World Cup 2010 Soccer News - fifa club world cup

Inshallah (Barcelona v Estudiantes Club World Cup Final)

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:05:27 +0000

The locals got their wish. Their very own superstar delivered the goods with a goal from his heart to proclaim Barcelona as FIFA Club World Cup Champions of the World . The truth of the matter was that he, proclaimed World footballer of the year the following day, and he alone (well maybe not...remember the title of this piece) was the catalyst for Barcelona winning the trophy. An uninspiring display against Atlante was brought to life by his introduction and in the final he stood out for his intelligent use of the ball during the game and then elevated himself to immortal status. Normally you would describe this as head and shoulders better than the rest. Not Lionel Messi, he has to go one better. Head, shoulders and chest better than the rest. The day itself was firstly notable for the absence of the Congo fans, as for the first time since their introduction to the tournament I could hear myself think. Their non stop cacophony of noise and their lead dancer entertained us all, (but I do prefer it when the noise relates to the action on the pitch). Estudiantes fans began the day in good voice and baited their opponents outside the ground as they had many more fans in evidence as they warmed up for the evening's match. They could be heard throughout the 3rd place play off game, which Pohang Steelers won on penalties. We waited for Barcelona fans to make themselves heard during the final but it was evident that Estudiantes were the ones whose passionate fans had made the trip in more numbers. It wasn't till the end as Barcelona piled on the pressure that chants of Barza from the locals resounded around the stadium. Finally the Estudiantes fans were silenced as with just 1 minute and 45 seconds of normal time left Pedro equalised. From then on their chants got stronger as they knew what was going to happen. Chants of Messi were far louder than that of Barcelona as the locals' dreams were brought to life. As I left the stadium a local banging a drum chanted Messi's name......whilst wearing a Real Madrid shirt! I am sure the local will be back next year probably wearing a Messi shirt whilst watching Real Madrid. © Ross Clegg & Soccerphile.com Tags Soccer News World Club Cup

Estudiantes v Pohang

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:08:15 +0000

At long last the FIFA Club World Cup tournament begins. 3,500 fans from Argentina have arrived and 4,000 plain clothed police boost the crowd to 22,000 for the first Semi Final. After a promising opening when Estudiantes dominated possession the game had become lifeless, until in first half injury time a free kick is pumped into the box, the Estudiantes forward clearly (to me) was in an offside position and tries his best to get a touch on the ball. The ball goes in the net and a goal is given. The Pohang Steelers coach stated that he did not see a referee on the pitch. I saw one. But he didn't appear to be watching the game. Worse was to follow as three sendings off followed. All of which appeared harsh. The Korean side played with determination for the final 13 minutes with just 8 men and tried to make a game of it even with the tournament's leading scorer, Denilson in goal. So 2-1 Estudiantes and one half of the FIFA jigsaw is complete. Remember FIFA prefers South America v Europe in these competitions. Wednesday. Barcelona are in town and suddenly everyone is interested in the football. There was a constant stream of helicopters overhead in the morning as dignitaries arrived. There was no doubting who the U.A.E locals were supporting as during the 5th place place off game the video screen panned to the Barcelona players in the stand. Each time a loud cheer went up. The stadium was silenced early on as Atlante took the lead. Both teams were putting together passing moves creating intricate patterns the likes of which I hadn't seen since that mornings visit to the Sheikh Zayed mosque. Barcelona scored and the locals were clearly relieved. Game on. Messi was given superstar status before he even entered the field of play as the fans chanted for him to enter the fray. Within a minute he had delivered 2-1 Barcelona. From then it it was easy for Barcelona. After the match people were now looking forward to Saturday's final and asking for tickets. After disappointing crowds (only 4,200 for the earlier game that day) throughout the tournament at least the final will be sold out. © Ross Clegg & Soccerphile.com Tags Soccer News World Club Cup

World Club Cup Part V

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:48:55 +0000

Whilst at Al Nasr, I found out about a football exhibition taking place in Abu Dhabi - "Footie." It would be a get together of all corners of the football world, with competitions, freestyle shows, auctions and....... lots more beside. What's more it would be the first even of its kind in the Middle East. Michael was considering having his club represented at the event, but worries over whether their display would be the best meant that they decided not to bother. It was interesting to see the mentality behind the decision. The Emiratis clearly were interested in doing this only if they were going to be the best. Their decision was probably the right one as I was possibly the only visitor paying that day. Bernard Lama was the only one of a host of football stars who were due to attend. Lauren Robert was due to make an appearance but was apparently last seen shopping in Dubai. Heading to the stadium for the first quarter final light rain started to fall. The crowd for the game between Pohang Steelers and Mazembe cowered under whatever shelter they could find as the rain grew heavier during the match. The roof (remember what there is of it) was put to good effect as the evening's entertainment was provided by the Mazembe supporters in the main stand, the brass band and dancer were regularly displayed on the large screen and their presence gave the match a better atmosphere. Song 2 was blasted out as goals were scored. It was noticeable that this didn't happen at the first game. was this because the wrong team scored? Pohang won but wasted numerous good chances whilst Mazembe failed to mark Denilson, the one player they knew who would cause them problems. The next day saw the action switch to Zayed Sports City, a larger stadium further out of town. Free buses have been laid on to take fans from the centre of Abu Dhabi to the stadiums. I commandeered one from the Abu Dhabi mall and had it to myself until we were virtually at the venue. There was certainly enough buses to cope with a 50,000 crowd. Obviously no one told them how many tickets had been sold. The crowd was a mere 7,000, and once again the entertainment was provided by the Mazembe supporters who, given the top tier to themselves, kept the noise going all game. Atlante dominated possession and it was no surprise when they scored. Auckland did create a couple of good chances on the break but Atante were too strong for them. Auckland's reward - they get to play Mazembe for the 5th place in the tournament. © Ross Clegg & Soccerphile.com Tags Soccer News World Club Cup

World Club Cup Part IV

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:09:12 +0000

I mentioned earlier that I would try and find my way to any local games taking place, my quest started the moment I arrived at my hotel where I asked for their help in checking the fixtures. I believed there were two games taking place in Dubai, and that the following morning there would be camel racing at 7a.m. They confirmed the first game as I thought but told me the second game was actually due to take place here in Abu Dhabi at the Zayed Sports stadium, one of the venues for this competition. As for the camel racing they knew nothing about it. I was clearly up against it as I was sure that FIFA would not allow a stadium being used by them to host a local game. So now I knew I could not rely on the hotel for information. Whilst collecting my tickets I spotted someone in an Al Ahli shirt, knowing that he must be from Dubai, I asked him about the fixtures the next day. Immediately he phoned a friend and confirmed that Al Nasr would play at 16.45 and Al Wasl would play at 20.00, in Dubai, at grounds just 10 minutes apart. Unfortunately the camel racing wasn't on in Dubai but it was in Abu Dhabi. So my second day in the Emirates and I was off to Dubai, the Al Nasr website is one of only three that I had found with English content and kindly provided a location map for the ground. I spent the afternoon in Bastikaya before heading in the direction of the stadium. Meeting yet more roadworks on major roads meant navigation had become impossible. Jumping in a taxi I was soon at the ground. I phoned my friend, who had said he might accompany me to the games, but he was still at work. Judging by the crowd, so was everyone else. It was hard to imagine that this was a stadium where recently crowd trouble had seen supporters banned. This was only a cup game and I was assured that there is more of a crowd, firstly for evening games and for the actual league games. Without my friend I wasn't sure how I would get to Al Wasl later so I asked around and worked out that the ground was 10 minutes away, by car. Al Nasr was the club that Don Revie managed after laying the foundations as U.A.E. national manager, where he had an unsuccessful reign but correctly predicted that they would appear in a World Cup finals in the next 15 years. They made their debut at Italia 1990, losing to Colombia, West Germany and Yugoslavia. Al Nasr had lost their previous game 5-1 and their website announced that they were standing by their German manager, Frank Pagelsdorf, but their assistant coach and fitness coach would be leaving. Al Nasr strolled into a 3-0 half time lead, as a lethargic Emirates defence watched. The second half saw the Emirates wake up, but a quick two goal burst from Al Nasr saw them run out 5-2 winners to restore some much needed pride. Whilst watching the game I met Michael Rodosthenous, the Deputy Executive Director of Al Nasr. A former W.B.A. player who found his way here via Cambridge United and Adelaide Raiders. He explained the circumstances surrounding the crowd trouble. Al Nasr were hosting city rivals Al Ahli. Al Ahli were having a torrid time and were told they must not lose this game. Their was a lot of hype surrounding the game and Al Ahli were outplayed but winning 2-1 with five minutes to go. Al Nasr equalised, but the a dubious offside flag was raised. Spectators vented their anger and a sandal hit the linesman. Michael showed me behind the scenes before driving me to the game at Al Wasl. We decided to take the scenic route as he showed me Dubai by night, passing the Emirates Towers and the tallest building in the world the Burj Dubai. Dropping me off I could hear there was a little more atmosphere, as expected for the evening kick off. The game itself was a close affair with away side Al Jazirah winning 1-0. After the game a taxi back to Dubai saw me catch the bus back to Abu Dhabi. Now the camel racing was apparently due to take place 45km away from Abu Dhabi at 7a.m. As it was now 1a.m and I couldn't confirm where the track was or how to get there I decided to give it a miss. © Ross Clegg & Soccerphile.com Tags Soccer News World Club Cup

Manchester United crowned World champions

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:55:06 +0000

Manchester United have won the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, beating LDU Quito 1-0 in front of 68,682 fans at Yokohama International Stadium. Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute and he was later awarded the Golden Ball award for being named the Player Of The Tournament. United deserved their win having turned in a dominant performance against the Ecuadorian underdogs, although the reigning European champions were forced to work hard after defender Nemanja Vidic saw red for an elbow to the face of LDU striker Claudio Bieler just four minutes into the second half. Before that United had enjoyed the best of the action, with the outstanding Wayne Rooney forcing LDU's veteran keeper Jose Francisco Cevallos into an early save with a stinging volley. Rooney missed an even better chance just before the break when clean through on goal, as his lob-on-the-run landed on top of the net rather than in it. It wasn't until after United had been reduced to ten men that LDU began to pose a threat, with tricky midfielder Alejandro Manjos driving his team forward. He saw one long-range effort pushed away by Edwin van der Sar in the 65th minute, with the Dutch goalkeeper proving that he has lost none of his dexterity despite his advancing years. With seventeen minutes remaining United finally broke the deadlock, as for once Cristiano Ronaldo eschewed the showboating antics in favour of playing an easy ball, and Wayne Rooney made no mistake as he stroked an accurate finish from Ronaldo's pass into the bottom corner. A frustrated Alejandro Manjos was then denied again from long-range, as Edwin van der Sar somehow managed to push his right-foot thunderbolt over the crossbar. With that Manchester United saw victory within their grasp, as the English giants capped a memorable year by adding the world crown to the English and European titles they won last season. United's victory was a triumph for coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who brushed aside suggestions from a dismissive British media as he added a world title to his impressive swag of trophies - which also includes the Intercontinental Cup won by United in Tokyo back in 1999. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Manchested United through to FIFA Club World Cup final

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:09:53 +0000

Manchester United eased through to the FIFA Club World Cup final with an entertaining 5-3 win over J. League side Gamba Osaka in front of 67,618 fans at Yokohama International Stadium. The English giants looked to be cruising when first half headers from Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo gave them a commanding two goal lead at the break. Gamba pulled a goal back through striker Masato Yamazaki in the 74th minute, and that proved to be the precursor for a crazy spell of action. United substitute Wayne Rooney scored with what was practically his first touch of the ball, before fellow substitute Darren Fletcher then put the game beyond doubt with a 78th minute header. Just a minute later Rooney scored his second and United's fifth, as a shell-shocked Gamba defence capitulated on the global stage. To Gamba's credit they scored twice more over the closing stages, with the inspirational Yasuhito Endo slotting home from the spot after Gary Neville was adjudged to have handled inside the area. Midfielder Hideo Hashimoto then popped up to score a rare goal and add some respectability to the scoreline - and United's Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was nonplussed to have been beaten three times in this wildly fluctuating clash. Several of the United players complained of jet-lag after the match, with French international Patrice Evra revealing that he had only slept for a total of two hours in the build-up to the match. Cristiano Ronaldo was another to suffer from fatigue, although he was quick to praise the Osakans, whom he labelled a "very good football team." The newly-crowned World Player Of The Year was tight-lipped about the prospects of a potential move to Real Madrid, instead preferring to focus on the task at hand. To a man the United squad have all highlighted their desire to become the first British club to lift the FIFA Club World Cup in its current form, with Sir Alex Ferguson's team clearly meaning business when they take on Ecuador's LDU Quito in the Club World Cup final on December 21 in Yokohama. That goal is now within reach, with just one more game standing in United's way of being crowned world champions. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

Adelaide United end Club World Cup on high

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:11:49 +0000

Adelaide United have ended the FIFA Club World Cup on a high after recording a gritty 1-0 win over Egyptian giants Al-Ahly in the playoff for 5/6 at Yokohama International Stadium. The Australian outfit dominated the opening twenty-five minutes and deservedly opened the scoring through Brazilian striker Cristiano, who set off on a virtuoso run seven minutes in before unleashing an unstoppable strike that flashed passed Amir Abdelhamid and into the top corner. Adelaide almost doubled their lead through a Sasa Ognenovski header three minutes later, before Cristiano missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double his personal tally on the quarter-hour mark. Al-Ahly gradually began to assert themselves as the first half wore on but they had little to show for their efforts, and coach Manuel Jose sprung a major surprise as he benched playmaker Mohamed Aboutrika at half-time. Despite the change Al-Ahly remained lacklustre in the second half, and Mohamed Barakat wasted their best chance when he forced a flying save from Eugene Galekovic with eight minutes remaining. Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar was full of praise for his team, and he hoped Adelaide's win would help raise the profile of the fledgling A-League. "By finishing fifth and with our experience in the Asian Champions League, it has really lifted the profile of the game in Australia and it hopefully gives a lot of confidence to the other A-League clubs that they can do well in the Asian Champions League to get to this point," said Vidmar. "It has been a tremendous ride which hasn't been easy but we've learnt a lot from playing these games and it certainly puts the cub and the game on the map back home. When you win games at this level it lifts people's eyebrows and awareness of what the football can and will be like in the future." In contrast Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose was scathing of Egypt's domestic media, claiming that reporters had failed to heed his warnings that the Cairo-based club were not the global force that some in the Egyptian media believed they were. Al-Ahly have now fallen twice to Australian clubs, after they lost the 5/6 playoff to Sydney FC in Tokyo at the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

LDU Quito through to final as defensive errors cost Pachuca

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:40:48 +0000

Ecuador's LDU Quito booked a place in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Mexican outfit Pachuca in driving rain at the National Stadium in Tokyo. A calamitous piece of defending just four minutes in set LDU on their way, as a dreadful mix-up at the back saw an attempted clearance fall to unmarked Claudio Bieler, and the Argentine had an easy task of steering the ball beyond Miguel Calero in the Pachuca goal. That goal set the tone for the match, with Pachuca struggling to come to terms with the wet conditions in the first half. Argentine threats Damian Alvarez and Christian Gimenez looked the likeliest source of a goal for Los Tuzos , but the reigning Copa Libertadores champions from Quito managed to hold Pachuca's star men at bay. Instead it was LDU causing most of the attacking threats, and they doubled their advantage in the twenty-sixth minute after Pachuca defender Julio Manzur handled just outside the penalty area. LDU midfielder Luis Bolanos stepped up to curl an inch-perfect free-kick just over the wall and into the top corner of the goal, with Pachuca keeper Calero unsighted. For the second time in the tournament Pachuca found themselves two goals down at half-time, but unlike their thrilling come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Egyptian giants Al-Ahly in their opening game, this time there was no way back for the Mexicans. They pushed forward in numbers in the second half, but time and again danger man Damian Alvarez and compatriot striker Bruno Marioni failed to force LDU keeper Jose Francisco Cevallos into a save. Despite dominating possession for the entire ninety minutes Pachuca trudged disconsolately off the field with nothing to show for their efforts, with two defensive errors costing coach Enrique Meza and his team dearly. LDU Quito will now go on to meet the winner of tomorrow's semi-final between Gamba Osaka and Manchester United, with both matches set to take place at the 70,000-capacity Yokohama International Stadium. Adelaide United will take on Al-Ahly in the 5/6 playoff in the curtain-raiser to Manchester United's Club World Cup debut, with Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose under pressure from Egypt's demanding media to claim a result from that game. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Heart-break for Adelaide as Gamba go through

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:36:42 +0000

Gamba Osaka will take on Manchester United in a showpiece semi-final at the Club World Cup, after the Osakans saw off Adelaide United 1-0 in front of 38,141 fans at Toyota Stadium . The J. League side did just enough to see off their Australian counterparts, however Adelaide can consider themselves unlucky after Aurelio Vidmar's men turned in a vastly improved performance from the one that saw United thrashed 5-0 by Gamba in the recent two-legged AFC Champions League final. How different things might have been had Adelaide captain Travis Dodd not struck a golden opportunity agonisingly wide after fifteen minutes, after the pacy Dodd had done brilliantly to fashion his chance on the counter-attack. Gamba made Adelaide pay for their profligacy, as the mercurial Yasuhito Endo then started and finished a move in the 23rd minute, with Endo's volley from early substitute Ryuji Bando's intelligent knock-down skidding through the legs of Adelaide's hapless keeper Eugene Galekovic. There was more heart-break for the ubiquitous Dodd when his header came back off the crossbar just before half-time, as the Reds fought desperately for an equaliser. Gamba controlled proceedings in the second half, and Brazilian striker Lucas Severino should have put the match beyond doubt when he fired straight at the legs of Galekovic. Yet the South Australian side refused to surrender, and substitute Robert Younis and captain Dodd both saw efforts go narrowly wide in stoppage time, as Adelaide's evening came to a frustrating end. Gamba talisman Yasuhito Endo claimed that he was impressed by Adelaide's display, stating that the A-League side had displayed their best qualities in the match. That will come as scant consolation to Adelaide United, however, with the A-League side now having lost three times in a row to their J. League counterparts. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Comeback kings Pachuca book semi-final showdown

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:28:36 +0000

Mexican club Pachuca have booked a semi-final showdown with Ecuador's LDU Quito in the 2008 Club World Cup, after they conjured a thrilling come-from-behind 4-2 victory to see off Egyptian side Al-Ahly in their quarter-final clash in Tokyo. Al-Ahly raced out to a two-goal lead in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the National Stadium, as an own goal from defender Fausto Pinto and another from Angolan-born striker Flavio just before half-time gave the African giants a commanding lead at the break. Pachuca coach Enrique Meza responded by introducing midfielders Juan Carlo Rojas and Luis Montes in the second half, and the move paid immediate dividends as Montes scored just two minutes after the restart, although his free-kick appeared to take a slight deflection on its way in. In a classic game of two halves Pachuca equalised through an even better set-piece from Argentine midfielder Christian Gimenez, as he blasted a free-kick over the wall and passed the despairing dive of Al-Ahly keeper Abdelhamid Amir with twenty minutes remaining. The Mexicans enjoyed a wealth of possession in this match, but despite dominating the second half they were unable to conjure a winner. Instead Pachuca rode their luck when Al-Ahly playmaker Mohamed Aboutrika went down in the box with eight minutes remaining, but rather than point to the spot Uzbeki referee Ravshan Irmatov opted to brandish a yellow card for simulation. With a small pocked of Pachuca fans getting right behind their team and the chants of " Ole Tuzos! " ringing around the National Stadium, it appeared only a matter of time before Enrique Meza's team took the lead. Al-Ahly had struggled to contain the pace and penetration of Pachuca's wide men all game, and with the Egyptians at sixes and sevens in defence the impressive Damian Alvarez turned the game on its head as he scored Pachuca's third eight minutes into extra time - although there was a hint of fortune as he benefited from two lucky ricochets before blasting home on the volley. Forced to push every man forward in search of an equaliser, Al-Ahly conceded again in the second period of extra-time, as Christian Gimenez scored his second and Pachuca's fourth of the afternoon. Al-Ahly were disconsolate in defeat but Pachuca fully deserved their win, with the Mexicans keeping their heads and displaying some impressive attacking football, despite being two goals down at half-time. Pachuca's win sets up a dream semi-final showdown with South American representatives LDU Quito in Tokyo, and Pachuca will fancy their chances of coming out on top of that all Latin-American clash at the National Stadium. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Adelaide United start with a whimper, not a bang

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:44:24 +0000

A win is a win as they say, but Adelaide United showed little to suggest that they will be a match for Gamba Osaka in the quarter-finals of the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. The South Australians laboured to a 2-1 victory over semi-professional New Zealand outfit Waitakere United, but Adelaide had to come from behind to do so as midfielder Paul Seaman gave the Kiwis a shock 34th minute lead. Five minutes later Adelaide United were back on level terms when an inswinging Paul Reid corner found the impressive Daniel Mullen, and the teenage full-back powered home a bullet header to level the scores before half-time. Any thoughts of a second half stroll for Adelaide were quickly dispelled as a compact Waitekere defended in numbers and attacked on the break, with Fijian international Roy Krishna causing constant headaches for the United defence. It wasn't until six minutes from time that Adelaide finally made the breakthrough as captain Travis Dodd flicked on Paul Reid's precise free-kick to end the scoring in the Australian team's favour. The win came as an obvious relief to Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar, who was quick to praise Waitakere's gritty display. "They're a smart footballing team with a smart coach and you can see that they've learnt a lot," said Vidmar of the team that also lost out in the same playoff match at the 2007 edition of the Club World Cup." "They knew exactly how to play. They managed to get a goal and we had to learn to be a little bit patient and I was delighted that we came from behind." A bullish Waitakere coach Chris Milicich told reporters that he needed just one more year to fashion the Auckland-based upstarts into a team capable of reaching the Club World Cup quarter-finals. They came close to a monumental upset in this one, but ultimately it wasn't to be for the plucky Kiwi side. Instead it is Adelaide United who march on, but they will need to improve dramatically if they are to have any chance of beating Gamba Osaka at Toyota Stadium in three days time. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Clock winds down on the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:34:08 +0000

The fifth edition of the FIFA Club World kicks off in Tokyo tonight, but for Japan the tournament marks the end of an era. In 2009 the competition will shift to Abu Dhabi, bringing an end to almost thirty years of intercontinental football in the Land Of The Rising Sun. It’s a switch that demonstrates the changing tides of world football. The first intercontinental clash between European and South American champions took place as far back as 1960, when Spanish aristocrats Real Madrid beat Uruguayan giants Penarol in a home-and-away tie to be crowned the first unofficial world champions. Over the next twenty years a series of increasingly violent clashes saw some European clubs boycott intercontinental football, but a move to the National Stadium in Tokyo in 1980 revitalised the concept. Played in front of packed houses at the home of the 1964 Olympic Games, the so-called Intercontinental Cup drew thousands of Japanese fans curious to catch a glimpse of top-class football in the days before the professional J. League kicked off. A generous sponsorship deal with Toyota ensured the financial viability of the fixture, and South American teams in particular looked forward to the trip to Tokyo, winning the first five one-off finals played on neutral territory, although their European counterparts did eventually catch up. The death knell for the duel-continent format was sounded in 2000 when FIFA established a rival eight team Club World Championship in Brazil – leading to the curious position of two world champions being crowned in that year, as Boca Juniors beat Real Madrid in Tokyo, while Corinthians saw off Vasco da Gama in an all-Brazilian final in Rio. The latter was a tournament made infamous by Manchester United’s decision to withdraw from that season’s FA Cup in order to take part in Rio, with United under pressure from an English FA desperate to win hosting rights for the 2006 World Cup. Bankruptcy of FIFA’s marketing firm ISL meant the tournament did not take place between 2001 and 2004, but with the game’s governing body keen to include a broader spectrum of its members for an intercontinental showdown, the 2004 Intercontinental Cup final – by now played at the 70,000-capacity Yokohama International Stadium – was to be the last of its kind. Fittingly FC Porto lifted the crown, beating Colombian minnows Once Caldas on penalties, as Europe and South America shared twelve wins each during the fixture’s history in Japan. Since usurping the Intercontinental Cup in 2005, teams from Africa, Central America, Asia and Oceania have all taken part in FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup, but not surprisingly all finals contested have featured European and South American clubs. In 2007 the addition of a team from the J. League was intended to revive local interest in early round fixtures, but ironically no team has actually qualified through the league – with Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka taking their place in the last two tournaments as reigning Asian champions. FIFA stipulates that only one team from the host country can take part, so the place intended for a J. League team has instead gone to Asian runners-up Sepahan and Adelaide United respectively. Even the addition of Urawa Reds – Japan’s best-supported club – failed to lift attendances to any great heights in 2007. Some 12,000 empty seats greeted global broadcasters at Toyota Stadium when Urawa took on Sepahan in their opening match last year, although a Monday night kick-off against a team that the Reds had only just beaten to lift the Asian crown meant that hopes of a sell-out crowd were perhaps a tad optimistic. This year Gamba Osaka will make their Club World Cup bow on a Sunday night, and tournament officials will be delighted that their fans do not have quite as far to travel as Urawa fans did last year. A more worrying scenario could potentially be the semi-final showdown at the National Stadium in Tokyo featuring Ecuador’s LDU Quito and the winner of the quarter-final clash between Egyptian giants Al-Ahly and Mexican upstarts Pachuca. The Ecuadorians are virtually unknown in Japan, but having denied ex-Urawa striker Washington an emotional return to Japan by beating Fluminense in last year’s Copa Libertadores final, tournament officials will hope that Japanese fans get behind the South American underdogs, otherwise their debut in Tokyo could be played in front of a half-empty stadium. Attendance worries aside, the final Club World Cup to take place in Japan before its switch to Abu Dhabi means that the era of Japanese fans enjoying international calibre club football in their own backyard could be drawing to a close. Although the tournament will temporarily return to Japan for the 2011 and 2012 editions, the parameters of world football have gradually shifted, and the oil-rich Gulf States look best placed to cash in. With Asian football’s headquarters reputedly on the move to the Gulf and Emirati sheiks investing previously unimaginable sums into English football, the days of Japan hosting the best of European and South American club football look to be winding down. Instead Japanese fans will have to content themselves with a circus of meaningless friendlies or, worse still, a dreaded “39th game.” Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Club World Cup low-down

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:48:09 +0000

ADELAIDE UNITED (Australia) The South Australians can consider themselves slightly fortunate to be taking part in the Club World Cup. Like Iranian side Sepahan last year, Adelaide United finished as runner-up in the AFC Champions League after being thrashed 5-0 on aggregate by Gamba Osaka in the final. With FIFA dedicating just one spot to a team from the host nation, Japan's Gamba Osaka qualified as Asian champions, with a second Asian place going to Adelaide by default, meaning that newly crowned J. League champions Kashima Antlers missed out by virtue of Gamba's Asian success. On the pitch Adelaide are a team in form, having thrashed Wellington Phoenix 6-1 in the A-League in their final match before the Club World Cup. As such they'll go into their play-off clash with Oceania champions Waitakere United full of confidence, with Adelaide desperate to book a rematch with Gamba Osaka in Toyota. Key player While many point to captain Travis Dodd and dynamic full-back Cassio as Adelaide's key players, the Club World Cup could provide a chance for Cristiano - once a free-scoring striker in the Dutch Eredivisie - to prove his value on the global stage. Coach Well-travelled former Australian international Aurelio Vidmar - who once enjoyed at stint in the J. League at Sanfrecce Hiroshima - is the man in charge of masterminding Adelaide's Club World Cup campaign. Opening match Adelaide take on Waitakere United at the National Stadium in Tokyo on December 11 in the opening match of the tournament. AL-AHLY (Egypt) Named the African Club of Century in 2000, Egyptian giants Al-Ahly are back for their third trip to the Club World Cup, and they will be hoping to go one better than their third place finish in 2006. Al-Ahly qualified for this year's competition by beating Cameroon's Coton Sport 4-2 on aggregate in the recent CAF Champion's League final to be crowned African champions for a record sixth time. They will fancy their chances on what is undoubtedly the weaker side of the draw, and with Al-Ahly harbouring plenty of experience going into this continental showdown, they could be a darkhorse to go all the way to the final. Domestically Al-Ahly have been struggling this season and they lie well off the pace in the Egyptian Premier League, although the Cairo giants have games in hand as they look to make ground on surprise league leaders Petrojet. Al-Ahly's most recent clash saw them play out an entertaining 3-3 draw with second-placed ENPPI in the league. Key player Flatteringly compared to former French great Zinedine Zidane, the skillful Mohamed Aboutrika is the fulcrum of the Al-Ahly side. A technically gifted playmaker with superb vision and the ability to set off on jinking runs, Aboutrika is also a goalscorer, and his goals have proved key in firing the Cairo giants to domestic and continental success in recent years. Coach Portugese coach Manuel Jose has overseen much of Al-Ahly's recent success, having signed on for his second spell at the club in 2003. He has won four CAF Champions League titles with the club, and has been honoured by the Egyptian government for his contributions to Egyptian football. Opening match Al-Ahly take on Mexican outfit Pachuca at the National Stadium in Tokyo on December 13. GAMBA OSAKA (Japan) Gamba cruised to the AFC Champions League title, beating defending Asian champions Urawa Reds in the semi-finals before thrashing Adelaide United in the final to lift their first ever continental crown. The Osakans are not renowned as a heavyweight of Japanese football, but in recent years coach Akira Nishino has encouraged his team to play an attractive brand of attacking football. Success has gradually followed, with Gamba adding the Champions League crown to the J. League title they lifted in 2005 and the League Cup trophy they collected in 2007. On the domestic front Gamba limped into an eighth place finish in the J. League this season, with their continental exploits clearly taking their toll on the exhausted outfit. Their fans will hope that Gamba still have the energy to muster a decent Club World Cup campaign, with a possible semi-final showdown against Manchester United in Yokohama looming on the horizon. Key player Midfielder Yasuhito Endo has come into his own in 2008 as undoubtedly one of the best players to grace the Asian stage. The slightly-built midfielder is the complete player, combining vision with a superb range of passing and incredible accuracy from set pieces. Having earned rave reviews for his performances this season, whether Gamba can hold on to their prize assest after the completion of the Club World Cup remains to be seen. Coach The wily Akira Nishino is the longest serving coach in J. League, and many have named the experienced tactician as a potential candidate for the post of Japan national team coach. Opening match Gamba take on the winner of the clash between Waitakere United and Adelaide United, with the Osakans making their debut in the tournament at Toyota Stadium on December 14. LDU Quito (Ecuador) Somewhat of an unknown quantity in this year's Club World Cup, LDU Quito qualified for the tournament by beating Brazilian giants Fluminense on penalties in a thrilling climax to the Copa Libertadores last year. The club from the Ecuadorian capital have been hit hard by the loss of key players Joffre Guerrón to Spanish outfit Getafe and Enrique Vera to Mexican big-spenders America in the aftermath of that Copa Libertadores triumph, and unlike in previous intercontinental showdowns, the South Americans are by no means a certainty for this year's final. Adding to the sense of uncertainty is the news that Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza has announced that he will step down after the completion of the Club World Cup, but with LDU Quito travelling well domestically, he will no doubt hope to go out a winner on the international stage as Los Albos set out to once again shock some of the giants of the world game. Key player Although captain and central midfielder Patricio Urrutia is a household name in Ecuador, it is young winger Luis Bolaños who could prove the game-breaker for the South Americans, where his pace and direct style of play could cause havoc for opposition defences. Coach Two-time Argentine international Edgardo Bauza has overseen one of the most successful periods in LDU Quito's history, but he has announced his intention to step down as coach after the Club World Cup. Opening match LDU Quito face off against the winner of the clash between Ah-Ahly and Pachuca, with the Ecuadorians making their tournament debut at Yokohama International Stadium on December 17. MANCHESTER UNITED (England) A club that needs no introduction, Manchester United qualified for the Club World Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties in last season's UEFA Champions League final in Moscow. The English giants have been forced to postpone a Premier League clash with Wigan in order to accommodate their trip to Japan, but having picked up an Intercontinental Crown in 1999, coach Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to add another world title to his collection and he has named a strong squad to take part in this tournament. United may face fixture congestion upon their return to domestic action, and the traditional slow-starters will hope that the Club World Cup does not derail their bid to lift another English crown. Nevertheless the intercontinental showdown could prove a boon to the American owners of the debt-laden outfit, with thousands of Japanese Manchester United fans likely to prove their allegiance by spending big on merchandise in the build-up to this tournament. Key player While it's difficult to look beyond the reigning World Player Of The Year Cristiano Ronaldo as United's key man, this could be a make-or-break tournament for Argentine striker Carlos Tevez. He has struggled to nail down a permanent place in the starting eleven at the English giants, and the man known as Carlitos could view this competition as a chance to showcase his wares to Sir Alex Ferguson - or otherwise put himself in the shop window. Opening match With the European and South American champions needing to win just two games to be crowned World champion, United kick off their Club World Cup at Yokohama International Stadium on December 18, where they will face either Waitakere United, Adelaide United or Gamba Osaka. PACHUCA (Mexico) Fans of Mexican club Pachuca will hope that the CONCACAF representatives have learned their lesson, after an arrogant Pachuca side turned in a lazy performance against Tunisian outsiders Etoile du Sahel at the Club World Cup last year, only to be dumped out of the competition by a late Etoile goal. Pachuca will be eyeing off a semi-final spot this time around, although Los Tuzos endured a disappointing campaign in the Mexican Primera División, failing to reach the end-of-season play-offs. They'll be hoping to brush off their poor domestic form by turning in a good showing in Japan, with the pride of Mexican football fans having been rocked by some poor performances from the national team of late. They may be one of Mexican football's newest powers, but Pachuca are quickly building themselves a reputation as one of Mexico's most successful teams, and they beat Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa in the now defunct CONCACAF Champions' Cup back in April to secure their trip to Japan. Key player Talismanic captain and goalkeeper Miguel Calero is the heart and soul of this Pachuca side, and the Colombian-born shot-stopper will be determined to lead by example as he takes his place between the posts in the Land Of The Rising Sun. Coach Enrique Meza is one of the most successful and respected coaches in Mexican football history, and after the disappointment of Pachuca's last Club World Cup campaign, he will no doubt have his team primed for a much better performance this time around. Opening match Pachuca will face off with Al-Ahly at the National Stadium in Tokyo on December 13 for the right to progress to a semi-final showdown with LDU Quito four days later. WAITAKERE UNITED (New Zealand) The underdogs of the tournament, New Zealand's Waitakere United are making their second appearance at the Club World Cup after they were beaten 3-1 by Iranian side Sepahan in the play-off for a quarter-final place in last year's competition. The team from the western suburbs of Auckland go into this tournament as rank outsiders, having only been founded as recently as 2004, with Waitakere United playing their football on a semi-professional basis. Nevertheless there is some experience throughout the squad, with veteran English midfielder Neil Emblen once of Wolves, while Danny Hay played in the UEFA Champions League with Leeds United. Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori is also considered one of the most exciting players in Oceanian football. The Kiwis booked their place in Japan by beating Soloman side Kossa FC 6-3 on aggregate in the final of the OFC Champions League as Waitakere United picked up back-to-back Oceania titles in the process. Key player The experience and composure of former New Zealand international and captain Danny Hay in defence could prove crucial, with Hay a hard-nosed veteran who has played in both England and Australia, before deciding to wind down his career in his native New Zealand. Coach Waitakere are coach by the experienced Chris Milicich, who was also at the helm during the club's brief appearance at the Club World Cup last year, and who has guided his side to plenty of domestic and continental success of late. Opening match Just as they did last year, Waitakere United will face off against Asian runners-up in the form of Adelaide United for a place in the quarter-finals, with this trans-Tasman clash taking place at the National Stadium in Tokyo on December 11. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

World Club Cup 2008

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:12:03 +0000

The last World Club Cup in Japan before the competition moves to Dubai in 2009 kicks off this month in Tokyo on December 11. Teams Manchester United (England; Europe/UEFA) LDU Quito (Ecuador; South America/CONMEBOL) Adelaide United (Australia; Asia/AFC) Al Ahly (Egypt; Africa/CAF) Gamba Osaka (Japan; Asia/AFC) Pachuca (Mexico; CONCACAF) Waitakere United (New Zealand; Oceania) Schedule FIFA Club World Championship TOYOTA CUP 2008 tournament schedule Play Off Match Match Date KO Teams Venue 1 Thurs 11 Dec 19.45 Adelaide United v Waitakere United Tokyo Quarterfinals 2 Sat 13 Dec 13.45 Al Ahly v Pachuca Tokyo 3 Sun 14 Dec 19.30 Winner Game 1 v Gamba Osaka Toyota (Nagoya) Semifinals Date KO Teams Venue 4 Wed 17 Dec 19.30 Winner Game 2 v LDU Quito Tokyo 5 Thurs 18 Dec 19.30 Winner Game 3 v Manchester United Yokohama Fifth Place Play-Off Date KO Teams Venue 6 Thurs 16 Dec 16.30 Loser Game 2 v Loser Game 3 Yokohama Third Place Play-Off Date KO Teams Venue 7 Sun 21 Dec 16.30 Loser Game 4 v Loser Game 5 Yokohama Final Date KO Teams Venue 8 Sun 21 Dec 19.30 Winner Game 4 v Winner Game 5 Yokohama Manchester United with the attacking riches of Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov and Tevez will be the bookies' and home fans' favorites to lift the trophy. Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Manchester United Betting

Emperor's Cup takes centre stage

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 06:17:11 +0000

Following a dramatic end to a league campaign that saw Kashima Antlers unexpectedly lift their fifth J-League crown, the season-ending Emperor's Cup has taken centre stage in Japan. The 87th edition of Japan's oldest sporting competition has been whittled down to the last four from the more than 6000 teams that started, with J1 sides not surprisingly claiming all four semi-final spots. In the first semi-final, Gamba Osaka will take on Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Ecopa Stadium in Fukuroi. Gamba booked their place in the last four with a Fifth Round win over Oita Trinita, before they needed extra-time to see off a stubborn Shimizu S-Pulse in the quarter-finals. Hiroshima were 2-0 winners over Jubilo Iwata in their Fifth Round tie, before beating FC Tokyo by the same scoreline in their quarter-final clash. The other semi-final sees newly crowned J-League champions Kashima Antlers take on Kawasaki Frontale at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Kashima have relied upon goals from wantaway striker Atsushi Yanagisawa to fire them into the last four of the Cup, after Yanagisawa struck deep into extra-time against both Ventforet Kofu and non-league outfit Honda FC, as Kashima struggled to book their place in the semi-finals. By comparison Kawasaki Frontale have enjoyed a much easier run. They beat Vissel Kobe 3-0 in the Fifth Round, before barely breaking a sweat in registering a 2-0 win over J2 side Ehime FC in their quarter-final. The final of the Emperor's Cup will take place at the National Stadium in Tokyo on January 1. 2008 Japan fixture list announced The 2008 fixture list for the Japan national team has been announced, with the Blue Samurai set to embark upon qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Japan kick-off the year with friendlies against Chile and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the National Stadium in January, before their World Cup campaign gets under way against Thailand at Saitama Stadium on February 6. Japan will also participate in the East Asian Championship, which takes place every three years and which will be hosted by China in 2008. Japan will face DPR Korea, Korea Republic and hosts China at the tournament in late February. Takeshi Okada names training squad New Japan coach Takeshi Okada has named his first training squad since taking over from Ivica Osim. There were no surprises, although Kashima Antlers duo Daiki Iwamasa and Yuzo Tashiro were handed their first call-up's, as were FC Tokyo defender Yuhei Tokunaga and Gamba Osaka youngster Michihiro Yasuda. Okada told the press that he would also consider Europe-based trio Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto of Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Basel midfielder Koji Nakata for selection in 2008. Only Takahara and Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura featured regularly in the Japan side under Ivica Osim. Meanwhile Osim has left the intensive care unit of a Chiba hospital, as he makes a recovery from the stroke that ended his reign as Japan coach in November. Japanese Players Overseas Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto: Eintracht Frankfurt Former Boca Juniors striker Naohiro Takahara has endured an injury-plagued second season at Bundesliga side Eintract Frankfurt, starting just four of his eight league appearances. Takahara's only league goal this season came in a 5-1 thrashing away at 1.FC Nürnberg. Meanwhile Junichi Inamoto has enjoyed a brighter spell in Frankfurt, starting eleven league games at the mid-table German side. Shunsuke Nakamura : Celtic Scottish Player Of The Year Shunsuke Nakamura has started just seven leagues for Glasgow giants Celtic, having also endured an injury-riddled season. Nakamura's last start came in a 3-0 win over Motherwell back on October 27, with a knee injury potentially ruling Nakamura out of Celtic's upcoming UEFA Champions League tie with Barcelona. Daisuke Matsui : Le Mans Winger Daisuke Matsui is back in favour at French Ligue 1 side Le Mans, with new coach Rudi Garcia's side flying high in fifth place in Le Championnat. Matsui has started fifteen league games this season, scoring twice. Koji Nakata : FC Basel Former Kashima Antlers midfielder Koji Nakata has featured in all of Swiss club FC Basel's league games this season, with Basel currently six points clear of rivals FC Zürich going in to the winter break. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Alex : Salzburg Ex-Gamba Osaka defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has started ten of Salzburg's league fixtures, most recently in Salzburg's top-of-the-table clash with Sturm Graz on December 15. Meanwhile ex-Japan international Alex continues to be linked with a move back to the J-League, with former club Urawa Reds the most likely destination for the versatile player. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags J-League soccer football Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting