Match Preview: Thursday 14/12/2006 19:20 (Japanese time): FIFA Club World Cup, Semifinal
FC BARCELONA - CLUB AMERICA
Yokohama Stadium, Japan – Capacity: 71.000
Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)
Probable Line-Up:
FC BARCELONA (4-3-3): Valdés - Zambrotta, Marquez, Puyol, Gio - Motta, Iniesta (Xavi), Deco - Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard
CLUB AMÉRICA (4-3-3): Guillermo Ochoa - José Antonio Castro, Duilio Davino, Ricardo Rojas, Oscar Rojas - Germán Villa, Alejandro Argüello, Juan Mosqueda - Salvador Cabañas, Blanco, Claudio López - Manager: Luis Fernando Tena
Match Preview:
Brazil’s Internacional Porto Alegre is the first finalist, beating Egypt’s Al-Ahly 2-1. european Champions FC Barcelona and Mexican outfit Club America are fighting for the second spot in the final.
FC Barcelona are going confident into this Semifinal, enjoying the top of the table in La Liga and a place with the last 16 teams in the Champions League despite experiencing tough injury problems with topstriker samuel Eto´o, wizzkid Messi and Argentinian international Saviola sidelined for quite a while.
Saviola has now returned to the squad and is available for selection.
Edmilson is doubtful and will probably not play against America. The Brazilian international is suffering with gastroenteritis and Barca doctor Ricard Pruna revealed that Edmilson has been vomiting and has diarrhoea.
Barça is going into the match as firm favourites, even Barca manager Frank Rijkaard warned that the Mexicans have an advantage due to better adaptation and less jet lag than the Barca team that had been playing last Saturday against Real Sociedad.
The team will be very focused and is more than keen to make history. The fact that Barca has never won the FIFA Club World Cup (former Intercontinental Cup) before, will be motivation enough to bring the trophy home to Camp Nou.
Barça’s last and only challenge has been 14 years ago, when Johan Cruyff´s dream team was surprisingly beaten by Brazilian side FC Sao Paulo 1-2 in 1992. Barca Manager Frank Rijkaard is aiming to be the first European who won this trophy as a player and coach.
Club América won their quarter final on Moday against South Koreans Jeonbuk Motor but did not show the quality of football that would beat FC Barcelona. Back in august, the two teams draw 4-4 in a very entertaining match. the star of the team is surely former Argentinian international forward Cláudio López who is well know to Barcelona. whilst playing for Valencia, Lopez scored no less than 12 goals in 15 games against the Spanish Champions, a sensational record hard to beat.
My Prediction:
Barca come as European Champion, leader of La Liga and progressed to the round of last 16 in the Champions League. they are not only firm favourites for the semifinal, but for the entire tournament.
Claudio lopez might rise to sensational form when he plays against a team in blue and red stripped shirts, but he is already 32 years old and has left the more powerful football in Europe since a few years. I can not imagine that he could be of much thread for the Barca back four.
I guess it will be an easy going match, that the Barca midfield will totally control. Ronaldinho will show the Japanese audience what he is able to do.
FC Barcelona - Club America 2:0
Visca el Barca!
