Mixed Emotions

Nacional crash out of Club World Cup but earn praise for insisting Chapecoense are crowned Sudamericana champions.

- Carl Worswick

Atletico Nacional’s all-conquering year ended with a whimper in Japan after a shock 3-0 loss to Kashima Antlers pulled the plug on a highly anticipated showdown with European champions Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.

Dumped into the ignominy of the third place play-off after a dominant year in the domestic Colombian calendar and on the South American stage, Nacional came down to earth against the only invited club at the seven-team world championship.

The manner of Nacional’s premature exit was utterly unexpected. Previously, no one had even come close to threatening a side that, in an 83-game season, had mopped up the domestic league, won a first Libertadores Cup title for 27 years and then triumphed in the Colombian Cup. Indeed, just a few weeks ago, they stood on the cusp of adding a record 16th league title and claiming a Libertadores- Sudamericana Cup double.

That Nacional had romped the domestic league stage despite largely fielding their B team – and, on occasions, a C team – underlined their vast superiority back home. This was a team that had already achieved greatness. But, as early as August, coach Reinaldo Rueda had identified the Club World Cup – and playing Real Madrid in the Final – as his main target. It was as if Colombia and South America no longer offered meaningful competition.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we cannot miss the train,” the former Colombian national coach explained. “We have been playing well for months, for years in fact. We believe in ourselves and are dreaming about being champions.”