Luis is the two-goal hero as Fab Brazil march to semi’s
In terms of their respective FIFA World Rankings, Brazil and Italy are one place apart. Here, on a humid Sunday evening at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld stadium, they were simply miles apart.
Brazil’s midfield maestro Kaka showed glimpses of the class which persuaded Real Madrid to, albeit briefly, make him the world’s most expensive player, and Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano netted twice in a brutal seven-minute spell which, along with Andrea Dossena’s own goal just before half-time, put the game beyond the 2006 World Champions before Benito Archundia Tellez could blow his whistle for the break.
Bizarrely, a 3-1 defeat for Italy would have seen them into the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup after Egypt went down 3-0 against the USA, who now qualify instead. Brazil, with an 100% record thanks to a routine victory over the Americans and a last-gasp win over Egypt, were already guaranteed a place in Thursday’s semi-final against the hosts, South Africa, but showed no signs of easing up.
Eyes on the ball – Two-goal hero Fabiano
An Italian side containing seven of the World Cup winning starting eleven were made to look ordinary in the face of unrelenting early pressure from Brazil.
Robinho and Mauro Camoranesi both had good chances to open the scoring for either side but when Lucio was denied twice in a minute, first from a combination of Daniele De Rossi and the post and then from a fine example of reactions from Gianluigi Buffon, Brazil were in the ascendancy.
And true to form, Brazil made their superiority count just a minute later when Fabiano, played onside by Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro, coolly slotted past Buffon from twelve yards. Juventus defender Cannavaro was making his 126th appearance for his country, equalling Paolo Maldini’s record, but was given no opportunity to celebrate as Fabiano doubled Brazil’s lead two minutes before half time, this time cleverly dinking the ball over Buffon as the goalkeeper rushed out to close the angle.
Record-breaker: Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro
And as the half-time whistle approached, Brazil put the result beyond doubt thanks to Dossena’s own goal. Manchester City forward Robinho again threatened down Italy’s left flank and his dangerous centre was met by the Liverpool full-back, who could only divert the ball past Buffon and into his own net.
At the break Italy manager Marcello Lippi introduced both Giuseppe Rossi and Alberto Gilardino and soon after, picking the ball up around 20 yards from goal, Villarreal youngster Rossi stung the palms of Cesar, and the Brazil goalkeeper was in action again again when fellow substitute Gilardino went close with a flicked header.
Italy’s desperation to force their way back into the game led to chances at both ends – Rossi again troubling Cesar with a long-range drive and Kaka curling just wide from the edge of the box – but the USA’s comfortable victory over Egypt, saw them knocked out of the competition.
The travelling Azzuri support can only hope their next visit to South Africa, for the defence of their World Cup title in 2010, will not be similarly cut short.
I voted for bradley to be fired because this is how the US should play ALL THE TIME. The fact that they don‘t is a symptom of coaching not personnel.