While the arguments continue about the rights and wrongs of the British & Irish Lions rugby union tour to South Africa, the world of football has no such concerns at the end of a highly successful Confederations Cup tournament.
Fifa are trumpeting the 8 team event as a more than satisfactory warm-up event to next year’s World Cup finals, and certainly if the action next summer compares to what we’ve enjoyed over the past few weeks, then the 2010 World Cup will be one to remember.
First off, congratulations must go to the winners Brazil. In Sunday’s final they battled back from two goals down against the USA to take the trophy 3 – 2.
Playing in the Nike Superfly, Clint Dempsey (who has surely enhanced his reputation as a top level striker) put the USA ahead with Landon Donovan, in a classic pair of Nike Vapor IV’s, doubling their advantage before half time.
USA star Landon Donovan wears the Charcoal Vapor IV
But, just as he did last week, Brazil striker Luis Fabiano banged in a brace wearing his Nike Superfly’s ,Kaka had a goal wrongly disallowed before Lucio in the adidas Predator Powerserve headed the winner as time ran out.
With 5 goals in the competition, Fabiano won the adidas Golden Shoe for being the tournaments top scorer with team mate Kaka winning the adidas Golden Ball as best player.
One medal, two trophies. The tournaments best player Kaka revels in Brazil’s win at the Confederations Cup
In the preceding game to settle 3rd and 4th place, there were two goal heroes for both Spain and South Africa with the Spanish eventually winning 3 – 2 after extra time.
Nike look like they could have another big name player on their hands in Katlego Mphela. The South African substitute opened the scoring in the second half, lashing in a cross from Siphiwe Tshabalala
Two goals in as many minutes from Daniel Guiza in the Diadora LX – K-Pro looked to have won the game for the European Champions but Mphela had other ideas, as he rammed home an injury time free kick to force extra time.
A Spaniard with Italian flair - Daniel Guiza wears the Diadora LX K-Pro
But just as adidas provided the winner in the final, so it did hear with Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso converting a free kick in his adiPure II’s to give Spain the victory.
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June 29th, 2009 at 8:41 am
i dont agree with the kaka and the best player trophy
June 29th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Well done Brazil, great come back!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Kaka was quality…
Real Madrid are gonna be a right team next year top two players next year..
Very good tournament, Those hooters got anoying though.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Great tourno - very exciting.
Good to see Diadora getting in on the action too.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I think Fabiano will have surprised a few people.
A return of 5 goals is pretty impressive.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
While Kakà did play well, I don’t think he is totally deserving of the Golden Ball trophy. And The second half was very disappointing from the Americans.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Kaka is my baller but i don’t think he should have won the trophee. The RSA goalkeeper did a great job, im not a fan of team USA and wanted Spain to win real bad but Onyewu was doing a fantasic job. Fabiano was a star for brazil. Tim howard was doing his thing also. Now its true noone rised up above all the competition so…(LUCIO is a real big treat on set piece, he used to play striker for the under 21 Brazil team)
June 29th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
It was a pretty good game both ways but Brasil had so much more possession. It was like 60% to 40%. It was so stupid how Kaka’s goal was disallowed.. The ball was like freakin inside the net and the goalie pushed it out! Theres like no way that u hit the ball from outside the line and have it hit the crossbar and come out…
June 30th, 2009 at 1:30 am
guiza’s goal was FANTASTIC !
and the two freekick goals were amazing !
June 30th, 2009 at 3:29 am
that’s weird. the whole tournament i thought donovan was wearing the older Mercurial SLs.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:20 am
you guys gave Donavon and Dempsey all the credit for the U.S.A. I am from the U.S and i personally think that Howard was the reason that the USA got as far as they did. If there was an award for keepers he would have definatley won.