European jinx strikes luckless Barca in Japan

YOKOHAMA, Dec 18 (Reuters) European champions Barcelona jetted out of Japan today shocked and dejected after being ambushed in the final of the Club World Cup.

The Catalans became the latest victims of a South American smash-and-grab raid as they were stunned 1-0 by Internacional of Brazil in front of 67,000 people in Yokohama yesterday.

Barcelona had totally dominated until substitute Adriano's breakaway winner in the 82nd minute shattered the Spanish side's hopes of an historic first world title.

''We're not failures suddenly,'' Barca coach Frank Rijkaard told reporters but the Dutchman's body language suggested he was suffering.

''We have great players but we weren't functioning properly.

We paid for missing so many chances.'' After only two years of the fledgling FIFA competition involving the world's six continental champions, there appears to be a jinx on European clubs.

The manner of Barca's defeat evoked memories of last year's final when Liverpool had three goals ruled out in a controversial 1-0 loss.

FIFA staged a first world club championship six years ago when Brazil's Corinthians won the title on home soil.

But soccer's governing body was forced pulled the plug on the competition in 2001 after the collapse of marketing partner ISMM/ISL.

Barcelona had been odds-on favourites to become the first European winners and go one better than Johan Cruyff's stylish side of the early 1990s.

But they repeatedly failed to produce the finishing touch that their slick build-up play deserved against a resolute Inter side.

Ronaldinho, inspirational in the 4-0 demolition of Mexico's America in the semi-finals, appeared to have his mind on Monday's FIFA world player of the year awards in Zurich.

The Brazilian, whisked away by jet with FIFA president Sepp Blatter after the game, faded badly in the second half with Deco and substitute Xavi Barca's only real threats.

Internacional had lost several key players since winning their first Libertadores Cup in August and coach Abel Braga was forced to deploy a bizarre motivational tool for the final.

''We shut the players in a room for 15 minutes yesterday to get their spirits up for this game,'' he said. ''And it worked.'' HUGE CREDIT Egypt's Al Ahli, who finished sixth last year, emerged with huge credit after beating America 2-1 in the third-place playoff.

Blatter was forced to admit that New Zealand amateurs Auckland City had, albeit through no fault of their own, done little to boost the credibility of the Club World Cup.

The FIFA boss blamed Australia's defection to Asia before confirming that a further two teams may be added to the mix in the future to further complicate matters.

Politics were the last thing on Rijkaard's mind.

Cruyff's Barca had lost 2-1 to Sao Paulo in 1992 in the Club World Cup's forerunner -- a one-off game between the European and South American champions.

Rijkaard was horrified to suffer the same fate.

''It's not the fault of the players,'' he said, almost whispering. ''It's my personal failure. Maybe I made mistakes as a person.'' REUTERS SAM RN1343