World Waits on Barca v Brazilians

If there is one club team that seems to embody the beautiful game as it should be played, it is the name Barcelona.

Fans of Real Madrid may disagree and others can legitimately claim that there is also a massive Barcelona marketing effort behind the concept, but the statement is essentially true.

If there is one nation that seems to embody the beautiful game as it should be played, it is the name Brazil.

Argentinians may disagree and others can legitimately claim that there is also a massive lazy world media behind the concept, but the statement is essentially true.

In the World Club Cup Final, fans will be presented with a marvellous opportunity to observe a little of both on the same pitch.

Barcelona, Champions of Europe, will meet the Brazilian club Santos, Champions of South America.

Overlay on top of the first narrative, the traditional rivalry between Europe and South America for world football domination, a duopoly still not seriously challenged by Asia or Africa.

Barca will be without David Villa who fractured his left tibia in the semi-final against Qatari side Al Sadd. His absence is a blow to both Barcelona and Spain, who may fret in his availability for Euro 2012.

Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque said:

“The news is very bad. It’s a great misfortune, for him above all since he is the injured one, and looking ahead to Euro 2012, of course this is very bad news.

There are six months to go. Let’s see if he can get well. Recovering always has its set processes, but there are some players that get healthy sooner than others.”

Earlier Barcelona thumped Asian champions Al Sadd 4-0 to reach the final.

Adriano scored twice and Seydou Keita and Maxwell added the others.

Two men with an extra incentive to prove the supremacy of the Barcelona product over the Brazilian is Barca’s Argentinian wizard Leo Messi and his compatriot Javier Mascherano.

Argentina are of course the traditional big rivals of Brazil.