A racegoer shows off her hat during the third day of Royal Ascot race meeting June 18, 2009.The Royal Enclosure has a strict dress code -- male attendees must wear full morning dress including a top hat, whilst ladies must wear hats. (Reuters)

A racegoer shows off her hat made of marshmallows during the third day of Royal Ascot race meeting June 18, 2009. (Reuters)

A racegoer shows off her hat during the third day of Royal Ascot race meeting June 18, 2009.(Reuters)

A racegoer shows off her hat made by Louis Mariette during the third day of the Royal Ascot race meeting June 18, 2009.(Reuters)

A racegoers arrives for the first day of racing at the Royal Ascot meeting June 16, 2009. (Reuters)

The Royal Enclosure has a strict dress code -- male attendees must wear full morning dress including a top hat, whilst ladies must wear hats.

Referee Pablo Tozo, center, asks USA's Ricardo Clark, right, to leave the field after giving him a red card as USA's Landon Donovan, left, tries to argue, during their Confederations Cup Group B soccer match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, June 15, 2009.(AP)

PRETORIA, South Africa – Following the USA's 3-1 loss to Italy in their opening game at the Confederations Cup, the American players pointed to Ricardo Clark's red card as the pivotal moment. And more than a few of them voiced their opinion about the decision handed out by Chilean ref Pablo Pozo.

"Anybody watching the game will know it wasn’t a red card," said U.S. striker Landon Donovan after the game. "The referee, after the game when he watches it, will know it isn’t a red card. Eleven guys from each team were prepared to play the game but the guy in the middle wasn't. That was unfortunate because we wanted to put on a good show."

Clark was shown his marching orders for a foul on Gennaro Gattuso in the 28th minute, when the game was lively and still even at 0-0.

"I think it was a bad call," Clark said. "It was definitely a foul, possibly a yellow, but definitely not a red. It affects the whole game. It obviously put us at a disadvantage."

Even Gattuso admitted Clark's action probably didn't deserve an ejection. His teammate Giuseppe Rossi, who subbed on in the second half before scoring two goals for the Italians, was more certain in his opinion, though he was on the sidelines at the time.

"Truthfully, I don't think it was a red card," the Italian-American said. "It was more of a yellow card. But that’s how soccer is."

Jozy Altidore, who set up the penalty that led to the U.S.'s goal, believed the timing of the red card was disappointing. And the Villarreal striker even insinuated Pozo's decision was influenced by Gattuso's theatrics after the fact.

"It was a bit harsh, so early in the game," he said. "Yeah, it was a tough tackle. It was late, but he had no intention of hurting anyone. It was good acting and there you go. That's how the cookie crumbles."

Ultimately, the U.S. team fell victim to the man-up Italians, tiring as the second half wore on. Clark's absence in the middle opened up spaces that the Italian midfield exploited, leading to both of Italy's first two goals.

Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro (L) fights for the ball with Brazilian midfielder Kaka during their FIFA Confederations Cup football match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Brazil sliced Italy apart with three goals in a devastating eight-minute spell to send the world champions crashing out of the Confederations Cup.(AFP)

Brazil's Fabiano stops the ball during a Group B match at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009. Brazil won the match 3-0. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

Brazil's Maicon (R) vies with Italy's Mauro Camoranesi during a Group B match at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009. Brazil won the match 3-0. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

PRETORIA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South American champions Brazil denied Italy's chance to march into the semi-final of the FIFA Confederations Cup on Sunday by thumping the World Cup winners 3-0 in their final group match.

In the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Brazil repeated their habit of beating Italy just as before when Selecao Brasileira (Brazilian Selection) won their two FIFA World Cup final fuels in 1970 and 1994.

Compared with the Azzurri whose defense seemed porous from the outset, Brazil produced a stunning display of their prowess by enjoying better possession of the ball in the first half.

Their blitz of less than 10 minutes was spurred by Luis Fabiano in the 37th minute. The Sevilla striker intercepted a low shot from Maicon on the left and slided the ball into the bottom corner.

Fabiano's second chance came six minutes later.

He slot the ball home at the far post after an excellent build-up from Robinho and Kaka.

The third goal was a mistake by Italian defender Andrea Dossena who put the ball past his own goalkeeper when trying to cut out a cross.

The three scores put Brazil in a firm control of the match before the interval, and enabled Italy to walk on a tightrope to go back home.

Althouth the Azzurri recovered a little in the second half, their efforts to score were all foiled by the saves of Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar in time.

Before the fuel with Brazil, Italy had three points, the same as Egypt who had a match against the United States on Sunday in Rustenburg.

The Azzurri's hope to sail into the next stage became slimmer after their 1-0 defeat by African champions Egypt in the South African economic hub of Johannesburg on Thursday.

It was also a new record in African football history as Italy had never lost to an African team, despite more than a dozen of attempts from the football cradle continent.

Brazil will face the challenge of hosts South Africa in Johannesburg on Thursday in the semi-final of the intercontinental tournament.

First lady Michelle Obama harvests vegetables with fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in the First Lady's Garden that they planted in the garden on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2009.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

First lady Michelle Obama eats with fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in the First Lady's Garden after they harvested some of the vegetables that they planted in a garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2009.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

First lady Michelle Obama harvests vegetables with fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in the First Lady's Garden that they planted in the garden on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2009.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

First lady Michelle Obama eats a pea with fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in the First Lady's Garden after they harvested some of the vegetables that they planted in a garden on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama welcomes students from Bancroft Elementary School to harvest vegetables from her garden at the White House in Washington June 16, 2009. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS EDUCATION SOCIETY)

First lady Michelle Obama harvests vegetables with fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in the First Lady's Garden that they planted in the garden on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

German Misses pose on June 12, 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The misses will be attending a German television show 'Wetten dass...?' (German for "Wanna Bet..?") summer edition. [CFP]

German Misses pose on June 12, 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The misses will be attending a German television show 'Wetten dass...?' (German for "Wanna Bet..?") summer edition. [CFP]

German Misses pose on June 12, 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The misses will be attending a German television show 'Wetten dass...?' (German for "Wanna Bet..?") summer edition.