Flamengo seeks two World Cups; real madrid oscillates

Champion of the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo reaches its second dispute of the Club World Cup in just over three years. The competition, which will be held in Morocco this year, starts this Wednesday (1st) with seven teams – one from each confederation and the Moroccan national champion. Favorites, the expectation is that the final will be between the rubro-negro and Real Madrid, who arrive at the World Cup at a completely different time than the one they ended last season.

Since winning the Libertadores for the third time, Flamengo has completely changed its coaching staff. Dorival Júnior, who took over the job in the middle of the year and led the team to win the Copa do Brasil and the continental competition in the second half, was passed over by Vítor Pereira. Former coach of Corinthians, the coach even stated that he would leave Brazil to solve family problems, but he reversed his decision after receiving Flamengo’s proposal. Under the command of the Portuguese, Flamengo is going in search of the second world championship. The club’s first achievement was in 1981, against Liverpool, in the Intercontinental Cup.

Under new command, Flamengo has already played six matches – it will still play this Wednesday, against Boavista for the Carioca Championship before traveling to Morocco. There were three wins, two draws and one defeat, for Palmeiras, in the Supercopa do Brasil, which opens the calendar of the Brazilian football season

The last game against Palmeiras showed signs of Flamengo’s problems in early 2023, especially in midfield. João Gomes, midfielder who was the team’s revelation last year, was announced by Wolverhampton in England this week. A highlight in 2019, Gérson returned to Brazil after two seasons at Olympique de Marseille, in France, but still without the same level of play and pace that led him to Tite’s Brazilian team.

In the offensive sector, Pedro and Gabigol continue to live up to expectations. Against Palmeiras, they were responsible for the three goals of the defeat (one by Pedro and two by Gabigol). In the season, the attackers add up to seven goals so far.

“Of course we wanted to win (the Brazilian Super Cup), but we have to be a little rational. It’s a new beginning of work, we need to improve some things that need time”, said Gabigol, in an interview after the match against Palm trees. Shirt number 10 starting this season, the striker defends the work of Vítor Pereira at the beginning of the year. “It’s like that in Brazil, it loses a game (becomes) the worst team in the world; we won 5-0 at Maracanã (in Nova Iguaçu) and it becomes the best team in the world.”

Since 2019, the year of Flamengo’s last participation in the Club World Cup – it lost to Liverpool, in the final, 1-0 -, a lot has changed within the club. Of the 11 starters in that decision, only four started the last match against Palmeiras: Gabigol, Éverton Ribeiro, Arrascaeta and Gérson. Filipe Luís and Rodrigo Caio are two other athletes who are also at the club, but the main change since then has been in the technical command.

Jorge Jesus, responsible for taking Flamengo to five titles in his one-year spell at the club (Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Brasileiro, Libertadores, Supercopa do Brasil and Recopa Sudamericana) took over Benfica in 2020. Until the arrival of Vítor Pereira, the list of Flamengo coaches was vast: Domènec Torrent, Rogério Ceni, Renato Gaúcho, Paulo Sousa and Dorival Júnior. Adding up all the titles in the period, they equal the achievements of Jorge Jesus in his year at Flamengo

Filipe Luís, one of the remnants of the club’s achievements in 2019 and 2020, felt the difference in Vítor Pereira’s work compared to the club’s last coaches. “Results can’t be controlled, performance is. Today it was 5-0? – in reference to the victory over Nova Iguaçu – “but it could have been another result. We control the way we play. Try to always press, compact. It’s a difficult scheme, so it requires patience and time,” he said.

At the Club World Cup, Flamengo debuts on the 7th, against the winner of Wydad Casablanca and Al-Hilal, at the Ibn Batouta Stadium, located in the city of Tangier. The team’s trip is scheduled for the night of next Thursday, the 2nd, at Galeão airport. The team will be concentrated in Rabat until their opening match.

Real Madrid

Champion of the Champions League and Spanish in 2021/2022, Real Madrid arrives at the Club World Cup in its worst moment since last year. Despite having in its squad Karim Benzema, current winner of the Ballon d’Or, Vini Jr. and Rodrygo, who makes the team have one of the best attacking trios in the world, Real is not living its best phase since the break for the World Cup.

In the last games, there were five wins, two draws and two defeats, for VillarReal and Barcelona, ​​this one in the Spanish Super Cup. In addition, before traveling to the Club World Cup, the team still faces two matches for the Spanish Championship: against Valencia, this Thursday, and Mallorca, this Sunday. In the national competition, it is five points behind leader Barcelona

Despite the fact that European clubs do not give the same importance as South American clubs to the World Cup, Real Madrid can reach its fifth victory in the competition – since it started to be organized by FIFA – in its sixth participation. The only year in which he was not champion was in 2000, in the edition disputed in Brazil. On the occasion, Corinthians won the title, on penalties, over Vasco.

Ferland Mendy, left-back, is the only one missing for the competition, with a muscle problem. In addition, Real also projects the round of 16 of the Champions League, against Liverpool, from the 21st of February. Carlo Ancelotti can use a mixed team for the World Cup, because of the preparation focused on the Champions League games.

In Morocco, Real Madrid will make their debut in the semifinals, on the 8th, against the winner of the duel between Seattle Sounders and Al Ahly or Auckland City, who face each other in the first leg of the competition, this Wednesday.

other clubs

As well as Real Madrid and Flamengo, five other clubs will be in Morocco to compete in the Club World Cup. Auckland City (Oceania), Al Ahly (Africa), Seattle Sounders (Concacaf), Al-Hilal (Asia) and Wydad Casablanca (Moroccan champion). Since the competition started to be played in the current format with seven clubs in 2005, only Europeans and South Americans have been champions. The last time a Conmebol representative won the title was Corinthians, in 2012.

Despite the unfavorable record, these clubs usually bother in the semifinals. Of the 18 competitions – including the 2000, with a different format from the current one, with two groups of four teams -, on five occasions the final was not decided by a clash between UEFA and CONMEBOL.

Mazembe (2010), Raja Casablanca (2013), Kashima Antlers (2016), Al-Ain (2018) and Tigers (2020). In two of these years, in 2016 and 2018, the decision was precisely against Real Madrid, possible opponent of Flamengo. Al-Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, and Wydad Casablanca, from Morocco, decide who will face the red-black in the semifinals.

Brazil is, historically, the country that played the most finals in the FIFA Club World Cup. In all, Conmebol was represented by a Brazilian in the decision in nine editions, with four titles. Spain is in second place, with eight (seven titles and one runner-up). If it wins this year’s edition, Flamengo will receive an extra prize of US$ 5 million (R$ 25.5 million) from Conmebol, an amount equivalent to what FIFA grants to the champion of the tournament. The announcement, made by the organization’s president, Alejandro Domínguez, reiterates the organization’s intention to keep South American football in the spotlight.

where to watch

In addition to Grupo Globo, which will broadcast the Club World Cup on TV Globo (Open TV) and SporTV (closed TV), fans will have the opportunity to follow the games on the internet, through CazéTV (channel of presenter and influencer Casimiro Miguel, on YouTube and Twitch) and Fifa+, just like the World Cup in Qatar.

Calendar of Club World Cup matches:

WEDNESDAY (01/02)
Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Auckland City (New Zealand) – 4pm – Game 1

SATURDAY (02/04)
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs Game 1 Winner – 2:30 pm – Game 2
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) vs Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 11h30 – Game 3

TUESDAY (07/02)
Flamengo x Winner of Game 3 – 16h

WEDNESDAY (02/08)
Real Madrid v Match 2 Winner – 4pm

SATURDAY (02/11)
Third Place Match – 12:30pm

FINAL – 4pm