Quite a few people have been saying its a pointless comp, but i've watched quite a bit. Firstly, as i miss my footy and i struggle to sleep most nights so a bonus when there is footy on, also its good to see teams you wouldn't normally, Boca/ Plameiras/ Al Hilal etc.
City last night were very good, although Juventus did capitulate a bit but still some nice stuff by city and their new left wing combo Nouri and Doku could add something, Reindeers looks a good addition too but early doors.
I think now it will get just as competitive, the prize money involved and also bigger matches.
I do find it odd , even though i know why that the best 2 in the Premiership are not there (Arsenal/Liverpool) , also Spain (Barca), i know its because its down to the champions league/ europe over a 4 year period but still seems a bit strange to me.
Think you're right that this is where it will start to get serious. There haven't been enough upsets to grab headlines though so will be interesting to see how many people actually watch it. FIFA will say it was a great success regardless which makes it hard to judge
Think you're right that this is where it will start to get serious. There haven't been enough upsets to grab headlines though so will be interesting to see how many people actually watch it. FIFA will say it was a great success regardless which makes it hard to judge
I think the major downside is those that haven't had a break, gone from nations cup straight to world club cup and just seems a bit harsh on players, although they will just take longer to come back and maybe less of a pre-season.
Quite a few people have been saying its a pointless comp, but i've watched quite a bit. Firstly, as i miss my footy and i struggle to sleep most nights so a bonus when there is footy on, also its good to see teams you wouldn't normally, Boca/ Plameiras/ Al Hilal etc.
City last night were very good, although Juventus did capitulate a bit but still some nice stuff by city and their new left wing combo Nouri and Doku could add something, Reindeers looks a good addition too but early doors.
I think now it will get just as competitive, the prize money involved and also bigger matches.
I do find it odd , even though i know why that the best 2 in the Premiership are not there (Arsenal/Liverpool) , also Spain (Barca), i know its because its down to the champions league/ europe over a 4 year period but still seems a bit strange to me.
City v Real final?
I've seen a few people saying this, but it's an international tournament based on teams record in their confederations competition, so Liverpool and Barcelona being good domestically means nothing.
What i suspect might happen in future though is that FIFA will end up relaxing the rule on only 2 teams per country qualifying (unless they win the Champions league) and will say it can be 3 teams from the two best ranked leagues or something like that, as a way to get an extra English and Spanish side in there.
Ultimately FIFA care about money, attendances and tv viewers, and having the '2 teams per country' rule has meant we don't have big teams like Barcelona and Liverpool there, and instead we've had shit sides like Salzburg and Porto.
Ultimately FIFA care about money, attendances and tv viewers, and having the '2 teams per country' rule has meant we don't have big teams like Barcelona and Liverpool there, and instead we've had shit sides like Salzburg and Porto.
My bet would be both, and they make the next one with 48 teams like the World Cup is now……
I’m probably in the minority but I couldn’t care less about this tournament.
A glorified friendly tournament bankrolled by gazillionaires so they can see their teams play against the best.
Grim.
I don’t know that you are in the minority.
I’d be very surprised if there are many fans of Chelsea, Man City (and whichever other big clubs are there) who consider winning this tournament as important. And that’s just the fans of those teams. The rest of us have no investment in it at all. The only reason there’s any interest is because it is big clubs and big name players. But let’s be honest, it’s like one of those pre-season “tournaments” that nobody takes seriously.
I imagine there’s been some good football there, but I’m just not interested in watching footballers, no matter how good they are, in a tournament so pointless that it’s basically a collection of preseason friendlies.
Qatar have held talks with Fifa over potentially hosting the 2029 Club World Cup, which would have to take place in winter. (Guardian)
Well that should screw things up a bit.
Not sure how that can work.
A World cup worked as it obviously affected top players from multiple teams across the world, but you can't shut down leagues for a month so 2 of its teams can go and play. And it wouldn't then be fair for those teams to have a fixture pile up afterwards.
Qatar have held talks with Fifa over potentially hosting the 2029 Club World Cup, which would have to take place in winter. (Guardian)
Well that should screw things up a bit.
Not sure how that can work.
A World cup worked as it obviously affected top players from multiple teams across the world, but you can't shut down leagues for a month so 2 of its teams can go and play. And it wouldn't then be fair for those teams to have a fixture pile up afterwards.
Isn't the current Club World Cup taking place in the middle of the South American teams seasons?
Qatar have held talks with Fifa over potentially hosting the 2029 Club World Cup, which would have to take place in winter. (Guardian)
Well that should screw things up a bit.
Not sure how that can work.
A World cup worked as it obviously affected top players from multiple teams across the world, but you can't shut down leagues for a month so 2 of its teams can go and play. And it wouldn't then be fair for those teams to have a fixture pile up afterwards.
Isn't the current Club World Cup taking place in the middle of the South American teams seasons?
Argentina no. Brazil yes, who decided to pause their league for 1 month. But they do have a fifth of the league playing at the CWC.
I can't see the PL shutting down for a month because 2 teams weren't there.
Qatar have held talks with Fifa over potentially hosting the 2029 Club World Cup, which would have to take place in winter. (Guardian)
Well that should screw things up a bit.
Not sure how that can work.
A World cup worked as it obviously affected top players from multiple teams across the world, but you can't shut down leagues for a month so 2 of its teams can go and play. And it wouldn't then be fair for those teams to have a fixture pile up afterwards.
You can't? Better tell FIFA then. They'll do exactiy what they feel like, irrespective of individual leagues' feelings. If there's a pot of cash to be trousered, they'll just 'invite' the European teams and, when they don't make it, or send youth teams, fine UEFA and run it with South America, MLS and gulf state teams.
1970s kits are cool but the football was awful when you watch a whole game. I've not watched this tournament but if I was betting I'd say a South American team
3 Brazilian sides have played 2 matches so far, all of them are top of their group. They've been the undoubted success of the tournament so far.
I imagine the temperatures are helping the South American sides (obviously they are very good teams as well), European teams aren't used to playing games in 32 degrees.
Also helps that they're mid-season but Europe are at the end of a long season.
100% and for them the financial rewards are off the scale. I'm wearing my England Hackett top in the boozer on Friday. It is criminal that the European teams are playing when they should be on holiday.
Flamengo supporters are getting hammered out here. 50% of the population are fans/members. The fans here are overlooking/not realising the European teams do not want to be in America, they stopped playing 6 weeks ago.
Comments
City last night were very good, although Juventus did capitulate a bit but still some nice stuff by city and their new left wing combo Nouri and Doku could add something, Reindeers looks a good addition too but early doors.
I think now it will get just as competitive, the prize money involved and also bigger matches.
I do find it odd , even though i know why that the best 2 in the Premiership are not there (Arsenal/Liverpool) , also Spain (Barca), i know its because its down to the champions league/ europe over a 4 year period but still seems a bit strange to me.
City v Real final?
What i suspect might happen in future though is that FIFA will end up relaxing the rule on only 2 teams per country qualifying (unless they win the Champions league) and will say it can be 3 teams from the two best ranked leagues or something like that, as a way to get an extra English and Spanish side in there.
Ultimately FIFA care about money, attendances and tv viewers, and having the '2 teams per country' rule has meant we don't have big teams like Barcelona and Liverpool there, and instead we've had shit sides like Salzburg and Porto.
And that’s just the fans of those teams. The rest of us have no investment in it at all.
The only reason there’s any interest is because it is big clubs and big name players. But let’s be honest, it’s like one of those pre-season “tournaments” that nobody takes seriously.
I imagine there’s been some good football there, but I’m just not interested in watching footballers, no matter how good they are, in a tournament so pointless that it’s basically a collection of preseason friendlies.
Qatar have held talks with Fifa over potentially hosting the 2029 Club World Cup, which would have to take place in winter. (Guardian)
Well that should screw things up a bit.
The only non-European club would come from the only last 16 tie that did not involve a European side.
A World cup worked as it obviously affected top players from multiple teams across the world, but you can't shut down leagues for a month so 2 of its teams can go and play. And it wouldn't then be fair for those teams to have a fixture pile up afterwards.
I can't see the PL shutting down for a month because 2 teams weren't there.
I'm wearing my England Hackett top in the boozer on Friday. It is criminal that the European teams are playing when they should be on holiday.
The fans here are overlooking/not realising the European teams do not want to be in America, they stopped playing 6 weeks ago.
City's defence was absolutely awful all game.
One of Fluminense and Al Hilal will now be in the semi final.
Might be oversimplifying here, but I think he does have a point?
Or take to the streets to protest?
Or will they react like this:
Could've been 7/8, now just about be four.
The Quarter Finals are proving to be quite exciting as well.
However i wouldn't exactly be surprised if Chelsea come through that half of the draw.