Bronze in the end (3-2)

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Spain, with Piqué and Sergio Busquets in the starting XI, have come third in the Confederations Cup. Del Bosque’s side won in extra-time after 90 minutes’ play ended at 2-2 in an exciting finish.

Spain have won the Confederations Cup third and fourth place play-off against tournament hosts South Africa. After a slow start, the Spanish picked up the tempo of the game especially at the end of the second half.

Piqué and Busquets are starters

Despite speculation that coach Vicente del Bosque might give match time to players who haven’t had as many opportunities so far, there were few changes to the starting line-up. Both Xavi, who has had an allergy, and Puyol stayed on the bench, while the other two Barça players, Piqué and Busquets, were starters.

Poor first half

The early part of the game lacked rhythm and few chances were created. After David Villa saw his effort saved by the South African keeper, the other clear chance didn’t come along until 30 minutes later, evidence of the poor football on display in the first half.

Bronze in the end (3-2)

Spain, with Piqué and Sergio Busquets in the starting XI, have come third in the Confederations Cup. Del Bosque’s side won in extra-time after 90 minutes’ play ended at 2-2 in an exciting finish.

Spain have won the Confederations Cup third and fourth place play-off against tournament hosts South Africa. After a slow start, the Spanish picked up the tempo of the game especially at the end of the second half.

Piqué and Busquets are starters

Despite speculation that coach Vicente del Bosque might give match time to players who haven’t had as many opportunities so far, there were few changes to the starting line-up. Both Xavi, who has had an allergy, and Puyol stayed on the bench, while the other two Barça players, Piqué and Busquets, were starters.

Busquets goal disallowed

At the start of the second half Sergio Busquets had a goal disallowed for a non-existent offside, although it did show that Spain were getting into the game. However, the first gaol came from the hosts’ Mphela who stuck the ball past Casillas in the 74th minute.

Praise for Messi

Laporta was full of praise for one of Barcelona’s top stars, Leo Messi. “He’s the best there’s ever been, Barça’s ‘Messiah’,” said the club chairman. Another name to come up in the conversation was Mascherano, a great friend of Leo Messi’s and one of the other players Barça have been interested in. “We have the best midfield, but Touré and Keita will be off to the African Cup of Nations,” noted Laporta.
Laporta: “Eto'o has a stratospheric offer”
Taste in music
‘Tarda Tardà', presented by the music expert Jordi Tardà, is one of the best programmes around for rock lovers. During their conversation, Joan Laporta revealed his taste in music: “Music can help you to overcome situations and grow as a person... music tames the beast”. His favourite singers include Bruce Springsteen and Catalan artist Joan Manel Serrat.

Laporta: “Eto'o has a stratospheric offer”

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barcelona chairman Joan Laporta admits that the Cameroon striker has “a stratospheric offer from another team, which would make him into the best-paid player in the world”. Nevertheless, Laporta would like Eto'o to stay at Barça.

This Saturday in an interview with radio programme ‘Tarda Tardà' on Icat FM, Barcelona chairman Joan Laporta spoke about his taste in music but also had time to look at the latest first team news.

Bid for Eto'o

08-05-09_WEB_ETOO_01.jpgLaporta said that he believes “Samuel Eto'o wants to stay and I’d like him to” but the player has received “a stratospheric offer from another team, which would make him into the best-paid player in the world”. He also pointed out that if the Cameroon striker stays and Barça end up signing David Villa, the two players would be “compatible” as “the season is long”.

Keirrison and Luis Filipe

Another name linked with Barça this week has been Keirrison. Laporta announced that his signing for Barça is on the point of being completed.

Turning to Deportivo de la Coruña’s full-back, Luis Filipe, Laporta said that if Lendoiro asks for €20 million for the player “then I’ll make no effort to get him. He’s out of the market there”.

Eto'o in same game

The French striker played in the 2003 final at Saint Denis in Paris against Cameroon. France won its second Confederations Cup and Henry played all 120 minutes of the match, scoring the only goal of the game in extra-time. Samuel Eto'o also appeared in the final, coming on as a sub in the second half and racking up 57 minutes in total.

Rafa Márquez first

The first of Pep Guardiola’s current players to turn out in the final was Mexican Rafa Márquez on 4 August 1999 in the Azteca Stadium in Mexico. His team lifted the trophy after beating Brazil 4-3 with Márquez playing all 90 minutes. He signed for Barça four years later. Oddly enough, Ronaldinho also played in that final, scored a goal and came to Barça at the same time as the ‘Kaiser of Michoacán'.