This is the World Club Championship
Football’s global club competition, the FIFA World Club Championship, has not enjoyed an easy time in seeking to become the world’s most prestigious club tournament. It was Real Madrid president Jamie Bernard who first proposed the idea for the event during the 1950s. This was unsurprising, as the Spaniards had won the European title on five consecutive occasions from its inception, and doubtless wanted to propel their status still further, turning continental domination into catholic supremacy. Indeed the inter-continental competition that began soon after was erected under the preface that the winners could unequivocally claim to be the best side in the world.
In reality however, the competition has had difficulty in developing and maintaining such lofty status. The enhancement of this lagging reputation has been impeded in no small part by the Europeans, who have in the past viewed the competition more as a practical inconvenience than a yardstick for prestige. During the 1970s football’s home continent decided against even sending a representative team. Then in 1978, when Liverpool decided against participating, the competition was cancelled. A wise course of action to take, one based on a logical thought process you might say: ‘If the Scousers aren’t coming what’s the point’, I can only assume must have been the official explanation.
Now forget all this modern hype about most English fans despising Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal. When I was growing up in South Liverpool during the 1980s it was Nottingham Forest who were considered the enemy. And when the Toyota Cup was introduced following the demise and ultimate cancellation of the World Club Championship, it was Clough’s side who were the cheeky enough to put themselves in the reckoning for the event. One league title, that’s the sum total of their domestic achievements – one. And although their European record is more impressive - they are the only team to have won the European Cup more times than their own domestic league - the Nottinghamshire minnows still got the chance to conquer the world. As painful as it is to admit, it was Forest, having defeated the cream of Europe, who went on to face opposition from further field in the opening edition of the newly erected Toyota Cup. Needless to say, they failed, falling at the hands of Uruguay’s Nacional. Cue smug grin and enforced replay of the 5-0 drubbing of Forest at Anfield one memorable April evening in 1988.
The current format no longer involves a one-off contest between the Kings of South America and Europe, as was previously the case. And rightly so, for surely a true world club tournament requires representatives from the whole world. So this year’s event will incorporate a clash of the continental kings, involving Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, Australia’s Sydney FC, Sao Paulo from Brazil, Al Ahly of Egypt, Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, and of course Liverpool of Liverpool. The six teams will come together for a week-long event in December; a competition that FIFA are hoping will prove a huge success and subsequently see its profile propelled on the world football stage. Of course, if you want to increase the popularity of something it’s always wise to remarket it and then maybe give it a memorable name. FIFA have clearly adopted this ethos, with the competition currently known as the ‘World Club Championship Toyota Cup’. Mmm, catchy.
Irrespective of its lengthy title, its inconsistent past and somewhat clouded current status however, the event will certainly prove a success in 2005. Why? Simply because it will boast some of the finest footballing talent on the planet. Millions will surely flock to television screens to see the likes of Traore, Josemi and Crouch in action - sporting icons and good looking lads to boot. It’s a marketers dream.
In terms of competition structure, the champions of Asia, Oceania, Africa and North America will play first, which is only fair I suppose. Liverpool and Sao Paulo will have to wait until the semi-final stage before meeting the respective winners of the opening two encounters. So then, prepare yourself for an intercontinental feast of club football, where the kings of each of the globe’s six sub-sections will commence battle in Toyota, Tokyo and Yokohama for the title of ‘the greatest team in the world’,. …as soon as I can get my doctor to sign my sick note to get me out of work for a week, I’ll be on a plane to the Far East to watch the show unfold.
Tokyo, Yokohama, Toyota, Japan
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Monday, November 21, 2005
Welcome To Our World
The Socceroos will participate at next year's World Cup finals for the first time in eight attempts. And what's more they thoroughly deserve to. Marc Fox reports.
Football Federation Australia will be feeling rightly proud of themselves this week after witnessing Australia's greatest international triumph since Jimmy Mackay volleyed home a spectacular winner to ensure the Socceroos' progression to Germany 1974. 32 years on, the similarities between the current crop of internationals and Mackay's are eerie.
Back in '73, Australia drew the home-and-away playoff series against South Korea before squeezing home in the deciding third fixture in neutral Hong Kong. The latest group to attempt what coach Guus Hiddink described as "making the impossible possible" four short months ago advanced in similar circumstances. Scores level on aggregate after 180, then 210 minutes, before penalties decided the outcome. The destination for its second-ever finals appearance: Germany.
Despite entering next year's showpiece tournament as the second lowest rankest nation after Angola, with Hiddink at the helm today's Australia will have the conviction to improve on the solitary point its predecessors managed in '74. Back then, the Socceroos were mocked on their arrival in Europe having been cruelly drawn alongside East and West Germany as well as Chile in Group 1. How times change. If, as expected, the side is handed the unenviable label of bottom seeds when the World Cup draw is made on December 9, plenty will be keen to avoid the competitive Antipodeans.
For football officials in Australia, qualifying for Germany 2006 is the icing on an already delicious cake. After decades of disillusionment, what a way to bid farewell to its love-hate relationship with the Oceania confederation. To all intents and purposes, the Socceroos are now Asian. They leave the derisory half-place FIFA deems Oceania deserves to nestle in with the AFC and its four-and-a-half World Cup berths. After watching Australia outclass Uruguay over two legs while Bahrain stumbled to little Trinidad and Tobago, heaven knows what fellow AFC nations are thinking.
Australia dismissed Uruguay's claims of a divine right to be in the World Cup with a gutsy - and tactically astute - second leg display in Sydney's throbbing Telstra Stadium. Having negotiated a nervy opening - when an away goal would surely have ended the tie as a contest - Hiddink's side pressed and harried their weary opponents. Harry Kewell's introduction after a half-hour only served to increase the tempo. It was Kewell's sliced attempt following neat build-up play involving fellow Premier League stars Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill which lead to the opener. Parma's Marco Bresciano pounced on the misdirected shot to slam home his seventh international goal past Uruguayan 'keeper Fabian Carini.
The fact that neither Cahill nor Bresciano started in Montevideo highlights Australia's strength in depth. That is not to say Hiddink opted to bolster his defence for the away leg. The Dutch coach sprang a surprise by including Kewell from the start despite managing only a handful of appearances for Liverpool since his groin surgery in the summer. The A-League's Archie Thompson was also handed a start alongside Viduka upfront.
Again it is testament to the Socceroos' progress under the leadership of Hiddink that he was dissatisfied by a narrow 1-0 reverse. Despite Uruguay's scoring potential through Richard Morales, Marcelo Zayaleta and Alvaro Recoba, the hosts were restricted to a series of half-chances by Australia. Their goal came from Dario Rodriguez eight minutes before the break. Scott Chipperfield barged Carlos Diogo in full view of the assistant referee and Rodriguez headed home Recoba's whipped free-kick.
After Bresciano's aggregate leveller in the second leg, only one side showed the desire to win the game in regulation time. How no further goals were scored in the ensuing 85 minutes nobody could say but the lottery of a penalty shootout was called on to separate the sides. Mark Schwarzer saved from Rodriguez and Zayaleta with Viduka's miss for the Socceroos sandwiched between. Needing just one more conversion - following Kewell, Lucas Neill and Tony Vidmar's successes - John Aloisi completed the job. They say fortune favours the brave and for the first time in a generation of doomed attempts, lady luck shone on the Socceroos. They deserved every bit of it.
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Football Federation Australia will be feeling rightly proud of themselves this week after witnessing Australia's greatest international triumph since Jimmy Mackay volleyed home a spectacular winner to ensure the Socceroos' progression to Germany 1974. 32 years on, the similarities between the current crop of internationals and Mackay's are eerie.
Back in '73, Australia drew the home-and-away playoff series against South Korea before squeezing home in the deciding third fixture in neutral Hong Kong. The latest group to attempt what coach Guus Hiddink described as "making the impossible possible" four short months ago advanced in similar circumstances. Scores level on aggregate after 180, then 210 minutes, before penalties decided the outcome. The destination for its second-ever finals appearance: Germany.
Despite entering next year's showpiece tournament as the second lowest rankest nation after Angola, with Hiddink at the helm today's Australia will have the conviction to improve on the solitary point its predecessors managed in '74. Back then, the Socceroos were mocked on their arrival in Europe having been cruelly drawn alongside East and West Germany as well as Chile in Group 1. How times change. If, as expected, the side is handed the unenviable label of bottom seeds when the World Cup draw is made on December 9, plenty will be keen to avoid the competitive Antipodeans.
For football officials in Australia, qualifying for Germany 2006 is the icing on an already delicious cake. After decades of disillusionment, what a way to bid farewell to its love-hate relationship with the Oceania confederation. To all intents and purposes, the Socceroos are now Asian. They leave the derisory half-place FIFA deems Oceania deserves to nestle in with the AFC and its four-and-a-half World Cup berths. After watching Australia outclass Uruguay over two legs while Bahrain stumbled to little Trinidad and Tobago, heaven knows what fellow AFC nations are thinking.
Australia dismissed Uruguay's claims of a divine right to be in the World Cup with a gutsy - and tactically astute - second leg display in Sydney's throbbing Telstra Stadium. Having negotiated a nervy opening - when an away goal would surely have ended the tie as a contest - Hiddink's side pressed and harried their weary opponents. Harry Kewell's introduction after a half-hour only served to increase the tempo. It was Kewell's sliced attempt following neat build-up play involving fellow Premier League stars Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill which lead to the opener. Parma's Marco Bresciano pounced on the misdirected shot to slam home his seventh international goal past Uruguayan 'keeper Fabian Carini.
The fact that neither Cahill nor Bresciano started in Montevideo highlights Australia's strength in depth. That is not to say Hiddink opted to bolster his defence for the away leg. The Dutch coach sprang a surprise by including Kewell from the start despite managing only a handful of appearances for Liverpool since his groin surgery in the summer. The A-League's Archie Thompson was also handed a start alongside Viduka upfront.
Again it is testament to the Socceroos' progress under the leadership of Hiddink that he was dissatisfied by a narrow 1-0 reverse. Despite Uruguay's scoring potential through Richard Morales, Marcelo Zayaleta and Alvaro Recoba, the hosts were restricted to a series of half-chances by Australia. Their goal came from Dario Rodriguez eight minutes before the break. Scott Chipperfield barged Carlos Diogo in full view of the assistant referee and Rodriguez headed home Recoba's whipped free-kick.
After Bresciano's aggregate leveller in the second leg, only one side showed the desire to win the game in regulation time. How no further goals were scored in the ensuing 85 minutes nobody could say but the lottery of a penalty shootout was called on to separate the sides. Mark Schwarzer saved from Rodriguez and Zayaleta with Viduka's miss for the Socceroos sandwiched between. Needing just one more conversion - following Kewell, Lucas Neill and Tony Vidmar's successes - John Aloisi completed the job. They say fortune favours the brave and for the first time in a generation of doomed attempts, lady luck shone on the Socceroos. They deserved every bit of it.
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Thursday, November 17, 2005
The Talk of the Toon
A few years ago, you couldn’t turn the television on without hearing Bob Hoskins say, “It’s good to talk”, Jose Mourinho may not be a chubby Cockney, but he shares Bob’s love of the spoken word.
Jose has recently engaged in verbal sparring with Arsene Wenger; daily ‘tit for tat’ remarks were exchanged, with Wenger playing the role of the ‘Tat’.
Mourinho then turned his attention to Sir Alex, offering this gem, “If I lost three games on the trot, I’d expect to be sacked.” As Chelsea have now lost two consecutive games, there’s every chance that Roman Abramovich may have one hand on the P45.
Chelsea are leaking goals, Drogba is suspended and Crespo is out of favour while he works on his singing career. Newcastle have won their last four matches; back the Toon Army to win or draw at 2/1.
If you look up ‘value’ in the dictionary, you’ll find it just before Wigan. The Latics are sitting 2nd in the league, they’re on top of the recent form table and they’ve won their last five matches in all competitions without conceding a goal.
Arsenal may be breathtaking on their day, but it’s not been their day away from home all season. Wigan are available at 10/3 to collect all three points; merry Christmas.
I was shocked to hear of the Old Trafford bugging controversy. Carlos Queiroz was allegedly heard to say, “Rooney, get on the left wing, 4-5-1, 4-5-1”. That rumour is probably untrue, this is a fact; Wayne Rooney ran the show for England against Argentina, he’ll be a decent player when he fills out. United are the real deal, get on at 4/6.
David O’Leary has been the master of the excuse this term, “The boys gave me everything out there” has been used. The obligatory, “The ref cost us the game” has also had an airing, the Villa are one defeat away from the return of, “You can’t expect too much from them, they’re just babies.” Sunderland can gain revenge for the Villa nicking their three best players, back the Mackems at 11/8.
Birmingham City are very much like the wife, they’ve done nothing at home for six months. City’s inability to perform in front of their own fans stems from a lack of firepower up front. Forssell hasn’t scored a league goal all season and Heskey hasn’t put the onion in the bag since August. As every experienced chef knows, you can’t make an omelette, with two puddings.
There’s always a few specials floating about on the weekend, Super Soccer have the following:
“R.S.V.P.” - Rooney, Shearer and Van Persie all to score 20/1
“M.C. Hammer” – Michael Carrick to score two or more goals 33/1
“Waiting for the S.P.” – Stilian Petrov to score the last goal 15/2
“H.P. Soars” – Henrik Pedersen to score with a header 20/1
“P.C. gone mad” – Peter Crouch to score at any time 11/10
“J.D. and Coker” – Jermain Defoe and Reo-Coker both to score 16/1
Quote of the week:
“How did Everton get on?”
Wayne Rooney’s first words after the win against Chelsea, captured on the Old Trafford bug.
Stat, you’re a liberty:
Arsenal have lost every match they’ve played after an International break this season.
Acc of the week:
Man Utd
Liverpool
Sunderland
Everton
Bolton
The five-fold pays a juicy 35/1
Weekend Betting:
Wigan v Arsenal Saturday 19th November 12.45 Live on Sky
Wigan 10/3
Draw 9/4
Arsenal 8/11
Get on: Wigan
Wigan are on a roll, Arsenal are poor on their travels. It all points to the Latics.
Match Special:
Wigan to win 1-0 9/1
Charlton v Man Utd Saturday 19th November 15.00
Charlton 7/2
Draw 12/5
Man Utd 4/6
Get on: Man Utd
Man U have beaten Charlton in their last four meetings by two goals or more. The Addicks have lost their last two matches, easy pickings fur United.
Match Special:
Wayne Rooney to score two or more goals 11/2
Chelsea v Newcastle Saturday 19th November 15.00
Chelsea 1/3
Draw 10/3
Newcastle 13/2
Get on: Draw
Chelsea have conceded goals in their last five matches; the Geordies are on fire.
Match Special:
Emre to score at any time 5/1
Liverpool v Portsmouth Saturday 19th November 15.00
Liverpool 2/5
Draw 11/4
Portsmouth 13/2
Get on: Liverpool
Liverpool have won their last three matches ‘to nil’. It’s been 54 years since Pompey won at Anfield; a real no-brainer.
Match Special:
Luis Garcia to score at any time 6/4
Man City v Blackburn Saturday 19th November 15.00
Man City 5/6
Draw 9/4
Blackburn 11/4
Get on: Draw
The last three meetings between City and Rovers have ended in a draw, both teams are in great nick, another tight match awaits.
Match Special:
Match to finish 2-2 14/1
Sunderland v Aston Villa Saturday 19th November 15.00
Sunderland 11/8
Draw 2/1
Aston Villa 7/4
Get on: Sunderland
Sunderland and Villa have met 10 times in the Premiership, the away team has never won. Aston Villa have conceded the most goals away from home in the league this season, it all points to a home win.
Match Special:
Sunderland to score three or more goals 5/1
West Brom v Everton Saturday 19th November 17.15 Live on Premiership Plus
West Brom 11/8
Draw 2/1
Everton 7/4
Get on: Everton
West Brom have lost their last three matches without scoring. Everton have won their last two matches 1-0. It’s all too easy.
Match Special:
Everton to win 1-0 7/1
Tottenham v West Ham Sunday 20th November 13.00
Tottenham 8/11
Draw 9/4
West Ham 10/3
Get on: Draw
West Ham were forced to sell Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick to Spurs when they were relegated; the Hammers got their own back though, they also sold them Freddie Kanoute. It’s three without a win for Spurs, make that four.
Match Special:
Benayoun to score at any time 7/2
Middlesbrough v Fulham Sunday 20th November 16.00 Live on Sky
Middlesbrough 8/11
Draw 9/4
Fulham 10/3
Get on: Draw
The stats say that Boro can’t get motivated for the visit of lesser teams, their only wins at home have came against Arsenal and Man Utd. Fulham haven’t won on the road this season; goalless draw.
Match Special:
No Goalscorer in the match 8/1
Birmingham v Bolton Monday 21st November 20.00 Live on Sky
Birmingham 8/5
Draw 11/5
Bolton 7/5
Get on: Bolton
Bolton have won their last four matches 1-0. I’ve spotted a pattern.
Match Special:
Bolton to win 1-0 6/1
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Jose has recently engaged in verbal sparring with Arsene Wenger; daily ‘tit for tat’ remarks were exchanged, with Wenger playing the role of the ‘Tat’.
Mourinho then turned his attention to Sir Alex, offering this gem, “If I lost three games on the trot, I’d expect to be sacked.” As Chelsea have now lost two consecutive games, there’s every chance that Roman Abramovich may have one hand on the P45.
Chelsea are leaking goals, Drogba is suspended and Crespo is out of favour while he works on his singing career. Newcastle have won their last four matches; back the Toon Army to win or draw at 2/1.
If you look up ‘value’ in the dictionary, you’ll find it just before Wigan. The Latics are sitting 2nd in the league, they’re on top of the recent form table and they’ve won their last five matches in all competitions without conceding a goal.
Arsenal may be breathtaking on their day, but it’s not been their day away from home all season. Wigan are available at 10/3 to collect all three points; merry Christmas.
I was shocked to hear of the Old Trafford bugging controversy. Carlos Queiroz was allegedly heard to say, “Rooney, get on the left wing, 4-5-1, 4-5-1”. That rumour is probably untrue, this is a fact; Wayne Rooney ran the show for England against Argentina, he’ll be a decent player when he fills out. United are the real deal, get on at 4/6.
David O’Leary has been the master of the excuse this term, “The boys gave me everything out there” has been used. The obligatory, “The ref cost us the game” has also had an airing, the Villa are one defeat away from the return of, “You can’t expect too much from them, they’re just babies.” Sunderland can gain revenge for the Villa nicking their three best players, back the Mackems at 11/8.
Birmingham City are very much like the wife, they’ve done nothing at home for six months. City’s inability to perform in front of their own fans stems from a lack of firepower up front. Forssell hasn’t scored a league goal all season and Heskey hasn’t put the onion in the bag since August. As every experienced chef knows, you can’t make an omelette, with two puddings.
There’s always a few specials floating about on the weekend, Super Soccer have the following:
“R.S.V.P.” - Rooney, Shearer and Van Persie all to score 20/1
“M.C. Hammer” – Michael Carrick to score two or more goals 33/1
“Waiting for the S.P.” – Stilian Petrov to score the last goal 15/2
“H.P. Soars” – Henrik Pedersen to score with a header 20/1
“P.C. gone mad” – Peter Crouch to score at any time 11/10
“J.D. and Coker” – Jermain Defoe and Reo-Coker both to score 16/1
Quote of the week:
“How did Everton get on?”
Wayne Rooney’s first words after the win against Chelsea, captured on the Old Trafford bug.
Stat, you’re a liberty:
Arsenal have lost every match they’ve played after an International break this season.
Acc of the week:
Man Utd
Liverpool
Sunderland
Everton
Bolton
The five-fold pays a juicy 35/1
Weekend Betting:
Wigan v Arsenal Saturday 19th November 12.45 Live on Sky
Wigan 10/3
Draw 9/4
Arsenal 8/11
Get on: Wigan
Wigan are on a roll, Arsenal are poor on their travels. It all points to the Latics.
Match Special:
Wigan to win 1-0 9/1
Charlton v Man Utd Saturday 19th November 15.00
Charlton 7/2
Draw 12/5
Man Utd 4/6
Get on: Man Utd
Man U have beaten Charlton in their last four meetings by two goals or more. The Addicks have lost their last two matches, easy pickings fur United.
Match Special:
Wayne Rooney to score two or more goals 11/2
Chelsea v Newcastle Saturday 19th November 15.00
Chelsea 1/3
Draw 10/3
Newcastle 13/2
Get on: Draw
Chelsea have conceded goals in their last five matches; the Geordies are on fire.
Match Special:
Emre to score at any time 5/1
Liverpool v Portsmouth Saturday 19th November 15.00
Liverpool 2/5
Draw 11/4
Portsmouth 13/2
Get on: Liverpool
Liverpool have won their last three matches ‘to nil’. It’s been 54 years since Pompey won at Anfield; a real no-brainer.
Match Special:
Luis Garcia to score at any time 6/4
Man City v Blackburn Saturday 19th November 15.00
Man City 5/6
Draw 9/4
Blackburn 11/4
Get on: Draw
The last three meetings between City and Rovers have ended in a draw, both teams are in great nick, another tight match awaits.
Match Special:
Match to finish 2-2 14/1
Sunderland v Aston Villa Saturday 19th November 15.00
Sunderland 11/8
Draw 2/1
Aston Villa 7/4
Get on: Sunderland
Sunderland and Villa have met 10 times in the Premiership, the away team has never won. Aston Villa have conceded the most goals away from home in the league this season, it all points to a home win.
Match Special:
Sunderland to score three or more goals 5/1
West Brom v Everton Saturday 19th November 17.15 Live on Premiership Plus
West Brom 11/8
Draw 2/1
Everton 7/4
Get on: Everton
West Brom have lost their last three matches without scoring. Everton have won their last two matches 1-0. It’s all too easy.
Match Special:
Everton to win 1-0 7/1
Tottenham v West Ham Sunday 20th November 13.00
Tottenham 8/11
Draw 9/4
West Ham 10/3
Get on: Draw
West Ham were forced to sell Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick to Spurs when they were relegated; the Hammers got their own back though, they also sold them Freddie Kanoute. It’s three without a win for Spurs, make that four.
Match Special:
Benayoun to score at any time 7/2
Middlesbrough v Fulham Sunday 20th November 16.00 Live on Sky
Middlesbrough 8/11
Draw 9/4
Fulham 10/3
Get on: Draw
The stats say that Boro can’t get motivated for the visit of lesser teams, their only wins at home have came against Arsenal and Man Utd. Fulham haven’t won on the road this season; goalless draw.
Match Special:
No Goalscorer in the match 8/1
Birmingham v Bolton Monday 21st November 20.00 Live on Sky
Birmingham 8/5
Draw 11/5
Bolton 7/5
Get on: Bolton
Bolton have won their last four matches 1-0. I’ve spotted a pattern.
Match Special:
Bolton to win 1-0 6/1
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