Kompany closes door to Club World Cup action for Urbig
Although Bayern Munich have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup ahead of their final group game against Benfica, young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig will not get a chance to play.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany made it very clear at the pre-match press conference that Manuel Neuer will continue as the starting goalkeeper for the rest of the tournament unless he suffers an injury.
Advertisement
'We discussed this very clearly,' Kompany said at the press conference following Bayern's arrival in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Tuesday's match against Benfica will take place.
'Manu's role is to take us as far as possible as number one - with his performances, leadership and qualities. There is basically zero discussion about that. When Manu is fit, we are all very happy.'
Kompany added that simply being part of the Club World Cup squad is 'a very good experience' for Urbig, who declined a spot in Germany's U21 European Championship squad to travel to the United States with the club.
'We have a very good future perspective with Jonas,' he stressed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Zealanders hail Auckland City as "heroic" and "remarkable" after famous draw with Boca Juniors
Auckland City's Christian Gray, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Nathan Garrow, right, and Auckland City's Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Adam Mitchell, left, and Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Nathan Garrow, right, and Auckland City's Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo) Auckland City's Adam Mitchell, left, and Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — It might not have been the shot heard around the world but it was a goal that reverbrated 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles) away when Auckland City FC scored Tuesday to draw 1-1 with Boca Juniors at the FIFA Club World Cup. Christian Gray, a trainee teacher at Mt. Roskill Intermediate School in Auckland, rose to meet the corner of Jerson Lagos, a barber, and headed in the equalizer as the mostly-amateur team from New Zealand held Diego Maradona's fasmous old Argentine club to a draw. Advertisement Auckland lost 10-0 to Bayern Munich and 6-0 to Benfica in its first two matches, leading to questions over FIFA's decision to allow a team of part-timers from Oceania, it's smallest confederation, to compete with the professional superstars of world soccer. Even Auckland City's local paper, the New Zealand Herald, joined the critics, suggesting the team had 'damaged Auckland City FC's proud 20-year legacy' in FIFA events. 'It's been a trying few weeks,' the Herald reported after two defeats. 'In the past, Auckland City have been renowned for punching above their weight on the global stage, while usually having a couple of outstanding individuals. That hasn't quite been the case here.' But Auckland City left its best to last, producing an outstanding performance to the satisfaction of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was among the crowd at the match in Nashville. Advertisement 'It's been a tough trip, you know, we've had some tough results but just happy for the team,' Gray said. 'I think we deserve it. We got a little bit of respect back I hope. 'We rely on volunteers, we don't have a lot of money so I'm just happy that they're happy.' The New Zealand media hasn't paid close attention to the Club World Cup, mostly focused on the end of the Super Rugby competition. Soccer takes a back seat in rugby-mad New Zealand. But this result got prominant coverage. Radio New Zealand described the draw with Boca Juniors as 'stunning.' 'Thanks to Gray's heroics and some incredibly committed defense, Auckland City managed to pull off a result that will reverberate strongly around the football world,' RNZ said. Advertisement The New Zealand Herald branded it 'remarkable' and 'famous.' 'The squad of real estate agents, teachers, sales reps, tradesmen and students would have hoped they could make a mark on the world stage while knowing it was probably impossible,' the newspaper wrote. 'But they have done it — against massive odds. 'Anyone around the football world coming across this result will be rubbing their eyes in disbelief. But it's true. It's all true.' The Herald said Auckland City 'will leave the tournament on a bit of a high, knowing that the painful journey has been worthwhile.' A leading local news website, Stuff, said Auckland City 'were rank outsiders against one of South America's most famous institutions." Advertisement 'Most of their team is comprised of amateur players who will be returning to their regular jobs at home. But they went toe to toe against one of South America's largest professional clubs that was home to Argentine icon Diego Maradona.' Television New Zealand said Auckland City had been 'humiliated' in its first two matches at the World Cup but their performance on Tuesday was 'heroic.' It's unlikely a story of the same magnitude will be written in future. From now on Oceania — which includes the likes of New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands — will be represented by a professional team. ___ AP soccer:


USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Frenchman Noa Essengue explains decision to leave Ulm during BBL Finals
Projected lottery pick Noa Essengue arrived in the United States this week after briefly playing with ratiopharm Ulm in the German League Finals against Bayern Munich. Essengue appeared in the first three games of the championship round, helping ratiopharm Ulm build a 2-1 best-of-five series lead. He departed the team after Game 3 over the weekend and will be on hand for the first round of the 2025 NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The 6-foot-11 Frenchman missed most of the predraft process because of his obligations in Germany. He received permission to miss the remainder of his team's postseason run to attend the draft in the green room at the Barclays Center. "That is always a hard choice," Essengue said on Tuesday. "In one case, you can play the playoff final, but the draft is really something special in the life of a basketball player. That is maybe going to be the best day of my life. That was a long conversation with my coach, staff and all of that. I would say that is my choice. I trust my teammates. I know they can do the job." Essengue averaged 10.7 points, five rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52.1% shooting from the field in 60 games across all league competitions. He has registered seven 20-point games, including a 22-point, 14-rebound performance on June 1. The 18-year-old is highly touted as a prospect this year, because of his size, rebounding and defensive versatility. He looked increasingly comfortable on offense and turned in several noteworthy performances to help his team to the finals. Essengue also boasts a strong interior game and dazzled in the open court in fastbreak situations after creating turnovers with his length and instincts on defense. He brings versatility and high-level experience with him to the NBA and should be a high pick, as a result. The 2025 NBA draft will feature a two-night format for the second consecutive year, with the first round scheduled for Wednesday and the second round for Thursday.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Benfica beat Bayern at Club World Cup as Auckland City hold Boca
Benfica beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in searing heat at the Club World Cup on Tuesday to progress to the last 16 as group winners, while minnows Auckland City claimed a memorable draw against Boca Juniors. Andreas Schjelderup scored the only goal of the Group C clash for Benfica in front of 33,287 fans in Charlotte, finishing first-time from a cutback by his fellow Norwegian Fredrik Aursnes in the 13th minute. Advertisement The German champions, who left the likes of Harry Kane and Michael Olise on the bench at kick-off, were unable to come back in sweltering afternoon conditions in heatwave-hit North Carolina. Kane and Olise came on at half-time and Bayern did then look more dangerous, but Leroy Sane was denied when clean through by Benfica's Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. A draw would have allowed Bayern to top the section but a Kimmich effort that found the net was ruled out for offside and Trubin denied Sane again while Kane mistimed a header from close range late on. It was Benfica's first ever win in 14 competitive meetings with the Bavarian side and it means they finish first in the group and so will play the Group D runners-up -- either Chelsea or Esperance -- in Charlotte in the last 16 on Saturday. Advertisement "I think this was a very fair and important win, historic really," said Benfica coach Bruno Lage. "We were as straightforward and assertive as we should be and I think we were very effective in delivering our strategy today." Bayern finished second and so will go to Miami on Sunday to take on Brazilian giants Flamengo, with a potential quarter-final against European champions Paris Saint-Germain awaiting. "You could see that it was really tough conditions so respect to both teams for that," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. "Our first half was not good enough for sure, the second half was definitely more the level that we expected and good enough to score one or two or three goals." Advertisement - Another weather delay - That result meant whatever Boca did against Auckland City in Nashville would not be enough to qualify, but the Argentine giants were still expected to do better than draw 1-1 against the tournament minnows from New Zealand. Auckland had lost 10-0 to Bayern and 6-0 to Benfica but this time they recovered from falling behind in the first half when goalkeeper Nathan Garrow palmed a Lautaro Di Lollo header into his own net. Christian Gray equalised with a header in the second half to earn the sole representatives from Oceania a remarkable point. "You can't say we haven't learned from the experience of being at the tournament, I'm thrilled for the players and the club, it's wonderful. It's something to go home with," said City coach Paul Posa. Advertisement Posa said it was a great result for football in Oceania. "I think it's restored a little bit of pride, a little bit of reputation for us," he added. "We're a tiny club with a huge heart and that's evident for all to see." - Chelsea eye last 16 - The game was the fifth so far at the tournament to be suspended due to a weather warning, with play stopping for almost an hour -- when the action restarted not a drop of rain had fallen at Geodis Park. Chelsea faced Tunisian champions Esperance later at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with the Premier League side needing only a draw to confirm their place in the next round from Group D. Advertisement Flamengo, already assured of top spot in the section, faced eliminated Los Angeles FC at the same time in Orlando. Elsewhere on Tuesday, FIFA opened a disciplinary investigation into Pachuca's Gustavo Cabral after allegations he made a racist comment to Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger. The incident came towards the end of Sunday's game between the two teams which Real won 3-1. Rudiger was visibly angered following an exchange of words with Argentine Cabral and spoke to the referee. Cabral denied he had racially abused the German centre-back. as/dh