technically SA has won 3 in the last 11 also remember that South America has failed to make the final twice - so they have won 3 of the 9 finals disputed
Actually SA won 4 of the last 11, and 4 of the 9 finals they played in. I limited it to a decade (3 of 10) because I figured it would be a more reasonable sample. We are after all a decimal society.
the new format started in 2005 right? so by my calculation Conmebol won - 3 2005 2006 2012 UEFA won - 8 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015
You are right. The first one was actually in 2000, (and was played concurrently with the intercontinental cup.) So, I counted it by mistake. And I did not count the last one from last night.
Well, you should. Right now it's 8/10 for Europe looking at the last ten editions. That will become 9/10 if UEFA takes it again next year. And quite frankly I predict that to be the South American success rate going forward. One out of ten. Maybe two if it's a good decade. I predicted this kind of European dominance sooner but credit to CONMEBOL for making it interesting from 2000-2006. Especially that 2000 Boca Juniors side was a fine team. Things were looking good for the Brazilian Serie A after the Corinthians win in 2012. It looked like the momentum of hosting the 2014 WC would translate into some advances for the club game. Instead we got a very unimpressive Atletico Mineiro in 2013 and two Argentine teams after that. What happened?
The top three in Europe (Real, Barca, Bayern) are so far above everybody else at this point, that the UCL is becoming like a three-team league. Everybody knows one of the three is going to win it, and that's been the situation for the last five years --although that Chelsea win, based on total bus-parking, was a surprise in 2012. Otherwise, the three mega-clubs are so far above the competition, they're a new level in soccer not seen before. Barcelona just beat River 3-0, but let's not forget they destroyed Roma 6-1. It's not so much a big gap between Europe and S. America, but between these Huge Three and everybody else in the world.
Agreed there is no shame in losing to this Barcelona. They had a nearly perfect year. I say nearly because the Spanish Super Cup slipped away from them, preventing another record six titles as achieved in 2011. Who knows what the gap is below the elite, there is no competition to measure it. The Copa EuroAmericana certainly doesn't qualify as a worthy measuring stick. Anyway, I'm sure we will see another English UCL victory one of these years. The huge spending has to yield results at some point. The moment that happens I will congratulate CONMEBOL on the spot. In May!
We (SA) can't keep pace with the best in Europe nowadays. It is a fact. A real competition would be if the champion of Euro League would go instead of CL... River vs Sevilha would be a real contest The only thing the current format shows is the progress of the rest of the world in retalion to SA teams
Looks like some of the River fans didn't have that same feeling of respect towards Messi at the airport.
Rafa is just learning on the job at this point. They're still a formidable rival for Euro teams not named Barcelona or Bayern.