Auckland City FC first to arrive in Japan - FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
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Oceania representatives Auckland City FC have become the first visiting team to arrive in Japan for the 2015 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The New Zealanders are the tournament’s most enduring side, with Japan 2015 to be their seventh appearance at the event.
The team arrived in two stages on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of a training match against Yokohama FC on Friday, and next Thursday’s Club World Cup opener against the J.League champions.
Auckland City FC are a step closer to knowing the identity of their opponents after Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated Gamba Osaka 3-2 in the J.League championship final, first leg. The second leg is due to be played on Saturday.
"It was a long trip, but I'm happy to be back in Japan,” said Auckland City’s Japanese-born full-back Takuya Iwata. “Our players are relaxed as usual and I think we can play in a relaxed manner.
“Now that Sanfrecce Hiroshima is in the final of the J.League Championship, I want to get our revenge from the 2012 Club World Cup. I hope we can advance in the tournament so that we can play against FC Barcelona and see the world's top football, after we went close to playing against Real Madrid last year.
“We want to show our development and play so that we live up to the result of last year's FIFA Club World Cup, both as a team and as individuals."
Auckland City FC enjoyed a breakthrough showing last year in Morocco defeating African pair Moghreb Tetouan and ES Setif, before a tough extra-time defeat to Copa Libertadores champions San Lorenzo.
"Our reputation is growing obviously after what we did last year so people have a bit more interest in us which is great,” said Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx.
"It’s great a small club like ours can reach the attention of so much international. We also have Japanese national television following us all over the place. It means we're doing things well.”