JAPAN: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Argentineans celebrate as Boca Juniors advance to Club World Cup final

Record ID: 464276

  • Title: JAPAN: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Argentineans celebrate as Boca Juniors advance to Club World Cup final
  • Date: 13th December 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SERGIO KOMPEL, 44, BOCA JUNIORS FANS, SAYING: "It wasn't an easy game. I hope Boca plays a little better in the next game on Sunday. If not, they won't be able to win the championship. I hope Boca's opponent in the final will be Urawa, not AC Milan." JAPANESE AND ARGENTINEAN FANS WALKING ON STREET, SPEAKING TO CAMERA FANS SINGING AND SCREAMING
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACKMIXXWWD9PAWVSZ0700IA61O
  • Story Text: About 2,000 Argentineans who travelled all the way to Japan to root for Boca Juniors celebrated Wednesday (December 12) as Argentinean team's advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 1-0 win over Tunisia's Etoile Sahel.
    "Well now, AC Milan has to win tomorrow, and then lose to Boca on Sunday," said Claudio Palacios, 50, who flew halfway across the globe to Japan to support Boca.
    Although they all celebrated the victory, some said Boca could have played better.
    "It wasn't an easy game. I hope Boca plays a little better in the next game. If not, they won't be able to win the championship. I hope Boca's opponent in the final will be Urawa, not AC Milan," said Sergio Kompel, 44, who came to Japan's National Stadium with his 13-year-old son Diego.
    European Champions AC Milan of Italy and Asian Champions Urawa Reds of Japan meet in the other semi-final on Thursday (December 13).
    Boca won the Club World Cup's forerunner, a one-off game between the champions of Europe and South America, three times, the last time beating Milan on penalties in 2003.
    Boca fans are not used to seeing their club lose.
    "I believe Boca will beat AC Milan. Look at all these people who came all the way to see Boca play in this championship. They cannot lose.
    We're going to take the cup to Argentina," said Gustavo Uesu, a 35-year-old Argentinean of Japanese descent.
    ENDS.
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