News: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: General [Multiple Rs]

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by Paul Calixte, Dec 7, 2024.

Page 44 of 75
  1. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    #1076 locoxriver, Jun 22, 2025
    Polar opposites.

    For PSG-Atletico it took me 3 hours to get into the stadium. I live 20 mins from the Rose Bowl, and I spent 30 mins on the freeway, and then 2.5 hours from the freeway exit to the parking lot (about a mile and a half distance). There were traffic control workers that had no idea what they were doing — at one point I was literally stuck in the same spot for over half an hour. It got so bad that when I finally got into the parking lot, they weren’t even checking for parking passes. Anyway, due to the terrible planning I ended up missing the whole first half.

    Having that experience in mind, I left about 4 hours early for yesterday’s game between River and Monterrey because under no circumstances was I going to miss even a minute of that match. Maybe getting there so early made the difference or maybe they simply sorted logistical things out having a few CWC games under their belts at that point, but it took me about 10 minutes to get from the freeway exit to my parking spot. Smooth as butter.

    And it’s not like I was the first one there: when I got there, there were already thousands among thousands of River fans there tailgating — making barbecues, singing, playing soccer. It was great! Ended up hanging with the crowds outside, before going into the stadium and crowdwatching leading to the event. No regrets whatsoever getting there so early.

    Waaaay better experience than that of PSG-Atletico, no doubt
     
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  2. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    #1077 BocaFan, Jun 22, 2025
    Man City make 11 changes for their match v Al Ain.
     
  3. Philip J. Fry

    Philip J. Fry Member+

    Mexico
    Jun 12, 2013
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    #1078 Philip J. Fry, Jun 22, 2025
    Al Ain is nearly Team Auckland-bad.
     
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  4. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1079 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
    Ouch. With both teams virtually owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, it’s almost like Man City went out of their way to prove that no conflict of interest exists. :D

    Impressed by Salzburg. They are definitely exceeding my expectations.
     
    Paul Calixte, dinamo_zagreb and Philip J. Fry repped this.
  5. Philip J. Fry

    Philip J. Fry Member+

    Mexico
    Jun 12, 2013
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    #1080 Philip J. Fry, Jun 23, 2025
    Wait, really? Why didn't FIFA give them any shit like with Leon and Pachuca?
     
  6. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1081 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2025
    Enough “on paper” differences/distractions I suppose. Grupo Pachuca didn’t have enough time to move things around on a group org chart. :rolleyes:

    Very pleased their “replacement” fell flat on their face.
     
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  7. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1082 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
  8. DGreat

    DGreat Moderator
    Staff Member

    CD Guadalajara
    Mexico
    Oct 5, 2007
    El Ombligo
    Club:
    CD Chivas de Guadalajara
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    #1083 DGreat, Jun 23, 2025
    They probably didn't have a witch hunt from entities like televisa and alejuanense as well :rolleyes::mad:
     
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  9. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #1084 HomietheClown, Jun 23, 2025
    Going to miss the early match time slot matches.
    Now we have to wait until 3 PM EST and 9 PM EST time for the simultaneous kicks these last Group match days.
     
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  10. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #1085 HomietheClown, Jun 23, 2025
    Paul Calixte repped this.
  11. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    #1086 BocaFan, Jun 23, 2025
    Star the speculation now: Which Brazilian club will CR7 get transferred to in the months leading up to the 2029 Club WC? :p
     
  12. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1087 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
    Why transfer? Just handpick his team with a made up reason. :D
     
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  13. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1088 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
    dinamo_zagreb, locoxriver and BocaFan repped this.
  14. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1089 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
  15. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #1090 HomietheClown, Jun 23, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2025
    I think there is something to be said about how under the old format teams like the Brazilian clubs would have to fly all the way to the other side of the world after a long grueling season in December.

    Now they are playing at least in the same hemisphere and they are in form due to it being more the middle of their schedule calendar.
     
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  16. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    #1091 BocaFan, Jun 23, 2025
    Yeah, agree. Related to that I wonder if UEFA teams kinda sleep-walked their way into this tournament. For most of them, their opening CWC match marked their first match in a month. And maybe first meaningful match in ~1.5 to 2 months. Would not be surprised if we see them getting stronger as the tournament progresses.
     
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  17. locoxriver

    locoxriver Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 22, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    #1092 locoxriver, Jun 23, 2025
    I don’t think the hemisphere has much to do with it. I think there are two factors: the tournament being in June, rather than in December/January after a very tiring Libertadores/Brasileirao season (both end in December).

    The other factor being the different format of this tournament. You screw up one game and you can still be in it. In the other CWC format you have one bad night and it’s all over. Look at Palmeiras, for example — the first game they tied 0-0 vs Porto. In the other format, that could have lead to a penalty shootout that they might have lost, and there goes their whole tournament. With this expanded CWC format, on the other hand, you have more wiggle room to prove you’re the “better” side
     
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  18. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1093 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
    Whatever the reasons are, I think it's safe to say Conmebol has (once again) firmly established itself as the second strongest confederation in the club game.

    I used to be quite critical, questioning the seeded status of the Libertadores winner in the old format. Especially from 2016-2020 and 2018-2022 when the Libertadores champions lost three out of five semifinals in the referenced five-year timeframe.

    But here in 2025, the results speak for themselves...
     
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  19. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1094 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
    So let me get this straight, travel is a significant factor? Even if your fans are generally the loudest in the stands? :eek:
     
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  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
    #1095 Paul Calixte, Jun 23, 2025
    In Infantino's FIFA? LOL no - you'll get backroom deals and a vote by acclamation and you'll like it.

    Eh... I'd still have complained about the preferential seeding if the old format had been maintained (as the official CWC, that is). But the distribution of berths for this CWC has certainly been justified.
     
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  21. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #1096 Nico Limmat, Jun 23, 2025
    Halftime:

    Seattle - PSG 0:1
    Botafogo - Atleti 0:0

    Not looking good for Atletico Madrid.
     
    locoxriver repped this.
  22. sidspaceman

    sidspaceman Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 20, 2002
    AMÉRICA DE CALI
    Club:
    America de Cali
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    #1097 sidspaceman, Jun 23, 2025
    It's so nice seeing the Sounders lose.
     
  23. Philip J. Fry

    Philip J. Fry Member+

    Mexico
    Jun 12, 2013
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    #1098 Philip J. Fry, Jun 23, 2025
    So... with PSG and Atlético winning, who goes forward?
     
  24. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #1099 HomietheClown, Jun 23, 2025
    Everything is a factor. There is not just one variable.

    But when it comes to specific circumstances and trends and results you can clearly see that MLS and USA club teams do not like playing in front of thousands of Mexican fans. They almost never , ever win big games in those specific circumstances.
     
  25. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    #1100 HomietheClown, Jun 23, 2025
    Botafogo advances.
     
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