Spain – Italy 7:6 (after SO)
final/SO
Spain
7:6 (0:0)
Italy
Thursday 27.06.2013, 21:00 • Confederations Cup
     
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    Spain wins a crazy game with 7-6 after penalty shootout and joins Brazil for the 2013 Confed Cup final on Sunday while Italy will face Uruguay in the game for the third place!
     
    Game over.
     
    Jesús Navas with a precise and hard shot into the left bottom corner, Buffon was there but the ball is in – 7-6 Spain!
     
    Bonucci with a shot clearly over the crossbar is the first player to miss – still 6-6.
     
    Sergio Busquets with a hard and precise shot into the right bottom corner while Buffon was in the other corner – 6-6.
     
    Montolivo with a hard shot into the left bottom corner while Casillas is in the right corner – 6-5 Italy.
     
    With all the pressure on him Mata scores also into the left bottom corner while Buffon is in the other direction – 5-5.
     
    Pirlo with a calm shot into the left bottom corner and Casillas doesn't even react – 5-4 Italy.
     
    Sergio Ramos with a lot of patience fires the ball into the left top corner while Buffon was only in the bottom corner – 4-4.
     
    Giovinco with a very strange shot but the ball goes into the left bottom corner while Casillas looks completley surprised – 4-3 Italy.
     
    Piqué with a hard shot past Buffon – 3-3.
     
    De Rossi with a high shot into the left top corner while Casillas is in the other direction – 3-2 Italy.
     
    Iniesta with an incredibly hard shot into the right bottom corner just as Buffon had previsted it but the ball goes in – 2-2.
     
    Aquilani with a hard and well-placed shot into the left bottom corner. Casillas is in the right corner but can't get the save – 2-1 Italy.
     
    Xavi with a hard shot into the right corner while Buffon is in the other direction – 1-1.
     
    Candreva with a lob into the middle of the net and Casillas is in the right corner. 1-0 Italy.
     
    Penalty shots begin.
     
    Spain was clearly better in the second half of the extra time but failed to use even best opportunities! Now we'll have a penalty shootout to decide who will play the Confed Cup final.
     
    2nd overtime finished.
     
    120
    One minute is added to the game.
     
    120
    Javi Martinez with a back heel attempt just in front of the Italian net after a pass by Navas from the right wing!
     
    120
    Flat cross by Maggio from the right outside lane for Giovinco but Piqué and Ramos are in between.
     
    118
    After a cross by Javi Martínez from the left wing Mata wasn't able to controll the ball but behind him waited Jesús Navas in a better position and Mata had to apologize...
     
    117
    Dangerous play by Busquets to get the ball after the corner but the game continues.
     
    117
    Spain earn another corner and now play with huge pressure!
     
    116
    Jesús Navas with a shot from a very sharp angle and Buffon blocked the shot to the side at cost of a corner!
     
    115
    Out of the blue a huge double chance for Spain! Buffon with a terrible mistake when he boxed a hard distance shot by Xavi against the left goal post! The following pass then went wide!
     
    113
    Buffon almost with a huge mistake after leaving his net to clear a ball but everything went right.
     
    112
    Looks like both teams just hope for the penalty shootout. Barely any movement visible currently.
     
    110
    Chiellini lays on the pitch with cramps...
     
    109
    Suddenly Juan Mata with a big shot from about 20 metres distance that goes just a metre wide past the left bottom corner.
     
    107
    Iniesta stays the most active Spanish player but barely anyone in the Spanish team helps him and all players are waiting in their own half.
     
    106
    Start of 2nd overtime.
     
    In a relatively strange first half of the overtime, Spain suddenly invested more again and had good opportunities but the best chance was in favour of Italy through the new man Giovinco.
     
    1st overtime finished.
     
    105+1
    Piqué is the first Spanish player to be booked in this game for a ridiculous handball when he tried to keep a ball in play just at the Italian endline.
     
    105
    One minute is added to the first half of overtime.
     
    104
    The free kick was executed by Xavi and went a metre wide past the left top corner...
     
    103
    Iniesta with a dive against Pirlo just in front of the Italian box – and Webb gives the free kick.
     
    101
    Free kick by Xavi towards the penalty shot point and the header by Piqué goes just wide.
     
    100
    Offside call against Giovinco after a long ball from the midfield.
     
    99
    With Piqué and Javi Martínez playing as attackers Spain suddenly has one good opportunity after the other! Amazing lob by Iniesta towards the six yard box and Jordi Alba misses the net just by inches! Buffon would have been chanceless!
     
    97
    Piqué with a header from just five metres distance but he dosn't hit the ball well before Sergio Ramos can't reach the rebound!
     
    96
    Spain claims a handball by Chiellini inside the Italian box but "no" signals the referee.
     
    94
    Javi Martínez enters the pitch for Fernando Torres and will play – surprise, surprise – as a striker for the rest of the overtime!
     
    93
    Huge opportunity for Italy when Giovinco hit the upper left goal post after a nice pass by Maggio!
     
    91
    Giovinco enters the pitch for Gilardino. Last possible change by Italy.
     
    91
    1st overtime began.
     
    Italy continued to dominate the second half but again failed to score. Both teams look very tired due to the heat in Brazil. The players look a bit desperate with the extra time in front of them.
     
    End of regular time.
     
    90+4
    The free kick cross by Xaxi is cleared via header by the Italians at cost of a corner which isn't executed anymore...
     
    90+3
    Iniesta wins a free kick against Candreva just outside the left corner of the Italian box!
     
    90+2
    Suddenly Gilardino appeared alone in front of Casillas after Aquilani tried a bicycle kick that failed but Gilardino was in an offside position...
     
    90
    Three minutes are added to the game.
     
    89
    After a long cross by Jesús Navas from the right wing towards the second post, Torres gave the ball to Mata with a header but the Chelsea midfielder wasn't able to create danger.
     
    87
    Piqué seems to be injured after landing bad as a consequence of an aerial duel.
     
    86
    Long ball intended for Gilardino, caught by Casillas.
     
    84
    Jesús Navas with a flat cross towards the penalty shot point and Piqué fires the ball wide as he doesn't hit it well at all... unbelievable.
     
    83
    Both teams look very tired. And extra time is coming closer...
     
    82
    A cross by Candreva is easily caught by Casillas.
     
    81
    Jordi Alba from the left and Jesús Navas from the right side with dangerous crosses but nobody is in the middle to use them...
     
    79
    And the Italians also use their second option. Aquilani substitutes Marchisio.
     
    79
    Second change by Spain. In for the tired looking Pedro is Mata.
     
    78
    Long ball by the Italians over the Spanish defense but Casillas paid attention and caught it.
     
    76
    Sergio Ramos clears at cost of a corner in the duel with Candreva. A goal for Italy seems only like a question of time.
     
    75
    After a corner for Italy the Spaniards tried to go for a counter attack but Jesús Navas failed to controll the ball...
     
    73
    Great pass by Jordi Alba for Pedro who was through alone on the left wing but in the 1-on-1 with Buffon he failed incredibly... instead of using his left foot to shoot the ball past the goalkeeper he jumped into the ball with his right leg and the ball went wide...
     
    72
    Pirlo also executed the corner from the right side which then was used by Chielini for a header that went over the crossbar.
     
    72
    Free kick cross by Pirlo from the right wing and Piqué clears at cost of a corner.
     
    70
    Another good attack by the Italians that is blocked just in the last moment at the border of the Spanish area.
     
    68
    Maggio with a great assist for Marchisio from the right side of the Spanish area but the following shot from the border of the six-yard box is blocked for a corner by Piqué in the very last moment!
     
    67
    Marchisio receives medical treatment after he received a hit against one of his legs.
     
    66
    Combination between Xavi and Iniesta inside the Italian box but the last pass by Xavi was not very precise and the following cross by Iniesta only found the gloves of Buffon.
     
    65
    Italy's De Rossi jumps brutally into Torres with his foot up to avoid a fast counter attack after a deflected ball. First yellow card of the game.
     
    64
    Long dribbling by INiesta who goes past Bonucci without problems but his shot from a central position from about 20 metres distance goes wide significantly...
     
    63
    We haven't seen a single scoring opportunity in the second half to this point. The playing level has really decreased.
     
    62
    Long and high ball for Gilardino – offside at height of the penalty shot point.
     
    61
    Jesús Navas tries to get past his opponent on the right outside lane but he loses the ball for an Italian goal kick.
     
    60
    Terrible pass by Pedro that goes past the endline.
     
    59
    Italian defender Chiellini acts as a forward during a fast attack by his team over the left wing but he stands offside.
     
    57
    Pedro with a through ball for Torres but he wasn't able to controll the ball at the right side of the Italian area but gave it to Navas whose shot from about 20 metres distance was caught by Buffon.
     
    55
    Harmless cross by Maggio from the right wing into the gloves of Casillas.
     
    53
    Corner by Spain from the right side through Xavi but the following header by Sergio Ramos goes wide significantly.
     
    52
    Jesús Navas is the substitute for the completely disappeared David Silva. Spain had to react.
     
    50
    Spain prepare their first change. Jesús Navas will enter the pitch.
     
    50
    Harmless cross by Jordi Alba into the gloves of Buffon.
     
    48
    A shot by Iniesta from the left side of the Italian box goes wide without creating danger...
     
    48
    Nothing really happened so far in this half but Spain are trying to gain controll of the match back with a huge amount of ball possession.
     
    46
    Italy with a change in the half time break. Montolivo is new in the match for Barzagli.
     
    46
    The second half starts with the same 11 men on the pitch as the previous one in the case of Spain despite their disappointing performance.
     
    46
    Start of 2nd half.
     
    Italy dominated the first half and had many big opportunities to take the lead against favourites Spain but failed to use them so far. Spain more or less disappeared apart of one or two good situations and they have to invest a lot more if they want to win this match.
     
    1st halftime finished.
     
    45
    Nice lob by Iniesta towards the six-yard box but Xavi can't reach the ball despite having his foot up.
     
    43
    Double chance for Italy. The first shot by Giaccherini is blocked by a defender before a powerful shot by De Rossi is boxed away by Casillas!
     
    41
    Brilliant pass by Pirlo for Gilardino who would have been through alone but he is just offside.
     
    39
    Long through ball for Silva who can't reach it at the Italian box.
     
    37
    On the other side of the pitch Fernando Torres received a ball at the border of the Italian area, turned around Barzagli and fired the ball just past the right bottom corner!
     
    35
    What a huge, huge opportunity for Italy! Brilliant cross by Giaccherini for Maggio who escaped from the today very weak Alba but his header from short distance was stopped by "San Iker" Casillas! Incredible!
     
    34
    Fast combination by the Italians over Pirlo but Jordi Alba is in between to stop a through ball.
     
    32
    Strange dive by Barzagli in the Spanish half and Howard Webb gives him a free kick despite Torres standing several metres away from the Italian...
     
    30
    Hard entry from behind by Chiellini against Torres in the midfield, no card though.
     
    28
    The whole left side by Spain doesn't make the best impression with the very small players Alba, Iniesta and Silva who have huge problems to get their taller opponents under controll.
     
    26
    Out of nothing almost the big opportunity for Spain but the through ball for Silva who waited close to the Italian net is not precise enough.
     
    25
    The Italian defense stands very safe. They play with early pressing whenever Spain comes close to their net and win the ball by this.
     
    23
    The Spanish team keeps the ball for a long time now. They try to calm the game a bit down.
     
    21
    Very harmless cross by Busquets into the gloves of Buffon.
     
    19
    Another header – this time by Marchisio – causes a lot of danger in front of the Spanish net. Italy is controlling everything.
     
    18
    After a precise free kick cross by Pirlo it was De Rossi whose header went just wide past the left post! Italy is playing a lot better so far!
     
    17
    Beautiful solo by Candreva on the right wing. He leaves several opponents behind himself before he is stopped with a foul by Jordi Alba.
     
    17
    Big opportunity for Italy! Casillas left his net and Maggio reacted faster than his opponent Alba to get a header that caused much trouble for the Spanish goalkeeper!
     
    15
    After a pass by Maggio from the right wing it was Gilardino whose direct shot towards the left bottom corner at height of the penalty shot point went just wide!
     
    14
    Iniesta wins the ball deep inside the Italian half but his following through ball is blocked by a defender.
     
    12
    Long solo by Torres on the right outside lane but when he tried to keep the ball in play at the endline, his opponents stole it from him.
     
    11
    Bad ball controll by Jordi Alba in a similar position as Silva in the previous situation. Spain with several avoidable mistakes.
     
    9
    David Silva loses a tackle on the left wing and can't controll the ball – throw in for Italy in their own half.
     
    8
    Candreva with a flat cross from the right outside lane that is cleared by a Spanish defender – first corner of the game. This one was dangerous but the following header by Maggio went one metre over the crossbar.
     
    7
    Chiellini does it very clever when a through ball for Pedro was long and he put his body in between to earn a goalkick for his team.
     
    6
    We see a very entertaining start to this match with both teams going for offense all time.
     
    5
    Casillas had to leave his net after a long ball by the Italians but the Spanish goalkeeper cleared the situation with all his experience.
     
    5
    Very harmless distance shot by Iniesta that goes wide without causing any trouble for Buffon.
     
    4
    On the paper the 4-5-1 by Italy looks very defensive but whenever they have the chance for an attack they use all their midfielders to create an overweight.
     
    3
    On the other side of the pitch Italy ends a 3-on-3 counter with a curler by Giaccherini that goes wide several metres past the right post.
     
    2
    The ball comes again to Pedro and this time he tries it with a shot from about 20 metres distance that goes a metre wide past the left bottom corner. First good opportunity for Spain!
     
    1
    After not even half a minute the Italian defense already showed their first insecurities when Pedro was left alone on the right wing after a long ball but he couldn't use the space and his flat pass towards the six-yard box went wide.
     
    1
    Game started.
     
    Spain will start with their "normal" 4-3-3 system while Italy plays very defensive with a 5-4-1 just like Italian champions Juventus Turin.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Spain: Casillas – Arbeloa, Piqué, S. Ramos, J. Alba – Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta – Pedro, F. Torres, D. Silva

    Italy: Buffon – Giaccherini, Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, Maggio – Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Candreva – Gilardino

    Referees: Howard Webb
     
    Spain and Italy meet in Fortaleza for semifinal #2 of the 2013 Confed Cup this evening. A close match is expected when two of the best national teams of the past years will face each other with the goal to reach Sunday's tournament final against Brazil. The losers will play against Uruguay in the match for the 3rd place.

    Spain (EC 2008, WC 2010, EC 2012) and Italy (WC 2006) both know what it means to win big titles and now can make a big step to add another one to their collection which they never won so far.

    For Spain the group stage was an easy walk through with wins against Uruguay (2-1), Tahiti (10-0) and Nigeria (3-0) while Italy had far more trouble against Mexico (2-1), Japan (4-3) and Brazil (2-4).

    In recent years the two teams had their share of competitive games against each other at big tournaments with the better end for the Spainiards who threw out Italy in the quarterfinals of the Euro 2008 in the penalty shootout before winning the Euro 2012 title with a 4-0 final win against them – in the group stage both teams had played 1-1 during the tournament. The overall head-to-head record in all games is very even (7-8-6) but slightly in favour of Italy.

    Today's favourites are Spain but everything is possible!
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 21:00 CET.
    Commentary by

    Dennis Mende

    Goals & lineups
    Goals:

    Cards:   105+1. Piqué (SPA) – 65. Rossi (ITA)

    Spain: Casillas – Arbeloa, Piqué, S. Ramos, J. Alba – Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta – Pedro (79. Mata), F. Torres (94. J. Martínez), D. Silva (52. Navas)
    Italy: Buffon – Giaccherini, Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli (46. Montolivo), Maggio – Marchisio (79. Aquilani), Pirlo, De Rossi, Candreva – Gilardino (91. Giovinco)
    Referees: Howard Webb