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Wanderers out to defy odds at CWC

Roar Guru
12th December, 2014
67

Western Sydney cannot compete with Mexican football giants Cruz Azul when it comes to experience, history and bank balance but the Wanderers hold no fear as they attempt to defy the odds at the Club World Cup.

“We are very used to that (being the underdogs),” midfielder Mateo Poljak said ahead of Saturday’s (Sunday morning AEDT) quarter-final in Rabat.

“That picture has been with us from day one so it doesn’t change anything for us.”

In their 87-year history, Cruz Azul have amassed nine league titles and been crowned North American champions six times.

They boast a wealth of international talent and are strong favourites to overcome and out-of-form Wanderers side in Morocco but ‘La Maquina’ head in to the tournament having shown plenty of recent vulnerability themselves.

After qualifying for the Club World Cup by winning the CONCACAF title in April, Cruz Azul finished 13th of 18 clubs in the recently-concluded Mexican season and failed to produce in the big games.

Head coach Luis Fernando Tena responded by taking his squad on a pre-tournament training camp to Spain in a sign of the resources available to the powerful club.

Tony Popovic and his players have spent recent days studying their opponents in video sessions and the coach is under no illusions as to the challenge facing the A-League’s youngest side.

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“We’ve watched several of their games and they’re a very good team,” Popovic said.

“Like us they’ve struggled a bit in the league, but we know that they’re preparing well.

“They went to Spain and played a few friendly games so they’re taking this competition seriously, as you’d expect.”

Cruz Azul’s squad features a host of current and former Mexico internationals, including goalkeeper Jose Corona, centre back Francisco Rodriguez and captain Gerardo Torrado, capped 146 times for his country.

In attack they boast former Blackburn midfielder Mauro Formica, Ecudorian international winger Joao Rojas and prolific, albeit hot-and-cold, Argentine striker Mariano Pavone.

“They have some very good players in attack and a lot of experience. In terms of age, their squad has an average age of 28 or 29, with a lot of experience in big games,” Popovic said.

“We don’t have that, but we have a lot of confidence from winning a major competition only recently.”

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The Wanderers are no stranger to making history and would become the first Australian team to reach the last four at the prestigious tournament if they can spring an upset to set up a semi-final against Real Madrid.

HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN SIDES AT THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

SOUTH MELBOURNE (2000)

The NSL champions qualified by winning the 1999 Oceania Club Championship under then-coach Ange Postecoglou. However they found the going tough in Brazil, losing all three group games including a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

SYDNEY FC (2005)

Reached the tournament in Tokyo after winning the inaugural A-League title and 2004-05 Oceania Club Championships. Under German coach Pierre Littbarski, the Sky Blues lost 1-0 to Costa Rican side Saprissa before clinching fifth spot with a 2-1 victory over Egypt’s Al-Ahly.

ADELAIDE UNITED (2009)

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The first Australian side to qualify for the tournament through Asia, Adelaide United earned a spot as runner-up in the 2008 ACL. Aurelio Vidmar’s team defeated New Zealand’s Waitakere United before falling 1-0 to Gamba Osaka in the quarter-finals, denying them a dream last-four showdown with Manchester United.

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