it was certainly an intriguing contest between internacional and barcelona in the world club cup championships final. no doubt barca had the possession and the chances, but when your stars don't show up to play, you can't really blame anyone else but yourself.

when you need them most, they let you down.

adriano certainly didnt, when he came on as a sub. one chance was all it took for internacional to score. Iarly tormented puyol throughout, and when he shrugged off puyol yet again, he laid a beautiful pass into the path of adriano. one touch to take it past his marker, then a flick past the keeper. 1-0.

intriguing contest. internacional's tactics shut out barcelona's attacking flair. individually, they came out tops against their own direct opponent, especially the right back. he kept ronaldinho relatively quiet. it has been a very tactical match.

you can say the defence beat the attack today.

but seriously, internacional had some good moves as well. they weren't really negative. they didnt set out to defend. it was more the case of barcelona pegging them back. and i think they realised their best chance was to hit on the counter. anyway, i think it is more the case of barcelona losing to themselves, as with all great attacking teams.

this is what happens when you don't kill them off.

anyway watch out for alexandre pato. he's only 17. but i think he has something special. of course he has to learn to look up and pass more as well. he reminds me of cristiano ronaldo, actually, the flair. but he's actually a striker. anyway what caught my eye was the video of him in action they played before the game. he juggled the ball with his shoulder during the game,think against al-ahly, after he got away from his marker.

and ronaldinho freekicks are quasi-penalties.