Bayern win their 6th title and are now level with Liverpool as third most successful club (both are just one behind AC Milan). In the end Bayern were simply more clinical. It was ironically Parisian Kingsley Coman who sunk PSG.
Bayern. [emoji1] I don’t care much for the way PSG got to the position they enjoy today as perennial Champions League contenders. Same with Manchester City and the like. As for the “sextuple”, I’ve never been big on that. I find six trophies during the course of a [i/]season[/i] as a more impressive claim than six trophies during a calendar year.
I suppose the next date to keep an eye on now is the FIFA Council meeting in September before the FIFA Congress on the 18th. They need to take some kind of decision on the 2020 CWC then.
The 2020 OFC Champions League has been cancelled: https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-champions-league-2020-cancelled/
I guess that means that Duhail would go straight the quarterfinals then should this thing go ahead, or the AFC runners up should Al Sadd win the champions league. Talking about Al Sadd... went to see them tonight in the newly-opened Education City Stadium. Why's this relevant here? Well, this is where last year's CWC final and semifinal (Liv v Monterrey) + 5th placed match was supposed to be played. Instead it got moved to Khalifa Stadium, would have preferred this to be honest... They've also got a nice new song for Santi Carzola as you can tell..
The (secondary) AFC Cup has now also been cancelled. The AFC Champions League is still on as of now - however, with the final scheduled for Dec 19: https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/afc-cup-cancelled-champions-league-also-facing-problems/ I think it's safe to say the 2020 CWC won't be played in December.
CWC not specifically mentioned on the Sep 17 FIFA Council agenda: https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/fifa-council-meeting-agenda-now-available-x6973
The ball is rolling again in (West) Asia and South America. Former MLS star Giovinco scored on one of his patented freekicks and so did former Swiss national team player Eren Derdiyok. CAF however moved semis and final to October and November respectively. Zero news out of CONCACAF.
Too bad they aren't allowing a limited number of fans to attend the games.. I guess maybe that would give an unfair advantage to the Qatari teams. We are allowed to attend local games but in limited numbers and adhering to the covid19 rules. Would liked to have caught Pakhtakor!
Doesn't look like the CWC came up at the FIFA Council meeting today. If FIFA won't do it, then I will. I hereby officially declare the 2020 CWC as....... ...... not happening in December 2020.
I wonder how the expanded '21 edition is looking at this point. Maybe that'll be the unexpanded '20 Cup.
Infantino: 2020 FIFA Club World Cup unlikely to happen https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/infantino-2020-fifa-club-world-cup-unlikely-happen/
Where are they meeting? Apparently the entire hotel we are club members of in Doha is currently "booked by FIFA". Not sure if it's the FIFA bigwigs, maybe refereeing committee, or some teams for the AFC Champions league...
I believe both, FIFA Council meeting and Congress were conducted via audio/conference call. That booking must be related to the AFC CL.
Looks like defending Asian champions Al Hilal have been kicked out of the competition after not being able to field a team for the final group stage match: https://www.the-afc.com/competition...est-update-on-afc-champions-league-west-x5334 With Covid-19 back in high numbers, I'm wondering how the competition can continue. Also in the East where the group stage has yet to resume.
The final eight are set in West Asia (R16): Al Ahli (KSA) - Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan) - Esteghlal (Iran) Persepolis (Iran) - Al Sadd (Qatar) Al Nassr (KSA) - Al Taawoun (KSA) Somehow Qatari champions Al Duhail managed to give up their advancement against Al Taawoun. It all progresses fairly quickly from here. The West Asian finalist of the 2020 ACL will known on the 3rd of October. To the reading MLS fans, Pity Martinez is already involved with Al Nassr after his transfer from Atlanta. Already had an assist I believe. Meanwhile in UEFA, Bayern remain on track for a hypothetical "sextuple" after winning the UEFA Super Cup over Sevilla. The German Super Cup is next week and would be the fifth title for them this calendar year.
Well, that's the big question mark - isn't it. I think if they can't find some room for it in the first quarter of 2021 it probably won't happen. I haven't looked at the Bundesliga schedule yet in detail, but maybe they could hold it in Germany this time? I imagine it will be quite tight (without the usual winter break?) and that way Bayern don't have to travel. If you eliminate the host team (sorry Al Duhail) you could play the whole thing in a week. Schalke's indoor ground would be ideal as one of the venues. Then again there is no OFC winner, so maybe Al Duhail could take their place. Then again CONCACAF may not have a winner either given the complete radio silence so just have a final four between UEFA, C'BOL, CAF and the AFC in Gelsenkirchen.
The final four are set in West Asia: Al Nassr (KSA) - Al Ahli (KSA) Persepolis (Iran) - Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan) After eliminating one of the big two Tehran clubs (Esteghlal), Pakhtakor now have to face the other. If the 2020 CWC does take place in Qatar with a host team then Al Duhail just secured their participation with Al Sadd's elimination!
Yep, it was a sadd day for Qatari football the other day... yeah I know it's an old pun, but what duhail might as well try.... Might get to attend the Pakhtakor-Persepolis game if my "wasta" comes through.... Would love, love, love to see Pakhtakor in the Club World Cup... would wear my shirt around for days...
also not in documents afterwards, not even in the provisional calendar! very interesting knowing how hard they were pushing for it!
Are you attending tonight? With all UAE clubs eliminated I'm definitely on the Pakhtakor bandwagon now given that they have former Swiss international Eren Derdiyok. And it was his goal that fired them into the quarterfinals!