FRANKFURT, 30 June 2005 — Brazil crushed archrivals Argentina 4-1 with a superb display of attacking football to add the Confederations Cup to their World Cup and Copa America titles yesterday. Adriano led the world champions to a memorable victory with a blistering 11th minute shot and a 63rd minute header to make him the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
Kaka, firing home in the 16th minute, and Ronaldinho, in the 47th, also got themselves on the scoresheet in Carlos Alberto Parreira’s 100th match as Brazil coach.
Substitute Pablo Aimar scored a consolation goal for Argentina with a brave diving header after 65 minutes.
After two weeks of blisteringly hot weather, the match was played as a thunderstorm raged around the Waldstadion, the pitch and spectators protected from the rain and lightning with the roof covers in place.
Youngsters Schweinsteiger, Podolski Light Up Germany
In Leipzig, talented German youngsters Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski could develop into one of international soccer’s most potent attacking forces.
The free-scoring 20-year-olds, who made their international debuts against Hungary last year, were instrumental in two of Germany’s four goals in their Confederations Cup third-place playoff win over Mexico.
Podolski, who was born in Poland and plays for Cologne, lashed home Germany’s first goal, his third of the tournament, after Schweinsteiger flicked the ball to him through his legs.
“I’d seen him over on the left and knew he was still there so I just played it through,” Schweinsteiger told reporters. He later linked cleverly with Andreas Hinkel in the move that led to Schweinsteiger tapping home to double Germany’s lead, his second goal in the warm-up event for next year’s World Cup.
Italian Forward Zola Finally Hangs Up Boots
In Milan, Italian forward Gianfranco Zola announced his retirement yesterday bringing to an end a 21-year glittering career that graced the English Premier League and Serie A.
“I think this is the right thing to do,” local news agencies quoted the 38-year-old as saying. “Some time has passed since the end of the (Serie A) championship but I needed to reflect a bit.
“Now that my career is finished I can say that I am happy with what I have achieved. Not everyone can say that they set themselves an objective and reached it — I did that and it is very satisfying” said Zola who ended his career with Cagliari on the island of Sardinia where he was born. Zola, whose diminutive frame contained abundant trickery, humor and guile, made his name at Italian Serie A side Naples as understudy to Diego Maradona and then won the UEFA Cup with Parma in 1995.
