BOCA JUNIORS AND THE UNFORGETTABLE INTERCONTINENTAL CUP WIN OF 2000

MANY WERE OVERJOYED WHEN FIFA FINALLY DECIDED TO RECOGNIZE THE WINNERS OF THE OLD INTERCONTINENTAL CUP AS LEGAL WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS LAST YEAR. The change has had a tremendous impact on all football purists, including this writer, who had grown accustomed to seeing the yearly meeting of European Cup and Copa Libertadores champions in Tokyo since 1980.

It's incredible to see clubs from both continents spreading their brand of football to a foreign country. Europe has always been proud of its organized and structural football methods, whereas in South America, football must be played with grace and flamboyance.

There is also an unstated fact about how much the Japanese have acquired from these cultures. This was the impetus for them to start their own professional football league - the J League - in the early 1990s, while also inventing their own football culture.

This wasn't some money-making summer tour turned anti-sentiment crusade including clubs from outside Asia. This was the genuine article. When opposed to their European rivals, South American teams seemed to have more motivation to capture the championship. Nonetheless, with reputations on the line, it tended to produce some tense clashes between great sides from both sides of the Atlantic.

While FIFA's decision to introduce the yearly Club World Cup tournament was admirable, the Intercontinental Cup has seen more fascinating football moments throughout its history. On November 28, 2000, Boca Juniors faced Real Madrid in a legendary match.

After winning the Champions League for the ninth time a few months earlier, Madrid began a new era under the leadership of freshly elected president Florentino Pérez. During that summer, he signed Luis Figo from archrivals Barcelona for a world-record cost, fulfilling a key aspect of his election campaign. The club's concept of bringing in one major star - or Galáctico - every few years was still in its infancy.

Bianchi has a lot of fond recollections of Japan. His underdog Vélez Sarsfield annoyed AC Milan 2-0 to win the trophy in 1994.It was a tough pill to chew for Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, who compared the Vélez team to a third-tier squad.Such arrogance from the Old Continent is why South American clubs are always more motivated, as it gives them all the bragging rights over their financially better counterparts in Europe.

Real landed in Japan with the intention of imitating their finest side from the 1950s and 1960s, but Pérez had other plans. Despite their achievements, Real Madrid were still trailing in terms of commercial value in Asia, where English football teams reign dominant.

This was a monopoly he despised and sought to abolish.All eyes were on Figo, the most expensive footballer in the world. The Madrid team, now led by Vicente Del Bosque, was much more than that. Ral and Fernando Morientes led the assault, supported by Figo, Guti, and Steve McManaman, with Claude Makélélé and Iván Helguera providing steel in the center. A solid defense led by the ever-present Fernando Hierro, Aitor Karanka, Mchel Salgado, and Roberto Carlos held firm.

After his amazing performance in the Champions League final, Iker Casillas, who was only 19 at the time, became the number one goalkeeper. Del Bosque might summon on Pedro Munitis, Sávio, Flávio Conceiço, Santiago Solari, Iván Campo, or Geremi from the bench to bolster the side as needed. Real Madrid were cruising domestically and looking excellent to defend their crown in Europe by the time they landed in Japan.

What about Boca Juniors, though? Back in South America, they'd established themselves as a strong opponent owing to the astute Bianchi. He assembled the team around Juan Román Riquelme and Martn Palermo.

Boca were on course to win the Apertura that year after winning the Libertadores against Palmeiras in 2000, but the focus had moved to the job in Tokyo.

Riquelme, the wonderful playmaker, was unquestionably the team's heart and soul. He was suddenly considered one of the hottest properties in international football. Palermo was undoubtedly Argentina's best scorer at the time, albeit his reputation had suffered as a result of his hat-trick of penalty failures during the 1999 Copa América.

However, Boca weren’t just about Riquelme and Palermo. Bianchi also had the likes of Marcelo Delgado, José Basualdo, Sebastián Battaglia, the Barros Schelotto twins, Hugo Ibarra, Christian Traverso and Daniel Fagiani together with the Colombian trio of Mauricio Serna, Jorge Bermúdez and Óscar Córdoba.

While Madrid’s superstars could have easily seduced the Japanese, they opted to keep themselves out of the public eyes, and instead it was Boca who captured the people’s hearts. Los Xeneizes had arrived in Japan several days earlier and captivated the locals with public appearances including autograph signings and photo sessions. This became a key factor in why many locals came out in the Azul y Oro colours for the match.

Del Bosque was willing to make some changes to his starting lineup for this match, maybe owing to overconfidence. Casillas remained in goal, with Fernando Hierro and Karanka in central defense and Roberto Carlos on the left, although he chose Geremi over Salgado on the right. Claude Makélélé returned to his defensive midfielder role alongside Helguera, but he could also play more forward as needed. The three-man attacking midfield of Figo, McManaman, and Guti was expected to offer assistance for Ral, who started as the lone striker.

It was unclear how Bianchi would try to use his Boca team to counter Madrid's every threat. Boca was seen less attractive in the Argentine mindset under him, but he still played to win. Riquelme, Palermo, and the dependable goalkeeper Córdoba all held their positions. Bianchi also kept the center defensive partnership of Bermudez and Treverso, with Ibarra at right back. On the left, he replaced Fagiani, who had played a lot that year, with Anbal Matellán, whom he tasked with marking Figo. Mauricio Serna would play holding midfield, supported by experienced Basualdo and agile Battaglia. Riquelme was given the freedom to wander, while Marcelo Delgado was chosen to accompany Palermo up front.

The atmosphere inside Tokyo National Stadium was incredible. The commotion caused by the thousands of Bosteros who had made the 20-plus-hour flight to Tokyo transformed it into a miniature La Bombonera.

Real Madrid took the kickoff, but Boca began to gain momentum by maintaining possession from the back and waiting for the proper opportunity. With Geremi on the field, Los Merengues were vulnerable, and it didn't take long for the opening goal of the night to arrive. The Cameroonian made a costly error by sending the ball into the path of Serna, who slid it to José Basualdo. The 37-year-old made a superb ball to Delgado, who was running down the right flank.

The Real defense appeared to be caught off surprise. Delgado took his time before crossing the ball into the penalty area to Palermo, who was breaking through between Karanka and Carlos.It was all too easy for El Loco, who only needed to tap in to put Boca ahead. The first goal was a dream come true for them, but it was the second that caused total delight due to a stroke of architectural genius.

Battaglia took the ball from Ral and passed it to Riquelme. He spotted Palermo, who was racing forward despite Geremi's pursuit, and delivered a superb 30-yard pass.Despite the pressure, Palermo held off Geremi and waited for the proper moment to shot past Casillas.

Bianchi had once again orchestrated a South American victory over a European behemoth, and it wouldn't be the last. In 2003, he repeated the trick with Boca.

The trophy was retired in 2005 after FIFA decided to expand the competition to include other confederations, giving rise to the Club World Cup. Though the premise was excellent, the new, larger event lacks much of the luster that the Intercontinental Cup once possessed. Football was at a crossroads at the turn of the 2000, with the top European clubs poised to stretch their financial muscles beyond anyone's expectations. It was impossible for South American clubs to keep their best players.