As my Roar colleague Mike Tuckerman wrote yesterday, scepticism regarding the worthiness of the Club World Cup abounds in England, despite the opportunity it gives to the smaller clubs of the world. While calendar congestion and a Eurocentric outlook are the main reasons for this negativity, the bad taste left by the first edition of the tournament in 2000 explains much of the antagonism.
The 2000 World Club Cup was held in Brazil, a new format that included all of the confederation champions, rather than just the European and South American champs who would traditionally square off in the Intercontinental (Toyota) Cup.
Critics scorned that it was all a FIFA ploy, giving them political sway with the smaller confederations who saw the potential of the Club World Cup as a ticket to play the likes of Manchester United and gave FIFA an avenue into the riches offered by club football once reserved for UEFA and other continental confederations.
From a one off game, the new format included eight teams and involved a much larger commitment.
As Sam Wallace of The Independent wrote, “This ridiculously bloated competition has taken the place of a perfectly good one-off game – once the Intercontinental Cup.”
The tournament caused a political tsunami in England as Manchester United withdrew from the FA Cup to compete in Brazil, under pressure from UEFA, the FA and FIFA.
It didn’t do much good.
An uninspired United, the poster boys of the tournament, didn’t even make it out of the group stage while fellow European giants Real Madrid (invited to the tournament as the Intercontinental champions of the previous campaign) stumbled to fourth place.
Fittingly the final was played between two Brazilian teams, with Corinthians overcoming Vasco da Gama in a penalty shootout after a dour nil all stalemate.
The group stages were too drawn out and the fact the final involved two compatriots did little to endear the tournament to the greater football world.
But the current format avoids these problems.
The in-built imperialistic seeded rounds solve two problems that emerged from Brazil.
Firstly it reduces the games’ congestion for the European and South American teams, a real issue for the former who can fly in, play a maximum of two games and leave.
Secondly the seeded system sets up the potential European V South American showdown the Intercontinental Cup provided each year while allowing the chance of an upset if their opponents can upset them in the semis.
The first concern of the English press, calendar congestion, is justified.
Manchester United are already a game behind their rivals thanks to the UEFA Super Cup and will miss another EPL fixture while in Japan.
Their progression through to the semi-final of the Carling Cup means the two outstanding fixtures could not be squeezed into January as planned. Should they continue their progression in the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup, they will certainly have a full plate in the New Year.
But for the likes of Waitakere and Adelaide, the chance to meet the titans of European football is an incredible opportunity for club and countries.
Here in Adelaide, anticipation is rising of not just a chance at redemption against Gamba Osaka but a possible match up with Ronaldo, Rooney and co.
The Club World Cup will never be an egalitarian contest.
The economic disparity between Manchester United and Waitakere is like comparing the economic GDP of the United States of America to Djibouti.
But therein lies the beauty of the tournament.
It’s a chance for the clubs of the world game, not just two continents, to show their stuff.
Adrian Musolino
Expert
Dave, good point. This will also be the first time many people will have seen a new look A - League club on free to air. In that respect it's a great opportunity for not just the Reds but also the FFA.
Kazama
Roar Guru
Being spoilt with Foxtel since before the onset of the A-League I guess that fact went over my head. I certainly know a few Foxtel-less United fans that will be happy with that. I believe this is the first time United has been on FTA since the 5-0 loss to Perth Glory in the last NSL Preliminary Final - some four and a half years ago!
Dave
Guest
Adrian Agreed but it is a double edged sword. Crap performance from AU on Thursday, especially with expectations so high, will perhaps turn many off. Nevertheless (although l have Foxsports) l'm really looking forward to the WCC and seeing AU on FTA.
Adrian Musolino
Expert
Another reason so many people are excited about this tournament is the chance to see Adelaide play on free to air television. Many people don't have Foxtel and are looking forward to Thursday night so they can tune in to the game in their own home.
Kazama
Roar Guru
I'd be surprised if Ronaldo started the semi even if fully fit. Maybe he'd come off the bench late on for a cameo. In that game against Blackburn he wasn't even on the bench (Kuszczak, Evra, Vidic, Scholes, Park, Welbeck and Manucho if you're curious). Given that in this tournament the whole squad sits on the bench, there's always a chance we'll see him take the field at some stage of the semi - especially if United find themselves in the unlikely position of having to chase the game. The thing about Tevez is he's only scored one EPL goal this season (in the 2-1 loss to Liverpool). In fact aside from the four against Blackburn he's only scored one other goal this season, against QPR in the Carling Cup. Having said that I can see him starting both games - assuming Man Utd make the final - and I can certainly see him scoring the goals that win this tournament for Man United.
Koala Bear
Guest
I remember South Melbourne doing ok in that cup despite not winning a game. Seeing them play Man United was interesting. Funny how we may be facing them again. Yes, I remember that encounter as well .. Man U forfeited particapation in the FA cup tournament to compete in the inaugural WCC in Brazil. Therefore, the administrators at Man U must have felt that winning the FIFA WCC had some worth.. Unfortunately there after and due to the collapse of the marketing organisation arm, FIFA temporarily shelved the tournament. It was shelved until they got their house back in order. And now finally we have a revamped WCC, which is growing, from strength to strength, after the temporary cancellation of the event.. We now have more at stake then ever before. This time with new teams on the block, except the NZ team are more professional than the last teams coming from the weaker confederations .. Thankfully, this will not stay this way forever, and in the years to come it will be the premier tournament, with more and more prize money attached and held in different continents every year .. When it finally finds is way to Europe we may see a different focus from the Europeans.. My only negative feelings are; it is played at the wrong part of the season. I would feel that the most appropriate dates would be at the end of May/August after the UCL perhaps.. ;) ~~~~~~~~~~ KB
James Ward
Roar Rookie
Is Ronaldo fit after his walk off on the weekend? If he is even slightly injured I doubt we will see him in the semi.
Adrian Musolino
Expert
It's very second string isn't it. I do expect big things from Tevez in this tournament. He should get plenty of game time and he has a point to prove. Amazing when four goals in a game doesn't get you back into the starting XI.
Kazama
Roar Guru
My guess would be: Foster (GK), Rafael, Neville, Evans, O'Shea, Nani, Song, Gibson, Anderson, Giggs, Tevez. This is the team that beat Blackburn 5-3 in the Carling Cup, with one change - Song for Possebon, who hasn't been included in the squad. It's a second string team but on paper it far eclipses anything we, Gamba or the Kiwis could muster. But games aren't played on paper, of course. :-)
Adrian Musolino
Expert
It will be interesting to see the team Sir Alex fields in the semi final. I can't see him fielding a full strength team but the thing about Man United is its incredible depth, especially through the midfield.
Dave
Guest
No indication ManU will be taking this tournament lightly. The article below is from their website today; "United boss Sir Alex had hinted that he might leave some players behind to cope with the Stoke City fixture on Boxing Day, just three days after the Reds return from the Japanese capital. But the Reds manager's squad selection is a statement of intent - United want to win this competition and take world football's crown to go with the European title. United enter the competition at the semi-final stage in Yokohama on Thursday 18 December (KO 10:30 CET) against one of Adelaide United (Australia), Waitakere United (New Zealand), or Gamba Osaka (Japan). In the other half of the draw, Egyptian giants Al-Ahly fight it out with Mexicans Pachuca for the right to play LDU Quito of Ecuador in the other semi-final. The final is on Sunday 21 December (KO 10:30 CET) at the Yokahama Stadium. Travelling squad: Goalkeepers: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster; Defenders: Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Evans, Rafael; Midfielders: Ronaldo, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson; Strikers: Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck." That is a full strength squad and United are out to win the comp, no doubts.
James Ward
Roar Rookie
You wonder what it will take for the big clubs to take the competition seriously but I agree it is a great symbol of the reach of the game
Millster
Guest
I think the issue is a symbolic one. Sure the pinnacle of football skill-wise will probably remain the continental championships (UCL in particular). But part of the magic of football is the heirarchy of leagues, through promotion and relegation, through the move from domestic to continent.... and this pathway would not be complete were there not a 'capstone' world-wide event. So structurally it makes absolute sense to me to gather together the continental champions and have one final tournament, at the tip of the world football tree, to determine the 'world champion club'. And even at a less serious level, the pride and honour of each club representing their continent in this fortnight-long carnival of football is something that I think is wonderful.
James Ward
Roar Rookie
I remember South Melbourne doing ok in that cup despite not winning a game. Seeing them play Man United was interesting. Funny how we may be facing them again.