RABAT — Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal will award a one million riyals ($266,500) bonus to each player from Al Hilal for the 3-2 win over South American champions Flamengo on Tuesday that sent them to the Club World Cup final.
Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo suffered a surprising 3-2 Club World Cup semifinal defeat to Asian representatives Al-Hilal on Tuesday, meaning that South American sides have advanced to the final in only three of the last seven tournaments.
Flamengo manager Vítor Pereira and veteran defender David Luiz promised they wouldn't fall into the traditional Conmebol trap of overlooking their semifinal opponents while dreaming of Real Madrid, but before the halftime whistle had even sounded the Brazilian club had conceded two stupid penalties and been issued a red card.
Arturo Vidal is the kind of player that always wants to be on the field. So, being a benchwarmer on a star-studded Flamengo team is starting to rot his veins. That was more than evident on Wednesday night when, after learning he would not be subbing in, Vidal threw a tantrum that has now him at a crossroads with Flamengo's fans and the media.
RABAT - Real Madrid are favorites for a record-extending fifth success at the Club World Cup, and in the process keeping up European dominance over South America in the annual tournament, which kicks off in Morocco on Wednesday.
Real, who won previously in 2014 and then three successive tournaments from 2016 to 2018, are on course for a showdown with Flamengo of Brazil in the final but both must play a semifinal match first before they can set up an intriguing decider in Rabat on Feb. 11.
Brazilian giant Flamengo played their first game of 2023 on Thursday night and took the chance to honor the memory of Pelé, who died on Dec. 29. Sadly, not everybody at the Maracanã Stadium showed due respect to O Rei, with a group of fans chanting and calling him a "pothead" during a customary minute of silence.
Dentro de la lista de cosas que hacer antes de morir de cualquier futbolista sudamericano, seguro que hay una línea en que dice ser "campeón de una Copa Libertadores y campeón de una Champions League". Sin embargo, en la historia son pocos los jugadores que pueden presumir haber ganado los trofeos de los torneos continentales más importantes del planeta.
Pero de vez en cuando pasa y el central brasileño David Luiz es testimonio vivo de que ese deseo puede ser realidad.
Copa Libertadores, the most riveting club tournament on the planet, will decide on a new champion this Saturday. Although two-time winners Palmeiras is out of the picture this time, two Brazilian teams will be determining the title for the third year straight.
The contenders? Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense.
Considering their history and the players in the team, the Rio de Janeiro giants are the big favorites in the final.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal player David Luiz experienced a night of contrasting emotions last Wednesday. The defender led Flamengo over Corinthians to claim the fourth Brazilian Cup in the club's history but, seconds later, had to deal with disturbing news about his family, who had suffered a car accident just before the game.
Corinthians and Flamengo delivered a forgettable 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Brazilian Cup final Wednesday. However, there was some action worth mentioning in the stands thanks to the Timão's fans, who deployed a fantastic hawk-inspired 3D tifo before kick-off.
The Gaviões da Fiel — the biggest group of supporters of Corinthians — were behind the imposing design. The whole process took 14 days, and 100 fans worked together to raise it over the east stands of the Neo Química Arena.
On Wednesday night, a Flamengo fan was arrested by Brazilian police moments before his team faced Vélez Sarsfield in the Copa Libertadores semifinals. His crime? Kissing an ESPN reporter on her cheek without consent.
And while for some this might sound excessive, the truth is that it's not.