What: FIFA Club World Cup Semi-final
Who: Monterrey vs Chelsea
When: Thursday 13th December, 2012, at 10:30 UK Time
Where: International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan
Second Time Lucky for Monterrey?
The back to back North American champions have already put one ghost to bed by reaching the semi-finals of this competition, having lost in the quarter-finals a year ago to Kashiwa Reysol on penalties. A 3-1 win over Ulsan Hyundai helped the Mexicans to this point and they now have a rare opportunity to make their mark on the global stage when they face European champions Chelsea. Monterrey flew to Japan a week early to acclimatise, but have endured an earthquake and an injury to Humberto Suazo, their stocky yet skilful Chilean who enjoyed a brief spell with Real Zaragoza.
Mexican teams have got used to making their mark overseas of late, with the country’s victory in the Olympic football tournament earlier this year the culmination of a series of impressive international tournament victories which show the nation is on a significant upwards trajectory. The big question here is can Monterrey replicate the same combination of tactical discipline and technical composure which helped the national side win in London earlier this year? That is a wide open question, particularly as Monterrey’s path to victory in the North American Champions League saw them beat Mexican opposition in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the tournament. They do however possess the centre back pairing which steered Mexico to glory, in Hiram Mier and Darvin Chavez.
With many of the same players who were in Japan a year ago, including Cesar Delgado., who played for Lyon for three years, Monterrey’s experience of this climate and tournament may be vital. Their coach, Victor Vucetich, is vastly experienced in Mexican football and has won 12 out of 13 finals he has managed in, underlining his ability to rise to the occasion. His nous will be key if Los Rayados are to have a chance of shocking the English side.
A Welcome Distraction
A week after becoming the first holders of the Champions League to be knocked out in the group stage of the tournament, Chelsea go in search of a first FIFA Club World Cup title. This is unchartered territory for Rafael Benitez’s side, but the Spanish tactician’s last major involvement in club football saw him guide Inter Milan to the title in 2010. He also took his Liverpool side to the Club World Cup in 2005, losing to Sao Paulo in the final and the tactical obsessive should be clued up on the task awaiting his team in Japan.
This is a welcome break for Chelsea, giving them the opportunity to jet in and out of Japan within a week and possibly with a trophy, and the chance to escape the attention of the English press after an autumn to forget. Roberto Di Matteo was fired, John Terry suspended for using racist language, Benitez is still universally unpopular among the fans and early season hopes of a title tilt have faded badly. And the only continental football Chelsea have to look forward to after Christmas is in the Europa League, a competition they have not played in since it was called the UEFA Cup.
At least the Blues come here in a more positive mood and with a goalscoring Fernando Torres after the weekend win over Sunderland. Much attention has been paid to how to get the best out of the Spaniard and the more direct passing style of Benitez seems to be working better, with team-mates helping drag defenders away from him. Chelsea’s much heralded trio of Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata has been broken up, with Victor Moses playing more of a role, and there are now some reasons for Chelsea fans to be optimistic. Don’t expect the ‘Rafa Out’ banners to be ripped up anytime soon though.
Recent form
Monterrey:
Monterrey 0-1 Tijuana (16/11; Mexican Apertura)
Tijuana 1-1 Monterrey (19/11; Mexican Apertura)
Ulsan Hyundai 1-3 Monterrey (09/12; Club World Cup)
Chelsea:
West Ham 3-1 Chelsea (01/12; Premier League)
Chelsea 6-1 FC Nordsjaellend (05/12; Champions League)
Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea (08/12; Premier League)
Key absences
Monterrey: Humberto Suazo; Cesar de la Pena
Chelsea: Daniel Sturridge; John Terry; Oriol Romeu
Players to watch
Monterrey – Cesar Delgado: The tricky Argentine winger will be familiar to some European football fans after his spell on the continent with Lyon earlier in his career. Delgado was the star for the Mexican side as they brushed aside Hyundai in the quarter-finals, linking up superbly with Jesus Manuel Corona to continually find holes in their defence. His two-goal salvo fired Monterrey into the last four and his skilful wing play could cause Ashley Cole problems if Hazard is found wanting when it comes to tracking back.
Chelsea – Oscar: The Brazillian has settled in swiftly to life at Stamford Bridge, an extremely impressive transition for one so young and slight of stature, considering the pace and physicality of English football. Like David Luiz, he was a part of the Brazil team beaten in the final of the Olympic Games by Mexico and will want to exact some small revenge here. As one of the few Chelsea players to be used to the playing style of teams from a different continent, he will be particularly useful tactically. And he can expect wider more open spaces against the Mexican side than he will have been getting used to in Europe: expect Oscar’s skills to shine.
Match Prediction
Predicting the outcome of a game between two teams who have never met before and come from completely different cultures is hazardous at best. Particularly when one of the teams has had plenty of time to recharge and prepare for this tournament, as Monterrey have had. The Mexicans are taking this tournament extremely seriously and whilst Benitez is keen to treat it with the respect it deserves, he has had less time to focus than his opponents however.
Mexican sides are traditionally slick in possession and well organised but their play can be slow and laboured too. Monterrey have very good variety to their football though and can speed up their attacks when necessary. Benitez’s teams are always extremely compact and Chelsea will look to cut off the supply to Monterrey’s speedy Argentine wingers Delgado and Neri Cardozo from the trio of Walter Ayovi, Darvin Chavez and Jesus Manuel Corona, who performed superbly in the quarter-finals.
Monterrey play neat passing football through the middle but can mix it up as well, using their wide men to get crosses in for Aldo de Nigris up front. That may not get too much joy from a Chelsea defence marshalled by Gary Cahill. The Londoners are in transition and with Benitez expect a very compact, narrow game and plenty of goals, with both teams possessing the attacking tools to harm their opponents. This summer’s Olympics showed that a well drilled, technical team who have been together for years can outplay more illustrious opponents and while Chelsea’s quality should see them through, Mexican football is on the up and do not be shocked if it is Monterrey who progress. Monterrey 2-3 Chelsea (after extra time).
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