this is a great question, but one that's really difficult if not impossible to answer. Those who are arguing over the dominance of Manchester United vs. Arsenal are missing the point of the thread (and by the way it seems the Premiership is now a three horse race). Dominating your domsetic league does not make you the best club in the world, it makes you the best club in your domestic league. The champion's league is the highest stage of international competition for clubs in Europe, and Real Madrid have won three out of the last six, every other year. That speaks for itself. As for South American teams, well, they don't get to play European teams in competitive matches beyond the Intercontinental Cup, so it's difficult to compare them, although I would say anybody who thinks there's a South American side that's better than Madrid ought to see a neurologist because they must have a tumor in their frontal lobes.
while we're at it, the best team in the world is DC United... Why? you ask. because Scott said so. And I am Great Scott which means that all you swine are inferior. Bring me the finest meats and cheeses to the clubhouse.
my money's on Milan, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Boca win. too bad somebody didn't talk Abramovich into spending his billions on buying the unused Concordes and using them to shuttle around teams from Europe and South America for a world champions league.
When 6 of the best players in the world from 5 of the best soccer playing countries in the world want to play for REAL MADRID, that should answer your question. Brasil - Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos Portugal - Figo Spain - Raul France - Zidane England - Beckham
On Paper maybe, But you ever heard the saying "Once conta Once"??? Milan Vs. Boca, come December will decide.
Last year's Copa Libertadores winner vs. last year's Champion's League Winner = Intercontinental Cup, held yearly in Japan.
The tournament started in 1960. It' played every December in Tokyo. This has been the only true way to decide the World Club Championship for the last 42 years. FIfa Tried to get a mini tournament from all the Confed Champs but it too long and meaningless. iF it ever does happen, 99% chance that Europe and SA will send second and third replacements to play. South Americans have dominated this Tournament and I believe that Boca Juniors will win it.
European clubs at least, dont take this game very seriously, just like the early season games between the champoins league winners and the uefa cup winners, they are not much more than friendlies!
I would disagree. Right now, South America has 21 vs. 20 for Europe... pretty close. The longest winning streak for South America is 5: 1980 Nacional 1981 Flamengo 1982 Peñarol 1983 Grêmio 1984 Independiente The longest winning streak for Europe is also 5: 1995 Ajax 1996 Juventus 1997 Borussia Dortmund 1998 Real Madrid 1999 Manchester United Other than Boca Juniors in 2000, since 1993 only SPFC and Velez Sarsfield brought the Intercontinental Cup back to S. America. It's been a European show for the past decade.
That is true. I was in Brazil when Manchester United defeated Palmeiras in 1999. Palmeiras arrived in Japan much earlier than United... United got there what, 2 days before? And when they celebrated they barely smiled. Bayern Munich's 2001 celebration was more passionate than United's, but nothing like the way Boca Juniors went nuts in 2000. Real Madrid's players also showed more joy last year and in 1998. Without a doubt, if Boca wins this year, you can bet the Argentines will not be reserved when the match ends. Ditto for Cafu, Serginho, Rivaldo, and Kaka if Milan wins (don't know how the native Europeans will react). PS: interestingly, if Milan wins, Cafu will win the title with a UEFA side after having won it with a CONMEBOL side (SPFC).
At one time, yes, has Europe ever lead in wins?? What happens (95-99) is that Most Players from SA Clubs that win the Copa Libertadores sell all their good Players soon after to European Clubs. What you are left with is a depleted SA team come December. 96 when River lost to Juventus, River sold all their good players (Crespo, Matias, Burgos, Rivarola, Altamirano) shortly after winning the Copa. Juventus still managed a minimal advantage.
Funny, I had an argument with a English fan awhile back about this same topic. Maybe their is a difference between Europe and SA Clubs. Personally I would feel cheated and Disgusted as a fan if Boca didn't put out 110%. I don't care if they play FC Zanibar. They will show the world what Boca is about. Is it Different with Euro Clubs?? I Hope not and it would be sad. The popular SA Phrase " A Sudar LA Camiseta" is still alive. Does anyone know Why they started playing in Tokyo since 1981??? Because the Cup meant so much, Euro And SA teams would literally end up in a brawl. It got so bad that teams would refuse to travel to each others Continent. iS that fire still there??????????????????????????
I don’t know whether UEFA teams took the Intercontinental Cup seriously in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. But I believe that nowadays, European teams and players only care about their leagues, cups, and of course, the Champions’ League. National team competitions? Only the European Championships and the World Cup. As I said, United didn’t care much about the Intercontinental Cup, even though their victory over Palmeiras made them the first-ever English side to win it. Less than two months later, in the first FIFA Club World Championship, United was beaten by Vasco 3-0 and won fourth place. But United didn’t even want to go and didn’t care. As we all know, club directors in UEFA have much power and both UEFA as a federation and the clubs as well have voiced strong opposition to FIFA-organized club tournaments. You mentioned why they started playing in 1981. Well, it was burdensome for both teams to engage in such long flights, and since Toyota decided to get rights over the game, it became a one-match event. Brawls… Estudiantes in 3 consecutive Intercontinental Cups—extremely violent matches… Manchester United, Milan, and Feyenoord… the Europeans first saw how brutal some SA teams were. Juan Ramón Verón and Carlos Bilardo were part of those games and despite their talent, exemplified the very harsh style displayed. If I am correct, Estudiantes was the first modern precursor of “Bilardismo.” While Argentine soccer has always been very physical, Europe only got to see that in the Intercontinental Cup. It is no wonder that Bilardo later coached Argentina in 1986 and that notwithstanding Maradona’s skills, that team was seen as a bunch of enforcers—as opposed to Menotti’s 1978 team, a team that played physical soccer at times, but which played freer, more creative soccer.
No-one in Europe gives a toss about the Intercontinental cup. Everybody knows the best club in the world is whoever is most impressive in the Champions League. If Boca Juniors were in the Champions league, they probably wouldn't even get out of the first group stage. All the good players in South America, especially Argentina, always move to Europe as soon as they start to show something.