Fans In The Stands
Monday, 18 December 06, 04:49 AM
Mohammad Abou Tarika scored two lovely goals (in which the enigmatic Flavio played a big part), sandwiching a Cuauhtemoc Blano inspired goal for Salvador Cabanas. The Ahly fans were happy, and the Club America fans sang non-stop and had some cause for cheer with the goal. Both of these however, were outnumbered by the Inter fans.
It seems that the tickets for the final(s) were sold combined... a matches 6/7 ticket. So understandably, there are a lot of Inter fans. They have come out early, watch an average game of football, and really enjoyed themselves and made a day of it. The sang in fits and spurts, and cheered for Ahly every now and then (there was some Egyptian red mixed in with the vats of Internacional fans).
Barca fans however were more or less nowhere to be seen. There were of course thousands of Japanese fans wearing Barca shirts, but that is because the Japanese fans have plumped for Barca before the tournament started, and all the bootleg merchandisers are just selling Barca/Ronaldinho stuff, and all the Japanese fans are buying them in droves.
I mean that the "real" Barca fans were missing. The travelling contingent, people like the friendly (but arrogant) types we met in the Wall Street Club in Roppongi. The Inter fans displayed a real zest for football, and are enjoying the event. The Barca fans don't seem to be really concerned.
This just adds to the feeling that Europe doesn't really care.
BTW the guy from La Gazzetta dello Sport is playing Minesweeper in front of me.
It seems that the tickets for the final(s) were sold combined... a matches 6/7 ticket. So understandably, there are a lot of Inter fans. They have come out early, watch an average game of football, and really enjoyed themselves and made a day of it. The sang in fits and spurts, and cheered for Ahly every now and then (there was some Egyptian red mixed in with the vats of Internacional fans).
Barca fans however were more or less nowhere to be seen. There were of course thousands of Japanese fans wearing Barca shirts, but that is because the Japanese fans have plumped for Barca before the tournament started, and all the bootleg merchandisers are just selling Barca/Ronaldinho stuff, and all the Japanese fans are buying them in droves.
I mean that the "real" Barca fans were missing. The travelling contingent, people like the friendly (but arrogant) types we met in the Wall Street Club in Roppongi. The Inter fans displayed a real zest for football, and are enjoying the event. The Barca fans don't seem to be really concerned.
This just adds to the feeling that Europe doesn't really care.
BTW the guy from La Gazzetta dello Sport is playing Minesweeper in front of me.
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Day 5 - Halftime Euphoria
Friday, 15 December 06, 06:20 AM
The atmosphere has been utterly brilliant. The stadium is majestic, and sold out. The press boxes are excellent with internet and power connections, hence this post. What more could we have asked for.
Compared to the other games so far the atmosphere here is seriously good. All the Japanese fans are going for Barca, but it's the few hundred Club America fans in the corner that havae been making the noise. They've been singing non-stop and putting their European counterparts to shame.
Matchwise, Barca took control early on, and are 2-0 up. But Claudio Lopez had a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper early on, and if he'd taken his chances, things might be quite, quite different now.
Both Barca and America have been playing some good stuff, but the difference is that Barca look infinitely more intimidating when they go forward. Blano is on the bench, and might pop up for this half.
Stay tuned, the second half has kicked off, and i'm getting back to the action. Ta.
Compared to the other games so far the atmosphere here is seriously good. All the Japanese fans are going for Barca, but it's the few hundred Club America fans in the corner that havae been making the noise. They've been singing non-stop and putting their European counterparts to shame.
Matchwise, Barca took control early on, and are 2-0 up. But Claudio Lopez had a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper early on, and if he'd taken his chances, things might be quite, quite different now.
Both Barca and America have been playing some good stuff, but the difference is that Barca look infinitely more intimidating when they go forward. Blano is on the bench, and might pop up for this half.
Stay tuned, the second half has kicked off, and i'm getting back to the action. Ta.
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Day 2 - Will The Fading Stars Manage To Shine?
Tuesday, 12 December 06, 04:43 AM
Looking up from just outside Tokyo National Ground:
Live here from the Tokyo National Ground in... yes, Tokyo.
The second match of the Club World Cup, and Mexican outfit Club America are taking on Jonbuk Motors of Korea.
Arguably, Korea have come through a much tougher, rigorous competition to get here, because the Asian Champions League has some very tricky teams.
But Club America are easily the more talented side. With Argentine Claudio Lopez, a world-class player in his prime at Valencia not so long ago, and Cuahtemoc Blano, the volatile, temperamental, but brilliant and talented entertainer, America's attack is going to be very difficult to handle. Add to that a few Mexican internationals with World Cup experience, and Nelson Cuevas, the Paraguayan winger-striker who is either unbelievably good or unbelievably bad, we should be in for a cracker.
Admittedly, we don't know too much about the Koreans, but they have the legendary Choi Jin Chul at the back, and a reputation for producing good, solid players with decent technical ability.
Alright, i'm off for the kick-off! Hoping to see Lopez's left foot in action, and that bunny hop of Blanco's!
Live here from the Tokyo National Ground in... yes, Tokyo.
The second match of the Club World Cup, and Mexican outfit Club America are taking on Jonbuk Motors of Korea.
Arguably, Korea have come through a much tougher, rigorous competition to get here, because the Asian Champions League has some very tricky teams.
But Club America are easily the more talented side. With Argentine Claudio Lopez, a world-class player in his prime at Valencia not so long ago, and Cuahtemoc Blano, the volatile, temperamental, but brilliant and talented entertainer, America's attack is going to be very difficult to handle. Add to that a few Mexican internationals with World Cup experience, and Nelson Cuevas, the Paraguayan winger-striker who is either unbelievably good or unbelievably bad, we should be in for a cracker.
Admittedly, we don't know too much about the Koreans, but they have the legendary Choi Jin Chul at the back, and a reputation for producing good, solid players with decent technical ability.
Alright, i'm off for the kick-off! Hoping to see Lopez's left foot in action, and that bunny hop of Blanco's!
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A slightly cynical, mildly lyrical view of football through the eyes of a Gooner.
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