FIFA World Club Championship Thread 2005

[El Diablo Rojo]

I've watched NBC and it's crap except for Conan.

Kinda like South America. Only Brazil is nice and the rest is meh.

Maybe you were watching the wrong channel at the wrong hour.
I don't know if the brazilians will agree, but the argentinian league is better than the brazilian one.

And anyway São Paulo FC is playing this cup. I guess they could be the winner except if one of the other teams gives a surprise.

 

[Pontiakos]

I understand that those tournaments are very popular and pretigious and have great clubs. But I think this tournament can't be evaluated in that way. Because in the long term this may become a great tournament. It's just that it isn't part of the European football tradition now. But with time, we will see great teams come out of the other regions, and many times in the past the Toyota Cup would be won by south american teams.

At this point, its kind of like saying that the when a Japanese baseball team happens to beat a American baseball team that won the World Series, the Japanese team says it's the best in the World, when really that's not true. Would any american care about a game against a Japanese team, the answer is very bluntly "no".

But, Europeans should know that there are great teams also outside of Europe. And slowly, but with much time, great teams outside of Europe should come out and win this tournament. And it should mean something.

I mean, in the past, the NASL had a great team with the NY Cosmos, and with time, I mean a lot of years, MLS could do the same. And the winners of these continental cups should at least get a little respect. Of course at this moment, it would be hard to argue that any team in outside of Europe or S. America are up there with their best, but at the same time, they arn't crap. Deportivo Saprissa at least is respectable. I don't know about the other continents, but maybe there at least respectable, or course Oceania representative I think got to the tourney too easy, but there isn't really any alternative considering the way the regions are divided.

I think this tournament is a great idea, and what other club sport "really" has a world championship tournament in a real sense. Ok so it's not perfect, but its a start, that with time could be something great.

I hope some of these games will be showed here in Brazil, and if so, I'll be watching to see how it goes.

you're right....with time....alot of time......stress on ALOT

 

[Kibe Kru]

I understand that those tournaments are very popular and pretigious and have great clubs. But I think this tournament can't be evaluated in that way. Because in the long term this may become a great tournament. It's just that it isn't part of the European football tradition now. But with time, we will see great teams come out of the other regions, and many times in the past the Toyota Cup would be won by south american teams.

At this point, its kind of like saying that the when a Japanese baseball team happens to beat a American baseball team that won the World Series, the Japanese team says it's the best in the World, when really that's not true. Would any american care about a game against a Japanese team, the answer is very bluntly "no".

But, Europeans should know that there are great teams also outside of Europe. And slowly, but with much time, great teams outside of Europe should come out and win this tournament. And it should mean something.

I mean, in the past, the NASL had a great team with the NY Cosmos, and with time, I mean a lot of years, MLS could do the same. And the winners of these continental cups should at least get a little respect. Of course at this moment, it would be hard to argue that any team in outside of Europe or S. America are up there with their best, but at the same time, they arn't crap. Deportivo Saprissa at least is respectable. I don't know about the other continents, but maybe there at least respectable, or course Oceania representative I think got to the tourney too easy, but there isn't really any alternative considering the way the regions are divided.

I think this tournament is a great idea, and what other club sport "really" has a world championship tournament in a real sense. Ok so it's not perfect, but its a start, that with time could be something great.

I hope some of these games will be showed here in Brazil, and if so, I'll be watching to see how it goes.

Oh well, the Toyota cup existed for quite some time, and yet it failed to earn any respect in Europe... I don't think adding teams from Oceania and Asia are going to make them care more about the competition, as if anything it only adds time to the competition, making the clubs postpone more matches domestically... sure, it can happen, but like Pontiakos mentioned, it will take a lot of time...

About the games being shown in Brazil, Globo will show the bambis, Cultura are trying to get the full coverage, and I hope they get it...

And William, don't let your hate get the better of your brain... in 2000 it was experimental, obviously there were negatives and positives... but it was somehow organized... Champions of each fed, home nation representant and then toyota champs Madrid... (yeah, by the time the competition took place, the mancs had already won it, but it was only 1 month before, and there'd be no time for preparation if they waited on it)... and calling Madrid and Utd "others" is kinda dumb, really... but, as expected, they didn't take it as seriously as the s. am. clubs...

 

[Shiryu]

Anyway....


I saw an interview with Liverpool players recently, and they seemed very excited about this cup. Gerard mentioned he really wanted to win it, that he wasn't gonna let the team take a vacation. Benitez was also onboard, but more because of the money, I believe... :fool:

 

[Kibe Kru]

oh well, that's expected... they can't really say "we don't care at all, we'd be better off at home"

 

[donovanfan3456]

Oh well, the Toyota cup existed for quite some time, and yet it failed to earn any respect in Europe... I don't think adding teams from Oceania and Asia are going to make them care more about the competition, as if anything it only adds time to the competition, making the clubs postpone more matches domestically... sure, it can happen, but like Pontiakos mentioned, it will take a lot of time...

Honestly, I don't really care if Europeans respect the tournament to much right now, and I don't expect them to. No disrepect to you guys over there. I think my baseball analogy works just great to explain the problem.

I find that this tournament is interesting enough to pay attention to it. And Fifa knows there are a lot of people out there just like myself. And with time, there will be more.

Football is a relatively young sport in reference to the world history. And I wonder what things will be like 100 years from now. I mean none of us will be here on earth at that time, but it's nice to wonder.

 

[WilliamFAlmeida]

And William, don't let your hate get the better of your brain... in 2000 it was experimental, obviously there were negatives and positives... but it was somehow organized... Champions of each fed, home nation representant and then toyota champs Madrid... (yeah, by the time the competition took place, the mancs had already won it, but it was only 1 month before, and there'd be no time for preparation if they waited on it)... and calling Madrid and Utd "others" is kinda dumb, really... but, as expected, they didn't take it as seriously as the s. am. clubs...

hehe. ok

 

[Lean]

And William, don't let your hate get the better of your brain... in 2000 it was experimental, obviously there were negatives and positives... but it was somehow organized... Champions of each fed, home nation representant and then toyota champs Madrid... (yeah, by the time the competition took place, the mancs had already won it, but it was only 1 month before, and there'd be no time for preparation if they waited on it)... and calling Madrid and Utd "others" is kinda dumb, really... but, as expected, they didn't take it as seriously as the s. am. clubs...

It should be the UEFA Cup winner and the UEFA CL winner then. Also mate, organized my ******* ass. Champions of each fed? Corinthians was the Conmebol winner? If there was going to be a São Paulo team in that Tournament, it was supposed to be Palmeiras. Of course, what the hell Vasco was doing there i dont know aswell. Guess they joined was Champions of the 1998 edition of Libertadores? If so then Palmeiras should've joined as Champions of 1999.

The most ridiculous tournament ever. And badly organized aswell, just look at how many empty seats we had at the final on Maracanã, mostly due to cambistas.

Football players should stop being sissies and complaining about the amount of games they play in a season aswell. Oh come on, i work 7 hours per day including saturday and i make 516 reais a month, and i study at night, school costs me 200 reais so i make 316. Those morons make on average 100K a month AT LEAST, they train 3-4 hours per day, rest after matches, and are complaining about 2 games? Oh **** off.

For the money they get per week/month/year, i would sweat blood on the pitch.

 

[Pontiakos]

Football players should stop being sissies and complaining about the amount of games they play in a season aswell. Oh come on, i work 7 hours per day including saturday and i make 516 reais a month, and i study at night, school costs me 200 reais so i make 316. Those morons make on average 100K a month AT LEAST, they train 3-4 hours per day, rest after matches, and are complaining about 2 games? Oh **** off.

For the money they get per week/month/year, i would sweat blood on the pitch.

:Bow:

 

[Kibe Kru]

It should be the UEFA Cup winner and the UEFA CL winner then. Also mate, organized my ******* ass. Champions of each fed? Corinthians was the Conmebol winner? If there was going to be a São Paulo team in that Tournament, it was supposed to be Palmeiras. Of course, what the hell Vasco was doing there i dont know aswell. Guess they joined was Champions of the 1998 edition of Libertadores? If so then Palmeiras should've joined as Champions of 1999.

The most ridiculous tournament ever. And badly organized aswell, just look at how many empty seats we had at the final on Maracanã, mostly due to cambistas.

Football players should stop being sissies and complaining about the amount of games they play in a season aswell. Oh come on, i work 7 hours per day including saturday and i make 516 reais a month, and i study at night, school costs me 200 reais so i make 316. Those morons make on average 100K a month AT LEAST, they train 3-4 hours per day, rest after matches, and are complaining about 2 games? Oh **** off.

For the money they get per week/month/year, i would sweat blood on the pitch.

Say whatever you want, you'll never admit it is a valid tournament because your team didn't make it... of course it's much easier to arrange a single match than an entire tournament, especially when one (or in 2000's situation, two) of the clubs ain't interested... even if it was disorganized, so were the earlier world cups... and I don't hear anyone saying Italy only won in 34 because S. Am. teams didn't go there... or how easy Sweden got 4th place in France '38 (they played 3 matches, won 1 against Cuba, lost 2).

As I pointed out in my post, Corinthians was the home nation representant, as they had been champs for the two seasons prior to the tournament. (it could have been anyone else, but Corinthians were chosen). Vasco was there as the Lib champs, though it probably should have been Palmeiras. though what should or shouldn't have been, it's not up to us to say...

Their salaries are high because of the market law, if someone is willing to pay them that much, it's because they're worth it (as nobody pays more than they earn, or at least they shouldn't)... you don't earn as much as them because being quite frank, you can't do what they do, and if you did, you'd earn that too... I agree, it's a whole lot of money, and they shouldn't be complaining, but I won't go into the merit.. let's just say that if many other people could do what they do, they'd be replaced, which is what happens if I complain about my job and there's a replacement available. You say you'd sweat blood on the pitch, yet you wouldn't do half of what Ronaldinho does...

 

[Punkt]

players and numbers:

Al Ahly (Egypt/CAF)

Keepers
1 Essam EL HADARY
19 Amir ABDELHAMID
21 Nader EL SAYED

Defenders
2 Islam EL SHATER
3 Mohamed ABDEL WAHAB
4 Emad EL NAHHAS
5 Ahmed EL SAYED
6 Wael GOMAA
15 Ahmed ABOU MOSALEM
16 Rami ADEL

Midfielders
7 Shady MOHAMED
8 Mohamed BARAKAT
10 Wael REYAD
11 Ahmed HASSAN
12 GILBERTO
13 Hossam ASHOUR
14 Hassan MOUSTAFA
17 Mohamed SHAWKY
20 Hady KHASHABA

Attackers:
9 Emad MOTAB
18 Osama HOSNI
22 Mohamed ABOUTRIKA
23 FLÁVIO

Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia/AFC)

Keepers:
1 Mabrouk ZAID
22 Hussain AL SADIG
23 Tisir AL ANTAIF

Defenders:
2 Ahmed Dukhi AL DOSARI
4 Redha TUKAR
5 Ali AL GARNI
6 Mesfr AL KAHTANI
13 Osama AL HARBI
16 MARCÃO
20 Adnan FALATAH
21 Hamad AL MONTASHARI

Midfielders:
7 Mohammed HAIDAR
8 Manaf ABUSHGEER
11 TCHECO
12 Abdoh HAKAMI
14 Saud KHARIRI
15 PEDRINHO
17 Ibrahim SOWED
18 Mohammed NOOR

Attackers:
3 Mohammed KALLON
9 Hamzah FALLATAH
10 Joseph-Desiré JOB
19 LIMA

Saprissa (Costa Rica/CONCACAF)

Keepers:
1 José PORRAS
18 Fausto GONZÁLEZ
21 Keylor NAVAS

Defenders:
3 Victor CORDERO
4 Ronald GONZÁLEZ
5 Jervis DRUMMOND
6 Reynaldo PARKS
13 ESQUIVEL Juan
14 Andrés NÚÑEZ
16 Gabriel BADILLA
22 José FONSECA
23 Tray BENNETT

Midfielders:
2 Christian BOLAÑOS
8 Walter CENTENO
9 Pablo BRENES
10 Alonso SOLIS
15 Saúl PHILLIPS
17 José Luis LÓPEZ
19 Randall AZOFEIFA

Attackers:
7 Allan ALEMAN
11 Ronald GÓMEZ
12 Alvaro SABORIO
20 Gerold DRUMMOND

Liverpool (England/UEFA)

Keepers:
1 Jerzy DUDEK
12 Pepe REINA
13 Scott CARSON

Defenders:
2 Stephen WARNOCK
3 Steve FINNAN
4 Sami HYYPIA
5 Danny O'DONNELL
6 John Arne RIISE
17 JOSEMI
20 David RAVEN
21 Djimi TRAORÉ
23 Jamie CARRAGHER

Midfielders:
7 Harry KEWELL
8 Steven GERRARD
10 LUIS GARCÍA
14 XABI ALONSO
16 Dietmar HAMANN
18 Darren POTTER
22 Momo SISSOKO

Attackers:
9 Djibril CISSÉ
11 Florent SINAMA PONGOLLE
15 Peter CROUCH
19 Fernando MORIENTES

São Paulo (Brasil/CONMEBOL)

Keepers:
1 ROGÉRIO CENI
22 BOSCO
23 FLÁVIO KRETZER

Defenders:
2 CICINHO
3 FABÃO
4 EDCARLOS
5 Diego LUGANO
6 JÚNIOR
13 ALEX
16 FÁBIO SANTOS

Midfielders:
7 MINEIRO
8 JOSUÉ
10 DANILO
15 DENÍLSON
17 RENAN
18 LEANDRO BONFIM
20 RICHARLYSON
21 SOUZA

Attackers:
9 GRAFITE
11 AMOROSO
12 CHRISTIAN
14 ALOÍSIO
19 THIAGO

Sydney FC (Australia/OFC)

Keepers:
1 Clint BOLTON
20 Justin PASFIELD
23 Mitchell BLOWES

Defenders:
2 Iain FYFE
3 Alvin CECCOLI
4 Mark RUDAN
8 Matt BINGLEY
16 Mark MILLIGAN
17 Jacob TIMPANO
18 Wade OOSTENDORP

Midfielders:
5 Ruben ZATKOVICH
6 U*** TALAY
7 Robert MIDDLEBY
10 Steve CORICA
12 David CARNEY
13 Dustin WELLS
14 Andrew PACKER
15 Terry MC FLYNN

Attackers:
9 David ZDRILIC
11 Kazu MIURA
19 Dwight YORKE
21 Giampaolo BUONAVOGLIA
22 Sasho PETROVSKI

 

[djperthglory]

guys you may be thinking whats with talay's first name for sydney. it is because it is ufvk talay. ofcoarse u have to replace the letter v with the letter u. and i think the sg board has seen that as an offensive word and therefore put the asterisks there.

 

[Lean]

Say whatever you want, you'll never admit it is a valid tournament because your team didn't make it... of course it's much easier to arrange a single match than an entire tournament, especially when one (or in 2000's situation, two) of the clubs ain't interested... even if it was disorganized, so were the earlier world cups... and I don't hear anyone saying Italy only won in 34 because S. Am. teams didn't go there... or how easy Sweden got 4th place in France '38 (they played 3 matches, won 1 against Cuba, lost 2).

As I pointed out in my post, Corinthians was the home nation representant, as they had been champs for the two seasons prior to the tournament. (it could have been anyone else, but Corinthians were chosen). Vasco was there as the Lib champs, though it probably should have been Palmeiras. though what should or shouldn't have been, it's not up to us to say...

Their salaries are high because of the market law, if someone is willing to pay them that much, it's because they're worth it (as nobody pays more than they earn, or at least they shouldn't)... you don't earn as much as them because being quite frank, you can't do what they do, and if you did, you'd earn that too... I agree, it's a whole lot of money, and they shouldn't be complaining, but I won't go into the merit.. let's just say that if many other people could do what they do, they'd be replaced, which is what happens if I complain about my job and there's a replacement available. You say you'd sweat blood on the pitch, yet you wouldn't do half of what Ronaldinho does...

I wont admit it was a valid tournament because it was crap. If it wasnt, FIFA would've kept it for the years to come. Yet they've decided to change the formula, move it to Japan, and that 5 years after. You dont hear anyone saying Italy won in 34 because S. American teams didnt go there because quite frankly mate, nobody gives a damn about 1934, and i bet my arse that no-one that posts on this board was alive back then. More than a half century ago, we are talking about 5 years ago, dont get off topic.

Ok, point taken, Corinthians was there as the home nation team. But where is the home nation team in Japan 2005 then? Pure marketing. If we are going to pick a NATIONAL CHAMPION to participate in the tournament, then it's not the World Club Cup, is it? Only fed. winners allowed. Otherwise it will become a mess.

I dont earn more than them because i cant do what they can on a pitch, fair play, but i'm stating the fact they shouldnt be complaining to play 2 more games a season given their salary. Your whole last paragraph doesnt make any sense when it comes to replying to what i've said. You're saying people cant do what they can do, yet my point is they complain too much about something they shouldnt, given their salary. Yes, i wouldnt do half of what Ronaldinho can do, in the matter of fact i wouldnt do 1/4, with a ball, but i can assure you run 10 times more than any player does.

Yet he wouldnt do 1/1000 of what i do in my store aswell, especially for 500 bucks. Dont get how you defend those morons when in the matter of fact you just defend the same point of view when we talk about the Seleção.

PS/EDIT : And if i doubted any tournament's validity because my team didnt make it, football wouldnt make sense to me, i support Guarani for god sake. :funny:

 

[Kibe Kru]

I wont admit it was a valid tournament because it was crap. If it wasnt, FIFA would've kept it for the years to come. Yet they've decided to change the formula, move it to Japan, and that 5 years after. You dont hear anyone saying Italy won in 34 because S. American teams didnt go there because quite frankly mate, nobody gives a damn about 1934, and i bet my arse that no-one that posts on this board was alive back then. More than a half century ago, we are talking about 5 years ago, dont get off topic.

Ok, point taken, Corinthians was there as the home nation team. But where is the home nation team in Japan 2005 then? Pure marketing. If we are going to pick a NATIONAL CHAMPION to participate in the tournament, then it's not the World Club Cup, is it? Only fed. winners allowed. Otherwise it will become a mess.

I dont earn more than them because i cant do what they can on a pitch, fair play, but i'm stating the fact they shouldnt be complaining to play 2 more games a season given their salary. Your whole last paragraph doesnt make any sense when it comes to replying to what i've said. You're saying people cant do what they can do, yet my point is they complain too much about something they shouldnt, given their salary. Yes, i wouldnt do half of what Ronaldinho can do, in the matter of fact i wouldnt do 1/4, with a ball, but i can assure you run 10 times more than any player does.

Yet he wouldnt do 1/1000 of what i do in my store aswell, especially for 500 bucks. Dont get how you defend those morons when in the matter of fact you just defend the same point of view when we talk about the Seleção.

PS/EDIT : And if i doubted any tournament's validity because my team didnt make it, football wouldnt make sense to me, i support Guarani for god sake. :funny:

FIFA didn't make the tournament again because their sponsors went bankrupt, though they did want to make it again (spain 2003, I guess, it's even on CM 01/02)
The 1934 world cup was to point out that, organized or not, Italy is still 3 times world cup winners... the same way Corinthians is world club champions for 2000...
Home team isn't on Japan 2005 because of risking Europe to drop out of the tournament. They complain of playing two matches, let alone playing four, like the champions in Brazil did... Saying that a home representant makes a mess out of a tournament means the World Cup itself is a mess... A winner from each fed makes it a WORLD club championship, though...

About the salaries.. I guess luck is for those who have it, as in being able to do something that people are willing to pay a lot for... Tough luck if in your store you get 500 bucks, or in my lab I make even less than that... were we able to kick a ball, we'd be earning loads... Like I said, I won't go into the merit... and I do agree with your point (I do think they are overpaid, and should at least show some commitment)... but it's a bit different playing a game after the season is finished than playing a match in another continent in the middle of the season... Sao Paulo was crap in the league during the final stages of the libertadores and a bit after, and they played their subs in the last few matches... The fact of playing 2 more matches is nothing if the matches are important... I'm sure that if you asked Steven Gerrard and co about playing 2 more matches, those being the FA Cup final and the CL final, they'd play their hearts out... the thing is, the tournament in Japan means nothing to them, and you can't blame them for moaning...

 

[Lean]

FIFA didn't make the tournament again because their sponsors went bankrupt, though they did want to make it again (spain 2003, I guess, it's even on CM 01/02)
The 1934 world cup was to point out that, organized or not, Italy is still 3 times world cup winners... the same way Corinthians is world club champions for 2000...
Home team isn't on Japan 2005 because of risking Europe to drop out of the tournament. They complain of playing two matches, let alone playing four, like the champions in Brazil did... Saying that a home representant makes a mess out of a tournament means the World Cup itself is a mess... A winner from each fed makes it a WORLD club championship, though...

I'm not denying Corinthians are the World Champions for 2000, i'm saying the tournament was crap. Also, comparing the World Club Cup and the World Cup is ridiculous. In the World Cup the home nation has to organize itself so it can build newer stadiums, give proper hotels for all the teams and the fans/tourists, it's a big fat ass event. In 2000 we put all the games in our 2 biggest stadiums, managed a few hotels and that was it. We didnt put a effort as big as the World Cup hosts. The hosts deserve a place for their football team when it comes to the WC, they've worked their arses off for something like 3 years to make the thing happen.

Yes, the winners from each fed. makes it a WORLD club championship, that's what i defend. The national champion for the host country doesnt though. It makes the tournament a nickel hunter.

About the salaries.. I guess luck is for those who have it, as in being able to do something that people are willing to pay a lot for... Tough luck if in your store you get 500 bucks, or in my lab I make even less than that... were we able to kick a ball, we'd be earning loads... Like I said, I won't go into the merit... and I do agree with your point (I do think they are overpaid, and should at least show some commitment)... but it's a bit different playing a game after the season is finished than playing a match in another continent in the middle of the season... Sao Paulo was crap in the league during the final stages of the libertadores and a bit after, and they played their subs in the last few matches... The fact of playing 2 more matches is nothing if the matches are important... I'm sure that if you asked Steven Gerrard and co about playing 2 more matches, those being the FA Cup final and the CL final, they'd play their hearts out... the thing is, the tournament in Japan means nothing to them, and you can't blame them for moaning...

Well, i dont think so. They're professional football players, they get something like 100K a month (or 50K, or 200, or 300 in some cases?), they're going to play 2 more games in a season, those 2 games can mean silverware, and if silverware and more prize $$ doesnt mean nothing to them, well, i dont know what it does.

By this, i dont mean players should be workhorses playing football day in day out, but for the money they get, they still complain too much.

 

[Kibe Kru]

I'm not denying Corinthians are the World Champions for 2000, i'm saying the tournament was crap. Also, comparing the World Club Cup and the World Cup is ridiculous. In the World Cup the home nation has to organize itself so it can build newer stadiums, give proper hotels for all the teams and the fans/tourists, it's a big fat ass event. In 2000 we put all the games in our 2 biggest stadiums, managed a few hotels and that was it. We didnt put a effort as big as the World Cup hosts. The hosts deserve a place for their football team when it comes to the WC, they've worked their arses off for something like 3 years to make the thing happen.

Yes, the winners from each fed. makes it a WORLD club championship, that's what i defend. The national champion for the host country doesnt though. It makes the tournament a nickel hunter.

Well, the World Cup hosts do get a load of money from all the tourists, and they have government support... Vasco and Corinthians didn't get any of that, apart maybe from a bit of money from gate, which I believe were nothing outstanding... Also, hindsight is a blessing, ain't it? Were Corinthians eliminated in the first round, and Madrid won at the end, it'd have been marvelous, the best tournament on earth...
As I said, it was a first, and no way a first is perfect... The host nation representant was an "obstacle", now they've "corrected" that... maybe the same way FIFA thinks the current champions participating in the next World Cup is bad, so they've taken their spot...

And nickel hunter for nickel hunter, the Toyota Cup and the new World Club Championship are just that... just like the Confed cup...

Well, i dont think so. They're professional football players, they get something like 100K a month (or 50K, or 200, or 300 in some cases?), they're going to play 2 more games in a season, those 2 games can mean silverware, and if silverware and more prize $$ doesnt mean nothing to them, well, i dont know what it does.

By this, i dont mean players should be workhorses playing football day in day out, but for the money they get, they still complain too much.

I'll just say that being the winner of the "worldwide annual street fighter competition for mentally challenged boys whose name start with Z" mean as much to me as the world club competition mean to europeans, and if the prize money went to my boss, it'd mean even less... That's even less if it's in Japan, during school period

 

[Lean]

Well, the World Cup hosts do get a load of money from all the tourists, and they have government support... Vasco and Corinthians didn't get any of that, apart maybe from a bit of money from gate, which I believe were nothing outstanding... Also, hindsight is a blessing, ain't it? Were Corinthians eliminated in the first round, and Madrid won at the end, it'd have been marvelous, the best tournament on earth...
As I said, it was a first, and no way a first is perfect... The host nation representant was an "obstacle", now they've "corrected" that... maybe the same way FIFA thinks the current champions participating in the next World Cup is bad, so they've taken their spot...

And nickel hunter for nickel hunter, the Toyota Cup and the new World Club Championship are just that... just like the Confed cup...

Had Vasco won it, or any other team in the World, i would still be saying it was crap. Games for 2000 people in Morumbi/Maracanã apart from Corinthians/Vasco matches? Agreed on the nickel hunter bit. I kinda like the Confederations Cup, as it somewhat ressembles a World Cup, on a lesser way, but still. Shows how's the scene on the host country and stuff.

I'll just say that being the winner of the "worldwide annual street fighter competition for mentally challenged boys whose name start with Z" mean as much to me as the world club competition mean to europeans, and if the prize money went to my boss, it'd mean even less... That's even less if it's in Japan, during school period

Prize money to your boss means more money to the club, and that means more funds for wages. Players also get awarded a little prize money for wins (the so-called Bicho around here) when it comes to silverware. Japan isnt that far from Europe on a plane anyway. And still, they're professional football players, getting paid a ****load of money per month, their job is to play football, regardless of location, time, date and validity of competition. If it's on the fixtures list, it's their duty, period.

 

[Kibe Kru]

Had Vasco won it, or any other team in the World, i would still be saying it was crap. Games for 2000 people in Morumbi/Maracanã apart from Corinthians/Vasco matches? Agreed on the nickel hunter bit. I kinda like the Confederations Cup, as it somewhat ressembles a World Cup, on a lesser way, but still. Shows how's the scene on the host country and stuff.

We had games with 8000 people in Pacaembu during the World Cup in 1950 (and that's when we had 200k in Maracana and 50-60k in Pacaembu)... it's always gonna be like that, people won't go to matches that aren't interesting.. I fear it'll be the same for the Saprissa vs. Sidney and the Ahly vs. Ittihad matches in Japan...

Prize money to your boss means more money to the club, and that means more funds for wages. Players also get awarded a little prize money for wins (the so-called Bicho around here) when it comes to silverware. Japan isnt that far from Europe on a plane anyway. And still, they're professional football players, getting paid a ****load of money per month, their job is to play football, regardless of location, time, date and validity of competition. If it's on the fixtures list, it's their duty, period.

Prize money to my boss that won't get into my pocket is not my money... Sao Paulo may have bichos, I'm not sure about Liverpool...
Japan not being far still means a week "lost" to Liverpool, plus 10 hours or so of jetlag, or whatever they call the difference in the time zones...
Also, I can be a professional, and still complain about doing some stuff... sure, I'll get it done, and as a professional, I have to ensure it's done properly... but don't count on me being happy for doing something I don't want to... which is how some players may feel about this, they may not want to go to Japan, but they'll end up going... they'll play, but don't expect them to be happy about it...

 

[Callum]

who cares about this tournament? Why would they risk injuries to go play this? (Liverpool that is)

 

[Parra Power]

who cares about this tournament? Why would they risk injuries to go play this? (Liverpool that is)

why not..... UEFA"s already changed its rules to allow liverpool into CL before.... so why not again? and in which case, world championship > a few useless league games