Battle of Maracana!: Brazil out to halt Spanish juggernaut

[Mirror]

The stage is set today for the five-time World Cup winners, Brazil, and the reigning world champions, Spain, to battle it out for the final of FIFA Confederations Cup at Rio de Janeiro's iconic footballing cathedral, the prestigious Maracana Stadium.

Sunday Mirror gathered that Brazil have no injury worries ahead of the final match and are expected to field the same team that beat Uruguay in today's showpiece.

Selecao boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has named the same starting XI in three of his side's four matches and is unlikely to make changes, although out-of-form striker Hulk's place may come under threat.

Spain are also expected to play at full strength for the Maracana clash because Cesc Fabregas and Roberto Soldado have shaken off muscle injuries and could return to the side after sitting out the 7-6 penalty shoot-out victory over Italy.

Already, Brazil are unbeaten in 10 matches prior to today's cracker, winning their last five. They have not lost a competitive game at home since 1975. Selecao have also won four of eight previous meetings with Spain, drawing two and losing two matches, but the two countries have not faced each other since 1999.

It is also on record that Brazil handed the Spanish team their heaviest-ever World Cup defeat in 1950, when they stunned them with an emphatic 6-1 win at the Maracana before going on to lose to Uruguay in the final.

However, four of Brazil's 2013 Confederations Cup squad play their club football in Spain, which makes today's final match very intriguing.

On the other side, Spain are on a record 29-match unbeaten run in competitive matches, stretching back to the 2010 World Cup. They have so far won 24 matches and drawn 5.

La Roja's only competitive win over Brazil came in the first round of the 1934 World Cup.

It is also on record that Spain have won their last six encounters against South American opponents in all competitions, including friendlies. The last Latin American side to beat Spain was Argentina in a friendly in September 2010.

Former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has backed the current side to end Spain's era of dominance by winning today's Confederations Cup final.

The Selecao reached the showpiece event with a 2-1 win over Uruguay in the semifinals, while Spain edged out Italy on penalties after a pulsating 0-0 draw on Thursday.

Parreira, who coached Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, believes Luiz Felipe Scolari's side can take heart from Italy's performance against the reigning world and European champions and bring their remarkable run of success to an end. "It is now the time to end the era of Spain.

I have been talking with Scolari and the coaching staff, and now is not time to change tactics. "We have to maintain the line we have taken so far. Brazil are playing at home and have to keep the initiative in the game.

"This is the game that everyone hoped for, but the fans would not have chosen this opponent for the final, but, since it is Spain, we welcome them. Brazil are in an excellent moment, they have confidence, it is easy to see.

"Scolari has done a wonderful job this past month. We have played against five world champions and not lost a game. We look ahead knowing that we will play very well.

"We know also that Italy had a wonderful first half against Spain on Thursday, showing that with will, determination and intelligence, it is possible to beat Spain," Parreira, now technical director of the Selecao, told reporters in Brazil yesterday.

Meanwhile, Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, is optimistic that his team will surmount all pressure and come out victorious in today's final match against Brazil.

He revealed that the clash is indeed a dream final. "We're going to face up to them. We have to put on a show and make it a good advertisement for football.

"Brazil have won five World Cups and three Confederations Cups and they'll be playing at the Maracana in front of their own fans. For us it's a dream game. Come Sunday, a new chapter will begin. We'll start all-square and see who seizes the initiative," he said.

National Mirror