Michael Burgess: Fifa's blushes spared but format is flawed

Hiroshima's win over Auckland City was good for the Club World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

It's probably just as well Auckland City didn't win their match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Friday. As much as everyone enjoyed their Cinderella ride last year, when they finished third, Fifa and the tournament organisers couldn't afford another host team failure.

The promotion, marketing, media - everything is geared to the home side progressing and now Hiroshima will have at least three matches in the tournament.

Defeat to Auckland would have meant elimination and been a disaster for the event. And that is where the format is flawed.

Every team, including the host nation and Oceania representative, need to be guaranteed at least two games, rather than the current win-or-bust scenario.

Surely there is a way it can be done, otherwise the tournament will struggle to attract future hosts.

This year's tournament has been boosted by the presence of Barcelona. They bring a magic few clubs have and images of Lionel Messi and Neymar are everywhere. It also means their semifinal (and presumably final) will be sellouts.

There is also plenty of interest in River Plate's Club World Cup debut. Coached by former international Marcelo Gallardo, and with home-town hero Javier Saviola leading the line, up to 20,000 fans of Los Millonarios are expected to make the trip from Argentina.

China's Guangzhou Evergrande FC, coached by Luis Felipe Scolari, are also expected to attract plenty of support and TP Mazembe (Congo) and Club America (Mexico) make up the rest of the line-up.

Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx has remained upbeat after his side's defeat. While admitting he got some things wrong and the team didn't reach their highest level, he was philosophical about the performance.

"It wasn't our night but we have to be satisfied with the way we managed to play, against the best team in Japan," said Tribulietx. "We had 67 per cent of possession and they scored their first goal in an offside position and their second was from a deflection. Obviously I would have taken the win rather than winning possession but what it means is important.

"In 2006, this club came here and were completely dispossessed and a very defensive-minded team just trying not to concede. Sooner or later, you end up conceding when you play these kind of sides. Now we have reversed the whole story.

"We are a team that is controlling and dominating the ball against a side that has got millionaires. We have reversed the history."