2014 FIFA Club World Cup: 5 Players to Watch

In much of the football world, the FIFA Club World Cup is among the most-anticipated tournaments on the calendar.

Europe, however, is the exception to the rule.

This is due in no small part to the simple fact that the UEFA region has little to gain from the annual tournament, held each December since 2005 (the inaugural CWC was played in 2000 but cancelled the following year after the collapse of a key FIFA sponsor), and everything to lose.

Not surprisingly, its Champions League winner goes into each installment of the competition as presumptive favourites, and opposition players face them with an eye toward making a name for themselves—something they've been wildly successful at doing.

In 2000, Sao Paulo defender Diego Lugano and midfielder Josue were starters in the team that shut out Liverpool in Yokahama , and in 2012 Paulinho helped neutralise Chelsea as goalscorer Paolo Guerrero showed he could still do the business for Corinthians following a move from Hamburg.

The Copa Libertadores champion has been keyed on as well, such as in 2010 when TP Mazembe duo Mulota Kabangu and Dioko Kaluyituka scored in a 2-0 semi-final win over Internacional .