Confederations Cup

Here are the results of the Confederations Cup Final and 3rd spot play-offs:

Brazil 3-0 Spain.

Brazil produced a breathtaking performance at the Maracana to overwhelm Spain and claim their third consecutive Fifa Confederations Cup.

Driven on by the passion of a fiercely partisan crowd, the five-time world champions signalled their intent ahead of next summer's World Cup by ending Spain's 29-match competitive unbeaten record with a majestic display.
Fred scored twice, but Neymar again stole the show, scoring Brazil's second goal with a rasping left-foot shot.
To compound Spain's misery, Sergio Ramos missed a second-half penalty before Gerard Pique was sent off for bringing down Neymar as last man, with 22 minutes remaining.

At the final whistle, the Brazil fans proudly chanted 'the champions are back'. With David Luiz and Thiago Silva providing solidity at the back, the midfield generalship of Paulinho and the mercurial talents of Neymar in attack, the Selecao will certainly be a formidable proposition next year.

The streets around the Maracana had been a place of contrasts in the hours before the game. While protestors clashed with police a mile or so away, tens of thousands of Brazil fans danced in the streets.
The noise built to an incredible crescendo in the hour before kick-off, culminating with the Brazilian anthem, that stirred the passions of the partisan crowd.
History, too, was against Vicente Del Bosque's Spanish side. Brazil have not lost a competitive match on home soil since 1975 and you have to go back to 1934 to find the last time Spain had beaten them in a competitive match, home or away.
If Spain had dreamt of conjuring an early goal that might take the sting out of the mighty Maracana, they were made to think again by a Brazil side that pressed and probed and, carried on by the sheer emotion inside the stadium, snatched the lead inside two minutes.
Hulk's cross from the right was knocked down by Neymar at the back post. Fred lost his footing but as the ball came back his way, he swung a boot at it from the ground, lifting the ball up and over Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas and into the net.

Samba standard

Brazil are the first team to win three successive Fifa Confederations Cups. France won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2003.

Spain, normally so calm and controlled, briefly lost their way. Oscar fired narrowly wide from a fantastic chance, while Casillas scrambled back to claw Paulinho's deft lob from under his crossbar.

Brazil pressed Spain with an intensity that has become their own hallmark in recent times. They attacked with a fluency and flair that unsettled the world champions and that left Pique and Ramos flummoxed time and time again.
On two occasions during the first half, Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers decided against sending Spain defenders off after first Neymar and then Oscar were tripped when through on goal. Both Ramos and Alvaro Arbeloa were show yellow cards, much to Brazil's frustration.

Uruguay 2-2 Italy (AET) Italy win 3-2 on penalties.

Gianluigi Buffon saved three penalties as Italy beat Uruguay to claim third place in the Fifa Confederations Cup.

Davide Astori put Italy ahead when he tapped home on the line before Edinson Cavani equalised with a low effort.
Alessandro Diamanti restored Italy's lead with a curling free-kick and then Cavani levelled again with a stunning free-kick to ensure extra-time.
Riccardo Montolivo was sent off for two yellow cards in extra-time but Italy held on to seal a 3-2 win on penalties.
Diego Forlan, Martin Caceres and Walter Gargano all missed to hand Italy third spot in Salvador.

Off the spot

Uruguay's penalty record is now won five, lost five. La Celeste had won their last two shoot-outs before this defeat; seeing off Argentina 5-4 in the 2011 Copa America quarter-finals, a tournament they went on to win. They also famously knocked Ghana out of the last World Cup in a shoot-out.

Just three days after 120 minutes and a penalty shoot-out defeat by Spain in the semi-finals, Italy had to go through it all again but this time they came out on top with Alberto Aquilani, Stephan El Shaarawy and Emanuele Giaccherini converting their spot-kicks to reprieve Mattia De Sciglio who missed.

It was left to Gargano to score Uruguay's fifth penalty to force Italy to take another but Buffon saved again after also denying Forlan and Caceres.
If there was any fatigue from Thursday's marathon against the world champions, it was not evident in Cesare Prandelli's side in the early stages with five changes made from that defeat helping the Azzurri command the early stages.
Despite dominating Spain for long periods on Thursday before their penalty shoot-out defeat, Italy lacked a killer touch in front of goal and a bit of fortune but they certainly got the latter for their opener here.
A Diamanti free-kick came off the bar and hit keeper Fernando Muslera on the back before heading towards the line just as Astori came in to make sure the ball was over.