Reds-Rossoneri: Finally (hopefully) a meaningful match
November 16, 2007: Everything went to plan at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday night when Urawa Reds finished the job and became Asian champions.
And if everything goes to plan at the FIFA Club World Cup next month, then Japan will stage one of the most attractive games in the history of football in this country.
On Thursday, December 13, Reds could be facing Milan at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, in the semi-finals of FIFA’s revamped club world championship – and wouldn’t that be a treat for the nation!
A proper match involving a Japanese club against a top world team; a match that means something from a competitive standpoint instead of another dreary tour/training game; a match that will be watched around the world; a match that will put Japanese football in the spotlight.
The Reds-Rossoneri fixture is not fixed yet, of course, because Urawa must first beat the winners of the play-off between Waitakere United of New Zealand and Sepahan of Iran. Anyone remember them?
Even before the AFC Champions League final took place, the Iranians were already guaranteed a return trip to Japan for the Club World Cup. Win the Champions League and they would qualify as Asian champions; lose, which they did, and they would enter the play-off as the “host” team – due to the FIFA rule forbidding two clubs from the same football association taking part.
Sepahan will surely defeat the Kiwis, who won the Oceania title by beating Ba of Fiji on the away goals rule after a 2-2 draw.
But just because Reds beat Sepahan in the Asian final does not mean they are certain to do it again. The carrot of playing Milan in the semi-finals would be a huge incentive for any club team, so Reds will have to do it all again when they play Sepahan or Waitakere at Toyota Stadium on Monday, December 10.
I am sure the Reds fans will travel in their thousands to Nagoya – and I am sure also that the Reds “brand”, following their ACL success, will have started spreading around the country; meaning strong support from that region, too.
It may be mid-November, but there is a long way to go yet before this football year is out.
ends
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