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| Frank Lampard and the rest of his team mates being greeted by their fans from Japan |
The European champions, Chelsea have traveled to Tokyo in Japan after their 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light to make their debut in this year's FIFA club World cup.
And if you are a Chelsea fan or a football fan you're probably asking yourself what is the club World cup?
Well there is no shame not knowing what this tournament is, as the club World cup isn't exactly a very popular tournament around the World. I will do my best to explain to you what this tournament is about.
The club World cup is a football tournament ran by FIFA (football's governing body) in which seven champions from all six continents of the World compete against each other to become the World champions!
FIFA started the tournament back in the year 2000 in which it was staged in Brazil. Corinthians (Brazil) who were the hosts of the tournament won the tournament after defeating their rivals, Vasco Da Gama (Brazil) 4-3 on penalties. Corinthians are the first team that have won this tournament.
But fans had to wait until 2005 in which the club World cup would be back. FIFA had changed the trophy for 2005 and on wards in which they called it the Club World Championship Toyota Cup, as Toyota are sponsoring the tournament. Corinthians are the only team to have the old club World cup trophy.
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| The old trophy (left) and the latest trophy (Right) |
As of 2005 the UEFA and CONMEBAL champions will be placed in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Ever since the tournament came back in 2005 it has always been staged in December just before Christmas. All Continents like UEFA for Europe had to agree having the World championship in December.
The tournament has only been hosted in three countries. They are Brazil (2000), Japan (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012) and United Arab Emirates (2009 and 2010). In 2013 Morocco will be the fourth country that has hosted the tournament and is planned to also host the 2014 edition.
English clubs In The Tournament
Manchester United and Liverpool are the only English teams to have been in the tournament before Chelsea.
Manchester United are the last and only English team to have won the club World cup. The red devils became the World Champions for the first time in 2008 after defeating Ecuadorian side, LDU Quito 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Wayne Rooney who was the top scorer of the 2008 club World cup with three goals.
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| Man Utd are the only English team to have won the tournament |
Manchester United were also in the first edition of the World championship in 2000 but could not escape the group stage (group stage doesn't exist anymore in club World cup) as they finished the group in third place, top two places of each group would put you through.
In the 2005 club World cup hosted in Japan, Liverpool were the European Champions which put them in the World championship for the very first time. But they left Japan with empty hands as they lost to Sao Paulo (Brazil) 1-0.
Most Successful Club In The Tournament
Barcelona have won the trophy more than any other club winning the tournament twice in 2009 and 2011. In 2009 Barcelona beat Estudiantes from Argentina at the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi when the tournament was hosted in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) for two years. Barcelona won it again in 2011 against Santos 4-0 when the tournament was back in Japan.
2012 Club World Cup
So the reason why Chelsea are in this year's tournament is because they had won the Champions League back in May which is required for a European team to enter the club World cup. The other six teams that are competing this year all won their Continent's trophy to enter this tournament.
The second favorites to win the tournament is Corinthians from Brazil as they won the 2012 Copa Libertadores from Argentina's Boca Juniors back in July. The Copa Libertadores is the South American version of the Champions League.
The other five teams competing are Auckland City, Sanfrecce Hiroshima (hosts), Monterrey, Al-Ahly and Ulsan Hyundai.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima will have a lot of their fans backing them in the tournament as they are the hosts. Hiroshima won the J.League in which the J.League is the top flight of Japanese football.
Auckland City are from New Zealand in which they beat Tefana (Tahiti) in the OFC Champions League back in May.
Monterrey will be Chelsea's first challenge in the tournament. Monterrey come from Mexico and are in the tournament from winning the CONCACAF Champions League.
Al-Ahly from Egypt won the CAF Champions League and Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea won the AFC Champions League.
The 2012 club World cup will be the first tournament to use the new goal line technology, as FIFA decided to try it out before the 2014 FIFA World cup in Brazil. Something for you football fans to remember when goal line technology will be used in every professional football match around the World.
The referee will be wearing an extra watch on his wrist, so if the ball crosses the line the referee will check his watch to see if it says "goal". This will be used if the attempt on goal was difficult to say for the referee.
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| The goal watch (right) should help referees out |
It'll be the third time Rafael Benitez will be managing a team in the club World cup. His first side was Liverpool in 2005 but departed empty handed and his second side was Inter Milan in 2010 in which his team beat TP Mazembe (Congo) 3-0.
Can Rafael Benitez get Chelsea to become World champions for the very first time in Chelsea's history?
We shell see if Chelsea can if they make the final on Sunday 16th December against Corinthians.
Jamie Davies
Let's Talk Sport Writer
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