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Is Internacional the Best Soccer Club?
European teams, obviously, continue to use most of their top players. Current Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, for example, was named man of the match in 1990 when Milan beat Olimpia of Paraguay.
Still, some European champions have skipped the competition altogether.
  South American club champion SC Internacional President Fernando Chagas Carvalho Neto is tossed into the air by the team members and officials in celebration after the Brazilian team defeated over the European champion FC Barcelona during the final of Club World Cup soccer in Yokohama near Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006. With Adriano's only goal SC Internacional defeated FC Barcelona of Spain 1-0. (AP Photo/Tomohiko Suzui) (Tomohiko Suzui - AP) |
Ajax, the 1971 European champion, let runner-up Panathinaikos take its place later that year, with the Greek team losing to Nacional of Uruguay.
In 1979, the English team Nottingham Forest let Malmo play Olimpia of Paraguay. The Swedish club lost to the first South American team from outside Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay to play for the title.
Still, Inter won and earned the title of Club World Cup champion. That can't be dismissed, even if it is essentially an exhibition.
"Inter is at the top of the world now. It will shine for eternity," Inter fan Melo Fernandes said while celebrating the victory in Brazil.
Several Barcelona players gave Inter credit for the win, but you can hardly expect them to say they didn't try.
"It was difficult against such a good team," Valdes said. "They played on the counter attack a lot and were in great physical condition. And they create a lot of pressure, while we just didn't take our chances."
South American teams have now won three of the last four titles, with Boca Juniors beating AC Milan in 2003 and Sao Paulo downing Liverpool last year.
"Recently, European teams have found it very hard to win these games. So, I can't say I'm surprised," Rijkaard said Sunday.
Overall, South Americans teams have won 24 of the 45 titles. Boca Juniors, Nacional and Penarol have each won three, the same as AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Still, the reality is that Barcelona is in the middle of a long league season, and now trails Sevilla by one point at the top of the standings with a game in hand.
The Spanish team also recently completed a very difficult Champions League group stage, where it needed to beat German league leader Werder Bremen at home to guarantee a spot in the second round.
So while another trophy to add to its museum at the Camp Nou would have been a very welcome addition, the loss of it won't cause any of the team's players or fans to lose any sleep.
