It proved fourth time lucky for Europe at the FIFA Club World
Cup in Japan. After seeing their representatives lose out to South
American opposition in the first three editions, Europe finally got
its hands on the coveted prize. The honour fell to an attack-minded
AC Milan side, who saw off Argentina's Boca Juniors in the
deciding game.
That said, few could deny that Brazil had a strong influence
on the destination of the 2007 title. The
Rossoneri owe much of their success this year to a string
of wonderful performances from Kaka, who left Japan with the world
title, as well as the adidas Golden Ball and TOYOTA Award for the
tournament's top player.
Aside from the
Rossoneri's coronation, Urawa Red Diamonds deserve
special mention for being the first Japanese team to grace the
competition, which also featured new goal-line technology courtesy
of the smart ball. All that, combined with a final day's play
involving ten goals, thrilling football and a penalty shoot-out,
means Japan 2007 will live long in the memory of fans everywhere.
Revenge in the air
Carlo Ancelotti's side arrived in Japan with a
clear aim: to take club football's top prize after an
indifferent season thus far in Italy's Serie A. They opened
with a hard-fought win over Urawa Red Diamonds, Clarence Seedorf
grabbing the only goal of the game, but the Milan side had saved
their best for the decider against Boca Juniors. The Argentinians,
who booked their place in the final after beating Etoile Sportive
du Sahel by the same margin, were the team the
Rossoneri were hoping to meet, after the Italians lost to
them in the final of the Intercontinental (Toyota) Cup in 2003.
Somewhat unusually for the final of a major tournament, the
decider in Yokohama on December 16 turned out to be the most
thrilling game of the competition, featuring attacking football,
six goals (the most scored in a final since the tournament began)
and enough drama to sate even the most demanding fans.
As for the winners, well the triumph could hardly have been
sweeter. With 12 survivors in the squad from the painful defeat to
Boca in 2003, the swashbuckling European champions steamrolled the
Xeneizes 4-2 thanks to a combination of attacking football
and stellar performances from Kaka, Filippo Inzaghi and Clarence
Seedorf.
The triumph was enthusiastically greeted back in Italy and
served to underline once again the contribution of their veteran
players. Milan were the oldest team in the competition in terms of
average player age (30.7 years) yet took full advantage with
towering performances from veterans like Filippo Inzaghi and Paolo
Maldini. The 39-year-old captain, who picked up the 25
th title of his Milan career in Japan, would later
announce his intention to retire from professional football at the
end of this season.
Boca bow out bravely,Urawaimpress with goals
The South American champions knew what to expect
when they touched down in Japan, having contested the final of the
competition's forerunner, the Intercontinental (Toyota) Cup,
three times between 2000 and 2003. However, the expectation
generated by their 1-0 win over Tunisian side Etoile in the
semi-final quickly evaporated in the face of Milan's relentless
onslaught. Despite that defeat, Miguel Angel Russo's side
showed they were capable of competing at the highest level thanks
to players like Hugo Ibarra, Ever Banega and the pacy Rodrigo
Palacio. On the downside, the team will not want reminding of their
record of becoming the first side to have had a player sent off in
both their games in Japan.
Third place went to local club Urawa Red Diamonds, who,
thanks to their jubilant supporters, revived memories of the mood
in Japan during the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ they co-hosted. The biting
December chill gave way to a warm atmosphere whenever Holger
Osieck's side took to the field. As well as producing the best
ever performance by an Asian side in the tournament, the Reds also
picked up the FIFA Fair Play award for their efforts.
Bertrand Marchand's Etoile Sportive du Sahel, who
impressed with their tactical order and discipline, will not be too
dissatisfied with their fourth-place finish. However, the teams
finishing beneath them, Iran's Sepahan, Pachuca of Mexico and
Waitakere United from New Zealand, all and bowed out with varying
degrees of disappointment despite garnering valuable experience and
vowing to return soon.
Kaka's golden year
Unlike at previous editions, FIFA's Technical
Study Group had little trouble selecting their player of the
tournament. The Brazilian Kaka, with his mesmerising dribbles,
sumptuous skills and flashes of brilliance, stood out head and
shoulders above his colleagues at Japan 2007.
"This title and award signify a new phase in my career.
I'm very proud, particularly about how well all my team-mates
have performed. That has been the key to our latest
achievement," he told
FIFA.com after the final. The author of one goal
and three assists at the event rounded off a memorable year that
also saw him become the top scorer in the 2006-2007 UEFA Champions
League, the 2007 European Footballer of the Year and the FIFA World
Player of the Year 2007.
Voted second- and third-best player respectively at Japan
2007 were the Dutchman Clarence Seedorf and the Argentinian Rodrigo
Palacio, the latter the scorer of the goal that briefly saw Boca
Juniors draw level in the final in Yokohama. But they are not the
only players deserving of special mention. How could anyone fail to
be impressed by the talent of Washington, who brought the curtain
down on his spell at Urawa with three goals and no few tears? The
Brazilian, top scorer with three goals in Japan, will be fondly
remembered by appreciative fans, as will Amine Chermiti,
Etoile's brilliant young striker, who looks set to make waves
in European football.
Final standings/Participants
1st - AC Milan (ITA)
2nd - Boca Juniors (ARG)
3rd - Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
4th - Etoile Sportive du Sahel (TUN)
5th - Sepahan (IRN)
6th - Pachuca (MEX)
7th - Waitakere United (NZL)
Stadiums/ Host cities
National Stadium (Tokyo), Toyota Stadium (Toyota) and
International Stadium (Yokohama).
Top scorers
Washington (Urawa Red Diamonds) 3 goals; Filippo Inzaghi (AC
Milan) and Emad Mohammed (Sepahan) 2; Kaka (AC Milan) 1 - along
with 11 others.
Total number of goals: 21, an average of three per
game.
Total attendance: 318,871, an average of 45,553 per game