Urawa Reds are Japan's most popular club.

They play at the 63,000 capacity Saitama Stadium and the 20,000 capacity Komaba Stadium, and drew an average attendance of 46,667 fans between the two grounds in the J-League this season.

Urawa have won the J-League once in 2006, the Emperor's Cup twice in 2005 and 2006 and the League Cup in 2004. They are the reigning AFC Champions League champions.

Key players

Ryota Tsuzuki - Goalkeeper: The ex-Gamba Osaka shot-stopper had a superb 2007, conceding the fewest number of goals in the J-League and helping propel Urawa to the Asian crown. He has done so playing behind an injury-riddled defence, with Urawa often playing two former midfielders in their back four.

Marcus Tulio Tanaka - Central Defence: The Brazilian-raised Japan international is one of the most aggressive players in the J-League and a tower of strength at the back. His tendency to raid forward at every opportunity occasionally leaves Urawa exposed in defence, but means that Tulio is often counted on when Urawa need to throw players into attack.

Keita Suzuki - Defensive Midfield: The gritty Keita Suzuki is the heart and soul of this Urawa team and indispensable to coach Holger Osieck's game plans. Suzuki is a classic "number six," acting as a screen in front of the back four and setting the tempo when Urawa are streaming forward.

Washington - Striker: The fiery ex-Brazil international has been Urawa's top scorer for two seasons now. Often criticised for not being a team player, the former Fenerbahce striker can nevertheless be relied upon to score goals when they are needed.

Weaknesses

Yuki Abe - Defence: Whether in central defence or on the left side of a back four, Yuki Abe has had a forgettable season since his $US3 million switch from league rivals JEF United. Abe's errors have put consistent pressure on the Urawa defence, and the former defensive midfielder has never looked settled since being pushed into the back four by coach Osieck.

Current form

Urawa's current form is dreadful. They picked up just three points from a possible fifteen in their last five J-League matches to see bitter rivals Kashima Antlers snatch the J-League title on the final day of the season. They were also knocked out of the Emperor's Cup as defending champions by J2 side Ehime FC on November 28. The Reds are down on confidence, and they'll need their army of fans to act as their twelfth man in this showdown with Sepahan.

Injuries

The Reds have had a dreadful run of injuries over the back end of the season. Robson Ponte has been ruled out for six months with serious knee ligament damage, prompting coach Holger Osieck to demand that former Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono step up in Ponte's absence.

Also under an injury cloud is captain Nobuhisa Yamada, whose participation in this match is doubtful. Tatsuya Tanaka is rated a 50/50 chance of playing - Washington may be Urawa's top goal scorer, but the explosive Tanaka is arguably Urawa's most dangerous striker. Takahito Soma is another player to have missed a considerable part of the season through injury, while midfielder Tadaaki Hirakawa was missing for part of the title run-in, but both players look set to play some part against Sepahan tonight.

Forget the form guide. Forget the growing injury list. Forget the fact that they're on alien territory at Toyota Stadium - the home of Nagoya Grampus Eight. Urawa Reds are coming, and they're not here for a picnic.

Urawa qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup by winning this season's AFC Champions League at the first attempt. Their victory meant that a J-League team would not play off against the Oceania champions, but instead both Urawa and AFC Champions League runner-up Sepahan went into the draw for this season's FIFA Club World Cup. Urawa went straight into quarter-finals, while Sepahan beat Oceania representatives Waitakere United 3-1 in the tournament's opening game.

On November 14, Urawa beat Sepahan 2-0 in front of 59,304 fans at Saitama Stadium, to lift the AFC Champions League crown. Having held the Reds to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the final in Iran, however, Sepahan will feel confident of causing an upset in this match.

They'll have some 40,000 Reds fans against them though, and the vociferous Urawa fans could prove the difference tonight, particularly with so many of Urawa's key men carrying injuries. The Reds suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat to bottom club Yokohama FC on the final day of the J-League season just ten days ago, to go with being knocked out of the Emperor's Cup by Second Division side Ehime FC just days earlier. Yet Urawa are the first Japanese team to play in the FIFA Club World Cup, and with the eyes of the Asian football world on them, they'll be up for the challenge when they take on a side they beat less than a month ago.

Yo no voy escribir mi opinion cerca de Pachuca’s derrota para el equipo de Etoile du Sahel. Yo solamente voy reproduzir las exactas palavras de 4 jugadores que fueram entravistados com exclusividad para Ole Ole

Empezamos com el atacante Tuzo, Christian Gimenez:

Mano Gil: Crees tu que un gol casi en el fin del partido donde Pachuca jugava mejor puede ser simplismente considerado mala suerte?

Gimenez: Yo creo que Pachuca intento a ganar el partido siempre. Enfrentamos a un rival que se defende muy bien y sabiamos que de contra eram muy rapidos y ellos hiceram un gol en la oportunidad que tuviram y es por iso que ahora estamos fuera de la competicion.

Mano Gil: Yo leí que desde que Pachuca llego a Japon el equipo pensava en el partido contra Boca, tu crees que por un momiento ustedes se olvidaram de Etoile du Sahel?

Gimenez: No,no, en ningum momiento por que nosostros siempre venimos com la idea de jugar un buen torneo y la mistica nos enseña a jugar cada partido como se fuera la final y creo que nosostros mostramos eso en la cancha hoy. Nuestro equipo fué muy superior e intentamos a ganar pero en en fin ellos hiceram su goal y no tuvimos tiempo para reacionar. 

Mano Gil:  Y o que tu puedes decir ahora a todos los aficionados que veniram de Mexico para dar apoio a ustedes? 

Gimenez: Ahora so hay que agradecer a cada uno de ellos por su apoio. Nosostros vamos volver ao hotel e tenemos que abrazar a cada uno de ellos que nos seguieram y agradecer por el apoio y tambien decir que el equipo hecho su mejor. Desafortunadamente no pudemos dar a ellos la satifaccion de una victoria en ese premero partido pero estamos muy agradecidos por todo apoio a psión incondicional.

Yo tambien hablé com el capitan, el experiente portero Miguel Calero:

Mano Gil: Como usted se siente espiritualmiente depois de esa gran frustacion?

Calero: Muy entristecido. Nosotros perdemos el partido y eso no hacia parte de nuestros planos para el troneo. Estoy simplesmente muy entristecido.

Mano Gil: En algun momiento pensó que podriam perder para un equipo de Tunisia?

Calero: Nosostros siempre entramos en la cancha para ganar. Nunca pensamos que vamos perder pero o que paó hoy fué que jugamos bien y en un contra rápido ellos hiceram un tiro que desvió y hiceram un goal.

Calero: Bueno, creo que non. Yo creo que estavámos todos concentrados en ganar, en passar a la proxima fase. Desafortunadamiente Etoile (du Sahel) jugó muy defensivamente, en algunos momientos com 11 em la defesa y entonces fué complicado. Yo creo que mas para el final nos faltó paciencia para encontrar el mejor camiño para el goal.

Y seguro que tambien hablé con los vencedores. Premero vamos ver o que el caboverdiano Gilson Silva Alves piensó del partido:

Mano Gil: Pachuca leegó a Japon ya piensando en el partido contra Boca Juniors. Eso servió de motivacion para su equipo?

Silva Alves: Yo creo que eso es normal. Nosostros estavámos listos para ellos. Nosostros teníamos el apoio de Dios que siemtpre es muy importante entonces jugamos com fé. Nuestro equipo estava bien en la cancha. En el premer tiempo dejamos que ellos jugassem pero en el segundo tiempo entramos en el partido. Hicimos la pelota correr mas en el mediocampo con Moussa (Narry) y las cosas aconteceran.

Mano Gil: Usted estudiaran la estrategia de Pachuca?

Silva Alves: Si, utilizamos todo que podíamos. TV, videos, etc... llegamos acá muy bien preparados con consciencia do todo que teníamos que hacer para irmos el mas lejos possible en lel torneo.

Y mas importante que todo yo hablé con Moussa Nary, el mediocampista eficiente que que fué el carrasco de los sueños dorados de los Tuzos.

Mano Gil: Qual fué la importancia para Etoile de llegar al Japon premero que los otros equipos?

Narry: Fué muy importante. Nosotros llegamos y practicamos mucho. Venimos para hacer nuestro mejor entonces nos dedicamos a eso. Venimos para ganar ese partido y asi lo hicimos.

Mano Gil: Y como el equipo vá se preparar para jugar al Boca?

Mano Gil: Y o que conosces del equipo de Boca Juniors?

Narry: Nada. No conosco nada y no lo quiero conoscer. Yo voy conoscer Boca cuando llegar a la cancha. Yo solo pienso cerca de mi equipo, que tenemos que jugar en la misma manera se quisermos ganar. Tenemos que poner nuestras mientes en la final.

Felicidad es lá image de los aficionados de Etoile du Sahel

Yo soy Mano Gil, escribindo directo de Tokio, con exclusividad para Ole Ole.

I'm not going to write my opinion about Pachuca's defeat to Etoile du Sahel. I'm going to reproduce the exact words of 4 of the players that I interviewed exclusively for Ole Ole.

Let's start with Pachuca's forward Christian Gimenez:

Mano Gil: Do you think that a goal in the very end of the game when Pachuca was playing better can be called simply bad luck?

Gimenez: I believe Pachuca tried to win the game. We faced a opponent that knows how to defend very well and we knew they had a very fast counter-attack and so they scored in the chance they had that's why we're now out of the competition.

Mano Gil: I read that since Pachuca arrived in Japan you guys have been thinking about the game against Boca, do you think that there was a moment that Pachuca simply forgot to think about Etoile du Sahel?  

Gimenez: No, of course not. Because since the beggining we came with the idea of playing a good tournament and tradition and experience always teach you to face each game as if it were the final and I believe we showed that on the field today. Our team was a lot better and we tried to win but right at the end they socred their goal and then it was too late to react.

Mano Gil: And what do you have to say now to all the fans that came all the way from Mexico to support the team?

Gimenez: We can only thank each one of them for their support. We all should go back to our hotel and hug every single fan we meet and tell them how much we appreciate their support and let them know that the team tried our best. Unfortunately we couldn't give them the satisfaction of winning this first game but we are really grateful for their unconditional support and passion for the team.

I also talked to the team captain the experient goalkeeper Miguel Calero:  

Mano Gil: How do you feel spiritually after such a disappointment?

Calero: I'm sad. We lost the game and that's was not what we planned for this tournament. I'm simply very sad.

Mano Gil: Did it cross your mind to lose to a team from Tunisia?

Calero: We alaways step on the pitch to win. We never think we are gonna loose but what happened is that we played well but in a fast play they had a deflected shot and scored their goal.

Mano Gil: Do you think that the large number of games that Pachuca played this year had an influence on the team's physical condition in the end of this game?

Calero: Well, not really. I think we were all focused in winning, in moving to the next round. Unfortunately Etoile (du Sahel) played too defensive some even with 11 players on their own field and it was complicated. I believe that towards the end we lacked some patience to find the right way to the goal.  

And of course I talked to the winning side. First let's see what the capeverdian Gilson Silva Alves had to say:

Mano Gil: Pachuca arrived already talking about how their game against Boca would be, did that motivated the players from your team?

Silva Alves: I think that is normal. We were ready for them. We had God’s support which is always very import so we had a lot of faith. The team was well positioned on the pitch. On the first half we let them play and on the second half we started playing more. We moved the ball in midfield with Moussa (Narry) and things worked.

Mano Gil: Did you guys studied Pachuca’s stragegies?

Silva Alves: Yes, we used everything we could. TV, videos, etc… we got here very well prepared knowing what we had to do to get as far as we can in the competition.

And most important of all I talked to Moussa Nary, the efficient midfielder from Ghana who was the executioner of Pachuca’s dream of gold.

Mano Gil: How important was it for Etoile to arrive here in Japan before all the other teams?

Narry: It was important. We arrived and we practiced very much. We came to do our maximum so we dedicated for that. We came to win this match. That’s why in the end we succeeded.

Mano Gil: And how is the team going to prepare to play against Boca? 

Narry: We are going to do the same thing. We are going to play hard and try to win again with the help of God.

Mano Gil: What do you know about Boca Juniors’ team?

Narry: Nothing. I don’t know anything and I don’t even want to know. I will get to know Boca when I get to pitch. I just think about my team, that we have to play the same way if we want to win. We need to have our minds in the final. 

Happiness is the image of Etoile Du Sahel fans!   

I’m Mano Gil, writing direct from Tokyo , exclusively for Ole Ole.

Sayonara!

They can't say they weren't warned. Pachuca may have dominated possession, but they were out-foxed by an Etoile team that were determined to put themselves on the football map.

21 year Ghanian Moussa Narry scored the only goal following an intricate passing move - practically Etoile's only passing move of the match, and Narry's strike took a cruel deflection off defender Leobardo Lopez on its way in. The deflection left popular goalkeeper Miguel Calero clutching at thin air as the ball bounded passed him, but it sparked wild celebrations from the Etoile bench.

It also prompted a deathly silence from the 300 or so Pachuca fans that had made their way to the National Stadium, with Narry's late strike on a blustery afternoon in Tokyo leaving little time for the Mexican team to conjure an equaliser.

They failed to do so, and while the Mexican media were quick to round on Australian referee Mark Shields' performance, veteran coach Enrique Meza was having none of it. Indeed Meza was gracious in defeat, claiming that Etoile deserved their win despite the fact that Pachuca dominated territorial possession. "If you don't score a goal, you can't win the match" was Meza's reasoned response.

So Etoile go on to meet Argentine glamour club Boca Juniors in the semi-finals of the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup. When asked if Etoile would feel "less pressure" because no one expected them to beat Boca, Etoile coach Bertrand Marchand claimed that no one expected his side to beat Pachuca either, before going on to sing the praises of his young team for executing his game plan in grand style. Who knows, perhaps the former Guingamp coach has another surprise up his sleeve for Boca Juniors?  

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.

Asi que hable con unos aficionados de Pachuca que viajaran como que mas de 15 horas para ver su equipo jugar en el Mundial Interclubes de la FIFA in Japon, you percebi que muchos de ellos ya estan piensando en el partido contra Boca Juniors.

Me encontre con Jesus Alberto Soto que se quedava tranquilo en el lobby del hotel esperando el momiento de ir a el Estadio Nacional de Tokio. Entonces charlamos por algunos minutos:

Mano Gil: Entonces Jesus, crees que Pachuca esta listo para el torneo?

Jesus Soto: Seguro. Pachuca esta muy listo. El equipo es muy solido y los jugadores estan muy motivados. Nosostros (los aficionados) estamos aca par aver Pachuca ganar el titulo.

Mano Gil: Y tu ya piensa en juego contra Boca?

Jesus Soto: Si, ya estamos con la miente en Boca Juniors. Sera un gran partido.

Mano Gil: Pero hay que ganar de Etoile du Sahel premero.

Jesus Soto: Seguro pero como dijo el equipo esta preparado y yo estoy seguro que vamos a la proxima ronda.

Mano Gil: And what do you know about Etoile du Sahel?

Jesus Soto: Not much. But they might not be very bad. They are the champions of their continent, isn’t that right?

Un otro aficionado, Gustavo Martin de Campo medio major sus palavras cuando hablo de las chances de Pachuca:

Nosotros estamos aca para apoiar Pchuca el tiempo todo. No va ser facil pero tenemos que tener fé. Todos los equipos que llegaram hasta acá tienem las mismas chances porque ellos ganaram sus torneos continentals. Yo no sé quasi nada cerca de Etoile du Sahel. Creo que es un time rapido con jugadores veloces entonces hay que tener cuidado.”

Gustavo dijo eso possivelmente porque Pachuca ya jugo un numero excessive de juegos este año.

“El equipo esta cansado y eso puede ser un problema pero el retorno de Callero (el portero) es una cosa muy Buena porque el es el lider de nuestro equipo. Confiamos en Pachuca e creo que si jugarmos bien hoy nosostros vamos a proxima ronda y intentaremos todo contra Boca Juniors.”

Tambien encontré algunos aficionados tunecinos cerca del estadio y ellos no piensam nada como los mexicanos.

“Pachuca llego en Japon y perdio para un equipo japones. Nosostros venimos mas temprano a Japon y nos preparamos mucho para ese troneo. Yo creo que sera un partido mucho  mas dificil que los mexicanos creen” afirmo el aficionado de Etoile du Sahel.

Los aficionados estan listos. Los equipos tambien. Ahora vamos empezar el espetaculo!

Yo soy Mano Gil, escribindo del Estadio Nacional de Tokio en exclusivad para Ole Ole.

Sayonara!

As I talked to some Pachuca fans who traveled more than 15 hours to see their team play in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, I realized that most of them are already thinking about the game against Boca Juniors.

I met Jesus Alberto Soto sitting at the lobby of his hotel calmly waiting for the moment to go to the National Stadium here in Tokyo. We chatted for a few minutes:

Mano Gil: So Jesus, do you think Pachuca is ready for this tournament?

Jesus Soto: Sure, Pachuca is totally ready. The team is very solid and the players are very motivated. We (the supporters) are here to go after the tittle.

Mano Gil: Are you already focused on the game against Boca Juniors?

Jesus Soto: Yes, we are already thinking of Boca Juniors. It’s going to be a great game.

Mano Gil: But you guys need to beat Etoile du Sahel first.

Jesus Soto: Sure but as I said the team is prepared I’m sure we are going to move on to the next round.

Mano Gil: And what do you know about Etoile du Sahel?

Jesus Soto: Not much. But they might not be very bad. They are the champions of their continent, isn’t that right?

Another fan, Gustavo Martin de Campo, was a little more cautious when analyzing Pachuca’s chances:

“We are here to support Pachuca all the way. It’s not going to be easy but we must have faith. All teams that made to here have the same chances because they deserved to be here by winning their continental competition. I don’t really know anything about Etoile du Sahel. I know they might be a fast team so we have to be careful.”

Gustavo says that possibly because of the excessive number of games that Pachuca played this season.

“The team is tired and that might be a problem but the return of Callero (the goalkeeper) is a great thing because he’s the leader of this team. We trust Pachuca and I believe that if we play well today we can move forward in the competition and try everything against Boca Juniors.”

I also met some fans from Turkey near the Stadium and they don’t agree with the Mexicans.

“Pachuca arrived in Japan and they lost to a Japanese team. Our team arrived here a lot earlier and we prepared ourselves very well for this cup. I believe it will be a tougher game than the Mexicans expect.” Told me a Etoile du Sahel fan.

The fans are ready. So are the teams, now let the show start!

I’m Mano Gil, writing from the Tokyo National Stadium, exclusively for Ole Ole.

Sayonara!

A word on Tokyo National Stadium, the venue for today's FIFA Club World Cup clash between Mexican side Pachuca and Tunisian outfit Etoile Sportive du Sahel.

The National Stadium or 'Kokuritsu' as it's affectionately known around these parts, was built in 1958 in preparation for the 1964 Summer Olympic games held in Tokyo. It's an historic venue in Japanese football, where it has hosted the final of Japan's FA Cup - known as the Emperor's Cup, for decades.

It's also a venue that might appear familiar to football fans across the globe, having hosted the final of the Intercontinental Cup - the forerunner to today's FIFA Club World Cup, from 1980 to 2001. I remember Aussie goalkeeper Mark Bosnich turning in an heroic performance when Manchester United beat Palmeiras 2-0 to lift the Intercontinental Cup in 1999.

With Japan co-hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the National Stadium has taken on a particularly dated look. It's location within the heart of the Tokyo city centre, however, not to mention the sheer history that surrounds the venue, means that it should remain an integral part of Japanese football for years to come.

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.