Soccer-European giants humbled as Club World Cup script gets rewritten
By Fernando Kallas HT Image
PHILADELPHIA, - The script seemed predetermined - Europe's football giants would cruise through FIFA's expanded Club World Cup against grateful opponents from distant continents. Instead, the tournament has delivered a plot twist, leaving the game's traditional powerhouses scrambling for explanations.
With Porto and Atletico Madrid eliminated in the group stage and European sides winning just two of seven matches against South American opposition, the continent's expected dominance has failed to materialise.
"We knew beforehand that the tournament came at the end of a long season, whereas for the South Americans it's right in the middle, when they are peaking," lamented Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone after his side's early exit.
The exhaustion narrative has become familiar, with players' union FIFPro Europe pursuing legal action against FIFA over the punishing calendar. There's also America's scorching summer heat. But South Americans, however, reject these explanations entirely.
"Having played for many years in Europe, I don't buy this end-of-season fatigue narrative," said Flamengo's Filipe Luis, who played under Simeone at Atletico, after a commanding 3-1 win over Chelsea.
"We came here seeing every game as a final. That makes a big difference."
Statistics further complicate the European exhaustion argument. Among participating clubs, four Brazilian teams, including Botafogo, top the list for matches played in the last year, each surpassing 70 games.
Botafogo, who qualified from Group B along with Paris St Germain at the expense of Atletico Madrid, played 18 more matches than their Spanish opponents during the same period.
While Brazilian teams had a month's rest before their domestic season began, their packed schedules have long been a source of complaint in South America.
Brazilian great Zico criticised European attitudes, saying, "We are seeing some European figures act like they own football and that must stop. As soon as they see things not going well, they start making lots of excuses."
'They seem unable to play when faced with adversity. The heat is the same for everyone and we have been playing forever the previous version of the Club World Cup at the end of our season. So why is it now a problem?'
The Club World Cup in its previous format was played in December.
Not all European managers have blamed external factors for their teams' struggles. Juventus coach Igor Tudor said he didn't see "any signs of fatigue" in his squad, while PSG boss Luis Enrique, despite a surprise 1-0 loss to Botafogo, praised the tournament.
"I think the concept is brilliant. It's a celebration of all football," Luis Enrique said. "It's no surprise for me. It's nice to see teams from different parts of the world."
The tournament, traditionally dominated by European clubs, has seen South American teams embrace the opportunity to challenge the hierarchy and as matches continue under the scorching summer heat, the event has evolved into a genuine global competition.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
New York Sirens stock up in 1st round of PWHL draft by selecting Kaltounkova 1st and O'Brien 3rd
The New York Sirens began restocking their expansion-depleted roster by making a big splash at the top of the order in the first round of the PWHL draft on Tuesday night. HT Image Minutes after selecting Colgate forward Kristyna Kaltounkova with the No. 1 pick, Sirens general manager Pascal Daoust completed a trade with the Toronto Sceptres to acquire the No. 3 pick and choose Wisconsin center Casey O'Brien. Daoust traded top defenseman Ella Shelton to acquire Toronto's first and fourth-round pick, which was 27th overall. The two forwards fill a major offensive hole after New York lost two of their three leading scorers — Alex Carpenter and Jessie Eldridge — as well as starting goalie Corinne Schroeder to Seattle in the PWHL expansion draft and signing process earlier this month. Carpenter and Eldridge combined to score 20 of the Sirens league-low 71 goals last season. Kaltounkova and O'Brien join a lineup that is deep at defense and features Sarah Fillier, last year's No. 1 pick, who finished tied for the PWHL lead with 29 points. Kaltounkova is from the Czech Republic and became the first European-born player to go first in the PWHL draft. She is reunited with Sirens coach Greg Fargo, who coached her at Colgate. Kaltounkova leaves the Raiders after five seasons as the school's career-leading scorer with 111 goals and second with 223 points. O'Brien was this season's Patty Kazmaier award winner after leading the nation with 88 points for the NCAA-champion Badgers. In five seasons, the 23-year-old finished with 274 career points in 182 games to break the Wisconsin record held by four-time Olympian Hilary Knight. The Sirens picked first for the second straight year after once again finishing last in the standings. Two Clarkson defenseman went among the top four picks with the Boston Fleet choosing Haley Winn at No. 2, and Montreal drafting Nicole Gosling at No. 4. The Ottawa Charge were scheduled to pick fifth followed by the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost. Vancouver won a random draw to have the seventh pick, with Seattle going eighth. The two expansion teams will then alternate the order in each successive round in the eight-team, six-round draft. In landing Shelton, a PWHL defender of the year finalist in 2024, the Sceptres improve a defense that already features Renata Fast. Fast and Shelton are teammates on Canada's national squad and both members of the 2022 gold medal-winning team at the Beijing Games. women's hockey: /hub/womens-hockey This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Amateurs Auckland City hold Boca Juniors to Club World Cup draw
Amateur side Auckland City earned the greatest result in the team's history with a 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup on Tuesday. HT Image The already-eliminated New Zealanders fought off the Argentine powerhouses, who entered the games with hopes of advancing if they won, although as Benfica beat Bayern Munich in the other Group C match, Boca would also have been ousted anyway. Auckland goalkeeper Nathan Garrow's own goal sent Boca ahead but Christian Gray equalised with a header in the second half to earn his team a remarkable point. After a weather delay, Boca kept pushing and racked up 40 shots but could not find a way past Garrow, who made up for his first half misfortune with several good saves. Auckland, who were crushed 10-0 by German giants Bayern in their first game and 6-0 by Benfica in the second, set up to defend with five at the back. Boca controlled the game but were slow in their build up and struggled to break down the New Zealanders' back-line, with 38-year-old veteran striker Edinson Cavani kept quiet. The minnows had the first chance of the game, with Regont Murati forcing a save from Agustin Marchesin from the edge of the box. Boca took the lead after 26 minutes when Lautaro Di Lollo's header from a corner hit the post and was palmed into his own net by Garrow. Boca twice came close to doubling their lead before the break, with Carlos Palacios whipping a shot from distance against the crossbar. Then, Miguel Merentiel's header hit the woodwork as well. Auckland, the only amateur side in the competition, scored their first goal of the tournament to level after 52 minutes. Defender Gray shook off his marker and headed home from Jerson Lagos' corner. The game was soon suspended because of a weather warning, the fifth at the tournament, and resumed around 50 minutes later. Boca fans have been some of the most fervent at the tournament and many refused to head inside despite repeated requests from the stadium announcer, preferring to chant in the stands during the storm delay. By the time the match restarted, without a drop of rain having fallen at Geodis Park, Benfica had beaten Bayern, leaving Boca no chance of progress to the knock-out rounds. Merentiel struck quickly for Boca but the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up. Garrow made a fine save from Malcom Braida's dipping header as Auckland tried to cling on for a point against one of the giants of world football. The goalkeeper pulled off another good stop from Kevin Zanon's curling effort from range as the clock ran down. Boca rained in shots as they desperately attempted to avoid an embarrassing draw but Garrow beat away a Palacios drive and the New Zealanders celebrated wildly as the final whistle blew. rbs/pb SPORT LISBOA E BENFICA - FUTEBOL This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Players and fans at the Club World Cup are coping with high temperatures as a heat wave hits US
Substitutes who watch from the locker room, abandoned practice sessions and sweat-soaked jerseys. A heat wave hitting a wide swath of the country is taking a toll on players at the FIFA Club World Cup. HT Image The grueling conditions could also be a preview of what's to come next summer when the United States, Canada and Mexico host soccer's premier event, the 2026 World Cup. "It's impossible, it's terribly hot. My toes were sore, even my toenails were hurting, I couldn't stop or start. In the end, it's incredible, but since it's the same for everyone, there's no excuse," Atlético's Marcos Llorente said following a match against Paris Saint-Germain. A 'heat dome' of high pressure has settled in over the central and eastern United States, sending temperatures soaring into the 90s and above in many areas. That's rough on both Club World Cup players and fans, who can potentially experience dehydration and cramps, or more serious conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. 'In Europe it's more of a dry heat and this is more of a humid heat. I think it's going to hit them twice as hard," fan Tyler Fernando said before Bayern Munich's match against Benfica on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the temperature was 97 degrees Fahrenheit at game time. Those at the Auckland City match against Boca Juniors in Nashville on Tuesday braved temperatures in the upper 90s. Male spectators went shirtless and fans sought sections where there was shade. Heat is of particular concern during big tournaments like the Club World Cup because the players don't have much time off to recover between games. And in the group stages, matches are usually staggered each day, meaning some teams play in the midday sun. Chelsea cut short a practice session in Philadelphia, where temperatures reached the 90s. "I always try to avoid excuse, I always try to be honest. It's not about excuses, it's about reality. It's an excuse when it's not hot, and we say it's hot. That's an excuse. But if it's hot, it's hot. But we are here, and we're trying to do our best,' Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said. During a match between Borussia Dortmund and the Mamelodi Sundowns, Dortmond posted on social media: 'Our subs watched the first half from inside the locker room to avoid the blazing sun at TQL Stadium — never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense.' 'We always think about how we can help the team, how we can minimize a negative influence. And it was just very, very hot. We had cooling sticks in order to cool the players down. We had them waiting in the dressing room with the air conditioning,' Dortmond coach Niko Kovac said through an interpreter. 'This was very important for all of us. It's not only about tactics, but it's also about minimizing the load, minimizing the stress. The stress is already high enough." FIFA guidelines mandate breaks when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature — a composite of factors including temperature and humidity — reaches 89.6 degrees. The breaks usually occur around the 30th and 75th minutes. Cooling breaks were initially used at the 2008 Olympic final between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Nigeria at Beijing's National Stadium, where the on-field temperature reached 107 degrees. But at the time, such breaks were rare. They became more commonplace following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where a Brazilian labor court ordered hydration breaks when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature reached 89.6 degrees. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue went to social media to urge Club World Cup fans to exercise caution in the heat before Inter Miami's match against Palmeiras on Monday night, and Chelsea posted 'heat mitigation' guidelines on its official website before the Blues' match against Esperance on Tuesday. It's not just high temperatures that can impact summer tournaments: Five Club World Cup matches have been delayed by thunderstorms. The climate is going to be an increasing issue for FIFA as global temperatures rise. Sixteen cities will host World Cup games next year. Five of the stadiums that will be used have roofs to provide some sun protection. At Mexico's venues, Mexico City and Guadalajara could be impacted by the summer's hurricane season, and in Monterrey, summer temperatures average in the 90s. After the the 2026 World Cup, the 2030 edition will be held in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. And the problem isn't just on the men's side: The 2027 Women's World Cup is set to be played in Brazil. Peter Crisp from Fossil Free Football said: 'Scheduling matches in no-shade stadiums in the middle of the day and promoting oil-dependent sponsors shows FIFA is dangerously out of touch with the threat extreme heat poses to its major summer tournaments' Club World Cup: /hub/fifa-club-world-cup This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
