There were several interesting games and players at the Club World Cup, so I though I'd put together an XI for the tournament, excluding of course the Milan and Boca players, because they're high profile and everyone knows about them. This team thus features players from Urawa Reds, Sepahan, Etoile du Sahel, and Pachuca. Players from Waitakere have been omitted because... well... no explanation needed. This is a mixture of players who look like they have a lot of potential, and those who just played well... in a well-organised 4-3-3 of course.

GK: Ryota Tsuzuki (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Excellent shot stopper who thwarted Seedorf several times to keep the score down to 0-1, and then saved two penalties in Urawa's 3rd/4th place win over Etoile. Made a mistake against the Tunisians, but that was more the fault of the defenders, and he was generally very sharp and positive in all Urawa's games.

DR: Sabeur Frej (Etoile Sportive du Sahel)
Frej is a curious case. He's Etoile's right-back, but domestically also their top scorer, and he only really ever looks comfortable when rampaging upfield, so I'd pin his best position down as a wing-back, if not wide midfielder. He was my favourite players in this tournament, and against Boca had the Argentine fans Oooohing and Aaaahing at his skills. Like so many of the Tunisians, Frej is a silky player, with languid control, movement and passing. His movement was first class, as were his combinations and one-twos with teammaters. Not really a dribbler, but he had his repertoire of trickery was excellent. Never looked uncomfortable in a tight space, and he more often than not managed to get past his man, whether with a neat turn, a shimmy, drop of the shoulder, or a feint that would leave the defender clueless. His final ball was excellent, and he was solid defensively too. Unfortunately like many of his teammates, he lacked that bit of fire and passion that prevents good players from being great. He's 28, and his chances to play in Europe are probably gone, which is a pity.

DC: Keisuke Tsuboi (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Rugged 26 year old who has good pace and a fantastic leap. He was immense in the tournament, especially against Milan (although Kaka eventually got the better of him), and although he had a bit of a shocker to start with against Etoile, he was excellent.

DC: Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Brazilian born Japanese international who is an odd character at the back, but a joy to watch. Good on the ball, a great passer, good in the air, and tough as well. He lacks a bit of pace, but his overall game is excellent, and his instinct to rampage forward often adds impetus to the Urawa attack. He talks and organises non stop for the 90, and has fantastic personality on the field. Would like to see him player in a higher league, and at 26 he needs to move soon.

DL: Gerardo Rodriguez (CF Pachuca)
Unfortunately we only got to see him for one game, but he was a joy to watch. More a wingback than a conventional full-back or midfielder, he got up and down the flank with ease, and had terrific movement. Combined well with Alvarez and Gimenez, passed and crossed neatly, and was able to beat his man when he needed to. He's just 22, and surely has a big future ahead of him.

CM: Moussa Nary (Etoile Sportive du Sahel)
Nary started the tournament off poorly against Boca, but then greatly upped the level of his performances. The Niger-born Ghanian is rugged and skillful, but quite raw, and probably lost the ball as much as he won it. He was comfortable running with the ball or passing it, and at 21, it's possible he could still gain the tactical discipline and understanding needed to be a complete central midfielder.

CM: Keita Suzuki (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Very consistent throughout this tournament, and completely rubbish Western perceptions of Japanese footballers not enjoying a fight. A good ball winner and passer, he has a great all-round game, although his shooting was garbage. He's spent his whole career with Urawa, and played all 20 games of previous Japan manager Ivica Osim's reign, by whom he was referred to as the "Japanese Claude Makelele".

AM: Damian Alvarez (Pachuca)
The former River plate man was a class act who dribbled, passed and roamed all over the pitch. Really, Pachuca should have scored 2 or 3 goals against Etoile, and Alvarez was at the heart of most of the chances created. Most of his invention came from a position hovering near the left wing, but he also ran through the middle of the park, worked the space behind the strikers, and dragged the covering midfielders over to the right-wing. Displayed not only great individual ability, but also great team-work and tactical intelligence.

LW: Takahito Soma (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Slight Japan midfielder who had an oustanding tournament. Not always a regular for Urawa, but he might have cemented his place now. His passing, crossing and dribbling were outstanding, and just like the rest of the team. he displayed outstanding awareness of those around him. Wasn't much use defensively, although he tried hard, but he really gave fullbacks and opposition wingers a tough time up the other end. He's already 26, so a move to Europe would be surprising at this late stage.

CF: Amine Chermiti (Etoile Sportive du Sahel)
I've already had a lot to say about Chermiti, but he was excellent again in Etoile's final game, and got himself a goal. He's got great heart, great ability, and real hunger, and he's got to move on to bigger things before his ambitions start drying up. Really exciting youngsters, who harrowed defenders with his pace, running, and vision.

RF: Emad Mohammed (Sepahan)
The only Sepahan player to make it here, but he was a good attacking presence. Had a hat-trick against poor opposition in Waitakere, but shone against Urawa as well, where he hit the bar. All the Sepahan players seemed to have fantastic skill and touch, but had poor, poor attitudes, and zero appetite for the game. Mohammed, an Iraqi international, was their captain, but had little influence in that regard.


                       Tsuzuki

               Tsuboi        Tulio
                                          Rodriguez
     Frej           
                  Nary      Suzuki

                            Alvarez
                                               Soma
       Mohammed
                          Chermiti

Tonight, at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia beat Mexican champions Pachucha 1-0 with a late goal from Ghanaian midfielder Moussa Nary. Pachuca will be a bit annoyed at the whole thing, because they had the majority of the possession and had some excellent, intricate attacking play throughout the game, with Damian Alvarez showing his array of gifts.

Etoile however didn't give them much. Pachucha might have been able to string endless series of passes together, but about halfway through the first half it became clear that the final ball and end product were lacking from the Mexicans. Somehow whenever a cross, through pass or shooting chance arrived, there was always an Etoile player there to get a boot on it. For all their possession, Pachuca didn't create enough chances, and were eventually punished by Etoile.

The Tunisians didn't give a particularly glowing account of themselves, and were quite static and dull, although they made a concerted effort to be more attacking in the second half. They lacked runners from midfield, and one of their main attacking threats, the right-back Sabeur Frej had to stay back to guard the threat of Alvarez, supported by the roaming of Christian Gimenez and terrific overlapping runs of left-back Gerardo Rodriguez. In the mould of another rampaging Tunisian full-back, Trabelsi, Frej is an exciting player, and he's Etoile's top scorer. In this game however, he grew increasingly uncomfortable and irritable at having to sit deep, but had no choice with the midfield providing little protection. To compensate however, their solid left-back Hatem Bejaoui started to rampage forward, and with the rest of the midfielders and forwards raising their game, Etoile competed well.

The first real incident was in the 11th minute, Alvarez controlling and turning past 2 players, and then dribbling past a couple more to win a corner. Alvarez hung around on the left for most of the game, in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-1-1, and threatened throughout, often taking on the fullback, but moving into the centre to good effect as well.

A few minutes later, a Cristian Gimenez corner was dangerously close to the goal, and flicked up off the bar (via a touch from the 'keeper it seemed). The ball then fall to a Pachuca player who head it towards goal, but Etoile's goalie Aymen Balbouli suddenly materialised to produce a stupendous save from point-blank range.

Pachuca were the dominant side, and apart from a heroic punch clear by fan favourite Calero, Pachuca weren't troubled much. Gimenez was playing very deep for them, depriving them of a presence in the box, but dragging the midfielders and fullbacks everywhere.

In the 27th minute, good interplay saw Alvarez brought down on the edge of the box. The Pachuca players typically went searching for a penalty, and the Etoile players were calling for a dive, but eventually nothing came of it.

The Pachuca left-back Rodriguez was rampaging forward, and combining fantastically with Alvarez and Gimenez. In the 31st minute, he was played through on the left by Alvarez and delivered a fantastic cross, right onto the penalty spot where it was two Pachuca players and just one Etoile defender. However, it was a tricky one to control for the nearer attacker, and the miscontrolled ball bounced up onto the arm of the other Pachuca player, and a fantastic chance was wasted.

The half ended with little incident, but after the restart, a much more positive Sahel were the first ones to take the initiative, Madi Ben Dhifallah testing the keeper from 30 yards out with a crisp, curling shot - their first shot on target.

With 50 minutes gone, Alvarez then broke through on goal, edging past one defender, but being tackled by the second. It was all very fast-paced, but the defender got the ball right between Alvarez's feet, and the Argentine player tripped and rolled over in the penalty box, followed by the usual Latin American "Can we have a penalty? We should have a penalty!" scenario. Alvarez meanwhile stayed down, either through injury or the feigning of it, and the referee waited patiently for him to heal and then booked him for diving.

15 minutes later, Alvarez, Gimenez and Rodriguez combined with some exquisite football, and the left-back laid a perfect, pinpoint cross into the penalty box, to their star striker Juan Carlos Cacho. Cacho however opted to bring the ball down instead of trying to hit it first-time, and the Etoile defenders once again were in close attendance, and the chance was lost. It was poor play from Cacho, who had a very quiet night and was marked out of the game.

There was similar hesitation in the 71st minute. Etoile broke clear, and a brilliant touch from exciting youngster Armin Chermiti put his strike partner Dhifallah through on goal. Dhifallah however dithered, perhaps because he had to shoot with his weaker foot, and the extra touch he needed to set himself up saw Pinto get in a sliding block. A half-volley was what was needed there.

There was a massive scare 2 minutes later. Pachuca one a free-kick about 30 yards out, and just as he'd tried all night, Gimenez banged a shot in. Balbouli, who had looked nervous all night, made a complete hash of it, sticking out a weak flailing arm and pushing the ball straight back to the lingering Pachuca player, who tucked the ball away. Luckily for Balbouli the Pachuca player was offside, and his blushes were spared.

Alvarez was magical again in the 76th minute, exploding past the Tunisian full-back on the left, and putting in a neat, low cross that no one could get to. It was symptomatic of Pachuca's night, and that would be their last chance.

In the 84th minute, Etoile du Sahel put together their first real flowing move of the game, with the left-back, two strikers and right-back combining to give Ghanaian midfielder Moussa Narry the ball. Narry took a few touches to set himself, and drilled a low, hard shot across the goal, which deflected of defender Leobardo Lopez, and left Calero with no chance.

It was hard on Pachuca, who played so well, but as their coach graciously acknowledged after the game, if you don't score, you don't win.

Etoile will have to do a lot better in the next game when facing Boca, but at least they have a solid defensive base on which to operate from.

The last word goes to the Aussie ref Mark Shield, who had an excellent game. He didn't give anything that didn't need to be given, and he was never fooled by any of the antics. The Mexican press didn't like him (for not being Latin enough I suppose), but the coach was honest enough in accepting that he'd had a good game.

Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia take on Pachuca of Mexico this afternoon in the FIFA Japan 2007 Club World Cup. It's a rematch of last year's CAF Champions and CONCACAF Champions, but instead of Al-Ahly of Egypt and Club America of Mexico, it's these two.

So what are the main differences? Well Etoile are a much, smaller club than Ahly. Ahly are giants in Africa, having won the Champions League 5 times, compared to Etoile's one and only triumph in 2007. The Sahel side aren't even Tunisia's biggest team (that honour goes to Esperance), and their 2007 league win was their first since 1997. However, this glut of recent success also indicates that they are currently a very strong side.

As for the Mexicans? Well Pachuca are one of Mexico's oldest teams, although the slightly younger America are more colourful, popular and controversial. As far as recent success goes though, Pachuca have been much stronger. America arrived in Tokyo last year as CONCACAF Cup Champions, but without much domestic success to show for apart from a Clausura title in 2005. Pachuca on the other hand have won the Clausura titles for the last two years, and also became the first Mexican side to win an Intercontintenal tournament with the capture of the Copa Sudamericana in 2006.

As far as personnel goes, Ahly came here last year with Africa's best player (domestically) in Mohammed Abu Tarika, who excelled in the tournament. They also had temperamental Angolan striker Flavio, easy-does-it right-wing back Islam Al Shater, and mountainous centreback and former Blackburn trialist Wael Goma.

America had a few "big names" (i.e. washed-up or rejects from bigger leagues) in Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Nelson Cuevas, and Salvador Cabanas, as well as outstanding young 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa. However both Ahly and America had ageing lineups, with averages of close to 30 years.

Both Pachuca and Etoile are very young teams, with good attacking talent. Pachuca have Argentina maestro Damian Alvarez controlling their attack, with brainy Colombian Andres Chitiva helping to pull the string in midfield. The Pachuca #11 Juan Carlos Cacho is a young attacker with fantastic promise who gave Mexico excellent options at the recent Copa America, and is a really great talent. Fullback Fausto Pinto is another one to watch.

Etoile have a very young team full of African internationals. Scouts from all over Europe will be at the game to watch their young No. 9 Armine Chermiti, one of the hottest properties in African football at the moment. Their Cape Verde forward Gilson Silva Alves is another exciting attacker (although an erratic one), and Benin midfielder Muri Ogunbuyi is a real threat.

There's fantastic attacking talent on both sides, and this will be one of the better games in this tournament.