Latest news with #TimVickery
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New signing Leon 'one for the long haul'
South American football expert Tim Vickery believes new Manchester United signing Diego Leon is one for the future and not someone who will make an instant impact at Old completed the signing of the 18-year-old left-back from Cerro Porteno on Saturday after a pre-agreement was reached in January. He has played 33 senior games and scored four Vickery feels a lot of patience will need to be shown to the Paraguayan because he must make a lot of improvements defensively. "There isn't a great deal behind him yet - he's one for the long term," Vickery told BBC Radio Manchester. "He's a strapping figure but happier as an attacking left-back, so in United's system he's much more a wing-back than a member of the back three."He's not yet someone who his club sees as a decisive player in Paraguayan league football - so I suspect United fans will have to be with this one for the long haul. "They have to bring him along carefully, there'll be a lot of work. He'll need some flogging on the training ground, especially the defensive side of things, and it is unlikely he is going to make an immediate impact."He is much more potential than he is reality. I like his physicality, his left foot and the fact he can go outside and cross, but he can also get in the penalty area on the diagonal and there is a goal in him."Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Why are Brazilian clubs doing so well at Club World Cup?
"This Club World Cup is a dream come true for Brazil fans," says South American football expert Tim Vickery, speaking from Rio de Janeiro."Every bus stop, every water cooler... everyone is talking about it. It's full-on."While Britain sleeps, with some games at the newly-expanded tournament in the United States kicking-off at 02:00 BST, Brazil is going wild for it. And no of football fans are glued to television sets following the fortunes of Rio-based teams Botafogo, Flamengo and Fluminense - as well as Palmeiras, who are based in Sao it is a case of so far, so four have progressed from their respective groups to the last-16 after some eye-catching results which have left fans asking if a team from Brazil can win the Club World Cup for the first time since 2012?Botafogo have beaten newly-crowned champions of Europe Paris St-Germain, Flamengo turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 victory over Chelsea, while Fluminense and Palmeiras have held Borussia Dortmund and Porto United States is hosting most of the games at the 2026 World Cup next summer. Canada and Mexico are also a team from Brazil wins the Club World Cup, what will that say about the chances of the Brazil national team winning the World Cup for a sixth time?"I didn't expect that, most people in Brazil didn't expect that," Brazilian sports journalist Renata Mendonca, speaking to BBC World Service Sport, says about all four Brazilian teams advancing."The way they want to show the world... the Brazilian teams are good enough and could be at the top of the world."This motivates them a lot." Why are the Brazilian teams doing well? Atletico Madrid and Porto have already been sent packing, while both teams from Argentina - Boca Juniors and River Plate - have also been eliminated. Brazil's quartet, however, march on. At least one is guaranteed a place in the because Palmeiras and Botafogo have been drawn against one another in an all-Brazil showdown in Philadelphia on Saturday (17:00 BST kick-off).Meanwhile, Flamengo face Bayern Munich on Sunday (21:00), while Fluminense meet Inter Milan on Monday (20:00)."This tournament is a priority in the way an Olympic athlete will do all of his training and programming to peak at a specific time," Vickery tells BBC Sport."Certainly for Flamengo and Palmeiras, who really want to win it. This is an absolute priority for them and they have programmed to be at their peak now." Is the climate, which the Brazilian teams are used to, helping give them an edge?Both Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola have mentioned the extreme heat since the tournament trained in 37C before their 3-0 group win over ES Tunis in Philadelphia."It is almost impossible to train or to make a session because of the weather," said Maresca earlier this week, while Guardiola said before Thursday's match with Juventus that his players must be prepared to "suffer" in the challenging heat of soaring temperatures across the United States have led to matches across the competition implementing water breaks during not all players have struggled in the heat."We're used to it," Botafogo right-back Vitinho, who spent two years at Burnley, said of the high temperatures. "I hope that it works in our favour."Another factor to consider is that all four teams from Brazil have broken away from their domestic season, which runs from March until December, to take they appear fresh and sharp, teams from Europe went into the Club World Cup on the back of long seasons. PSG's first game against Atletico Madrid in Pasadena on 15 June came 15 days after their 5-0 mauling of Inter Milan in the Champions League final in adds: "A few weeks ago the Flamengo president was saying to a mate of mine 'we're flying in mid-season'. "For the European clubs... is the end of their season? Is it pre-season? The European clubs, their planning hasn't been to peak now."Vickery believes there is something else to factor into the conversation about Brazilian clubs doing well."There is more money in Brazilian football," he says."The standard has risen over the last few seasons. One reason is because of the influx of foreign coaches. "Of the four Brazilian clubs here - two have Portuguese coaches [Abel Ferreira - Palmeiras and Renato Paiva - Botafogo]."There's plenty of Portuguese and Argentine coaches in Brazilian football and it's brought more ideas. Even Filipe Luis, the Brazilian coaching Flamengo, his backup staff are all Spanish. "There's an openness to new ideas that there wasn't a few years ago."Mendonca adds: "The timing of this competition is very good for South American teams. They are in the middle of their season, they are very well prepared physically. "They have better conditions now to keep their talented players and even bring back some players. Flamengo, for example, signed Jorginho after leaving Arsenal, while Danilo and Alex Sandro have come from Juventus. "Also Botafogo, they have kept Igor Jesus for this competition. After this he will go to Nottingham Forest."These are aspects that explain why Brazilian teams are performing very well." Is this a sign for the World Cup? Tens of thousands of fans have travelled from Brazil to cheer their respective clubs at the Club World they have proved one of the highlights of the tournament so far, with vibrant atmospheres at all of their have already qualified for next summer's World Cup, but Vickery does not believe the performance of the club teams will have any bearing on how Carlo Ancelotti's side perform next year."What the performances of the Brazilian clubs highlight is the strength of national teams like Colombia and Uruguay," he adds."Palmeiras, Botafogo, Flamengo and Fluminense...a lot of their best players are not Brazilians. "The way that European football treats Brazil, Brazilian football now treats the rest of South America. You have got two of the midfielders for Colombia - Richard Rios of Palmeiras and Jhon Arias of Fluminense."Gustavo Gomez, a centre-back for Paraguay, plays for Palmeiras and Jefferson Savarino, who plays for Venezuela, made the goal for Botafogo against PSG."That's the model - Brazil sells its best players to Europe and one of the ways they replenish them is from neighbouring countries in South America." Who are the Brazilian teams? Flamengo: Brazil's form team going in the tournament, topping this season's domestic earned their place in the tournament by winning the Copa Liberatodores in 2022, their third stunned Chelsea with a 3-1 win to finish top of their group It has been a rollercoaster few years for Fluminense, having won the Copa Libertadores in 2023 for the first followed that up by almost being relegated from Brazil's top flight last season - just avoiding the embarrassment of being in the Club World Cup and the country's second season they are sixth after 11 games and are captained by former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva. They also have the oldest player in the tournament, 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio. Palmeiras: One of South America's most popular club, they are no stranger to success during their 115-year have won 57 trophies, including three Copa Libertadores - the South American equivalent of the Champions League. They were the champions of Brazil most recently in star player is 18-year-old forward Estevao, who will be joining Chelsea after the tournament, having previously sold Endrick to Real The big surprise team in the tournament so far after beating European champions PSG to win their dominated South America in 2024, winning both the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian championship. This season has been a struggle though after the departure of key rise, under the ownership of John Textor, has been remarkable going from debt ridden to top of the South American Igor Jesus remains though and is widely expected to join Nottingham Forest at the end of the tournament.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD Preview with Tim Vickery
Ulsan HD need to shake off the loss to Mamelodi Sundowns and now focus on Brazilian giants Fluminense in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Paul and Matt look ahead to this crunch clash for the Horangi as the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group F reaches matchday two. We hear from South American football expert and journalistic giant Tim Vickery for his thoughts on Fluminense. Where to Watch
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Football Daily Destination New Jersey: Pressure on Pochettino, Argentine coaches & DR Congo on top
Mark Chapman and Rory Smith continue the countdown to the 2026 World Cup. Nico Cantor of CBS Sports joins to gauge the mood in America as pressure mounts on Mauricio Pochettino. South American football expert Tim Vickery gives the lowdown on Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, as well as the other South American nations vying for a place at the World Cup. Also hear from Indonesian football expert Andy Fuller, and former DR Congo international Gabriel Zakuani. Timecodes: 00:25 Pressure on Pochettino & USMNT 12:40 Argentine coaches at the WC 16:05 'Unmissable' CONMEBOL qualification 20:25 Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay 26:30 Football in Indonesia 33:10 DR Congo top CAF Group BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Thu 2000 Czech Republic v England in UEFA U21 Championship, Sun 1700 England v Slovenia in UEFA U21 Championship.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Football Daily Euro Leagues: Xabi's Leverkusen Farewell, & Carlo's off to Rio
Steve Crossman, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and James Horncastle are back with the latest episode of Euro Leagues. The guys reflect on Xabi Alonso's time at Bayer Leverkusen, and what he'll be thinking about before returning to Los Blancos. Xabi's arrival means Carlo Ancelotti's off to the Brazil national team. Could we see a return to the fold for Neymar? South American football expert Tim Vickery joins the pod with all the latest. Bologna win their first trophy in over 50 years, beating AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final, and Sampdoria are relegated to Serie C for the first time in the club's history. Timecodes: 00:40 Looking back at Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, & what will life be like back in Madrid? 16:38 Carlo Ancelotti's off to Brazil 29:20 Bologna win Coppa Italia 36:35 Sampdoria relegated to Serie C for the first time BBC Sounds / 5 Live / Radio 5 Sports Extra weekend commentaries: Sat 1630 Men's FA Cup Final: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (5 Live) Sun 1330 Women's FA Cup Final: Chelsea vs Manchester United (Sports Extra 3) Sun 1415 Premier League: West Ham vs Nottingham Forest (5 Live) Sun 1500 Premier League: Brentford vs Fulham (Sports Extra 2) Sun 1630 Premier League: Arsenal vs Newcastle (5 Live)
