Dry-run Cup goes to plan

Japan held a Brazil team way under full strength

By BBC Sport Online's Andrew Warshaw

Anyone following the Confederations Cup could be forgiven for wondering whether the fabric of global football had been irrevocably changed overnight.

After all, Australia, hardly a major power, have beaten France. And Japan and Canada have both managed to hold mighty Brazil.

Three unexpected results which, under normal circumstances, would loom large on the Richter scale of soccer earthquakes.

But where is Rivaldo, officially the world's best forward, and where is Zinedine Zidane, the world's most gifted playmaker?

Where are the likes of Lilian Thuram, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos?

Nowhere to be seen. Not in this competition, anyway. Most of them are recuperating from a long hard season.

France didn't want the competition because too many of their players were tired by the long European campaign.

Brazil didn't want it because of the Copa Libertadores. Even the Australians have had to cope without Leeds' Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell.

The fact is, the Confederations Cup is a tournament conceived by Fifa for Fifa. A trial run to ascertain what needs putting right ahead of the real thing a year from now.

Huge strides

While there is no doubt that countries like Australia and Japan have made huge strides in recent years, they would have little chance of repeating such results in a World Cup Finals.

And yet, even though six months ago they didn't even want the tournament, the Japanese are celebrating like there is no tomorrow.

That, it has to be said, can only be good for the World Cup.

It was important, even against second-string teams, that one or other of the co-hosts managed to reach the final four and build up interest ahead of next year's jamboree.

Enough criticism has already been levelled at Fifa for granting the World Cup to two Asian countries.

The elimination of both in the main warm-up tournament would not have augured well either for ticket sales or local confidence a year from now.

Instead, Japan only have to overcome the Australians to meet France or Brazil in the final.

Fifa could not have written a better script.