There was nothing unexpected in Barcelona destroying River Plate 0-3, with little effort, in the final of the Club World Championship in Japan. This is really the most irrelevant tournament in the world, since European dominance is so massive: there is not a single team in the Champions League that would not be better than the rest of the world teams.
That said, there is something where River Plate has nothing to envy any European club: their fans were absolutely amazing. Even down 0-3 they kept singing and supporting their side. This is something arrogant Barcelona fans (or arrogant fans from most clubs in Europe) would never do. The River Plate fans retain that heart and passion that is the reason for football being what it is, and today at the final, they showed that they do not need to win a title to be world champions!
Showing posts with label club world champions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label club world champions. Show all posts
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Corinthians World Champion
Brazil's Corinthians have just become Club World Champions 2012 after defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the final in Japan on a goal by Paolo Guerrero. A fully deserved victory as Corinthians seemed like the team that most wanted to win the trophy; Chelsea were good in the first half, and had some good chances that were prevented by an excellent Cassio on the Brazilian goal. But Chelsea seemed not to have studied their opponents! A bit arrogant one might say, after they walked through Monterrey in the semifinal, but they seemed to have no idea about Corinthian's somewhat defensive counter-attacking style that made them win this year's Copa Libertadores. Corinthians is undoubtedly one of the best teams in the world, but Chelsea did not seem to realize that.
Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero was excellent, but in particular Paulinho and Emerson Sheik both were outstanding, and an important reason for Corinthians being able to call themselves World Champions!
Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero was excellent, but in particular Paulinho and Emerson Sheik both were outstanding, and an important reason for Corinthians being able to call themselves World Champions!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Barcelona World Champion
Perhaps it was only a formality that Barcelona should officially proclaim itself the best team in the world in 2012 after their resounding victory against Real Madrid recently. But surely, their victory in the FIFA Club World Championship against Brazilian Santos was no less resounding. The final had been looked forward to, since Santos is also a club that plays entertaining attacking football and has some outstanding players. However, as Barcelona also did in this years' Champions League final, Barcelona seems to be awesome when against teams that are hailed as possible threats to their current footballing hegemony. There was never doubt as to the best team, and Barcelona won 4-0, with another extraordinary match by Lionel Messi, who will probably win the best footballer award of 2012 thanks to all his goals and antics at Barcelona.
Barcelona are surely the best team of 2012.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Inter World Champions
Inter Milan has had a pretty bad season so far, but last night nevertheless the Italian team managed to win the FIFA Club World Cup, after defeating Congo's TP Mazembe 3-0 in the final in Abu Dhabi. The tournament, in its current format, looks like this:
| Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Fourth | |
| 2005 | Sao Paulo (Brazil) | Liverpool (England) | Saprissa (Thailand) | Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) |
| 2006 | Internacional (Brazil) | FC Barcelona (Spain) | Al Ahly (Egypt) | América (Mexico) |
| 2007 | AC Milan (Italy) | Boca Juniors (Argentina) | Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) | Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) |
| 2008 | Manchester United (England) | LDU Quito (Ecuador) | Gamba Osaka (Japan) | Pachuca (Mexico) |
| 2009 | FC Barcelona (Spain) | Estudiantes (Argentina) | Pohang Steelers (South Corea) | Atlante (Mexico) |
| 2010 | Inter Milan (Italy) | TP Mazembe (DR Congo) | Internacional (Brazil) | Seongnam IlhwaChunma (South Corea |
One important thing to note about the tournament this year is that for the first time ever it was not a final between Europe and South America: Internacional from Brazil lost in the semifinal to the outside-Africa unfancied TP Mazembe from DR Congo (a great team, as any follower of African football would know), who also became the first African team in the World Club Final. Although many people do not fancy this tournament, it remains a great achievement by the Congolese side, as well as a great achievement for Inter Milan!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Barcelona World Champions
2009 has been the year where FC Barcelona has won absolutely everything, today adding the last title: Club World Champions, after winning the final of the FIFA Club World Championship in Dubai against the Argentinean club Estudiantes de La Plata.
While it was highly expected that the match would be kind of a walkover for the Catalonians, it proved much harder than that for FC Barcelona, who eager to add this title to their list, played with their absolute strongest line-up: Estudiantes de La Plata played an extraordinary first half, where the veteran Juán Sebastián Verón played an amazing match, and the Argentineans went ahead 1-0. In the second half FC Barcelona started putting pressure on Estudiantes, who defended bravely and was still dangerous on the counter-attacks. Although Messi and in particular Ibrahimovic were very dangerous, it was only two minutes before the end of the match when FC Barcelona managed to equalize by way of a header of the young Pedro. In extra time the saviour for FC Barcelona was yet again Messi, who has been instrumental in FC Barcelona's extraordinary year.
Estudiantes de La Plata, a defensive but well-playing and galant side, did not manage to equalize, but certainly showed that they are indeed one of the best teams in the world!
But congratulations to Barcelona, who have now won it all!
While it was highly expected that the match would be kind of a walkover for the Catalonians, it proved much harder than that for FC Barcelona, who eager to add this title to their list, played with their absolute strongest line-up: Estudiantes de La Plata played an extraordinary first half, where the veteran Juán Sebastián Verón played an amazing match, and the Argentineans went ahead 1-0. In the second half FC Barcelona started putting pressure on Estudiantes, who defended bravely and was still dangerous on the counter-attacks. Although Messi and in particular Ibrahimovic were very dangerous, it was only two minutes before the end of the match when FC Barcelona managed to equalize by way of a header of the young Pedro. In extra time the saviour for FC Barcelona was yet again Messi, who has been instrumental in FC Barcelona's extraordinary year.
Estudiantes de La Plata, a defensive but well-playing and galant side, did not manage to equalize, but certainly showed that they are indeed one of the best teams in the world!
But congratulations to Barcelona, who have now won it all!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Who will be world champion in...
I was just listening to a podcast of the best football show in the world, the BBC world football phone-in, where Sean Wheelock, the North American football commentator was arguing why he thought the US would be world champion by 2020.
I really like Sean Wheelock, but like with David Beckham staying in the MLS, he is probably as wrong as when Pelé said that an African team would be world champion by the year 2000.
It ain't gonna happen: while many of his points about the growth of the sport in the US are true, the passion and commitment needed to foster such talents and following is simply not there.
And they should start by not calling it soccer.
I am sorry to say this, but at least until 2040 the world cup is only going to be won by Europeans and the occasional South Americans.
I really like Sean Wheelock, but like with David Beckham staying in the MLS, he is probably as wrong as when Pelé said that an African team would be world champion by the year 2000.
It ain't gonna happen: while many of his points about the growth of the sport in the US are true, the passion and commitment needed to foster such talents and following is simply not there.
And they should start by not calling it soccer.
I am sorry to say this, but at least until 2040 the world cup is only going to be won by Europeans and the occasional South Americans.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Sao Paulo: World Champions
Sao Paulo FC from Brazil, yesterday became World Champions for clubs. In Yokohama they defeated the European Champions from Liverpool 1-0 after a first-half goal by Mineiro. Liverpool played well, and managed to put on pressure on the Brazilians, but they were not sharp enough in front of the goal.
Congratulations to all Sao Paulo fans!
This was the first official FIFA World Cup played with the club champions from each continent. It did not get that much coverage, but the games were generally good. In the end, it demonstrated the utter dominance in club-football by European and South American teams.
Congratulations to all Sao Paulo fans!
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