Barcelona jet into Japan for Club World Cup

TOKYO, Dec 11 (Reuters) Hot favourites Barcelona jetted into Japan for the Club World Cup today, bodyguards quickly sweeping them past a throng of squealing fans and onto a waiting bus.

Around 200 Japanese fans, many of them in Barcelona shirts, greeted the Barca players as they arrived at Narita airport after their long-haul charter flight from Spain.

World player of the year Ronaldinho grinned to the crowd from behind a pair of dark sunglasses while Portugal midfielder Deco gave a thumbs-up as the players emerged from customs.

Barca's Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard is aiming to outdo Johan Cruyff's flamboyant side of the early 1990s by returning to Spain with an historic first world title.

Barcelona begin their campaign in Yokohama on Thursday when they take on the winners of Monday's clash between Mexico's Club America and South Korea's Chonbuk Motors.

Seeded teams Barcelona and Internacional are scheduled to meet in the final of the competition involving the world's six continental champions.

Cruyff's Barcelona lost 2-1 to Sao Paulo in 1992 in the Club World Cup's predecessor, a one-off encounter between the European and South American champions.

REUTERS PM DS1231