Brazil have retained the
Confederations Cup, walloping
World and European champion,
3-0, with a brace by striker Fred
and a sensational goal by
Neymar.
Brazil surely deserved the victory
as Spain were swept aside in
emphatic fashion to the delight
of the raucous Maracana
Stadium crowd.
A miserable night for the Spanish
also saw Sergio Ramos miss a
second-half penalty while Gerard
Pique was sent off for a
professional foul on Neymar.
The touchpaper for an
electrifying evening at one of the
most iconic venues in football
was set during the pre-match
ceremonies as Brazil’s fans in a
73,531-crowd belted out a spine-
tingling rendition of the national
anthem.
The stirring anthems came as
police clashed with protestors
outside the ground before kick-
off, the latest in a series of
violent confrontations which
have dogged the tournament
since it kicked off.
With the euphoric stadium crowd
behind them, Brazil raced into a
1-0 lead after only two minutes
through Fred’s first of the night.
Hulk lifted over a cross and
Neymar slid a hopeful ball to the
centre forward, who was prone
in the box as he flung out his
right leg to hook home from
point blank range past helpless
Spanish custodian Iker Casillas.
Oscar then fired a low shot just
wide after Fred played on a
Neymar flick before a Paulinho
chip almost embarrassed Casillas
as Brazil poured forward, visibly
boosted by the overwhelming
din of support cascading down
from stands.
Spain briefly responded with a
swirling drive from Andres Iniesta
which appeared to be drifting
just wide before Brazil keeper
Julio Cesar pushed the ball away
for a 19th-minute corner .
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari,
who led the Brazilians to their
last World Cup success 11 years
earlier to the day, had begun the
event playing down expectations
after the legendary Pele
slammed the current side as not
good enough to win top prizes.
But in recent days Scolari had
suggested now was the time for
next year’s World Cup hosts to
show they are back in business.
Rarely on a football field was a
message delivered so
emphatically as the hopes of the
Spanish, struggling to impose
their high tempo possession
game, withered and died.
Spain central defender Pique,
already booked for a first half
challenge, was sent off for taking
Neymar’s legs under him after
the break – the bearded star left
the fray to chants of “Shakira,”
his Colombian partner.
Had Spain found some of the
singer’s rhythm they might have
stood a chance – but such was
the pace of the hosts’ high-
speed interplay they were down
and out after David Luiz made a
superlative block in the 42nd
minute.
Torres and Juan Mata produced
an all-Chelsea interplay before
sending Pedro away and the
Barcelona forward arrowed an
effort goalwards with Julio Cesar
stranded.
As Brazilian hearts leapt into
mouths, Luiz threw himself
across the goalline to clear –
prompting cheering that echoed
back from the rafters.
There were niggly moments as
Oscar, one of four Chelsea men
on the pitch at the start, earned
a booking for diving after a
Ramos challenge.
Fred then saw Casillas make a
fine stop with his legs from a low
drive before the centre forward
missed a free header.
But as the clock ticked down at
the end of the first period
Neymar made it 2-0, combining
with Oscar before the Barcelona-
bound starlet, just onside,
twisted to smash an unstoppable
left-footed drive past Casillas for
his fourth goal of the event.
The 21-year-old vaulted the
advertising hoardings to
disappear in a sea of frenzied
fans before embracing his
teammates as the noise level
climbed ever upwards.
Two minutes after the restart it
was 3-0 as the swashbuckling
Fred again showed why Scolari is
such a fan, firing an unerring low
drive wide of Casillas’
outstretched arm after a
brilliantly instinctive Neymar
dummy.
Spain reacted as coach Vicente
del Bosque, the only man to
coach teams to the World Cup,
the Euros and the Champions
League, sent on Jesus Navas for
Mata – but there would be no
resurrection for Spain.
After Marcelo fouled Navas
there was still time for Ramos to
send a spotkick wide for Spain as
his effort summed up their
evening – put on the spot, and
found wanting, while Brazil
showed that a sixth World Cup
could just be there for the
taking.