European giants humbled as Club World Cup script gets rewritten
PHILADELPHIA - The script seemed predetermined - Europes football giants would cruise through FIFAs expanded Club World Cup against grateful opponents from distant continents. Instead, the tournament has delivered a plot twist, leaving the games traditional powerhouses scrambling for explanations.
With Porto and Atletico Madrid eliminated in the group stage and European sides winning just two of seven matches against South American opposition, the continents expected dominance has failed to materialise.
We knew beforehand that the tournament came at the end of a long season, whereas for the South Americans its right in the middle, when they are peaking, lamented Atletico Madrids Diego Simeone after his sides early exit.
The exhaustion narrative has become familiar, with players union FIFPro Europe pursuing legal action against FIFA over the punishing calendar. Theres also Americas scorching summer heat. But South Americans, however, reject these explanations entirely.
Having played for many years in Europe, I dont buy this end-of-season fatigue narrative, said Flamengos Filipe Luis, who played under Simeone at Atletico, after a commanding 3-1 win over Chelsea.
We came here seeing every game as a final. That makes a big difference.
Statistics further complicate the European exhaustion argument. Among participating clubs, four Brazilian teams, including Botafogo, top the list for matches played in the last year, each surpassing 70 games.
Botafogo, who qualified from Group B along with Paris St Germain at the expense of Atletico Madrid, played 18 more matches than their Spanish opponents during the same period.
While Brazilian teams had a months rest before their domestic season began, their packed schedules have long been a source of complaint in South America.
Brazilian great Zico criticised European attitudes, saying, We are seeing some European figures act like they own football and that must stop. As soon as they see things not
أرسل هذا الخبر لأصدقائك على