Preview: Barcelona and Ronaldinho seek World Club title

By Andrew James Dec 8, 2006, 15:20 GMT

Tokyo - Brazilian striker Ronaldinho is the star attraction at the World Club Cup - a competition that sees the six club champions from the six confederations of the ruling football body FIFA competing.

The European Champions League winners Barcelona are seen as the clear favourites and Ronaldinho is keen to add more silverware to his collection.

'Ever since I was a boy back in Brazil, this was the title that we all wanted to win. I can remember a number of games involving Brazilian sides and they all gave their utmost to try and become the best team in the world. I'd love to win the Club World Cup,' he told the FIFA website.

'This year I wanted to win the League, the Champions League, the World Cup, and the Club World Cup. Unfortunately it proved beyond us in Germany, but that makes me even more determined not to miss out in December's tournament.'

Ronaldinho and company were due to arrive in Japan on Sunday, the same day the tournament kicks off with a meeting of Oceania champions Auckland FC of New Zealand vs. African champions Al Ahly of Egypt.

The next day, on December 11, North- and Central American champs America of Mexico face Asian champions Chonbuk Motors of South Korea in the other quarter-final.

Barcelona and South American champions Internacional Porto Alegre of Brazil join the action in the semi-finals, with Internacional playing Auckland or Al Ahly on December 13 and Barcelona the winner of the other game on December 14.

The final is on December 17 and is expected to feature Barca and Internacional.

The match would be special for Ronaldinho as he formerly played for Internacional's arch-rivals Gremio Porto Alegre.

'I'm sure that their fans would whistle at me and put pressure on me, thanks to the rivalry that exists between the two teams. Barcelona, however, are obliged to beat every opponent and that's what we've got to do. It would be a very tough game but one we'd do our very best to win,' he said.

Internacional, meanwhile, boast one of the biggest Brazilian talents the city of Porto Alegre has seen since Ronaldinho.

The player in question is 17-year-old Alexandre Pato, who made a stunning professional debut just two weeks ago and could well see playing time in Tokyo.

'He's a phenomenon,' Internacional president Fernando Carvalho was quoted as saying about the forward.

Internacional would like to keep the title in South America, with Sao Paulo beating Liverpool 1-0 last year in the inaugural edition of the six-team format.

The event was formerly named the Intercontinental Cup and played between the European and South American champions. It was played in Tokyo from 1980 onwards before moving to nearby Yokohama in 2000.