Meet the Club World Cup teams: Santos

The Peixe won their first Libertadores title for 48 years with victory over Penarol, and will be dreaming of a decider against Barcelona if they can negotiate the semi-final

Dec 7, 2011 9:00:00 AM

More On :  Santos
Santos: Comemoração do título da Libertadores
Santos: Comemoração do título da Libertadores
PROFILE
By Daniel Edwards | South American Football Editor

The 2011 Club World Cup is fast approaching, and those taking part are keen to begin their run in the competition, with an eye on the ultimate prize.

The tournament, which runs from December 8 to 18 in Japan, sees the top clubs from all the world's football confederations battle it out for glory.

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In the lead up to the tournament, Goal.com will present all seven teams that will be taking part in this highly-anticipated competition. Here, we profile Santos.

SHORT HISTORY
Few Brazilian teams can count on such a high reputation outside of South America as Santos, and this can be attributed to their golden generation of the 1960s; and one man in particular.

Pele was the cornerstone of the side which lifted two Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental Cups in 1962 and 1963. That magical outfit, which also included legends like Pepe and Coutinho, won five national championships in a row between 1961 and 1965, and of the 10 state championships played in the decade, the club lifted eight of them.

The breaking up of that generation led to a much leaner spell for the club, with intermittent success in the Paulista and a 34 year wait for the next championship. The new millennium, however, saw new hope at Vila Belmiro. Prospects such as Diego, Robinho, Elano and Deivid led the revival, breaking the drought with 2002's Serie A win.

2004 saw another national title obtained by the Peixe, and although that first wave of youngsters departed to Europe, the latest generation of talent promises to keep Santos at the forefront of Brazilian football.
TACTICS & PLAYING STYLE
Coach Muricy Ramalho has a somewhat unjust reputation as a tactical pragmatist, but at the helm of Santos he has learnt to let the team's brilliant youngsters play their natural game, while still imposing a tight defensive outlook.

Attacking play centres around the creative trio of Elano, Neymar and Ganso who form a sort of triangle in the opposition half, breaking opposition backlines open with accurate passing and a willingness to beat the marker with the ball at feet. None of them are scared to get into the final third and go for goal, while Elano's wicked shot makes the team a daunting prospect at set-pieces.

Outside them, full-backs Danilo and Leo are typical Brazilian laterais, almost more confident overlapping in attack than when forced onto the back foot. Centre-forward Borges has revelled in the service afforded by these creators, scoring 23 times over the Brasileirao season to finish the competition's top scorer.
THE STAR | Neymar

The 19-year-old was the key to the Peixe's Copa Libertadores victory, and took pleasure in tormenting defences from Mexico to Paraguay with his quick feet and unshakable self-confidence. Neymar drifts from the left to the centre in Santos' attack, always looking for the ball and attempting to connect with Ganso or Borges going forward. Give him too much space, and the teenager can do damage to any team in the world. 
THE SYMBOL | Leo

Watching this grizzled full-back bomb up and down the left wing, you would never guess that in July he celebrated his 36th birthday. Leo has made over 200 appearances for his club in two separate spells, and returned in 2009 to a hero's welcome after five years with Benfica.

Pace, dribbling skils, the heart of a lion and the legs of a 20-year-old; Leo is one of the only men in the world who could match Javier Zanetti for astonishing longevity, and shows no signs of slowing down.
THE YOUNGSTER | Rafael

How to pick just one young talent from a side which boasts perhaps more gifted home-grown prodigies than any other team in the world? The talents of Neymar and Ganso are now no secret, so let's focus on 21-year-old goalkeeper Rafael, who was unbeatable in 2011's successful Libertadores campaign.

A mere baby when compared to most shot-stoppers, Rafael has nevertheless made himself the undisputed No. 1 at Vila Belmiro, combining astonishing athleticism and agility with a maturity and command of the defence which belies his tender age. He has been the target of several prestigious European clubs this year, and a good campaign in Japan will put him even more in the shop window.
THREE FUN FACTS

  • This will be Santos' first appearance in the revamped Club World Cup, after winning the competition twice in its previous incarnation as a straight shoot-out between South America and Europe.
  • The side seem reluctant to test the local delicacies. The club's nutritionist admitted that Neymar and Co. would be steering clear of sushi in favour of the more familiar diet of beans, rice, meat and fruit juice they will import from Sao Paulo.
  • If Santos do meet Barcelona in the final, they will be playing for continental superiority. South America and Europe are tied on 25 titles each counting both the Intercontinental and Club World Cups, with four straight victories for European teams closing the gap in recent years.

PROBABLE STARTING XI

Midfielder Adriano is the only first-team member to miss out on the trip to Japan through injury, meaning that Ramalho has the luxury of picking a familiar XI. Ganso will start on the left hand side of midfield but is fond of drifting into the middle, while Neymar loves to attack from that flank and drag his marker out of position.
Getafe

 Rafael
Danilo, Edu Dracena, Durval, Leo
Henrique, Elano, Arouca, Ganso
Borges, Neymar

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