Club World Championship
2008
 Teams
ADELAIDE UNITED (Australia)
The South Australians can consider themselves slightly fortunate
to be taking part in the Club World Cup.
Like Iranian side Sepahan last year, Adelaide United finished
as runner-up in the AFC Champions League after being thrashed 5-0
on aggregate by Gamba Osaka in the final. With FIFA dedicating just
one spot to a team from the host nation, Japan's Gamba Osaka qualified
as Asian champions, with a second Asian place going to Adelaide
by default, meaning that newly crowned J. League champions Kashima
Antlers missed out by virtue of Gamba's Asian success.
On the pitch Adelaide are a team in form, having thrashed Wellington
Phoenix 6-1 in the A-League in their final match before the
Club World Cup. As such they'll go into their play-off clash with
Oceania champions Waitakere United full of confidence, with Adelaide
desperate to book a rematch with Gamba Osaka in Toyota.
Key player
While many point to captain Travis Dodd and dynamic full-back
Cassio as Adelaide's key players, the Club World Cup could provide
a chance for Cristiano - once a free-scoring striker in the Dutch
Eredivisie - to prove his value on the global stage.
Coach
Well-travelled former Australian international Aurelio Vidmar
- who once enjoyed at stint in the J. League at Sanfrecce Hiroshima
- is the man in charge of masterminding Adelaide's Club World Cup
campaign.
Opening match
Adelaide take on Waitakere United at the National Stadium in Tokyo
on December 11 in the opening match of the tournament.
AL-AHLY (Egypt)
Named the African Club of Century in 2000, Egyptian giants Al-Ahly
are back for their third trip to the Club World Cup, and they will
be hoping to go one better than their third place finish in 2006.
Al-Ahly qualified for this year's competition by beating Cameroon's
Coton Sport 4-2 on aggregate in the recent CAF Champion's League
final to be crowned African champions for a record sixth time. They
will fancy their chances on what is undoubtedly the weaker side
of the draw, and with Al-Ahly harbouring plenty of experience going
into this continental showdown, they could be a darkhorse to go
all the way to the final.
Domestically Al-Ahly have been struggling this season and they
lie well off the pace in the Egyptian Premier League, although the
Cairo giants have games in hand as they look to make ground on surprise
league leaders Petrojet. Al-Ahly's most recent clash saw them play
out an entertaining 3-3 draw with second-placed ENPPI in the league.
Key player
Flatteringly compared to former French great Zinedine Zidane,
the skillful Mohamed Aboutrika is the fulcrum of the Al-Ahly side.
A technically gifted playmaker with superb vision and the ability
to set off on jinking runs, Aboutrika is also a goalscorer, and
his goals have proved key in firing the Cairo giants to domestic
and continental success in recent years.
Coach
Portugese coach Manuel Jose has overseen much of Al-Ahly's recent
success, having signed on for his second spell at the club in 2003.
He has won four CAF Champions League titles with the club, and has
been honoured by the Egyptian government for his contributions to
Egyptian football.
Opening match
Al-Ahly take on Mexican outfit Pachuca at the National Stadium
in Tokyo on December 13.
GAMBA OSAKA (Japan)
Gamba cruised to the AFC Champions League title, beating defending
Asian champions Urawa Reds in the semi-finals before thrashing Adelaide
United in the final to lift their first ever continental crown.
The Osakans are not renowned as a heavyweight of Japanese football,
but in recent years coach Akira Nishino has encouraged his team
to play an attractive brand of attacking football. Success has gradually
followed, with Gamba adding the Champions League crown to the J.
League title they lifted in 2005 and the League Cup trophy they
collected in 2007.
On the domestic front Gamba limped into an eighth place finish
in the J. League this season, with their continental exploits clearly
taking their toll on the exhausted outfit. Their fans will hope
that Gamba still have the energy to muster a decent Club World Cup
campaign, with a possible semi-final showdown against Manchester
United in Yokohama looming on the horizon.
Key player
Midfielder Yasuhito Endo has come into his own in 2008 as undoubtedly
one of the best players to grace the Asian stage. The slightly-built
midfielder is the complete player, combining vision with a superb
range of passing and incredible accuracy from set pieces. Having
earned rave reviews for his performances this season, whether Gamba
can hold on to their prize assest after the completion of the Club
World Cup remains to be seen.
Coach
The wily Akira Nishino
is the longest serving coach in J. League, and many have named the
experienced tactician as a potential candidate for the post of Japan
national team coach.
Opening match
Gamba take on the winner of the clash between Waitakere United
and Adelaide United, with the Osakans making their debut in the
tournament at Toyota Stadium on December 14.
LDU Quito (Ecuador)
Somewhat of an unknown quantity in this year's Club World Cup,
LDU Quito qualified for the tournament by beating Brazilian giants
Fluminense on penalties in a thrilling climax to the Copa Libertadores
last year.
The club from the Ecuadorian capital have been hit hard by the
loss of key players Joffre Guerrón to Spanish outfit Getafe
and Enrique Vera to Mexican big-spenders America in the aftermath
of that Copa Libertadores triumph, and unlike in previous intercontinental
showdowns, the South Americans are by no means a certainty for this
year's final.
Adding to the sense of uncertainty is the news that Argentine coach
Edgardo Bauza has announced that he will step down after the completion
of the Club World Cup, but with LDU Quito travelling well domestically,
he will no doubt hope to go out a winner on the international stage
as Los Albos set out to once again shock some of the giants of the
world game.
Key player
Although captain and central midfielder Patricio Urrutia is a
household name in Ecuador, it is young winger Luis Bolaños
who could prove the game-breaker for the South Americans, where
his pace and direct style of play could cause havoc for opposition
defences.
Coach
Two-time Argentine international Edgardo
Bauza has overseen one of the most successful periods in LDU
Quito's history, but he has announced his intention to step down
as coach after the Club World Cup.
Opening match
LDU Quito face off against the winner of the clash between Ah-Ahly
and Pachuca, with the Ecuadorians making their tournament debut
at Yokohama International Stadium on December 17.
MANCHESTER UNITED (England)
A club that needs no introduction, Manchester United qualified
for the Club World Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties in last season's
UEFA Champions League final in Moscow.
The English giants have been forced to postpone a Premier
League clash with Wigan in order to accommodate their trip to
Japan, but having picked up an Intercontinental Crown in 1999, coach
Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to add another world title to his collection
and he has named a strong squad to take part in this tournament.
United may face fixture congestion upon their return to domestic
action, and the traditional slow-starters will hope that the Club
World Cup does not derail their bid to lift another English crown.
Nevertheless the intercontinental showdown could prove a boon to
the American owners of the debt-laden outfit, with thousands of
Japanese Manchester United fans likely to prove their allegiance
by spending big on merchandise in the build-up to this tournament.
Key player
While it's difficult to look beyond the reigning World Player
Of The Year Cristiano Ronaldo as United's key man, this could be
a make-or-break tournament for Argentine striker Carlos
Tevez. He has struggled to nail down a permanent place in the
starting eleven at the English giants, and the man known as Carlitos
could view this competition as a chance to showcase his wares to
Sir Alex Ferguson - or otherwise put himself in the shop window.
Opening match
With the European and South American champions needing to win
just two games to be crowned World champion, United kick off their
Club World Cup at Yokohama International Stadium on December 18,
where they will face either Waitakere United, Adelaide United or
Gamba Osaka.
PACHUCA (Mexico)
Fans of Mexican club Pachuca will hope that the CONCACAF representatives
have learned their lesson, after an arrogant Pachuca side turned
in a lazy performance against Tunisian outsiders Etoile du Sahel
at the Club World Cup last year, only to be dumped out of the competition
by a late Etoile goal.
Pachuca will be eyeing off a semi-final spot this time around,
although Los Tuzos endured a disappointing campaign in the Mexican
Primera División, failing to reach the end-of-season play-offs.
They'll be hoping to brush off their poor domestic form by turning
in a good showing in Japan, with the pride of Mexican football fans
having been rocked by some poor performances from the national team
of late.
They may be one of Mexican football's newest powers, but Pachuca
are quickly building themselves a reputation as one of Mexico's
most successful teams, and they beat Costa Rican side Deportivo
Saprissa in the now defunct CONCACAF Champions' Cup back in April
to secure their trip to Japan.
Key player
Talismanic captain and goalkeeper Miguel Calero is the heart and
soul of this Pachuca side, and the Colombian-born shot-stopper will
be determined to lead by example as he takes his place between the
posts in the Land Of The Rising Sun.
Opening match
Pachuca will face off with Al-Ahly at the National Stadium in
Tokyo on December 13 for the right to progress to a semi-final showdown
with LDU Quito four days later.
WAITAKERE UNITED (New Zealand)
The underdogs of the tournament, New Zealand's Waitakere United
are making their second appearance at the Club World Cup after they
were beaten 3-1 by Iranian side Sepahan in the play-off for a quarter-final
place in last year's competition.
The team from the western suburbs of Auckland go into this tournament
as rank outsiders, having only been founded as recently as 2004,
with Waitakere United playing their football on a semi-professional
basis. Nevertheless there is some experience throughout the squad,
with veteran English midfielder Neil Emblen once of Wolves, while
Danny Hay played in the UEFA Champions
League with Leeds United. Solomon Islands international Benjamin
Totori is also considered one of the most exciting players in Oceanian
football.
The Kiwis booked their place in Japan by beating Soloman side
Kossa FC 6-3 on aggregate in the final of the OFC Champions League
as Waitakere United picked up back-to-back Oceania titles in the
process.
Key player
The experience and composure of former New Zealand international
and captain Danny Hay in defence could prove crucial, with Hay a
hard-nosed veteran who has played in both England and Australia,
before deciding to wind down his career in his native New Zealand.
Coach
Waitakere are coach by the experienced Chris Milicich, who was
also at the helm during the club's brief appearance at the Club
World Cup last year, and who has guided his side to plenty of domestic
and continental success of late.
Opening match
Just as they did last year, Waitakere United will face off against
Asian runners-up in the form of Adelaide United for a place in the
quarter-finals, with this trans-Tasman clash taking place at the
National Stadium in Tokyo on December 11.
Blog
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World Cup Blog.
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