While a couple of surprising sides have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, it seems close to a formality that once again Europe and South America’s best will contest the final to decide which team will be crowned world champions.
Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, under the astute management of Marcello Lippi, have negotiated a quarter-final date with Al-Ahly to advance to a final four meeting with Bayern Munich. Raja Casablanca are the surprise team of this season’s competition. The tournament’s host club have already gone past two rounds defeating Auckland City, Oceania’s representatives, before shocking the football world with a 2-1 extra-time victory over heavy favourites Monterrey, the CONCACAF champions.
If history is a guide then both Guangzhou Evergrande and Raja Casablanca have gone as far as they can go in the tournament. Only one time since the competition has moved to its current format in 2006 has a team outside Europe or South America featured in the final. That was in 2010 when Democratic Republic of Congo side TP Mazembe upset the form book, not only defeating Pachuca in the quarter-finals, but going to record a famous 2-0 win over Internacional in the semi-finals. They lost 3-0 to Inter Milan in the final, however they garnered widespread praise for their performances.
Mazembe’s feats are the rarest of exceptions. And that’s why the smart money for Tuesday and Wednesday’s semi-final matches is on Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro and Germany’s Bayern Munich.
South American champions Atletico Mineiro won the Copa Libertadores in dramatic circumstances back in July defeating Paraguayan outfit Olimpia on penalties. Coached by the highly-rated Brazilian manager Cuca, Atletico came back from a two-goal first leg deficit in the final to win the second leg 2-0 and send the tie into penalties.
The Belo Horizonte club have no shortage of attacking spark including the leading Copa Libertadores scoring duo of Jo and Diego Tardelli. However, the main inspiration of the side comes from the ageing legs of their world-renown playmaker Ronaldinho. Now at the tail end of a phenomenal career, the former Barcelona star has defied the odds to make a comeback late on in his football life. After generally disappointing spells with AC Milan and Flamengo, the former World Player of the Year has found a home with Atletico Mineiro combining style with substance to lead his side to continental glory. Recently out through injury, Ronaldinho has made it back to full fitness and all eyes will be on the 33-year-old in Morocco. With 24 goals and 22 assists in his two seasons with Atletico, Ronaldinho has shown that he still can be a force and is capable of producing the moment of magic necessary to change the course of a match.
Only two South American sides have triumphed over their European counterparts in Club World Cup finals since 2006. Assuming they reach the final, Atletico Mineiro will draw some inspiration from fellow Brazilian side Corinthians who defeated Chelsea in last year’s final. If their opponents happen to be Bayern Munich however, then the Brazilians will have to be at their best in order to take the world title. Last year, Corinthians were deserved winners, but many would argue that they were fortunate to take on an out-of-sorts Chelsea. Should Bayern Munich make this year’s final then they will be the undisputed favourites to lift the trophy in the final in Marrakesh on 21st December.
Winners of their first ever treble last season in the Bundesliga and Champions League, the Bavarians set all sorts of records sweeping everything before them. Barcelona were put to the sword with a 7-0 aggregate victory in the Champions League semi-finals, while Borussia Dortmund were beaten handily to the Bundesliga title and narrowly in the Champions League final.
The scary prospect for their opponents both at the Club World Cup and back in Europe is that this season’s version appears to be just as good if not better. The departure of coach Jupp Heynckes has been a void filled ably by Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona boss has fitted in seamlessly with the European champions. Guardiola has not needed time to get his charges to understand what he wants and Bayern Munich have lost only two competitive matches all season; the German Super Cup back in July to Borussia Dortmund and to Manchester City in the Champions League group stage.
Able to call on the likes of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller, Mario Mandzukic and Bastian Schweinsteiger amongst others, the Germans have also added depth in their midfield this season with the additions of Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara. Meanwhile a solid defence is anchored by one of the world’s best goalkeepers in Manuel Neuer.
Should Europe and South America square off once again then there will be no shortage of subplots. One interesting one will be Ronaldinho trying to gain some measure of revenge against Guardiola, the coached who so famously deemed the Brazilian as surplus to requirements when he took over at Barcelona. Another interesting point will be whether South America can win the tournament for a second time running. Also, can Bayern Munich win a fourth title this calendar year capping off a historic 2013 for one of world football’s most iconic clubs?
The answers to those questions also depend on the results of the semi-finals. Both Atletico Mineiro and Bayern Munich would do well not to underestimate Raja Casablanca and Guangzhou Evergrande respectively. They do so at their own peril and will want to avoid becoming an upset victim like Internacional to Mazembe in the 2010 competition. Having said that, the chances are of another South America v Europe clash. And if that happens then it will be intriguing watching as world football gets set to anoint new club world champions.
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