The first FIFA Club World
Cup Japan 2015 quarter-final pits Club America against Guangzhou
Evergrande on Sunday. The CONCACAF and AFC champions, who have never
faced off before and are both back in the competition for the second
time, get their challenge underway with an extra-appetising carrot
dangling in front of them: the chance to take on Barcelona in the
semi-finals.The match
Club America-Guangzhou Evergrande, Osaka Nagai Stadium, Sunday 13 December, 16:00 (local time)
Club America, the most successful team in Mexican football history, arrived in Japan dreaming of becoming the first side from the country to reach the final and lift the trophy. To do so, they first have to get through their opening encounter, which would at least ensure they accomplish their minimum target of a top-four finish.
Spearheaded by the firepower of El Tri marksman Oribe Peralta and Argentina-born Dario Benedetto, Las Águilas
(the Eagles) come into the tournament with a point to prove after
recently being knocked out of the domestic Apertura championship in the
semi-finals. They can, at least, take heart from the club's previous
meeting with the Asian champions on the world stage: in 2006 they beat
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-0 in the quarters. The Chinese giants have reason enough to be confident of escaping the fate of the aforementioned side from Korea Republic. They boast a highly intriguing blend in their set-up, which is headed by the savvy, ever-ambitious Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, a renowned motivator. Indeed, they have the tools to pose a real test to the Mexicans, not least in the shape of a trio of the coach's compatriots: Paulinho, Ricardo Goulart and Robinho. All three were inspirational in the Southern China Tigers' dazzling AFC Champions League conquest only three weeks ago and the team are positively brimming with confidence, having lost just five times in 46 games so far in 2015.
The stat
4 – A digit that you will not find anywhere on the Guangzhou Evergrande kits, with the shirt numbers 4, 14, 24, 34 and so on not available to players. In Chinese culture, certain numbers are considered lucky or unlucky depending on the word to which they bear the closest resemblance when spoken aloud. Accordingly, four is viewed as a bad omen because it sounds extremely similar to the Chinese word for 'death'.
The words
They're a very dangerous team who are really well coached by Mr [Luiz Felipe] Scolari. We know that they like to press hard in midfield and when the opposition try to bring the ball out, and they have several interesting players. It's not going to be an easy match: it'll be keenly contested and very tough for both sides."
Club America coach Ignacio Ambriz
"Winners don't give up. My aim is [to win] the Club World Cup. Why shouldn't it be? I have a great team, a great club and great players. We can make this dream come true."
Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
By
comfortably dispatching Auckland City in the tournament’s opening
match, Sanfrecce Hiroshima have set up a tie with CAF Champions League
winners TP Mazembe. However, they will be without the services of Gakuto
Notsuda, Kohei Shimizu and Kosei Shibasaki who were forced to withdraw
through injury during the 2-0 win in Yokohama.
TP Mazembe, the
first African team to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in
2010, arrived in Osaka on Tuesday and have enjoyed several training
sessions on Japanese soil, though whether they are more refreshed than
their opponents following their long journey from Congo DR remains to be
seen.
Able to count on the majority of their key men, including veteran
keeper Robert Kidiaba and striker Mbwana Samatta, TP Mazembe have their
sights set on winning their first game and securing a semi-final, on
Wednesday 16 December, versus Copa Libertadores champions River Plate.
Spurring them on are memories of their feats five years ago, when they shocked then Libertadores holders Internacional de Porto Alegre in the last four to reach the final, where they were beaten by Inter Milan.
The match
TP Mazembe-Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Osaka Nagai Stadium, Sunday 13 December, 19.30 (local time)
The stat
23 – Sanfrecce Hiroshima are the youngest club remaining in this competition having been formed in 1992.
The words
"They have quick players who like to attack and influence the game by playing positively. With the players we have out injured and with others mentally and physically drained from a hectic J.League season, it’s going to be extremely tough but we are hopeful that we can still progress to the semi-finals.”
Sanfrecce Hiroshima coach Hajime Moriyasu
“In the first match, we saw how Auckland’s lack of concentration cost them. Sanfrecce got an early lead and controlled the game from then on. We can’t make that mistake. They’re a good team, but a tired one with injuries. We’re going to have to take the game by the horns and cause them problems by attacking them.”
TP Mazembe coach Patrice Carteron
 |
| SANFREECE AGAINST AUCKLAND CITY |
 |
| TP PLAYERS AT THE AIRPORT IN JAPAN |
Spurring them on are memories of their feats five years ago, when they shocked then Libertadores holders Internacional de Porto Alegre in the last four to reach the final, where they were beaten by Inter Milan.
The match
TP Mazembe-Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Osaka Nagai Stadium, Sunday 13 December, 19.30 (local time)
The stat
23 – Sanfrecce Hiroshima are the youngest club remaining in this competition having been formed in 1992.
The words "They have quick players who like to attack and influence the game by playing positively. With the players we have out injured and with others mentally and physically drained from a hectic J.League season, it’s going to be extremely tough but we are hopeful that we can still progress to the semi-finals.”
Sanfrecce Hiroshima coach Hajime Moriyasu
“In the first match, we saw how Auckland’s lack of concentration cost them. Sanfrecce got an early lead and controlled the game from then on. We can’t make that mistake. They’re a good team, but a tired one with injuries. We’re going to have to take the game by the horns and cause them problems by attacking them.”
TP Mazembe coach Patrice Carteron
fifa.com
Follow us on
Twitter: @bizarre_comms
Email: bizarrecommunications@gmail.com
Facebook: Bizarre Communications
0 comments: