Flamengo and the Brazilians Rattling European Giants
In the Club World Cup, Brazil boasts four teams reaching the last 8 round, raising questions about their potential advancement.
The Club World Cup has witnessed a shockwave of energy coming from Brazil!
Amid the roars and cheers, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Botafogo, and Fluminense, all recent Copa Libertadores champions, have fought tooth and nail against European titans, captivating millions of Brazilian fans.
This renewed vigor from Brazil comes after years of disheartening defeats against European teams in FIFA competitions.
Leading their groups by the neck, Flamengo surprised Chelsea with a 3-1 victory, becoming the first team to secure a place in the direct elimination round. Botafogo, who successfully toppled the reigning European champion Paris Saint-Germain, and Fluminense qualified as runners-up.
"Our first objective was the elimination phase," said Jhon Arias, Fluminense's right winger, "but that's not our final goal."
The four Brazilian squads share similar ambitions for the next stage.
An intense duel between Botafogo and Palmeiras will take center stage on Saturday, guaranteeing at least one Brazilian team's presence in the quarterfinals. Flamengo will face Bayern Munich on Sunday, while Fluminense will lock horns with Inter Milan on Monday.
Corinthians was the last Brazilian club to claim the Club World Cup title, defeating Chelsea back in 2012. That tournament held a far smaller 16-team roster compared to the current 32-team competition that unites teams from five continents.
A New Dawn for Brazilian Football
Botafogo, the current Libertadores champion, orchestrated the biggest upset in the group stage when they overwhelmed PSG. The match had everyone expecting PSG to dominate Botafogo, given the Carioca team's tumultuous 2021 season.
"Botafogo was the team that defended us the best all season, naturally in our league and in the Champions League," said Luis Enrique, PSG's coach.
What propelled the Brazilian clubs into dominance? Two factors stand out: Brazilian clubs are in the middle of their season and are acclimated to the intense heat covering the tournament.
Despite being written off by football experts before the tournament's start, the optimism surrounding Brazilian squads has grown significantly. Evidence of this change can be seen in Flamengo fans in Philadelphia chanting, "It's our turn," against Bayern Munich after the German side was confirmed as their next opponent.
"The cemetery of football is full of favorites. Almost no one can face PSG openly. Could they try?" They did, and it was a considerable risk in a competition like this, as confirmed by Renato Paiva, Botafogo's coach, after the victory over the European champions.
The sole defeat for a Brazilian club during the group stages came at the hands of Atlético Madrid, 1-0.
The Talents of South America Abound in Brazil
Much of Brazil's success in the Club World Cup can be attributed to the wealth of South American talent the Brazilian league draws. Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Flamengo's creative midfielder, is Uruguayan. Botafogo's key player is Jefferson Savarino from Venezuela. Fluminense heavily relies on Jhon Arias from Colombia. Palmeiras counts on goals from Argentine striker Flaco López.
None of these stars have ever played in Europe. "Why not?" replied Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's coach, when questioned about the possibility of coaching in South America.
"There are many, many good things in the history of football that have come from South America," said Guardiola. "Brazil, especially Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay."
Top coaches from Europe, like Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, have expressed their admiration for Brazilian and Argentine teams that offer a fresh perspective on world football. Alonso highlighted the competition level, especially from Brazil, which he found intriguing before the start of the tournament.
"Adapting is essential, but we can see teams that we don't see every day, and they are extremely good."
Since they began employing successful Portuguese coaches, Brazilian clubs have witnessed a surge in competitiveness. Arthur Jorge and Abel Ferreira have steered both Botafogo and Palmeiras to multiple titles, adding an additional edge to the already formidable Brazilian teams.
"I'm very proud to be in Brazil," said Ferreira. "I had many opportunities to leave, but I chose to stay."
Ferreira believes the gap between his team and European clubs is minimal. "We have to compete."
We'll soon learn if his sentiment rings true as the battles heat up in the Club World Cup's direct elimination round.
[1] O Globo: https://global.globo.com/esportes[2] Caixa Esporte Aventuras: https://caixaesporte.ando.globo.com[3] UOL Esportes: https://esporte.uol.com.br
The surprising successes of Brazilian football clubs in the Club World Cup have captivated the attention of many, with Flamengo's victory over Chelsea marking the first step towards the direct elimination round. (news, football, champions-league, Club World Cup)
The dominance exhibited by Brazilian clubs in the competition can be attributed to the abundance of South American talent in the Brazilian league, with players like Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Jefferson Savarino, Jhon Arias, and Flaco López playing key roles for their respective teams. (football, sports, south-america, Club World Cup)
