RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Brazil came out on top in the matchup of past and present football powers on Sunday, winning its third Confederations Cup title and boosting its confidence ahead of next years World Cup. The hosts proved too strong for world champion Spain, cruising to a 3-0 victory at the Maracana Stadium in the match everyone had been expecting for years. Spain did not have what it took to stop Brazils reinvigorated team, allowing the five-time world champion to earn a resounding victory with two goals by Fred and one by young sensation Neymar. "We played a very good match, it allows us to have a better idea about the path ahead of us," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. "We have a good team to play in the next World Cup." Fred put Brazil on the board less than two minutes into the match, Neymar added to the lead just before halftime and Fred netted his fifth goal in five matches early in the second half to give Brazil victory at the World Cup warm-up tournament. "We beat the world champions today, but we know that the tournament that we will be playing next year will be a lot more difficult," Scolari said. "Now we have more confidence, thats what we needed." Sergio Ramos missed a penalty kick in the 55th and Spain ended the match a man down after defender Gerard Pique was sent off with a straight red card for fouling Neymar in the 68th. Brazil came in hoping a victory would help it regain its status as a global powerhouse after recent struggles. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hadnt won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. "The champion is back," chanted the crowd of more than 73,000 people at the renovated Maracana, the stadium that will host the World Cup final on July 14 next year. It also didnt take long before the fans -- in a sea of yellow jerseys -- started teasing the Spaniards, chanting "Wanna play, wanna play!? Brazil will teach you." The Brazilian players huddled after the final whistle and started singing and jumping, then went toward the crowd near the sidelines and began celebrating. David Luiz kneeled down and raised both of his hands into the air. Brazil, which won its fourth Confederations Cup, has not lost a competitive home match since 1975. The result ended Spains 26-match unbeaten streak. Ranked first for the past 20 months, Spain hadnt lost since a 1-0 result England in a friendly in London in 2011. Its last loss in an official competition had happened 29 matches ago, in the 2010 World Cup opener against Switzerland. Spain badly wanted a victory against the five-time world champion, which was one of the few top teams it hadnt faced since it began dominating international football. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said it was a "deserved defeat." "Theres not much to say, they were superior on every way," he said. "They scored early. This is not an excuse but they had pressure on us all the time." It was the first time the traditional football nations had met since a scoreless friendly in 1999. The last competitive match between the teams had been Brazils 1-0 win in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Brazil scored early on Sunday and kept pressuring, but it didnt take long for Spain to start taking control of the match. The Europeans were not able to create many dangerous opportunities, though, while Brazil kept threatening the most while relying on counterattacks. Fred opened the scoring after a cross into the area by Hulk in the second minute. The ball bounced off Neymar near the far post and Fred, who had fallen while trying to reach for the cross, fired it in with his right foot while still on the ground. Brazil added to the lead with Neymars fourth goal in five matches after an exchange of passes with Oscar in the 44th. The newly signed Barcelona striker, touted as the future of Brazilian football, fired a powerful left-footed shot into the top of the net. Neymar was voted the player of the tournament. Neymar and Daniel Alves took the time after the match to congratulate their Barcelona teammates, who looked desolate across the field. Fred closed the scoring in the 47th from just inside the area, sending a low shot to the far corner. Hulk started the move with a pass to Neymar, but the striker let it go as Fred came running behind him. Spain had the penalty kick after Marcelo fouled Jesus Navas inside the area, but Sergio Ramos sent his kick wide. Spains greatest chance before the penalty came with Pedro Rodriguez in the 41st, when he entered the area clear from defenders in a breakaway. His low shot beat Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but David Luiz came rushing in and slid in front of the goal line just in time to keep the ball from going in. Brazil won the its first Confederations Cup title in Saudi Arabia in 1997, then again in Germany in 2005 and in South Africa in 2009. Spain was trying to win the tournament for the first time. No Confederations Cup champion has ever won footballs showcase event the following year. Brazil struggled after Scolari returned to the national team earlier this year, winning only one of its first six matches with him in command, but it has won six in a row now. The warm-up tournament, which gives the home country a chance to test its preparations for the World Cup, is played among continental champions plus the World Cup winner and the hosts. There were protests outside the stadium during the match, with police using rubber bullets and tear gas to keep demonstrators from getting too close. A wave of anti-government protests has swept across Brazil in recent weeks, and many affected the Confederations Cup host cities as demonstrators complained of the costs of hosting the World Cup. 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Parramatta star Corey Normans NRL season is over after being suspended for eight weeks over his drug possession conviction and sex tape scandal.The NRL on Thursday rubbed Norman out until the end of round 26 and fined him $20,000 over his recent run of bad behaviour.The governing body took a hardline stance after the playmaker had attracted a string of damaging headlines, including pleading guilty after being caught in May with MDMA and muscle relaxants at The Star casino.On the same night, he was photographed alongside housemate James Segeyaro and former teammate Junior Paulo dining with bikies and all three were subsequently warned by police about consorting with criminals.He was also embroiled in a sex tape scandal after a group attempted to sell to the media footage showing Norman performing a sexual act on a woman.The video was made with Normans consent and was sent to friends and teammates.He was also punished after sending a video to teammates via Snapchat of an elderly man snorting a white substance, believed to be cocaine.The message is clear, players cannot put themselves in a position where they may damage their own reputations and that of the game, head of the NRL integrity unit Nick Weeks said.We have been consistent thiss year in imposing strong penalties where players bring the game into disrepute through actions off the field.ddddddddddddWhether it is drug possession, criminal associations or social media use, players understand the consequences that can flow from illegal or other unacceptable conduct.The group selling the Norman sex tape had asked for $150,000, however Weeks said Norman was not a victim in this instance because he had knowingly distributed the video.While it is a regrettable trend in society for people to look to sell footage of sports stars in their private lives, there is an easy solution for our players - do not engage in activity which will damage their reputation or that of the game, Weeks said.Norman was tentatively stood down for one match by the Eels but the NRL demanded he sit out eight weeks.Normans suspension is in line with the eight-week ban handed to Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce after his Australia Day video scandal.Roosters coach Trent Robinson earlier this week lashed the NRL for not doing enough to snuff out the trend of third parties attempting to film players for profit. 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