logo
Soccer-Bayern's Kompany cautious of 'dangerous' Club World Cup rivals Boca

Soccer-Bayern's Kompany cautious of 'dangerous' Club World Cup rivals Boca

Hindustan Times20 hours ago

June 19 - Bayern Munich strolled to a 10-0 win over Auckland City in their Club World Cup opener but there will be no room for complacency when they face Argentina's Boca Juniors in their second Group C match, the German club's coach Vincent Kompany said on Thursday.
Boca came close to winning their opener against Benfica but let a two-goal lead slip away in a 2-2 draw with the Portuguese side, and Kompany said they presented a real threat on the transition.
"We know the quality of the tournament ... every team taking part here is a winning team," Kompany told reporters ahead of Friday's game, with Bayern looking to win their third Club World Cup title.
"Boca are a very dangerous team in the transition game. They believe in their moments. The team spirit is good. We have respect for Boca. But we're looking at ourselves and want to bring our qualities to the game."
Kompany said they were familiar with the Argentine style of play with many of the country's players plying their trade in Europe.
"We know a lot of Argentinian players from the European leagues. It's a football we understand very well," he added. "It might feel a bit like an away game. But we want to be Bayern Munich. We have to show the right emotion."
Kompany was happy to welcome attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala and centre back Dayot Upamecano back into the side after missing over two months with injuries.
Germany's Musiala, who scored 12 goals as Bayern secured their 34th German top-flight title, came off the bench to score a hat-trick against Auckland on Sunday.
"Jamal Musiala and Dayot Upamecano haven't played for a long time. We're very happy that they're back and fit. Integration is an important issue and we have to look at it. Otherwise, everyone's 100% fit," Kompany said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Teams from 'south' have Club World Cup heat advantage: Dortmund's Kovac
Teams from 'south' have Club World Cup heat advantage: Dortmund's Kovac

Hindustan Times

time35 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Teams from 'south' have Club World Cup heat advantage: Dortmund's Kovac

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said Friday teams from the "south" have an advantage on European teams at the Club World Cup because of the current high temperatures in the United States. HT Image South American teams have impressed at the tournament and are unbeaten to this point, while Dortmund's South African opponents on Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns, beat Ulsan HD in their first Group F match. Temperatures are expected to rise up to 32 degrees Celsius during the game at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, kicking off at 12:00 pm local time. Kovac's uninspired Dortmund were held to a 0-0 draw by Brazilian side Fluminense in their opening match on Tuesday. "At the moment in this tournament you see that the clubs from the south, I think they have a big advantage because of the conditions, of the heat," Croatian coach Kovac told reporters. "We're respecting every team and we know this is a very good team, from Africa, from South Africa." Brazilian side Botafogo stunned Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, while Chelsea lost against another Brazilian team in Flamengo. Some players and coaches have complained about the heat and humidity they have been forced to play in at FIFA's expanded competition, as well as fans who have also suffered. "For the spectators in the stadium it is incredibly hot, now you can imagine how difficult it is for the players," continued Kovac. " 32 degrees when you're in the shade, and you're not even in the sun. So when you play inside the stadium you can assume it is 3, 4 or 5 degrees even hotter. "These are not excuses, it's just an explanation... this is very difficult, especially for the Europeans. The players from the south, for them it's easier because they are used to these temperatures." Kovac said his team would try to keep the ball away from Mamelodi because of the sweltering conditions in Ohio. "We need to prevent them from possessing the ball, we all know that it is going to be very warm, extremely hot tomorrow," said the coach. "We will play at noon tomorrow and we will play under the sunlight, we need to make sure we have the ball at all times. "If you have to run after the ball, it will mean a lot of effort." Kovac would not reveal if Jobe Bellingham, brother of Real Madrid star Jude, would be handed his first start, but said it was an option. "Don't forget to bring sunscreen, hat, and enough water to drink," Kovac warned reporters before departing. "Everyone on the bench will be under the sun for the entire time." Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso was hopeful of springing a surprise against Dortmund. "Upsets can happen when the mental conviction of the team is strong and their emotional connection is so strong that magic can happen," he told reporters. rbs/ea BORUSSIA DORTMUND This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

FIFA Club World Cup: Benfica triumphs in lopsided, weather-delayed win over Auckland
FIFA Club World Cup: Benfica triumphs in lopsided, weather-delayed win over Auckland

The Hindu

timean hour ago

  • The Hindu

FIFA Club World Cup: Benfica triumphs in lopsided, weather-delayed win over Auckland

Leandro Barreiro scored in the 76th and 78th minutes as Benfica pulled away to a 6-0 victory over semi-pro side Auckland City in a Group C encounter Friday, one plagued by a lengthy halftime weather delay. Angel Di María converted twice from the penalty spot for his second and third goals of the tournament, once in stoppage time of each half. Vangelis Pavlidis and Renato Sanches added goals early in the second half after play finally restarted. The Portuguese victors pressured until the end, knowing goal differential could determine who advances to the FIFA Club World Cup knockout phase, and Di María earned a second penalty shot with one final slaloming run into the box. Benfica will close Group C against Bayern Munich, which defeated Auckland 10-0 in their opener. Officially eliminated, Auckland will play Boca Juniors on Matchday 3 on Tuesday. Boca and Benfica drew 2-2 on Monday. After Auckland's Nathan Garrow made seven first-half stops, Di Maria finally put Benfica in front in the eighth minute of first-half stoppage time. Gianluca Prestianni won the opportunity, slicing into the right corner of the box and weathering Haris Zeb's late sliding challenge. ALSO READ: Flamengo fights back to stun Chelsea 3-1 and stay top of Group D Di Maria calmly converted, allowing Garrow to guess in the wrong direction before dispatching his side-footed effort. That eased some growing frustration from the Portuguese favourites after a succession of missed chances and 18 total first-half shot attempts. Amid that stretch, Alvaro Carreras picked up his second caution of the tournament, meaning he'll be suspended for Benfica's third match against River Plate on Tuesday. Auckland began the second half energetically after the match was delayed approximately two hours and nine minutes due to inclement weather. But Benfica doubled its advantage in the 53rd minute through Pavlidis, who received Orkun Kokcu's pass inside the penalty area with his back to the goal, turned, neatly evaded a lunging challenge and finished low to the left post. In the 63rd minute, substitute Sanches made it 3-0 only moments after his second-half introduction. His shot from beyond the area took a heavy deflection off Auckland's Matthew Ellis on its way into the bottom right corner.

FIFA Club World Cup: Flamengo fights back to stun Chelsea 3-1 and stay top of Group D
FIFA Club World Cup: Flamengo fights back to stun Chelsea 3-1 and stay top of Group D

The Hindu

time2 hours ago

  • The Hindu

FIFA Club World Cup: Flamengo fights back to stun Chelsea 3-1 and stay top of Group D

Flamengo overturned a first-half deficit to defeat Chelsea 3-1 in their Club World Cup Group D clash on Friday, with second-half goals from Bruno Henrique, Danilo, and Wallace Yan securing the Brazilian side's second consecutive win in the tournament. Pedro Neto's early strike had put Chelsea ahead, but the Premier League side squandered several opportunities to extend its lead, allowing Flamengo to stage a stirring comeback. The Brazilians scored two goals in quick succession through Henrique and Danilo in the 62nd and 65th minutes, which was followed by Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson being shown a straight red for a nasty studs-up challenge three minutes later. Flamengo wrapped up the victory with Yan's strike in the 83rd minute. The result leaves Flamengo on top of Group D with six points from two matches, while Chelsea remains second with three. Esperance de Tunis and Los Angeles FC have yet to register a point, with both sides having a game in hand. ALSO READ: Liverpool signs Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen Flamengo began brightly, pressing Chelsea high and forcing defensive errors, but it failed to capitalise on early chances as Luiz Araujo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Ayrton Lucas were denied by Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez. However, Chelsea struck first in the 13th minute after Flamengo fullback Wesley sliced a clearance attempt and lost his footing, gifting the ball to Neto. The Portuguese winger raced unmarked into the box and slotted a composed finish past Agustin Rossi to give Chelsea the lead. The goal shifted momentum, with Chelsea dominating possession and creating further chances. Malo Gusto and Liam Delap had efforts saved by Rossi. Flamengo also had a great chance, with Enzo Fernandez clearing a Gerson volley off the line just before halftime. Chelsea also appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty when Fernandez appeared to be held in the box. Flamengo, however, roared back into contention after the break. Bruno Henrique, introduced as a substitute, made an immediate impact in the 62nd minute. Gerson's cross found Gonzalo Plata at the far post, whose clever header set up Henrique for a simple tap-in to equalise. Just three minutes later, Flamengo took the lead from a corner. Henrique rose highest to head the ball back across the box, where Danilo pounced to fire home from close range. Chelsea's troubles deepened when Jackson, who had just come off the bench, was sent off in the 68th minute for a reckless studs-up challenge on Lucas. Flamengo sealed the victory in the 83rd minute when Yan, another substitute, slotted home a rebound after a surging run from the right by Plata.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store