Real Madrid arrives in Japan to contest Club World Cup
Posted December 11, 2016 6:00 am
TOKYO (AP) - Hundreds of Japanese fans showed up at the crack of dawn to greet Real Madrid as they arrived in Japan on Monday to contest the Club World Cup.
Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, the European champions arrived shortly after 5:00 a.m. and were met by about 300 fans at Tokyo's Haneda airport before boarding a team bus.
Zinedine Zidane's team will hold a practice session later on Monday in Yokohama as they prepare for Thursday's semifinal clash with Mexico's Club America.
Madrid set a new club record after a 35th consecutive match without a loss by beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 on Saturday.
They return to the competition with 13 of the players who lifted the Club World Cup title in 2014, when they beat San Lorenzo in the final.
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo greets fans upon his arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first match coming upcoming Thursday.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo arrives at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first match coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Real Madrid's head coach Zinedine Zidane and his team members arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first match coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Real Madrid's James Rodriguez greets fans upon his arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first clash coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Real Madrid's James Rodriguez greets fans upon his arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first clash coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Real Madrid's Raphael Varane greets fans upon their arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first clash coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Real Madrid's team members arrive at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first clash coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Fans wait for the arrival of Real Madrid's team members at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first clash coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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Fans wait for the arrival of Real Madrid's team members at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Real Madrid are flying to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their first clash coming upcoming Thursday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2015 file photo, Japanese architect Kengo Kuma speaks during a press conference after his design for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic stadium was picked in Tokyo. Tokyo held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, for a $1.5 billion new National Stadium to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and other dignitaries launched the construction at the site of the demolished National Stadium, which was used during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, by putting their hands on a glass sphere that rotated through pastels of the colors of the Olympic logo. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
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This Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 aerial photo shows a white tent set at the site of the demolished National Stadium which was built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo. Tokyo held a groundbreaking ceremony in the tent on Sunday, Dec. 11 for a $1.5 billion new National Stadium to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and other dignitaries launched the construction at the site by putting their hands on a glass sphere that rotated through pastels of the colors of the Olympic logo. (Kyodo News via AP)
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