Zürcher Nachrichten - South American teams lay down the gauntlet to Europe at Club World Cup

EUR -
AED 4.288018
AFN 79.960491
ALL 97.655834
AMD 447.991031
ANG 2.089265
AOA 1070.536389
ARS 1466.010684
AUD 1.774673
AWG 2.104298
AZN 1.989113
BAM 1.948021
BBD 2.358681
BDT 142.052765
BGN 1.954873
BHD 0.440054
BIF 3480.601501
BMD 1.167433
BND 1.493935
BOB 8.101649
BRL 6.45999
BSD 1.168135
BTN 100.037537
BWP 15.565844
BYN 3.822935
BYR 22881.692399
BZD 2.34653
CAD 1.599121
CDF 3369.212857
CHF 0.931081
CLF 0.028903
CLP 1109.131781
CNY 8.37668
CNH 8.370812
COP 4688.061845
CRC 589.147457
CUC 1.167433
CUP 30.936982
CVE 110.614641
CZK 24.642994
DJF 207.476327
DKK 7.461288
DOP 70.282823
DZD 151.516417
EGP 57.795885
ERN 17.511499
ETB 158.041295
FJD 2.61651
FKP 0.859421
GBP 0.862062
GEL 3.163585
GGP 0.859421
GHS 12.172506
GIP 0.859421
GMD 83.47586
GNF 10105.302712
GTQ 8.974165
GYD 244.404062
HKD 9.164217
HNL 30.762193
HRK 7.531349
HTG 153.267981
HUF 399.054413
IDR 18942.422263
ILS 3.870863
IMP 0.859421
INR 100.254385
IQD 1529.337604
IRR 49163.53233
ISK 142.812139
JEP 0.859421
JMD 186.684544
JOD 0.827685
JPY 171.492461
KES 151.182498
KGS 102.091773
KHR 4694.249027
KMF 492.073956
KPW 1050.678224
KRW 1606.855277
KWD 0.356897
KYD 0.973513
KZT 606.020082
LAK 25134.838563
LBP 104602.022084
LKR 350.918735
LRD 234.654211
LSL 20.698243
LTL 3.447127
LVL 0.706169
LYD 6.298301
MAD 10.509823
MDL 19.765075
MGA 5171.7296
MKD 61.513833
MMK 2451.086777
MNT 4187.3557
MOP 9.445583
MRU 46.346608
MUR 53.071115
MVR 17.981869
MWK 2027.250221
MXN 21.798238
MYR 4.971509
MZN 74.668855
NAD 20.698468
NGN 1786.896443
NIO 42.902987
NOK 11.790972
NPR 160.05986
NZD 1.941435
OMR 0.448883
PAB 1.168135
PEN 4.139675
PGK 4.81537
PHP 65.933107
PKR 332.133115
PLN 4.256895
PYG 9053.846801
QAR 4.250157
RON 5.078568
RSD 117.149625
RUB 90.598648
RWF 1674.099332
SAR 4.378468
SBD 9.720618
SCR 17.133342
SDG 701.04933
SEK 11.117426
SGD 1.496083
SHP 0.917419
SLE 26.273855
SLL 24480.496562
SOS 667.187612
SRD 43.624632
STD 24163.511975
SVC 10.221185
SYP 15178.886357
SZL 20.699111
THB 37.973688
TJS 11.302069
TMT 4.097691
TND 3.384065
TOP 2.734243
TRY 46.898725
TTD 7.932325
TWD 34.173688
TZS 3070.349466
UAH 48.892665
UGX 4186.28362
USD 1.167433
UYU 47.460484
UZS 14782.626389
VES 132.43128
VND 30481.683088
VUV 139.442741
WST 3.2116
XAF 653.348095
XAG 0.031207
XAU 0.00035
XCD 3.155047
XDR 0.811849
XOF 651.427065
XPF 119.331742
YER 282.343854
ZAR 20.755195
ZMK 10508.302466
ZMW 27.364729
ZWL 375.913042
  • CMSC

    0.0900

    22.314

    +0.4%

  • CMSD

    0.0250

    22.285

    +0.11%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    69.04

    0%

  • SCS

    0.0400

    10.74

    +0.37%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    53

    +0.06%

  • RIO

    -0.1400

    59.33

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.1300

    41.45

    +0.31%

  • NGG

    0.2700

    71.48

    +0.38%

  • BP

    0.1750

    30.4

    +0.58%

  • BTI

    0.7150

    48.215

    +1.48%

  • BCC

    0.7900

    91.02

    +0.87%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    9.85

    +0.1%

  • BCE

    -0.0600

    22.445

    -0.27%

  • RYCEF

    0.1000

    12

    +0.83%

  • AZN

    -0.1200

    73.71

    -0.16%

South American teams lay down the gauntlet to Europe at Club World Cup
South American teams lay down the gauntlet to Europe at Club World Cup / Photo: FRANCK FIFE - AFP

South American teams lay down the gauntlet to Europe at Club World Cup

It took until Friday night for South America's unbeaten run at the Club World Cup to come to an end as Boca Juniors succumbed to a late defeat against Bayern Munich in Miami.

Text size:

The Argentine giants' phenomenal support at the Hard Rock Stadium could not quite get them over the line, as Michael Olise's late goal inflicted a first loss in 10 games on a side from CONMEBOL.

But the evidence so far in the United States suggests that if anyone is going to stop a European side winning FIFA's new 32-team competition, it will be a club from South America.

Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo edged out European champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in Pasadena while Flamengo, Brazil's biggest club, came from behind to stun Chelsea.

Palmeiras, Boca and Fluminense have all held European opposition too, and South American clubs are set to feature heavily in the knockout stages.

One factor helping teams from Brazil and Argentina make such an impact is the remarkable backing from their supporters, who have turned out in impressive numbers across the United States.

- 'Amazing' support -

"Amazing, amazing," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany when asked about the atmosphere for his team's game against Boca, as it seemed that La Bombonera had been transported to Miami.

"Anyone here who has knowledge of this game knows how tough it is to play against these teams and nearly every game for a European team is like an away game."

The support for Flamengo against Chelsea in Philadelphia was impressive too, with a large percentage of the crowd of over 54,000 clad in the black and red of the Rio de Janeiro side.

In comparison, few supporters have travelled from Europe, even if large numbers of American soccer fans have turned out wearing the colours of the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.

The last edition of the old, seven-team Club World Cup were won by European sides. CONMEBOL last produced a winner in 2012, when Corinthians of Sao Paulo defeated Chelsea.

There is a huge financial gulf -- the top 29 teams in analysts Deloitte's Football Money League for 2025 come from Europe.

Real Madrid topped the list with revenues last year exceeding one billion euros ($1.15 billion), while Flamengo sneaked in at 30th with 198 million euros.

However, they have shown the strength of their squad which is filled with experienced international players including Italy midfielder Jorginho.

"These players have played a lot of big, big games in their careers," said Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac when asked about the quality of Brazilian teams.

Rio club Fluminense held Dortmund to a 0-0 draw in their first match.

"I am convinced that most of these South American teams will pass into the next round," Kovac said.

- Heat and fatigue -

It may also be the case that the often stifling conditions make it harder for Europe's clubs, something Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca hinted at before facing Flamengo.

Then there is the fact that Europe's elite sides have all crossed the Atlantic Ocean at the very end of a long and exhausting season, whereas clubs in Brazil and Argentina started their campaigns earlier this calendar year.

PSG had played almost 60 matches up to their Champions League final win against Inter Milan in late May.

Yet Flamengo coach Filipe Luis, a former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea player, said he did not expect to see such results at the Club World Cup.

"I am surprised because I know the quality of these European clubs, especially the elite of football, the absolute elite -- it's about 10 or 12 clubs in the world who make up this elite and I am surprised they are having these results."

He added: "It is true sometimes that the weather they are not used to, but what I can say is that South American clubs are very competitive."

Kompany insisted German champions Bayern just needed to make sure they matched the hunger and determination of opponents like Boca in order to go far.

"The conditions are more like South America and they have good players, so I am not surprised, but for us most importantly we have to match the hunger to win these games," he said.

M.J.Baumann--NZN