The tournament that even makes the UEFA Cup look worthwhile has finally served its purpose of knackering out some of England’s opponents for next year’s World Cup.
United States 2-3 Brazil
The Confederations Cup final got off to a brilliant start after ten minutes when the United States moved ahead of the Samba Boys as Clint Dempsey turned home a Jonathan Spector cross from the right. Tim Howard saved from Robinho as the Brazilians looked to strike back quickly. In the 25th minute the Americans scored a superb counter-attacking second, the US broke out of defence through Clarke, with the ball arriving to Donovan, then onto Charlie Davies and finally back to Landon Donovan, and the Galaxy striker applied the clinical finish from 15-yards.
Brazil bagged one a minute into the second half, the ball fed to Luis Fabiano who spun on a sixpence, his shot beating Howard. The Brazilians then began to turn the screw and their constant pressure eventually paid dividends in the 74th minute when Luis Fabiano grabbed his second after Robinho had hit a Kaka cross onto the bar. In the 83rd minute Brazil’s comeback was complete, Elano swung in a cross from the right and a towering Lucio header gave Dunga the lead for the first time in the final.
South Africa 2-3 Spain
It may be the most pointless fixture in the entire world of football but at least it was entertaining, eventually. It took 73 minutes before the deadlock was broken. When a goal finally arrived, it was the Bafana Bafana who were celebrating, Katlego Mphela scoring from close range converting a left wing cross. Just as the South Africans were starting to celebrate a famous victory, Fenerbahce scumbag Dani Guiza stepped up to fire home an equaliser with three minutes on the clock. Amazingly, Spain then scored an incredible second sixty seconds later, Santi playing the ball out wide to Guiza and the forward’s misplaced cross ended up curling into the far corner of the South African net. But, in an even more unbelievable twist, Katlego Mphela stepped up to thunder home an unstoppable free-kick in the 92nd minute.
South Africa pressed in the first half of extra-time while Spain had a point-blank penalty rejected, before Xabi Alonso saw his free-kick miss everyone to find the far corner in the 106th minute of the match.
Increasingly middle-aged and increasingly disillusioned by modern football, I want to share with you how good football used to be before it was ruined by money. 
