ed 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 assist

Rafa Benitez is relishing the challenge of securing Newcastles Premier League status and fulfilling the clubs potential, according to Guillem Balague. The former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss has been tasked with preserving Newcastles top-flight status following Steve McClarens sacking on Friday morning.The Spaniard has signed an initial three-year deal at St James Park, with Sky Sports News HQ understanding the contract features an opt-out clause should the club be relegated to the Sky Bet Championship. Rafas ups and downs Ups and downs of the Spanish manager But Balague believes Benitezs vast managerial experience will yield a response from Newcastles under-performing squad.Rafa wants to take over at Newcastle, Balague told his weekly Q&A. The main condition for him is that he gets the control Steve McClaren didnt have.Without that, change will be difficult. As such, Im pretty sure the negotiations have included that kind of conversation. Benitez smiles as he leaves St James Park after signing a 3-year contract Rafa will have asked if the position is a managerial role - that means having more control and authority than previous managers - to which Newcastle replied yes.Another part of the negotiations concerned the length of the contract, he didnt want just a few months at St James Park.He believes in the potential of the club but will need time to work on it and take Newcastle where he believes they deserve. Whats wrong at Newcastle? The problems which cost Steve McClaren Once appointed he obviously has ten games in which to save. I am convinced that with the order he will bring, the authority he will have in the changing room - from his CV and importance as one of Europes top ten coaches - the players will stand up and listen.McClarens stint at Newcastle was cut short just nine months after his appointment.The former England manager won just seven of his 32 games in charge, six of which came in the Premier League. He believes in the potential of the club but will need time to work on it to take Newcastle to where he believes they deserve to be. Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague Newcastles owner backed McClaren in the transfer market with a host of big-money signings both in the summer and January.Despite this, Balague believes McClarens demise came from his inability to take full control of dealings at Newcastle.I feel sorry for McClaren because he was never given that control, he added. Without that you cannot change the culture of a club that absolutely needs to be changed. Steve McClaren was relieved of his duties on Friday morning Players think of themselves and not of the collective, thats a culture that has been bred by those at the top at Newcastle.Such a change will take longer than 10 games but, obviously, the priority for Rafa is to utilise the attacking quality they have and remain in the Premier League. Also See: Newcastle appoint Benitez Newcastle latest LIVE! Newcastle sack McClaren Balague Q&A Randy Foye Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Corey Brewer Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. https://www.cheaptimberwolves.com/120j-jimmy-butler-jersey-timberwolves.html . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Timberwolves Jerseys 2020 . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Sam Cassell Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover.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 heere in 2014, too.ddddddddddddquot; 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. ' ' '