JAPAN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Tens of thousands of football fans arrive in Yokohama, Japan, for the final of the FIFA Club World Cup between England's Chelsea and Brazil's Corinthians

Record ID: 466786

  • Title: JAPAN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Tens of thousands of football fans arrive in Yokohama, Japan, for the final of the FIFA Club World Cup between England's Chelsea and Brazil's Corinthians
  • Date: 16th December 2012
  • Summary: YOUNG FAN ARRIVING
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5VWFPCJFSHTK2QSZ9AMWXDGYT
  • Story Text: Chelsea fans will be out-numbered by a ratio of more than 10 to one in Yokohama on Sunday (Dec 16) when an estimated 30,000 Corinthians fans turn out to support the holders of the South American Cup, the Libertadores.
    Corinthians won the first edition of the FIFA tournament in 2000 but Chelsea, who comfortably beat Mexico's Monterrey 3-1 on Thursday, will start as favourites.
    "Today is Chelsea's funeral. Corinthians will be champions of the world. Go Corinthians!," said Luciano Gouveia from Sao Paolo.
    "It will not be easy but it going to be a great game, it'll be a hard game but we have all the supporters here and our team is good as well, so it's going to be two one to Corinthians. We are going to win for sure," said Corinthians fan Natalia Machido.
    A clash of styles in Sunday's final should make for a more absorbing encounter than in recent years, European sides having rolled to victory in the last five finals.
    But one Chelsea fan, a Brazilian, predicted the European Champions will not be phased.
    "There are massive big crowds and their support will be huge for Corinthians today but I think when they finish the game Chelsea will have won," said Rodrigo Delfini.
    "We're definitely outnumbered but we're giving it a good go none the less doing our best to sing for Chelsea," said Jason Cavey, a Chelsea fan from Surrey in England.
    After taking four games to register a victory under interim manager Rafael Benitez, Chelsea have tightened up in defence and have been looking to press higher up the pitch.
    Three wins in a row, scoring 12 goals in the process, have given Chelsea fans unhappy at Benitez's appointment after last month's sacking of Roberto Di Matteo reason for optimism.
    "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. It's just a party. We are the champions from Latin America, you guys are the champions of Europe and we're here to party. It's going to be remarkable. Go Corinthians," said Fernando Ribeiro, another Corinthians who has made the trip from Sao Paolo
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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