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

It's an odd thing. On the one hand FIFA are desperately trying to legitimise both the idea and appearance of the Club World Cup, a tournament that no one really seems to take seriously outside of South America; and on the other hand, they continue to act like silly, pedantic bureaucrats when they don't have to.

The reference in this case, is to the situation of Juan Roman Riquelme, Argentine midfield maestro, and arguably one of the world's best players. Riquelme was instrumental in Boca winning the Copa Libertadores, on loan from Villareal.

Now it was never Riquelme's intention to return to Villareal, and it was never Villareal's intention to keep him, and statements from Boca and the player made it clear that his future was at La Bombonera.

The eventual transfer, when it took place, was a long, drawn-out wrangle which was unfortunately just a few days after FIFA's "deadline" for squad registration for this tournament.

Now you can understand something like that happening for the Champions League, where it's an important competitive tournament, and there are scores of clubs. But the Club World Cup is essentially supposed to be an exhibition of world football, so why not allow Boca to exhibit the world's best?

Considering that some teams only qualify for this tournament a few weeks before FIFA's registration deadline passes, and that some teams sign players just to play in this tournament (Sydney FC with Kazu Miura, Auckland FC with Teru Iwamoto), it really is bizarre that FIFA didn't make some sort of exception to allow Boca to play Riquelme. After all, he was so instrumental in leading them to the Libertadores title.

It's a lose-lose situation for everyone, except, I suppose, Milan... although that's just a maybe - great players love to play against other greats.

The Japanese public would have been much more inovlved. The marketing opportunities would have increased. There would have been more worldwide TV and news coverage. More Argentines would care (Boca might be playing, but Riquelme is an idol all over his country, not just for his club), and more football fans in general. Merchandise, revenue, blah blah blah. Considering that FIFA are usually such greedy, money-hungry, profit-oriented fusspots, it really doesn't make any sense.

And speaking of sense, specifically common sense, FIFA could do with some soon. They allowed Milan to replace the inured Ronaldo with Giuseppe Favalli a few days ago, even though Ronaldo has been unfit for ages, and only had a very slim chance of playing in the first place. Perhaps a Boca player could have got injured?

*** the original audio in PORTUGUESE of this interview is also available in the videos section  CLICK HERE TO WATCH ***  

Washington has a calm, polite and nice way to talk, which might be the result of a battle that only some would be strong enough to win. In 2003 a heart problem forced him to end up earlier his european career playing for Fenerbahce. Back to Brazil, Atletico Paranaense believed in his capacity to recover and, "The Brave Heart" gave back the best way he could: 34 goals in the 2004 Brazilian Championship - an all-time record -  which helped his team to finish as runners-up. Now Washignton is an idol in Japan playing for Urawa Reds but he may soon be back to Brazil to bring joy to new fans.

Washington, did you already sign a contract with Fluminense?  Hahaha… Not yet. We are... They offered me a very good contract and we're talking. Of course I need to wait till the end of the Club World Cup to really sit and talk to them so we can, maybe, sign.

So that means you're totally foccused in winning this next game to give Urawa this 3rd place which can actually be considered almost a title of the 3rd best team on the planet? For sure. This sunday's game is a very important one to decide the 3rd place. We all gotta be very foccused. It would be an excellent way to finish the year. Of course we knew Milan were the favorites and they deserved the result but I believe we played well and left the pitch with our heads up which will boost our confidence to get fight for the 3rd position.

Both Milan and Boca had a very hard time beating teams that could be considered smaller in terms of world football. Why do you think that happened? Are the big teams lowering their level or the smaller ones are showing more efficiency?   Certainly football is not like in the past when a big team would sweep the smaller one all the time. It's not like that anymore. There are good teams outside Europe, Brazil... right? There are good teams with a strong roster and things are leveling up and we showed it out there. There also a team from Africa, our team from Asia and both represented their continents very well. I'm sure it will a great 3rd and 4th place decision on Sunday. 

Washington, now tell a little bit about you. I myself always saw you as a role model. You went through a very serious problem, and if I'm not wrong it was Atletico Paranaense the team who believed in you and helped you overcome that hard moment. Now you're, you're successful an idol in Japan, ALMOST going back to Brazil. How do you see your career, all this adventure that has been your profesional life? See, all of this that is happening to me now I always see as a present from God. After, as you said, the struggle I had to face to go back to the pitch I only had good things happening to me. So I think this a living proof that we should never give up on our life no matter how big the problem seems to be. One should fight and when he overcomes the plroblem he will be even stronger to achieve the siccess. So thank God after the problems all I had was joy, and happiness and wonderful moments and I'm sure it will be like this till the end of my career. 

Il Milan si è allenato a Yokohama in attesa dell'incontro con gli Urawa Reds, abbiamo intervistato in esclusiva per OleOle il portiere rossonero Zeljko Kalac.

MT: Benvenuto in Giappone, Spider. Com'è l'umore al campo d'allenamento?

Zeljko Kalac: Siamo fiduciosi. Ci siamo preparati bene e siamo qui ovviamente per vincere il torneo.

MT: Hai potuto vedere la partita dell'Urawa l'altro giorno?

Zeljko Kalac: Sì, l'abbiamo vista.

MT: Cosa pensi dei giapponesi? 

Zeljko Kalac: Sono uno buona squadra, ovviamente. Hanno avuto una stagione lunga e da tempo aspettano questa partita. Penso che l'intero Giappone non veda l'ora che si giochi questa partita, anche per questo penso che sarà senza dubbio difficile.

MT: Hai giocato un paio di incontri di Champions League quest'anno, pensate di ripetervi?

Zeljko Kalac: Il nostro obiettivo è vincere questo torneo, è la nostra priorità dopo avere vinto la Supercoppa Europea. Poi vogliamo andare avanti in Champions League e, nel campionato italiano, arrivare nelle prime quattro e qualificarci per la Champions League del prossimo anno. Ma per ora ci interessa vincere qui.

MT: Una vittoria al Mondiale per club vi farebbe superare il Boca nella classifica di trofei vinti. Questo vi dà un'ulteriore motivazione?

Zeljko Kalac: Pensa, non lo sapevo! So solo che l'ultima volta che il Milan ha incontrato il Boca, hanno vinto loro 1-0. Ecco, potrebbe essere un'occasione per prenderci la rivincita.

MT: Una domanda per gli australiani, c'è qualche possibilità di vederti in A-League in futuro?

Zeljko Kalac: No, non penso. Ho ancora un anno e mezzo al Milan, a fine contratto avrò 36 anni e solo allora deciderò se giocare un altro anno o se smettere, ma dopo quello non credo di andare oltre.

Os japoneses ainda comente erros bobos, alguns até difícies de entender como quando eles perdem gols dentro da pequena área, de frente com o goleiro com a bola rolando na frente do japa. Mas de uma forma geral os erros que mais frequentes surgem de tentativas de uma pedalada, ou de um passe de três dedos, ou de uma tentativa de um drible mais elaborado. É... parece que eles realmente aprenderam a jogar. 

Em 1993 quando a J-League foi lançada, a idéia de se ter uma equipe do Japão disputando qualquer torneo em nível mundia parecia algo muito absurdo mas algumas pessoas muito importantes acreditaram nisso. Zico foi uma dessas pessoas. O galinho de Quintino, o maestro do grande Flamengo dos anos 80 e a maior estrela da maior seleção que não ganhou a Copa do Mundo - o Brasil de 82 - chegou no Japão para ser o que o Pelé foi para o NY Cosmos no fim da década de 70. A única diferença é que a sociedade conservadora, tradicionalista e paternalista do Japão abriu as portas para essa revolução. 

Ná época, os esportes mais populares do Japão eram o baseball e o sumô. O Futebol já era praticado mas de uma maneira extremanente amadora. A idéia de se popularizar o esporte foi muito bem aceita e a presença de estrangeiros como Zico, que trouxe com ele uma grande leva de brasileiros, era exatamente o que a Federação Japonesa de Futebol queria para transformar o esporte aqui.

Hoje pode se dizer que os jogadores japoneses aprenderam muito com esse "Programa de Intercâmbio em Domicílio" e apesar de praticamente todas as equipes ainda contarem com a presença de pelo menos um brasileiro no elenco, já pode-se notar o surgimento de alguns talentos locais.

E a torcida… Aaah, a torcida...

 

A torcida japonesa AMA seus times. Eles vestem camisas, apoiam os jogadores, e cantam o jogo inteiro SEM PARAR. Honestamente eu fiquei muito feliz com o que vi aqui em plena segunda feira à noite. Não vejo a hora de ver o show que a torcida do Urawa Reds vai fazer no jogo contra o Milan.  

Portanto, se hoje em dia não dá mais pra dizer que o Japão é um time bobo que qualquer um pode vencer como é que a vamos chamar aquele garoto que de tão ruim só serve pra ser goleiro (e olhe lá)... Deixe-me pensar... aaaahhh... que tal Inglês?

“Ô moleque, você é tão ruim que até parece jogador da Inlgaterra..."

Eu sou Mano Gil, escrevendo diretamente do Estádio de Toyota, com exclusividade para o Ole Ole.

Sayonara!!!

I just can’t express the joy I’m feeling to be here in Japan as part of Ole Ole  Media Team. It’s always been my dream to finally be recognized as the passionate yet sensible sports journalist that I try to be in every word I write. Ole Ole saw that and I cannot express how greateful I am for that. And SM and Mike are great guys! I'm certainly on a good team!

Enough of me for now. Let’s talk about football.

The Fifa Club World Cup is a new competition. It came to replace the previous formula South American team versus European team (which was the way to determine the best club in the world from the 60’s until the late 90’s)

In 2000 Fifa sponsored the tournament hosted by Brazil and won by local team Corinthians. That was the beginning of a new page in the history of world football but also a burden that Corinthians’s supporters had to carry for years. That’s because at that moment it was not all clear that Fifa’s sponsored tournament would replace the one game formula that had been around for more than 30 years. Also, every Brazilian football fan anxiously awaits the moment to say that his team is going to Japan to be the World Champion and in that case, plus the fact that Corinthians was invited to participate in the tournament as the host team for winning the National League in 1999 but still fails when International Competitions are played outside Brazil, Corinthians’s fans had to hear the mockery of all other club’s fans until Fifa officially recognized their tittle.

This year 8 teams from 7 different continents are fighting for the tittle. The formula of the competition still favors the South America Copa Libertadores Champions and the UEFA Champions by giving them a free pass straight to the semi-finals.

For the other 6 teams a place in the finals will have to come with a lot more sweat and suffering.

For most of them playing Boca Juniors or Milan in the semi-finals would already represent a tittle. A vindication that they are among the best of the world.

For some players like the young Benjamin Totori. A fast, talented 21-year old striker from The Solomon Islands who plays for the New Zealander team of Waitikere, this is his chance to show himself to the world. “For me it’s so important I wish we had won the game and that was very sad but I think I was able to play well specially in the second half and hopefully catch the eyes of somebody from a bigger team. I’m still learning, I’m only 21 and people don’t know me but I tried my best to enjoy this opportunity. I’m happy for that.” Told me the hopeful Totori.

His team couldn’t the past the Iranian team of Sepahan who won the opening match 3 x 1 and now will have the chance to get their revenge against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. The two teams faced each other in the AFC Champions League not even a month ago and in that opportunity Urawa won.

That might be a very interesting game and maybe the beginning of another great football rivalry.

I’m Mano Gil writing straight from Shinjuku – in the greater Tokyo area – exlclusive for Ole Ole.

Sayonara!