Who are they? Sport Club Internacional
Where are they from? Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
How did they qualify? As 2010 Copa Libertadores winners
The Brazilian team with the best organisation, Inter should be an example to others. Improvements made in recent seasons are clearly helping Internacional to become an even bigger club than they were a few years ago.
Three times Brasileirao champions – and the only team to complete a league winning season undefeated (in 1979) –, one time Copa do Brasil and, since August, two times Copa Libertadores winners, Inter are the only Brazilian side to have lifted everything which was possible for them to lift, including the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup, beating Barcelona 1-0 in the final.
Expectations
Expectations are always high for Brazilian sides in the Club World Cup, and somehow they often manage to beat Europe’s representatives in the final, just as Internacional themselves did in 2006. Losing out in the semi-final – the stage they enter the competition at – is not even contemplated. Inter are flying to Abu Dhabi to bring the trophy back to Brazil, aiming in the process to overtake their main rivals’, Gremio’s, record of Intercontinental titles.
Key Players
Andres D’Alessandro – Attacking Midfielder: The Argentine, "D’Ale", signed for Inter via San Lorenzo after an unsuccessful spell in Europe, and while he may not be able to lay claim to being the side’s best player, D’Alessandro is often handed the job of creating goal scoring chances, a role he plays very well. As an experienced midfielder, the 29-year-old also knows just the right moment to speed play up, and when to slow it down.
Rafael Sóbis – Forward: Inter’s headline signing for this season only started to show his true quality in the final rounds of the Brasileirao. Sobis arrived back at Inter following an unhappy spell in Spain with Real Betis and a stop-off in search of dollars in the United Arab Emirates – where he will return for the Club World Cup. Sobis, who scored in the 2006 Copa Libertadores final before joining Betis, is hoping to win the title he missed out on because of his move. After some poor performances, it may be no surprise Sobis has improved as the Club World Cup comes around – he is determined to win the trophy.
Pablo Guiñazu – Defensive Midfielder: For the casual observer watching Guiñazu, it is hard to understand how he is able to pop up all across the pitch. His willingness to hunt down the ball and win it back for Inter is one of his most prized qualities and has made him a real fan favourite. The Argentine is a player every club would like to have. With Guiñazu goalkeepers feel they can take the evening off.
Coach
Celso Roth: The 53-year-old joined Internacional during the latter stages of the Copa Libertadores, and instantly left the fans disappointed. Roth, so the club’s faithful claimed, was not a coach to win titles. He had bossed rivals Gremio and arrived from Vasco da Gama, where he underachieved and became known for failing to get his hands on silverware. However, after Roth took over, Inter went on a winning run in the Libertadores and began to rack up the victories in the Brasileirao, playing attacking football, something former coach Jorge Fossati had failed to do. Having won the Copa Libertadores, Roth is now loved by Inter’s fans, who want him to continue in his role next season, although he has faced accusations that he inherited a strong squad.
Prediction
Inter are heading to the United Arab Emirates to win the Club World Cup, there’s no doubt about that. With their Italian namesakes not showing the same strength since Jose Mourinho left, the Brazilians feel their chances are even better. And if they win the tournament, their 105,000 plus official members – the sixth highest in the world – will have something to celebrate. Inter have shown strong form in recent years and other Brazilian clubs would be wise to take note of their organisation and professionalism. A second Club World Cup for Internacional, in the space of four years, would be just reward for a club who should be the blueprint for their peers both on and off the pitch. The club’s board and supporters expect them to triumph.
