RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- The Confederations Cup has the final nearly everyone wanted: A long-awaited matchup between world champion Spain and host Brazil. The most dominant team in recent years and the most successful team of all time will meet on Sunday at the Maracana Stadium to decide the winner of the eight-nation warm-up tournament for next years World Cup. It will be the first time the traditional football nations meet in more than a decade, and the first competitive match between them since Brazils 1-0 win thanks to Socrates goal in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. "Its the match everyone wanted to happen," Brazilian striker Neymar said. "The entire world wanted it and everybody will be watching it." Brazil hopes a victory will help it regain its status as a global powerhouse after recent struggles, while Spain wants to show that not even the five-time world champions can put a dent in its supremacy. "Brazil is possibly the best team in the history of football and to face them in this situation is something magnificent," Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. "Its a special final, a special night. We want to win it." With more than 70,000 Brazilian fans packing the iconic venue, the world and European champions will be put to the test by a reinvigorated Brazil team led by the 21-year-old Neymar and World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. "Spain is a spectacular team but it has weak points just like any other team," Scolari said Saturday. "I dont think they are the favourites. We are capable of winning. This is our home and we need to make them respect us." The hosts will be trying to win their third-straight title in the World Cup warm-up competition, and fourth overall, while Spain will be looking for its fourth major trophy in five years. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. The team is unbeaten in a world record 29 competitive matches over three years since losing its 2010 World Cup opener to Switzerland. Lifting another trophy on Sunday would be special for the Spaniards. "We are talking about a match against Brazil, the fathers of football, at the Maracana," Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "We are happy to be having this opportunity and we hope we are back here in 2014, too." Brazil won its fifth World Cup title in 2002, but recently its Spain that has been the dominant team in international football, capturing the last two European championships and the 2010 World Cup. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hasnt won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. "They are the current world champions, they have to be praised," Brazil captain Thiago Silva said. "But anything can happen in a final and Im certain that Brazil will be fully prepared for the matchup." Spain hasnt lost in 26 matches, since a 1-0 loss against England in London in 2011. Brazil struggled after Scolari returned to the national team, winning only one of its first six matches. But it reaches the final on a five-match winning streak and the passionate support of its fans. "There is no doubt it will be an even match," Brazil right back Daniel Alves said Saturday. "There is mutual respect between these two national teams." Brazil beat Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group stage before edging Uruguay in the semifinals. Spain defeated the Uruguayans in its opener, then routed Tahiti and beat Nigeria before getting past Italy in a penalty shootout in the semifinals. "Its the match everybody has been waiting for," said Brazil assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led the national team to the 1994 world title. "We all know how good Spain is, but Brazil is going through a sensational moment and is full of confidence." Brazil is also more rested. While the host hasnt played since Wednesday, Spain endured extra time and the shootout in the semifinal against Italy in the heat of Fortaleza on Thursday. Del Bosque has said Spain will not use fatigue as an excuse, and Scolari also downplayed the issue. "They were able to rest all of their starters when they played Tahiti, so basically they had to play one game less than we did," Scolari said. Both coaches will have all of their top players available for the match at the renovated Maracana. Four players who will be in Sundays final were nominated for the Golden Ball award handed to the best players at the Confederations Cup: Brazils Neymar and Paulinho and Spains Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos. Patrick Weigel Jersey . "He came up to me and said, I want to train," said Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen. The 26-year-old midfielder is expected to play Saturday night when Toronto hosts D.C. United, returning to his Major League Soccer squad with mixed feelings about the Americans World Cup run -- sad that it ended when it did but proud of his teams performance. Nick Markakis Jersey . -- With his team down 16 points in the second quarter and headed for another blowout loss at home, Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson yelled out to his players to keep shooting and keep fighting on defence. https://www.cheapbraves.com/2373o-sean-newcomb-jersey-braves.html .Y. -- Major League Soccer has agreed to new measures to protect gay players from discrimination and harassment as a result of meetings with New Yorks attorney general. Deion Sanders Jersey . -- Jerome Williams glanced at Philadelphias schedule and realized he would be facing the Oakland Athletics yet again, with another new team. Braves Jerseys 2019 . The photograph shows Parker and a French comedian making a gesture known in France as a "quenelle," which critics describe as inverted Nazi salute. Parker said in a statement released through the Spurs that the photograph was taken three years ago. Parker, who was born in Belgium but raised in France, said he didnt know at the time that "it could be in any way offensive or harmful.MIAMI -- Christian Yelich stepped to the plate 0 for 4 in the game and 0-since-the-minors when batting with a chance for a walkoff win. This time he came through. The Miami outfielder hit a two-out, bases-loaded RBI single in the ninth inning Thursday to give the Marlins a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Yelich said the walkoff hit was his first since Single-A. As a reward he was mobbed by his teammates after rounding first base. "You know youre probably going to get beat up a little bit out there, but its an awesome feeling," he said. "I got horse-collared for a second, but thats all right. Ill take it. Im glad I could win that one." The Marlins won despite squandering a 3-0 eighth-inning lead. They improved to 19-6 at home, best in majors, and have scored a game-ending run in four of their past six victories at Marlins Park. That gives them five walkoff wins this year, which is tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the most in the majors, according to STATS. "Nobody wants to play extra innings," manager Mike Redmond said. "We wanted to get that thing done with and go out and have a nice meal." Miamis Henderson Alvarez threw seven shutout innings, while Cole Hamels allowed three runs in seven innings. The Phillies lost two of three in the series and are 20-24 going into an 11-game homestand starting Friday. "Were so close for that sort of explosion to happen and for everything to come together," Hamels said. "Its a matter of time before it will happen, but I know personally it should happen soon." Philadelphias Marlon Byrd tied it in the eighth with a two-run homer, his sixth. Miamis Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run homer, giving him two homers and seven RBIs in the past two games, and he threw out a runner at third from centre field. Ozuna also started the ninth-inning rally. He singled with one out off Jake Diekman (2-2), then took second on a two-out single by Jeff Mathis. Pinch hitter Reid Johnson reached on an infield single that Diekman bobbled, sending Ozuna to third and bringing Yelich to the plate. "Im thinking, Dont leave me here," Ozuna said. "He did a good job." Yelich grounded a 1-1 fastball up the middle.dddddddddddd "It was fitting to get Yellie up there at the end," Redmond said. "He has been in a couple of sits where he has had a chance to get a big hit and hasnt come up with one. I was sitting there thinking, This would be a perfect day for him to get a big hit, and sure enough he did." Marlins closer Steve Cishek (4-1) struck out two with a runner at second to end the ninth. The Phillies went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, with Byrds homer the lone hit. With the Phillies trailing 1-0, manager Ryne Sandberg let Hamels bat for himself in the seventh. He then gave up a single and Ozunas eighth homer on an 0-2 pitch to start the bottom of the seventh. Ozuna had been batting .113 in May before his breakout in the past two games. "When he gets hot, hes as good as anybody," Redmond said. Jimmy Rollins singled in the third to take over sole possession of second place on the Phillies hit list with 2,218. He trails on Mike Schmidt, who had 2,234. Notes: RHP David Buchanan will be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make his major-league debut Saturday for the Phillies against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Buchanan will start in place of LHP Cliff Lee, who is on the disabled list with a mild elbow strain. ... RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who has been on the Triple-A disabled list, received a cortisone injection and will try to pitch with a small labrum tear, the Phillies said. Hes expected to resume throwing next week. ... Marlins INF Jeff Baker left the game in the ninth inning with a bruised right shoulder following a collision at first base. His status is day to day. ... The Marlins transferred INF Rafael Furcal (groin) to the 60-day disabled list retroactive to March 21. They selected the contract of RHP Chris Hatcher from Triple-A New Orleans. ... The Marlins lead the majors with 54 infield hits. ... RHP Tom Koehler (4-3, 2.25) is scheduled to pitch against RHP Marco Estrada (3-2, 3.64) when the Marlins open a weekend series at home Friday against Milwaukee. ... The Phillies return home Friday to face the Dodgers, with RHP Roberto Hernandez (2-1, 3.98) scheduled to pitch against LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-1, 4.43). ' ' '