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June 14, 2009

Spanish Champions Vie for New Title at Confederations Cup
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Spain has not lost Confederations Cup since November 2006, and expected
to keep the title 
European Champions Spain bring good form and a European title to South
Africa , where they hope to add the Confederations Cup to their recent
string of successes. South African fans during opening ceremony of
Confederations Cup soccer tournament at Ellis Park Stadium in
Johannesburg, South Africa, 14 Jun 2009The consensus favorite to take
the title at the 2009 Confederations Cup, Spain has not lost since
November 2006 and is riding an unbeaten streak of thirty two matches
into Sunday's opener against New Zealand in Rustenburg.  If they can run
the table at the Confederations Cup , Spain will pass Brazil for the
longest ever unbeaten streak in international soccer history. With
history on the line, forward David Albiol says Spain is anxious to get
going.  Albiol says the Spanish side is eager to continue their winning
streak, which has continued through a series of World Cup qualifiers,
after the Spanish triumph at the European Championships held in Austria
and Switzerland last summer.  Led by a number of players recognized as
among the best in the world, including striker Fernando Torres,
midfielder Xavi Hernandez, and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Spain is seen
by most experts as strong Confederations Cup favorites. The defending
World Cup champion Italy and veteran Brazil are also have good change to
win this cup.  The Spaniards head up Group A, along with host nation
South Africa , Asian champions Iraq , and Oceania champions New Zealand
. The group is considered a weak one in which Spain will easily assert
its dominance, but midfielder Albert Riera says all opponents should be
taken seriously.   Riera says good teams have fallen in the past by
overlooking seemingly inferior opponents. He says Spain is its own
greatest rival, in the sense that if they continue to do things well, it
will be difficult for any team to beat them.  After their opening round
match in Rustenburg, the Spaniards travel south to Bloemfontein to take!
  on Iraq and hosts South Africa.


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