The coming World Cups

 It was announced this week that the 2034 World Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia. This has engendered a lot of criticism due to the fact that Saudi Arabia has many democratic and human rights problems. Well, I think it is not a new issue as FIFA has awarded tournament's before without any political or human rights considerations, but rather cold-hearted economic calculations. 

FIFA is first and foremost a money machine, and this has probably been the main criteria in selecting Saudi Arabia. That said, other concerns risk undermining the quality and love we fans feel for the World Cup, and one of these changes will already be seen at the 2026 World Cup in USA-Mexico-Canada: the 48 team tournament is just too big, too many teams, too many mediocre matches that will be watched mainly by people from the nations playing them... With already too many tournaments and too many matches, the World Cup risks drowning in the infinity of choices; it will no longer be special...

Secondly these multi-host tournaments that will in 2030 include three "main" hosts (Spain, Morocco and Portugal), with additional matches to be played in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. 

It is simply too much, too massive.

Perhaps a symbol of our time when everything needs to be bigger and more extravagant, but I can assure one thing: despite the social media hype it will not be better than the World Cups that made my generation dream and love football.

I will of course keep watching the World Cups; I even hope that I will be able to get tickets for 2026 in Mexico through the murky and elitist FIFA ticketing procedures.

That will be another challenge...

America champion

 This year I moved to Mexico, and I have adopted Cruz Azul as my team. They ended 1st in the league, but that is not enough to be champion in Mexico where, after the league, they go into playoff matches and a final. Cruz Azul was eliminated by their local rivals for Mexico City in the semifinals after an intense 3-4 loss, and America faced Monterrey in the two-legged final.

America won 2-1 in Mexico City, and last night they took the title away in an intense atmosphere in Northern Mexico. They went ahead after half an hour by a splendid long-range strike by the Paraguayan midfielder Richard Sanchez. Monterrey pressured, and did get chances, but America were also incredibly dangerous on the counterattacks. It was only five minutes before the end of the match when Colombian striker Johan Rojas equalized on another outstanding strike. Monterrey attacked like crazy and even hit the post, but it ended 1-1, and America won the third consecutive title in a row.

I must admit that I am not too fond of this league format with playoffs and a final: America did not have a good season and had in fact only ended 8th in the league, barely making the playoffs, but now they were crowned champions despite it all.

Well, another season is coming...

Some good Champions League matches (despite it all)

I have already said that I dislike the new format of the Champions League, so I will not dwell into that, but just that I enjoyed this week's CL football which I had the fortune to watch in full as I am in Denmark on vacation.

Real Madrid have been lazy in the tournament and appeared to have their back against the wall as they faced Atalanta in Bergamo. Atalanta, on the other hand, are riding on a wave, as they were second in the CL league and first in Serie A before the match, at home.

But Real Madrid did what they have done so often: won 3-2 in a match where they were not the better side, but were efficient and punished mistakes. Kylian Mbappe, who has not been at his best, scored a splendid first goal early on, with Atalanta deservedly equalizing only on a penalty by Charles de Ketelaere in the last seconds of the first half. Real Madrid put more high pressure on Atalanta's defense in the second half, something that clearly made the Atalanta defenders nervous, and it was this high pressure that gave Vinicius Jr. an easy chance on a rebound that he did not let go to waste. The Nigerian striker Ademola Lookman was a threat throughout the match, and he made it 2-2, and one felt that the tide was now with Atalanta, but Jude Bellingham made it 2-3 on a quick counterattack which caught the Italian defense on a wrong foot.

The Spaniards fought for the victory as the Italians pressured, but carried the day in a good match thanks to the "BMV" (Bellingham-Mbappe-Vinicius).

The other match I watched was between the giants Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona. First half ended 0-0 with Barcelona creating more chances, but not dominating, before the second half where Hansi Flick proved the smartest with his substitutions. Raphinha brought Barcelona ahead 0-1, but barely five minutes later Dortmund was awarded a penalty on a really stupid foul by Pau Cubarsi, and Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy equalized. 

Then Flick substituted three of the most important offensive players: Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha all left the pitch for Fermin Lopez, Frankie de Jong and Ferran Torres. Only five minutes later Ferran Torres scored for Barcelona in what seemed renewed dynamism on the Catalan side, but again Guirassy striked back for Dortmund to make it 2-2. Five minutes to go, and Lamine Yamal appeared with an absolutely splendid pass to Ferran Torres who did not disappoint to make it 2-3 and a victory for Barcelona, who are now second, after Liverpool, in the 36-team CL table....

 

They appear to have ruined the Champions League

 I must admit I gave the new Champions League format the benefit of the doubt. I admit I am an old grumpy football fan, and perhaps the new format is better for the future.

I am now convinced I was wrong.  

Thins all against all league format with 36 teams may have more matches and thus more money for UEFA and the rich clubs, but it is to the detriment of excitement, simply because 24 teams go through to the playoffs, with the top 8 directly to a last-16. This means basically that the big teams will go through without much effort: take Real Madrid, who after 5 matches have 3 defeats and two victories. In the old format they would be struggling to go through before an all-important last match, but now they are 24th, and will still go through. Sure, some small teams will go through too, but it appears unlikely that Brest, Aston Villa or Celtic will survive a knockout round with sides like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Manchester City (all outside top 8).

Excitement is largely gone in this enormous league format and hard to get excited until the knockout. What a pity for what used to be the best tournament in the world.

I am like a referee

When a referee is in doubt, he goes to the VAR.

When I am in doubt, I go to the Bar.

Happy Sunday.

:)