Euro champs Spain admit embarrassment at defeat to USA

Euro champs admit embarrassment at defeat to USA, but tip their hats to the winners anyway

Euro champs admit embarrassment at defeat to USA, but tip their hats to the winners anyway

Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso insists his side did not get carried away with their remarkable run of form and did not under-estimate their Confederations Cup conquerors the United States.

down and out! Spain's Fernando Torres reacts after missing a chance during their Confederations Cup semi-final against USA at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa on Wednesday. USA won 2-0.

Spain, the world's top-ranked team, went into Wednesday's semi-final in Bloemfontein as overwhelming favourites to progress to Sunday's showpiece.

Vicente del Bosque's side had won their previous 15 matches breaking the international record in the process and had not tasted defeat since November 2006, a record-equalling run of 35 matches.

The United States had already lost two of their three games in the Confederations Cup and squeezed through to the semi-finals. Yet they stunned the European champions with a 2-0 triumph to set up a final showdown on Sunday with either Brazil or host nation South Africa.

Alonso was quick to praise Bob Bradley's side after the match. "We knew we would eventually lose a game and our winning streak would end," the Liverpool midfielder told www.fifa.com.

"After going one down, we focused on getting ourselves back into the game and, I think, did everything right. Unfortunately we weren't able to get the goal, and we have to tip our hats to the USA."

Alonso added in Spanish newspaper AS: "We didn't think it was going to be easy. Despite the good run, we've had our feet on the ground and now hope we can learn from what happened."

Alonso's midfield partner Xavi said: "It's a shame, but I don't think we need to draw negative conclusions.

"It's a huge disappointment, but we are on the right path and we need to continue along that route."

Xavi for whom losing has been a rare experience in recent times, having last season helped Barcelona to au00a0 treble (Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League) continued: "We were better than them, but it was not to be. Spain deserve to be in the final for the level of play that we've been at. Honestly, I think we had bad luck.

"We had something like 30 efforts, but their defence and goalkeeper have kept everything out. In the first half we did not do well. But in the second we improved and I thought we were going to draw level."