Confederations Cup Sunday: Italy and Spain Earn Narrow Wins, Nigeria Arrive

Mario Balotelli’s powerful strike with 12 minutes to play helped Italy to a 2-1 win over Mexico in Rio de Janeiro, while Luiz Suarez’s spectacular free-kick goal against Spain wasn’t quite enough for Uruguay, who were in tough against world and European champions Spain in Recife.

Meanwhile, Nigeria finally arrived in Brazil ahead of Monday’s Group B encounter with Tahiti in Belo Horizonte.

Mexico 1-2 Italy (34’ Hernandez—27’ Pirlo; 78’ Balotelli)

Mexico manager Jose Manuel de la Torre made a pair of changes to the Mexico side that played Costa Rica to a dour, 0-0 draw in a recent World Cup qualifier, and the addition of Giovani Dos Santos in particular seemed to spark a bit more creativity from a group that has struggled mightily for offense this calendar year.

But it was Italy who took the lead just prior to the half-hour mark—Andrea Pirlo’s exceptional free kick from 25 yards curling up and over the wall and bulging the back of the top left-hand corner of the goal.

Their advantage lasted just seven minutes, however, as Javier Hernandez converted from the spot after dos Santos had been hauled down in the area by Andrea Barzagli.

El Tri seemed to content to play from a draw from there, but in the 78th minute Balotelli did ever so well to control an athletic Emanuele Giaccherini flick, hold off the challenge of Francisco Rodriguez and beat Jose de Jesus Corona with an emphatic winner.

Mexico will next face Brazil in Fortaleza, while Italy will travel to Recife for an appointment with Japan. Both matches will be played on Wednesday.

Spain 2-1 Uruguay (20’ Pedro; 32’ Soldado—88’ Suarez)

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque opted to start Valencia’s Roberto Soldado up top, and in just his 10th match for La Roja, the 28-year-old found the back of the net for the sixth time.

By the time his well-placed shot—created by a weaving Cesc Fabregas run into the attacking third—had beaten Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, Spain had already opened the scoring—Pedro’s howitzer taking a wicked deflection off Diego Lugano before bouncing into the back of the net.

Spain were rarely troubled by the South American champions in Recife, but Suarez made things interesting with just two minutes to play when his free kick from distance swerved inside the near post, beyond the fingers of a diving Iker Casillas.

Spain’s next match will be against Tahiti in Rio de Janeiro, while Uruguay will next face Nigeria in Salvador. Both matches will be played on Thursday.

Coach’s Words (Jose Manuel de la Torre, from FIFA.com)

"

Our game-plan today was to sit and wait for Italy, wear them down and make the most of any space that opened up. In no way did we play a defensive game, though. Just because you let your opponents bring the ball out doesn’t mean to say you’re being defensive...But we were up against a great side who were very well-organized and made the most of their individual assets.

"

Player of the Day

Andrea Pirlo. On the day he earned his 100th cap for Italy, the playmaking midfielder didn’t look anywhere near his 34 years of age.

The Azzurri’s metronome in their first Confederations Cup match, Pirlo dictated the play at the Maracana and, in the 27th minute, opened the scoring with a well-taken free kick that represented his 13th goal for his country.

Looking Ahead

Despite missing their initial flight from their Namibia training base to Brazil, African champions Nigeria arrived in the country on Sunday morning—less than a day-and-a-half ahead of their Group B match against Oceania champions Tahiti.

Super Eagles manager Stephen Keshi will have to overcome both discontent within his squad (Nigeria only flew out of Namibia once a new agreement regarding payment bonuses for players was agreed) and the losses of Ogenyi Onazi, Kalu Uche, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike through injury.

Tahiti captain Nicolas Vallar is manager Eddy Etaeta’s only injury worry.

Projected Nigeria XI: Enyeama; Ambrose, Omerua, Oboabona, Echiejile; Mba, Mikel, Ogude; Odoumadi, Ideye, Musa

Projected Tahiti XI: Roche; Simon, Ludivion, Caroine, Faatiarau, Vero; Bourebare, L.Tehau, J. Tehau, A.Tehau; Chong-Hue

Noteworthy

A Confederations Cup match was once again marred by protests, as several hundred demonstrators clashed with police outside the Maracana before Sunday’s match between Mexico and Italy. Protesters were concerned with the high financial and social costs of hosting the World Cup, as reported by the BBC.

Twin brothers Alvin and Lorenzo Tehau, as well as third brother Jonathan, will all be expected to start for Tahiti against Nigeria on Monday. Striker Teaonui Tehau, a cousin, will likely begin the match on the bench.

On Sunday, Andrea Pirlo became the second-oldest player to ever play a Confederations cup match.