Inspired Brazil see off Italy to win Group A

An inspired second-half showing from Brazil earned the Confederations Cup hosts a 4-2 win over Italy in Salvador to win Group A and avoid a potential semi-final meeting with Spain.
The dubious honour of facing the world champions in a Thursday semi in Fortaleza is now likely to be Italy's fate assuming the Spanish, with two wins under their belts ahead of their final meetnig with Nigeria, top Group B.
Brazil made it three wins in three games yesterday at the event to earn a probable semi-final with Uruguay in Belo Horizonte on Wednesday.
Brazil started looking like a side who had been energised not just by their opening wins and clean sheets against Japan and Mexico but also the waves of popular protest by citizens demanding better social policies and an end to state corruption.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari indicated he saw the pieces slowly falling into place although he has made the World Cup the overriding top priority rather than success this month.
"We beat a strong Italian team and I think this shows we are on the right road, even if there are a few things we need to improve," said Scolari, mastermind of Brazil's 2002 World Cup success and brought back last November for a second spell in charge of the Selecao.
"We mustn't get carried away," added Scolari, who earlier urged his compatriots to be patient with their demands for institutional reform.

Looking to cheer the nation, the whole Brazil squad sang the national anthem with gusto and then set about chasing an early goal.