Tokyo-Ahmed Abd-Rabou: Internacional SC coach Abel Braga insisted his team's game against African champions Ahli in the semi-finals of the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday will be anything but easy. Braga held a press conference for international media in Tokyo on Tuesday. The conference was also attended by club president Fernando Carvalho and veteran players Fernandao and Alex. "Ahli are the African champions and they have a very strong team, which means the match won't be easy for us at all," Braga told reporters. But Braga pointed out to FilGoal.com's correspondent in Tokyo that he has studied his Egyptian opponents very well. "I know everything about the African champions," he stated. "I know that they have a two-year unbeaten run in Egypt and I watched their final against Sfaxien and I know their coach Manuel Jose, who is actually a friend of mine." The Brazilian manager said that Ahli may have an advantage on his team.
From left to right: Braga, Carvalho, Fernandao and Alex "Ahli already played one game here in Japan, which means they got used to the atmosphere of the tournament, unlike us. "The game will be very intense and it will be hard to predict who will win, but I'm confident my team will qualify to the final," Braga added. Internacional skipper Fernandao echoed his coach's sentiment. "For us Brazilians, the (Club) World Cup represents the highest point of our career," said Fernandao. "We came (to Japan) to win the tournament, not to compete," he added. Fernandao also dished out praise for 17-year-old Internacional prodigy Alexander Pato, who is known as 'Alex the Duck'. "He's an excellent player," said Fernandao. "I don't know if the coach will field him against Ahli, but the idea is to give him some confidence in this tournament." The Copa Libertadores champions held their final training session behind closed doors in Tokyo on Tuesday for 45 minutes.
