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“It will be a tight, low-scoring game,” predicted a morose Ricardo La Volpe on the FIFA Confederations Cup final between Brazil and Argentina. “We could see another penalty shootout.”
The fiery Buenos Aires native had just witnessed his Mexico side lose a semi-final – one they were ten minutes from winning – 6-5 to his homeland on penalties. One day earlier, at the funky-sounding Frankenstadion, an Adriano double had edged Brazil a 3-2 victory over hosts Germany in another balanced clash.
La Volpe’s words were vindicable. Brazil had won 37 and lost 36 of their 94 wars with Argentina. Not one of them had been settled by more than a two-goal margin since Jairzinho had inspired a 4-1 victory in 1968. That was aided by the fortress that was the Maracana. This would be on neutral ground at the Waldstadion in Frankfurt. Furthermore, the last two Confederations Cup deciders had finished 1-0 in favour of France – the latter having had to wait until extra-time for its game-ending golden goal.
There would be no long wait for the net to ripple in southern Germany, though. Just ten minutes were on the clock when Cicinho galloped down the right and slipped the ball inside to Adriano. The hulking No9 side-stepped Gabriel Heinze on the edge of the box, skipped over the defender’s outstretched leg rather than gain an invitingly-positioned free-kick, and unleashed a ferocious strike which flew into the roof of German Lux’s net. “Nobody in the world shoots with the force of Adriano,” said Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira afterwards.
A few minutes later it got worse for Jose Pekerman’s team. Cicinho and Robinho combined to free Kaka, who, from 20 yards, curled a palatial strike into the top corner.
Any hope Argentina could make a game of it was all but extinguished 88 seconds into the second half. Cicinho conned his marker down the right and produced a pinpoint cross for Ronaldinho, whose volley beat Lux to make it 3-0.
Just after the hour, Cicinho delivered another gorgeous centre, which Adriano headed into the bottom corner. It was the little right-wingback's third direct assist of the match. That strike racked up O Imperador’s fifth goal of the tournament, ultimately clinching him the adidas Golden Shoe ahead of John Aloisi, Michael Ballack and Luciano Figueroa.
Pablo Aimar did grab a consolation for Argentina, but that didn’t prevent the biggest victory in the fixture in 37 years. 29 June 2005, ten years ago to this Monday, belonged to those exhilarating gems in canary-yellow – especially its northern-most star.
“We had another phenomenon in attack today,” said Robinho, in reference to the absence of injured icon O Fenômeno, otherwise known as Ronaldo. “Nobody can stop Adriano when he plays like that. He has everything.”
Argentinians can attest to that. La Albiceleste were seconds away from winning the previous yesar’s Copa America when Adriano flicked the ball up and volleyed home an equaliser. He then scored Brazil’s first penalty as they triumphed in the shootout. Now the Inter Milan striker had italicized his status as Argentina’s hangman.
“I don’t think he’ll be going there on holiday,” joked Robinho.