Manchester United against all

The champions among champions of the six continents will be the starting Thursday in Japan in the fight for the World Club Championship in an edition in which the Machester United shines alone as the most favorite to win.

The English team is the only one with a weight of history that has come to Japan this year in the absence of other big names of international standard championship and want to seize the opportunity to revalidate the title he achieved in 1999.

But the rest of continental champions will try to demonstrate that European football is not an unattainable level.

The team's new Golden Ball, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be joined in the fight for the crown of world football by the Egyptian Al Ahly, the African champion, the Waitakere New Zealand, Oceania champion, Australia's Adelaide United, runner-Asia; the Japanese Gamba Osaka, champions of Asia, Pachuca of Mexico, the CONCACAF champion, and Liga de Quito, champion of the Copa Libertadores.

As every year, the fight is twofold: economic and football.

First, the battle to achieve intercontinental add to showcase itself a title that while he did not have the reputation of others, gives legitimacy to anoint the winning team with the football world crown.

In second place come the perks associated with that crown: the extension of the brand itself in the lucrative global markets, especially Asians, a phenomenon that became famous in money not only in the form of T-shirts, but also through the sale Broadcast rights.

The English clubs like United, which has for years waged a fierce battle for economic supremacy in the football market, are fully aware of the importance of this championship, especially in times of crisis.

The main stumbling block of Ronaldo on its way to the final in Yokohama embody what the Latin American representation.

The Mexican Pachuca, an unknown still in theaters with character of international football, has arrived in Japan with the lesson learned from the defeat at the first exchange last year.

The actual coach of the Mexicans, Enrique Meza, who announced the team, which returned to win the ticket to Japan with their second consecutive victory in the CONCACAF, faces the championship with "the mind to reach the final of the tournament."

The Ecuadorians, embozados in its lack of international fame, restore trust in the surprise that gave this year in the Copa Libertadores against Fluminense of Brazil.

With far fewer chances but with equal enthusiasm are the representatives of the smaller continents in the world of football, Asia and Africa. Their chances are minimal but the challenge to topple the Goliath Europe is a motivation that Britain's Manchester should not be underestimated.

The coach of Pachuca, Enrique Meza, during training in Narashino. (Photo: EFE)