So the FIFA Club World Cup is back in town. The six greatest teams from each of FIFA’s continental federations – plus Abu Dhabi’s very own Al Wahda FC – will be doing battle on the pitches for 10 days of pulsating action. This time the competitors include Italian legends Inter Milan, Brazilian titans Internacional and Hekari United of Papa New Guinea, making this the first time a Pacific Island team has qualified for the tournament. Enjoy it while you can: next year the tournament returns to Japan, from whence it came.
Al Wadha FC
Home town: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The knowledge: Nothing to do with Al Wahda Mall, Lulu, or any other shopping outlet, they’re known locally as ‘the team of the people’.
Star players: Ismael Matar, known as ‘the Golden Boy’, is one of the great playmakers of UAE football. We’re also keen on Hugo, but only because the name brings to mind a posh fellow in tweeds, completely out of place on a football pitch. Being Brazilian, we suspect there’s more to him than that.
How to beat them: Tell Hugo that there’s a spillage in aisle seven.
Chance of victory: We’re rooting for our local team but (sorry guys) their chances of winning are slim. Getting through to the quarter finals will be a great achievement.
Factoid: Al Wahda means ‘unity’ in English.
Inter Milan
Home town: Milan, Italy
The knowledge: When it comes to great teams in Italian football history, Inter can count themselves among the top three, rivalled only by AC Milan and Juventus. Some of the greatest players ever to have kicked a ball – including Jurgen Klinsmann, Ronaldo and Christian Vieri – have donned the famous blue and black stripes.
Star players: Samuel Eto’o (right) is one of the all time greats of African football. If the Cameroonian striker is on song, Inter’s chances of victory will be multiplied. Also, keep an eye out for Dutchman Wesley Sneijdner – the star player in the Netherlands’ recent run to the FIFA World Cup final.
How to beat them: Mentioning that local rivals AC Milan have won seven European titles, compared to their three, is sure to get them riled.
Chance of victory: They’ve lost charismatic manager Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, and replaced him with overspending, questionably moustachioed former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. We can’t see them being toppled, though.
Factoid: When Juventus were relegated from Serie A in 2006 for their involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, Inter became the only team in Italy to have never been demoted from the top league.
Internacional
Home town: Porto Alegre, Brazil
The knowledge: There are few clubs in the football-mad country of Brazil that have the same level of worship as Inter. The red-clad team from the city of Porto Alegre has the biggest number of paying fans in the country and is one of the most successful clubs in the Brasileiro Serie A football league.
Star players: It will be a welcome return to the UAE for striker Alecsandro, who’ll be able to catch up with his old team mates, having played for Al Wahda in the 2008-09 season. Since his return to his home country, he’s scored 24 goals in 48 appearances for Internacional, making him one of the most dangerous players in the league. Also, keep an eye on their No. 10, Andres D’Alessandro, a speedy attacking midfielder who possesses some nifty dribbling skills.
How to beat them: Replace Alecsandro’s shirt with his old Al Wahda strip. He’s bound to falter. That kind of clandestine mind- messing is surely all it takes. Chance of victory: Second favourites to win, only falling behind Inter Milan by a small margin. Unless there’s a major upset, we’re on for an Inter vs Inter final.
Factoid: Internacional are the only team playing in the tournament to have won it previously, when they beat the mighty Barcelona 1-0 in the final in Tokyo in 2006. If they triumph in Abu Dhabi, they’ll become the first ever team to win two FIFA CWCs.
TP Mazembe
Home town: Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
The knowledge: Tout Puissant (meaning all powerful) Mazembe was formed in 1939 by a group of Benectine monk missionaries. The club were formerly known as Englebert, after the tyre company that sponsored them. This is the second year in succession that they’ve qualified for the FIFA CWC after winning the African Football Championships in 2009 and 2010.
Star players: Trésor Mputu is a Congolese forward who has been linked with a number of big money moves to Europe, none of which have ever seen fruition.
How to beat them: Singing some Englebert Humperdink tunes might cause a major distraction (it always works in our office). Try a few lines from ‘Release Me’, go on!
Chance of victory: They have a solid defence and midfield, but can be a bit hot-headed – remember when goalkeeper Muteba Kitiaba was sent off in last year’s FIFA CWC? Semi-finals at best.
Factoid: They count Mwepu Ilunga as a former player. He’s the man who, while playing for Zaire in the 1974 World Cup against Brazil, dashed out of his defensive wall to boot away a free kick ball before the ref had blown his whistle. Youtube it.
CF Pachuca
Home town: Pachua, Mexico
The knowledge: CF Pachuca are one of the most successful teams in Mexican football history, winning six Primera División A titles since the league was created in 1994. It’s their second appearance at the FIFA CWC finals, after qualifying in 2008.
Star players: American Hercules Gomez was part of the US World Cup team, and is a fiercely competitive striker, while veteran midfielder Braulio Luna is a playmaker of extraordinary vision with a seemingly laser-guided passing ability.
How to beat them: The club was founded by tin miners who emigrated to Mexico from Cornwall in England. Waving a Cornish pasty at the team might confuse them enough to sneak in a few goals.
Chance of victory: We think the team will be happy with a semi-final spot.
Factoid: Pachuca was formed in 1901, making it the oldest football club in Mexico.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Home town: Seongnam, South Korea The knowledge: After years of mediocrity, this team really started to make an impact in the K-League when they relocated from Seoul to the city of Seongham in 1999. Since then they’ve dominated the league, and, with seven league titles, they are now the most successful team in South Korean history.
Star players: Their No. 10, giant Montenegrin striker Dzenan Radoncic, is a formidable presence in the air, while Jung Sung-Ryong is the South Korean national team’s first choice goalkeeper and has a cat-like agility between the sticks.
How to beat them: Mark the 1.92m centre forward Radoncic with a giant and you’ll eliminate their main source of goals. Simple as that.
Chance of victory: Semi finals at best.
Factoid: The club is owned by Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the infamous Unification Church, which is better known as the ‘Moonies’ in some quarters.
PRK Hekari United
Home town: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
The knowledge: Hekari became the second team after Pachuca to qualify for the 2010 FIFA CWC when they beat Waitakere United of New Zealand 4-2 back in April. They’re one of the most dominant teams in the Papua New Guinean Soccer League in recent years, winning the championship four times in the past decade.
Star players: Fijian striker Osea Vakatalesau has netted an amazing 36 goals in just 23 appearances for his country. That’s an incredible 1.6 goals a game.
How to beat them: Tell the team about Abu Dhabi’s Polynesian-themed bar Trader Vic’s and they might spend a bit too much time here sipping on the giant fruity drinks…
Chance of victory: It has been a great achievement for Hekari to make it to Abu Dhabi, and winning one game at the tournament would be a major triumph for them. Apart from that, don’t expect to see them in the latter stages.
Factoid: Hekari are the first team from the South Pacific islands to ever qualify from the Oceania Football Confederation (which is made up of Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries) for an international tournament.
Off the pitch
As well as the thrilling games on the pitch, the city of Abu Dhabi will be transformed into a football fan’s haven over the course of the tournament. Up until December 4, a Football Village is taking place on the Corniche, where you’ll be able to enjoy activities such as a match in the sky where acrobats will play a game on a vertical pitch.
Also, the Football Fan Zone will once again be in place at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, and fans will be given the chance to meet and take penalties against members of the visiting teams’ youth players, buy merchandise, watch some keepie-up experts and, perhaps best of all, mingle with joyous footie fans from all corners of the globe. We had a brilliant time last year; hope to see you there.
Tournament info
Fifa Club World Cup Finals. December 8-18. Zayed Sports City and Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Tickets cost Dhs20-Dhs90 for the opening game, quarter finals and semi finals, and Dhs70-Dhs145 for final. Call 800 35274 or visit www.fifa.com/uae2010 for tickets
