It's all over here in Yokohama, and as expected European champions AC Milan have progressed to the final of the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, where they will meet Argentine giants Boca Juniors.

Clarence Seedorf scored the only goal of the match, after Kaká beat his Brazilian compatriot Fabio Nene for pace before cutting back a superb ball for Dutch international Seedorf to sidefoot beyond Ryota Tsuzuki in the Urawa goal.

The goal was no less than Milan deserved, although they were from overwhelming against a team that they were expected to dominate. Indeed, Urawa gave an excellent account of themselves and Japanese football on the night, with the Reds - and their band of vociferous fans, likely to have won many admirers.

The defeat brings a sad end to the Urawa career of ex-Brazil international Washington, who leaves the club to join Brazilian giants Fluminese. Washington was confined to half-chances throughout, and he was unable to deal with the pace at the back of Italian international Alessandro Nesta.

Milan have two rest days before they meet Boca Juniors in the final at Yokohama International Stadium, while Urawa fans have one last chance to see Washington in action when Urawa take on Etoile du Sahel in the 3/4 playoff.

*** The original version of this interview in PORTUGUESE is available on the video section CLICK HERE TO WATCH ***  

It's been more than 18 years now as a profesional footballer since his debut at São Paulo FC in 1989. During all this time, Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, a.k.a. Cafu,  has been a role model.

He appeared for football exactly when Brazil was lacking good right-back wing and since then he became an icon.

The highligh of his careeer was when he lift Brazil's 5th World Cup in 2002.

Cafu is a "broda" as one could call his closest friends. And that was how our conversation happened right after Milan's training session in Yokohama where the team prepared itself to face Urawa Reds for the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Cafu, after so many years playing footbal are you still the same, I mean, after all the success, are you still the same peerson? No doubt about it. I don't why one should change. I'm the same Cafu from 30 years ago. I've always been the same happy, easy going Cafu and always winning titles which is the most important, right? 

 Sure... that's very important... You already won so meny titles, you were Intercontinental Champion with São Paulo as part of that wonderful Telê Santana squad and now you have the opportunity to win another world title with Milan. Does it still feel the same when you win a championship? Of course it does. Winning championships is always very pleasant. It means that the work we've being doing is paying off. I've been receiving what I've planted a long time ago. I think that winning is simply awesome. And it's good to mention that this is gonna be my 4th opportunity to win a Club World Championship, I got to win 2 with São Paulo, then we (Milan) lost in 2003 and now I got the chance to win this one with Milan with God's help.

That's true. Cafu, you're already past the 30 years old  so are many other players on the squad. What is the secret to ... I mean, I've seen you running up and down, crossing you still look like the same Cafu from São Paulo... what is the secret to stay fit? I'm already 32 and I cannot do all that.  Hard work man. A lot of hard work, dedication, strong will, this is all important, right? And also the passion to play football. I believe that as long as I still have this passion I'll be running just like you saw there. When I feel the passion fading then I'll understand it's time to hang my boots. But I still feel great and if it's God's will and I have no injury I think I can still paly for a long time. 

What does "a long time" mean Cafu? Do you have any plans for retirement?   You see... I don't know. Only God knows, only time will tell, right? If I stay fit the way I am today I still have condition to play for a long time but everything will be decided in june. I'm gonna wait till june and then make a decision.  

And one last question now before you go (to the locker rooms). Before you sign with Milan, right after you left Roma, there was a contract offer from Yokohama Marinos to play here in Japan. The deal didn't go through and you ended up going to Milan estlashing a successful career there. Do you still have any plans of coming to play here in Japan?  Man, I don't know. I tried no to plan things anymore since what happen with this whole Milan-Japan thing. By the way, I'd like to take a moment to thank Yokohama. They were all very nice to me. They understood my situation at that moment when I ended up choosing to go to Milan. But plans for the future I have none yet. Let's way until june and only then make a decision.  

It's a clear night here at Yokohama International Stadium, after the rain of this morning gave way to milder conditions in the evening.

I made my way to the ground following a typically harrowing journey on the Tokyo train system. Four changes and a possible fractured spine later and I made it just in the nick of time to catch Urawa's army of fans kick into overdrive. If ever there were any doubts that Japanese football fans are some of the most passionate and colourful in the world, they've been dispelled tonight, as Urawa's Red Army are churning out an extraordinary atmosphere here in Yokohama.

The game so far has been a cagey affair, with Urawa clearly wary of committing too many men forward. Several times they've had the chance to counter attack only to hold the ball up in midfield, with Holger Osieck's men no doubt concerned by the threat of Alberto Gilardino up front for Milan.

All of the Rossoneri's good play has come down the right hand side, with Carlo Ancelotti clearly instructing defender Massimo Oddo to run at Urawa's young Takahito Soma and keep him occupied in defence. Kaká has shown some silky touches so far, and his interplay with Clarence Seedorf has threatened to open the Urawa defence on occasion.

Nevertheless the Reds are holding their own, and with Keita Suzuki orchestrating proceedings in midfield and the dangerous Washington at the point of attack, the Saitama giants look capable of snatching a goal. Indeed, with giant striker Washington Fluminese-bound, the Reds will want to send their fiery target man out on a high, and with the second half still to play and the scores locked at 0-0, they're on course to do so.
 

As expected, all tickets have been sold for clash between Urawa Reds and AC Milan at the 72,327 capacity Yokohama International Stadium.

It's a cold, grey afternoon in Yokohama but that won't stop fans from turning out in their tens of thousands to witness this highly anticipated clash.

Yokohama International Stadium - otherwise known as Nissan Stadium on non-FIFA matchdays, is the home of Yokohama F. Marinos and saw its largest crowd of the last J-League season when 53,916 fans turned out to witness Yokohama F. Marinos smash cross-town rivals Yokohama FC 8-1.

The stadium was the venue for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final, which saw Brazil beat Germany 2-0 thanks to a brace from Ronaldo. Whilst the stadium no doubt holds fond memories for O Fenômeno, he will take no part in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup after coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed that the Brazilian striker's calf injury would not heal in time for him to take part in Sunday's final. 

*** entevista também disponível em português na sessão de vídeos CLIQUE AQUI  PARA ACESSAR ***

Já se vão 18 anos de carreira como atleta profissional desde sua estréia no time do São Paulo em 1989. Em todos esses anos Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, o nosso Cafu, sempre foi um exemplo. 

Ele surgiu para o futebol numa época em que  o Brasil carecia de bons jogadores na lateral-direita e a partir disso se tornou um ícone.

O ápice de sua carreira chegou em 2002 quando ergueu a 5a. Copa do Mundo para o Brasil.

Cafu é gente boa, como dizemos sobre nossos amigos mais ínitmos. E foi nesse clima que ele conversou comigo após o treino do Milan no CT do Yokohama Marinos durante a preparação da equipe para o jogo de logo mais contra o Urawa Reds pela semifinal do Mundial de Clubes da FIFA.

Cafu, tantos anos no futebol, o Cafu ainda é o mesmo depois de tantos anos, depois de tanto sucesso, você ainda é a mesma pessoa? Mas sem dúvida nenhuma. Não tem por que mudar personalidade e mudar a pessoa. O Cafu que vocês conheceram a mais de trinta anos atrás. Sempre fui o Cafu feliz, alegre e o Cafu campeão que é o mais importante né?

 É... isso é importante... Você já ganhou tantos títulos, você já foi campeão mundial com o São Paulo, já participou daquela maravilhosa equipe com o Telê e agora tem a chance de ser campeão mundial de novo, pelo Milan. É sempre a mesma sensação gahnar um título? Mas sem dúvida nenhuma. Sempre ganhar títulos é emocionante é sempre muito agradável. É sinal de que trabalho que a gente faz dá dando certo. A gente vem colhendo os frutos daquela sementinha que a gente plantou a muitoa anos atrás. Eu acho que ganhar é sempre bom né. E é bom frisar que é o 4º Mundial que eu disputo né, Intercontinental,  tive a oportunidade de ganhar dois com o São Paulo, perdemos em 2003  com o Milan aqui e temos a oportunidade de ganharmos mais um aqui se Deus quiser. 

É verdade. Cafu e você já passou dos 30, muita gente nessa euqipe já passou dos 30. qual é o segredo para manter... eu vi você correndo para cima e para baixo e cruzando, a mesma coisa, parece o mesmo Cafu  que jogava no São Paulo... qual é o segredo de manter a forma? Eu estou com 32 já e já não aguento tudo isso. Trabalho. É muito trabalho, muita dedicação e muita superação. Muita força de vontade, isso é importante, né, e a vontade de jogar futebol ainda. Eu acho que enquanto eu tiver essa vontade de jogar futebol eu vou estar correndo do jeito que vocês viram aí. Quando eu vir que não dá mais vou saber que é o horário de pendurar as chuteiras. Mas por enquanto eu estou bem e se Deus quiser continuar assim sem lesão nenhuma a gente pode jogar muito tempo ainda.  

Muito tempo significa quanto Cafu? Tem algum plano de aposentadoria?  Então... Não sei. Só Deus sabe só o tempo vai dizer isso né? Se eu continuar do jeito que eu estou hoje eu tenho condiçoes de jogar muito tempo ainda mas isso tudo vai depender do que vai acontecer até junho, né. Tem muita coisa para acontecer até junho e vamos esperar chegar junho para depois tomar uma decisão. 

E uma última pergunta para você poder ir (para o vestiário). Antes de você vir para o Milan, depois que você saiu da Roma, teve uma proposta do Yokohama Marinos para você vir jogar no Japão. A coisa não se concretizou e você acabou indo para o Milan, com uma carreira de sucesso. Tem ainda um plano de, quem sabe, um dia, vir jogar no Japão? Aah, não sei. Eu procuro não fazer muitos planos depois daquilo que aconteceu lá da minha ida para o Milan e não para o Yokohama, né? Quero aproveitar a oportunidade e agradecer todo o pessoal do Yokohama que foram muito gentis. Foi um pessoal que me tratou muito bem, entendeu a situação né, naquele período e eu acabei optando pelo Milan mas planos para o futuro eu não fiz ainda. Vamos esperar chegar em junho e depois a gente toma uma decisão.

Si, ganó. Y eso es lo más importante. Pero hay que decir que la equipe tunecina de Etoile du Sahel jugó muy bien y en muchos momientos mejor que Boca.  

Rodrigo Palacio fué el responsável por la jugada que originó el gol de Neri Cardozo pero no jugó bien. No tuve espacios en la defense tunecina y lo mismo se pasó com Palermo.  

 Neri celebra su gol  

Para Cardozo el equipo de Tunisia  luchó por todas las jugadas y jugó bien y por eso no fué fácil pero lo más importante fué la victoria en el final y él se quedo muy feliz por ter anotado el gol decisivo.  

La verdad es que Boca cometió unos de los errors que también lo cometió Pachuca: substmarán la equipe tunecina.  

 El experiente Ibarra ahora solo piensa en lá final. “Eso partido fué muy difícil y estoy muy feliz que ganamos y ahora vamos intentar manter la tradición de sucesso aqui en japón y ojalá ganaremos más un título mudial para Boca.”  

Para el equipo de Etoile du Sahel la impression es que después del nervosismo del primero partido el equipo puede mostrar contra Boca su talento (y también fraquezas).  

Es un equipo que tiene jovenes que possuem habilidad y que conduzem bien la pelota. La marcación es cerrada y dura pero tienen que trabajar major la pelota en la creación de las jugadas y, seguro que hay que finalizar mejor. Lo que importa en fúbol es hacer más goles que su oponente.   

Ahora tienen la increible oportunidad de tornarse el tercero mejor equipo del planeta. Y para eso hay que contra también com la ayuda divina corforme me dijo el mediocampista Moussa Narry. “Nosotros jugamos muy bien en este partido pero futbol es el juego de las oportunidads, las tuvimos pero no hicimos los goles Boca hizo y as vezes ese es lo deseo de Dios. Y ahora tambiém estará en las manos de Dios esa decision de llegarmos a  la victoria en el proximo partido. Nosotros vamos hacer todo para ganar para es siempre una decision divina.”  

Es una buena manera de pensar pero hay que marcar los goles porque creo que Dios no vas surgir en la cancha y poner la pelota adentro de las redes.    

Yo soy Mano Gil, escribindo directamente de Tokyo, com exclusividad para Ole Ole.

Dewa mata suguni ne!!!

Considering the fact that the stadium in Toyota City was half-empty on Monday night, the noise levels generated by the two pockets of Urawa fans were fantastic. Rehearsed, coordinated, effervescent and loud, it was a non-stop display of support for their team.

That night in Toyota was an unfortunate one for Urawa fans, because the majority come from Tokyo and Yokohama, and it was an impossible commute for many given that the game was on a weeknight, and that Toyota is so far away. They were also playing Sepahan, which hardly made for an attractive trip to the middle of nowhere.

Tonight however is a different prospect. The grander, larger Nissan stadium in Yokohama is easily accessible from Tokyo and Saitama (where Urawa are from). The best part is that Urawa, being a sort of Manchester United of Japan (their fans aren't from where the team are), have their largest fanbase in Yokohama, so all things considered, we should be witnessing an absolutely packed stadium and roaring support for Urawa, right?

Well, no. It's not that simple.

The bone in the kebab in this case, is the Japanese people's love of all things glamorous, famous and superstarry. I witnessed it first-hand last year when Barcelona played here, and the stadium was a sea of blaugrana shirts, with a rumbling whisper of adoration/excitement for Ronaldinho that exploded into "Oohs" and "Aahs" every time he did anything - whether it was a trick, a shot, a tackle or even kicking someone, miscontrolling the ball, or falling flat on his arse. The teams didn't matter, the football didn't matter, only the stardom did.

This year, there's no Ronaldinho, but there's Kaka. There's no Deco, but there's Seedorf. There's Maldini, there's Nesta, there's Pirlo... the names just go on and on. If you're talking about fame, glamour and stardom, AC Milan have all of those in abundance.

And here lies the problem. Urawa being a very populist team, means that a lot of the fans that would be neutrals or occassionals tend to support them. However against Milan all of those neutrals will quite likely have their allegiances tested. Milan have also been staying in Yokohama for the past week, and the locals have regularly been watching them train and play, and they've also played in Yokohama and Tokyo several times before in the previous Intercontinental Cup, so they already have a fairly large following in the local area.

On a technical level, there is only a very slight chance that Urawa will be able to get a result against Milan. There is also the worry with Japanese teams and players, that they will sink into the over-respectful, gracious mode that they tend to go into when faced with superior, more exalted opposition. Holger Osieck has worked hard to give Urawa a really tenacious edge to their game, it would be a pity to see Keita Suzuki not trying to chop down Kaka, or being apologetic about doing so. The players will all be nervous, and they will need the fans to help them retain their edge.

So it is absolutely essential that Urawa go into this game with a 40-50,000 strong bunch of supporters, because otherwise the silence and casual support for Milan is going to create a very, very strange atmosphere for them, one in which they might just lose their way, and which would be very disappointing for the fans watching around the world, who would miss out on a chance to see just how great the REAL Japanese football fans are.

Ahead of their Club World Cup quarterfinal against Boca Juniors, Etoile Sportive du Sahel will be relying heavily on the talents of their young forward Armine Chermiti. As one Tunisian journalist said before Etoile's opening encounter against CF Pachuca - "without Chermiti, Etoile are poor", and I tend to very much agree.

Chermiti is a very gifted young striker, who in these days of 17 year old Wayne Rooneys, and 16 year old Cesc Fabregases, is something of a late bloomer at 19.

Nonetheless, in his first full season with Etoile du Sahel, he has scored 12 goals, and broken into the Tunisian national team, scoring on his international debut. Currently at the FIFA Club World Cup in Tokyo, he impressed against CF Pachuca of Mexico when his team beat them over the weekend, and there are a whole army of European scouts rumoured to be here watching him.

He is still very, very raw, but his talents are clearly visible. He's pacy and electric, and has great touch, although he isn't an out-and-out striker in mould of an Eto'o or Ronaldo. He's got great awareness, and his movement was interesting, often drifting out to either wing when Etoile were playing possession football, but going straight through the middle on counter-attacks and long balls.

He's not the biggest or strongest player (he's about 5'9") and it would handicap him in some European leagues, because he's not quick enough to compensate for a lack of strength.

His main strength, apart from technique, is intelligence. Every ball he chested, flicked, headed or touched on was preceded by a quick heads-up look around, and it's a pity his team-mates didn't create more options for him. All Etoile's best chances were created by him, and his liveliness and innovation will be essential against a tough Boca defence that boasts the veteran Hugo Ibarra, and Liverpool reject Gabriel Palletta.

However, his attitude should stand him in good stead against Boca. Having watched him train and play, his enthusiasm is fantastic, and he's just a happy go-lucky kid with a big appetite for the game. Boca will have to have an absolute 'mare to lose this one, but if Chermiti can put in a good showing, it will go a long way towards securing a move to Europe and putting him on the bigger stage he needs to progress.

Boca Juniors coach Miguel Russo was in a bullish mood after watching his ten-men side struggle to beat Tunisian outfit Etoile du Sahel 1-0 at the National Stadium in Tokyo tonight.

When asked about Boca's four bookings - including two to midfielder Fabian Vargas, who was sent off in the sixty-fifth minute, Russo responded "yellow cards are a part of football. I don't think Vargas was rough, but maybe the referee thought he had to be strong? For us, we played a very clean match."

Russo went on to claim that Boca had the players to cover Vargas' suspension in the final, but suggested that his team needs to improve - particularly in midfield, if they are to lift the FIFA Club World Cup. He was also critical of his strikers Martin Palermo and Rodrigo Palacio, whom he claimed "did not function well."

Nevertheless Russo told a packed media confidence that he was satisified with the result. "We have been aiming for this for sixth months, and Boca fans have gathered from all over the world, so we are happy to have reached the final."

The Buenos Aires giants will need to improve whomever they meet in the final, after they struggled to break down a resolute Etoile defence. The only goal arrived after Palacio did well to cut inside a defender before feeding the ball to midfielder Neri Cardozo, who blasted an unstoppable left foot drive high into the roof of Aymen Balbouli's net.

Etoile missed a golden opportunity to equalise in stoppage time, when Cape Verde striker Gilson Silva headed a difficult chance wide at the far post. The African champions gave a good account of themselves, however, with coach Bertrand Marchand claiming that his side will be highly motivated to win the 3/4 place playoff on December 16.

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.