Judging by the team that Liverpool put out against Aston Villa earlier this week, I'd say that's pretty false. Obviously if your club is not in it, you don't care. But if they are, it matters quite a bit more than the league cup.
I'll have to disagree with you on this one, as there are three significant differences between 2016 and now: 1. With all due respect to Al-Hilal, América had a tougher opponent: Libertadores champs Atlético Nacional ended up getting run over by Kashima after they arrived shell-shocked from witnessing the Chapecoense tragedy, and their presence in the 3rd-place match changed the equation for América. 2. América was trying to win 3rd place in the CWC for the first time, while Monterrey have already scaled that mountain. 3. Monterrey now has the option of learning from América's experience: the latter's decision to go for it in Japan arguably cost them the chance to grab the advantage over Tigres in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final at the Azteca. Of course, it's all counterfactual, but I can understand why Turco would prioritize another league title (and catching up with archrivals Tigres) at this point. And the FA Cup (see: Man Utd in 2000).
Like I said this Liverpool team is full of Brazilians and other nationals that is why the club are taking it seriously
Ouch! Not the same, imo. I remember when this decision was made. It was VERY controversial and had little to do with the 'prestige' of the World Club title. (They had just won the Intercontinental Cup one month prior to that World Club tournament.) To my memory, United were 'encouraged' by the English FA to withdraw from the FA Cup and play in that World Club tournament because England were bidding to host the 2006 World Cup and the FA felt that if United declined World Club participation it would hurt their chances of winning the bid. Okay, yes. England ended up losing the 2006 bid anyway. But I recall their entry to host the World Cup was controversial from the start. It had to do with their hosting of Euro 96. Germany claimed that an agreement had been made that the DFB would vote for England to host Euro 96 on the condition that England not bid for the 2006 World Cup, which Germany were aiming for. Something along those lines. I just remember the DFB being quite upset when England claimed no such agreement existed when they announced their own bid for 2006. With that controversy on the minds of many, the FA felt they needed to reduced any further damage to their bid as much as possible. Thus they had Manchester United withdraw from the FA Cup and travel to Brazil for a tournament the club likely had no interest in playing. That's how I remember it all, anyway. Very different scenario from Liverpool's participation in the League Cup today.
France? I think you mean the Netherlands (a French club has yet to play in the CWC.) I can see the cultural connection with Spain, Portugal and Italy and considered that when pulling the stats together. But like you pointed out, that doesn't explain the vastly superior record of Germany and the Netherlands over England in the CWC.
And yet some "pundits" will have you believe that Liverpool prioritizing the CWC over the League Cup is once again a favor to the English FA to not put the 2030 UK/Ireland bid in jeopardy. All I know is one thing. England's CWC record is so poor it cannot be explained away. Two out of ten is abysmal. End of. It would even be poor for off-season scrimmages. Let's see if Liverpool can start a corrective path or if the success rate falls below 20% tomorrow!
I hear what you’re saying. At the time I quite liked that United were participating in the tournament. But what I didn’t like about that tournament was (a) they had just played the Intercontinental Cup and United were, in essence, asked to defend their ‘world title’ just one month later, and (b) the defending South American champs that United defeated in Japan didn’t participate so why should the defending European champs have bothered? I realize FIFA recognizes that tournament as ‘official’ but I personally don’t give it much credence given the Intercontinental Cup was played in both 1999 and 2000. And I’m not looking forward to the revamped version at all.
BS. Only 1 of those goals was barely onsides. The other 2 were clearly offsdies. Liverpool dominated the game, but they were really incompetent with their shooting. Their shooting was quite horrible.
Le tienen mas miedo a papa que ganar el tercer lugar😂— jorge zavala (@jorgezavala41) December 20, 2019 Well, Paul agrees with you, but in my opinion, yall don't stretch them to pens if you weren't battle tested in Japan the week prior. I think they beat you in 180 if there was no CWC that year. But it's all conjecture and speculation. I agree with unclesox that the 2000 version was weird and unnecessary. The IC was just a month prior, there was no need for a redo. Good thing we've had this format eventually for 15 years, and I'll still hold on to that sliver of hope that they'll come to their senses and bin the new one, and continue this one, even if it means giving the Euro team a bye directly to the Final, I'd have no problem with that. Have the other champs eliminate each other until 1 is left to face the CL winner. A bracket of 4, with the OFC champ having to play-in to join em. The LFC twitter has been thoroughly invaded by Flamengo supporters, it's pretty hilarious 1207438583885381638 is not a valid tweet id It's gonna be epic, the 2 megatitans of world sport: the Champion of Europe vs the Champion of South America. How could you not be hyped And to think we could have a Final of 2 non champions against each other if the new farce happens. Not even nonchamps, but teams that didn't even play in their CLs. Just ridiculous, it has to fall apart, this is a half century tradition they are trying to ruin.
Then it was Dalglish & Zico. Now it's Salah & Gabigol.A clash 38 years in the making. O último round! #ClubWC pic.twitter.com/CiC79lLZMz— FIFA (@FIFAcom) December 19, 2019 'Zico is a monster!' - How Flamengo made Liverpool look like 'a pub team'
Just like the rest of top English clubs who have like four domestic players. No clubs would prioritize secondary domestic cup over FIFA trophy.
Offsides #1 @3:09 (very close but not offsides) Offsides #2 @7:55 (rightly given, clear ) Offsides #3 @9:39 (rightly given, but very close) What's there to discuss ? Good try. Gerrard had a very nice FK saved. But overall Liverpool's shooting wasn't good. Like the chance he wasted at @5:59. Later in the game he took a shot from outside the box straight at the GK. They also did have a nice header though. I probably exaggerated by saying the shooting was quite horrible, but for all the dominance, I think Ceni had 3 saves overall in the game.
LOL Cárdenas pulled a Ricardo And Monterrey finish 3rd with their B-team! Someone check on @Nico Limmat - he must be fuming Souness-style
Is this gonna be on TV Live in the US? Fox Sports 2 says only at 5PM...and Fox says basketball will be on. WTF???
Deportivo Saprissa finished third in 2005. In the 14 CWCs since that all had Mexican clubs, this is the third time Concacaf finished third. In the 11 CWCs from 2006 through 2016, Concacaf's only third was by Monterrey in 2012. In the last 3 CWCs, Concacaf had Pachuca third in 2017 and Monterrey third now. Furthermore, according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FIFA_Club_World_Cup_participants Monterrey is the first club outside UEFA and CONMEBOL to have two finishes in the top three.
Indeed! Very annoyed that Monterrey's approach has paid off. I will now shamelessly root for las Águilas in the Liguilla final.
Nah, until a CONCACAF club reaches the final that honor will remain with Necaxa. Drew Manchester United and beat Real Madrid for third place. The 2000 edition is fondly remembered by exactly two fan-bases. Corinthians and Necaxa. And now for the big final...
HT: Liverpool - Flamengo 0:0 Liverpool started strong and had two good opportunities with Firmino and Keita. Then Flamengo took charge of the match and while they haven't had any clear-cut chances they look capable of scoring. In particular Bruno Henrique looked threatening. Liverpool will not break their curse playing like this.