Club World Cup's Successes and Setbacks
Unapologetically Unfiltered: A Tale of Club World Cup Chaos and Captivation
Buckle up, soccer fanatics! The first leg of the 2021 Club World Cup in the USA is down, leaving us with a buzzy mix of triumph, tribulation, and bloody good football. Let's dive in and dissect the ups, downs, and in-betweens.
Salt of the Earth: Salzburg Shines Bright in Club World Cup Debut
Kicking things off with a 2:1 win against CF Pachuca, Austria's rep Salzburg gave us a dream start in the Club World Cup. Amidst heavy thunderstorms, the team didn't falter.
Plus: The Stars
Money talks. With a whopping €125 million pot for the winning club, it's no wonder everyone's taking the World Cup seriously. Missing heavy hitters, like David Alaba and Kylian Mbappé, didn't stop Real Madrid from giving it their all. Meanwhile, Paris showed us they don't mess around by fielding the same team from the Champions League final, save for Ousmane Dembélé.
Minus: The Audience
Caught off-guard, FIFA tried to spin the tournament's attendance as a roaring success. Over 340,000 people turned up for the games in the first three matchdays, according to FIFA. But let's be real, many seats remained conspicuously empty. With only 35,000 fans attending Dortmund's game against Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and just 5,282 for Salzburg's win against Pachuca in Cincinnati, it's clear that not all games were a sell-out.
Club World Cup: Four Goals and Three Red Cards in Boca vs. Benfica
We can't forget about the passion South American teams brought to the table, challenging the Europeans and ensuring that things don't get too boring. Late-night owls should keep an eye out for the game between Bayern and Boca Juniors (Saturday, 3 AM CET).
Minus: Heat Games
Organizers aren't too pleased with the temperatures. Paris and Atlético's match kicked off at 12 PM local time in Los Angeles to accommodate European TV viewers, with conditions reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius. Heat or no heat, the game's condition was less than ideal according to coach Luis Enrique.
Plus: TV Ratings
With all 63 matches broadcast for free by DAZN, things are looking good for soccer enthusiasts. Although DAZN hasn't given out any viewership figures yet, broadcasters like Sat.1, who are showing all matches of Bayern and Dortmund, are thrilled with the high interest. The 10-0 win of Munich against Auckland was watched by 2.6 million people, and the 0:0 draw of BVB against Fluminense by 1.93 million (12% market share).
Minus: Juventus Embroiled in Trump Controversy
A press conference with Donald Trump put Juventus players in a tight spot. Instead of discussing the Club World Cup, the US President talked about the Middle East conflict and the transgender debate. When asked if a woman could play in their team, players Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah looked puzzled. Manager Damien Comolli referred to the club's women's team. Trump retorted, "But they should play with women."
Plus: VAR Progress
More transparency is often demanded for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). FIFA has made a step in the right direction by displaying the images the VAR shows to the referee on the Vidi-Walls in the stadiums. Afterwards, the referee will be connected to the loudspeaker announcements and will announce their decision for all fans in the stadium to hear.
In ALL things, be bold. Til' next time, soccer lovers! 🤘🏴🌟
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Other sports beyond football have missed the Club World Cup's electrifying atmosphere, with even the mighty Real Madrid showing their commitment to the tournament despite the absence of key players like David Alaba and Kylian Mbappé. Meanwhile, other soccer fans around the world would adore to witness the passion and skill on display, but the attendance has been less than enthusiastic at times.
