Argentina kicked off the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup with a comfortable 2-1 win over Tunisia in Cologne. Goals from Villareal's Juan Riquelme and Monaco's Javier Saviola were enough to kill off the spirited though limited African champions. The North Africans started as firm underdogs but took the game to the twice World Cup winners in the opening minutes, backed by the noisy drums and chants of their expat support in the half-full Rhein-Energie Stadion. The Tunisians, coached by Roger Lemerre, the man who led the French to the most pathetic defence of a World Cup in Korea three summers ago, gave Argentina an early scare in the fifth minute when Imed Mhadhbi's flick released Haykel Guemamdia who left Fabio Coloccini for dead before before Mario Santana intervened with a last-ditch tackle.

Ah the Confederations Cup, one of Herr Sepp Blatter's famous "50 ideas a day" ('and fifty-one of them are bad!'). It does still strive to be anything more than a friendly summer tournament and sits odddly with the much-trumpeted desire not to over-tire our top soccer stars but maybe we are forgetting the fans who want to see it. They may not be numerous, indeed it might well be called the half-full stadium cup, but this is a barren football summer with no World Cup or European Championships to follow and those poor darlings are still on a hundred grand a week! Tickets are as cheap as €17 and plentiful. Add the lovely beer (not FIFA's official Bud), the sausages and leafy Germany, a land too often overlooked as a Summer destination and you won't find me complaining about credibility.

Frank Farina has quit as coach of Australia after six years in charge. The Confederations Cup has claimed its first victim with the forty-year-old former Bari player leaving "by mutual consent" after three defeats in the tournament, 3-4 to Germany, 2-4 to Argentina and 0-2 to Tunisia. “Ever increasing speculation on my position is not something I want to see affect the performance of the team,” Farina announced in his leaving statement.“The potential for that happening has led to this announcement.” The Football Federation of Australia now has the task of finding a manager quickly who can guide the team past a two-legged playoff with the Solomon Islands on the 3rd and 7th of September before facing the fifth-placed South American nation in November for a place in the World Cup Finals in 2006.

3rd/4th Place Play-Off Germany 4:3 Mexico Germany: Podolski 37, Schweinsteiger 41, Huth 79, Ballack 97 Mexico: Fonseca 40, Borgetti 58, 85 Weds 29th June 2005, 1745h Zentralstadion, Leipzig Att: 43,335 Germany downed Mexico 4:3 in Leipzig in an entertaining finale to their Confederations Cup campaigns. The clash of the losing semi-finalists may not have been hotly anticipated but was far from forgetful with a healthy seven goals to send the home fans home happy and looking forward to next year’s World Cup.

FIFA Confederations Cup GERMANY 4 - Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Huth, Ballack MEXICO 3 - Fonseca, Borgetti (2) Germany´s Hanke was dismissed Leipzig 1745, Wednesday 29th June 2005

Unless you hail from Argentina then Wednesday night in Frankfurt will stay with those present a long while. From the storm that split the stadium's hi-tech textile roof to the spectacle of a canteen full of journalists erupting with the cry of "HUTH!", there was no shortage of memorable moments. The most indelible memory, however, came hours after the final whistle as waiting reporters checked their watches mindful of deadlines, column inches and airtime that needed to be filled. Suddenly the bowels of the stadium were transformed as a samba/conga train consisting of the entire Brazil squad was led by Roque Junior, Dida on drums and Ronaldinho on tambourine in single file from dressing room to bus and on to a hotel party.

Photographs of the Confederations Cup 2005, Germany. Images of the stadiums, fans, players, matches and press pack at the Confederations Cup 2005, Germany. Copyright © The Purist Confederations Cup Football Images

Cologne Frankfurt Hannover Leipzig Nuremberg

Our correspondent was supposed to have seen the 7 goal thrilla Germany v Australia in Frankfurt but FIFA messed up his tickets so he saw Argentina beat Tunisia 2-1 in Cologne (Koln - minus umlauts). The weather's great and reports to follow. http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/confederations-cup/

FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-Final ARGENTINA 1 - Figeroa 110 MEXICO 1 - Salcido 105 Argentina (Riquelme, Maxi, Aimar, Galletti, Sorin, Cambiasso) won 6-5 on penalties. Osorio missed Mexico´s 6th while Perez, Pardo, Borgetti, Salcido and Pineda scored theirs Saviola (90) and Mexico´s Marquez (90) were dismissed Hanover Stadion, Hanover 1800h, Sunday 26th June 2005. Attendance: 40,718 Argentina refused to die as extra-time between two sides reduced to ten men failed to come up with a winner.