Third rate? Not for the fans

The 3/4 playoff at the FIFA Club World Cup throws up an intriguing clash between Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel and local outfit Urawa Reds. The Reds will go into the match as heavy favourites, but a clash with Etoile could well and truly test the mettle of Urawa, who would no doubt like to sign off as the tournament's third best team.

Etoile qualified for the semi-finals after a surprise 1-0 win over Mexican side Pachuca. A 1-0 defeat at the hands of Buenos Aires club Boca Juniors followed, but the African champions will be keen for one last crack at glory before they head home.

Urawa had a slightly easier time in defeating Iranian side Sepahan 3-1 in their opening fixture at the tournament, before going down 1-0 to reigning European champions AC Milan in the semi-final. They'll have "home" advantage in this one, but Etoile fans will be quick to point out that all the pressure will be on the Reds at Yokohama International Stadium. Indeed, now is the time for Urawa to prove their international credentials, after they spent much of the season talking themselves up as Asia's "biggest club."

Another who'll be looking to prove himself in this match is Etoile striker Amine Chermiti. The slightly-built front man has looked Etoile's most dangerous player so far, but the Tunisians have scored only once through Ghanian midfielder Moussa Narry. Should Chermiti be dreaming of a career in Europe then he may well need to get on the scoresheet against Urawa to prove that he can mix it on the international stage.

One man who has proved his worth is Urawa striker Washington. He leaves the club bound for Brazilian outfit Fluminese after tomorrow's match, and how he must wish that Brazilian compatriot Robson Ponte was not ruled out of the FIFA Club World Cup with a serious knee injury. Ponte has arguably been Urawa's most effective player this season, but injuries that struck down he and combative captain Nobuhisa Yamada severely weakened the Reds for their Club World Cup campaign - although Yamada could return to the starting eleven tomorrow. Nevertheless Washington will be determined to end his career in Japan on a successful note, after scoring some 64 league goals in just 85 J-League appearances for both Tokyo Verdy and Urawa - not to mention plenty of goals in Urawa's various cup campaigns.

Thus a fascinating battle should ensure between two sides hell-bent on ending their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on a high. For the 100 or so Etoile fans that are still in Tokyo, a win over Urawa would cap a memorable tournament. For Urawa's army of fans, a win is almost a must against a team that few expected to make an appearance on the final day of the tournament. With Yokohama International Stadium likely to be packed for the encounter, the Reds might suddenly experience a sense of deja vu, and they'll hope that yet another day of reckoning does not end in tears.