Getting up at five o’clock this morning to watch a game on TV live from Japan reminded me of World Cup 2002. But this time, instead of watching England lose against Brazil in Japan, it was the turn of the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup featuring Manchester United against Gamba Osaka from Yokohama.

From the first few minutes, it was apparent that this was going to be a very open game, but who would have expected eight goals in a 5-3 win by Manchester United? While Manchester United’s first two goals were scored from headers by Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo, both connecting from corner kicks, the turning point in the game was when Wayne Rooney entered the game as a substitute for Carlos Tevez when the score was 2-0 to Manchester United.

Incredibly, the game came alive and five goals were scored within five minutes. Rooney scored within one minute with his first touch of the ball, and netted a goal later in the match. Darren Fletcher also scored just a few minutes after Rooney’s first goal.

The TV coverage and commentary from Fox Soccer Channel was well done with Max Bretos and Christopher Sullivan in fine form. While Max can be too over excited at times, Sullivan continues to impart golden nuggets of tactical insight throughout matches which I always appreciate.

Manchester United now plays Liga de Quito (from Ecuador) in the final on Sunday, December 21st with the kick-off at 5:30am ET on Fox Soccer Channel.

Champions League football returns today with both Chelsea and Liverpool in action. Chelsea is at home versus Cluj in a must-win game for Gene Hackman, I mean Luiz Felipe Scolari, (ESPN2 and ESPN360, 2:30pm ET) while PSV takes on Liverpool in a must-score game for Robbie Keane (Setanta Sports, 2:30pm ET).

In the meantime, here are several articles from around the soccer blogosphere that I think you’ll enjoy:

• “Ooh To Be A Soccer Fan In The US“: Excellent article by EPL Talk fan favorite John Nicholson while on an expedition to California (Football 365),
• “Exploring The ESPN Business Model” and why Fox Soccer Channel and soccer fans used to watching Premier League football on Fox need to be worried (Deadspin).
• “Are The English Sides Once Again The Teams To Avoid In The Next Round Of The Champions League?” (Champions League Talk)
• “2008 FIFA Club World Cup Preview Part I” and “2008 FIFA Club World Cup Preview Part II” (World Cup Buzz)
• “Interview With Bobby McMahon On The EPL, Match Fixing and The Modern Game” (Soccer Examiner)

Fox Soccer Channel has announced that Manchester United’s FIFA Club World Cup 2008 games will be shown live on its network in the United States.

The first game involving Man United will be shown on Thursday, December 18 at 5:30am ET when United will play one of the following opponents: LDU Quito (Ecuador), Gamba Osaka (Japan), Al Ahly (Egypt), Pachuca (Mexico), Waitakere United (New Zealand) or Adelaide United (Australia).

If Manchester United wins that game, they’ll play in the final on Sunday, December 21st, which will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel at 2:30am ET.

No English team has ever won the world club championship. The Club World Cup is an annual tournament that brings together the reigning champions of FIFA’s six major continental competitions, all vying to become the world’s best club team of 2008.

Manchester United came close to winning the tournament in 2000 when they traveled to Brazil in controversial circumstances (they were allowed to skip the FA Cup that season). They drew against Necaxa 1-1, lost to Vasco da Gama 3-1 and then beat South Melbourne 2-0. Unfortunately United missed out on qualifying for the third place match on goal difference.

Fox Soccer Channel’s coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2008 presented by Toyota commences on Wednesday, Dec. 11 with the opening playoff match and continues with both quarterfinal matches, both semifinal matches, the third and fifth place match along with the final, taking place at International Stadium Yokohama on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 5 a.m. ET.