Kroos fit for record fifth Club World Cup attempt
The Garden City of UAE is set to bloom as its favourite club Al Ain gear up for their dream debut in one of football’s biggest stage — the Fifa Club World Cup.
The city is already wearing a festive look as the mega event is held at the back of UAE’s 47th National Day. The magnificent Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium looks resplendent in purple and is ready to erupt as the hosts take on New Zealand’s Wellington in the play-off today from 7.30pm.
It is a must-win contest for both sides as it will decide their progression into the quarterfinals. Al Ain are not in the best of form after being knocked out of the President’s Cup following a 5-3 defeat to Al Wasl over the weekend. However, make no mistake, they very well know how to ‘Boss’ over when they are handed a platform such as this. The home support is also going to be tremendous and that would be a huge plus in a contest of this magnitude.
Coach Zoran Mamic, apart from asking his wards from enjoying the moment, has warned against complacency against Wellington, who play with three attackers unlike most teams whom they face here in the UAE.
“In football, nothing is impossible and that’s why we have to be very very careful and we respect our opponents. We have to be at good level and we cannot go into the match thinking the match will be easy. We have ■ seen their videos as they are an offensive side who plays predominantly with three attackers,” said Mamic.
Huge role
Al Ain would have liked two of their new signings, midfielders Malian Tongo Doumbia and Portuguese Ruben Ribeiro, to give a big impetus to the side. But with Ribeiro still not getting clearance from Fifa, Doumbia will have a huge role to play in his first outing. With Al Ain having already moved away from the Omar Abdul Rahman era, probably one of the best playmakers the region has seen, the onus will be on Swedish international Marcus Berg to deliver upfront playing in tandem with Brazilian Caio.
Berg was instrumental in seeing the side to the Club World Cup, scoring 25 goals in his debut season. He has so far scored 10 goals in 12 matches in the Arabian Gulf League where Al Ain are placed second behind Sharjah. “I look forward to showing my best performance in front of the top teams in the world. I would like to contribute along with my colleagues to achieving the desired aspirations and translating the opportunities into goals,” Berg said.
Team Wellington, comprising mainly part-timers, is also coming into the competition with expectations aplenty and according to their manager Jose Figueira, they have realised a four-year ambition. They have arrived here early and have been training behind closed doors — plotting a huge upset.
“You have to wait and see what we bring tomorrow. The important thing was to come here early as we are not a professional team. We have been here for a week and it feels at home. There is always a little bit of cat-and-mouse in the lead up to the game and, hopefully, we can surprise as we have done our homework,” said Figueira.
F■ it-again Toni Kroos was back to training with Real Madrid again on Monday, ahead of his record shot at a fifth Fifa Club World Cup win.
The 28-year-old German 2014 World Cup winning midfielder currently shares the record for most Club World Cup wins with Cristiano Ronaldo on four, winning first with Bayern Munich in 2013, before adding three more titles with Real in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Ronaldo, likewise, won once with Manchester United in 2008 before the three wins with Real alongside Kroos.
Since the Portuguese striker left Real for Juventus for €100 million (Dh418.58 million) over the summer, however, Kroos is the only man in contention to pull ahead and make it a solo fifth record Club World Cup win at this year’s edition in Abu Dhabi from December 12-22.
The record attempt had been in doubt with Kroos out due to “knee problems” sustained during Real’s Champions League group clash against AS Roma last month.
He missed La Liga wins over Valencia and Huesca either side of the Copa del Rey Last 32 second leg win over Melila, but now he could be back theoretically in time to face CSKA Moscow in the Champions League today.
Given that he only returned to training on Monday however, Real coach Santiago Solari is unlikely to rush him.
“Quick update,” tweeted Kroos last Thursday. “Still working on my knee problems after the Roma match … Back asap as always.”
Solari said of Kroos ahead of last Sunday’s Huesca game: “Apparently he should be fine to play in the Club World Cup but it will be up to the doctors.”
Real still have one game to play after CSKA against Rayo Vallecano this Saturday before flying out to Abu Dhabi to play in next Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against either Kashima Antlers or Guadalajara.