In from the cold

Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted that the tournament was seen as something of a "step-child when it was conceived" but said on Wednesday, "It is now regarded as a worthwhile competition in its own right."

Certainly the action on the pitch suggested all eight teams were determined to do as well as they possibly could during two competitive but relatively pressure-free weeks with the real intensity not due until Germany stages next year's World Cup.

Even so, the tournament produced 56 goals in 16 matches at an average of 3.5 goals a game -- some of them absolute stunners.

Two were scored by Adriano, who rocketed one home against Greece from 30 metres in Brazil's opening match and then scored another long-range effort to set his country on their way to a 4-1 win over rivals Argentina in Wednesday's final.

He finished as top scorer with five goals after leading the charts in the Copa America last year with seven and is arguably an even better finisher than Ronaldo, who was absent here.

Brazil won with an attacking flourish that brought them 12 goals in their five matches and led coach Carlos Alberto Parreira to acknowledge they are now favourites to successfully defend the World Cup next year.

With Adriano, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho and the absent Ronaldo they certainly have the most potent strikeforce in the world, but attacks dominated throughout the competition.

From the opening day on June 15 when Argentina beat Tunisia 2-1 in Cologne and Germany beat Australia 4-3 in Frankfurt, goals flowed and the crowds were entertained.

They were also treated to some excellent football but Brazil were not the only team to catch the eye.

Argentina played superbly in the second half of their 2-2 draw with Germany in Nuremberg on June 21 and showed why they are one of the favourites to do well when the curtain goes up on the main event in just under a year's time.

They were also allowed time and space to show off their attacking prowess against Tunisia and Australia, who they beat 4-2, and in a gruelling 1-1 semi-final draw with Mexico they proved just how hard a team they are to defeat.

Although Argentina were well beaten by Brazil in the final, they looked tired after a long season and extra time against Mexico on Sunday. Next year they will be a force to be reckoned with.

While some notable players missed the tournament, such as Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu of Brazil and Hernan Crespo, Roberto Ayala and Kily Gonzalez of Argentina, others grabbed their chance to enhance their reputations.

Mexico as a whole, and goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and midfielder Zinha in particular, had excellent tournaments.

Tunisia's defender and captain Hatem Trabelsi was also outstanding despite two defeats in their three matches.

Even the harshest critics in the German media had to concede that Juergen Klinsmann's inexperienced side is making progress -- even if real problems remain in defence.

Young players like the excellent Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Per Mertesacker are all rapidly improving, but a team that leaks 11 goals in five tournament matches must develop still further to become world champions.

Japan, who like Argentina and Germany are already assured of a place in the World Cup, also put on decent performances.

They enjoyed a well-deserved victory over Greece, suffered a narrow 2-1 loss to Mexico and had a battling 2-2 draw with Brazil which featured one of the goals of the tournament -- a 35-metre effort from Shunsuhe Nakamura.

Tunisia, with an eye still on a tough fight to guarantee their place in the World Cup finals, gave Argentina and Germany a fight before losing both games and were too good for Australia who, like Greece, had a poor tournament.

Australia flattered to deceive in their 4-3 defeat by Germany and 4-2 loss to Argentina, with their final 2-0 setback against Tunisia proving the last straw for the popular Frank Farina who quit as coach on Wednesday.

Greece also failed to impress and the European champions did not even score, picking up a solitary point from a 0-0 draw with Mexico after they had already been eliminated.

Although Greece played with the same massed defence and counter-attacking tactics that brought them a surprise Euro 2004 success, they were weakened by injuries and suspensions and lacked the self-belief that helped them win the European title.

Even if coach Otto Rehaggel leads his team back to Germany for the World Cup, it is hard to see Greece making a positive impression in next year's finals.