'An international embarrassment' - Argentine media on Auckland City's draw with Boca

RNZ News

6 hours ago

Boca Juniors' Argentine defender Lautaro Di Lollo, left, and Auckland City's New Zealander midfielder Dylan Manickum fight for the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group C football match.
Photo:
AFP / FEDERICO PARRA
Argentine media and football fans have been scathing of Boca Juniors draw with Auckland City at the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States this morning.
After two significant losses in their first pool matches, Auckland City managed a
1-1 draw in Nashville on Wednesday
, preventing the Argentinean powerhouse from progressing in the tournament.
The national newspaper
La Nacion
said Boca has suffered an "international embarrassment".
"Their Club World Cup campaign ended in the worst possible way, with a draw against amateur club Auckland City."
Boca's poor performance came at a high price, the article said. It called it an "unexpected and devastating ending".
It also highlighted that the popular club lost to a team made up of "road engineers, civil servants, hairdressers, and cell phone salesmen".
Fans of Auckland City cheer for their team during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group C football match between Auckland City and Argentina's Boca Juniors at the Geodis Park stadium in Nashville.
Photo:
AFP / FEDERICO PARRA
In comments from fans online, much was made of goalscorer Christian Gray's regular gig as a physical education teacher.
"The person who just screwed Boca Juniors, is a school teacher who had to ask for annual leave to play at the World Cup," one commentator wrote on Youtube.
Another suggested Gray would receive a warm welcome from his students on his return to work.
Newspaper
Clarin
quoted a X post which called Auckland City a team of "11 hardware store owners".
It said social media was full of photos and videos of people making fun of the game.
Clarin's liveblog did have praise for Auckland City's goalkeeper, 20-year-old Nathan Garrow, who it said had done a "spectacular job" and "has established himself as player of the match".
Boca Juniors' Argentine defender Marco Pellegrino takes part in the hydratation break during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group C football match between New Zealand's Auckland City and Boca Juniors.
Photo:
AFP / FEDERICO PARRA
In contrast, sports site Ole carried a defiant quote from Boca's striker Uruguayan Edison Cavani who claimed: "I don't think it was that disappointing."
But he admitted the Boca players were sad not to be progressing.
However, Ole journalist Ramiro Scandolo was not quite as forgiving.
He said Boca's performance not only did not live up to the club's status, but "they weren't even able to beat such a weak opponent".