How do you write a blog about the events of the last week? After breaking one record and equalling another, Spain, was bowled out of the Confederations Cup when the USA gave all to take them to the final. In the other semifinal, only a late goal from Brazil could keep South Africa out of it. How close we were to an SA-USA final! Now that would have been something! In the end, quality beat boldness in at least one of the matches, so we all sat in front of our sets on Sunday to see Spain thrash South Africa and Brazil thrash the USA. Who could have known?
I started writing this blog when only minutes remained of the match for third place between South Africa and Spain. The impossible had happened! After their record-breaking quarterfinal, Spain was going to lose two matches in a row! But a late equaliser and an even later "winning" goal broke the South Africans' hearts and made me rewrite what I had on my computer screen. South Africa had gone down in two matches against arguably the best two teams in the world through goals scored in the last two minutes of normal time! However, heartbreak turned to delight again for the South Africans when Mphela's 93rd minute free kick found the back of the net sending the match into extra time. The South Africans were eventually heartbroken anyway as Spain's Alonso curled in the winning goal in the 107th minute but they had clearly taken a giant step forward ahead of hosting next year's World Cup.
Wise from the previous match, I refrained from writing anything about the final until it finished, though I was tempted at half time. The USA was going to shock the Brazilians and send waves throughout the world of football. Luckily, I disregarded the surprise 2-0 lead the USA had at the interval and saw the Brazilians suddenly behave as I'd expected. Three goals in the second half put the world back on its axis and gave the gold to Brazil.
Although the final outcome was to be expected, this year's Confederations Cup has shown that the gap between the best in the world and the smaller nations is shrinking. Let's hope we see more evidence next year.
Tonight we'll be seeing an England-Germany final once again, now in the U21 Championships. More tomorrow.
All the best.