FIFA Club World Cup in Review

The annual FIFA Club World Cup wrapped up in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.  Pre-Tournament favorites Inter Milan won the final with ease (3-0 romp of TP Mazembe), however, I think the tournament was about much more than who won it.  Here are some stats, results, and interesting stories that developed throughout the tournament.




1st Place: Football Club Internazionale Milano, Italy, UEFA
2nd Place: Tout Poussaint Mazembe, DR Congo, CAF
3rd Place: Sport Club Internacional, Brazil, CONMBEOL
4th Place: Seognman Ilhwa Chunma Football Club, Korea Republic, AFC
5th Place: Club de Futbol Pachuca, Mexico, CONCACAF
6th Place: Al Wahda Sports Club, United Arab Emirates, host
7th Place: PRK Hekari United Football Club, Papua New Guinea, OFC

Golden Boot: Mauricio Molina, Colombia, Seognam Ilhwa Chunma FC

Golden Ball: Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon, FC Internazionale Milano
Silver Ball: Dioko Kaluyituka, DR Congo, TP Mazembe
Bronze Ball: Andres D'Alessandro, Argentina, SC Internacional

Top Stories:
-Inter Milan represents the 4th consecutive UEFA team to win the tourney and the 2nd won from Milan after AC did it in 2007.  Samuel Eto'o lead the team, winning the MVP and scoring in the final.  This victory may have save Rafa Benitez's job, although sources speculate that he's axed regardless.  This also was an coming of age, of sorts, from Guadeloupean-French winger, 22yr old Jonathan Biabiany, who iced the cake in the final.

Check out the hair!

-The biggest story of the tournament was TP Mazembe's disruption of a South American-European final.  They become the first team outside of the two big federations to reach the final of the tournament.  When I was watching the game against Pachuca, the team just looked like a stereotypical African team--big, physical, and lightning quick, with technical and tactical lacking.  However, the team looked transformed in the semifinal, going up 2-0 against a very crafty Internacional.  The final was more of a celebration of accomplishment than an actual competition as Inter quickly affirmed their superiority.  Dioko Kaluyituka was a highlight for the team, scoring a goal and winning the silver ball, and may be looking for a transfer to a better league.  More noted than they play on the field, was Mazembe's interesting array of hair styles.  Hopefully this encourages supposed sub-Saharan powerhouse leagues to put more into their own champions league so they may get this exposure (this means you, South Africa).  Well done Crows!!!

-SC Internacional may have won a medal, but they should be disappointed.  The Porto Alegre side became the first South American team no to reach the final.  The team looked cocky in the game against Mazembe and they paid for it.  This is the team that upset Barcelona to win the whole thing in 2006.  The one highlight for them in the tournament was rumored Houston Dynamo target and journeyman Andres D'Alessandro winning the Bronze ball.

-Seognam's Colombian striker Mauricio Molina lit up the tourney, scoring three goals and winning the golden boot.  Seognam had a productive tourney, even though they finished 4th.  Seognam's foreigners stole the show, with Montenegrins, Australians, and Colombians driving the team.

-Papua New Guinea? yes that's right.  Papua New Guinea was represented in a FIFA tournament for the first time ever in the form of Hekari United.  Even though they lost in the play-in game against a weak Al Wahda team, they were fun to watch.  I wish they could've played in a consolation game because they attack was direct and crafty at times, with Henry Fa'arodo providing the spice.  This is encouragement for alll the minnows out there, and this is what makes the tournament more than a formality.  This means that teams from countries other than the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand, Korea, and Japan can participate in the tourney.  What I really liked about this team was the manageress.  That's right, manageress.  It was the club president's wife who helps coaches the team, makes the team dinner, and puts out the kits for the team.  I even thought I saw her pull out orange slices at half time.

-Abu Dhabi's indifference.  FIFA got the impression that the Emirati city wasn't as thrilled to host the tourney as they should be, and they responded.  The 2011 and 2012 editions will be moved back to Japan.  For some of the games, attendence was weak.  Low: 10,908 in the 5th-Place game.

-Concluding Thought: Re-seeding should occur!!! I think Africa has earned the right for a first bye along with UEFA. Will it happen? probably not.
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