International
2007-12-16 - AC Milan vs Boca Juniors
A Sports Betting Pick by Romerz
FIFA Club World Cup 2007
16 December 2007 – 19.30 (local time)
International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan
No surprises as to the final 2 teams in this tournament’s final. Again it will be Europe v South America with both teams having played 1 match each and winning by the slimmest of margins.
AC Milan
That they are taking this tournament seriously I have no doubt. This is best illustrated by Dida and Gattuso having a go at each other when Urawa Reds broke through and had a clear shot at goal in the semifinal. Furthermore, the Milan side that took to the field against Urawa Reds is a typical side that you would see in any Serie A match.
Milan showed why they are so highly rated when in the 1st half of the semifinal against Urawa Reds after they failed to put in good crosses from the flanks, they could switch their style of play to short inter-passing and driving into the opponent’s penalty box from all sides. In fact it was one of these drives from the left by Kaka that resulted in Seedorf’s goal. It was only disciplined defending by Urawa Reds that prevented more goals.
At the moment, I have no injury news except that Ronaldo will not feature in this match. Being only a 2-match tournament for Milan, there should be no card problems and we can expect the following line-up to start.
Dida (GK), Kaladze, Gattuso, Seedorf, Gilardino, Nesta, Jankulovski, Pirlo, Kaka, Ambrosini & Oddo.
Boca Juniors
They were disappointing against Etoile in the semifinal. Unable to string passes together like they normally do in the Primera A, they resorted to pumping long balls to their forwards. After conceding the goal, Etoile’s Chermiti, Ghezal, Gharbi and Silva were making all the play while world-class talents such as Boca’s Rodrigo Palacio, Martin Palermo and Sebastian Battaglia were on the back foot. Ruthless defending by Boca, 20 fouls committed with 1 red card, preserved Boca’s slim lead to the end.
For the final, Boca will be without defender Vargas who was red-carded in the semis. However, Argentina’s highest paid player, Rodrigo Palacio, should again start with strike partner Martin Palermo. Incidentally, it was Palacio who set up Cardozo’s goal against Etoile.
Like Milan, card problems should not play a part and they are expected to start with Caranta (GK), Morel, Ibarra, Battaglia, Palermo, Palacio, Cardozo, Maidana, Ledesma, Banega & Paletta.
Analysis
2 semis saw 2 different styles of play from the finalists. From Milan, we saw attacking build-up from the middle of the park whereas from Boca, we saw them trying to bypass the midfield by playing long balls from defense to the forwards.
Boca had difficulty coping with Etoile’s 5 men midfield and whilst Milan is set-up differently from Etoile, the talented players of Milan with Gattuso sitting in the hole should prove a handful for Boca’s midfield.
In my opinion, Boca is a more physical side than Milan and if Milan can exert pressure on Boca’s defenders, we might see a few freekicks conceded around the penalty box which players like Kaka and Pirlo may be able to test Boca’s keeper.
As for Boca’s much touted forwards of Palermo and Palacio, if Etoile’s unheralded defenders could contain them, then I see no reason why Milan’s experienced defenders can’t.
I think CONMEBOL’s success in all previous editions of this tournament will finally be ended by UEFA’s AC Milan. For me, having seen both teams play in the last 2 days, the FIFA Club World Cup 2007 is for AC Milan to lose.
