Part II of our FIFA Club World Cup preview features the heavy hitters of this tournament. They represent the regions most familiar to the footballing world, Especially to those of us in the west. They include two continental powers and one big surprise.
Pachuca CF
Los Tuzos have won the last two CONCACAF Champions Cup and will be making their 2nd straight appearance in the FIFA CWC. Last year, they were stunned 1-0 by African champions Etoile Du Sahel in the quarters and look to get past Al-Ahly this year. Coach Enrique Meza has turned Pachuca into the premier team in CONCACAF. The oldest Mexican side has a South American core with their Colombian keeper, Miguel Calero and Argentine strikers Christian Giménez and Bruno Marioni as well as Brazilian playmaker Christian.
Prediction:
Will go out once again to an African side. One and done.
Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito
The team with the longest club name in this tournament belongs to the Copa Libertadores champions. The team more commonly known as Liga made history by becoming the 1st Ecuadorean team to win South America's greatest club competition. The player of the Libertadores, Joffre Guerrón is now at Getafe but coach Edgardo Bauza can still count on the core of veteran keeper José Cevallos, speedy winger Luis Bolaños, and Argentine strike force of Claudio Bieler & Damián Manso to bring the same energy to Japan as they did to South America.
Prediction:
Will lose a close one to Al-Ahly in semis
Manchester United
The Red Devils went undefeated in the Champions League as they won their 3rd European title. Everyone knows about their superstar player and recently awarded Ballon D'Or winner, cocky winger Cristiano Ronaldo but Manchester United really earned their place at the 08 FIFA CWC by playing fantastic defense. Especially in the knockout stage where they only allowed 2 goals. That defense is anchored in the middle by the pairing of Nemanja Vidic & Rio Ferdinand. Vidic has quickly become Sir Alex Ferguson's most reliable defender and in a tournament with teams whose offenses are of unknown potential, the partnership of Vidic & Ferdinand could be the difference.
Prediction:
Will be pushed by Al-Ahly in the final but will win its 1st FIFA CWC
The 2008 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be exciting and historic as the team that wins will claim its 1st ever World Club Championship. Let's hope for some exciting football with high drama. This year, the traditional powers of South America and Europe are not locks to reach the final despite the tournament's format. What a great story it would be if the Copa Libertadores champion or UEFA Champions League does not win the FIFA Club World Cup. Enjoy, it should be entertaining and a great way to end 2008.
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2 comments… read them below or add one
Im Ecuadorian……..i found it funny how uncounciosly the world still seems to think that this will be the year were the South American Champion does not reach the final!!!! That's fine, i mean LDU does not mean the same as if Fluminense would of won the Libertadores…….but we are use to being overlooked, as it happened in the Libertadores. But the Liga that has been performing as of late will not be the same LIGA that will play in the Club World Cup!!!! I respect that Pachuca and Al-Ahly have experience but i havent seen Egypt in the latest World Cups, Ecuador has, and the back bone of the Ecuadorian National team in 02 and 06 came from Liga players, if anyone watched the 06 World Cup, expect to see Liga play at that level………never ever overlook a south american champion in any tournament i have yet to see an Afrcan team or for that matter ManU go to play in a full Maracana Stadium in a final and come out victorious……wait ManU did play the 2000 Club World Cup in Brasil, and couldnt even pass the group stage. SO to all of you just remember: Every year is the same!! All the attention to the European Champion who almost always is defeat by the South American warriors!! Libertadores de America is more than football…its a war!! Its more than money…its passion!!
What happened 2 the amazing African team that was going to get to the final, a bunch of people before the tournament had them as favorites to go all the way to the final against ManU!!!! I hope this african team didnt bring a B team because based on the stats of the game with Pachuca thats what it seemed like!!!!! Well thats what happens to people who talk big game before the the start of a tournament…….uuuuu!!!! we are going to beat pachuca & Liga from ecuador like they are easy since they are not argentinians or brasilians. Now look what happened they couldnt prove it on the field. As a Liga fan im really looking forward to the game against Pachuca, they showed that no matter what even when they are down by 2 they can come back and win. Another detail thats going to make this game the more difficult for Liga is that Mexican teams & South American teams play constantly in the Libertadores or the Sudamericana, Liga gad to play America from Mexico in the semis of this years Libertadores and it was a very difficult team to beat. Anyways i hope the best team wins!!!! The posible line up for Liga against Pachuca would be with Cevallos, Campos, Araujo, Calle, Reasco, Ambrossi in defence Urrutia, Bolanos, Araujo, Manso in Midfield & Bieler or Navia in attack!!!! Out of this starting 11 for Liga 9 of them played the final in the Maracana against Flu, the only missing are Vera & Guerron, but we have Reasco who played in the 2006 World Cup, and we have Navia who has vast experience in the Mexican League. Ligas quote for this tournament is “they'll have to kill us to beat us!!!!”