FIFA Club World Cup

[BADA BING]

This is a magnificent story....


Few people expected Oceania champions Auckland City to progress very far at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009. Indeed, many observers predicted an early exit for the New Zealand side when they came up against the host country’s representatives Al Ahli in the opening match of the tournament. Coach Paul Posa and his troops had evidently failed to read the script though, and promptly beat the UAE side 2-0 to set up a quarter-final clash with Atlante.

Though the Mexican outfit proved too strong for the brave New Zealanders, running out 3-0 winners, that loss still lined Auckland City up for a fifth place play-off against African champions TP Mazembe. Another surprise victory, this time 3-2, saw the side from the North Island secure the highest-ever finish by a New Zealand team in the history of the tournament.

From the moment they arrived in Abu Dhabi, Posa and his players were confident they would do well in the competition and that the experience of playing in Japan in 2006 would stand them in good stead.

Posa, who is a dentist in his day job, spoke of the benefit of that experience: “Our first appearance at the Club World Cup was in 2006 and it proved very useful for us as we learned a lot from that tournament. We weren’t fully prepared for it, whereas this year we’ve made sure we had the best possible preparations. We’ve also learned a lot this time around. We wanted to improve and it has been a fantastic tournament for us. The lessons we’ve learned have made us a better team.”


We wanted to improve and it has been a fantastic tournament for us. The lessons we’ve learned have made us a better team.
Paul Posa, Auckland City coach.


Striker Jason Hayne, meanwhile, was quick to point out that “Finishing fifth is an achievement in itself. To get the chance to play against top class players is wonderful. As an amateur side, things are a bit different in New Zealand. We work a 40-hour week and then have to train on top of that. Playing against Atlante was very important as we now know the level we need to reach and we’ve taken a lot from that game.”

The 28-year-old forward struck three times in three games and is understandably delighted with that return. Now he is hungry for more: “We’ve played in this tournament twice now and we all want to come back for a third time and play here next year. We’ve set ourselves that target because you don’t often get the chance to play at such a high level and it’s brilliant when you do.”

The scorer of the winning goal against TP Mazembe, Riki Van Steeden said that he didn’t expect such a thrilling climax: “Football is an amazing game. There I was sitting on the bench feeling left out. Then I came on as a substitute and scored from my only chance. That was very exciting for me.” He added, “We’re still some distance away from reaching the necessary standard and have a long way to go before we’re able to compete at this level. Playing against teams like Atlante has taught us a huge lesson and we aim to reach this standard and that’s the most important thing we’ll take away from this tournament.”

[BADA BING]

Auckland taking 5th place is a great effort for an "amatuer" team. Barca vs Estuandites or whatever in the final

Agreed they would be wrapped in that effort and the prize money that goes with it

anyone know how much they will recieve?

The winner takes away $5 million, second-placed team receives $4 million, the third-placed team $2.5 million, the fourth-placed team $2 million, the fifth-placed team $1.5 million, the sixth-placed team $1 million and the seventh-placed team received $500,000.

1.5 million for the KIWIS, 16.5 MILLION DOLLARS in total worth of prize money, theeeeessseeee blokes

[Red-4-Life]

more than we got coz we had to flippin share our prize money with the other clubs and FFA

[Green Cockney Club]

Auckland taking 5th place is a great effort for an "amatuer" team. Barca vs Estuandites or whatever in the final

Agreed they would be wrapped in that effort and the prize money that goes with it

Furthemore as a result of this next year the Oceania representative should start as the quarterfinal stage and the Africans can start at the bottom.

[themagnet]

Furthemore as a result of this next year the Oceania representative should start as the quarterfinal stage and the Africans can start at the bottom.

the African teams have been quite dissapointing the last two years. AU came 5th by beating an African side, and now Auckland. Why do the African sides keep getting such huge wraps before the tournament and then turn out to be such flops?

[Red-4-Life]

Barca win 2-1 in extra time after being 1-0 down