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FIFAクラブワールドカップ準々決勝直前!!【クラブ・レオン】チーム情報・勝利へのポイント
The FIFA Club World Cup (FCWC) to be held in Saudi Arabia will be Urawa Reds third time on the world stage. Urawa, who were crowned Asian champions at the AFC Champions League (ACL) Final in May, have entered the new format FCWC scheduled for summer 2025, but this will be their last tournament under the previous format.
Becoming the Asian champion has always been a big goal for Urawa, but it also means having the opportunity to challenge the world. And then another great opportunity presented itself. When you think of the FCWC, Japanese soccer fans, not just those in Urawa, tend to see matches against the European champions and South American champions, but in reality, the North, Central American and Caribbean champions, African champions, Oceania champions, and the winning club from the host country also participate. ing.
In the 2017 tournament held in the UAE, Urawa, who competed in the FCWC for the second time, lost 1-0 to host nation Al Jazeera in the quarterfinals, preventing them from competing against European champions Real Madrid. This time, Mexico's Club Leon, the North, Central American and Caribbean champions, will be their opponent in the quarterfinals. If they win, they will be able to take on Manchester City, a world-class powerhouse, but first they should focus on defeating Club Leon right in front of them.
"I'm really focused on the first match. I won't know about the next match until it's over, so for now I want to head towards Club Leon. I think they're strong, and in my mind It's like fighting Al Hilal. I think everyone has that kind of motivation as well.''
I would like to introduce Club Leon, which Atsuki Ito also talks about.
Opposing team information
Club Leon, based in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, is a powerful club whose club color is emerald, and has won the Mexican League eight times. In the 2022-23 CONCACAF Champions League final, they defeated North American MLS's Los Angeles FC, becoming the North, Central American, and Caribbean champions for the first time in club history.
Domestically, in the 2023-24 early league playoffs (called "Liguilla" in Mexico), they unfortunately lost to Club América in the quarterfinals, but the second home and away match was held on December 3rd, and from there the junior high school 11 It will be a match against Urawa on Sunday. Argentinian coach Nicolas Larcamon has built a solid defense and vertically fast attacking style, using multiple systems such as 4-4-2 and 3-5-2.
In the case of a 3-5-2, the base of the defense is five at the back, and although they are set up in a zone-like manner, they are able to quickly mark the ball holder and surrounding players on the ball side, and use people to steal the ball. It's a feature. The setup is centered around passes from grounders, but instead of placing too much emphasis on holding the ball in the midfield, players make vertical passes to the forwards, and the players in the midfield receive the ball that drops in front of them, allowing them to play on the outside with one or two touches. There are many dynamic attacks, such as passing players.
This style can be seen in the fact that in games they are winning, they tend to have a lower ball possession rate than their opponents, but a higher number of shots. Uruguay national team forward Federico Viñas is the primary finisher, but there are also shooters with punching power in the second row, and they aim for goals at different times than in the J League and ACL, so Urawa, who has Shusaku Nishikawa, will be the best. You have to be very careful.
FW Federico Viñas
He rose to prominence at Club America, one of Mexico's most prestigious clubs, and joined this summer. With the forward who had been a mainstay until the summer transferring, he continued to score a lot of goals as Club Leon's new ace, and was also called up to the Uruguay national team. He made his debut in the World Cup South American qualifying match against Argentina in November of this year. Although he is not particularly tall for a center forward, he has a very strong core, and from the start of a forward movement, he accurately controls every last pass and hits a powerful shot with his left foot. There are constant reports of offers from European clubs, and there is a possibility that he will take this tournament as a step forward. Urawa would like to prevent him from playing an active role.
DF William Tessillo
He is one of the center backs representing Colombia, a powerful country in South America, and has both strength and leadership in interpersonal games. He participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics as an OA (overage), and in the match against Japan, he had a heated matchup with Shinzo Koroki, who was also an OA. A rematch on the world stage is one of the highlights. In 2018, he was originally supposed to participate as a member of the A national team.
Had he not missed the FIFA World Cup in Russia due to injury, he might have stood in front of Japan, who defeated Colombia in the first match. In addition to his ability as a defender, he has a high feeding power with his left foot, and if you let up even a little bit of pressure, he will send a shot straight through Federico Viñas, so be careful.
GK Rodolfo Cota
He was also included in the Mexico national team for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. He has been overshadowed by the world-class goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (currently playing for Salernitana in Italy's Serie A), but there is no doubt that he is a high-level goalkeeper even by world standards. In fact, he won the North and Central American Caribbean Championship with Guadalajara in 2018, but transferred to Club Leon that summer. Asia was not able to participate in the FCWC in the same year, which was attended by Kashima Antlers, so this will be a big stage for the team after five years. Not only is he a reliable shot stopper, but his wide coverage area is noticeable. He has similar characteristics to Urawa's goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, and the collaboration between the two will tighten up the game and make it a deciding factor.
Key points and highlights for Urawa Reds victory
In a one-shot match on a big stage like FCWC, if we concede a goal at the beginning, it becomes very difficult to plan a game. However, as Takuya Ogiwara says, ``I want to play confidently and do the best I can with what I've accumulated so far.I feel like it's a waste.There's no point in playing small and being afraid of making mistakes.'' Even if we take too many countermeasures, we will not be able to bring out the best of Urawa. This balance work is one of director Maciej Skorza 's strengths, and I would like him to demonstrate this on the world stage.
The defense will be based on the team's ability to concede the least number of goals in the J1 League, but the key is not only to bounce the ball back, but also to steal the ball in a good manner and attack when the opponent is off-balance. Club León also has a solid defense, but when it comes to attacking, they don't have to do much, but the left and right fullbacks (or wingbacks in the case of a three-back) move up to high positions, and Colombian midfielder Omar Fernandez and others Go forward. The same is true when Urawa goes on offense, but their risk management is a little lenient. There is a high possibility that Urawa will be superior in terms of speed in switching between offense and defense, and it will be easier to create chances from counter attacks.
In particular, right-back Iván Moreno has a strong tendency to move forward, and when he takes advantage of the flow of the ball and has the ball, he dribbles into the central vital area, making it easy for Club Leon to have an open space on the right side. In such a situation, if Urawa steals the ball and quickly attacks on the same side, the opposing defense will rush towards them, creating space in the center from now on. I would like to exploit the weak points in dealing with such "counter targets".
What Urawa needs to be aware of is that no matter how the game unfolds, there is a possibility that their momentum will drop drastically in the final stages due to the unfamiliar environment in Saudi Arabia. If fresh players are placed in offensive positions and the number of situations in which they jump forward increases, there is a risk that the distance between them and the back line and midfield will become too wide, leading to an overly open play. It is important for fresh players to actively aim for goals, but whether they can be effective while controlling their balance. In that sense, Ken Iwao, who is a conductor in the midfield, will be the key player, but rather than focusing on just one person, I would like to share this with the whole team and aim for areas where the opponent loses their balance.
We received a message from Ryo Miyaichi of Yokohama F･Marinos, encouraging Urawa to compete on the world stage. ``I want him to come out and represent the J.League and represent Asia.Everyone is watching, so I want him to do his best,'' Miyaichi said. Their daily rivals must also be looking forward to Urawa's efforts in the FCWC.
The more Urawa shines on the world stage, the more players and J.League supporters will want to become Asian champions someday and compete there. Of course, if you want to compete, you don't have to be satisfied with just a good fight. Whether the opponent is Club Leon or Manchester City, I want them to fight to be the best in the world. This experience should also lead to the 2025 FCWC, which will be expanded in scale.
Text: Yoshiyuki Kawaji (soccer journalist)
Becoming the Asian champion has always been a big goal for Urawa, but it also means having the opportunity to challenge the world. And then another great opportunity presented itself. When you think of the FCWC, Japanese soccer fans, not just those in Urawa, tend to see matches against the European champions and South American champions, but in reality, the North, Central American and Caribbean champions, African champions, Oceania champions, and the winning club from the host country also participate. ing.
In the 2017 tournament held in the UAE, Urawa, who competed in the FCWC for the second time, lost 1-0 to host nation Al Jazeera in the quarterfinals, preventing them from competing against European champions Real Madrid. This time, Mexico's Club Leon, the North, Central American and Caribbean champions, will be their opponent in the quarterfinals. If they win, they will be able to take on Manchester City, a world-class powerhouse, but first they should focus on defeating Club Leon right in front of them.
"I'm really focused on the first match. I won't know about the next match until it's over, so for now I want to head towards Club Leon. I think they're strong, and in my mind It's like fighting Al Hilal. I think everyone has that kind of motivation as well.''
I would like to introduce Club Leon, which Atsuki Ito also talks about.
Opposing team information
Club Leon (North, Central America, and Caribbean Champions)
Club Leon, based in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, is a powerful club whose club color is emerald, and has won the Mexican League eight times. In the 2022-23 CONCACAF Champions League final, they defeated North American MLS's Los Angeles FC, becoming the North, Central American, and Caribbean champions for the first time in club history.
Domestically, in the 2023-24 early league playoffs (called "Liguilla" in Mexico), they unfortunately lost to Club América in the quarterfinals, but the second home and away match was held on December 3rd, and from there the junior high school 11 It will be a match against Urawa on Sunday. Argentinian coach Nicolas Larcamon has built a solid defense and vertically fast attacking style, using multiple systems such as 4-4-2 and 3-5-2.
In the case of a 3-5-2, the base of the defense is five at the back, and although they are set up in a zone-like manner, they are able to quickly mark the ball holder and surrounding players on the ball side, and use people to steal the ball. It's a feature. The setup is centered around passes from grounders, but instead of placing too much emphasis on holding the ball in the midfield, players make vertical passes to the forwards, and the players in the midfield receive the ball that drops in front of them, allowing them to play on the outside with one or two touches. There are many dynamic attacks, such as passing players.
This style can be seen in the fact that in games they are winning, they tend to have a lower ball possession rate than their opponents, but a higher number of shots. Uruguay national team forward Federico Viñas is the primary finisher, but there are also shooters with punching power in the second row, and they aim for goals at different times than in the J League and ACL, so Urawa, who has Shusaku Nishikawa, will be the best. You have to be very careful.
Club Leon (Mexico) FIFA Club World Cup 2023 Saudi Arabia Registered Player List
*You can scroll to see the list.
選手情報
FW Federico Viñas
He rose to prominence at Club America, one of Mexico's most prestigious clubs, and joined this summer. With the forward who had been a mainstay until the summer transferring, he continued to score a lot of goals as Club Leon's new ace, and was also called up to the Uruguay national team. He made his debut in the World Cup South American qualifying match against Argentina in November of this year. Although he is not particularly tall for a center forward, he has a very strong core, and from the start of a forward movement, he accurately controls every last pass and hits a powerful shot with his left foot. There are constant reports of offers from European clubs, and there is a possibility that he will take this tournament as a step forward. Urawa would like to prevent him from playing an active role.
DF William Tessillo
He is one of the center backs representing Colombia, a powerful country in South America, and has both strength and leadership in interpersonal games. He participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics as an OA (overage), and in the match against Japan, he had a heated matchup with Shinzo Koroki, who was also an OA. A rematch on the world stage is one of the highlights. In 2018, he was originally supposed to participate as a member of the A national team.
Had he not missed the FIFA World Cup in Russia due to injury, he might have stood in front of Japan, who defeated Colombia in the first match. In addition to his ability as a defender, he has a high feeding power with his left foot, and if you let up even a little bit of pressure, he will send a shot straight through Federico Viñas, so be careful.
GK Rodolfo Cota
He was also included in the Mexico national team for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. He has been overshadowed by the world-class goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (currently playing for Salernitana in Italy's Serie A), but there is no doubt that he is a high-level goalkeeper even by world standards. In fact, he won the North and Central American Caribbean Championship with Guadalajara in 2018, but transferred to Club Leon that summer. Asia was not able to participate in the FCWC in the same year, which was attended by Kashima Antlers, so this will be a big stage for the team after five years. Not only is he a reliable shot stopper, but his wide coverage area is noticeable. He has similar characteristics to Urawa's goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, and the collaboration between the two will tighten up the game and make it a deciding factor.
Key points and highlights for Urawa Reds victory
In a one-shot match on a big stage like FCWC, if we concede a goal at the beginning, it becomes very difficult to plan a game. However, as Takuya Ogiwara says, ``I want to play confidently and do the best I can with what I've accumulated so far.I feel like it's a waste.There's no point in playing small and being afraid of making mistakes.'' Even if we take too many countermeasures, we will not be able to bring out the best of Urawa. This balance work is one of director Maciej Skorza 's strengths, and I would like him to demonstrate this on the world stage.
The defense will be based on the team's ability to concede the least number of goals in the J1 League, but the key is not only to bounce the ball back, but also to steal the ball in a good manner and attack when the opponent is off-balance. Club León also has a solid defense, but when it comes to attacking, they don't have to do much, but the left and right fullbacks (or wingbacks in the case of a three-back) move up to high positions, and Colombian midfielder Omar Fernandez and others Go forward. The same is true when Urawa goes on offense, but their risk management is a little lenient. There is a high possibility that Urawa will be superior in terms of speed in switching between offense and defense, and it will be easier to create chances from counter attacks.
In particular, right-back Iván Moreno has a strong tendency to move forward, and when he takes advantage of the flow of the ball and has the ball, he dribbles into the central vital area, making it easy for Club Leon to have an open space on the right side. In such a situation, if Urawa steals the ball and quickly attacks on the same side, the opposing defense will rush towards them, creating space in the center from now on. I would like to exploit the weak points in dealing with such "counter targets".
What Urawa needs to be aware of is that no matter how the game unfolds, there is a possibility that their momentum will drop drastically in the final stages due to the unfamiliar environment in Saudi Arabia. If fresh players are placed in offensive positions and the number of situations in which they jump forward increases, there is a risk that the distance between them and the back line and midfield will become too wide, leading to an overly open play. It is important for fresh players to actively aim for goals, but whether they can be effective while controlling their balance. In that sense, Ken Iwao, who is a conductor in the midfield, will be the key player, but rather than focusing on just one person, I would like to share this with the whole team and aim for areas where the opponent loses their balance.
We received a message from Ryo Miyaichi of Yokohama F･Marinos, encouraging Urawa to compete on the world stage. ``I want him to come out and represent the J.League and represent Asia.Everyone is watching, so I want him to do his best,'' Miyaichi said. Their daily rivals must also be looking forward to Urawa's efforts in the FCWC.
The more Urawa shines on the world stage, the more players and J.League supporters will want to become Asian champions someday and compete there. Of course, if you want to compete, you don't have to be satisfied with just a good fight. Whether the opponent is Club Leon or Manchester City, I want them to fight to be the best in the world. This experience should also lead to the 2025 FCWC, which will be expanded in scale.
Text: Yoshiyuki Kawaji (soccer journalist)
