2017 FIFA Club World Cup: Tournament News & Qualifiers [R]

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by Nico Limmat, Dec 22, 2016.

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  1. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Karma sure is merciless with Tuca "Bigotón" Ferretti!

    That's what you get for disrespecting international competitions in the past with joke rosters. After all that investment Tigres' management/ownership must be seething. Oh well, no Gignac on display for me in December. Did you go to the match @jared9999?



    Pachuca finally got a proper goal (that wasn't an own goal) against a Mexican club after eight consecutive matches without and it was enough to win them their fifth CONCACAF title. I caught the second half this morning on Twitter and Tigres simply didn't generate enough quality chances. Pachuca are now only behind Club America (7) and Cruz Azul (6) in the all-time ranking but unlike these two clubs Pachuca won all their five CONCACAF titles in the new millennium. Impressive.

    Now let's see if they can hold on to Chucky Lozano and finally move the needle at the CWC in their fourth attempt. They already know the UAE from the 2010 CWC.
     
    AlbertCamus repped this.
  2. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    No I didn't go. Getting tickets was hard. Why do you want to see the Pechofrio any way?:sneaky:
     
  3. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Well, he is an impressive player. That's too bad that you missed out.

    The next team to qualify (provisionally) could be Al Jazira for the host spot on Saturday 29/04. If they beat Hatta the Arabian Gulf League title is theirs.

    The OFC final first leg is on Sunday 30/04.

    The CAF group stage draw has now taken place.
     
  4. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    I'll make sure to be at the final next year when a certain team wins their 8th:sneaky:
     
  5. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland

    In the OFC Auckland City are on track for their seventh consecutive title after taking a 3:0 lead in the first leg of the final against Team Wellington. :rolleyes:

     
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  6. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    No one thought Auckland could do it Swiss!:D
     
  7. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    It's one thing watching a single league dominate a confederation like Mexico but a single team?! C'mon OFC club football - this is getting pathetic.

    Speaking of domination, Real Madrid have one foot in the final (with a shot at unprecedented back-to-back titles in the CL era) after once again overcoming city rivals Atletico. Ronaldo with a hatt-trick. You really have to feel for Atletico at this point. At least it wasn't another final:

     
  8. Pipiolo

    Pipiolo Member+

    Jul 19, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    I am rooting for Atletico, but they looked like an OFC team yesterday. It's funny how hyped up the CL has become when a semifinalist displays such a stale performance.
     
  9. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Monaco - Juventus 0:2

    Looks like we are destined to have a Real-Juve final in Cardiff.

    Second leg of the OFC final is tomorrow Sunday.

    The AFC group stage concludes in the next week.
     
  10. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    dinamo_zagreb repped this.
  11. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
  12. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    All due respect to the OFC, but I've yet to see any of their 5+ min. highlights videos that actually included 5+ min. of highlights. o_O
     
  13. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Just returned from a dominant 4:0 victory over Lokomotiv Tashkent that secured Dubai's Al Ahli the top spot in Group A. Al Ain also won their group and that partially makes up for the disastrous showings of the Abu Dhabi City teams. Al Jazira now have to sit back and hope their domestic rivals don't win the AFC CL.

    And now for a Juventus-Monaco UEFA CL nightcap. :D
     
  14. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    The UEFA Final is set:

    Juventus (Italy) - Real Madrid (Spain)

    Atletico Madrid made things interesting at first tonight going up 2:0 after 16 minutes but then conceded an away-goal just before halftime where the defense didn't look good at all.

    The AFC Round-of-16 is also set as of today:

    East
    Muangthong United (Thailand) - Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)
    Guangzhou Evergrande (China) - Kashima Antlers (Japan)
    Shanghai SIPG (China) - Jiangsu Suning (China)
    Jeju United (South Korea) - Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)

    West
    Esteghlal (Iran) - Al Ain (UAE)
    Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) - Al Ahli (UAE)
    Esteghlal Khuzestan (Iran) - Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
    Persepolis (Iran) - Lekhwiya (Qatar)

    Two Al Ahlis and two Esteghlals is bound to confuse the casual observer. :D

    In the East the CSL recovered well from the initial Shanghai Shenhua disappointment and advanced all three teams. The J. League also progressed three clubs. Not a good year for the K-League where only Jeonbuk replacement Jeju managed to get out of the groups. The A-League had a terrible year also in part due to the Muangthong surprise.

    In the West Uzbekistan had an awful year and the Qatari Stars League can't be too happy either. Good year for Iran as they are the only association with three teams left in the West.

     
  15. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #140 Nico Limmat, May 18, 2017
    Last edited: May 18, 2017
    There have been multiple club mergers in the UAE and Qatar for next season and two of them affect current participants of the AFC Champions League R16:

    Lekhwiya (Qatar): Lekhwiya and El Jaish, who already share a stadium and have a similar security forces background, have merged to form Al Duhail. Merger described in more detail here.

    Al Ahli (UAE): This one involves my adopted Dubai club and is even more complicated. It is a merger between three clubs. Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Dubai Club got together and formed...wait for it... Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club. All clear? Merger described in more detail here.

    And yes, the new club logo is just as lazy:

    [​IMG]

    According to the AFC Lekhwiya and Al Ahli have to continue in the ACL under their old identity until they are eliminated. That could mean keeping the old name/logo going until November. Wonder what FIFA's take would be for the CWC if either of them win.

    Until now Dubai City had five clubs. Too large a number and I for one hope Al Wasl and Al Nasr merge as well. Dubai shouldn't have more than two clubs. And now get some proper stadiums built!
     
  16. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    AFC Round-of-16 / First leg:

    East
    Muangthong United (Thailand) - Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) 1:3
    Guangzhou Evergrande (China) - Kashima Antlers (Japan) 1:0
    Shanghai SIPG (China) - Jiangsu Suning (China) 2:1
    Jeju United (South Korea) - Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) 2:0



    West
    Esteghlal (Iran) - Al Ain (UAE) 1:0
    Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) - Al Ahli (UAE) 1:1
    Esteghlal Khuzestan (Iran) - Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 1:2
    Persepolis (Iran) - Lekhwiya (Qatar) 0:0

     
  17. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #142 Nico Limmat, May 28, 2017
    Last edited: May 28, 2017
    Attending Al Ahli (Dubai) against Al Ahli (Jeddah) tomorrow night and due to Ramadan the kick-off time has been set at 23:00. Don't think I have ever been at a match that late. If it goes to extra time and penalties we are looking at a game that concludes close to 2:00. Should be interesting.

    The Saudi opposition is coached by Grasshoppers Zurich legend Christian Gross, the last coach to lead my beloved club to the UEFA Champions League group phase in 1996. We then beat European powerhouse Ajax 1:0 at the Amsterdam ArenA. Sniff....It's been a long time.

    @glennaldo_sf - you going to the Lekhwiya match?
     
  18. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    The Copa Libertadores group stage has also been completed. Defending champions Atletico Nacional have already been eliminated as have Chapecoense. The latter because of a forfeit loss due to fielding an ineligible player. Chapecoense however did rank high enough to return to the Copa Sudamericana, the competition they were awarded as finailsts after the plane accident tragedy last year. And they of course also managed to win the CONMEBOL Recopa (Super Cup) against Atletico Nacional so there is that.

    Looks like CONMEBOL still hasn't given up on the concept of a single game final. Guess we will soon see our first Libertadores final in "neutral" Los Angeles or Miami. :rolleyes:
     
    Paul Calixte repped this.
  19. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The latest times I can think of are 22:00 P.M. local (16:00 P.M. USA Eastern) for La Liga, which doesn't start games that late anymore, and the 2008 Champions League Final when Manchester United beat Chelsea in penalty kicks started at 22:45 P.M. local in Russia.
     
  20. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Actually, they just won the first leg - Atlético Nacional crushed them 4-1 in the return to snag the trophy.

    There's still the Suruga Bank to play for in August...
     
  21. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Things got a little salty at the end of Urawa/Jeju:



    Not quite Copa Libertadores, but it's a start. :D
     
  22. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Whoops....I totally got that one wrong.

    It's not Libertadores-esque until the riot police joins in the action. :D
     
  23. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    The final eight in Asia are...

    East
    Shanghai SIPG (China)
    Guangzhou Evergrande (China)
    Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)
    Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)

    West
    Al Ain (UAE)
    Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
    Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
    Persepolis (Iran)

    China, Japan and Saudi Arabia all have two clubs left. South Korea and Qatar with a bad year. With Al Ahli (UAE) and Lekhwiya eliminated the AFC won't have to deal with the subject of changed identities in the quarter-finals. So it turns out I attended Al Ahli Dubai's last game ever under the current name and logo.

    [​IMG]
    My jersey will now become very valuable. Right? Right!?! :D

    The Saudi Al Ahli quickly took a 2-0 lead and Al Ahli Dubai never recovered. At least Asamoah Gyan scored a goal in what I hear was also the last game at Rashid Stadium. With players on both teams fasting it's never great to be the team that is chasing a deficit. In a display of solidarity for the upcoming merger there was a section filled with Al Shabab fans all dressed in green.

    Oh well, I can still attend the quarterfinals courtesy of Al Ain. They turned around their series in a very impressive fashion at home:



    In the East Guangzhou Evergrande did their part to prevent a Real Madrid - Kashima Antlers rematch. Don't think Real Madrid minds! (that was hard work)

     
  24. It's called FOOTBALL

    LMX Clubs
    Mexico
    May 4, 2009
    Chitown
    The South American Recup is absolutely pointless as is the uefa supercup. Since they insist on keeping these traditions, at least list them in the exhibition trophy category when listing team accomplishments. Same category as Charity Shield. Keep it out of the same category as CL or league.
     
    unclesox repped this.
  25. LoveModernFootball

    LoveModernFootball New Member

    Oct 14, 2011
    Club:
    --other--
    There. I added what you overlooked on your otherwise irrefutable tirade.
     

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