At Salvador, Brazil:
In a match that was deadlocked at 2-2 after 120 minutes (including thirty scoreless overtime minutes), Alberto Aquilani, Stephen El Shaarawy, and Emanuele Giaccherini converted their spot kicks as Italy, who finished the contest with ten men, won the penalty-kick shootout 3-2 to claim the third-place playoff in the FIFA Confederations Cup on Sunday. Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved three of five Uruguayan shots during the shootout. Here are (left to right) Leonard Bonucci, Stephen El Shaarawy, Alberto Gilardino, and Antonio Candreva celebrating following the shootout victory.
Reuters photo
At Fortaleza, Brazil:
After 120 scoreless minutes, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Juan Mata, Sergio Busquets, and Jesus Navas (after whose game-winning kick, his teammates are shown here celebrating) all converted their spot kicks on Thursday as Spain outlasted Italy 7-6 in the penalty-kick shootout to advance to Sunday's FIFA Confederations Cup final against Brazil at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium. The Azzurri will face Uruguay in the third-place game, also slated for Sunday, as Salvador.
Reuters photo
At Belo Horizonte, Brazil:
Paulinho headed in the game winner in the 86th minute on Wednesday (shown here) as Brazil defeated Uruguay 2-1 to advance to Sunday's final of the FIFA Confederations Cup. The Samba Kings will face the winner of Thursday's Spain-Italy clash in the championship match which will be played at historic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Uruguay will face the Spain-Italy loser in the Sunday third-place game at Salvador, Brazil.
Photo from ESPNFC website
Group-stage play in the FIFA Confederations Cup concluded with two games in Group B played on Sunday in Brazil.
At Fortaleza:
Jordi Alba scored twice (3', 88') while Fernando Torres (here congratulated by teammate Alvaro Arbeloa) added another score in the 62nd minute as Spain dominated Nigeria 3-0 to win Group B.
Photo from Yahoo-Eurosport website
At Recife:
In a game that saw both teams reduced to ten men, Abel Hernandez delivered a quadruple (2', 24', 45'+1, PK-67') while Luis Suarez--who became his country's all-time leading goal scorer---added a double (82', 90', he's here being congratulated by teammate Alvaro Pereira) Uruguay clinched a berth in the semifinal round following their 8-0 frontier-styled fistbeating of overmatched Tahiti.
Reuters photo
FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. Spain (GP: 3; GD: +14; PTS: 9)
2. Uruguay (GP: 3; GD: +8; PTS: 6)
3. Nigeria (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
4. Tahiti (GP: 3; GD: -23; PTS: 0)
Spain and Uruguay advanced to the semifinal round.
Semifinal match-ups:
Wednesday @ Belo Horizone, Brazil:
Brazil vs. Uruguay
Thursday @ Fortaleza, Brazil:
Spain vs. Italy
Action from Group A in the FIFA Confederations Cup concluded on Saturday with two games played in Brazil.
At Salvador:
Fred scored twice (66', 89') as Brazil doubled up on Italy 4-2 to win the Group A title. Neymar (left) is seen here celebrating with Oscar after scoring for the Samba Kings in the 55th minute.
At Belo Horizonte:
Javier (Chicharito) Hernandez scored twice (54', 66') as Mexico held off Japan to avoid finishing in the Group A basement.
Reuters photos
FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Brazil (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 9)
2. Italy (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3. Mexico (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
4. Japan (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 0)
Brazil and Italy advanced to the semifinal round.
Two games in the FIFA Confederations Cup, both in Group B, were played on Thursday in Brazil.
At Rio de Janeiro:
Fernando Torres delivered a quadruple (5', 33', 37', 78', that's him scoring against embattled goalkeeper Mikael Roche) while David Villa added a hat trick (39', 49', 64') and David Silva a double (31', 89') as Spain destroyed Tahiti 10-0 in the most lopsided match in tournament history.
Reuters photo
At Salvador:
Diego Lugano (19') and Diego Forlan (51', that's him celebrating after scoring) each scored a goal as Uruguay defeated Nigeria 2-1.
Photo from Yahoo-Eurosport website
GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. Spain (GP: 2; GD: +11; PTS: 6)
2. Nigeria (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 3)
3. Uruguay (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Tahiti (GP: 2; GD: -15; PTS: 0)
Following a day of World Cup qualifying the FIFA Confederations Cup resumed on Wednesday with two Group A contests played in Brazil.
At Fortaleza:
Neymar (9', that's him celebrating with teammates) and Jo (90'+3) each provided a goal as Brazil blanked Mexico 2-0 and clinched a berth in the semifinal round, eliminating El Tri.
At Recife:
Sebastian Giovinco scored the winning goal in the 86th minute as Italy took out Japan in a 4-3 slugfest that carried the Azzurri into the semifinal round and eliminated the Blue Samurai. Here's Mario Balotelli, celebrating with teammates after converting a penalty kick in the 52nd minute.
Reuters photos
GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. x-Brazil (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
2. x-Italy (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
3. z-Mexico (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 0)
4. z-Japan (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 0)
x-Advanced to the semifinal round
z-Eliminated from tournament
At Belo Horizonte, Brazil:
In the lone Monday FIFA Confederations Cup contest, Nnamdi Oduamadi delivered a hat trick (10', 26', 76')--the first by an African player at a senior FIFA tournament---as Nigeria proved far too much for upstart Tahiti 6-1 in Group B action. Here, we see the Super Eagles' Uwa Echiejile (right) celebrating with teammates after he opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
Reuters photo
GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. Nigeria (GP: 1; GD: +5; PTS: 3)
2. Spain (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Uruguay (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Tahiti (GP: 1; GD: -5; PTS: 0)
Two games were played on Sunday in the FIFA Confederations Cup taking place in Brazil.
Group A:
At Rio de Janeiro:
Goals from Andrea Pirlo (27', that's him, earning his 100th cap with the national team, celebrating) and Mario Balotelli (78') carried Italy to a 2-1 victory over Mexico.
Photo from SB Nation website
GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Brazil (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. Italy (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Mexico (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Japan (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)
Group B:
At Recife:
Pedro Rodriguez (20') and Roberto Soldado (32', with celebrations taking place afterward, as shown here) each scored a goal in the first half as Spain held off Uruguay 2-1.
Photo from Yahoo-Eurosport website
At Brasilia, Brazil:
Neymar (3'), Paulinho (48'), and Jo (90'+3, seen here) provided the scoring as Brazil dominated Japan 3-0 on Saturday in the opening match of the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Associated Press photo by Eraldo Peres
