There were several interesting games and players at the Club World Cup, so I though I'd put together an XI for the tournament, excluding of course the Milan and Boca players, because they're high profile and everyone knows about them. This team thus features players from Urawa Reds, Sepahan, Etoile du Sahel, and Pachuca. Players from Waitakere have been omitted because... well... no explanation needed. This is a mixture of players who look like they have a lot of potential, and those who just played well... in a well-organised 4-3-3 of course.

GK: Ryota Tsuzuki (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Excellent shot stopper who thwarted Seedorf several times to keep the score down to 0-1, and then saved two penalties in Urawa's 3rd/4th place win over Etoile. Made a mistake against the Tunisians, but that was more the fault of the defenders, and he was generally very sharp and positive in all Urawa's games.

DR: Sabeur Frej (Etoile Sportive du Sahel)
Frej is a curious case. He's Etoile's right-back, but domestically also their top scorer, and he only really ever looks comfortable when rampaging upfield, so I'd pin his best position down as a wing-back, if not wide midfielder. He was my favourite players in this tournament, and against Boca had the Argentine fans Oooohing and Aaaahing at his skills. Like so many of the Tunisians, Frej is a silky player, with languid control, movement and passing. His movement was first class, as were his combinations and one-twos with teammaters. Not really a dribbler, but he had his repertoire of trickery was excellent. Never looked uncomfortable in a tight space, and he more often than not managed to get past his man, whether with a neat turn, a shimmy, drop of the shoulder, or a feint that would leave the defender clueless. His final ball was excellent, and he was solid defensively too. Unfortunately like many of his teammates, he lacked that bit of fire and passion that prevents good players from being great. He's 28, and his chances to play in Europe are probably gone, which is a pity.

DC: Keisuke Tsuboi (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Rugged 26 year old who has good pace and a fantastic leap. He was immense in the tournament, especially against Milan (although Kaka eventually got the better of him), and although he had a bit of a shocker to start with against Etoile, he was excellent.

DC: Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Brazilian born Japanese international who is an odd character at the back, but a joy to watch. Good on the ball, a great passer, good in the air, and tough as well. He lacks a bit of pace, but his overall game is excellent, and his instinct to rampage forward often adds impetus to the Urawa attack. He talks and organises non stop for the 90, and has fantastic personality on the field. Would like to see him player in a higher league, and at 26 he needs to move soon.

DL: Gerardo Rodriguez (CF Pachuca)
Unfortunately we only got to see him for one game, but he was a joy to watch. More a wingback than a conventional full-back or midfielder, he got up and down the flank with ease, and had terrific movement. Combined well with Alvarez and Gimenez, passed and crossed neatly, and was able to beat his man when he needed to. He's just 22, and surely has a big future ahead of him.

CM: Moussa Nary (Etoile Sportive du Sahel)
Nary started the tournament off poorly against Boca, but then greatly upped the level of his performances. The Niger-born Ghanian is rugged and skillful, but quite raw, and probably lost the ball as much as he won it. He was comfortable running with the ball or passing it, and at 21, it's possible he could still gain the tactical discipline and understanding needed to be a complete central midfielder.

CM: Keita Suzuki (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Very consistent throughout this tournament, and completely rubbish Western perceptions of Japanese footballers not enjoying a fight. A good ball winner and passer, he has a great all-round game, although his shooting was garbage. He's spent his whole career with Urawa, and played all 20 games of previous Japan manager Ivica Osim's reign, by whom he was referred to as the "Japanese Claude Makelele".

AM: Damian Alvarez (Pachuca)
The former River plate man was a class act who dribbled, passed and roamed all over the pitch. Really, Pachuca should have scored 2 or 3 goals against Etoile, and Alvarez was at the heart of most of the chances created. Most of his invention came from a position hovering near the left wing, but he also ran through the middle of the park, worked the space behind the strikers, and dragged the covering midfielders over to the right-wing. Displayed not only great individual ability, but also great team-work and tactical intelligence.

LW: Takahito Soma (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Slight Japan midfielder who had an oustanding tournament. Not always a regular for Urawa, but he might have cemented his place now. His passing, crossing and dribbling were outstanding, and just like the rest of the team. he displayed outstanding awareness of those around him. Wasn't much use defensively, although he tried hard, but he really gave fullbacks and opposition wingers a tough time up the other end. He's already 26, so a move to Europe would be surprising at this late stage.

CF: Amine Chermiti (Etoile Sportive du Sahel)
I've already had a lot to say about Chermiti, but he was excellent again in Etoile's final game, and got himself a goal. He's got great heart, great ability, and real hunger, and he's got to move on to bigger things before his ambitions start drying up. Really exciting youngsters, who harrowed defenders with his pace, running, and vision.

RF: Emad Mohammed (Sepahan)
The only Sepahan player to make it here, but he was a good attacking presence. Had a hat-trick against poor opposition in Waitakere, but shone against Urawa as well, where he hit the bar. All the Sepahan players seemed to have fantastic skill and touch, but had poor, poor attitudes, and zero appetite for the game. Mohammed, an Iraqi international, was their captain, but had little influence in that regard.


                       Tsuzuki

               Tsuboi        Tulio
                                          Rodriguez
     Frej           
                  Nary      Suzuki

                            Alvarez
                                               Soma
       Mohammed
                          Chermiti

It's 1am on a typical Tokyo weekend. There are millions on the streets, enjoying the nightlife in Shinjuku and Ginza, watching live bands, dancing in clubs and spending time with friends in restaurants. And where am I? Like many a football tragic, I'm in front of the computer, listening to live coverage of the Bundesliga clash between Karslruher SC and Hamburger SV.

Since my boys Borussia Dortmund are currently on the wrong end of a thumping from Wolfsburg and I'm sour that Karlsuher's goal-scorer is an ex-BVB man, I thought I'd share with you my impressions of the two combatants in tomorrow's FIFA Club World Cup Final.

I'll start with Milan. My first memories of the club are from their all-conquering 1991-92 season when the Rossoneri didn't lose a single match on their way to lifting the Scudetto. Their backline included a certain Mauro Tassotti and Alessandro Costacurta, and both men work for the club in coaching capacities these days. Teammate Paolo Maldini still works for the club too - but he'll be hoping to take to the pitch tomorrow, as he nears his 40th birthday.

I thought Milan were particularly economical in their 1-0 win over Urawa in the semi-finals. Coach Carlo Ancelotti was purring in his praise of his team following that win, after Milan clearly played out Ancelotti's game plan to perfection. Still, it's hard not to get the feeling that Alberto Gilardino is out-of-his-depth at the Rossoneri. He never seems to present a genuine threat, although of course now that I say that, he'll probably go out and score a hat-trick tomorrow.

Everything for Milan naturally goes through their superstar Kaká. Ironically though, the key man tomorrow could be Dutch international Clarence Seedorf. Plenty point to Seedorf's incredible wealth of experience, but in doing so they overlook the fact that for two seasons Seedorf has been Milan's most in-form player, along with Kaká. The duo combined to score Milan's winner against Urawa, and with the Italian giants looking relatively toothless up front, they no doubt hold the key to the Rossoneri's chances tomorrow.

Boca Juniors are a club I know far less about. They were dealt a hammer-blow when scheming playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme was ruled out of the tournament by FIFA's petty bureaucracy, but they still have plenty of experience of their own to call upon, particularly in the likes of Hugo Ibarra and Martin Palermo. One thing in Boca's favour is their sheer will to win. For all the lip service paid by Milan about "restoring Europe's honour" by lifting the Cup, South American sides have so often been the teams for whom this tournament has meant the most.

The Buenos Aires giants will also be looking to exploit the shaky form of Milan shot-stopper Dida. Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Dida was once again far from perfect against Urawa - he dropped two efforts on goal that a quicker striker than Washington could have pounced upon, and with the pacy Rodrigo Palacio in the Boca line-up, the Argentine club would love nothing more than to show up Milan's fumbling Brazilian goalkeeper.

Yet Boca were far from perfect themselves in their 1-0 win over Etoile du Sahel in their semi-final, with defender Gabriel Palletta showing all and sundry just why Liverpool were so quick to discard him from their squad. Palletta was often caught facing the wrong way or out of position entirely against Etoile, and he will surely be punished if he continues his habit of knocking around wayward backpasses.

There'll probably be just the one goal in it, with matches of this magnitude rarely rising to the greatest of heights. I think that goal will be in favour of Milan, and I'm going to tip Filippo Inzaghi to sneak it. So there you have it. I've laid my cards on the table. What do you think?

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

Milan won the game versus Urawa with a 1 x 0 score in Yokohama last thursday. In the middle of the tsunami of japanese and international journalists I, humbly scored another huge goal for Ole Ole: a quick but exclusive interview with the best player of the world now. Kaká.

In this quick chat, kaká talks about the possibility of unifying the title of best player with the one of being part of the best team of the world, he also talked about the hard game agains Urawa and about his love for São Paulo FC.

Kaká, the best player of the world can now be part of the best team of the world. What does this represent for that young boy Ricardo that came from Brasília to achieve all of this? Ah, it's amazing. It's totally a dream coming true. It's wonderful to have the chance to play this Club World Cup again. This time I hope to win, because last time I came I didn't but this was just an amazing year for me. Being part of this team is really having the chance of being part of the best team in the world. 

Why do you think that Milan and also Boca had such a hard time to beat theorically smaller teams in the semifinals? Right, it's not easy. I believe, specially in our case, Urawa was the home team, they were playing for their history. I think it was one of the most important matches a japonese club ever played. So they played with enthusiasm, playing for their crowd, that's why it was difficult.

Now, let's say, São Paulo FC has one of the best structured teams in Brasil and just won the Brazilian League once again. Do you follow São Paulo's games? And is there any message you can send to their fans who certainly will be cheering for Milan this Sunday? TOh yeah, for sure. I always follow São Paulo's games, I follow the Brazilian League, all the cluns. One more time São Paulo are the champions, for the 5th time. I'm happy, I grew up there, I'm a São Paulo fan. I wanna send a big hug to all São Paulo fans and ask them to cheer for Milan because Milan represents Brazil in this game.

*** 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.

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!!!

     Boca counts on Palermo experience to lead them to their 4th Intercontinental Finals 

It seems that everything is calm on Boca’s side here in Japan.

The Argie team is confident and motivated to win the game against the Tunisian surprise of Etoile du Sahel and move on to the finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.  

According to the media representative for Boca, the team is totally focused on this first game and aiming for the finals.

He told me on the phone just a few minutes ago that Boca will go one step at a time to win the title.  

He also revealed the team’s feelings about Riquelme’s absence. “Juan (Roman Riquelme) was crucial for the team to win the Copa Libertadores but since he left the team learned how to play without him. The team is full of great young talents and experienced players who are all very determined to win this title.” 

Still according to Boca’s media representative, the team is prepared to avoid the same mistakes that Pachuca made against Etoile du Sahel. “We watched that game and we studied the best way to break their defensive strategy. We respect Etoile du Sahel because they made it to this round by their own merits but we need to start the game putting pressure on them, to make our game prevail”. 

If Boca achieves the expected success in the game tonight it will be their first final in this FIFA format of the World Club Cup but it will be Boca’s 4^th Intercontinental Final. All the other 3 times Boca made to the finals they won.

A good sign for the fans! 

What is your prediction for tonight’s game? Mine is Boca wins 3 x 0.  

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

Dewa mata suguni ne!!!

MikeTuckerman speaks to Zeljko Kalac for OleOle

AC Milan trained in Yokohama ahead of their upcoming clash with Urawa Reds, and after the session Milan goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac took time out to speak exclusively to OleOle.

MT: Welcome to Japan, Spider. What's the mood in the camp?

Zeljko Kalac: We're feeling confident. We're well prepared and we've obviously come here to win the tournament.

MT: Did you get a chance to see Urawa's game yesterday?

Zeljko Kalac: Yeah, we watched it last night.

MT: What's the feeling?

Zeljko Kalac: They're a good side, obviously. They've had a long season, and they'll be looking forward to this match. I think the whole of Japan will be looking forward to this match, so it will definitely be difficult.

MT: You've played a couple of Champions League games this year, how do you think this will compare?

Zeljko Kalac: Our goal is definitely to win this tournament - it's very high on the list of priorities, to follow up on the Super Cup win and win this, and then continue on in the Champions League and qualify for the Champions League next year by finishing in the first four. But this is definitely a goal for us.

MT: A win here will take you above Boca in terms of trophies won. Is that a motivation for the team?

Zeljko Kalac: Oh, I didn't know about that! I think the last time they played Boca, Boca won 1-0. So we might get a chance to hopefully repay them.

MT: For all the Aussies out there, any chance of making it to the A-League in future?

Zeljko Kalac: No, I don't think so. I've still got another year and a half left after this. That will take me through to 36 and then we'll see if I have maybe one more year after that, and I think that'll do me.

Today AC Milan trained at 'Marinos Town' - the training centre of J-League side Yokohama F. Marinos.

The Rossoneri looked sharp, with Ronaldo taking part in the session as he attempts to recover from a calf injury that could keep him out of Milan's showdown with Urawa Reds at the Yokohama International Stadium on December 13.

In the pre-training press conference, Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo singled out striker Washington, defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka and young wingback Takahito Soma as the players Milan must pay most attention to when the Rossoneri take on the Reds.

Croatian defender Dario Simic also trained this afternoon but it was Dutch international Clarence Seedorf who impressed, demonstrating his array of skills in front of the assembled world media.

Newly crowned European Footballer Of The Year Kaká was mobbed at every turn, with plenty of pressure on Milan to bring home the Club World Cup and become the first European side to do so since the competition was launched in its current format in 2000.

Where were the fans? This apparently vast, massive army of Urawa fans? They weren't at Toyota Stadium.

A number of factors contributed to the swathe of empty seats visible throughout the 33,263 crowd at Toyota Stadium tonight.

The first is that the city of Nagoya lies around 400km (249 miles) from Urawa's home town of Saitama.

If this fixture had been played at the National Stadium in Tokyo - a favourite stamping ground of Urawa's, the match would have been sold out weeks in advance.

The second, and perhaps more important factor, was that this match was played on a weeknight. Had the game taken place on a Sunday afternoon - instead of a Monday night, then thousands more Urawa fans would invariably have made the long journey to Nagoya.

Yet I can't help but feel that the unsavoury jeering aimed at opposition players by Urawa fans is also a contributing factor for any neutral fans weighing up the decision to make their way to Toyota Stadium on a cold December night. Indeed, Urawa's self-proclaimed role as the "Manchester United of Japanese football" probably contains an unintended swipe - Urawa are as hated in Japan as they are popular.

The Urawa fans who did make their way to Toyota Stadium were in their usual fine voice - on their day, there's no louder bunch of fans in Japanese football. Yet their penchant for booing away teams and the number of self-styled "hooligans" who call Urawa their team, no doubt saw some football fans put their feet up and watch this match on TV from the comfort of their homes.