Milan in the World Club Cup

[Diabolico]

It's not until December, but with Boca having won the Copa Libertadores last night, the buildup is starting already.

CLUB CUP SHAPING UP
6/21/2007 3:30:00 PM
After winning the Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors will join MILAN, Pachuca (Mexico) and Waitakere United (New Zealand) in the World Club Cup

Boca Juniors beat Gremio 2-0 away on Wednesday to win the South American Libertadores Cup. Juan Roman Riquelme scored two second-half goals to complete a 5-0 aggregate win for the Argentines over their Brazilian opponents in the two-leg final. Boca will now represent South America in the World Club Cup long with Milan at the semi-finals stage.

BOCA LIBERTADORES CAMPAIGN

Gruppo 7 (Second with 10 pt)
Bolivar-Boca Juniors 0-0
Boca Juniors-Cenciano 1-0
Toluca-Boca Juniors 2-0
Boca Juniors-Toluca 3-0
Cienciano-Boca Juniors 3-0
Boca Juniors Bolivar 7-0
Last sixteen
Boca Juniors-Velez 3-0
Velez-Boca Juniors 3-1
Quarter-finals
Boca Juniors-Libertad 1-1
Libertad-Boca Juniors 0-2
Semi-finals
Cucuta Deportivo-Boca Juniors 3-1
Boca Juniors-Cucuta Deportivo 0-3
Final
Boca Juniors-Gremio 3-0
Gremio-Boca Juniors 0-2

The Club World Cup which will be held in Japan in December. So far the following teams have qualified for the FIFA-run competition:

Milan - Uefa Champions League winners
Boca Juniors - Copa Libertadores
Pachuca (Mexico) - Concacaf Champions Cup winners (7-6 on penalties) against Guadalajara
Waitakere United (New Zealand) - Oceanian Champions Cup winners against Ba (Fiji Islands): 1-2 and 1-0

Tournaments going on:
Asian Champions League - Quarter-finals stage with three teams from Amman (Jordan) and two from Singapore
African Champions Cup - Eight teams in two goups ahead of the semi-finals. Through are Egyptian side Al Ahly from Cairo, third in the Club World Cup 2007
Japanese league - J-League of 18 teams. After 16 games, league ends December 1, 2007, Gamba Osaka lead with 35 points; Urawa Red Diamonds 30; Kawasaki Frontale 27. Click here for full table.

Formula for Club World Cup 2007:
Preliminary round: J-League winners versus Waitakere United (Nzl)
Quarter-finals: winners of the preliminary round, Pachuca (Mex), Asian and African Champions League winners. Draw to be made
Semi-finals: winner of first quarter-final against Copa Libertadores winners;winner of second quarter-final against Milan.
Finals: Quarter-finalist losers play for 5th and 6th place; third and fourth place between the semi-finalist losers. The final.

A.C. Milan - CLUB CUP SHAPING UP

BOCA SET OUT CHALLENGE
6/21/2007

BUENOS AIRES - Boca Juniors have set out the challenge to the Rossoneri. Goalkeeper Mauricio Caranta said: 'We don't fear Milan. If we play the way we did against Gremio then we can do well in Japan, we have shown we can compete with anyone, we are not inferior to anyone and we fear no one, least of all Milan.'

AC MILAN - Sito Ufficiale - Official Website

[barracuda]

Can Ronaldo play?

[Aladino]

ooh, have they got something coming! Do i smell revenge in the air? Can't wait for this, I hope i will be able to catch these games...

yeah ronie can play

[lionel]

boca vs. milan! very interesting!
if riquelme plays, boca win!!!

[Diabolico]

But can Riquelme escape Gattuso?

To be honest I doubt that Boca will still have Riquelme by December; his loan to Boca is over and so far I haven't seen any signs that Boca intends to buy him back from Villarreal.

[Jager]

Great, what is the history of CL teams going over during the season and failing. Then you have the added travel and I really don't think players want this.

Just my two cents.....

[Diabolico]

Well to be honest, these things always feel like exhibition games to me. If you've already won your "CL" (either Champions League or Copa Libertadores), that's the trophy everyone cares about; Club World Cup still feels like an "icing on the cake" novelty, IMO.

Of course I hope we win it and will be watching the whole thing, but as far as I'm concerned, Milan has already won the most important trophy a European club side is eligible for.

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Diabolico

But can Riquelme escape Gattuso?

To be honest I doubt that Boca will still have Riquelme by December; his loan to Boca is over and so far I haven't seen any signs that Boca intends to buy him back from Villarreal.

yea.. that's why I said "if riquelme plays".. so in december boca will be a very normal team: no riquelme and no palacio.

[Jager]

I don't understand why they have to have the thing in Japan, must be sponsorship.

And why don't they have it before the season starts? In December? I'm sure that will really go well with Pirlo and Rhino.....

Milan will field mostly their bench players for this, no doubt in my mind.

It really is a no win situation, if you win, they laugh and say you played shit, if you lose, they mock you.

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Jager

I don't understand why they have to have the thing in Japan, must be sponsorship.

And why don't they have it before the season starts? In December? I'm sure that will really go well with Pirlo and Rhino.....

Milan will field mostly their bench players for this, no doubt in my mind.

It really is a no win situation, if you win, they laugh and say you played shit, if you lose, they mock you.

japan is a very bad place, agreed.

yes, before the season is best.

I don't think so. when barca went to that championship, rijkaard played his best players. and they lost anyway. (unluckily)

that's how it is about italian football, isn't it?

[Jager]

no, I think Carlo will play his bench players. You don't know how Italian football is.

Imagine Kaka getting injured at this??

[Aladino]

Last time he played a strong team, but this is revege from last time they beat us. Milan's site were also talking about it. lol. i don't mind, we won c.l and WC what more can i ask for?

[lionel]

in the final match (or against boca) kaka will play, I assure you.

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by barracuda

Can Ronaldo play?

Yep, it's a new season don't forget.

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by Jager

And why don't they have it before the season starts? In December? I'm sure that will really go well with Pirlo and Rhino.....

It's not that bad, you're forgetting we have the winter break around that time.