Spain tops Italy 7-6 on penalty kicks after 0-0 tie, faces Brazil in Confederations Cup final

FORTALEZA, Brazil — Jesus Navas scored the decisive penalty kick after Leonardo Bonucci sent his attempt over the crossbar, and Spain beat Italy 7-6 in a shootout after a 0-0 tie Thursday night to reach the Confederations Cup final against Brazil.

In a draining match on a night of heat and humidity, Italy's Emanuele Giaccherini hit a post in the 93rd minute and Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon deflected Xavi Hernandez's kick off a post in the 115th.

"We were lucky in the penalty shootout," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "It was a very difficult match for us. ... It was a marvelous team effort by both teams. It was a clean and sporting match that was played under very difficult climatic conditions."

Spain, winner of the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, will play Brazil on Sunday at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium for the title in the World Cup preparation tournament.

"Now we have to consider what we have to do in the three days to recover," Del Bosque said. "We will definitely stand up to Brazil in the Maracana. The players should feel as happy as kids playing in the Maracana. They have won a lot, but they want to win in the Maracana."

The 35-year-old Buffon and 32-year-old Iker Casillas, among the world's elite goalkeepers for more than a decade, exchanged handshakes with English referee Howard Webb before the shootout and then hugged each other.

With Italy shooting first, Antonio Candreva, Alberto Aquilani, Daniele De Rossi, Sebastian Giovinco, Andrea Pirlo and Riccardo Montolivo all converted their kicks for the Italians.

After Bonucci failed, Buffon dove to his right and Navas sent the kick past his outstretched arm.

Spain beat Italy 4-0 in last year's Euro final and defeated the Azzurri 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie in the 2008 Euro quarterfinals.

"We played a great match. We created and we conceded but we were always in the match," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "They're still ahead of us but we're improving.

"In these conditions, between absences and fatigue, it's nearly impossible to go all the way, but the guys really moved me."

Italy, missing injured Mario Balotelli, dominated the first half. Spain, without injured Cesc Fabregas and Roberto Soldado, settled down and bolstered with the second-half insertion of Navas and Mata, wound up with 54 percent possession and a 19-13 advantage in shots.

Before kickoff, about 5,000 anti-government protesters battled police about 1 mile from the stadium.