Ahli makes second consecutive showing, hopes for improved game
The crowning of the world s best team for the year 2006 will be a hard fought climb to the top for six continental champions in Japan where the third edition of FIFA s Club World Championship will come to its exciting climax on Dec. 17.
It was in 2000, when the long awaited dream came true, as FIFA s first Club World Championship was held in Brazil where the host team Corinthians was crowned as champions.
However, in a tight soccer schedule it was rather a hard task for the FIFA to find ample time to bring all the continental champions together to compete for the globe s best soccer team.
In 2005, a revamped seven-day knockout championship took place in Japan with the highly acclaimed Brazilian side San Paulo crowned as champions.
This year, the competition will feature FC Barcelona as Europe s representative, Korea Republic s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC as Asia s crowned champions, Brazil s Sport Club Internacional representing the South America, Egypt s Ahly Sporting Club as Africa s representative, Mexico s Club America as representative of North and Central America as well as the Caribbean zone, and New Zealand s Auckland City FC as Oceania s representative.
Among the participants, FC Barcelona and Ahly Sporting Club are expected to impress
Ahly Sporting Club is the sole club to take part in the competition for the second consecutive year. After a dismal performance in last year s competition with two defeats and ranked last, Egypt s reds are looking forward to reconcile their massed fans in this year s tournament.
Under the managerial command of Portuguese coach Manual Jose, the club has managed to dominate the African Club soccer scene for the last two seasons.
The club will unfortunately miss the efforts of Mohamed Barakat as well as Angolan professional Gilberto due to injury.
The team is equipped with lots of talent, namely Essam El-Hadary, a very solid keeper whose terrific efforts have led to retaining the title.
Furthermore, the team has a solid striking with the likes of Mohamed Abu Treika already nominated for Africa s best player this year alongside vigorous striker Emad Motaeb and Angola s international forward Flavio.
North and Central America s representative Club America (Mexico) will play on Monday a fierce game against Asia s representative Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (Korea Republic).
Winners of the two interesting encounters will have a tougher task when they face top seeds FC Barcelona and Brazil s Sport Club Internacional in the semis, while losers will still realize a chance to reconcile in the 5th-6th place playoff.
FC Barcelona stands out as hot favorites for the prestigious title. Under command of Frank Rijkaard, the star-studded team will be ready to put on their impressive soccer shows already displayed throughout the last two seasons and concluded by being crowned as UEFA s Champions League winners.
In regard to the team tactics, it has a formidable striking force with the presence of brilliant Ronaldinho alongside Messi and Deco providing the strikers Samual Eto o, Eidur Gudjohnson and Javier Saviola with precise passing upon which the ultimate result is striking the opponent s net with highly-classic strikes.
