JAPAN 2005: THE WAY IT WORKS
20 October 2005
Liverpool will be Europe's representatives in Japan in December as they look to win the Fifa World Club Championships for the first time.
The competition opens on Sunday 11th December at the National Stadium, Tokyo with the first quarter final game between the AFC Champions (Asia) and the CAF Champions (Africa), Kick-Off 19.20 Hours (local time). The winners of both of these competitions have still to be decided.
On Monday 12th December the second quarter final takes place at the Toyota Stadium, Toyota between Sydney FC from Australia (Oceania) and Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica (CONCACAF), Kick-Off 19.20 Hours (local time).
The semi-finals (as below) take place on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th December with both games having a Kick-Off time of 19.20 Hours (local time):
Sao Paulo FC (Brazil – CONMEBOL) v The Winners of Group game between AFC Champions and CAF Champions at the National Stadium, Tokyo on Wednesday 14th December 2005, Kick-Off 19.20 Hours (local time)
Winners of game between Sydney FC and Deportivo Saprissa V LIVERPOOL at the International Stadium in Yokohama on Thursday 15th December 2005, Kick-Off 19.20 Hours (local time)
The losing teams from the first two fixtures of the competition (matches played on 11th and 12th December) meet at the National Stadium, Tokyo on Friday 16th December 2005, Kick-Off 19.20 Hours (local time) to decide 5th and 6th places.
Sunday 18th December is Finals day with the 3rd/4th Place match, Kick-Off 16.20 Hours (local time) and the Final, Kick-Off 19.20 Hours (local time) both being played at the International Stadium,Yokohama.
All matches will be played over 90 minutes plus allowance for time lost, comprising of two periods of 45 minutes each, with an interval of 15 minutes in between. In the event of a match, with the exception of the Final, ending in a draw at the end of normal time then extra time of two periods of 15 minutes each plus allowance for time lost shall be played, with an interval of 5 minutes at the end of normal time but not between the two periods of extra time.
In the event of a match,with the exception of the Final, ending in a draw at the conclusion of extra time then penalty kicks taken in accordance with the procedure described in the Laws of the Game shall determine the winner.
In the event of the Final game ending in a draw at the end of normal time NO extra time shall be played, with the winners being determined by the taking of penalty kicks in accordance with the procedure described in the Laws of the Game.
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doesnt this tournament get televised? and do you believe the whole squad should be involved in preferrance to the first 11.. or is it valuable experience for the reserves? hmm.. is it prestigious enough to sacrifice everything when obviously it is a key period of the season..
personally im not over-keen on the implications, however, i suppose it would be another string in the bow for rafa. it is though not going to be a walk in the park. and remembering past games in japan, i think it was the intercontinental then? or something or other, we got done on both occasions albeit only a one off game, but still. world champions eh... something drastic is going to have to happen if thats to be the case.
fingers crossed though
