Brazil destroyed world and European champions Spain 3-0 to win a third straight Confederations Cup title with a dazzling display of football which left the Maracana Stadium in raptures here Sunday.
The turbo-charged samba stars roared to victory with two goals from Fred and a stunning strike from Neymar, dominating a weary Spanish side whose strength was sapped after edging Italy on penalties in Thursday's semi-final.
A miserable night for Spain also saw them miss a second half penalty when Sergio Ramos shot wide from the spot before Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was sent off for a professional foul on Neymar.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said the result as the perfect fillip as he plots a course to an assault on next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.
"People know a much tougher event is coming up (next year)," said Scolari. But he noted: "We can set out on the journey with a little more confidence."
Spanish counterpart Vicente del Bosque meanwhile admitted his side had been outclassed on the night. "There are no excuses. Brazil were better than us. We must congratulate them," del Bosque said.
The touchpaper for an electrifying evening at one of the most iconic venues in football was set during the pre-match ceremonies as Brazil's fans in a 73,531-crowd belted out a spine-tingling rendition of the national anthem.
The stirring anthems came as police clashed with protestors outside the ground before kick-off, the latest in a series of violent confrontations which have dogged the tournament since it kicked off.
With the euphoric stadium crowd behind them, Brazil raced into a 1-0 lead after only two minutes through Fred's first of the night.
Hulk lifted over a cross and Neymar slid a hopeful ball to the centre forward, who was prone in the box as he flung out his right leg to hook home from point blank range past helpless Spanish custodian Iker Casillas.
Oscar then fired a low shot just wide after Fred played on a Neymar flick before a Paulinho chip almost embarrassed Casillas as Brazil poured forward, visibly boosted by the overwhelming din of support cascading down from stands.
Spain briefly responded with a swirling drive from Andres Iniesta which appeared to be drifting just wide before Brazil keeper Julio Cesar pushed the ball away for a 19th-minute corner which Fernando Torres.
Scolari, who led the Brazilians to their last World Cup success 11 years earlier to the day, had begun the event playing down expectations after the legendary Pele slammed the current side as not good enough to win top prizes.
But in recent days Scolari had suggested now was the time for next year's World Cup hosts to show they are back in business.
Rarely on a football field was a message delivered so emphatically as the hopes of the Spanish, struggling to impose their high tempo possession game, withered and died.
Spain central defender Pique, already booked for a first half challenge, was sent off for taking Neymar's legs under him after the break - the bearded star left the fray to chants of "Shakira," his Colombian partner.
Had Spain found some of the singer's rhythm they might have stood a chance - but such was the pace of the hosts' high-speed interplay they were down and out after David Luiz made a superlative block in the 42nd minute.
Torres and Juan Mata produced an all-Chelsea interplay before sending Pedro away and the Barcelona forward arrowed an effort goalwards with Julio Cesar stranded.
As Brazilian hearts leapt into mouths, Luiz threw himself across the goalline to clear - prompting cheering that echoed back from the rafters.
There were niggly moments as Oscar, one of four Chelsea men on the pitch at the start, earned a booking for diving after a Ramos challenge.
Fred then saw Casillas make a fine stop with his legs from a low drive before the centre forward missed a free header.
But as the clock ticked down at the end of the first period Neymar made it 2-0, combining with Oscar before the Barcelona-bound starlet, just onside, twisted to smash an unstoppable left-footed drive past Casillas for his fourth goal of the event.
The 21-year-old vaulted the advertising hoardings to disappear in a sea of frenzied fans before embracing his teammates as the noise level climbed ever upwards.
Two minutes after the restart it was 3-0 as the swashbuckling Fred again showed why Scolari is such a fan, firing an unerring low drive wide of Casillas' outstretched arm after a brilliantly instinctive Neymar dummy.
Spain reacted as coach Vicente del Bosque, the only man to coach teams to the World Cup, the Euros and the Champions League, sent on Jesus Navas for Mata - but there would be no resurrection for Spain.
After Marcelo fouled Navas there was still time for Ramos to send a spotkick wide for Spain as his effort summed up their evening - put on the spot, and found wanting, while Brazil showed that a sixth World Cup could just be there for the taking.
AFP
Mon Jul 01 2013
KDN muktamad pembelian empat helikopter untuk APMM bernilai RM600 juta
Kertas kerja bagi perolehan aset itu sudah diserahkan kepada Kementerian Kewangan untuk keputusan akhir.
Kempen PRK KKB lancar setakat ini - Polis Selangor
Kempen PRK DUN KKB yang memasuki hari ketiga hari ini berjalan lancar dan tiada sebarang insiden tidak diingini dilaporkan setakat ini.
Buletin AWANI Khas: Asia Barat sedang ‘Stress’: Dialog menteri-menteri dunia Arab
Situasi meruncing di Gaza, konflik Iran-Israel dan ditambah pula persaingan kuat dua kuasa, Amerika Syarikat dan China dilihat terus membayangi percaturan geopolitik dan geoekonomi negara-negara Islam di Asia Barat. Beberapa Menteri Luar negara-negara Arab duduk sepentas di Mesyuarat Khas WEF, Riyadh dalam sesi ini.
#SpecialMeeting24
#SpecialMeeting24
AWANI Ringkas: Projek NTC | Sindiket Dadah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kilang cat terbakar, dua sekolah di Meru diarah ditutup
Penutupan dua buah sekolah terlibat iaitu SK Meru dan Sekolah Rendah Agama Meru 2 itu dibuat atas faktor keselamatan.
AWANI 7:45 [29/04/2024] – Meja bulat bersama 50 pemimpin industri dunia | Penggunaan komersial capai 80 peratus
PM yakin Malaysia jadi destinasi pelabur bernilai tinggi.
Kerajaan perkenal program solar untuk pengguna komersial.
Kelas Terapung dilaksana kawasan penduduk kepadatan tinggi.
Laporan Bank Dunia dedah hanya 58 peratus pelajar mahir membaca menjelang akhir darjah 5.
Kerajaan perkenal program solar untuk pengguna komersial.
Kelas Terapung dilaksana kawasan penduduk kepadatan tinggi.
Laporan Bank Dunia dedah hanya 58 peratus pelajar mahir membaca menjelang akhir darjah 5.
Malaysia perlu berani menentang Denmark
Hanya kemenangan menentang Denmark, kuasa besar badminton dunia, dalam aksi penting Kumpulan D Piala Thomas 2024 esok akan membawa Malaysia mendahului carta kedudukan.
Indonesia sokong pendekatan Malaysia bantu bangun 'peradaban' banduan Indonesia
Penjara bukan semata-mata tempat menghukum tetapi mentransformasikan ia sebagai institusi pendidikan yang memberi peluang kepada penghuni.
Polis tembak kereta mewah bawa dadah lebih RM100,000
Polis terpaksa melepaskan tembakan bagi mengawal keadaan selepas pemandu kenderaan terbabit bertindak agresif dan cuba merempuh anggota polis .
Polis siasat dakwaan pusat keagamaan di Nilai lakukan aktiviti mencurigakan
Ketua Polis Negeri Sembilan Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof berkata pihaknya menerima laporan berhubung perkara tersebut Jumat lepas.
Vinicius Junior menangis jawab isu penderaan perkauman
Penyerang sensasi Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior, menangis dalam sidang media selepas ditanya mengenai isu perkauman yang melibatkan dirinya.
12 maut akibat banjir, tanah runtuh di Brazil
Sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang terbunuh akibat banjir dan tanah runtuh berikutan hujan berterusan di Brazil, kata pegawai pada Ahad.
Euro 2024: Southgate positif di sebalik England tersungkur kepada Brazil
Gareth Southgate gembira dengan mutu persembahan England meskipun tewas kepada Brazil dalam perlawanan persahabatan.
Kes denggi meningkat di Brazil, cabar rancangan vaksinasi
Brazil disahkan mencapai satu juta kes demam denggi pada tahun 2024, dengan 214 kematian.
Kelayakan Olimpik: Brazil kandas, tidak layak ke Paris 2024
Brazil gagal melayakkan diri ke kejohanan bola sepak Olimpik lelaki selepas tewas 1-0 kepada Argentina.
Pantai Rio de Janeiro masih sesak meskipun kes denggi meningkat
Orang ramai dilihat hadir ke pantai Rio de Janeiro untuk mengambil bahagian dalam karnival jalanan yang dinanti-nantikan meskipun terdapat kebimbangan mengenai peningkatan kes demam denggi.
Masihkah ada dendam antara Neymar dan jurulatih baru Brazil?
Dorival Junior menggantikan Fernando Diniz yang menjadi pengurus interim sejak Julai 2023.
Malaysia dan Brazil tingkat kerjasama dalam isu utama global
Malaysia dan Brazil komited untuk meningkatkan penyelarasan dalam bidang kepentingan bersama menerusi dialog.
12 maut dalam nahas pesawat di Amazon Brazil
Sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang, termasuk seorang bayi, maut apabila pesawat ringan yang mereka naiki terhempas di negeri Acre di barat laut Brazil.
14 maut pesawat terhempas di Brazil
Mangsa terdiri daripada pelancong yang dalam perjalanan untuk menjalankan aktiviti memancing.