[LFC1892]

Just something from a local(Aus) football site about the World Club Cup.

Six of the best - PA Sport



> Internacional players celebrate with the Cope Libertadores throphy after defeating Sao Paulo in the two-legged final earlier this year Photo AAP


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Six of the best sides in club football will gather in Japan this weekend for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup.

So lets take a closer at the teams competing in the prestigious tournament:

AL AHLY (Egypt)

Al Ahly are one of the most successful sides in world club football.

In their 99-year history, the Egyptians have won a staggering 98 trophies, including 31 league titles and 34 Egyptian Cups. They have won the CAF Champions League on five occasions and the CAF Cup Winners' Cup four times.

In the year 2000, they were named the CAF's Club of the Century.

They are heading to Japan for the second successive year to take part in the Club World Cup after reclaiming their CAF Champions League crown with a 2-1 aggregate victory over CS Sfaxien.

Their previous appearance in Tokyo was not much of a success for the African champions, who lost to Al Ittihad by a single goal before going down 2-1 to Sydney FC to take the competition's wooden spoon.

But this time round they are determined to do themselves justice.

"We are looking forward to playing again in this competition, doing well in it and changing the poor image we created last year," coach Manuel Jose said.

"Last year, people expected a lot from us and they thought we were invincible," he added. "Everyone was expecting us to return with the cup! It was unbelievable. "

"This time, I will only ask my players to play their normal game regardless of the results. I do not want them looking over their shoulders while they face their opponents."

AMERICA (Mexico)

Ten-time Mexican champions America flattered to deceive domestically last year but they were excellent in winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Despite finishing well off the pace in the league, they triumphed in one of the most hotly-contested Champions Cup finals of all-time, winning the second leg against Toulca 2-1 after a goalless first game as centre-back Duilio Davino hit the winner with only a few seconds to go.

This season, their hectic schedule has hampered their progress somewhat and they will head to the Club World Cup just days after crashing out of the Mexican Apertura championship at the semi-final stage to rivals Guadalajara.

Nevertheless, with iconic forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco leading their challenge, ably supported by former Valencia striker Claudio Lopez, they have high hopes of causing an upset.

"We realise just how important this competition is, so rest assured, we're going to be very well prepared," Blanco said. "Winning it will be tough, but not impossible, and I really believe we can do it."

"We have a great side, and now we have to prove it. That said, there is no doubt in my mind - we have what it takes to bring home the trophy."

AUCKLAND CITY (New Zealand)

For some of the Auckland City players, the chance to take on the elite of world football in Tokyo will be a dream come true.

The champions of New Zealand qualified for the event after winning the Oceania title with a 3-1 victory over AS Pirae of Tahiti.

However, their achievement in earning a chance to compete with the biggest teams in the club game is all the more remarkable given that their squad contains a number of amateurs.

Many of the team, who have won back-to-back domestic titles, will be taking unpaid leave from their respective occupations to compete in Japan for what is the biggest occasion in New Zealand club football history.

Chairman Ivan Vuksich does not have high expectations for his squad - which contains former Japan international midfielder Teruo Iwamoto - but admits he wants them to 'play with credibility'.

Vuksich also believes Auckland City have a responsibility to the rest of the region, saying: "The reality is we have to perform for Oceania."

BARCELONA (Spain)

UEFA Champions League holders Barcelona will be the undoubted favourites to lift the trophy but history is not on their side.

The Spanish giants, who have won back-to-back Primera Liga titles and were crowned kings of the continent by beating Arsenal in Paris last May, have only appeared in the Club World Cup - then called the Intercontinental Cup - once before.

Johan Cruyff's 'dream team' of the early 1990s lost out 2-1 to Sao Paulo in 1992 but with their array of global stars such as Deco and Brazilian magician Ronaldinho, they will be aiming to go one better this time.

"It's a challenge for us as we know that the dream team were on the verge of winning it," Barca midfielder Xavi said.

"Thinking that we could become the first Barcelona team to win this trophy and go down in the history books of the club gives us extra motivation to win it."

But coach Frank Rijkaard is keen to play down their favourites tag.

"We have to go to Japan with a humble attitude, determined to work hard and without feeling that we are better than anyone else," he said.

"I can imagine the front pages of the papers saying that we are the favourites but that will only complicate things for us."

INTERNACIONAL (Brazil)

After a lengthy spell out of the limelight since their golden era of the 1970s, Brazilian club Internacional, who launched the career of World Cup-winning captain Dunga, are back at the pinnacle of football having recently become champions of South America.

They lifted the biggest prize in their history by claiming the 2006 Copa Libertadores with an aggregate 4-3 win over Sao Paulo.

Combining steely organisation with the type of free-flowing football that has become the trademark of Brazilian teams, the recent success of the side coached by Abel Carlos da Silva Braga has taken South America by surprise.

They followed up their Copa Libertadores triumph by finishing second in this season's Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian Championship), however, they have hardly had ideal preparation for the Club World Cup.

They signed off their league campaign with a thumping 4-1 defeat against Goias last weekend and will also travel without Colombian striker Wason Renteria, who is set to be missing after suffering an ankle injury.

JEONBUK MOTORS (Korea Republic)

K-League side Jeonbuk upset the odds to win the Asian Football Confederation Champions League last month, in the process becoming the first team from east Asia to lift the trophy.

They booked their place at the Club World Cup with a 3-2 aggregate win against Syria's Al Karama but they had to do things the hard way after establishing a 2-0 first-leg advantage and then clinging on in the second leg as they went down 2-1.

Their triumph was just reward for a team who few expected to be among the reckoning in Asia's flagship competition, although they did come close in 2004 when they were beaten by a last-minute goal in the semi-final by eventual winners Al Ittihad.

Jeonbuk finished the K-League season in the bottom half of the table but coach Choi Kang-hee has insisted they will be looking for a good performance in Japan.

Choi's side take on their CONCACAF counterparts America at the Tokyo National Stadium on Monday, with the winners advancing to meet the mighty Barcelona three days later in Yokohama.

And while respectful of the Mexicans, it is the prospect of playing the European heavyweights and their array of international superstars that is thrilling the Jeonbuk players.

"For me, Ronaldinho is best player in the world so I will do my best in our first match against America to have a chance to face Barcelona and Ronaldinho," midfielder Kim Hyeung-bum said.

But the 22-year-old, who has been dubbed the 'Korean Riquelme', will not be joined in Japan by his team-mate Yeom Ki-hoon, arguably the star of the side, who has opted to play for his country at the Asian Games instead.