Spain beats Italy and will face Brazil in Confederations Cup final

Brasilia – Many American sports fans just cannot fathom this: a really thrilling 0 to 0 soccer game. Well, the semifinal Confederations Cup match yesterday (June 27) between Spain and Italy was a 0 to 0 game for history. The two teams battled it out for 90 minutes, plus an additional 30 minutes of extra time and nobody was able to score. But that does not mean it was not an exciting game: far from it; there was lots of fantastic passing, good strong defensive play, sensational saves by goalkeepers and balls on the woodwork. But the rules are the rules and when there is a tie after regulation play, the game must be decided by a penalty shootout.

This was a breathtaking penalty shootout the likes of which has rarely ever been seen. Spanish and Italian players made no less than 12 straight penalty kicks before Italy’s Bonucci fired high above the goal for a miss (in English, we say he “skied” his shot). Spanish substitute Jesus Navas then stepped up and blasted in his shot (the 13th penalty made in the shootout) to give Spain the victory.

After such a physically and emotionally draining semifinal victory (it was, after all, 120 minutes of intense soccer, plus the penalty shootout, played in the heat and humidity of Fortaleza, Ceará), Spain will now face Brazil in the Confederations Cup final in Rio de Janeiro at the Maracanã Stadium on Sunday, June 30.

The tie by Spain and Italy was the only one in the 2013 Confederations Cup and, as a result, Brazil is now the only team that won all its games.

The Brazil – Spain matchup in the final is what fans have wanted all along. Brazil, besides being the host country showing off brand new stadiums, is the current Confederations Cup champion and also the team with the most titles: three (not to mention 5 World Cup titles). However, Spain is the current World Cup winner and European champion.

Also on Sunday, June 30, Uruguay and Italy will meet in the Arena Fonte Nova Stadium in Salvador, Bahia, at 1:00 pm, to dispute third place.

Editor: Nira Foster
Translator: Allen Bennett