Sunday, 16 December 07, 08:17 AM
We're here at the Etoile du Sahel vs Urawa Reds 3rd/4th place playoff match, and the Urawa fans, although present in smaller numbers, are in good voice. It's 2-2 in an exciting game right now, but what we're all curious about is what the support will be like for the final.
As it is, there's large sections of empty seats for this game, because the Boca vs Milan final is the real attraction.
In the previous Urawa match, we asked the question about whether the "neutral" Japanese fans would support Urawa or go for the glamour of Milan, and as it turned out they were mostly there for the spectacle of the Italians. About 70% of the stadium were AC Milan "fans"/ neutrals, but not having any vested interests, they lacked the passion of the Urawa fans and made little or no noise (other than when Seedorf scored, and when somebody did a trick).
Tonight's equation is much more complicated, particularly because of two factors:
1. Boca have quite a following here for two reasons. Firstly, popular Japan striker Naohiro Takahara spent sometime there in the early noughties, and Boca have always been well regarded for that.
Secondly, Boca are a team with a very successful Copa Libertadores history, and so they've made several visits to Tokyo already for the Club World Cup's predecessor, the Intercontintenal Cup, which
they won in 2000 and 2003.
2. There is a combined ticket for both matches. So you have the small pocket of Etoile du Sahel fans, the few thousand well organised Urawa fans, the surprisingly sizeable contingent of travelling Bocense, the few Italians that could be bothered to make the trip/holiday, and of course the sea of unsure, easily impressed "neutral" Japanese fans that must still be furiously pondering whether to support Milan or Boca.
We know that Boca are equally as, if not more popular than Milan, so the neutrals here will be split on that (as opposed to last year, when the relatively unknown, starless Internacional played Barcelona and their midfield marketing maestro Ronaldinho).
We know that there aren't enough Etoile fans to make a difference to the overall support.
The Boca fans are a noisy, dancing bunch, who are concentrated into one section of the ground, right next to a bank of Urawa fans. They will be creating a lot of energy, but the eventual decision on what the atmosphere is like will come down to the Urawa fans, who could easily drown out the rest of the stadium.
They will be in good spirits (Urawa just beat Etoile on penalties), but it's unlikely that they'll keep singing Urawa songs. So the question is, will they just let the passion fade away and join the ranks of casual fans in polite applause and general silence? Or will they pick a side and really make this final feel like a football match of some worth?
It's difficult to predict. They seemed to be irritated during this match by the Boca fans, who just kept singing their Boca songs throughout the game, so they might go against Boca. But then again, football fans also just love to be football fans, and they just join the Bocense in their revelry.
Milan were also the ones who beat Urawa in that tight encounter, so they might just decide that's a good enough reason to ally with Boca. But as MikeTuckerman pointed out to me, they might even prefer to support a Milan victory, because they could then say "We lost to the eventual Champions".
Lots of different theories there, but that's football fan psychology for you.
Either way, we can't wait to find out what it's like for the second match, and any fan with a bit of sense will try and be as lively as possible outside, because it's f**king freezing here.
Saturday, 15 December 07, 02:41 PM
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.
Thursday, 13 December 07, 04:48 AM
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!!!
Sunday, 09 December 07, 03:14 PM
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.
Mano Gil: Usted crees que el numero largo de partidos que Pachuca jugó en ese año influenció en el desempeño del equipo en el final del partido?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?
Narry: Vamos hacer lo mismo. Vamos intentar a jugar duro para ganarmos otra vez con la ayuda de Dios.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.
Sayonara!Sunday, 09 December 07, 10:58 AM
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!
Sunday, 09 December 07, 07:52 AM
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.
Sunday, 09 December 07, 03:44 AM
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.
Tuesday, 04 December 07, 06:23 PM
First off, congratulations to our two winners - manogil and MikeTuckerman. It was a hard-fought contest, and a very difficult one to decide, but these two came out on top at the end.
I'd also like to offer congratulations to the others on the shortlist - carlaprat, Fedro, genesio, Haroldotuna, lempira, Lizzy, LucasDL and Lucastro. You all did a fantastic job, and we hope you will continue to participate in our future contests.
It's amazing to have this community of such talented people from so many different countries - football, it seems, really does bring the world together!
We at OleOle are extremely proud of what you guys came up with, and I'd once again like to thank all the contestants for their contribution . Please stay tuned to this blog for all the coverage we bring back from the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup.
The match schedule is as follows:
07.12.07 - Sepahan (Iran) v Waitakere United (New Zealand) - Playoff
09.12.07 - Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia) v Pachuca (Mexico) - Quarterfinal 1
10.12.07 - Sepahan/Waitakere v Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) - Quarterfinal 2
12.12.07 - Winner of QF1 v Boca Juniors (Argentina) - Semifinal 1
13.12.07 - Winner of QF2 v AC Milan (Italy) - Semifinal 2
16.12.07 - Loser of SF1 v Loser of SF2 - Third Place Match
16.12.07 - Winner of SF1 v Winner of SF2 - Final
On Tokyo National Stadium