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Journalism of Courage
Rio De Janerio, Oct 15: Brazil’s Vasco da Gama, Mexico’s Necaxa and South Melbourne of Australia await European champions Manchester United in Group B of January’s inaugural Fifa World Club Championship following yesterday’s draw.
Spain’s reigning world champions Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, Corinthians of Brazil and an as yet unselected African team will compete in Group A for the tournament in Rio and Sao Paulo from January 5-14.
United have withdrawn from the English FA Cup to compete in the eight-team event organised by Fifa which will run from January 5-14 at Rio de Janeiro — Vasco’s home city — while Real’s group is in Sao Paulo, where Corinthians are based.
United’s most famous former player Sir Bobby Charlton, a member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team, said: “That draw sounds alright and Madrid are in the other group. But the Mexicans will be strong, as will the Brazilians Vasco da Gama, but I know we will not be taking anything for granted.
“We played in Melbourne duringthe summer but we did not play against South Melbourne so that will be a new challenge for the team.”
“But this is a new competition and we will wait and see what happens when we get out there.”
United are already scheduled to meet Brazilian opposition in November’s Intercontinental Cup final in Tokyo with Sao Paulo side Palmeiras. That match has always traditionally decided the title of World Club champions until the creation of this new tournament.
Nexaca president Enrique Borja said: “We are all looking forward to the match with Manchester United, the European champions. That is the beauty of football because for the players it is a special motivation I am very happy. Anyone could win this tournament.”
Real will play Al Nassr in the tournament’s opening game in Sao Paulo’s Murumbi stadium while Manchester United’s opener is against Necaxa in Rio’s legendary Maracana arena.
Rio outfit Vasco da Gama, named after a Portuguese explorer, are the main threat in United’s group and will be able tocount on the support of their home fans.
Their star player is their talented but temperamental Brazilian international striker Edmundo, who is currently trying to avoid serving a prison sentence imposed after a fatal car crash, while 1994 World Cup-winning squad member Viola, goalkeeper Carlos Germano and Odvan are other Brazilian internationals on Vasco’s books.
