Spain were roundly beaten by hosts Brazil last night, but a penalty may have revived their hopes with 25 minutes remaining, not that Xavi was confident in his team-mate.
Trailing 3-0 thanks to two goals from Fred and a sensational strike yet again from Neymar, Spain were thrown a lifeline and Sergio Ramos stepped up to shoulder the responsibility from the spot.
And as the look on Xavi’s face before the shot was even taken, he wasn’t expecting much from his flamboyant defender.
Many have questioned the wisdom of letting a defender take a spot-kick with such gifted colleagues on the pitch, and while he did dispatch his penalty against Italy with style, he is also liable to balloon the ball into orbit like his effort for Madrid against Bayern Munich in the Champions League a few seasons ago.
In all, it summed up Spain’s night pretty well, though it must be remembered for all the hysteria surrounding the win for Brazil, it is just the Confederations Cup, and Spain didn’t win it the last time out either and they managed okay in the subsequent World Cup.
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