Germans kick-off mini World Cup

LOADED with glamour teams, the Confederations Cup has few friends outside FIFA. The tournament, a warm up for next year’s World Cup in Germany, prevents weary players from taking a summer break.

This time, the eight-nation field features World Cup champions Brazil, South American champions Argentina, powerful Germany and European Championship winners Greece.

FIFA has taken a competition that began as a four-nation event to promote soccer in the Middle East and turned it into a mini World Cup, with the winners of each of its six confederations joining the World champions and the hosts.

The low point came in France two years ago when Cameroon star Marc-Vivien Foe collapsed and died. His death was the result of heart failure, and critics suggested it may not have happened had he been able to rest between seasons.

Germany and Italy declined to take part in 2003 because their players were too tired at the end of the season.

This time the Germans are eager participants and begin their schedule with a meeting with Australia in Frankfurt’s Waldstadion tonight.

“A lot is at stake. The Confederations Cup is a trophy which any player would be proud to add to his list of achievements,” said German coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who added: “All the teams involved take the tournament very seriously. If this weren’t the case, they wouldn’t have sent all their top players to Germany. This is yet another incentive to win the competition.

People are watching us and are gradually gaining greater respect for us. We want to use this tournament to build on the progress we have made and go into next year’s World Cup with renewed confidence.”

In tonight’s other Group A game Argentina face the Roger Lemerre managed Tunisia, making their debuts in this competition.

Lemerre, who won the 2001 Confederations Cup with France, took control of Tunisia after France’s poor World Cup in 2002, and enjoyed a professional salvation of his own when the Carthage Eagles captured last year’s African Nations Cup.

“We’re not here to make up the numbers, we aim to trouble the big teams,” Lemerre insisted.

One of the main architects of Tunisia’s success on home turf in 2004 was Francileudo dos Santos. The 26-year-old Brazilian-born naturalised Tunisian, ended up as joint top scorer in the African Nations Cup with four goals, including the first in Tunisia’s 2-1 win over Morocco in the final.

The South Americans are already qualified for the 2006 finals in Germany and coach Jose Pekerman is resting more experienced players such as Hernan Crespo, who scored twice in the 3-1 victory over Brazil last week that secured their place.

Defender Roberto Ayala and midfielder Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez are also rested while Boca Juniors goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri and River Plate midfield duo Luis Gonzalez and Javier Mascherano are not included because their teams are involved in the Copa Libertadores.

Their absence gives fringe players such as defenders Gonzalo Rodriguez, Gabriel Milito and Martin Demichelis, midfielder Lucas Bernardi and forwards Cesar Delgado, Mario Santana and Luciano Galletti a chance to stake a place in the squad.

Others, such as Real Madrid defender Walter Samuel and Valencia midfielder Pablo Aimar, will hope to re-launch their international careers after absences during the last year.

Brazil, Greece, Japan and Mexico contest Group B which begins tomorrow. The world champions, who lost a tough World Cup qualifier to Argentina last week, eased into their preparations without Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, however Ronaldinho will feature despite an injury scare.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said: “Ronaldinho is tired and has foot pain but it is not serious,” he said, adding he was counting on his star as well as fellow midfielder Emerson for tomorrow’s match against Greece at Leipzig, while Mexico and Japan clash in the earlier game in Hanover.

All 44,000 tickets for Brazil’s match with Greece in Leipzig have been snapped up and the clash between Germany and Argentina on June 21 will be played to a full house of 42,000 in Nuremberg. However only 15,000 tickets had been sold by Monday for the Group A match between Tunisia and Australia, which will also be played in Leipzig, on June 21.

Leipzig is the only city in the former communist East Germany to host matches in this tournament and next year’s World Cup.

Group A: Argentina, Australia, Germany, Tunisia.

Group B: Brazil, Greece, Japan, Mexico.