Germany got an early taste of World Cup fever with a 10-goal start to the Confederations Cup on Wednesday, the hosts winning a nervy opener 4-3 against Australia, while Argentina comfortably beat Tunisia 2-1.Germany, who will host next year’s World Cup, gained their first win outside friendlies since October 2003, while Argentina, who have already qualified for the 2006 finals, showed their strength in depth with a victorious young side. Michael Ballack’s 60th minute penalty and a Lukas Podolski strike two minutes from time ensured Germany’s win after they twice allowed Australia to equalise in a pulsating match in Frankfurt.The first three goals came in a breathless six-minute spell.Australia’s John Aloisi scored his second of the night during stoppage time in a match that posed fresh questions about the hosts’ defence. Dubbed the ‘‘Mini World Cup’’ in Germany, this eight-nation tournament lasts two weeks, giving regional champions a showcase and the World Cup hosts a dress rehearsal in five cities.Many German fans got the message ahead of Germany’s first competitive match since their first round exit in Euro 2004. Supporters blasted sirens in the centre of Frankfurt and there was a real buzz at kickoff from the 48,000 capacity crowd.Man-of-the-match Michael Ballack described the game as a feast for the fans and said his team was starting to realise what tournament football was about. ‘‘For the first time in a long time it’s about points and avoiding errors. The supporters really got into it. That was great for us,’’ he said.World champions Brazil start their campaign against Euro 2004 winners Greece on Thursday in Leipzig. Asian champions Japan take on Mexico in Hanover in the early Group B game.Earlier in Cologne, Juan Riquelme’s 33rd minute penalty and a well-taken 57th minute strike from Javier Saviola secured a win for Argentina in the other Group A match against the African champions, who missed with one penalty and converted another.The victory was far easier than the scoreline suggests. After surviving their early scare from the spot, Argentina controlled the match for long periods, while Tunisia played some enterprising, creative football of their own and produced a couple of chances in the closing stages.Argentina, who made sure of being back in Germany next year after qualifying for the World Cup finals last week, should have gone ahead after only 11 minutes. Defender Karim Saidi lost possession on the edge of his area to the usually lethal Saviola, but the striker, with only goalkeeper Khaled Fadhel to beat, took too long and the keeper smothered his shot.
