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.

*** the original audio in PORTUGUESE of this interview is also available in the videos section  CLICK HERE TO WATCH ***  

Washington has a calm, polite and nice way to talk, which might be the result of a battle that only some would be strong enough to win. In 2003 a heart problem forced him to end up earlier his european career playing for Fenerbahce. Back to Brazil, Atletico Paranaense believed in his capacity to recover and, "The Brave Heart" gave back the best way he could: 34 goals in the 2004 Brazilian Championship - an all-time record -  which helped his team to finish as runners-up. Now Washignton is an idol in Japan playing for Urawa Reds but he may soon be back to Brazil to bring joy to new fans.

Washington, did you already sign a contract with Fluminense?  Hahaha… Not yet. We are... They offered me a very good contract and we're talking. Of course I need to wait till the end of the Club World Cup to really sit and talk to them so we can, maybe, sign.

So that means you're totally foccused in winning this next game to give Urawa this 3rd place which can actually be considered almost a title of the 3rd best team on the planet? For sure. This sunday's game is a very important one to decide the 3rd place. We all gotta be very foccused. It would be an excellent way to finish the year. Of course we knew Milan were the favorites and they deserved the result but I believe we played well and left the pitch with our heads up which will boost our confidence to get fight for the 3rd position.

Both Milan and Boca had a very hard time beating teams that could be considered smaller in terms of world football. Why do you think that happened? Are the big teams lowering their level or the smaller ones are showing more efficiency?   Certainly football is not like in the past when a big team would sweep the smaller one all the time. It's not like that anymore. There are good teams outside Europe, Brazil... right? There are good teams with a strong roster and things are leveling up and we showed it out there. There also a team from Africa, our team from Asia and both represented their continents very well. I'm sure it will a great 3rd and 4th place decision on Sunday. 

Washington, now tell a little bit about you. I myself always saw you as a role model. You went through a very serious problem, and if I'm not wrong it was Atletico Paranaense the team who believed in you and helped you overcome that hard moment. Now you're, you're successful an idol in Japan, ALMOST going back to Brazil. How do you see your career, all this adventure that has been your profesional life? See, all of this that is happening to me now I always see as a present from God. After, as you said, the struggle I had to face to go back to the pitch I only had good things happening to me. So I think this a living proof that we should never give up on our life no matter how big the problem seems to be. One should fight and when he overcomes the plroblem he will be even stronger to achieve the siccess. So thank God after the problems all I had was joy, and happiness and wonderful moments and I'm sure it will be like this till the end of my career. 

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

O jeito tranquilo, educado e simpático de Washington talvez seja consequencia de uma batalha que nem todos teriam forças para vencer. Em 2003 um problema cardíaco fez com que sua carreira na Europa jogando pelo Fenerbahce terminasse mais cedo. De volta ao Brasil, foi a equipe do Atlético Paranaense que acreditou no alteta e, o “Coracão Valente” retribiu da melhor maneira possível: foram 34 gols no Campeonato Brasileiro de 2004 – recorde do torneio - que ajudaram a garantir o vice-campeonato à equipe. Hoje Washington  é ídolo no Japão jogando pelo Urawa mas em breve pode voltar ao Brasil para dar alegria à uma outra grande torcida.

Washington, você já assinou com o Fluminense né? Hahaha… Ainda não. Nós estamos... Me fizeram um proposta muito boa, estamos negociando. É claro que tem que se esperar o Mundial (terminar) realmente para conversar com eles os detalhes para que haja, quem sabe, o acerto.

Então quer dizer que você ainda está concentrado em ganhar esse próximo jogo para dar esse terceiro ... é quase um título de terceira melhor equipe do planeta para o Urawa? Com certeza. É um jogo importantíssimo no domingo agora disputando a terceira colocação. Então tem que estar bastante concentrado. Tem que fechar o ano bem. É claro que sabíamos que o Milan era o grande favorito e fez por merecer essa vitória mas mas jogamos até de certo modo até muito bem e saímos de cabeça erguida mas nos dá confiança para buscar essa terceira colocação.

Tanto o Milan quanto o Boca tiveram muitas dificuldades para vencer equipes consideradas menores no futebol mundial. A que você credita isso? São essas equipes grandes que estão caindo o nível ou as euipes menores que estão realmente nivelando o futebol do mundo? Com certeza o futebol já não é mais aquele em que a grande equipe vai ganhar de goleada sempre. Não é mais assim. Tem boas equipes fora do eixo ali Europa ou Brasil né? Tem grandes equipes sim, formando fortes equipes e as coisas estão se nivelando também bem e isso demonstramos aí. Tem um time da África, o nosso time aqui da Ásia também acho que representaram muito bem e tenho certeza que vai ser uma grande partida também a disputa de 3º e 4º .

Washington, fala para mim um pouquinho porque eu sempre me espelhei muito na sua luta, porque você passou por um problema muito sério, né, e se não me engano, foi o Atlético Paranaense que te deu muita força e hoje você está aqui com essa carreira de sucesso sendo ídolo aqui no Japão, QUASE voltando para o Brasil, não vou colocar o carro à frente dos bois, como dizem lá em Minas Gerais, mas tá quase voltando. Como é que você resume essa sua carreira, toda a sua aventura da sua vida profissional? Olha, isso aí acho que tudo que está acontecendo comigo agora acho que é um presente que eu recebo de Deus sempre né? Depois da, como você mesmo disse, da luta que eu tive para voltar a jogar. De lá para cá só tive coisas boas e acontecido coisas boas para nós. Então isso  é um exemplo de que a gente nunca pode desistir na nossa vida por qualquer problema e quando você superar esse problema você vai ficar mais forte para ter sucesso. Então graças a Deus depois dos problemas eu só tive alegrias, tive só felicidades de viver momentos maravilhosos e tenho certeza de que vai ser assim até o fim da minha carreira.