The Lost Year-end Feast —— Recalling the Toyoda Cup

The warring sides of the Toyota Cup are the European Champions Cup champion and the South American Libertadores Cup champion. Because these two continents represent the top level of international football, the Toyota Cup is regarded as the "peak battle" of the world club. Toyota Cup, formerly known as Toyota Cup, was founded in 1960. At that time, the home and away game system was adopted, but it was not officially recognized. In the 1970s, there was a fan riot in the Toyota Cup, and several European champions decided to boycott the Toyota Cup and replace it with Asian troops willing to participate. 1974, Atletico Madrid, which replaced Bayern, defeated Argentina's independence with a total score of 2: 1 and won the championship. In 75 and 78, the Intercontinental Cup was not held at all.

Starting from 1980, the Toyota Cup was sponsored by Toyota and renamed as the Toyota Cup. The competition was held in Japan at the end of 10 or early February, and the competition system was changed to a tiebreaker. Clever Japanese businessmen found the breakthrough point with football as the advertising carrier at an appropriate time, successfully publicized themselves and expanded their influence. At that time, the commercial development of the European Champions Cup was not sufficient. Under the concept of South America versus Europe, sponsors provide relatively generous bonuses, and the best player can also get a Toyota car, which makes the competition attractive to both sides.

In the mid-1980s, CCTV began to broadcast the video of the Toyota Cup. Because there is no time difference, this game is very suitable for the audience in China, which also established its influence in China. 198 1 the second Toyota cup, the TV station broadcasted the video of the game for the first time, which left a good first impression on the Chinese people. Before that game, the South American team had won the first five championships. In the second half, Juventus and Argentine youths staged a classic battle, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Italians beat young people on penalties, ending the monopoly of South Americans. China fans got a taste of Platini and laudrup. After Platini's goal was blown off, he fell to the ground and posed as a "sleeping beauty", which became a classic shot in the history of football.

1987 Toyota cup, the warring sides are Porto and Penarol of Uruguay. A small snowflake floated over Tokyo, and the two sides had a snowball fight, which opened the eyes of China fans and played a football in the game. Porto won the trophy with Maadyr's goal in stoppage time. 1988 is more thrilling and dramatic. Uruguay, the first Toyota Cup champion, once again came to Tokyo to face Eindhoven. Not long after the game started, the Uruguayan nation took the lead and Eindhoven launched a counterattack. It was not until the 75th minute that romario equalized the score. The game entered the stoppage time, Koeman of Eindhoven took the lead in breaking the goal, and the Uruguayan nation showed great tenacity. Finally, it changed the score to 2-2 with a corner kick and won the penalty shoot-out. In the following years, AC Milan, at its peak, joined the competition for the Toyota Cup and staged wonderful matchups one after another. Yi Jita attacked crazily, Basten shot the column, Rijkaard shot the top from a long distance; The tacit understanding of the Red Star team and the full cooperation of the individual genius left an endless aftertaste.

That period was the most influential period for China, in which the influence of AC Milan, the consecutive 1 Toyota Cup champion, played an important role.

Since 1992, Sao Paulo has shown their artistic football to the world for two consecutive years. Muller's fake action to help Rye score was amazing, and Sao Paulo became the second team after Milan to win the Toyota Cup again. During this period, Sao Paulo's artistic football and Milan's sadness were staged alternately, which continued the popularity of the Toyota Cup. 1993 replaced AC Milan in Marseille, tripped Sao Paulo, and made a comeback the following year, but sarsfield was surprised by counterattack tactics.

After that, the Toyota Cup began to decline. Because CCTV stopped broadcasting live, the Toyota Cup is no longer in China. 1995, Ajax and rough gremio played a boring game, and the European team won the championship for five years in a row, almost losing suspense. In the next few games, except for Piero's wonderful arc and Raul's long-range shot, unforgettable scenes were lacking.

Although the decline of the Toyota Cup is related to the decline of the attraction of the tournament itself, the fundamental reason is that UEFA and FIFA pay more and more attention to the commercial development of football matches. UEFA successfully transformed the Champions League into the Champions League, which made huge profits in business and provided more and more bonuses for the team. In addition to providing some sponsorship fees, the organizers of the Toyota Cup do not have their own unique resources, so it is inevitable that they will be squeezed and their attraction will naturally be different.

The reorganization of the European Champions League has brought more and more heavy competition burden to various clubs. 165438+1from the end of October to the beginning of 65438+February, it was the climax of European competitions and the team entered a period of exhaustion; Coupled with the bad weather in winter and the increase in injuries, it has become a burden to go to Japan to play the Toyota Cup. On the other hand, the increasingly fierce competition in European football has also brought disadvantages to the Toyota Cup. It is difficult to produce a dynasty in the Champions League, a team that has dominated for a long time (until Real Madrid in 16). However, the difference between the Champions League final and the Toyota Cup is half a year. By the time of the Toyota Cup, the participating teams may no longer be brilliant and cannot represent the highest level in Europe (Porto in 2004).

Contrary to Europe, South America attaches great importance to the Toyota Cup. In addition to the economic benefits brought by the event itself, it is also a stage for teams and players to display. It is through the Toyota Cup that Riquelme and other stars have enhanced their world influence. South American teams often change their schedules in order to make concessions to the Toyota Cup. They can arrive in Japan 10 days in advance. Therefore, although the Toyota Cup is held in a neutral way, South American teams have the upper hand in preparation and morale, and the game seems to have become "unequal competition", which weakens the competitive significance of the Toyota Cup itself, and it is naturally difficult for European teams that have suffered losses to raise interest.

FIFA also saw the attractive fat of club competition, and decided to hold the World Club Competition from 2000, with champions from all continents participating. The time was set at the middle of June 5438+10. However, there is a serious conflict between the tournament and the schedule of European teams. Some European teams are reluctant to give up the precious winter break, while Premier League clubs have to deal with frequent games after Christmas. In 2000, FIFA held the World Club Cup in Brazil. Manchester United gave up the traditional FA Cup for the first time and went to Brazil to sunbathe. The result was criticized by the domestic media. After being teased by romario and edmundo of Degama, Manchester United didn't even qualify for the group, and went back to China despondently. 1998 Real Madrid, which won the Toyota Cup, failed to win the first place in the opposing group and missed the final.

FIFA learned a lesson and decided to move the 200 1 Toyota Cup to the middle of the year, but it still died. The reason publicly announced by FIFA is that it conflicts with the national team's competition schedule and some participating clubs have economic problems in their countries. In fact, the most crucial point is that FIFA's market partner ISL has closed down, and FIFA has no time to organize the Toyota Cup.

After a period of adjustment, Blatter's World Club Cup scheme was formally adopted at the Executive Committee meeting held in London on February 29th, 2004, and the new version of the World Club Cup was changed to be held once a year and at the end of the year. The Toyota Cup was cornered and there was no place to stand. Under Blatter's threats and inducements, the organizers finally gave up. As compensation, FIFA agreed to host the 2005 and 2006 World Cups in Japan.

As the annual drama of European and American clubs, the Toyota Cup, in the first decade, South American teams even occupied an absolute advantage. Even in all 20 games in the last century, South American teams only won 10, which was in balance with Europe. However, after entering this century, this balanced pattern was gradually broken, and the center of gravity of world football began to tilt to Europe, which has formed a completely irreversible situation until now. Since 2006, the European national team has dominated four consecutive World Cups, and the European Club 12 won the 10 World Club Cup. Under such overwhelming advantage, there are too many factors involved.

When the flood of commercial society comes, football is inevitably involved. In this tide of the times, South America has become a rich mine for European clubs to explore talents. More and more potential young players were brought to Europe before their skills were formed, and they grew up under the technical and tactical system of European football. Inevitably assimilated by Europe, it lost the traditional technical style of South America. Although this is not the only reason why South American teams are in trouble, it is definitely the most important reason. While the South American teams gradually lost their own styles and characteristics, many strong European teams gradually strengthened their strength through the racial integration brought by immigration and naturalized football, and with the help of the sports talents of African and American descendants. Under such a change, South American teams began to lag behind Europe and even the gap became wider and wider, which became an unchangeable fact.

Therefore, the World Club Cup was completely reduced to a chicken rib competition, and there was no wonderful and peak confrontation in the past, becoming the only exhibition match for European teams.