Asian fans are lucky once again, especially the Japanese. FIFA Club World Cup 2012 will take place in Yokohama and Toyota from 6 December 2012 to 16 December 2012. So for 2012 edition, which are the Champion teams we are looking at?
Africa is represented by Al-Ahly SC when they stunned Esperance Sportive de Tunis 3-2 on aggregate in Tunisia to win a record-breaking seventh CAF Champions League to claim a spot in FIFA Club World Cup 2012. Key players to watch will be Mohamed Aboutrika, Mohamed Barakat & Wael Gomaa.
Chelsea FC from Europe needs no introduction. Although players like Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou have left, the team has the depth to bring on another class of great players to Japan this winter. Key players to note in this edition will be Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard & Fernando Torres.
Representing North & Central America is CF Monterry. The Mexican team participated in the last edition and accordingly to their coach, Vucetich, he believes the team will go into the tournament in a better shape compared to last year. Key players to watch, Humberto Suazo, Cesar Delgado & Aldo de Nigris.
Auckland City FC from Oceania. A veteran team in FIFA Club World Cup Championship which completed at the tournament on 3 occasions dating back to 2006. Auckland is set to field a largely unchanged squad from the team which participated in 2011 edition. Key players to watch will be Auckland’s captain, Ivan Vicelich, Albert Riera & Manel Exposito.
Corinthians from South America is another big team to watch this year. Basically winning all possible titles in Brazil and went on unbeaten throughout the competition and ousting rivals of the calibre of Emelec, Vasco da Gama, Santos and Boca Juniors in the knock-out stage to reach Japan 2012. Key players are Paulinho, Danilo & Emerson.
Back to Asia, our representatives will be Korean’s Ulsan Hyundai and Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Entering their third Champions League champaign as 2011 K-League runners-up, Ulsan put up an amazing run by edging out Japanese’s Kashiwa Reysol, Saudi’s Al Hilal, and eventually ran out 3-0 victors in the final against Al Ahli to clinch their maiden Asian title. Key players to note are Korean Internationals, Kim Shin Wook, Lee Kuen Ho & Kwak Tae Hwi.
As the host, Sanfrecce Hiroshima is no easy pushover to make up the numbers. The new J-League Champion has adhered to an attacking style of football infused with a tenacious drive for success under rookie manager, Hajime Moriyasu, who represented Japan 35 times. Sanfrecce’s youth academy also developed and produced great players which the club has credited to for its success. Key players to watch, Junya Osaki, Toshihiro Aoyama & Hisato Sato.
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