Confed Cup: From Riyadh to the World
June 9, 2005
Originally known as the King Fahd Cup, the seventh Confederations Cup competition will kick off on June 15 in Cologne. The mini-World Cup is a dress rehearsal before the main event in 2006.
Eight teams will be participating in the FIFA Confederations Cup with the champions from the six FIFA world regions coming to Germany for the two week tournament. Besides reigning world champions Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Greece, Japan, Mexico and Tunisia will converge on host Germany for the warm-up to the World Cup 2006.
The tournament is also a test run for Germany's security forces and transportation systems as it prepares for the more daunting task of the World Cup with fans from 32 teams streaming to the country.
Looking back, the Confederations Cup had a simple beginning. For the 1992 event, Saudi Arabia invited Argentina, the Ivory Coast and the US to play a three-game tournament in Riyadh. Argentina sent some of its best players, such as Caniggia, Batistuta (photo, left) and Goycochea and they beat the hosts in the final.
Three years later, the number of participants was expanded to six. Again, Argentina came, along with Nigeria, Japan, Mexico and Denmark. Group play was introduced and in the final, the Danish proved that their 1992 European Cup victory was no fluke by beating Argentina 2-0in the final.
Tournament expands again
For the 1997 tournament, FIFA decided to introduce the concept of inviting the six confederations champions along with the reigning World Cup champions. The tournament was again played in Saudi Arabia. Australia was the representative from Oceania.
Brazil sent a star-studded squad, including Denilson, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Romario (photo). In the final, both strikers scored a hat trick each as the yellow-clad Brazilians steamrolled Australia 6-0 in the final.
Two years later, FIFA moved the tournament to Mexico, which the Mexican national squad used to their advantage. With soccer that thrilled the nation, they won a nail-biting semi-final against the US and then, in front of 110,000 fans, they beat Brazil 4-3 in the final.
The French era begins
With the first co-sponsored World Cup around the corner, South Korea and Japan used the 2001 Confed Cup as a dry run. World Cup champs France, despite missing the services of superstar Zinedine Zidane, finished the tournament on top, beating host Japan.
Two years later, France hosted the tournament. After the disappointment of being vanquished without scoring a single goal at World Cup 2002, they turned things around to retain the Confederations Cup.
Thierry Henry was the star with his four goals but tragedy scarred the tournament when Cameroon's midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe (photo, left) collapsed unchallenged in a semi-final match, only later to be pronounced dead.