Sizzling Competition: Watzke on Club-WM: European Teams "Burning Up" Like French Fries
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European teams fiercely heated, akin to sizzling French fry oil before the Club World Cup - European teams heading into the World Cup are running "hot as a stove," according to Watzke's assessment.
Preparations for the restructured Club-WM are heating up, and the two German powerhouses, Bayern and Dortmund, are readying themselves for a potential historical victory. "Sport-wise, it's a formidable challenge - and winning the first global tournament across all continents would be a historic feat," shared Bayern's CEO, Jan-Christian Dreesen, in an exclusive interview with Borussia Dortmund's CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, in a special supplement (11th June) by the Munich-based media group Münchner Merkur/tz.
"Every football fan still remembers that Uruguay claimed the first World Cup in 1930. It'll be the same with the inaugural winner of the Club-WM in the future," asserted Watzke. The Club-WM, commencing this weekend and running until mid-July in the USA, has 32 teams competing, with Bayern and Dortmund being the only German representatives in the tournament.
High stakes, substantial travel expenses
The European teams are "as hot as French fries," said Watzke: "No one will relax for a single moment." It's also financially enticing, emphasized Dreesen.
Valued at a total of one billion US dollars, approximately 876 million euros, the tournament rewards the winning team in the final on 13th July in East Rutherford with a potential prize money of 125 million US dollars (around 110 million euros).
"Sure, the sum is significant, but you need to divide it by four," explained Watzke: "We have to consider that the Champions League takes place every year, and the Club-WM happens only every four years. More matches result in higher performance bonuses for players and substantial travel costs." The Club-WM will be hosted in twelve stadiums, with 63 matches in total.
Favorites or underdogs? Dreesen and Watzke weigh in.
The football honchos refused to anoint any particular team as the favorite for the title. "It's like in the Champions League: Our aim is to advance through the group stage and then from the round of 16 into the quarter-finals, and from the quarter-finals into the semi-finals. And so on. But we can't assume that only European teams pose a threat to us," said Watzke. "Our objective remains to clinch titles. But first, we have to make it through the group stage and reach the knockout rounds," clarified Dreesen.
However, he predicts at least one European team in the final, possibly two. Watzke identifies Paris Saint-Germain, the recent Champions League victor, as a top contender for the title, emphasizing their readiness to sustain the grueling competition[1][2].
While the two executives hold back from anticipating their own clubs' triumph, their optimism and competitive spirit burn bright, reflecting the electrifying anticipation surrounding the upcoming Club-WM[1][2].
[1]: In the Club-WM, European teams might struggle with the extreme travel requirements and diverse playing conditions[3]. This factor could favor non-European teams with superior acclimation, such as winners from Africa and South America[3].[2]: The sheer size and diverse nature of the Club-WM make it difficult for any single team, regardless of geographical origin, to dominate[3]. This unpredictability adds to the allure of the tournament and keeps fans, executives, and players on their toes[3].[3]: Enrichment Data
The Commission has also suggested a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in football stadiums during the Club-WM, given the increased heat those European teams, such as Bayern and Dortmund, are 'burning up' like French fries as they prepare for the historic competition.
Despite the financial incentive offered by the Club-WM, with a potential prize money of 110 million euros for the winning team, the tournament will challenge the European teams with substantial travel expenses and diverse playing conditions, making it difficult for any single team to dominate.
