Europeans defeated

In 1930 many European countries looked down on the initiative to hold a World Cup in Uruguay, and many European nations decided simply not to participate; some because of the costs of sailing halfway around the globe, but many more because they considered it beneath them to participate in a tournament where their superiority would be questioned by so-called “inferior sides”.

There is an echo of this today as some arrogant Europeans are complaining of the sporting value of the Club World. While it is true that players in European teams have crowded calendars, they are all highly paid professionals, winning more than overworked doctors, nurses, teachers… who in fact contribute much more value to society than the little rich boys, who are increasingly difficult to feel sorry for (and none of whom we hear complaining about other things than the referees when they lose). 

Although I still believe that the tournament will be won by a European side, two fantastic results yesterday underlined that the quality of football is global, and does not just belong to European clubs: firstly, Brazilian Fluminense defeated CL finalists Inter Milan 2-0 in a good match where both teams had their chances, but Fluminense were simply better when it counted, and won on goals by the Argentine striker German Cano and the strongly named Hercules. 

On the day’s second match it was “not-so-mighty-any-longer” Manchester City to be defeated by the Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a thrilling match, where Bernardo Silva, with good help from his hand, brought the English side ahead early on, leading everyone to believe in a walkover. 

But by early in the second half Al Hilal were ahead 1-2 with two goals by Brazilians Marcos Leonardo and Malcom, before Erling Haaland equalised to 2-2 in a match that then had to go into extra time. 

Are Manchester City too tired after a long season where they reached only the FA Cup final? Or were they simply unable to match the Saudi side as the Senegalese veteran Kalidou Koulibaly brought them ahead? In fact, Phil Foden equalised but it was the young Brazilian Marcos Leonardo who with a strike in the 112th minute brough the final victory to Al Hilal. 

Note that Marcos Leonardo is only 22 years old, played one season in Benfica, and could still return to Europe sometime! 

All this said, it is refreshing to see European arrogance vanquished, and in my view the tournament has already showed its great value and potential for the future. Whoever wins it will go over in history, just like Uruguay in 1930.