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Controversial Confederations Cup set to kick-off

France declined to play because they were not interested; reigning champions Brazil and Germany have left many stars at home, and hosts Mexico even threatened to boycott the fourth edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup which kicks-off on Saturday.

By the official FIFA deadline last week, only three of the eight teams playing at the July 24-August 4 tournament had notified the world governing body of their 20-team squad.

Germany are only participating for political reasons. They were slammed for not showing up two years ago and now readily accepted to take the place of World Cup winners France in an effort to enhance their bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

''This tournament is in no one's interest,'' said German sports magazine Kicker in an editorial on Monday of the tournament, which in theory brings together the best team from each of FIFA's six confederations plus the World Cup winners and hosts.

German federation boss Egidius Braun has already pleaded to the public to show patience with a squad featuring five uncapped players.

What the team is capabale of will be seen on Saturday when Germany play Brazil in the tournament opener in Guadalajara. Both are pitted into Group B along with New Zealand and the United States.

Group A plays in Mexico City: Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bolivia are the teams.

The two top-ranked teams from the round robin stage advance to the semi-finals, to played on August 1 and the final takes place August 4.

Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo insisted that his team without Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Amoroso and Roberto Carlos - left to rest because of their upcoming duties in European leagues - is still a world class squad and by no means weaker then that which won the Copa America last weekend.

''We have a great chance to win the tournament. For me it is an A-team. After all, 15 of the players were at the Copa America,'' said Luxemburgo.

Left back Serginho has only so far won five caps at 28 years of age, but is considered even better than Roberto Carlos. AC Milan seemingly agreed and invested 10 million dollars to hire the player from Sao Paulo.

The 22-year-old Alex will be the playmaker and is feared for his deadly passes at home at Palmeiras. The man to make the most of the passes is Ronaldinho, the 19-year-old supertalent who already saw some action at the Copa.

Brazil will be happy to return to Guadalajara's Jalisco Stadium where they won five matches en route to their 1970 World Cup title.

Their first opponents are Germany, who are fielding only three players per Bundesliga team after the clubs' fierce protest against the event which ends just 10 days before the start of league action.

There are fears that the team will suffer a similar humiliation than the 3-0 defeat in the US in February, but coach Erich Ribbeck insisted ''I am sick of all the complaining".

''We should be happy that we can test players under competitive conditions,'' said Ribbeck, whose team is led by 38-year-old and 136- times capped Lothar Matthaeus.

Despite the absence of many stars the four times World Cup winners Brazil and reigning European champions Germany are still favoured to top the group. The United States is a dark horse, while New Zealand are not expected to make the semis.

One of the top Group A spots should belong to Mexico - whose players gave up their boycott threat made in protest of two teammates banned for drug abuse at the Copa - but Bolivia will have a hard time against the African champions Egypt and the Saudis.

UNI