Latest news with #BrazilianLeague
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
FIFA Club World Cup: We will see confident Brazilian teams in knockout stage, says Arsene Wenger
The gulf between South American and European teams may not be as wide as expected at the Club World Cup, but a clear gap still exists in their efficiency in front of goal, according to FIFA technical experts. Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, and Juergen Klinsmann, former Germany and U.S. national team coach, were speaking at a round table on Saturday as the tournament enters its knockout phase. 'At the start of the competition, many opponents seemed to fear playing against the European teams,' Wenger said. 'But as things progressed - especially the Brazilians - they began to realise it might not be so different after all.' Flamengo and Botafogo beat European teams during the group phase of the 32-team competition, with the latter's 1-0 victory over European champions Paris St Germain standing out. ALSO READ | What the CWC tells us about revival of Brazilian League football Wenger said growing belief, especially among Brazilian sides, has shifted the dynamic heading into the last 16. 'Maybe it's also because they've gained the confidence to do it. That shift in mindset could mean we'll see a different Brazil in the knockout stage than we saw in the group phase,' he added. The Frenchman highlighted the influence of Filipe Luis, whose Flamengo side showed what Wenger called the most European tactical profile among South American sides at the tournament. 'Filipe has ... played in Europe, and you can see that in the way his team approaches the game,' Wenger said. GAP CLOSING Wenger and Klinsmann said South American clubs were quickly closing the gap in infrastructure and preparation. 'When we visited the teams, we saw delegations of up to 100 people - support staff, analysts, advisors,' Wenger said. 'With squads of 23 to 35 players, these clubs are now fully professional in every department. That level of preparation allows teams to learn quickly.' The key difference, however, remains in execution. 'In the final third, European clubs are simply more clinical,' Wenger said. Klinsmann agreed, saying the real divide lies in mentality. 'Experience is also a big part of quality,' he said. 'When is a club like Pachuca or Monterrey (of Mexico) playing in a tournament like this?' Drawing on his time as U.S. national coach, Klinsmann stressed the importance of testing players outside their comfort zones. 'That's why I always said, 'Get us into Copa America. Get us into Europe'. That's the kind of competition that develops a winning mentality,' he said. 'If this tournament were held again next year, Pachuca would be a different team - more confident, more refined. 'But they have to be more clinical. When you're in the box, it's your head that makes the decision, not just your feet. And that's the difference.' With the round of 16 underway on Saturday, analysts said the knockout stages would offer a clearer picture of how much ground South American teams have made up, tactically and psychologically. 'We might see very different attitudes now,' Wenger said. Flamengo face Bayern Munich on Sunday and Inter Milan meet Fluminense on Monday.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Arsene Wenger promises better pitch quality at 2026 World Cup
FIFA's Global Football Development chief Arsene Wenger acknowledged that the quality of pitches hosting Club World Cup matches in the US was not good enough, but insisted it would be better when the country co-hosts the 2026 World Cup. The pitches, often very dry and sprinkled with water during cooling breaks or at halftime, have been widely criticised, mainly by coaches and players of the European teams taking part. 'I've been personally on the pitch at Orlando,' former Arsenal manager Wenger said on Saturday. 'It's not at the level that the European clubs are used to because it's not perfect, but that will be rectified for the World Cup next year.' Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique raised the issue early in the expanded Club World Cup tournament. READ | What the Club World Cup tells us about revival of Brazilian League football 'The ball bounces like a rabbit,' Luis Enrique said after his team's opening 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. 'Today, for example, the field used to be artificial turf, and now it's natural grass laid over it, which means it has to be watered manually. It's a big problem for the way we play.' 'FIFA really needs to take this seriously. Not just the stadium fields but also the training pitches. If we're calling this the best club tournament in the world, it should have world-class facilities. I can't imagine an NBA game played on a court full of holes.'
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Klopp criticises expanded Club World Cup format, says it is football's worst idea
Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has criticised the introduction of the expanded Club World Cup format, calling it the worst idea ever implemented in football. In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt published late on Friday Klopp said the tournament would put more strain on an already packed calendar for the players. The expanded format features a 32-team event held every four years during the pre-season, in the summers between major international tournaments. 'It's a pointless competition. Whoever wins it will be the worst winner of all time because they'll have played all summer and then gone straight back into the league,' Klopp said. 'There are people who have never been involved in the day-to-day business of football and are now coming up with ideas.' Klopp pointed out that today's players are getting less and less time to rest, warning that adding another tournament was potentially dangerous for their health. 'It's too many games. I fear that next season we will see injuries like never before. If not then, they'll come during or after the Club World Cup,' the German said. Also read | What the Club World Cup tells us about revival of Brazilian League football 'There's no real recovery for those involved, neither physically nor mentally.' Klopp, who ended his highly successful nine-year stint with Liverpool in 2024, is now head of global football for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls. Klopp was also asked if he would like to coach again. 'I don't want that anymore. I have a job now that fulfils me and is also intense. I don't sleep in the morning and I don't go to bed later at night, but I can organise my work much better,' he said.
Gulf Today
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Neymar apologises for red card in what could be his last game with Santos
Neymar has apologised for a red card that he says cost Santos a victory in the Brazilian League, claiming that 'desperation' to score led to the mistake in what could be his final match with the club. Neymar was sent off in the 76th minute of Santos' 1-0 loss to Botafogo at home on Sunday after using his hand to score a goal. Neymar's contract with Santos ends at the end of June and Santos plays only one more league game before the break for the Club World Cup. Since Neymar is suspended for the next match and there's still no deal to extend his contract, he may not play for the club again in this stint. Realizing he was not going to reach the ball with his head before a defender could clear it away, Neymar used his right hand to push the ball into the net. The Brazil forward already had a yellow card and was shown his second by the referee, which immediately disallowed the goal. Botafogo then scored the winner in the 86th. 'Desperation to score a goal sometimes leads to mistakes,' Neymar said on Instagram. 'I want to apologize to my teammates and to the fans. I made a mistake, forgive me. If I hadn't been sent off, I'm sure we would have gotten the three points. Congratulations to the team for today's game. You can put these three points on my account.' Neymar did not have a problem with the second yellow but complained about the first one, which came for a foul late in the first half. 'The second yellow card has to be shown, but the referee has to be kidding about the first one,' he said. 'It's one foul and I'm already being shown a yellow.' Agence France-Presse
CTV News
02-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Neymar apologizes for red card in what could be his last game with Brazilian club Santos
Brazil's Neymar walk onto the pitch during his debut for Santos FC in a Sao Paulo league soccer match against Botafogo-SP, in Santos, Brazil, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file) SANTOS, Brazil — Neymar has apologized for a red card that he says cost Santos a victory in the Brazilian league, claiming that 'desperation' to score led to the mistake in what could be his final match with the club. Neymar was sent off in the 76th minute of Santos' 1-0 loss to Botafogo at home on Sunday after using his hand to score a goal. Neymar's contract with Santos ends at the end of June and Santos plays only one more league game before the break for the Club World Cup. Since Neymar is suspended for the next match and there's still no deal to extend his contract, he may not play for the club again in this stint. Realizing he was not going to reach the ball with his head before a defender could clear it away, Neymar used his right hand to push the ball into the net. The Brazil forward already had a yellow card and was shown his second by the referee, which immediately disallowed the goal. Botafogo then scored the winner in the 86th. 'Desperation to score a goal sometimes leads to mistakes,' Neymar said on Instagram. 'I want to apologize to my teammates and to the fans. I made a mistake, forgive me. If I hadn't been sent off, I'm sure we would have gotten the three points. Congratulations to the team for today's game. You can put these three points on my account.' Neymar did not have a problem with the second yellow but complained about the first one, which came for a foul late in the first half. 'The second yellow card has to be shown, but the referee has to be kidding about the first one,' he said. 'It's one foul and I'm already being shown a yellow.' 'It's incredible how many bad referees there are out there. That's my opinion, please don't punish me even more,' he said, along with a laughing-face emoji. Santos has only two wins in 11 league matches this year and sits in 18th-place in the 20-team standings, inside the relegation zone.
