Miami Gardens, Fla. — There’s a noticeable skepticism conveyed through social media and television. After a 1-1 tie with Real Madrid at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, Al Giral entered the mixed zone and questioned players from both teams about their surprise at the match outcome. Following one remark about Real Madrid being "the best team in the world," Malcolm chuckled in response.
"We also know how to play soccer," the Brazilian winger asserted.
This served as a clear message from both the U.S. and Saudi Arabian teams just five days following the Club World Cup. Contrary to popular belief that European super clubs stroll into the semi-finals, six South American teams played their opening matches successfully, remaining undefeated.
In South Florida, just two days after Boca Juniors tied Benfica, Fulminense triumphed over Borussia Dortmund while Monterrey drew with Inter Milan. Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal proved competitive against the European champions.
"It was a very balanced match," said Al Giral fullback Joan Cancelo afterward in Spanish. He noted that both sides could have won, making the draw a fair result.
This marked the seventh game in the Club World Cup between European teams and professional non-European challengers. Even though no European club has lost, five have faced tough draws. Brazilian clubs Palmeiras and Fulminense both settled for 0-0 ties against Porto and Dortmund, respectively, while Boca Juniors led Benfica 2-0 in a match that ended 2-2.
On Tuesday night, Monterrey showed strong determination against Inter, the UEFA Champions League finalist. "We said we would go toe-to-toe, and I think we did," Ramos mentioned, acknowledging they had moments where they outperformed Inter.
Sixteen hours later, Al-Hilal raised the stakes, recording more than double the shots on goal against Real Madrid in the first half. They waned in the latter half, but goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, recognized as one of the top three keepers in men’s soccer, made a crucial penalty save in stoppage time to secure a point.
Speaking afterward, Cancelo praised his team’s performance and what it reflects about the Saudi Arabian league. "I’m not claiming we’re world-class," he said. "We’re good players." Despite his experiences at clubs like Juventus and Manchester City, he was "surprised" upon arriving at Al Giral, now deeming the team "very strong."
Al-Hilal stands as a major force in a league that’s still developing, having spent $550 million on player transfers in the last two years. They’re currently the only Asian team to achieve results in this Club World Cup.
Nonetheless, Cancelo reiterated in multiple languages that "we have outstanding players in this league" after having played in what’s considered the best leagues globally.
This sentiment may have drawn skepticism in the past, but now Europe may need to reconsider the thinning gap between it and the "Big Five Leagues" (England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France). While fatigue could be one excuse, there’s still a notion that European dominance might prevail eventually.
When asked about the potential of Saudi, South American, and Mexican teams continuing to challenge European clubs, Malcolm confidently replied, "That’s true." He emphasized that teams like Al-Hilal and others from Asia and South America would continue to surprise in this tournament.
Real Madrid did not appear surprised by the challenge. Defender Dean Huijzen acknowledged their awareness of Al-Hilal’s capabilities: "We knew they were at a high level."
As Huijzen stated, "Don’t underestimate your opponent."
This news is significant for soccer fans, highlighting the increasing competitiveness of leagues outside Europe. With the gap narrowing, it suggests that traditional power dynamics in the sport may be shifting, making for an exciting and unpredictable future in global soccer.
