Palmeiras to skip confused tourney

Neither of the two clubs who will kick off the tournament, Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, are currently champions of their respective continents.

Wednesday’s double bill of matches in the Morumbi Stadium will also feature Brazilian side Corinthians who have never won a quarter-final stage of a continental tournament in their history. They play African champions Raja Casablanca, the only legitimate participants to take the field on Wednesday.

Logic suggests a tournament set up to find the best club side in the world would feature simply the respective champions of Fifa’s six continents — Europe, North and Central America, South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

A quick look at the line-up, which features eight sides, quickly dispels that idea.

Amid general bewilderment, Fifa decided to allocate Real Madrid a place because they won the Inter Continental Cup match in Tokyo in 1998.

Then they extended the invitation list by allowing host nation Brazil to pick a team. Corinthians, winners of the 1998 Brazilian championship but a complete failure at international level, were the lucky side.

The issue was further complicated when Fifa allowed the respective continental confederations to decide which clubs would take part.

Europe, North and Central America, Africa and Oceania did the logical thing by sending current champions Manchester United (England), Necaxa (Mexico), Raja Casablanca (Morocco) and South Melbourne (Australia) respectively.

But South America gave their place to Vasco da Gama, who won the Libertadores Cup in August 1998. Asia opted for the 1998 winners of their Super Cup — an annual playoff between the winners of that continent’s champions and Cup Winners’ Cups.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr came up trumps while Jublio Iwata, winners of this year’s Asia Champions’ Cup, will share Palmeiras’s role as disgruntled spectators.

Vasco are the team taking the tournament the most seriously. Their new players include former Brazil internationals Romario, Junior Baiano and Jorginho as well as mid-fielder Valber and defender Alexandre Torres, signed from Japan’s Nagoya Grampus eight.

Torres arrived in Rio from his old club on Monday just three days before his new club’s match against South Melbourne.

Manchester United, Vasco’s main rivals in Group B and possible flag-wavers in England’s bid to host the 2006 World Cup, are playing in the tournament in preference to the English FA Cup — a decision which still rankles in some quarters.

“For some of the players, it will be good for them to get a bit of sun and relax,” said coach Alex Ferguson. “There’s some merit in going to Brazil at this stage of the season but four games in 10 days is going to be very difficult.”

South Melbourne, also in the same group, appear to be looking on the event as a pot of gold. Club president George Vasilopoulos said in a recent interview the club’s $3.8 million participation fee was more than their annual turnover.

Necaxa, the group’s other team, could also do with the money. Club supporters repeatedly complain the club are starved of cash by owners Televisa who prefer to spend on America, another club in their stable.

In Group A, to be played in Sao Paulo, Corinthians have kept the event as an afterthought after winning the Brazilian championship in January, while Real Madrid may find it a welcome break from their troubles at home where they have slumped to ninth in the championship.

The tournament could give Frenchman Nicolas Anelka a chance to make his mark as he is expected to step in for the injured Fernando Morrientes against Al Nassr.

Spanish internationals Raul Gonzalez and Fernando Hierro are also doubtful for the opening match while Brazilian defender Julio Cesar has already been ruled out of the competition.

Al Nassr, who have seen four Brazilian players including Romario reject offers to play for them, will have to make do with what they already have.

Raja Casablanca will be without Argentine-born coach Oscar Luisfullone who is being treated in France for an undisclosed illness.