Sergio Ramos of Spain looks on during a training session at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 13, 2009 in Rustenburg, South Africa. Spain are in Rustenburg to prepare for their FIFA Confederation Cup opening match against New Zealand.

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Real Madrid defender and Spain international Sergio Ramos could use today’s match against South Africa for the third place in the Confederations Cup to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of fans after the flop against the U.S. and, maybe, even re-claim a spot in the World Top 23 of defenders.

Ramos, who at some point in the past season topped the list of La Liga defenders and was among the world’s top three, has an overall rating of just 96.54 points at the moment.

The plank to beat for Ramos against South Africa will amount to 4.50 rating points. He could even re-claim a spot in the World Top 23 with a strong performance, but only if Brazil’s Lucio, who has 124.07 points, misses his plank of 9.50 rating points in the final against the U.S.

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• Spain Finish Third In Confederations Cup After Thrilling Finale Against South Africa
• Sergio at the press conference, Las Rozas (03/27/09) (HQ)

Spain played Confederations Cup hosts South Africa in the third place final of the tournament, held at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium of Rustenburg. The European champions played in a 4-4-2 formation with David Villa and Fernando Torres up front, while the World Cup hosts played with a 4-5-1 line-up with Bernard Parker in attack. (Sergio Ramos spent the whole game watching from the bench).

First Half

There was a surprisingly low attendance for this match, especially considering the host nation was involved, but the weather conditions were perfect.

The first chance came to Spain in the 4th minute, when David Villa made some nice dribbles near the edge of the area and fired a shot that was well saved by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

Overall South Africa unsurprisingly looked more motivated than a disappointed Spanish side, making it an evenly balanced match. In the 13th minute, Matthew Booth was found alone in the area on a free kick for the home side, but he could not get his header on target.

In the 19th minute, Spain made themselves dangerous on a counterattack, Villa again making a good run towards the goal, but defender Tsepo Masilela made a great sliding tackle to clear the danger.

Two minutes later, Torres had his first chance, as he dribbled past a defender and went for a shot from inside the area, which was well blocked by a defender just when he was about to shoot.

On the half hour mark, Iker Casillas was called upon to make his first save of the match, as he dove to keep out a shot from Siphiwe Tshabalala on a move following a corner kick.

In the 35th minute, Spain had a decent chance as Albert Riera was found making a run into the area, but he was unsure whether to cross the ball or shoot, and ended up wasting a good chance by putting it wide, with Torres unmarked in front of the goal.

Second Half

No changes were made during half time. The first chance of the second half was for the Europeans in the 47th minute, as Villa fired a hard shot from outside the area following a deflected free kick, and the goalkeeper parried it away, but only as far as Sergio Busquets who slotted it home. However, the move had already been stopped for an offside position.

Spain gradually started to look more convincing, and in the 63rd minute Khune came with a great save on a shot from inside the area by Riera after a nice one-two with substitute Daniel Guiza.

A minute later, midfielder Santi Cazorla fired a powerful shot on goal that was punched away by Kuhne.

However, it was South Africa who took a surprise lead after they managed to weather the Spanish storm. In the 72nd minute, Tshabalala crossed the ball in from the left after a good move, and substitute Katlego Mphela smashed the ball home from close range after a somewhat clumsy control.

Spain reacted angrily and started to pour forward in search of an equaliser. In the 83rd minute, Riera fired a dangerous cross-shot from distance that was nearly deflected it by Guiza, but he just couldn’t get to it.

In the 87th minute, Vicente Del Bosque’s team found a deserved equaliser as David Silva found Guiza inside the area, and the striker fired a low shot from inside the area that left Kuhne without a chance.

Incredibly, a minute later Guiza brought Spain in front with a strange goal, as what seemed to be a cross by the Fenerbahce player ended up on the post and flew in to make it 2-1 Spain.

However, the drama wasn’t over yet, as in the very last minute of stoppage time South Africa were awarded a free kick, which was converted with a superb shot by Mphela, who bagged his brace.

And so the teams went to extra time after a thrilling last five minutes of the match.

Extra Time

In the second minute of extra time, Riera made a good run into the area, and found Fernando Llorente, but he could not find space for a shot as he was surrounded by South African defenders.

In the 96th minute, Joan Capdevila sent in a cross that almost turned into another freak goal like Guiza’s, as it hit the upper side of the crossbar on its way out.

Two minutes later, Mphela nearly had his hat-trick as he was found alone in front of Casillas by Elrio Van Heerden, but the Spanish keeper managed to keep it out with his foot.

Casillas was called into action again in the 102nd minute, when Benson Mhlongo set up Parker for a dangerous shot that was parried around the post by the Spanish keeper.

In the last minute of the first half of extra time, there was some controversy as a cross towards Silva seemed to be cleared by Mhlongo’s hand, which led Spain to claim a penalty, but the referee ignored the incident. Replays showed a penalty would have been right.

Spain took the lead again in the 106th minute, the first of the second half of extra time, thanks to Xabi Alonso, who managed to beat Khune with a free kick from outside the area that was probably intended to find a team mate but went in without getting touched by anyone.

The home side looked down and out after this third goal, and failed to create any more chances. As time wore on, it became increasingly unlikely they would be able to come back again.

Ultimately then, Spain managed to end the tournament well after their semi-final disappointment, by beating hosts South Africa 3-2 after extra time and finish third in the Confederations Cup.

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The United States produced one of the biggest shocks in Confederations Cup history by beating Spain this evening and Goal.com was on hand to rate the players on show.

Sergio Ramos 5.5 - Great display of attacking football down the right but unfortunately he will be remembered most for his idle touch on the ball in the six-yard box that allowed Dempsey to pounce for the second goal.

Personally I couldn’t believe my eyes how uneffective Spain was last night - pain

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The USA have qualified for the Confederations Cup final after stunning favourites Spain with a deserved win in Bloemfontein.

Jozy Altidore took advantage of a horrible defensive error from Joan Capdevila to smash home an opener in the first period before Clint Dempsey sealed victory in the second period.

This serves as Spain’s first competitive defeat since a 2-0 loss to Sweden in October 2006, and their first overall since November of that year. It is also the first time Spain have failed to win in 25 games.

Moreover, the United States, having stood within minutes of elimination in the group stage, now reach a major final after shocking the world’s number one ranked team.

On the balance of play, the USA deserved their win. Notwithstanding a needless booking for Landon Donovan, the Americans looked by far the better side in the early stages, Hammarby’s Charlie Davies coming close with an overhead kick before Clint Dempsey shot narrowly wide.

At the other end Spain were largely restricted to half chances, the USA’s deep defending game successfully frustrating the Roja as the likes of Xavi failed to thread through that final ball.

The USA duly took advantage. Clint Dempsey flicked the ball on to Jozy Altidore 25 yards out, and the strong Villarreal forward turned his team-mate, Joan Capdevila, with consummate ease, the defender completely failing to react correctly. Then came the shot, and though it was in the direction of the ‘keeper, Iker Casillas was already committed the other way, so the ball deflected in off him and the inside of the post.

Spain attempted to fight back but once again were unable to carve out too many opportunities: those that they did were squandered as David Villa and Fernando Torres uncharacteristically chose the wrong option heading into the break.

After the interval, though, Spain improved markedly, and it was largely down to defensive heroics from goalkeeper Tim Howard and stoppers Oguchi Onyewu and Jonathan Spector.

Indeed, long-range efforts were coming thick and fast, Xavi and Albert Riera looking especially active, and Sergio Ramos was making hay down the flank as well.

But the United States defended deep, and were rewarded 20 minutes from time. Landon Donovan’s low cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by the onrushing Gerard Pique, and Sergio Ramos, too, hesitated rather than clearing, allowing Clint Dempsey to poke home the second.

Spain continued to press, Michael Bradley’s red card for a studs-up challenge on Xavi posing a few problems for the Americans, but the damage had been done.

Thus the USA, who had been all but ruled out of contention for even a semi-final spot, will contest the final in Johannesburg. Vicente del Bosque suffers his first defeat as Spain boss, meanwhile, and is compelled to re-think ahead of the World Cup qualifiers later in the year.

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Two second half goals from Spanish forwards put Vicente Del Bosque’s side into the semi-finals, while brave South Africa reach the next stage by the narrowest of margins.

A penalty save by Itumeleng Khune from David Villa seemed set to keep South Africa level after the break, but El Guaje promptly netted a minute later before substitute Fernando Llorente sealed the result.

The first five minutes saw Spain dominate possession completely, albeit with little incisiveness, before South Africa belatedly arrived as a force on the pitch.

Bafana Bafana began to threaten more and more heading towards the 20 minute mark, not just by winning a series of set pieces in a dangerous area, but deliveries from Modise were disappointing.

Indeed, barring a few speculative passes from Xavi and some well-ran counters from South Africa, it was a scrappy affair in which the yellow cards flew.

Spain struggled to create too many clear-cut chances while South Africa, defending well, couldn’t hold possession.

Still, a great chance came ten minutes before the break. Fernando Torres’ low drive brought out a great save from Khune before Matthew Booth hacked the ball clear.

Just after the break the Furia Roja should have taken the lead as Aaron Mokoena went in late and hard on the impressive Cesc Fabregas in the box.

David Villa stepped up for the penalty kick, but found his effort palmed clear by the superb Khune before the ‘keeper then held Fernando Torres’ rebounded shot.

But as fans and players celebrated, Villa got on the end of Busquets’ fine cross from deep, snuck between the snoozing centre-backs, controlled the ball - perhaps with his hand - before expertly side-footing into the far corner of the net.

South Africa’s discipline began to go after that as Spain sat back, the Bafana picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.

There was some danger as Sundowns star Siboniso Gaxa whipped in several crosses from the right, but for the most part Spain were in control.

Indeed, from a free-kick out on the right twenty minutes from time, substitute Fernando Llorente seized the ball and tapped in from eight yards.

South Africa, to their credit, continued to battle, but as news filtered through that Iraq were being held by New Zealand, it was clear that they, too, qualified for the next stage, most likely to face Brazil.

Spain, meanwhile, will most probably meet Egypt or Italy as they look to keep this record-equalling 15-game winning streak on the boil.

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Spain are currently on a 33-game unbeaten run as well as a 13-match winning streak and they have the opportunity to equal the former record and beat the latter if they emerge victorious in their remaining two FIFA Confederations Cup group stage outings.

The Euro 2008 champions will face Iraq on Wednesday and South Africa three days later and versatile defender Sergio Ramos has assured that the team are fully motivated to become record breakers.
“It is a challenge for us and it serves as extra motivation, but we will confront it with patience and tranquillity in order to attain our target,� he was quoted as saying by Marca.

“We have to respect our rivals, especially someone like Italy,� he warned about the Azzurri, a side that they could face either in the semi-final or the final of the competition.

The 23-year-old reached a milestone himself last Sunday against New Zealand, when he made his 50th appearance for La Seleccion.

“I hope that I can continue to play many more games for Spain. It is an honour to wear this shirt,� he boomed.

Finally, when asked about the Italians and the prospect of going to Serie A to fulfil the calls for him to become Paolo Maldini’s successor, he replied, “I’ve had a lot of offers to play in the Italian league, but I prefer the Premier League or La Liga.�

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Carlo Garganese offers his picks for the best XI of Round 1 in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. And Sergio made the cut!

Sergio Ramos (Spain) – Admittedly, he was not tested much by a very ordinary New Zealand side, but Ramos still did not put a foot wrong defensively. The Real Madrid stopper also got forward to good effect down the other end, producing a number of interesting crosses.

To check out the rest of the picks click here.

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Check out the photos from the Spanish NT’s press conference held yesterday in South Africa!

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Added some high quality photos from yesterday’s game!

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