Tade set for 'surreal' Club World Cup

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 17 December 2022

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Emiliano Tade looks forward to reliving "surreal" nature of FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco in February.

The 35-year-old club record goalscorer was integral in Auckland City FC's four trophy haul this year taking his personal goals tally to 144 in 219 games but its the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco that has him excited.

The Argentine striker has been part of City's FIFA Club World Cup adventures since his first experience of the competition in Japan in 2011 and now news that City are on their way back to Morocco, scene of the club's bronze medal campaign eight years ago, has him bursting with energy.

"The Club World Cup has always been a very special tournament for us as a club and also important for Oceania. Playing against teams that are in other leagues from professional environments gives us a chance to compare ourselves to that level.

"In those tournaments games are watched by millions of people so its very special. The last 10-12 years Auckland City FC has been there many times and in 2014 we managed to get through a few stages and reached the last four and won third position.

"The memories of the tournament in Morocco in 2014 is always going to be one of the highlights in my life, for the rest of my life, and I'll always be able to look back and say 'wow'. Yet it feels very unreal, like I wasn't there, like I watched it all happen in a movie and it is very surreal.

"Now having the Club World Cup in Morocco just around the corner means we as players are all thinking about it because we know what to expect and we have been there many times and its time to try and prove ourselves again," he said.

"Muchachos, ahora nos volvimos a ilusionar" Nos vamos para Doha a alentar a la Selección en la final del mundo. ¡Vamos Argentina! pic.twitter.com/q7gyPpOKXX
— Aerolíneas Argentinas (@Aerolineas_AR) December 16, 2022

While Tade is keeping himself fit and sharp for action he's having a tough time focusing with Argentina taking on France in Sunday's FIFA World Cup final in Doha, Qatar.

Argentina's stumbling start to the tournament turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Lionel Messi and team steadily improved all the way to a second final appearance in three tournaments.

Tade, like his compatriots, experiences the FIFA World Cup in what can only be described as a spiritual manner, so he chooses his words carefully knowing his heart is firmly on his sleeve ahead of the game.

France, he says, have an edge, but hope springs eternal for Argentina and it's desire to see Messi end his international career with the ultimate prize.

"France's key threat will be in the mental side based on the fact they won the FIFA World Cup four years ago which means they can go into this game with Argentina with no pressure, so to speak.

"They have nothing to prove, they've proven themselves before, and the fact they have injured players or players missing is irrelevant, so they play for nothing yet play for everything.

"This could be a critical factor alongside their experience and their players such as Dembele, Giroud, Mbappe, Griezman. Their defence is very good and they are one of those teams that the moment you switch off they punish you.

"They don't need to create a lot of chances they take the one they get and that's all they need," he said.

Buenos Aires was rocking after Argentina reached the World Cup Final.

via IG/alepetra_ pic.twitter.com/0xj6aAyOY0
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 14, 2022

As for assessing Argentina's chances? Tade prefers to give Cliff notes rather than get into the existential details of what could be the greatest moment in the nation's history since 1986, or its worst since 2014.

"I don't want to get into what winning the FIFA World Cup means to me, Argentina, the country, the people, it goes beyond those words.

"In Argentina we are very superstitious about these things and the moment you start speaking about it they don't become true, so I'm going to pass on the question. "It's also hard to explain because its so complex and it's a feeling I have never had before because when Argentina last won the FIFA World Cup in 1986, I wasn't born!

"I don't know how I'm going to feel or react, but it will definitely be crazy for all of us and that's based on what we saw in the group stage, nevermind the maximum prize.

"When we lost the final in 2014, it impacted Argentina a lot, the country, the people, the players, the only difference between now and then is the possibility of how sad it would be for football itself to see Lionel Messi play two FIFA World Cup finals and lose both of them.

"I think football people in general will be sad. I hear this quite a lot from people outside of Argentinian interests who say they feel and believe it would be right for Messi to go out on a high.

"I think the opposite is a possibility, it would be unfair, I don't want that to happen, but this possibility is also a part of the reality of this life and the world we live in."

Ends