As has occured so often over the years, a South American player earned a European club the FIFA Club World Cup. Lionel Messi converted a goal in the second half of extra time on Saturday, as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Estudiantes de La Plata 2-1 in Abu Dhabi.

Barcelona, the European champions, beat the South American champions to win their sixth title of 2009, confirming their status as the best team in the world.

Mauro Boselli, the top goal scorer of the ´09 Copa Libertadores, put Estudiantes ahead late in the first half with a fine header.

Inspired by the leadership skills of captain Juan Sebastian Veron it seemed that Estudiantes would win the title, but in the final minute of normal time Gerard Pique drew Barcelona level with a looping header over Estudiantes goalkeeper Damian Albil.

Argentine forward Messi earned Barcelona the title when he met a precise cross from Brazilian defender Daniel Alves with a fine diving header in the 110th minute of extra time.

Messi earned criticism from the frustrated Estudiantes fans, who believe that he is one player for Barcelona and another for the Argentine national team. He will have an opportunity to change this image at the 2010 World Cup.

Gregory Sica

Southamericanfutbol.com

Since winning the European Golden Ball last week, Lionel Messi provided his opinion on both the national team of Argentina and the national team of Spain. He also spoke about the upcoming Club World Cup, where his side, Barcelona of Spain, are expected to face Estudiantes de La Plata of Argentina in the final.

“If we are going to go as far as we can, we have to start winning games before we start thinking about winning championships.” Messi told FIFA.com.

The Barcelona superstar believes that since securing World Cup qualification the situation with the Argentine national team has settled down, but that there is still plenty of work to do.

“We’ve only just started a new phase with the national team, and now we will see a major change in how the team play.”

Messi also thanked his Barcelona team-mates for helping him win the triple with Pep Guardiola giving the orders from the touch line. Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League as well as La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

The Rosario-born player is also particularly fond of Vicente del Bosque´s Spanish national team, where several of his Barcelona team-mates star.

“They have a style similar to what we have in Barcelona and nowadays they are the best team in the world,” claimed Messi.

Messi also commented about the FIFA Club World Cup, which will get underway in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday: “It is the only trophy that we (Barcelona) are missing at club level, and it is the last tournament of this historic 2009.”

He also said that although the coach has not worked on the analysis of their opponents in the tournament as of yet, he did say, “being an Argentine, I know about Estudiantes. They are a team who like to play football and they have very good players, like La Bruja (Juan Sebastian Veron), who dictates the tempo.”

Barcelona kicks off the Club World Cup on December 15th against either Pohang Steelers or TP Mazembe.

Jack Tilghman

Southamericanfutbol.com

FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol praised Estudiantes de La Plata, a team who the European champions could possibly face in the grand final of the FIFA Club World Cup later in December.

Puyol still recalls Barcelona´s finals defeat to Internacional of Brazil in 2006, and he hopes that this isn´t repeated against equally strong South American opponents.

“Always when you participate in a competition like this, you feel that it is the moment to win it. That time we arrived with lots of motivation, you could see in the matches that from the first minute we looked for the victory, we had opportunities to score, but we couldn´t manage this. Now we will have another opportunity and we will do our best to assure ourselves of the title,” said the defender.

But Puyol knows that it won´t be a straight forward task, because Estudiantes count with the presence of Juan Sebastian Veron, a sensational player in his opinion.

“He is an extraordinary player, with lots of class,” he stated.

It is highly possible that Barcelona and Estudiantes will meet in the final, but Puyol insists that both teams will have to get there in the first place.

“Before thinking of a possible final, first we have to get there, and whoever will be our opponents, will give us a hard time. We know we face teams with lots of quality and that is why we can´t be too confident. They are teams that we are not familiar with, they aren´t Spanish or European, and that is why we will study them well,” he concluded.

Gregory Sica

Southamericanfutbol.com

Copa Libertadores winners Estudiantes de La Plata will face either Mazembe of Congo or Pohang Steelers of Korea in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in December, it was announced on Thursday.

European champions Barcelona will face Atlante, if the Mexican outfit beat the winners of the quarter-final clash between Al Ahli and Auckland City.

The Club World Cup will take place between the 9th and 19th of December in the UAE. The opening match will be between Al Ahli and Auckland, with the winner facing Atlante on December 12.

On the 11th Mazembe will lock horns with Pohang Steelers. Champions League winners Barcelona will debut in the competition on the 16th of December.

Estudiantes´ semi-final is staged for the 15th of December. The title decider, which is expected to be between Estudiantes and Barcelona, is scheduled for the 19th of December.

Last year Manchester United of England won the competition, after ousting Liga de Quito of Ecuador 1-0 in the final.

Gregory Sica

Southamericanfutbol.com

Mauro Boselli affirmed that the main priority of Estudiantes de La Plata is the Club World Cup in December, and even if they have chances of winning the Argentine Apertura championship, the international competition comes first.

“Even if we are towards the end of the Apertura, the priority is the Club World Cup,” Boselli insisted to La Red after Los Pincharratas thrashed Argentine Clausura champions Velez Sarsfield 3-0 on the weekend.

The leading scorer of the 2009 Copa Libertadores celebrated a victory that saw Estudiantes jump into third place of the league standings.

“I think against Velez the real Estudiantes returned. I think we played well in the second half and we ended up winning 3-0 against very important rivals.”

Boselli converted his team´s second goal, which was a powerful drive from outside of the area.

In other news, midfielder Jose Sosa returned to the Estudiantes squad for the first time, but has yet to be inscripted for the Club World Cup.

But Estudiantes have been granted permission by Bayern Munich for the player to begin training with the La Plata side.

For now Estudiantes are not sure whether FIFA with authorise the player to participate in the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Gregory Sica

Southamericanfutbol.com

Also in this column:
• Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup

After 50 years with nothing to show, Arsenal de Sarandí finally wrote itself into the history books Wednesday night after winning the 2007 Copa Sudamericana in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The tiny Argentine club, which had never challenged for any title in the past, needed a late goal from Martín Andrizzi to beat Mexico’s Club América to the title on the away-goals rule in a thrilling finals series that can be compared to the very best the continent has seen in recent years.

Arsenal’s story is familiar. Last Friday it picked up an unexpected 3-2 victory over América in Mexico City in the first leg of the final, a result that meant that it only needed a draw in Buenos Aires to close in on the title.

But when Juan Carlos Silva put América up 2-0 with less than 30 minutes remaining in the decider in Avellaneda on Wednesday, it looked like Arsenal’s luck had finally run out, and a Mexican club would win the South American competition for a second successive year.

Then Andrizzi appeared. The midfielder, who had only entered the field moments earlier, struggled against the Mexican defense before beating Guillermo Ochoa with a well-placed left-footed shot, the decisive goal that rescued Arsenal and won it the title.

The strike was typical of Arsenal’s campaign. The Argentines not only struggled against each opponent they faced, but incredibly, didn’t win once at home in five attempts during the tournament.

If it weren’t for its amazing away form, Arsenal would have been long gone. But victories over San Lorenzo, Goiás, Chivas de Guadalajara, River Plate (on penalties) and its latest victory against América, indicated that the Argentine minnow was set for greater things.

In truth, Arsenal’s campaign was nothing less than magnificent. It came into each one of its matchups as the clear underdog, but its teamwork and determination allowed it to overcome much more traditionally recognized opponents.

Arsenal is by far the least-supported team in the Argentine first division, and attracts only a few thousand fans to home games. When you consider the rivals it dispatched en route to the title, you can get a better idea of what it actually achieved.

Besides Goiás, the rest of its rivals have all won several international trophies in the past, and have fan bases that exceed the one million mark. Arsenal’s opponent in the final, América, is not only the wealthiest club in Latin America, but along with Chivas (which Arsenal eliminated in the quarters), is the most supported team in the whole of Mexico.

Much of the credit should be given to the club’s manager, Gustavo Alfaro, who got the most out of a squad of players that had never won anything before. He was able to get them playing an effective style of soccer more common with higher-profile teams.

This was clearly demonstrated in the second leg of the final, as a very aggressive Arsenal dominated América, creating numerous scoring opportunities that ended up wearing out a Mexican side that just couldn’t find its rhythm.

Arsenal has gone a long way in proving that smaller clubs can come out on top in even the most important international competitions, no matter how difficult it seems. Its Copa Sudamericana success coincides with that of neighbor Lanús, another relatively unknown club, which clinched the Argentine Apertura championship for the first time last Sunday after an equally impressive campaign.

Boca takes on the world

Turning our attention to the Club World Cup in Japan, there’s the possibility for another Argentine club to win an international title this year. Boca Juniors are no stranger to international success, and the six-time South American champions will be desperate to win their fourth World Championship.

Boca should fight for the title, along with European champion AC Milan, which boasts newly crowned Golden Ball winner and FIFA World Player of the Year favorite Kaká, as well as former winner of both awards Ronaldo, who should be fit just in time for Milan’s debut.

But the Argentines will be without their main inspiration, playmaker Juan Román Riquelme, who recently returned to the club from Villarreal but wasn’t short-listed in time for the tournament.

The Argentines are not the same side without Riquelme, and felt his absence as they struggled in an Apertura championship that clearly revealed their weaknesses in the attack and their lack of creativity in the midfield.

Still, Boca is vastly experienced in these types of competitions and is expected to meet Milan in the championship decider on Dec. 16 in Yokohama. This would be an intriguing showdown between the two most internationally decorated clubs in the game’s history. (The two last met in ’03 for the Intercontinental Cup; Boca beat Milan for the title on penalties after both teams were deadlocked 1-1 after extra time.)

But before Boca’s unconfirmed, but already highly anticipated clash with Milan, the Argentines will meet either Étoile du Sahel of Tunisia or Pachuca of Mexico in the semifinals.

Should Pachuca advance, the Mexicans are expected to give Boca a run for its money, after having demonstrated their quality over the last year, with three international titles to its credit (including the ’06 Copa Sudamericana).

But the Mexican club has experienced a drastic change in fortune in recent months, and is no longer that same side that destroyed all opposition, as it became the most dominant club Mexico had seen in a number of years.

The fact that Pachuca is low on morale should play in Boca’s advantage, as the Argentines are experts when it comes to dominating vulnerable opposition. Veteran striker Martín Palermo, in particular, is the key to Boca’s scoring success.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com

Southamericanfutbol.com

Are the world champions a one-hit wonder?

Sport Club Internacional was the story of 2006, surprising everyone by winning the Copa Libertadores for the club’s first-ever major international title. The Brazilian club then went on to shock Barcelona in Japan at the Club World Cup in December.

Now? Barely seven months after its first big triumph, Inter may not even make it out of the first round in its defense of the South American crown.

After a huge breakout, this year could be tragic for the club. Despite a positive influx of talent in the squad, its latest Libertadores campaign has been a nightmare.

The reigning champs have reason to expect the worst — if they don’t reverse the situation immediately, they could already be on their way out.

With only three points through nine matches, Inter’s morale is at its lowest point, especially with two heavy defeats. Unless there is an immediate change in attitude from the players, they can look forward to being the laughing stock of the continent, as the likes of Santos, Boca Juniors, Libertad and Flamengo look to consolidate themselves in the competition.

The funny thing is, it isn’t as if Abel Braga‘s side is playing that badly. The main reason they’re in such a deep hole has less to do with them — it’s because so many of the other clubs have gotten stronger. Almost two months in, we’ve been treated to some of the best soccer the Copa Libertadores has had to offer in recent years.

Still, the Brazilians from Porto Alegre have been heavily criticized for their lack of creativity, especially in the midfield. They’ve also been slow and predictable, and highly rated attacking players Iarley and Fernandão don’t seem to have woken up yet. Apart from teenage sensation Alexandre Pato, who led Inter to a 3-0 win against Emelec, the side has looked sluggish.

The reason? They entered the field with salto alto, commonly used slang for “overconfidence.” After making history last season, the club has gone off the roof with its celebrations, to the degree that its preseason work got off to a late start and the team lost ground on its competition.

Much like the Brazilian national team in last year’s World Cup, Inter came into the Libertadores thinking it would breeze through its supposedly inferior group opponents and would then begin thinking about defending its own crown. But it doesn’t work that way. Inter was placed in the most evenly matched group of an increasingly tough competition, and should’ve been in fifth gear right from the beginning. Injuries haven’t helped its cause, either.

The sad part about all this is that Inter actually has the potential to win back-to-back titles. The Reds are a solid side with plenty of good options in most sectors of the field. But they haven’t shown the attitude or the will to succeed.

Inter still has enough time to correct the situation, and that starts on Wednesday night when it hosts the most important match of the year: Vélez Sarsfield at the Beira-Rio. It’s a true do-or-die, as Inter must win the game at all costs in order to maintain the possibility of advancing past the group stage.

But it won’t be easy. Embattled Inter will be up against a team that is still undefeated in the competition and is coming off a 3-0 triumph when the sides met in Buenos Aires two weeks ago. An extra incentive for the Argentines is that a victory will send them into the knockout round.

As of Tuesday, Inter shares last place with Emelec in Group 4. But while Vélez is virtually assured of a place in the next round, the other qualifying spot is open to any of the remaining teams in the group.

While Inter’s problems have intensified, so has the pressure. The club has not only underachieved in the Copa Libertadores, but also in the Campeonato Gaúcho, the state tournament of Rio Grande do Sul. In a competition littered with lower-division opponents, the Reds have fallen to second-rate clubs such as like Ulbra, Santa Cruz and Juventude.

Even if Inter is able to get out of this mess, don’t be surprised if it runs out of steam soon after. The side has clearly lost much of last year’s character due to mismanagement that led to the sale of several key players. The mood in the dressing room isn’t at its best, but if the problem is dealt with adequately, Inter can still be the big surprise.

If it wants to preserve its recent glory, Internacional must come out of its shell immediately. Braga’s men don’t have any margin for error if they intend to defend their crown. All three remaining matches from here on are must-win situations. It’s now or never.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com

Southamericanfutbol.com

Now tell me it wasn’t a shocker. Internacional’s stunning 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the title game of the FIFA Club World Cup sent a message around the world: Soccer’s balance of power is shifting toward clubs with a greater hunger to succeed.

Inter’s victory may well be the success story of the year if you’re the kind of person who loves giant upsets on the biggest stages. It’s always great to see the top two sides from the world’s two strongest continents battle it out, but particularly when the stakes are so high. South American clubs cherish the opportunity to showcase their skill to the world, especially when it’s at the expense of one of Europe’s most lucrative clubs.

Much of the reason behind the recent success of South American clubs is the outstanding internal quality of its major competitions, the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. These events have only increased in prominence in recent years, and their exciting formats mean that several different clubs are beginning to inflict pressure on the traditional heavyweights and are coming out on top.

This year was no exception, and no matter your vantage point, the continent has experienced numerous surprises. It all started in August when Internacional hoisted the Copa Libertadores after an amazing run that saw it edge out defending champion São Paulo in the final.

The Porto Alegre-based club hadn’t qualified for the competition in 12 years, but all of a sudden it was sweeping aside the top club in the tournament en route to the title. Inter’s stunner over Ronaldinho‘s Barça last weekend only justified the achievement.

The year of the underdog has seen many South American clubs come back into the spotlight after long periods in mediocrity. Not only in Brazil, but also in Argentina – a country whose league has mostly been dominated by its wealthier clubs. The conclusion of the season provided a shock of the highest magnitudes as cash-strapped Estudiantes de La Plata came from behind to snatch the title away from overwhelming favorite Boca Juniors.

Steered by the determination of manager Diego Simeone and the character of midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón, Estudiantes never threw in the towel. Almost to the finish line of the Apertura championship, it looked unlikely that they would have a chance to catch Boca seeing as there was absolutely no room for error. But Estudiantes did just that — they made no mistakes in recording an impressive 12 victories in 13 matches to draw even with Boca, and then came from a goal down to defeat the two-time defending champs 2-1 in the championship playoff.

But it doesn’t stop there. Last week Pachuca added unprecedented prestige to its league, becoming the first Mexican club to win a major club competition inside South America. Los Tuzos defied all odds as they brushed aside hot favorite Colo-Colo for the Copa Sudamericana crown.

Clearly the balance of power in South American competitions is shifting toward the direction of those clubs that have been starved for recognition in recent years, despite having experienced glorious pasts. The reason: Clubs are beginning to understand that there are several elements that characterize a championship team, with the most important being skill, attitude and determination.

Internacional is the prime example of this rebellion. Not only did the Colorado defeat a star-studded Barcelona side, but they did so with awesome temperament. Inter made history in superb fashion, and although deemed inferior when compared to its imposing opposition, it lived up to the expectations of its massive following back home. Said attacking midfielder Iarley, whose picture-perfect pass led to Luis Adriano‘s late goal, “The matches are won on the field, not with one’s name.”

Inter’s victory once again verified that Brazilian clubs are still the most poised to win these kind of tournaments. Since the first club world championship in 2000, Brazilian clubs have had a tight lock on things. Despite the ongoing exodus of top players to Europe, its clubs continue to succeed, a trend many credit to the wealth of homegrown talent that continues to grow in Brazil.

Mexican clubs don’t have the same ludicrous pipeline Brazil has, which may be part of the reason they’ve never raised a South American trophy until now. Some have come close — Cruz Azul lost in the Libertadores final in ’01 and Chivas reached the semis the past two years, while Pumas lost in the Sudamericana final last year — but for the most part, they’re viewed as a disappointment by South American fans. That all changed last week when Pachuca finally stamped Mexico in the history books.

Fittingly, it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the inspiration of Pachuca’s South American players, particularly Argentines Christian Giménez and Damián Álvarez (who scored both Pachuca goals in the deciding second leg last week). They stole the show, and demonstrated that — besides Chivas, which fields only native players — Mexican clubs hugely rely on South American talent to overcome difficult opposition.

But more important, Pachuca demonstrated that Mexican clubs have improved enormously over the last few years, and that persistence is the key for them to keep on developing as they look to continue to make progress in top South American competitions.

The past year soccer was turned on its ear in South America, as clubs who haven’t been consistently successful in recent years took center stage. While Estudiantes and Pachuca have proven that fighting spirit can always replace quality, Internacional went a further step to outline the main concept behind winning a major title. The Brazilians not only reaffirmed that determination is still a defining factor in the game, but also a quality that can get the best out of any club.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com

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