Sport Club Corinthians Paulista

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly known as Corinthians, are a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in Brazil.

Trivia

The Mule's Skull

There is a popular superstition in Brazil (of probable African origin) saying that a place can be made unwholesome or cursed by burying a mule's skull in it. In 1976, after 22 years of no success, Corinthians was startled by the "revelation" that a mule's skull had been found buried exactly in the midfield of Parque São Jorge during the replacement of the grass. The superstitious fans believed that the curse had ended (although no record of the finding subsist). The team eventually won the 1977 São Paulo State league.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

FIFA World Champions

In Brazil there is much discussion if Corinthians should be called "World Champions" after winning the FIFA Club World Championship in 2000. Practically only the club fans, consider that Corinthians is a legitimate champion, taking in consideration that their club has never won the official and traditional America's title, the "Copa Libertadores de América".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Corinthians fans in general have a strong feeling towards the annual Intercontinental Cup, in which the Champions League champion plays a single game against the Libertadores Cup winners in Japan. This system was adopted in 1980. Prior to this, the World Champion was decided over a best of three matches, played in Europe and in South America. In South America, it is the most important honour achieveable, whereas in Europe, winning the UEFA Champions League is considered the highest possible achievement for a football club. In Brazil, amongst other places, the winner of this cup is considered that year's "World Champion".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the year 2000, FIFA created the Club World Championship, a competition that should have been played every two years, but has had a single tournament so far because of lack of interest from UEFA clubs. Corinthians entered the competition as the host country's (Brazil) previous champions. It must be noted that this tournament had a peculiar format, with no semifinals being played, instead with Group stage winners advancing straight to the final.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The second edition of the Club World Championship organised by FIFA is to be held in December this year in Japan, to replace the Intercontinental Cup, whose winners were duly noted by FIFA as being World Champions.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Corinthians' group results were as follows:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Corinthians - Raja Casablanca (Morocco): 2:0

Related Topics:
Raja Casablanca - Morocco

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Corinthians - Real Madrid (Spain): 2:2 (in this game, the forward Edílson scores a historical goal when he passed the ball between the legs of Real Madrid defender Karembeu);(A match with referre problems, with 7 yellow cards (though no red), with a "legitimate" goal by the Brazilian club disallowed).

Related Topics:
Real Madrid - Spain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Corinthians - Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia): 2:0 (in this game, Corinthians scored a contraversial goal, that enabled the Brazilian team to play the final, due to having scored more goals than Real Madrid).

Related Topics:
Al Nassr - Saudi Arabia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The seven points won in the group stage enabled Corinthians to play the grand final of the tournament against Brazil's Vasco da Gama, in the Maracanã Stadium. The final match ended in a 0:0 draw, and in the penalty shootout Corinthians won 4:3 after Vasco player Edmundo missed his penalty.

Related Topics:
Vasco da Gama - Maracanã Stadium

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~