2005 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A

This article discusses the preliminary round Group A of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005.

Argentina - Tunisia 2-1 (1-0 )

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Argentina sat down only slightly in the first match against Tunisia by outsiders. Coach José Pekerman tested in the game, some young national players without much experience. Roberto Ayala, Hernán Crespo, Kily González, Luis González, Javier Mascherano and Roberto Abbondanzieri were not even traveled to the Confederations Cup. However, the team did not play badly without these regulars in the first group match against the African champions. Juan Román Riquelme, Javier Saviola and Juan Pablo Sorin were the best in the game of Argentines. The two league players Diego Placente (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) and Martín Demichelis ( Bayern Munich) were not used.

Tunisia played with a surprising lineup, goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel had as Santos and Ziad Jaziri take to start on the bench. Jawhar Mnari, the new signing from 1 FC Nuremberg, began in the early lineup.

The game was balanced over long distances and so the Africans in the 18th minute had the best opportunity to guide: Goalkeeper Lux had Gmamdia fouled in the penalty area, but Mhadhebi missed the due penalty. The first goal of the Confederations Cup in 2005 fell in the 33rd minute through Juan Román Riquelme, who converted a penalty kick to make it 1-0 for Argentina. Maxi Rodriguez was pushed by Trabelsi and referee Rosetti was again penalty. In the 57th minute to make it 2-0 then could increase Saviola after a successful combination with Santana and Galletti. Nearly twenty minutes before game end, there was the third time penalty. Lux touched Gmamdia and this time the fouled transformed itself. However, the team of coach Roger Lemerre could in the subsequent period not score the equalizer.

Germany - Australia 4:3 ( 2:2 )

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Australia lost the first game very tight against the hosts. The Oceania champions was playfully over long distances the better team, but the team was coached by Frank Farina great difficulties in the defense area. Visitors to the forest stadium and television viewers were able to see a high-scoring and entertaining game. The team of Jürgen Klinsmann revealed how in a friendly before, large uncertainties on the defensive, which was staffed with young defensive players ( average age 22.75 years ).

In the initial phase, the Australian defender were compact, so that the German midfielder hardly came into play. So that was very surprising to Germany 1-0 by a deflected by Kevin Kuranyi shot by Arne Friedrich from 25 meters. Then the game was a little better. In the 21st minute Robert Huth fouled before John Aloisi and Josip Skoko scored the goal due to direct free-kick into the goal. The leadership of the Germans by Per Mertesacker was balanced again by Aloisi. In the 60th minute Michael Ballack scored from the penalty spot the lead again, Lukas Podolski increased in the 88th minute to 4-2. The second goal from Aloisi in the first group game came late in stoppage time for the Australians.

Tunisia - Germany 0:3 ( 0:0)

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The German national football team was changed to three positions. As national coach Jürgen Klinsmann announced before the tournament, he joined the goalkeeper after each game to also test both Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehmann in goal for the 2006 World Cup. For Bernd Schneider played against Tunisia Sebastian Deisler on the right side. Kevin Kuranyi, who scored the 1-0 in the opening game, was replaced by Gerald Asamoah. In Tunisia played the regulars Santos, Ziad Jaziri and Kaies Ghodhbane who had recently received after the last serious World Cup qualifiers Tunisia against Argentina a break from the beginning.

The first half was dominated by the tactic. Despite some uncertainties, the defense was better overall, especially Robert Huth was able to win some battles. However, the best chance had the Tunisians. A direct shot at goal corner Jens Lehmann could hold only with difficulty before the goal line. The player of the 1st FC Cologne, Lukas Podolski, who in Cologne FIFA World Cup stadium had a home game, scored a goal, which was, however, rightly for offside by the Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast not recognized. The captain of the Germans Michael Ballack, had a good chance with a header just before the break.

In the second half the game was balanced until Ballack was fouled in the 74th minute in the penalty area. The resulting penalty, he transformed himself. Then tipped the game. Germany stood behind compact and shot forward two goals. Podolski sent steep Bastian Schweinsteiger, and the shot from a tight angle to make it 2-0. The substitute in the 87th minute Mike Hanke scored his first international goal with the 3-0. Since Argentina in the evening won against Australia, Germany was in the semifinals and could look forward to the final game on June 21 against the South Americans with confidence.

Australia - Argentina 2:4 (0:2)

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Australia began after the defeat in the opening match made only one change, national coach Frank Farina had Vidmar for the injured Popovic accrue. In Argentina Samuel began for Gonzalo Rodriguez in defense, the midfielder Maxi Rodriguez and Zanetti for Figueroa rushed for Galletti.

The game in Franken Stadium was entertaining and as in the first game, with the participation of Australians extremely torreich. In the twelfth minute Figueroa scored the 1-0, to date, the Australians were the better team. The South American champion did for long stretches no longer than necessary and could play the Oceania champions. In the 30th minute, however, the South Americans were again dangerous before the housing and there was penalty kick, Riquelme scored to make it 2-0. The players of coach Farina played offensively not as against Germany, but were very harmless in front of goal. The defensive errors were similar serious as in the opening match and so the Argentines increased to 3-0. After the break, the Australian national team was stronger and scored two goal back through striker Aloisi, who had already scored twice against Germany. Then realized the Argentines that it might be closely again and increased the pressure. Then the 2:4 fell again by Figueroa. Argentina was, like Germany qualified by winning the semi-finals.

Australia - Tunisia 0:2 ( 0:1)

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Both teams had been no chance to qualify for the semi-finals before the game. The coach of Australia Frank Farina changed to five playing positions, the line-up: Goalkeeper Schwarzer was replaced by Petkovic, Viduka, Culina, Colosimo and McKain came for Cahill, Emerton, Milicevic and Muscat. The Tunisians were playing after the 0-3 defeat against Germany with Guemamdia, Ben Saada, Avari, Saidi and Namouchi for Jaziri, Ghodhbane, Clayton, Abdi and Jaidi.

In Leipzig Central Stadium in front of 24,000 spectators at high summer temperatures started the game little presentable. Both teams had big problems in the game design. 23 minutes in a match of Guemamdia was disallowed for offside, just three minutes later then shot Santos earned scorer for the African champions. In the following period the team came out of Australia back into the game and was superior over long distances. However, the Tunisians were dangerous on the break. One of them turned Santos in the 70th minute. The team of Roger Lemerre was able to celebrate after two defeats ( against Argentina and Germany ) the first victory in the Confederations Cup 2005. The Oceania champions, however, had to compete with zero points the way home from Germany.

Argentina - Germany 2:2 ( 1:1)

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In Germany changed Jürgen Klinsmann already qualified for the final round team against the 3-0 victory against Tunisia at five positions: for the captain Michael Ballack, who was rested for the semi-finals, Bernd Schneider started as captain. The yellow locked Arne Friedrich was replaced by Andreas Hinkel in the defense area. Kevin Kuranyi stormed the lightly battered Lukas Podolski, also Fabian Ernst began as a defensive midfielder Torsten Frings, and the third goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, was allowed for Jens Lehmann into the goal. The Argentine team that prematurely qualified also by the victory in the second game of the semifinals, left it with two changes to the previous game, 4-2 against Australia: Tevez rushed for Saviola, and Santana came for Cambiasso.

In the Franken-Stadion, the German national team started very strongly and attacked the Argentine early. Kuranyi had the first chance after five minutes. In the first 15 minutes, the Argentine football player had little opportunity to develop in the forward movement. After Kuranyi was fouled in front of the goal, there was foul. The Hitzlsperger shot into the wall, the rebound came over to Ernst Kuranyi, the volley to make it 1-0 for Germany einschoss in the 29th minute. Two minutes after the opening goal, there were earned on the other side to a similar position a free-kick, which the midfielder Riquelme turned. After balancing the German players were a bit confused and left the Argentines more space to take the offensive game in hand. However, the Argentines had hardly any opportunities before half-time.

In the second half, Frings came off the bench, who took over the captaincy from Schneider. Six minutes later put this on Kuranyi, who took off for strike partner Asamoah. Asamoah overcame the Argentine goalkeeper Lux with a low shot. However, the Argentines were getting stronger and also resembled those re- residue by Figueroa in the 74th minute off. However, the technology clearly superior team by José Pekerman could not get the winning goal.

Due to the better goal, the German team in the group as qualified so despite the tie as winners of Group A for the semi-final against the Second

Confederations Cup 2005

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