From Melwood to Tokyo, Japan, the Red Army flew a full 6,000 miles. For the trophy that is furthest away from them, Liverpool are determined to win it.

In an interview with local media, captain Steven Gerrard spoke out about the whole team. "Winning the championship? Yes, we came to Japan for the championship. As soon as we got off the plane, we were all a little tired. But when they think of this championship, everyone is excited. Now all we have to do is get over the jet lag as soon as possible and prepare for the first game. ”

"Tang Wu, Tang Wu, Tang Wu, Tang Wu!!"

As the Red Army members appeared one by one, a high-pitched female voice sounded around.

"It's so hot in Tokyo!"

Alonso looked at the female college students standing in two rows with bouquets of flowers on both sides of the road, and an expression of amazement appeared on his face.

Although it is almost November, the weather in Tokyo is already getting cooler. But smelling the air of East Asia that he had not seen for a long time, Tang Wu still felt a burst of cordiality.

I don't know if it's the credit of the sponsor or the willingness of these students, the female college students uniformly wear school uniforms and short skirts, revealing rows of bare legs. It's a pity that Japanese girls are generally not tall, and there are some inner eights. However, it should be more than enough to deal with Alonso's short-livedness.

The Club World Cup is an international football tournament hosted by FIFA and featuring the best teams from six continents.

In 2000, there was a nominal Club World Cup, which was cancelled due to sponsorship issues.

It wasn't until this year that the Club World Cup was relaunched under FIFA's arrangement, combining the Club World Cup and the Toyota Cup. So in a sense, this Club World Cup can be regarded as the first Club World Cup.

This kind of global cup competition is the best way to highlight the strength of a team. For Liverpool, the only thing missing is a world champion.

The 2000 Club World Cup was won by Brazil's Corinthians, who represented Europe for Manchester United.

If the mortal enemy can come, why can't we?

This time, Liverpool came to Tokyo with the confidence of winning the championship and came to Tokyo with great pride. Looking at other opponents, there is indeed a big gap with Liverpool in terms of strength.

Sao Paulo, the champion of the Copa Libertadores, Sabrisa the champion of the Central and American Championships, Ittihad, the champion of the AFC Champions League, Sydney FC, the champion of Oceania, and Al Ahly, the champion of the non-champions, these team names that have never heard of are the wedding clothes of Liverpool's ascent to the top in the eyes of ordinary fans.

"When I look back on my career one day, I want to have as many medals as I can, and a World Championship medal is definitely special. It's an important game and we definitely don't take it as a vacation. ”

Gerrard was in high spirits during the interview, and he was also full of energy: "In the past week, we have deliberately advanced the training time and adjusted the players' schedules and recipes. For example, after the game [last Saturday] against Myburgh I asked the players to sleep as little as possible because we had plenty of rest on the plane [on Sunday]. ”

According to Bei Bald's habit, he bought his wife a watch every time he won the championship. As soon as he got off the plane, he went to the local watch store in Tokyo to pick out a Christmas gift for his wife, which was promised during the European Super Cup. For this reason, many media joked that with Liverpool's current ability, Bei Bald is bound to pick another New Year's Day gift for his wife.

As for Tang Wu, he was surrounded by the media and fans when he could speak.

These Asian fans were so excited that the frenzied fans broke through the microphone and handed Tang Wu props such as signature pads and jerseys, hoping to get Tang Wu's autograph.

What else to interview? Let's take a photo with the idol first!

Tang Wu picked a soft girl with a high appearance, hooked her shoulders and took a group photo in front of the media. The girl, who claimed to be Momoya, burst into tears and kept bowing and thanking her after the group photo.

Soccer has a high status in Japan, and there are soccer leagues among elementary school students here. Coupled with years of cooperation with Brazil, it is only fitting that a football star is regarded as an idol by ordinary people.

People like Maradona, Pele and others are the objects of adoration of Japanese fans.

But now, these two champions may have to stand on the back foot. An Asian star with a similar face to them is the target of these young Japanese fans.

The Japanese love hero complex has been written into their genes.

After signing a few in succession, Tang Wu waved his hand and shook his head, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, thank you for liking me so much." But I'm not here to hold a fan meeting, but to add a trophy to Liverpool. ”

"So I'm so sorry that I can only go here today!"

You respect me, I respect you, Tang Wu didn't expect that he would be so sought after in Japan. In the last sentence, Tang Wu used the Japanese with a straight and round tone, and it was also an authentic Tokyo accent.

"Ah, Tang Wu !!" After hearing the last Japanese sentence, a girl's scream sounded around again.

Although the media didn't interview Tang Wu with anything, this sentence alone was enough for them to be stunned for a long time.

About 28,000 fans came to Tokyo's Toyota Stadium on Monday night.

For most of them, the purpose of the trip was to meet Miura, and they knew almost nothing about Sydney FC's opponents, Costa Rica's Sabrisa. The result disappointed the fans, with Sabrisa beating Sydney FC 1-0 against an unfamiliar team that put Miura in the final 14 and Sabrissa became Liverpool's opponent in the semi-finals.

Although the result was disappointing for fans, if you look at the history of both teams, you will also find that this result is actually very "objective".

Miura's Sydney FC team was only established last year, while Sabrisa has a history of 70 years, and in terms of age, it is not even the "grandfather" of Sydney FC.

The Sabrisa Sports Club was officially founded on July 16, 1935 in San Jose's Angel Neighborhood, and its name comes from its main patron, Ricardo Brown. Sabrisa.

San Jose is only the fourth largest city in the small country of Costa Rica, but Sabrisa was the country's greatest club of the 20th century, with many supporters both domestically and in Central America, and the team that won the most Costa Rican league titles in the 20th century.

Sabrisa's players have always had a monopoly on captaining the national team, from Flores at the 1990 World Cup, to Parks, who withdrew from the 2002 World Cup due to injury, to Costa Rica's captain at three Olympic Games.

In the 21st century, Sabrissa suffered one of its worst economic crises, having been surpassed by old rivals Alain Huis (24) in league titles (23).

While the club was facing internal and external troubles, Vegara, a wealthy businessman from Mexico, who is also the owner of the Major League Chivas Revade team, enjoyed a high reputation in the sports world in Central and North America.

After Vegara took over Sabrisa, the team insisted on using Costa Rican players, even foreign players were required to join Costa Rican nationality first, which also led to Sabrisa becoming the most pure professional club, with 16 members of the first team having been selected for the Colombian national team.

200304 season, Sabrisa won the Costa Rican league for the 23rd time and earned a chance to compete in the 200405 Central American Club Cup, where they made it all the way to the final against Mexico's Jaguars.

In the final, Sabrisa won 3-2 on aggregate over two legs to qualify for the Club World Cup. Interestingly, due to the unavailability of the main stadium, Sabrissa's home games were played in unattended venues outside the main stadium, and spectators watched the game while standing on the sidelines.

Sabrisa suffered a heavy blow to old rival Alain Huis in a league match in 1987, and Costa Rica's Daily Outside shouted the slogan "Youkai is coming" the next day, and "Youkai" became Sabrisa's nickname. Due to the purple color of the team's home jersey, it is also commonly referred to as the "Purple Demon".

"TOM, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Alonso leaned in front of the window, staring at the anticipatory red fans downstairs of the hotel. Although the girls were wearing Liverpool uniforms, Alonso knew that their actual purpose was to meet Tang Wu.

"Tokyo is not Liverpool's place to be, we lost the Toyota Cup twice in the '80s. In 1981, they lost 3-0 to Flamengo in Brazil; Three years later, Independiente beat us by another goal. So we can't underestimate the enemy. ”

"TOM, ARE YOU SCARED?" Alonso laughed, "Are you afraid that your clumsy performance will disappoint those young girls?" Don't worry, I'm here, and I promise to help you keep the goal! ”

"Just mind your own business!" Tang Wu gave the Spaniard two middle fingers.

On December 15, the second semi-final of the World Club Champions Cup, Liverpool vs Costa Rica Saprisa kicked off in Tokyo.

The Reds were imposing in front of 44,000 spectators, overwhelming their opponents before the game began.

For this Club World Cup, the Red Army is determined to win the championship, and Bei Bald has discharged most of the main forces. Compared to last week's league game, the Reds have made some changes, with Jose Mi replacing Finnan at right-back, Traore at left-back, Riser on the left flank of midfield, and Morientes resting up front, with Cisse coming in for him to partner Crouch.

On the goal line, it is naturally Tang Wu who is carrying Liverpool No. 1.

Just three minutes into the game, the Reds broke through the opposition with their first attack.

Crouch broke the ball at the feet of international defender Jurence Durummond and quickly cut forward after a knock on the wide side of the pitch before the Norwegian hoisted in a cross into the box. Cisse crossed accurately, and Crouch, who burst into the box, won the ball in the gap and fired a powerful volley into the bottom corner.

1-0, Liverpool took an early lead.

The rest of the game was completely controlled by the Reds.

Tang Wu's high press left the Costa Rican team breathless.

Originally, the Red Army was suppressed on all fronts, and Sabrisa could only look for opportunities through sporadic long counterattacks. But Tang Wu's position was too high, and his defensive range was expanded to a semicircle that the opposing striker and coach did not expect at all.

Many times in Saprisa, when the striker was still entangled with Liverpool's defenders, Tang Wu had already quickly run to the ball landing point to control the ball and give it to his teammates on the other side.

Saprisa's first threatening attack came in the 28th minute. The midfielder's through-ball cut through Liverpool's defence, and the number 12 striker swooped in and his low left-footed shot bounced into the air after Hyypia and Carragher followed up.

Tang Wu, who had already come forward, hurriedly adjusted his pace, straightened his waist and took a step back, then exerted his waist and abdomen, and stabbed the ball higher with the two middle fingers of his left hand, which resolved the "hanging shooting crisis".

After getting up from the ground, Tang Wu swung his fist vigorously at the opponent's forward, like an angry lion, as if warning the opponent that this was his forbidden area.

The red fans in the stands can't wait to make a splash, most of them are from China, and it is much cheaper and closer to Japan than in the UK.

In the 32nd minute, Liverpool extended their lead.

This time, Tang Wu's fast long pass did not look for a teammate on the side, but aimed at Gerrard in the middle.

From the big kick on the line of the penalty area to the top of the opponent's penalty area, Gerrard stopped the ball on his chest and turned to the side of his body, turned to meet the bouncing ball and directly picked up his right foot. The ball that was hit hurts the ground and rushes forward, hitting the post and bouncing into the net!

A wonderful world wave!

The fans in the stands and in front of the TV were completely boiling.

This goal only landed twice from the time Tang Wu went out with a big foot to the time the goal landed.

The first time Gerrard stopped the ball, and the second time he landed, he was already in the opposition goal.

Simple, fast, efficient, deadly!

Liverpool have once again shown the world what a blitzkrieg is.

Saprisa's players looked at each other, some of them had played for more than a decade and had never seen such a simple assist and shot on goal.

Is it so easy to score goals?

A big foot + a volley = a goal?

What kind of algorithm is this?

But at this moment, the fans watching the live broadcast at Anfield chanted in unison: "This is how Liverpool score!" ”

Liverpool looked more relaxed after taking a two-goal lead, and in the 39th minute, the Reds launched a counter-attack on the right, Gerrard deftly picked out Crouch in the box, who chested the ball and fired a one-on-one shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper. Although the linesman raised the flag to signal offside, it was clear from Gerrard's pick and pass that Liverpool's mentality was already very relaxed.

At the end of the first half, Liverpool led 2-0 and dominated the field.

Just two minutes into the second half, Cisse broke through on the right to win a free kick, Gerrard took the penalty forward, Cisse grabbed the landing point and shook his head to attack the goal, the ball grazed the right post of the goal and missed the goal.

Four minutes later, Liverpool had a good chance to open the scoring, Gerrard penetrated the entire defence with a through pass from the right, Cisse broke through the right rib into the penalty area, and when there were two points in front of the goal, Cisse's cross was slightly behind, and Liverpool also missed the opportunity.

In the 58th minute, Liverpool ushered in the third goal, Gerrard passed straight to the front in the middle circle, Reese fought with the opposing defender, the ball bounced to the front of the penalty area, Crouch stretched out his long legs to break the ball at the feet of the central defender, and then entered the penalty area, calmly pushed the goal.

3-0, the suspense of the game was completely over. Soon after, Benitez replaced Gerrard with Pongele, but did not replace Reina for the sake of Tang Wu's playing time. And just like that, the game went into "garbage time".

When the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game, the Liverpool players rushed to the sidelines to thank the fans.

German player Hamann pinched his waist and stood in the middle of the stadium, looking at the fans all over the field, and his heart was full of emotion.

"Are you going to Yokohama again? I hope I can leave no regrets this time! ”