Alves in limelight

Barcelona's Dani Alves suffered the agony of missing out on the Champions League win over Manchester United due to suspension but he put that misfortune well and truly behind him by taking centre stage with a vengeance here Thursday.
As extra-time loomed in Brazil's Confederations Cup semi-final against South Africa coach Dunga let Alves loose on the hosts as an 82nd minute replacement for Andre Santos.
Sent on as a potential match winner he read his script to perfection by producing the freekick that shot Brazil into Sunday's final with the United States.
With two minutes left on the clock the situation Dunga had been praying for materialised - a freekick on the edge of the box.
As a trio of Brazilians muscled in to the South African wall to obscure keeper Itumelang Khune's view Alves stepped up and thundered the ball into the far right corner of the net.
Dunga could have been forgiven for feeling just a little smug as his tactical ploy worked to perfection against a side coached by Joel Santana, his fellow Brazilian and former coach back in the 1980s.
"The game was very tight so I sent on an aggressive player (Alves) who is very quick and a specialist in set pieces, he practices set pieces every day.
"We had to make use of any opportunity that came our way so a foul in front of goal was perfect for us.
"Football's played over 90 minutes and you have to use all the weapons at your disposal to win.
"I knew we might get a chance to score that way. Fortunately that's how it turned out and here we are in another final."
The 26-year-old Alves, who picked up a booking for raising his shirt to reveal the names of his children, made his debut for his country in 2006 yet has largely played second fiddle to Maicon.
But he was thrilled to play a hand in sinking South Africa with only his second goal for his country, the right wingback saying: "I always do my best to help the team.
"The aim of the players in this squad is to help each other.
"I'm always prepared to be sent on so I wasn't surprised when I was called up. I think the only thing I had in my head when I ran onto the pitch was to score, and thanks to god, I did it."
"The goal? I'm always practising free-kicks in training and it was all down to that. I made my little contribution to the victory and that's the main thing."
Brazil came up against a South Africa side that played out of their skins, certainly their best performance of the competition but their Achilles' heel, lack of a killer finishing touch, once again told against them.
But they still managed to do what no other team has accomplished here and that was to hold the five-time world champions for all bar the last 180 seconds of a match.
Kaka, who by his own very high standards had a quietish game, said: "We suffered a little today but we're trying to improve things and we're getting better for the final."
Striker Luis Fabiano said South Africa had given the Brazilians a real scare, adding: "I think the most important thing about our performance was that we won.
"Here we are again in yet another final. That's Brazil for you and we're proud of maintaining that tradition."
Dunga meanwhile said the fact that South Africa were coached by one of his fellow countrymen had made life more difficult.
"Without a doubt it was tricky for not only is Santana Brazilian but so are his assistants.
"But I'm very happy that another Brazil coach is doing well in a foreign team."
Dunga then turned his thoughts to Sunday's final with the United States who caused a major upset by downing European champions Spain in Wednesday's first semi-final.
"I haven't watched the USA yet as I was more concerned with this game today. We'll watch it tomorrow in order to prepare ourselves for the final."