Club World Cup

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      I faced Guardiola in his first game as a manager – now I’m out to stop him winning only trophy he’s missing at Man City

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      URAWA RED DIAMONDS coach Maciej Skorza has waited 15 years for the chance to lock horns with Pep Guardiola again.And the Pole cannot wait to see if his underdogs can shock the world.
      Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will face the manager he met in his debutCredit: Getty
      Urawa Red Diamonds coach Maciej Skorza defeated Guardiola in 2008Credit: Getty
      Skorza, 51, was in the away dugout in the Nou Camp as Guardiola’s first game as a coach in 2008 ended in a 4-0 Champions League qualifying win.
      While Wisla Krakow won the second leg 1-0, Guardiola’s side went on to beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United 2-0 in the 2009 Final in Rome to complete the first of his many Trebles.
      Skorza, who will step down after the tournament, recalled: “I had the great pleasure to meet Mr Guardiola 15 years ago and I have to admit that from that moment I have admired his work. 
      “He is the No1 manager in the world, so personally it is a special moment to play against his team again after 15 years.
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      “So it is fantastic for me and for my team, because we are playing the best team in the world as well.
      “This is a rare opportunity but our dream is to play in the Final.
      “On paper, City are a better team than us in every aspect. But in football, sometimes, it doesn’t work like that.
      “I believe in my players because we have a fantastic team with fantastic character.
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      “We know we will suffer on the pitch at times but we have to keep going and keep fighting and try to realise our plan.
      “What is important is how we manage the space behind their defence. I believe that we can play a very good game.
      “What the result will be, nobody knows – it’s football. But the most important thing is keeping this team spirit at the top level.”
      Erling Haaland will not be risked after being left out of training, although Kevin De Bruyne could be back on the bench for City.
      Guardiola said: “This is the one trophy we don’t have, so we want to close the circle and have won everything we can win.
      “You have a responsibility to win all the games and every competition.
      “The players know that and we’ll try to perform well.”
      Probable teams: 
      Read more on The Sun
      Manchester City: Steffen; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish
      Urawa Red Diamonds: Nishikawa; Sakai, Scholz, Hoibraten, Akimoto; Ito, Iwao; Okubu, Yasui, Koizumi; Kante. More

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      Man Utd and Liverpool miss out on biggest tournament in history worth £1BILLION as first eight teams confirmed

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      LIVERPOOL and Manchester United have been blocked from a potential £50million payday after being ruled OUT of the new expanded Club World Cup.Fifa chiefs unveiled the official criteria for the 12 European sides eligible to take part in the 32-team event in the USA in 2025.
      Liverpool have missed out on the lucrative new eventCredit: PA
      Man Utd are also set to be denied a huge paydayCredit: AP
      Manchester City and Chelsea have been guaranteed their place in the most lucrative club event in football history – worth £1BILLION-plus – after their Champions League triumphs in 2021 and last season respectively.
      But Liverpool and United are officially OUT of contention – although Arsenal could STILL take a place.
      Fifa’s ruling Council – including FA chair Debbie Hewitt – agreed with the proposal that all countries would be limited to two places unless they had more continental champions.
      In addition to the places for the Champions League winners between 2021 and this term, eight more European slots are available based on coefficient points earned solely in Uefa’s senior competition over the four campaigns.
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      But the restriction on English places to two – unless Arsenal win the Champions League for the first time in June’s Wembley final – is a bitter blow to Liverpool in particular.
      Jurgen Klopp’s men currently stand fourth in Europe’s overall rankings and would have qualified through their Champions League performances over the past three campaigns.
      Under Fifa’s initial plan, allowing one coefficient place per country, Liverpool were guaranteed a spot.
      That was taken away by the vote at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Jeddah, where the Council including Hewitt backed the plan and the dates of the tournament, which will take place from June 15 to July 13.  
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      United were hanging on to a place through the coefficients alone although they are likely to be overtaken by the end of this season.
      But any remaining chance of the Old Trafford side taking part were dashed by the Fifa decision, which opens the door to the likes of Juventus even though they are out of Europe this term.
      The decision means EIGHT clubs are already confirmed slots, with City, Chelsea and Real Madrid qualifying through their Champions League wins.
      They will be joined by Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Porto and Benfica.
      Arsenal, Real Sociedad, PSV Eindhoven and outsiders Copenhagen can only qualify if they win the Champions League.
      But at least three places – four if City or Madrid win at Wembley – can be sealed during the knock-out stage of this season’s competition.
      Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are in the box seat but could still be overtaken by Leipzig and Barcelona respectively, with Napoli – or theoretically Lazio –  able to overtake Juventus.
      Austrians Salzburg will qualify if City or Real Madrid win the Champions League.
      The 32-team event will follow the traditional World Cup structure with eight groups of four clubs and the top two going into the knock-out round.
      Every club is guaranteed three days between games and the entire event will involve 63 matches – with no third-place game.
      Following the meeting, Fifa President Gianni Infantino said: “Clubs play a fundamental role in world football and the Fifa Club World Cup 2025 will be a major milestone in providing clubs from all confederations with a fitting stage on which to shine at the highest level.
      “This will be an open competition based on sporting merit that will play a key role as part of our efforts to make the game truly global.”
      Fifa also announced the creation of a new “Fifa Intercontinental Cup” to be played each season with the Champions League winners facing the survivor of a series of one-off games between the other five continental winners for the trophy, with the Final on neutral territory.
      Confirmed places: 
      Past Champions league winners: Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City
      Through Champions League coefficient points: Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica
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      Can qualify only if they win the Champions League this season: Arsenal, Copenhagen, PSV Eindhoven, Real Sociedad
      Can qualify through Champions League coefficient (only one per country): Borussia Dortmund, Atletico  Madrid, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Juventus, Napoli, Salzburg, Lazio
      Man City booked their place by winning the Champions League last seasonCredit: PA More

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      Angry Chelsea fans say ‘board did us dirty selling this guy’ as N’Golo Kante scores absolute rocket

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      CHELSEA fans were claiming that their “board did us dirty selling this guy” after watching N’Golo Kante produce a rocket tonight.The French World Cup-winning midfielder, 32, left Stamford Bridge this summer after seven years at the club.
      N’Golo Kante scored a screamer in the Club World CupCredit: Twitter @footballontnt
      Al Ittihad’s players mobbed the ex-Chelsea man after his wonderstrikeCredit: AP

      The ace, who was part of Leicester City’s legendary title-winning side in 2016, helped Chelsea win six trophies during that period, including the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League.
      However, injuries hindered Kante in his final few years in West London and that led to owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake opting to cash in this summer.
      He moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad – but Blues supporters were soon begging him to return after he scored a screamer on his debut.
      Now Kante has done it again by producing another magical finish in the opening match of the Club World Cup.
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      Al-Ittihad were already leading Auckland City thanks to Romarinho when the much-loved Kante almost burst the net with a brilliant half-volley from the edge of the area.
      Auckland City had failed to properly clear a corner as the ball was swung back in, and it fell perfectly for the ex-Blues man to rifle home.
      The clip soon began to go viral, and Chelsea supporters were quick to react to the goal on social media.
      “Chelsea board did the fans dirty by selling this guy,” declared one.
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      A second one said: “Now Kante looks fit i think Chelsea should bring him back.”
      Another commented: “The man is too humble he looks like he was embarrassed he scored.”
      While a fourth added: “Miss this guy sooo much.” More

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      Man City head off to Jeddah as Fifa Club World Cup set for major revamp next year – and it could be on a new TV channel

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      THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP is set for a major revamp after this year’s tournament.Manchester City will head to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia aiming to become the fourth English club to lift the trophy.
      The Fifa Club World Cup is set for a major revamp in 2025Credit: Getty
      Rivals Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have previously followed up their own Champions League triumphs by winning the Club World Cup.
      The tournament gets underway on Tuesday before running for 10 days through to the final on December 22.
      Saudi champions Al-Ittihad join the six continental champions in competing for the trophy.
      City are due to head to the Middle East after Saturday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace and will enter at the semi-final stage.
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      Pep Guardiola’s side will face either Mexican side Club Leon or Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals on December 19.
      They will then conclude their campaign three days later in either the third place match or final.
      Fluminense, Al Ahly and Auckland City complete the line-up of sides in Saudi Arabia.
      TNT Sports will broadcast all seven matches, including those not involving City, after agreeing a deal to show this year’s tournament.
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      Manchester City begin their Club World Cup campaign on December 19Credit: Rex
      The broadcaster could remain in possession of the rights for 2025, although it is not yet known where fans in the UK can watch the next edition of the competition.
      However, it will be all change for the next Club World Cup in two years time.
      Fifa plan to expand the tournament to 32 teams after the pandemic stalled their previous increase to 24 in 2021.
      The new format will see the Club World Cup take place every four years, with the September and October international breaks merged to make space on the football calendar.
      Clubs will be divided into eight groups of four for the first round, before the top two advance to the knockout stage.
      12 European teams are set to qualify, including the Champions League winners from 2021 to 2024.
      As a result, City have already booked their place, alongside Real Madrid and Chelsea.
      Fifa plan to expand the Club World Cup from seven to 32 teamsCredit: AFP
      The remaining eight European berths will currently be allocated to the best eligible clubs in Uefa’s four-year coefficient rankings.
      Although no host cities have been named yet, the 2025 edition is set to be hosted by the USA. More

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      TNT Sports announce deal to show major football tournament with coverage starting tomorrow

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      TNT SPORTS have announced that they will be showing every game of this year’s Club World Cup.The annual competition is set to kick off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tomorrow.
      Man City will aim to add the Club World Cup to their collectionCredit: Rex
      TNT Sports will show every Club World Cup match liveCredit: Getty
      Reigning champions of Europe Manchester City are among the teams that will head to the Middle East vying for world domination.
      Pep Guardiola’s side are set to enter the tournament at its semi-final stage next Tuesday.
      Kicking off at 6pm, City’s semi will be available to watch on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.
      The final will then be shown on the same channel, kicking off at 6pm on Friday, 22.
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      TNT Sports and Discovery+ will also show the matches not involving Man City.
      The tournament gets underway at 6pm tomorrow with Saudi side Al-Ittihad, boasting the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho, taking on OFC Champions League winners Auckland City of New Zealand.
      On Friday the second round will commence, with Concacaf Champions Cup winners Club Leon of Mexico facing 2022 AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan at 2:30pm.
      The match will be followed at 6pm by the winners of Al-Ittihad and Auckland City facing Egypt’s African Champions League holders Al-Ahly.
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      Club World Cup full TV schedule

      1st round, Tuesday 12 December, Al-Ittihad FC vs Auckland City, KO 18:00 on TNT Sports 3
      2nd round, Friday 15 December, Club Leon vs Urawa Reds, KO 14:30 on TNT Sports 1
      2nd round, Friday 15 December, Al Ahly FC vs Al-Ittihad FC or Auckland City, KO 18:00 on TNT Sports 6 (Red Button)
      Semi-final 1, Monday 18 December, TBC, ko 18:00 on TNT Sports 2
      Semi-final 2, Tuesday 19 December, Manchester City vs Club Leon or Urawa Reds, KO 18:00 on TNT Sports 2
      3rd Place Play-off, Friday 22 December, KO 14:30 on TNT Sports 1
      Final, Friday 22 December, KO 18:00 on TNT Sports 2

      Monday’s first semi-final will see South American champions Fluminense of Brazil face the winner of Al-Ahly vs Al-Ittihad/Auckland City.
      Then on Tuesday Man City will enter against either Club Leon or Urawa Reds.
      The Club World Cup is set to switch format in 2025.
      Fifa bigwigs will stage an expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the USA with an expected prize-fund worth up to £50m-plus per team.
      The Champions League winners from 2021 to this season will gain entry, alongside eight clubs from the four-year ‘coefficient’ list, based on European results. More

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      Fifa’s new Club World Cup is just a reheated European Super League but at least it’s some rare good news for Chelsea

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      IT hasn’t all been bad news for Chelsea recently because they have already been awarded a place in the hugely expanded Club World Cup in 2025.This will enrich them by at least £25million and while that may be small change for them, it is still — as Del Boy would have put it — “a nice little earner”.
      Gianni Infantino has been heavily criticised during his time as Fifa presidentCredit: Getty
      Karren Brady has had her say on the newly-reformed Club World CupCredit: Getty
      But how come Chelsea have learned this week that they are already in the soon-to-be bloated competition?
      Manchester City are set to join them and based on a coefficient of European performance over the previous five years, Liverpool and Manchester United are in the running.
      And that’s about the lot unless one of the other Premier League teams wins the Champions League up to 2024. That would bring the total to the maximum allocation of four.
      The rest of us can go howl into the wind.
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      Europe has 12 places in all, so Real Madrid are definitely in while Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich could practically book flights now. The other 20 spots are shared by the other continents.
      There is a proviso to all speculation.
      Clubs probably have an option to say “no thanks”. Even the self-sanctified Gianni Infantino is not God, although I think he thinks he is, creating his own Laws for Planetary Football Domination — which appears to be a calculated mess.
      Many political plans are, of course, but this one is a re-heating of the European Super League that set supporters ablaze at the cash-power grab by six English clubs and a coterie of the continent’s rich.
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      The reaction sent most of the dirty dozen scurrying. Within days the ESL was dead — or “passed” as our newly-desensitised language puts it.
      Infantino was lurking, though.
      Evidently, he shares ideas about the have-a-lots and the have-less and so World Cup plans reintroduce the Rich Laws which in the case of the Premier League favours those with a recent history of successful super-high spending against those attempting to achieve greatness.
      So, Chelsea, Man City and the others involved in the ESL are the ones who will be blessed with entry into Fifa’s brushed-up club competition.
      Designed to undermine Uefa and, more importantly, to enhance Fifa’s already massive earnings, its formula reaches across the oceans to continents of lesser means.
      On paper, the idea is appealing.
      In practice it expands football to bursting point, pressing players into never-ending employment as if exhaustion and injury were no problem.
      Another summer’s intense competition added to a calendar already dog-eared with fixtures is to flog Grade A players into dog-tired troupers.
      The 32-team competition itself will have five rounds so that finalists could be in the US — favourite to be hosts pre-the World Cup itself in North America — for over three weeks which, if you factor in club pre-season tours, would leave a minimal time to holiday at the usual favoured resting sites: beaches, bars or in Dubai.
      With the exception of one-time winners Chelsea, the existence or at least the credibility of the present seven-team Club World Cup has all the relevance of Red Riding Hood. It is fairly harmless.
      But its successor?
      As a spokesman for LaLiga said: “Fifa continues its malpractice of making unilateral decisions on the world football calendar, showing complete disregard for the importance of national championships and the football community in general.
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      “Fifa completely neglects the economic damage these decisions inflict on leagues around the world.”
      I could not have put it better myself. More

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      Club World Cup format is currently failing, as European giants like Real Madrid dominate and South Americans struggle

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      A LITTLE more than 23 years have passed since Manchester United flew to Brazil to take part in FIFA’s first attempt to organise a Club World Cup.As that competition came to an end, then FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave his verdict; if the tournament was to thrive, he said, then it would have to take up more time, and the Europeans would have to show more solidarity.
      Karim Benzema of Real Madrid lifts the Club World Cup trophy
      The reverse has happened. The Club World Cup was relaunched in 2005 on a basis meant to inconvenience the Europeans as little as possible.
      That inaugural version back in 2000 had eight teams in two groups of four, with the group winners meeting in a final. The teams, then, were playing at least three games, with the finalists playing four.
      The versions  that have come afterwards are pure knock out, with the Europeans and South Americans coming in at the semi final stage, and only playing two games.
      The objective seems to be to get the thing over and done with as soon as possible so that the Europeans can get back to the football that they care about.
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      It is easy to understand the thinking behind this. Year after year the Club World Cup shows the distance between Europe and the rest of the planet.
      There have been three South American victories; Brazilian sides won in 2005, 2006 and 2012 – all 1-0 wins achieved with a combination of deep defence and the occasional counter attack.
      It would seem to be the only way they can win – and they have not come close in the last decade.
      This is extremely painful for South America. If Europe treats the Club World Cup with disinterest, the same is emphatically not true on the other side of the Atlantic.
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      For a South American team it is the most important date in the club calendar, the dream that is nurtured for months.
      Fans make extraordinary sacrifices to follow their team to the competition, and those who can’t go will often make a point of seeing them off at the airport.
      There is a strong memory of the time – until the turn of the century – when there was no gap between the best of Europe and South America’s finest.
      Every year there is the hope that these times might be coming back – until the pitch reveals its painful truth.
      This year Real Madrid beat Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the final. The Saudis had previously eliminated Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo, the South American champions.
      It is the sixth time since 2005 that the South Americans have lost in the semi final – an event which is becoming increasingly frequent. It is becoming harder to justify the status that the South American champions are given.
      Why should they come straight in at the semi final stage if the evidence points to the conclusion that they are no longer automatically superior to the champions of Asia, Africa or North America?
      The issue of the Club World Cup is likely to become more explosive in the next few years. FIFA acknowledge that the current format has not been a success.
      From 2025 they plan to replace it with a new expanded competition, probably to be held every four years. The idea is to gather 32 teams from around the world and play a proper tournament.
      Last South American triumph at the Club World Cup came in 2012Credit: Reuters
      Sepp Blatter believed the Club World Cup needs more time in a bigger formatCredit: AFP
      This, as Sepp Blatter pointed out all those years ago, needs more time – and finding it will not be easy in an already over-cluttered calendar.
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      And it also needs the cooperation of the Europeans, who at this stage seem dead set against the idea, fearing that the aim is to encroach on the success of the Champions League.
      There is huge potential for conflict here. Many in Europe have not been paying much attention to the Club World Cup. They might end up having to pay attention to an issue that could even lead to a split in FIFA. More

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      Real Madrid 5 Al Hilal 3: Vinicius Jr and Valverde fire Los Blancos to Club World Cup despite Fulham flop’s best efforts

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      REAL MADRID have won the Club World Cup after beating Al-Hilal 5-3 in an entertaining final.The Champions League holders claimed the title thanks to braces from Fede Valverde and Vinicius Jr and one from Karim Benzema.
      Vinicius Jr opened the scoring in the 13th minuteCredit: Getty
      Fede Valverde doubled Real Madrid’s advantageCredit: Getty
      Karim Benzema added a third for the Spanish championsCredit: Getty
      The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has now won the Club World Cup five timesCredit: Reuters
      They are the 10th successive European club to lift the trophy as Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal failed to keep the Spaniards at bay.
      Vinicius opened the scoring in the 13th minute, capping a fine move by sliding the ball past keeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf.
      Valverde doubled the LaLiga giants’ advantage five minutes later when the Uruguayan expertly fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
      Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal did pull a goal back midway through the first half through Moussa Marega as he finished off a lovely through ball from Mohammed Kanno.
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      But Benzema restored Real Madrid’s two-goal cushion nine minutes into the second period, latching onto a Vinicius pass and dispatching prolifically.
      And it was 4-1 before the hour mark as Valverde helped himself to his second of the night, lashing a Dani Carvajal delivery beyond the helpless Al-Mayouf.
      Al-Hilal found a second consolation goal in the 63rd minute through former Fulham man Luciano Vietto.
      But the 14-time European champions were soon three goals to the good once more as Dani Ceballos found Vinicus who made no mistake from close range.
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      Vietto bagged his second of the game to make it 5-3, before Madrid saw it out to claim the title.
      Al Hilal could have made a real game of it, but Moussa Marega missed an open goal to make it 5-4.
      The Club World Cup is Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s first silverware of the season as they sit eight points adrift of Barcelona in LaLiga.
      They previously won the Club World Cup four times between 2014 and 2018.
      And Los Blancos will be hoping this triumph can catapult them to success in the Champions League as they prepare to take on Liverpool in the last-16 later this month.
      Real have won the Club World Cup five times in the last nine yearsCredit: Getty More