Brazil have stunned Argentina with a superb display of attacking football to win the 2005 Confederations Cup Final, and so, wreaking revenge on the Argentinians for the recent World Cup 2006 qualifying win with a 4-1 Battering!

Argentina may be in the driving seat in the South American Group stage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, having convincingly beating Brazil earlier this month in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires, and therefore earning a place in the World Cup Finals next year, but Brazil were out to smash any ideas that the Argentinian's were to be the "top" team in South America, and were out to prove their World Cup Champion status.

Argentina were out-classed this evening by a Brazilian team that were just far too good against them. The play was controlled by the World Cup Champions, and the "Samba Boys" commanded the game from the moment the first goal went in, in the 11th minute when Adriano slammed in a superb volley past keeper Lux to make it 1-0.

Brazil then went two goals ahead just four minutes later with yet another stunning strike from the AC Milan star Kaka. If Adriano went for power, Kaka's goal was all about placement, his precise shot giving Lux no chance, as it flew past the keepers left, and smashing into the top corner.

The play slowed in the second part of the first half, with vague oppurtunities for both sides. The weather had it's part to play in the proceedings, with a torrential thunderstorm hitting shortly after the start, and thoroughly testing the newly renovated Frankfurt Stadion's roofing with the downpour forcing a virtual waterfall in one of the corners of the pitch from the collection of water on the roof, much to the audiences pleasure.

Lucio was outstanding in central defence, even finding time to almost score with an audacious free-kick just before half-time, and the game went into the break with Brazil leading 2-0.

Ronaldinho volleyed home the third for Brazil in the third minute of the second half, with a lovely volley from a great Kaka cross, that seemed to seal the fate of the Argentinians.

Even though Argentina in no way deferred from their task during the course of the match, the Brazilians were just too organized for the Albiceleste to break down, and only the subtitution of Pablo Aimar, a long-term Liverpool target, for the ailing Cambiasso, showed any possibilities for the team behind.

Aimar soon made his presence felt, with a couple of promising plays from the Argentinians, but the flowing play of the Brazilians was too much to contain. Lucio and Robinho combining beautifully, and the play halting any opportunities for the Argentinian strike-force of Figueroa and Riquelme.

The result became a formality in the 63rd minute when Adriano scored his second, and Brazil's 4th after dominating the play for a long period.

Argentina did their best to come back into the match, and when Delgado supplied Aimar with a super cross that the diminutive 5'5" Aimar dived on to open the scoring for the Albiceleste and make it 4-1.

This was too little too late, and even though the Argentinians continued to try and break down the Brazilian defence, the World Cup Champions were always all too willing to attack on the break, and could have easily won by a far larger margin.

The most prominent players on both sides during the match were the defenders, with Sorin and Coloccini playing major parts for Argentina, not only in defence, but creating attacking chances for the forwards, and more often than not, taking on chances themselves, with Colloccini shooting just over the bar.

But the true shining talent of the tournament surely has to be the ever-present, Goliath that is Lucio. Without his amazing defensive capabilities, and attacking momentum, the Samba Boys would have been eliminated from the tournament in the group stages. His mammoth presence on the right of the Brazilian defence has been the definitive influence in the Brazilian team and, for a right-back, his many attempts at goal have been a welcome bonus. He, in my mind, is without doubt the player of the tournament, and even though the glory usually goes to the goal-scorers, anyone that doubted his talent, or impact on this tournament, has now been enlightened to his massive talent.

Brazil will take heart from this, and as almost certainties to qualify for the finals next summer, they will be increasingly confident of retaining their crown, and most happy with the Mercurial Adriano finally finding his true form for the end of the tournament with two goals to not only help win the competition, but in turn becoming top scorer in the tournament with 5 goals, and in so doing maybe userping Ronaldo as the ever present striker in the Brazil squad.

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