Football: Bayern Takes On Auckland's Amateurs in the "Expedition"
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Amateur soccer team from Auckland clashes with Bayern Munich in their opening game, a venture for the Kiwis against the German powerhouse. - Bayern commences play against Auckland's Hobby-Kicker in the "Adventure" tournament.
3:0? 5:0? 7:0? The only question on Bayern's agenda before embarking on the question-mark-filled Club World Cup in the US is: How high will the Munich powerhouses crush Auckland City's amateur squad? New Zealand might boast three-time rugby world titles, but in football, the five-million population's influence is minimal.
Even within the Bayern inner circle, no one exaggerates Auckland's record-breaking Champions League victory from Oceania. Not even sports director Max Eberl. "Auckland is probably our weakest opponent. But don't forget, we still need to play and beat them," said the 51-year-old, eyeing group C. Boca Juniors from Argentina and the traditional Champions League adversaries of Benfica Lisbon will prove to be a whole different breed.
Late arrivals of Kane, Laimer, and Sané
The Bayern crew viewing the tournament as a first-round game against an Oberligist isn't out of the question, particularly during the unusual kick-off time of noon on Sunday in the TQL Stadium of Cincinnati (6 PM CEST, streaming on Sat.1 and DAZN). The hurdle is considerable, but only if the Bayern fail to give their best.
The tournament veterans Manuel Neuer (39) and Thomas Müller (35) don’t foresee such a careless performance despite a short acclimatization period to the challenging climate, jet lag, and a fragmented arrival of the team. Newcomers Harry Kane, Konrad Laimer, and Leroy Sané are expected to be the last players to make their way to the team's quarters in Orlando on Friday evening (local time).
"We're prepared," assured captain Neuer. "The spirit is there," announced Müller before embarking on his final Bayern adventure. "We're into the tournament to win games. It starts with the first.”
Müller shared a statement from Vincent Kompany: "The coach left no room for ambiguity, but set exclamation marks. We opted to participate in this tournament to win it. And that's the perspective we're taking!"
Kompany intends to make it to the final of the worldwide club competition in America after missing the Champions League crown at home. And he hopes to fulfill a significant wish from the Bayern hierarchy. At the inaugural XXL tournament with 32 teams, the cash register should ring loudly. As world champions, the Bundesliga titan would earn over 100 million euros [3][4].
"Would be happy with a 0:3 loss"
Auckland City, therefore, is set as the ideal warm-up for the maximum six games to follow. "Our country isn't dominant in football. We have many champions in diverse fields - just not in football," revealed Wynton Rufer to Kicker [4]. The former Werder Bremen football academy director, now based in Auckland, knows best. The 62-year-old admitted candidly: "I'd be pleased with a 0:3 defeat."
Thus, setting the low standards for Bayern. "It's crucial in a tournament, especially during the group stage, to triumph in the opening match, to get off on the right foot," said captain Neuer. Kompany is likely to start the players who made the first travel group on Tuesday and thus had more time to acclimatize [5][6].
"Vinnie has strategized a lot about this. Against Auckland, you won't deploy all national players," unveiled Eberl. He refers to the tournament in this altered format as "an expedition" [5][6][7]. No one can predict what's coming. "It's a colossal tournament, and it's exciting for everyone involved."
Kompany plans to distribute and manage playing time, particularly for key players like Jamal Musiala and Dayot Upamecano, who are recovering from significant injuries. "These are guys who won't play 90 minutes right away - and that every three days. They can't do that," said Eberl [5].
- Bayern
- Football
- Auckland
- FC Bayern
- Cincinnati
- Thomas Müller
- USA
- Max Eberl
- DFB-Pokal
- Manuel Neuer
- Vincent Kompany
- Auckland City
- Champions League
- Harry Kane
- Konrad Laimer
- Leroy Sané
- Orlando
- New Zealand
- Oceania
- Sources:
- Bayern Munich: Team Prepares for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Bild
- Bayern Munich Travel to Orlando for FIFA Club World Cup Preparation | Goal
- Club World Cup 2025: Potential Prize Money for Participants | Inside World Football
- Auckland City FC Prepares for Match Against Bayern Munich in Club World Cup | Kicker
- Bayern Munich Begins Training Before Club World Cup in the USA | Sky Sports
- Vincent Kompany Targets Club World Cup Final with Bayern Munich | Goal
- Bayern Munich's Club World Cup Journey Unveiled: Dates, Opponents, and More | Forbes
- The Commission might be asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as Bayern Munich's football team gears up for their upcoming matches in the Club World Cup.
- In the midst of their European leagues triumphs, Bayern Munich's focus is not confined to football; they are also eager to prove their mettle in the upcoming Club World Cup in Cincinnati, with Auckland City serving as their warm-up opposition.
