The past championship can safely be called a tournament of contrasts. Different cultures, different continents, different football schools, different styles of play, different levels of ambition. And, most importantly, the class difference is too big. More precisely, in the size of their budgets. It is enough to look at the application lists: all clubs, except for Barcelona, are staffed by local players and only slightly diluted with legionnaires. It is noteworthy that each of the teams necessarily had at least one Brazilian, in fact confirming the world leadership of this nation in the number one game.
The difference in the class of teams hardly meant high-profile sensations or a beautiful game in all meetings. Therefore, the rules of the competition, the organizing committee of which was headed by Vyacheslav Koloskov, prudently provided for the truncated quarter-final stage - of two matches. At this stage, the New Zealand “Auckland City” came together with the Egyptian “Al Ahly”, and the second pair was Korean “Jeonbuk Motors” and Mexican “America”. Amateurs from Oceania lost to their rival with a score of 0: 2, and the “car makers” from Asia did not hold out a bit before the extra time, having missed the only goal shortly before the final whistle.
At the next stage, the “heavyweights” “Barcelona” and “International” joined the first place. Both semifinal games were won by them in the class, although in different ways. The Spanish team unexpectedly easily defeated the Mexicans, completely preventing them from at least somehow expressing themselves. The Brazilians defeated the diligent and handsome Egyptian champion a day earlier with a notable effort, but the result of that game could be different. Note that the decisive goals in both meetings were scored thanks to a new trend in football. When cornering, it is now customary to leave the far corner of the goal without protection: there both times the ball hit.
Barcelona started the final match of the championship in the same way as the semi-final - with massive attacks on the opponent’s goal. However, this time the Spaniards did not succeed in blitzkrieg: the Brazilians were able to minimize the activity of the “blue garnet”. The last defenders of Barca twice in succession hung the ball into the center of the penalty box of Internacional, but the experienced goalkeeper Clemer eliminated the threats. Later, Ronaldinho from the penalty sent the ball directly into his hands. Brazilians rarely answered, due to the efforts of their line of attack - Alexandrero, Indio and Captain Fernandao.
The start of the second half turned out to be calmer. The finalists game leveled off. Wanting to revive the game, Frank Rykard released the creator Xavi instead of the destroyer Motta. The Catalan midfielder immediately took part in two dangerous moments, first breaking through the Deco after a pass, and then forcing Edinho to throw himself on the ball. Nevertheless, Internacional continued to competently defend and block the space of the already inert Goodyonsen and Ronaldinho.
At the 82nd minute, the Brazilians succeeded in a reference counterattack. Iarley passe separated fresh Adriano from the defense of the “blue-pomegranate,” the young striker went around Puyol and struck the corner farthest from Victor Valdes with the outside of his foot. Immediately after this, Deco with a firm long-range shot forced Clemer to make a great save, and a little later Ronaldinho from the penalty kick was surely directing the ball to the corner from Clemer's right. The goalkeeper did not move, but the ball missed the net, passing a few centimeters from the goal.
The last attempt to change the course of the game was the release of a deep reserve Escerro, predictably lost among the defenders of Inter. In the remaining time, Iarley and Adriano made the game more lively, drawing time due to an endless series of rebounds from compatriot Belletti, the face-offs and penalties at the left corner flag in half of the Barcelona field. The final whistle drew a line under the game and the tournament as a whole. The old truths that order beats the class, and do not underestimate the opponent, have once again been confirmed at the stadium in Yokohama.
The honorable sixth position was held by New Zealand footballers, losing to Chonbuk in a full-time meeting. And the representatives of the Black continent deservedly took bronze, having beaten the failed North American club champion in the “small finals” due to the best realization of the moments.
A colorful, absolutely necessary and well-organized tournament - the FIFA club world championship of the past year left such an impression. And Europe will have to wait for its next chance, unless, of course, one of the Brazilian teams is in the final again. In this country there are a lot of them ...
Stanislav POPOVICH