Sunday 30th June 2013
FIFA Confederations Cup - Final
Brazil 3-0 Spain
3rd/4th Play-Offs
Uruguay 2-2 Italy
Italy win 3-2 on penalties
* * *
The Final was a very interesting game to watch, seeing a developing Brazil team outplaying the established World Champions.
Brazil worked very hard closing down when Spain were in possesion, especially when Iniesta had the play. They were rewarded very early on by a really messy goal after a couple of minutes, but Brazil didn't let up at all. Two more goals followed, a missed pen and red card for Pique, then Spain knew it was not gonna be their day.
Brazil are not the finnished article yet, but could be by next year with a few changes. Many of the team did not have great performances during the tournament, perhaps with the exception of David Luiz who had a superb Final, including a goal line clearance.
David Luiz showed that Brazil
wanted to win more.
PKs to decide a winner is the worst. I would like to see keepers lose the option to handle the ball at the start of extra time.
That's another idea, lots have been looked at and even the "golden goal" suden death in ET was tried for a few years.
Most teams seem not to mind penalty shootouts, except England who loose them so often it has became a phobia & joke.
I think penalty shootouts was an American idea from the brief 1970s pro game back then, you know Pele et al. It is probably the least-worst system that works.