FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 / Group A
This article covers preliminary group A of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup .
| Pl. | country | Sp. | S. | U | N | Gates | Diff. | Points |
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| 1. |
 Germany
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3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9: 5 | +4 | 7th |
| 2. |
 Argentina
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3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8: 5 | +3 | 7th |
| 3. |
 Tunisia
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3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3: 5 | −2 | 3 |
| 4th |
 Australia
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3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5:10 | −5 | 0 |
Argentina - Tunisia 2: 1 (1: 0)
| Argentina | Tunisia | |||||
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Germán Lux - Gonzalo Rodríguez , Fabricio Coloccini , Gabriel Heinze - Maxi Rodríguez , Lucas Bernardi , Juan Román Riquelme , Juan Pablo Sorín (79th Javier Zanetti ) - Luciano Galletti , Javier Saviola (66th Carlos Tévez ), Mario Alberto Santana Coach: José Alberto Santana Pekerman |
Khaled Fadhel - Hatem Trabelsi (46th Amir Haj Massaoud ), Karim Saidi , Radhi Jaïdi , Anis Ayari - Jawhar Mnari , Adel Chedli - Karim Essediri , Selim Benachour , Imed Mhadhebi (46th Francileudo Santos ) - Haykel Gmamdia (78th Ziad Jaziri ) Trainer: Roger Lemerre |
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 1-0 Riquelme (33rd, foul penalty) 2-0 Saviola (57th)
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2: 1 Gmamdia (72nd, penalty kick)
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 Lux, Rodríguez
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Trabelsi, Jaïdi
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 Mhadhebi misses a penalty kick (17.)
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Match report
Argentina narrowly beat outsiders Tunisia in their first game. Coach José Pekerman also tested a few young national players with little experience during the game. Roberto Ayala , Hernán Crespo , Kily González , Luis González , Javier Mascherano and Roberto Abbondanzieri did not even come to the Confederations Cup. Nevertheless, the team did not play badly in the first group game against the African champions without these regulars. Juan Román Riquelme, Javier Saviola and Juan Pablo Sorín were the best in the Argentine game. The two Bundesliga players Diego Placente ( Bayer 04 Leverkusen ) and Martín Demichelis ( FC Bayern Munich ) were not used.
Tunisia played with a surprising line-up, regular goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel , like Santos and Ziad Jaziri, had to sit on the bench at the beginning. Jawhar Mnari, the new signing from 1. FC Nürnberg , started in the starting line-up.
The game was largely even and so the Africans had the best opportunity to take the lead in the 18th minute: Goalkeeper Lux had fouled Gmamdia in the penalty area, but Mhadhebi missed the due penalty . The first goal of the Confederations Cup 2005 came in the 33rd minute through Juan Román Riquelme, who converted a penalty to 1-0 for Argentina. Maxi Rodríguez had been pushed by Trabelsi and referee Rosetti gave another penalty. In the 57th minute, Saviola was able to increase to 2-0 after a successful combination with Santana and Galletti. Almost twenty minutes before the end of the game, there were penalties for the third time. Lux touched Gmamdia and this time the fouled transformed himself. However, coach Roger Lemerre's team was unable to equalize in the following period.
Germany - Australia 4: 3 (2: 2)
| Germany | Australia | |||||
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Oliver Kahn - Arne Friedrich , Robert Huth , Per Mertesacker , Thomas Hitzlsperger - Bernd Schneider (76th Sebastian Deisler ), Torsten Frings , Michael Ballack , Bastian Schweinsteiger (83rd Fabian Ernst ) - Lukas Podolski , Kevin Kurányi (68th Gerald Asamoah ) Trainer: Jürgen Klinsmann |
Mark Schwarzer - Kevin Muscat , Craig Moore , Tony Popovic (57th Jon McKain ) - Lucas Neill - Brett Emerton , Ljubo Miličević , Josip Skoko , Scott Chipperfield (83rd Archie Thompson ) - Tim Cahill (74th Jason Culina ), John Aloisi Trainer: Frank Farina |
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1: 0 Kurányi (17th) 2: 1 Mertesacker (23rd) 3: 2 Ballack (60th, penalty kick) 4: 2 Podolski (88th)
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1: 1 Skoko (21st) 2: 2 Aloisi (31st) 4: 3 Aloisi (90th + 2 ')
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Huth, Schweinsteiger, Friedrich, Ballack
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Milicevic
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Match report
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Australia narrowly lost their first game to the hosts. The Oceania champions were the better team in terms of play for long stretches, but coach Frank Farina's team had great difficulties in defense. The visitors to the Waldstadion and the television viewers could see an entertaining game with many goals. The team of Jurgen Klinsmann revealed how in a friendly earlier, major uncertainties on the defensive, which was occupied with young defenders (average age 22.75 years).
In the early stages, the Australian defenders were compact, so the German midfielders hardly got into the game. So the 1-0 for Germany was very surprising when a shot deflected by Kevin Kurányi from Arne Friedrich from 25 meters. Then the game got a little better. In the 21st minute, Robert Huth fouled John Aloisi in front of the penalty area and Josip Skoko shot the due direct free kick into the goal. The leadership of the Germans by Per Mertesacker was again offset by Aloisi. Michael Ballack took the lead again in the 60th minute with a penalty kick, Lukas Podolski increased to 4: 2 in the 88th minute. Aloisi's second goal in the first group game came too late for the Australians in stoppage time.
Tunisia - Germany 0: 3 (0: 0)
| Tunisia | Germany | |||||
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Ali Boumnijel - Hatem Trabelsi , Wissem Abdi , Radhi Jaïdi , José Clayton - Mehdi Nafti , Jawhar Mnari , Adel Chadli , Kaies Ghodhbane (59th Hamed Namouchi ) - Francileudo Santos , Ziad Jaziri (83rd Chaouki Ben Saada ) Trainer: Roger Lemerre |
Jens Lehmann - Arne Friedrich , Robert Huth , Per Mertesacker , Thomas Hitzlsperger (68th Bernd Schneider ) - Sebastian Deisler , Torsten Frings , Michael Ballack , Bastian Schweinsteiger - Lukas Podolski (87th Mike Hanke ), Gerald Asamoah (62nd Kevin Kurányi ) Trainer: Jürgen Klinsmann |
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0: 1 Ballack (74th, penalty kick) 0: 2 Schweinsteiger (80th) 0: 3 Hanke (88th)
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Jaïdi (2nd, suspended), Abdi
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Friedrich (2nd, blocked)
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Match report
The German national soccer team changed to three positions. As national coach Jürgen Klinsmann announced before the tournament, he changed goalkeepers after every game to test both Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann in goal for the 2006 World Cup . Sebastian Deisler played on the right side for Bernd Schneider against Tunisia . Kevin Kurányi , who made it 1-0 in the opening game, was replaced by Gerald Asamoah . The regulars Santos , Ziad Jaziri and Kaies Ghodhbane , who last had a break after Tunisia's last difficult World Cup qualifiers against Argentina, played for Tunisia from the start.
The first half was shaped by tactics. Despite some uncertainties, the defense was overall better, especially Robert Huth won some duels. However, the Tunisians had the best chance. Jens Lehmann was only able to keep a corner kick shot directly at the goal in front of the goal line with difficulty. The 1. FC Köln player , Lukas Podolski , who had a home game at the FIFA World Cup Stadium in Cologne , scored a goal that was rightly not recognized by the Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast due to an offside position . The captain of the Germans, Michael Ballack , had a good chance with a header shortly before the break.
The game was level in the second half until Ballack was fouled in the penalty area in the 74th minute. He converted the due penalty himself. Then the game tipped over. Germany was now compact behind and scored two goals in the front. Podolski sent Bastian Schweinsteiger steep, and he shot from an acute angle to make it 2-0. Mike Hanke , who came on as a substitute in the 87th minute , scored his first international goal with a 3-0 win. Since Argentina also won against Australia in the evening , Germany was in the semi-finals and could look forward to the last game against the South Americans on June 21st.
Australia - Argentina 2: 4 (0: 2)
| Australia | Argentina | |||||
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Mark Schwarzer - Kevin Muscat (46th Mark Viduka ), Tony Vidmar , Craig Moore , Lucas Neill - Ljubo Miličević (56th Jon McKain ), Josip Skoko (74th Jason Culina ) - Brett Emerton , Tim Cahill , Scott Chipperfield - John Aloisi Trainer: Frank Farina |
Germán Lux - Javier Zanetti , Fabricio Coloccini (86th Gonzalo Rodríguez ), Walter Samuel , Gabriel Heinze - Lucas Bernardi - Mario Alberto Santana (66th Esteban Cambiasso ), Juan Pablo Sorín - Juan Román Riquelme - Javier Saviola (73rd Pablo Aimar ) , Luciano Figueroa Coach: José Pekerman |
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1: 3 Aloisi (61st, penalty kick) 2: 3 Aloisi (70th)
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0: 1 Figueroa (12th) 0: 2 Riquelme (31st, penalty kick) 0: 3 Figueroa (53rd) 2: 4 Figueroa (89th)
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Neill, Emerton, Cahill, Moore
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Samuel
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Match report
After the defeat in the opening game, Australia only started in one position, national coach Frank Farina let Vidmar appear for the injured Popovic. In Argentina, Samuel started for Gonzalo Rodriguez in defense, midfielder Zanetti for Maxi Rodriguez and Figueroa stormed for Galletti.
The game in the Frankenstadion was entertaining and, like the first game with the Australians, extremely rich in goals. Figueroa scored the 1-0 in the twelfth minute, so far the Australians were the better team. The South America winners did not do more than necessary for long stretches and let the Oceania champions play. In the 30th minute, however, the South Americans came dangerous again in front of the housing and there was a penalty, which Riquelme converted to 2-0. Farina's players did not play offensively like they did against Germany, but were very harmless in front of goal. The defensive mistakes were just as serious as in the opening game and so the Argentines increased to 3-0. After the break, the Australian national team got stronger and scored two consecutive goals through striker Aloisi, who had already scored twice against Germany. Then the Argentines realized that it could get tight again and increased the pressure. Then the 2: 4 fell again through Figueroa. Argentina, like Germany, qualified for the semi-finals by winning.
Australia - Tunisia 0: 2 (0: 1)
| Australia | Tunisia | |||||
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Michael Petkovic - Lucas Neill , Tony Vidmar , Craig Moore , Simon Colosimo - Jason Culina , Jon McKain , Josip Skoko , Scott Chipperfield (38th Ljubo Miličević ) - John Aloisi , Mark Viduka (46th Archie Thompson ) Trainer: Frank Farina |
Hamdi Kasraoui - Hatem Trabelsi , Karim Saidi , Jawhar Mnari , Anis Ayari - Hamed Namouchi , Mehdi Nafti , Adel Chedli (55. Issam Jemaa ), Chaouki Ben Saada (69th Kaies Ghodhbane ) - Francileudo Santos (89th Ziad Jaziri ) Haykel Gmamdia Trainer: Roger Lemerre |
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0: 1 Santos (26th) 0: 2 Santos (70th)
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McKain, Colosimo, Cahill (2nd, blocked), Thompson
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Ben Saada, Ayari, Nafti
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Match report
Neither team had any chance to qualify for the semi-finals before the game. Australia coach Frank Farina changed the line-up to five game positions: Goalkeeper Schwarzer was replaced by Petkovic, Viduka, Culina, Colosimo and McKain came on for Cahill, Emerton, Milicevic and Muscat. After the 3-0 defeat against Germany, the Tunisians played with Guemamdia, Ben Saada, Avari, Saidi and Namouchi for Jaziri, Ghodhbane, Clayton, Abdi and Jaidi.
In the central stadium in Leipzig in front of 24,000 spectators with high summer temperatures, the game did not start well. Both teams had big problems building up the game. In the 23rd minute, a goal from Guemamdia was not recognized because of offside, only three minutes later Santos then scored the well-deserved opening goal for the African champions. In the following period, the team from Australia got better into the game and was superior for long stretches. However, the Tunisians were dangerous by counterattack. Santos converted one of them in the 70th minute. Roger Lemerre's team celebrated their first victory in the 2005 Confederations Cup after two defeats (against Argentina and Germany). The Oceania champion, on the other hand, had to return home from Germany with zero points.
Argentina - Germany 2: 2 (1: 1)
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Germán Lux - Javier Zanetti , Fabricio Coloccini , Walter Samuel (62nd Mario Alberto Santana ), Gabriel Heinze - Lucas Bernardi (53rd Pablo Aimar ) - Esteban Cambiasso , Juan Pablo Sorín - Juan Román Riquelme - Carlos Tévez (80th César Delgado ) , Luciano Figueroa Coach: José Pekerman |
Timo Hildebrand - Andreas Hinkel , Robert Huth , Per Mertesacker , Thomas Hitzlsperger - Bernd Schneider (46th Torsten Frings ), Fabian Ernst , Sebastian Deisler , Bastian Schweinsteiger (70th Marco Engelhardt ) - Gerald Asamoah (58th Mike Hanke ), Kevin Kurányi Trainer: Jürgen Klinsmann |
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1: 1 Riquelme (38th) 2: 2 Cambiasso (74th)
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0: 1 Kurányi (29th) 1: 2 Asamoah (51.)
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Samuel (2nd, blocked), Bernardi
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Kurányi, Deisler, Schweinsteiger (2nd, blocked), Engelhardt
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Match report
In Germany, national coach Jürgen Klinsmann changed the team that had already qualified for the final round to five positions compared to the 3-0 win against Tunisia: Bernd Schneider began as captain for captain Michael Ballack , who was spared for the semifinals . The yellow-banned Arne Friedrich was replaced by Andreas Hinkel in the defense area. Kevin Kurányi stormed for the slightly ailing Lukas Podolski , Fabian Ernst also started for Torsten Frings in defensive midfield, and the third goalkeeper, Timo Hildebrand , was allowed in for Jens Lehmann . The Argentine team, which also qualified early for the semifinals by winning the second game, left it with two changes to the previous game, the 4-2 against Australia: Tevez stormed for Saviola, and Santana came on for Cambiasso.
The German national team got off to a strong start in the Franken-Stadion and attacked the Argentinians early on. Kurányi had the first chance after five minutes. In the first 15 minutes, the Argentine soccer players had little opportunity to develop in the forward movement. After Kurányi was fouled in front of the penalty area, there was a free kick. Hitzlsperger shot it into the wall, the ricochet came through Ernst to Kurányi, who scored 1-0 for Germany volley in the 29th minute. Two minutes after the well-deserved opening goal, there was a free kick on the other side in a similar position, which midfield director Riquelme converted. After the equalizer, the German players were a bit insecure and left the Argentines more space to take the offensive game into their hands. However, the Argentines hardly had any opportunities before half-time.
In the second half, Frings came on and took over the captain's armband from Schneider. Six minutes later, the latter hung up on Kurányi, who left for strike partner Asamoah. Asamoah overcame Argentine goalkeeper Lux with a low shot. The Argentines got stronger and stronger and also made up for this renewed deficit by Cambiasso in the 74th minute. The technically clearly superior team of José Pekerman could not achieve the winning goal.
Due to the better goal difference, the German team qualified as winners of Group A for the semi-final against the second in Group B despite the draw.
Group A | Group B | Semifinals | 3rd place match | Final | Squad