South Africa is preparing to take on Spain in what will be the next to last match of the 2009 Confederations Cup, for third place.
The Bafana Bafana have showed well as hosts of the Confederations Cup, advancing to the semi-finals and coming out narrow losers against world power Brazil in their match Thursday night in Johannesburg.
They now take on the team most considered the best in the world coming into the tournament, Spain. The Spanish were surprise 2-0 losers to the United States on Wednesday night in Bloemfontein.
Spain had been on a record tying 35-game unbeaten streak before their loss to the Americans, and now must re-focus for the third place game against the host nation.
Vicente del Bosque is the Spanish team's coach. Del Bosque says the Confederations Cup has been a great experience for the Spanish, though they are disappointed to not have been able to win the title. He says they will do their best Sunday to close with a win.
The European Champions had also won fifteen matches in a row coming into the semi-finals, but will now look to begin a new streak against the Bafana Bafana.
South Africa has performed well at its own tournament under Brazilian Coach Joel Santana. In the first round, they came out second best in Group A to Spain. In group play, the Spanish beat the South Africans, 2-0, in Bloemfontein.
The United States takes on Brazil in Johannesburg Sunday night in the championship match of the Confederations Cup.
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