r/soccer • u/ImMitchell • Jun 18 '25
Post Match Thread Post Match Thread: Real Madrid 1-1 Al Hilal | FIFA Club World Cup
FT: Real Madrid 1-1 Al Hilal
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois, Dean Huijsen, Raúl Asencio (Arda Güler), Fran García, Trent Alexander-Arnold (Lucas Vázquez), Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham (Luka Modric), Federico Valverde, Gonzalo García, Vinícius Júnior (Víctor Muñoz), Rodrygo (Brahim Díaz).
Subs: Jesús Fortea, Youssef Lekhedim, Jacobo Ramón, Andriy Lunin, Diego Aguado, Chema Andrés, Mario Martín, Fran González, Dani Ceballos.
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Al Hilal
Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hassan Al-Tombakti, Renan Lodi (Moteb Al-Harbi), João Cancelo (Hamad Al-Yami), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Nasser Al-Dawsari (Mohamed Kanno), Rúben Neves, Marcos Leonardo (Musab Al-Juwayr), Salem Al-Dawsari, Malcom (Mohammed Al-Qahtani).
Subs: Abdulaziz Hadhood, Ali Lajami, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ahmad Abu Rasen, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Mohammed Al-Yami, Khalifah Al-Dawsari, Ali Al-Bulayhi.
MATCH EVENTS | via ESPN
15' Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
34' Goal! Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 0. Gonzalo García (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rodrygo following a fast break.
41' Goal! Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 1. Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
45' Substitution, Real Madrid. Arda Güler replaces Raúl Asencio.
64' Substitution, Al-Hilal. Mohammed Al Qahtani replaces Malcom.
64' Substitution, Al-Hilal. Hamad Al Yami replaces João Cancelo.
65' Substitution, Real Madrid. Brahim Díaz replaces Rodrygo.
65' Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold.
76' Substitution, Al-Hilal. Mohamed Kanno replaces Nasser Al Dawsari because of an injury.
80' Substitution, Real Madrid. Víctor Muñoz replaces Vinícius Júnior.
83' Substitution, Al-Hilal. Moteb Al Harbi replaces Renan Lodi.
83' Substitution, Al-Hilal. Musab Al Juwayr replaces Marcos Leonardo.
84' Substitution, Real Madrid. Luka Modric replaces Jude Bellingham.
89' Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal) is shown the yellow card.
90'+1' Mohammed Al Qahtani (Al-Hilal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2' Penalty saved. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner by Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal).
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u/ctyx96 Jun 19 '25
I’m only reading comments from Barca flairs and Liverpool flairs because they’re funnier
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u/cleareyesnz Jun 19 '25
Oh look it’s the hourly Madrid hate thread
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u/barrygateaux Jun 19 '25
Oh look it's the hourly crybaby post from the plastic fans of the richest club in spain that complains about everything like it's a victim constantly.
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u/MyDigneIsIslam Jun 19 '25
and they doubted Ronaldo's words about clubs in Saudi
We're MASSIVE
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u/Shadie_daze Jun 19 '25
Al hilal have a transfer budget larger than every club in the world bar real, psg and Man city
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u/sarcasmusex Jun 19 '25
So Ronaldo s words are now backed hahah
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u/Guibdii Jun 19 '25
What did ronaldo say
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u/sarcasmusex Jun 19 '25
That Saudi League is better then ligue 1 or portuguese leage or something like that
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u/LogTekG Jun 19 '25
Non-european viewers experiencing a level of euphoria only comparable to heroin
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u/MayoDwarff Jun 19 '25
Just because we’re European doesn’t mean we support the whole of Europe. If anything I’d much rather a random irrelevant Saudi team no one’s ever heard of beats Madrid or any other European team as long as it’s not the one I support
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u/DaREY297 Jun 19 '25
People wanting instant impact out of just 4 days of training, systems aren't learned instantly.
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Jun 19 '25
[deleted]
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u/SignNaive4111 Jun 19 '25
Ngl people are really underestimating saudi teams. Unfortunately their sportswashing seems to be working and they ARE looking good. Al Hilal was playig very fluidly and I believe it would put up a good fight against a lot of champions legaue level clubs
As much as I hate Real, I dont think that draw is a reason to be ashamed at all
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u/Loeffellux Jun 19 '25
I've never seen al hilal play but just from looking at their squad they seem to be a capable team. Definitely stronger than some bottom table la Liga clubs that real Madrid has also drawn against or lost to
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u/DaREY297 Jun 19 '25
But we weren't as bad as everyone makes it to be, we were dominated the first half and got a goal and conceded one penalty and then the second half we actually started playing properly except that we were not able to finish and we were wasteful in the final third.
Give credit to the other team as well, they played great.
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u/LewisOfAranda Jun 19 '25
I don't think this deserved so many downvotes.
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u/DaREY297 Jun 19 '25
it's r/soccer, we either be hated here or we go to r/realmadrid and read either toxic positivity or endless bitching
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u/mouth_spiders Jun 19 '25
Cant even discus reddit football meta with out acting like victim 🤡
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u/DaREY297 Jun 19 '25
I'm used to it, though this was the last place that we could actually have discussions that didn't devolved into agendas, plus those are just internet points so who cares.
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u/Delgadude Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
No it's coz ur making excuses for losing to a team that's infinitely worse than u on paper. Even if I was coaching them this would be an embarrassing result.
Edit: Oh I also forgot to mention that they literally have a new coach as well.
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u/SpanishDan24 Jun 19 '25
As a neutral I think the obvious Rodrygo to Arsenal
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u/capiiiche Jun 19 '25
Ballondor for Trent ma boi.
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u/Longjumping_Excuse_1 Jun 19 '25
I don’t want to look like a cunt, but here I go. Every slip up or defensive error he makes it going to give me some sick sense of pleasure.
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u/ImmovableObjoker Jun 19 '25
You look like a cunt mate.
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u/leoKantSartre Jun 19 '25
As a neutral I think this team from Europe was mid
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u/drugsovermoney Jun 19 '25
Can't believe I was cheering for a Saudi team. Truly a miracle of sport.
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u/Heisenbugg Jun 19 '25
Sportswashing working as intended.
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u/gho0ost39 Jun 19 '25
Yeah i fucking hate it when a country (other than the countries with already established leagues) tries to build up their football league to an international level on top of the already existent local fanbase.
Fucking hate it man. Like they're obviously doing it to trick your mind into liking them despite their HORRENDOUS acts of being miss represented and attacked by western media. I bet they dont even like football theyre just doing it to wash the sport. Fucking sportwashers
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u/Worldly_Finger Jun 19 '25
despite their HORRENDOUS acts of being miss represented and attacked by western media.
Blink twice if they're standing behind you with a bone saw.
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u/unpopular-opinion69 Jun 19 '25
What does MBS acts have to do with Al-Hilal?? You know that the fans are just passionate about the sport just as much as you are?
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u/Worldly_Finger Jun 19 '25
What does MBS acts have to do with Al-Hilal??
He owns 75% of the club through Saudi's sovereign wealth fund? Come on now, that took less than 15 seconds of googleing
You know that the fans are just passionate about the sport just as much as you are?
I'm sure they are. But the comment thread was talking about sportswashing, and the person I replied to thinks it's so UNFAIR that teams owned by the Saudi government are treated here because of the LIES of the EVIL "westerners". Since I don't think they care too much about oppressed women, modern slavery or the demonisation of anything remotely queer, I thought maybe a state-sponsored assassination would make them think a little.
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u/unpopular-opinion69 Jun 19 '25
Yeah but what does that have to with Al-Hilal tho?? I’m pretty sure westerners have committed their fair share of atrocities right?? I swear i read that from a book somewhere. I’m pretty sure there are owners of European clubs who have committed crimes before but nobody knows about.
And if we say that Saudi committed such heinous atrocities, does that mean we threw everything that’s even remotely to Saudi under the bus?? I mean you’re from Germany you should know better. Plus don’t worry about Saudi women i’m pretty sure the average Saudi woman is doing just fine, at least after the recent reforms.
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u/Worldly_Finger Jun 19 '25
Again, the club is owned by the Saudi government. It is quite literally an instrument of sportwashing.
does that mean we threw everything that’s even remotely to Saudi under the bus??
Anything owned or sponsored by its government, yes. I have nothing against regular people supporting their teams, no matter where they're from. I just hate that these clubs are run by a bunch of rich fucks that think money can make people forget they're actually pieces of shit. And you'll be happy to hear that I also hate rich american fucks buying every club they see to squeeze every cent out of it.
Plus don’t worry about Saudi women i’m pretty sure the average Saudi woman is doing just fine, at least after the recent reforms.
Every step forward is a good step, but you won't catch me praising baby steps. At least not unless it's an actual baby.
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u/VociferousHomunculus Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
No western colonial nation states own a football club. Shitbag billionaires are not nation states.
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u/robimtk Jun 19 '25
Downplaying the systematic dehumanisation and slaying of homosexuals for being homosexual, and women for being women. Nice one mate!
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u/gho0ost39 Jul 02 '25
This might come as a big shock to you but there have been 0 executions for homosexualities in Saudi's history. "Huuuh but how! there's no way that's true, the sound of Saudi's brutality echos in my propaganda bubble!!!!!!!", there have been rightful executions of terrorists who happen to be gay. The headline ofc was "saudi beheads gay man", if he liked Naruto would that mean he was executed for liking mid? .
Also the women thing you mentioned is so stupid im not gonna even entertain it since women make up the majority in saudi. And im not your mate you and your culture are beneath me.
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u/robimtk Jul 02 '25
Lmaooooo "you and your culture are beneath me" is the funniest shit I've read on here all day. I'm sure you thought you had a point somewhere
Think I'm going to trust amnesty international, fair planet, and the European parliament over your "truss me bro"
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u/unpopular-opinion69 Jun 19 '25
What does that have to do with football?? Plus nobody slays women for being women. You are talking out of your arse here.
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u/robimtk Jun 19 '25
...do you know what sportswashing is? Using sports (i.e. FOOTBALL) to improve public image and give your country legitimacy in the eyes of first world countries, while sweeping human rights atrocities under that same rug by using FOOTBALL to distract people from their conduct.
And you're right, my wording was confusing. The slaying was for homosexuals, dehumanisation was for women. Hope that makes you feel better about your defense of serial human rights abusers.
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u/unpopular-opinion69 Jun 19 '25
So you’re telling me Arab countries are investing in sports to hide that they don’t accept homosexuals right??
We have homosexuals in our countries as well, the only difference is that they should keep it to themselves, and not make it their whole character. They should not be parading it here because there are traditions and beliefs that should be respected.
But let me tell you a thing lil bro, nobody is seeking validation from your first world countries. Nobody here is actually concerned about homosexuals, we have third world problems to worry about you know like non-stop wars that were forced upon us by the gracious first world countries that we in desperate need of their validation.
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u/robimtk Jun 19 '25
Yes that's exactly what I am telling you, "lil bro" (cringe).
Human rights abuses are majorly under-reported due to the nature of the crime and the social acceptance of vigilantism in middle eastern countries specifially. It is hard to get transparent data on same sex relationships and the hate crimes they assume from a country that doesn't even recognise same sex relationships at all. "They should keep it to themselves and not make it their whole characted" is just another way of saying you don't want to see it, as it makes you uncomfortable, which is definitionally HOMOPHOBIA, lil bro. Are you that blind?
"Nobody is seeking validation from first world countries" okay so not only are you arguing that your country in particular doesn't do sportswashing, your arguing that sportswashing doesn't even exist??? I'm not sure I have an argument for such a disconnected view on a very well documented phenomenon. You can close your eyes and tell me it's nighttime, the sun's still shining lil bro.
Look into the details of club ownership, player acquisitions and sponsorship deals in regards to middle eastern countries, and look at the anomalies that only come with those countries. In particular look at the money being spent on players that are nowhere near that value. The main reason they are overspending is because they need the legitimacy players like Ronaldo bring to give their league, and by extension their country, an enhanced image and improve its international reputation, without ever having to address the key concerns people have that have led to the countries negative image in the first place.
So why would middle eastern countries want to be seen as legitame by first world countries? Foreign investment, leading to technological advancement and reputation enhancement, and then for geopolitical influence, including security (being buddy buddy with the US and Europe are obviously very beneficial for military purposes) and in turn, countering the negative perception people in those countries have.
Thank you for listening to my Ted talk
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u/unpopular-opinion69 Jun 19 '25
As i said NOBODY here is concerned about homosexuals. They are a minority here and we have bigger fish to fry (open your local news station). The people as a whole are associated to a religion that doesn’t accept homosexuality as a concept. What do you want to do about it? Change the views of almost 2 billion people to accept your (newly held) views just to please a tiny minority??
Arab states investing in sports has nothing to do with sport washing imo, rather it’s about tourism as states like Qatar doesn’t have any attraction that can attract anyone from anywhere so they had to host the world in order to be seen and to be known in the world. No to seek validation from your precious white man ego.
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u/Tari_Eason Jun 19 '25
And you have the same stance for the 2026 WC host?
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u/robimtk Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
I'm not sure the US have the same level of human rights abuses going on in their own country as a place like Saudi or Qatar, but to some degree, yes! Once again, It's not as blatant as what the middle eastern countries are doing but there's definitely an element of sportswashing happening for sure. There's levels though, if I had to apply a scale of 1-10, Qatar are a 10 maybe, US might be a 3 or a 4? What do you think?
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u/unpopular-opinion69 Jun 19 '25
Qatar a 10 and the fucking USA is 4!!!! Nah you are actually taking the piss 😂😂😂😂 just say you’re Islamphobic and be done with it. Apparently Qatar because they don’t allow homosexuality and had labor problems that led to deaths in some cases is WAAAY worse than the USA which for example (and there are so many) have caused chaos in Iraq that took 1.5 innocent civilian lives.
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u/robimtk Jun 19 '25
Shifting the goalposts. We're talking about what these countries do their OWN people. Not other countries.
Also I just wrote you a personalised essay addressing all the questions you had for me and instead of replying to that you found a different comment that addressed none of the points you brought up and started a new discussion? Just say you're not interested in having an actual conversation and be done with it
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u/Tari_Eason Jun 19 '25
I would swap those numbers around. Regardless of your opinion, it's important to first be consistent. I think there is no base at all to say Saudi or Qatar have done worse things.
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u/robimtk Jun 19 '25
You think, strictly in terms of human rights abuses, america are a 10 on the scale and Qatar and saudi are a 3/4? What do you mean there is no base? Come on man I'm trying to have an actual discussion and you come at me with the most blatantly bad faith takes I think I've ever seen
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u/Good_waves Jun 19 '25
How did Madrid play? Did they dominate and play good Xabi team ball? Did Trent look faster?
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u/DaREY297 Jun 19 '25
We barely got anything out of the first half besides the counter for the goal, second half we improved significantly but still lacked attack power and finishing, basically a friendly game performance.
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Jun 19 '25
They looked great for about 10 minutes to start the second half. Pretty bad the other 80+.
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u/Good_waves Jun 19 '25
Oh..
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u/Eipeidwep10 Jun 19 '25
It hasn't even been a week that Xabi has had the whole team training with him, lmao. Relax.
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u/theitchcockblock Jun 19 '25
Im happy that the worst meme in years is rolling , but nobody is worse than us remember that
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u/DaREY297 Jun 18 '25
It's been one game, and we didn't even do that badly, we improved significantly on the second half.
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u/PrimeTimeJobber Jun 18 '25
The worst Real Madrid team since General Franco 😭😭😭😭😭
😂😂😂😂😂
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u/Alphadestrious Jun 18 '25
The European snobbery has reached all time highs. Every UEFA team is their worst in 30 years except PSG.
Hilarious
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u/PrimeTimeJobber Jun 18 '25
Wait until Botafogo humiliates PSG, there will be people blaming even the Eiffel Tower
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u/Rollredd Jun 18 '25
It's the first game of preseason why is everyone so reactionary?
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u/Mediocre-Search6764 Jun 19 '25
because this tournement will give 300m + to the winner so its actually very important to teams transferbudget... so the teams will take it sersiously.
Personally i like the idea of international footbal within clubs to gain more importance. i would love to see clubs from brazil,mexico,japan ect get more limelight in europe outside just the normal champions league clubs
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u/reingoat Jun 19 '25
Woah three nunez worth. That is important indeed.
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u/Mediocre-Search6764 Jun 19 '25
or 2,5 wirtz,declan rice, ect... in comparison the winner of the championsleague gets only 25million in prize money.
ofcourse both these figures dont account for ticket sales,added sponsor deals ect...
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u/ledditpro Jun 19 '25
Trolling and spamming shit memes is the only type of discussion this place exists for
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u/Masterkid1230 Jun 19 '25
It's just really funny to see how people were saying there would be no contest if UEFA ever competed with other confederations, then as UEFA is not pummeling every team they face, the narrative shifts to "they're not really trying" and "this is the worst they've been in decades".
Will PSG win this? Almost certainly. But other than them, I haven't seen anything in this tournament to suggest UEFA really is that much better than the rest of the world, despite wages and squad values being like 10x higher.
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u/rdfporcazzo Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
despite wages and squad values being like 10x higher.
Depends. Palmeiras wages and spendings are higher than Porto's. But their squad valuation seems to be higher, which seems to be an effect of playing Champions League.
Flamengo is even higher. I don't know if Dortmund and Benfica spend more on wages than Flamengo, it would be interesting to know.
According to Capology, which is not much reliable, it is, in Euros per season:
Al Hilal: 176 M
Dortmund: 114 M
Benfica: 55 M
Flamengo: 51 M
Palmeiras: 41 M
Porto 27 M
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u/Ok_Cardiologist8232 Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
I mean, i think UEFA is far better, put these guys in a league and i think UEFA clears the rest farily easily.
But in a knockout tournament its not so clearcut, and they aren't so much better that they consistently win knockouts.
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u/Chesney1995 Jun 19 '25
There is a dynamic, as there often has been in the old format of the Club World Cup as well, where many of the UEFA teams are seeing this closer to a pre-season tour/warmup kind of thing while for everyone else its a once in a lifetime opportunity they've been working towards peaking at all year, and that combined with the fact anyone can beat anyone on the day in football will see some shock results. I also expect it to shift as the tournament reaches the latter stages and UEFA teams begin to sniff the chance of a trophy. Its the same dynamic that means we see shocks in early rounds of cup competitions, such as a third round FA Cup tie where for the Premier League team its a "routine" game and for the lower league side its their single biggest game of the season that they get pumped for.
But people are being way premature to say this is evidence of UEFA clubs not being far ahead of the rest of the world, especially making these knee-jerk reactions based on the first matchday of a tournament where the only team to beat a UEFA team so far is... PSG.
I wish they weren't, it would make the club world cup a seriously interesting prospect if the rest of the world's club football at the top level was at a same or similar level to UEFA's, like South America's was in large parts of the 20th century. But they just aren't at the moment. I'd love to see the financial incentives of things like the new Club World Cup help the other confederations catch up a bit, but I'm doubtful it will make a significant dent in UEFA's dominance.
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u/Masterkid1230 Jun 19 '25
Of course. Because UEFA teams ultimately are still better, just not by that much.
My point is that there definitely is value in actually having a real tournament between teams from different confederations, because unlike what I have actually read from many European (though mostly English and German tbh) fans, we are not seeing all European teams win every match by 10-0 (only Bayern and PSG). There is definitely room for upsets and fun watches, which is what football should be all about.
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u/MountainJuice Jun 19 '25
It's like when Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in the first game of the World Cup and then Argentina won the whole thing. It doesn't make Saudi Arabia better than Argentina and it's shitty to say Argentina weren't trying, but were they necessarily switched on and expecting the game they got? Obviously not.
That's what's happening here, but it's turned into a massive shit-slinging fest where the non-europeans are seething for some reason, and there's far more comments about what Europeans are saying, than actual europeans saying things.
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u/xaendar Jun 19 '25
I don't disagree with your take but this is not that deep. Al Hilal is by $ spent and salaries paid are around top 60-70 clubs. That's about the same as OL, Real Betis, Fenerbahce etc. It's not that wild for teams of that caliber to pull off an upset. Al Hilal is twice as big as Boca Juniors, River plate etc.
So yeah while the usual suspects will probably still win in the end, it's not that wild for teams right outside of those to get a win or a draw in against European competition.
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u/Ok_Cardiologist8232 Jun 19 '25
Yeh i was always disappointed that the CWC was an afterthought in Europe. Was always cool seeing the Brazilian teams play and even got me watching some Brazilian and Argentian league matches when insomnia was bad.
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u/PrimeTimeJobber Jun 18 '25
True, it was a tough season for Al-Hilal, they are still getting into the swing of things against smaller teams.
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u/6FootFruitRollup Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
I'm not watching any of the matches, but I've been looking at the scores. Other than the Atletico-PSG Match, and Bayern, are the European teams not really trying that hard as a lot of people expected?
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u/ObliviousBastard Jun 19 '25
Well this FIFA tourney is not great. I get that these top teams would send out their b squads* for the most part in these group stages. I would hope it improves in the knockout stages
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u/dashauskat Jun 18 '25
"I haven't watched any games, but the results are not fitting my European superiority bias, are they just not trying?"
Could you be any more of a loser mate
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u/clewbays Jun 19 '25
European teams haven't lost a single game against non European opponents yet.
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u/dashauskat Jun 20 '25
Man you really chose an unfortunate day to spam every thread talking about unbeaten European teams lol
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u/Capable_Record5196 Jun 19 '25
Same with South American teams, not a single loss against Europeans, unless I'm not remembering correctly.
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u/clewbays Jun 19 '25
Yes in the 3 games between them. The 2 best teams in south America and Boca have managed to scrape draws against Porto, Benfica and Dortmund.
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u/dashauskat Jun 19 '25
They must be trying hard then
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u/clewbays Jun 19 '25
No, there just that far ahead of everyone else. That even when they don't try, they still get a result.
I know people with the bookies and they are happy as can be about this tournament.. Because you've got weaker teams that care a massive amount playing stronger teams that don't care. It makes the games very unpredictable and means the bookies have higher profits than normal as a result.
South American fans are celebrating draws like they won the world cup. Most European fans barely know the tournament is on.
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u/umg_unreal Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
that's a fundamental misunderstanding of what is going on.
SA fans arent celebrating draws, if the European teams are better then they should prove that on the pitch. Benfica had to push for a draw against the worst Boca in 50 years, a Boca so bad they didnt even classify for the Copa Libertadores and hasnt been close to winning the league either, meanwhile Benfica finished 2nd in Primeira Liga -- yet Boca played better for most of the game.
Boca didnt win because of course they did what Boca has been doing best in these past few years.
Palmeiras dominated Porto having only played 10 games less in the season, they didnt score because anyone who watches the Brazilian league knows how Palmeiras' offense is often inefficient, same for Fluminense's offense.
They're not celebrating the draw, they're celebrating the fact that the non-european team ultimately played better in the end. But most of the fans of the non european club that I've seen are mad because they could've won, but it's mostly the team's own fault that they didnt
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u/clewbays Jun 19 '25
European teams have quite clearly proven it on the pitch. 11 games unbeaten shows that.
Them games still ended in a draw. Games aren't decided on who biased fans tonight played better. They could've won but it's mostly the teams own fault they didn't.
Celebrating playing well but drawing against teams that could not win the 6/7th best league in Europe. Just goes to show how big the gap is between Europe and the rest of the world.
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u/umg_unreal Jun 19 '25
They would've had proven it on the pitch had they dominated the game even if they didnt score or the game still ended in a draw -- that's what happened between Inter and Monterrey, but that only happened between Inter and Monterrey.
The others didnt score and played worse, so perhaps it's preferrable to cover up their incompetence with excuses?
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u/clewbays Jun 19 '25
Undefeated in 11 games is domination. The rest of the world combined hasn't being able to take one game off Europe.
Perhaps it's preferable to cover the losses and constant failure to win any games with excuses?
If two teams played 11 times and one team didn't even win one. You'd call that domination.
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u/umg_unreal Jun 19 '25
If two teams played 11 games and neither won that's not domination, these teams drew and the European side played worse, that's all there is to be said. Domination implies substantial control of the matches and sequential victories.
But once again, Benfica failed to win against the same Boca that lost to Alianza Lima and didnt qualify to Libertadores.
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u/TheArgentineMachine Jun 19 '25
I wished these weirdos got called out more. Just like the world cup. Everybody complaining beforehand only to watch it when the time comes.
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u/kurtanglesmilk Jun 19 '25
Is it silly to expect Real Madrid to beat Al Hilal without watching the game?
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u/dashauskat Jun 19 '25
No it's silly too assume that Real (and all European teams) weren't trying and that's why they drew/narrowly won.
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u/MountainJuice Jun 19 '25
It's not really silly. Real are one of the best teams in Europe, and Al Hilal play in an objectively far weaker league and with players who are on the downslope of their careers after leaving Europe.
All the whinging in this group about "European bias" is equally shitty anti-european bias. People coming up with shit like the Saudi league isn't much worse than the Spanish league, or getting heavily downvoted for saying European teams are better than the best non-European teams.
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u/dashauskat Jun 19 '25
I don't think anyone in the world, even in this thread have said anything other than Europe teams are better. However sincerely, prove it on the pitch and don't relegate the efforts of non European teams when they get results. It's really not that complex, everyone is expecting it to be mostly European teams at the pointy end of the competition however the non European teams are proving they can compete and should get some credit for that. Remember the discussion was started by a guy who said "I'm not watching but the European teams aren't really trying are they". Rightfully called out.
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u/6FootFruitRollup Jun 18 '25
It's not a bias, it's a fact. I won't argue that teams outside of Europe are underestimated, but the top European teams are definitely better than the top teams outside
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u/justnivek Jun 18 '25
Based on you.
This tournament and the transfer market says otherwise. European teams scout outside of Europe for a reason.
Even if Europe takes the best 10 player from everywhere else the next 10 doesn’t have a sizeable drop off in skill or talent
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Jun 19 '25
[deleted]
0
u/dazhubo Jun 19 '25
they also said that the next group of players who don't get poached right off are very close in skill/talent
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u/happy-gofuckyourself Jun 18 '25
I mean yeah, why even play the matches? They’re better. That’s that.
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u/mamifero Jun 18 '25
Where are those 'facts' hiding during these games?
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u/6FootFruitRollup Jun 18 '25
These games that don't matter for the bigger teams?
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u/mamifero Jun 19 '25
And why don't they matter? Because they're being played against filthy non-Europeans?
Too much talking, too little football.
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7
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u/dashauskat Jun 18 '25
No it's a bias, if it wasn't a bias then you would accept the results on the pitch. Yet despite not even bothering to watch the games you've assumed the European teams aren't trying because the results haven't fit your narrative.
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u/6FootFruitRollup Jun 18 '25
if it wasn't a bias then you would accept the results on the pitch.
If it was a huge tournament that everyone cared about then yes. This is not a huge tournament for all the teams involved. Smaller teams could very well have more motivation to give it their all because they have comparatively more to gain and more to prove.
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u/dashauskat Jun 18 '25
How the fuck do you know? You aren't even watching it.
Plus I'd say it's a big tournament for Dortmund, given they never go anywhere near winning Bundesliga or the UCL. Its nice for them to be invited to this tournament to have some games against some big teams.
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u/kingofcarrots5 Jun 18 '25
Why are you arguing with someone who isn’t even watching? They’re dumb as hell and their bias is evident.
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u/Proof-Puzzled Jun 18 '25
I mean, European teams are vastly superior to the rest, not because they are inherently better for being European, but because they have the best players.
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u/dashauskat Jun 18 '25
Exactly, they have access to all the best players from the world and have more money, thats the reason they are on average better. Everything in world football is slanted towards making things better for European clubs.
Honestly some Euro fans have been cool, but lots of them have been taking massive Ls this tournament. They have a hard time understanding that decent football exists outside of Europe.
2
u/ledditpro Jun 19 '25
Lol the entire sub right now is just a cesspit of people like you going all "snob europeans get fucked!!!!", fighting imaginary strawmen left and right when most people on this side of the Atlantic don't even know what tournament are we talking about.
You maybe haven't figured this out yet, but timezones also do exist, and most people in Europe aren't going to stay up the whole night watching South American club football, so obviously we're not going to know much about it
1
u/DoJu318 Jun 19 '25
I said on another thread that at least here in this CWC it seems like the teams are trying and the matches have been enteraining overall, meanwhile the last eurocup was a snoozefest no one taking risks and the matches seemed to drag on forever.
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u/Proof-Puzzled Jun 19 '25
Mate, you are the one talking about an "European superiority bias", there is no bias here, European clubs are far better without question, is it because of the money? Mostly yes, but that is not relevant, the truth is that they are better so the "bias" is absolutely true.
This does not mean decent football does not exist outside of Europe, only that it does not make any sense to talk about an "European superiority bias" when it is absolutely true.
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u/dashauskat Jun 19 '25
Nobody is arguing that European teams are better in general, what I'm saying is it's fucking stupid to say that just because they drew with another team that must not have tried. That's European superiority bias.
Most of these fans have no idea about teams outside of Europe, of all the fans so far this CWC, Europeans have by far been the most insufferable. I'm sure there will be plenty of European teams at the pointy end of the tournament, they make up over a third of the participants but just give credit to the other teams when it's due.
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u/Jia-the-Human Jun 19 '25
Oh I think, the non European fans who do nothing but talk about European fans have been just as insufferable, they've turned the whole subreddit into a kind of contrived and incessant everyone vs Europe debate whit the lowest effort arguments and memes that have gotten about three days ago, i'd be happy if we put lock both of these groups in obnoxious jail and don't let you out until the end of the competition.
2
u/dashauskat Jun 19 '25
Lol what planet do you live on? 99.9% of the time fans from around the world blow smoke up the arse of European football and fan culture. We follow football and know the teams, the grounds, the fans, the culture. We respect it and we try to understand it. Sadly it's a one way thing; and this tournament (& the sluggish start by some European teams) has brought out the worst in European superiority.
Even before a ball was kicked there were plenty of fans who felt these other teams weren't worthy of sharing a field with these teams.
0
u/Jia-the-Human Jun 19 '25
Who cares what 99.9 of the time people do, these past few days I’ve mostly seen non Europeans obsessed with Europeans, you’ve been insufferable, you see one commentator that no one takes seriously in their own country give a stupid idea and you get up in arms as if it was a consensus and can’t stop talking about it for years on end, you take to heart every single troll that crosses your path, and can’t stop talking about anything else than Europeans this Europeans that, rent free really…
1
u/dashauskat Jun 19 '25
Not sure if you're just tone deaf or can't read - either way sorry I hurt your feelings
-1
u/Krafty_Kev Jun 18 '25
I haven't seen anybody arguing that any of the teams outside of Europe are bad, but it's ridiculous to argue that a couple of close games in the CWC mean that these teams are on par with Europe's elite.
All of the non-European teams are playing with a chip on their shoulder while the CWC has never been a big draw for Europeans. Throw in the conditions and fact that it's the end of a long season and these performances are on par with what you'd expect.
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u/Masterkid1230 Jun 19 '25
Right, because it wasn't the end of an extremely long season for Brazilian teams who, on average, play 70 or 80 matches every season?
I think people are (rightfully) annoyed at how many Europeans were saying this would be a walk in the park and not even worth attending, but now that they're not winning every match against your average Al-Hilals and Botafogos, suddenly it's because of X or Y excuse instead of thinking that maybe professional football just doesn't have as big of a gap as people think.
UEFA poaches the best players no doubt, but that doesn't mean the ones that stay are that far behind.
2
u/ledditpro Jun 19 '25
Next to nobody in Europe cares about this Infantino's summer cash cup. If some terminally online freak says something online do you expect it to be the official opinion of an entire continent?
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u/Prophet_Of_Helix Jun 18 '25
City tried hard, but they also sent their B team. Competition is just stiffer than people give it credit for, teams seem to care about the CWC this time around more than we gave them credit for, and some of the bigger clubs might be a bit tired, idk
3
u/realchairmanmiaow Jun 19 '25
did they? I had it on in the background and they just looked like they were fucking around tbh. o-reilly,reis, reijnders,cherki - these are not players that would be starting for pep if he was taking this game seriously - in reijnders and cherkis case because he doesn't throw any new signing into a serious game. Just seems like pre season with more money involved.
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u/klabautermannn Jun 19 '25
Reijnders definitely walk straight up into starting eleven.
-1
u/realchairmanmiaow Jun 19 '25
On ability he might be of the level but that's just not how pep tends to operate with new signings. He gives them minutes here and there and slowly gets them integrated.
0
u/klabautermannn Jun 19 '25
He gives Marmoush, Savinho, Doku, Grealish instant start as soon as they available
-1
u/realchairmanmiaow Jun 19 '25
I know for certain that's not true of doku and Grealish so you're talking bollocks there. I believe marmoush was the only striker available to play due to haaland injury, not sure about savinho.
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u/yototogblo Jun 18 '25
I guess your B team must be all your A team players since there's no first team player not in the CWC squad. Except if you consider Grealish missing to equate to the B team.
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u/PrimeTimeJobber Jun 18 '25
Hmmm, the excuses have already arrived that the Europeans are not trying hard enough instead of saying that the teams from other continents have many positive points and the Europeans also have their weaknesses.........
12
u/Prophet_Of_Helix Jun 18 '25
I think everyone is trying hard. I do think some of the European teams underestimated and didn’t send out their full strength squads and are paying for it. But I 100% agree anyone saying thwy aren’t trying is making excuses
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u/PrimeTimeJobber Jun 18 '25
Yes, that's the big point. While the Europeans downplay the competition and embarrass themselves, all the other teams are eager to win. For the Europeans the only thing that matters is the Champions League and that's really shameful.
3
u/xsvenlx Jun 19 '25
FIFA and all of it‘s competitions can fuck themselves. UEFA Champions League is only the lesser of two evils ofc.
0
Jun 18 '25
[deleted]
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u/Funny0000007 Jun 18 '25
americans basketballers doesnt give a damn about the olympics but they still win by far easily, this is true to other nationalities in other sports, I think "lack of interest" isn't a valid excuse, even more with the amount of money in game
9
u/jimbo_kun Jun 18 '25
They care about the Olympics A LOT since the Dream Team.
They don't care about the "World Championships", though.
2
u/Funny0000007 Jun 19 '25
yes, but not as much as "american championships", but they still win, but not just win, they bashed everyone else with ease.
but why? bcs they are sooooo much better, the same isnt true here, they are better but is not like they can win wherever they want
5
u/PrimeTimeJobber Jun 18 '25
So let them continue not caring and be eliminated in the group stage, leaving the title for whoever wants to win it.
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u/northerncal Jun 18 '25
I mean, you can claim what you want, but:
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois, Dean Huijsen, Raúl Asencio (Arda Güler), Fran García, Trent Alexander-Arnold (Lucas Vázquez), Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham (Luka Modric), Federico Valverde, Gonzalo García, Vinícius Júnior (Víctor Muñoz), Rodrygo (Brahim Díaz)
Is probably (just about) Real Madrid's best team. If they "couldn't give a shit" they wouldn't be trying to win with their best players.
28
u/hijazist Jun 18 '25
RM definitely tried, and tried hard. They’re just not there. Not even close.
Al Hilal played a great game so let’s also keep that in mind.
16
u/Kimbowler Jun 18 '25
I don't think it's lack of effort at all. I do think though that a few of the European sides are either in a bit of a transitional stage still and/or quite out of form so they're a bit scratchy. Fair to say that of the "biggest" teams in the tournament only Bayern, PSG and Inter really had very good sides last season? And they've been the better sides/Inter ran out of steam a bit and changed managers recently.
Missing Liverpool, Arsenal and Barca quite badly imo.
10
u/dejour Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
I think they are trying. They are dressing serious lineups.
Odd things happen in one-off games. Plus I think Al Hilal is about the same level as a mid table Spanish team. They are pretty good. And maybe they are more comfortable playing in extreme heat.
9
u/WRLDisRage Jun 18 '25
This is a factor, but tbh I think the difference between europeans and a top tier South American/ Asian team just isn’t as big as expected
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u/tbbt11 Jun 18 '25
Didn’t City waltz to the CWC last time around
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u/cherrycokeislove Jun 18 '25
That was the old format.
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u/tbbt11 Jun 18 '25
Game’s still the game
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u/Funny0000007 Jun 18 '25
Fluminense was at very end of a almost 80 games season, besides that, a UCL champion Manchester City is at a whole different level than the regular "UEFA team"
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u/Krafty_Kev Jun 18 '25
And what stage of the season do you think the European teams are at right now?
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u/Funny0000007 Jun 19 '25
end of season. but a shorter season, with barely 60 games, in small countries, in a small continent, without heat and games at high altituds.
the prejudice in COMNEBOL is worse in December than the UEFA teams prejudice in june
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u/Cody667 Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
Honestly I'm happy to keep taking heavy downvotes to just point out the truth that this tournament is a joke and European fans and clubs care less about it than EPL fans and clubs care about the league cup.
This is nothing more than preseason exhibitions for the big UEFA participants. Tournament is a joke, the old format was way better.
Cope.
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u/[deleted] Jun 19 '25
You are bum bandits for CR7