in November, winning only one of its first six matches. Scolari, who coach Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, enters the final with a five-game winning streak.“There is no doubt it will be an even match,” Brazil right back Daniel Alves said Saturday. “There is mutual respect between these two national teams.”Brazil beat Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group stage before defeating South American champion Uruguay 2-1 in the semi-finals. Spain defeated the Uruguayans in its opener, then routed Tahiti and beat Nigeria before getting past Italy on penalty kicks in the semi-finals.“It’s the match everybody has been waiting for,” said Brazil assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led the national team to the 1994 world title. “We all know how good Spain is, but Brazil is going through a sensational moment and is full of confidence.”While the host hasn’t played since Wednesday, Spain endured overtime and the shootout in the semi-final against Italy in the heat of Fortaleza on Thursday. Del Bosque has said Spain will not use fatigue as an excuse, and Scolari also downplayed the issue.“They were able to rest all of their starters when they played Tahiti, so basically they had to play one game less than we did,” he said.Both coaches will have all of their top players available for the match at the renovated Maracana.Four players who will be in Sunday’s final were nominated for the Golden Ball award handed to the best player at the Confederations Cup: Brazil’s Neymar and Paulinho and Spain’s Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain

Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Confederations Cup has the final many wanted: a long-awaited matchup between world champion Spain and host Brazil.

The most dominant national team in recent years and the most successful team ever in international play will meet Sunday at Maracana Stadium for the title of the eight-nation warm-up tournament for next year’s World Cup.It will be the first meeting between the nations since 1999 and their first competitive match since Brazil’s 1-0 win on Socrates’ goal in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.“It’s the match everyone wanted to happen,” said 21-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar, the star of the five-time world champions. “The entire world wanted it and everybody will be watching it.”With more than 70,000 Brazilian fans packing the iconic venue, Brazil will be seeking its third straight Confederations Cup title. Spain enters unbeaten in a world record 29 competitive matches over three years since losing its 2010 World Cup opener to Switzerland.“For us it’s a dream game,” Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque told FIFA.Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hasn’t won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.“They are the current world champions, they have to be praised,” Brazil captain Thiago Silva said. “But anything can happen in a final, and I’m certain that Brazil will be fully prepared for the matchup.”Spain hasn’t lost in 26 matches overall since a 1-0 defeat against England at Wembley in 2011. Brazil struggled after coach Luiz Felipe Scolari replaced Mano Menezes in November, winning only one of its first six matches. Scolari, who coach Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, enters the final with a five-game winning streak.“There is no doubt it will be an even match,” Brazil right back Daniel Alves said Saturday. “There is mutual respect between these two national teams.”Brazil beat Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group stage before defeating South American champion Uruguay 2-1 in the semi-finals. Spain defeated the Uruguayans in its opener, then routed Tahiti and beat Nigeria before getting past Italy on penalty kicks in the semi-finals.“It’s the match everybody has been waiting for,” said Brazil assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led the national team to the 1994 world title. “We all know how good Spain is, but Brazil is going through a sensational moment and is full of confidence.”While the host hasn’t played since Wednesday, Spain endured overtime and the shootout in the semi-final against Italy in the heat of Fortaleza on Thursday. Del Bosque has said Spain will not use fatigue as an excuse, and Scolari also downplayed the issue.“They were able to rest all of their starters when they played Tahiti, so basically they had to play one game less than we did,” he said.Both coaches will have all of their top players available for the match at the renovated Maracana.Four players who will be in Sunday’s final were nominated for the Golden Ball award handed to the best player at the Confederations Cup: Brazil’s Neymar and Paulinho and Spain’s Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos.

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Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain

Spain edge Italy in nail-biting penalty shoot-out

FORTALEZA, Brazil (AFP) — Jesus Navas settled a nail-biting penalty shoot-out 7-6 for Spain as the world and European champions edged Italy on a sultry evening in Fortaleza yesterday to set up a Confederations Cup final meeting with Brazil.

After the semi-final finished goalless following extra time, Leonardo Bonucci proved the fall guy for the Italians, blazing the 13th kick of the shoot-out over the bar before Manchester City new boy Navas calmly tucked his penalty home.Spain will now seek to complete the set of senior international titles, having also won Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992, but hosts Brazil were spared a 120-minute semi-final and will have had 24 extra hours to recover.Italy were left to curse their luck after initially shackling Spain in the first half, and coach Cesare Prandelli must now galvanise minds and bodies for Sunday’s meeting with Uruguay in the third-place play-off.He will nonetheless draw solace from the way his side matched Spain, having seen Italy crushed 4-0 when the sides last met in last year’s one-sided Euro 2012 final in Kiev.Chastened by the memory of that game, Prandelli reverted to the formula he had successfully used in the 1-1 draw between the sides earlier in that tournament.Italy lined up with a three-man defence and no fewer than six midfielders at Estadio Castelao, Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Candreva providing support for lone striker Alberto Gilardino.As a result, Spain’s intricate passing exchanges foundered far from the Italian goal, and Prandelli’s men were bold in their exploitation of the space behind the Spanish defence.Right wing-back Christian Maggio was particularly prominent, heading over from a corner and then drawing a fine save from Iker Casillas with a header after Andrea Pirlo picked him out with a raking 60-yard pass.The Napoli man seemed destined to break the deadlock in the 36th minute when Emanuele Giaccherini’s inviting cross found him steaming in on Casillas’ goal, but his header was straight at the goalkeeper.Within seconds, Fernando Torres almost punished Italy, but after neatly outfoxing Andrea Barzagli, he drilled his left-foot shot across goal and wide.Amid cloying humidity, the intensity dropped in the second half, and Spain occasionally found themselves in the unfamiliar position of hearing their opponents’ passing combinations celebrated with chants of ‘Ole!’Spain centre-back Gerard Pique, watched by celebrity girlfriend Shakira, could have settled the tie in the 85th minute, but he blazed over from Navas’ low pass and the game went to extra time.Italy almost broke through in the third minute of the extra period when Emanuele Giaccherini rattled the post with a rising left-foot drive.Del Bosque elected to swap Torres for holding midfielder Javi Martinez, but it gave Spain momentum, with Pique and Jordi Alba both going close.Substitute Juan Mata also curled wide, before Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon unconvincingly palmed a shot from Xavi onto the post and Martinez’s follow-up effort evaded Mata’s toes by inches.Buffon also had to touch away a low effort from Navas as Spain threatened to snatch victory at the death, but thanks to Bonucci’s misfortune, the Spain substitute would still have the final say.Spain edge Italy in nail-biting penalty shoot-outFORTALEZA, Brazil — Spain’s midfielder Jesus Navas (left) scores his penalty past Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon during the penalty shoot-out at the end of the extra time to defeat Italy in their FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 semi-final match at the Castelao Stadium here, yesterday. (PHOTOS: AFPFORTALEZA, Brazil — Spain’s defender Sergio Ramos (left) and midfielder Santi Cazorla celebrate after defeating Italy in the penalty shoot-out at the end of the extra time of their FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 semi-final match, at the Castelao Stadium here, yesterday.

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Spain edge Italy in nail-biting penalty shoot-out