By
FIFA Club World Cup trophy
Joao Cunha
The 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final reunites two of the most popular teams in the world. Liverpool who are 6-time Champions League winners and Flamengo who have won 2 Copa Libertadores titles. Teams that have a tradition of playing attractive football and winning titles. Liverpool are one of the most popular teams in the world, while Flamengo are the most popular team in Brazil. Both clubs are linked together by one prior meeting back in 1981.
Flamengo and Liverpool met in the final of the Intercontiental Cup in 1981. Flamengo led by Zico beat Corbeloa in the final 2-0 to clinch the Copa Libertadores. Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0 in Paris 1-0 to win their 3rd European Cup. Liverpool had never participated in the Intercontiental Cup before despite winning the European Cup 2 previous times, declining the invitation. They didn’t take the final as seriously as they should have as many of the Liverpool drank heavily one day before the game, Flamengo feeling disrespected by the fact they were considered underdogs were motivated to prove a point. And they made that point clear as Flamengo destroyed Liverpool 3-0 with three first-half goals. (Two from Nunes and one from Adillo) It was a beatdown that humbled the English side and many of their players expressed regret about the way they handled the game. Bob Paisley who didn’t want to take the game seriously even apologized to his own players on the plane ride home. Flamengo used their victory as a sign of their emergence as the club in Brazil. It was the first world title a Brazilan club won since Pele’s Santos side and they did it in style. Flamengo are still the only club in Rio de Janeiro with a world title as Flu, Botafogo and Vasco have not won either the Intercontinental Cup or the Club World Cup. (Flu and Botafogo never evcn won a Libertadores, Vasco did finish runner-up in boht the in the Intercontiental Cup and Club World Cup losing to Real Madrid and Corinthinas respectively.) Flamengo and Liverpool after that meeting went on different paths in the next 38 years.
Flamengo despite winning that title never won a Libertadores again until 2019, suffering many humiliating defeats in the competition. However in Brazil they won the league title in 1982, 1983, 1987, 1992. 2009 and 2019 being very successful domestically. In fact since 1981 only Corinthians have more league titles in that spa than Flamengo. Coupled with 3 Copa do Brazil titles, 1 Copa dos Campeao title, 1 Copa Oro and 1 Copa Mercosul they have been successful in cup competitions domestically and in South America. They also over took Flu and became the record winner in the Rio-State championships having regional dominance to add to their domesic success. But until 2019 Flamengo couldn’t get it done in the Libertadores and that curse came to end after a dramatic final over River Plate. Flamengo were 1-0 down with 2 minutes to go in normal time and scored 2 unanswered goals in 3 minutes to win 2-1 and take the Libertadores title back to Rio. Gabigol was the hero with 2 clutch goals in the final, is the main goalscorer. Bruno Henrique who is decisive with goals and assists, Arrrascaeta who is the midfield maestro, and Rodrigo Caio and Pablo Mari at the back they have a great core of players. Flamengo won the league as well to go with their Libertadores title in 2019 and won their 35th state title beating rivals Vasco in the final. This has been Flamengo’s most historic year since their famous 1981 side won the Carioca, Libertadores, and world titles. Through the excellent leadership of manager of Jorge Jesus they came together at ther right time and won big titles. He’s only been in charge since July and is already a legend at the Rio club winning 2 major trophies. If he can deliver one more time for Flamengo against Liverpool he will be considered the greatest manager in the club’s history such is the respect he has been given by Flamengo fans. It isn’t just the results but the style as well which brings Flamengo fans into delight. The fans chant “Mister, mister” at the end of every Flamengo game and he did what so few others did. He woke up the sleeping giant of Brazilian football and potentially could repeat the historic feats of 1981 all over again.
Liverpool on the other hand have done incredibly well in Europe winning the European Cup in 1984 and the Champions League in 2005 and 2019. They also addded the UEFA Cup in 2001, and three UEFA Super Cups to boot. Domestically it has been a far bigger challenge. in 1990 Liverpool won their last English league title and ever since they haven’t won another. In the new Premier League era (post-1992) they have consistently underachieved only finishing 2nd in 2001, 2009, 2014, and 2019 and failing to win the league. While the rivals Manchester United won 13 Premier League titles to overtake Liverpool in league titles won, prior to 1992 it was Liverpool 18 titles- Man United 7 while now it is Man United 20-Liverpool 18. Thankfully for Liverpool that drought is likely to end in 2020 as they have a sizeable 10-point lead over 2nd placed Leciester City in the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp has built a fun, fast-paced team that rips team apart on the counter-attack. With an excellent front three in Mane, Salah, and Firmino they score bucket full of goals. Their midfield is solid with Henderson, Keita, Milner, Winjaldum. Their defense is excellent behind the Alison the best goalkeeper in the world, and Van Dijk the reliable Dutch defender. With this core group they won the Champions League in 2019, overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the semi-finals against Barcelona to reach the final. In the final they beat Tottenham 2-0 in a tense final with goals by Salah and Origi. They also won the UEFA Super Cup beating Chelsea on penalties. They are ready to win major trophies and the Club World Cup would be another title to add to Liverpool’s cabinet. Liverpool have never won the Intercontiental Cup or Club World Cup losing all 3 finals they played in. In 1984 they lost 1-0 to Indiepidente of Argentina, in 2005 it was Sao Paulo who beat the Reds 1-0. Those defeats sting Liverpool as their rivals Manchester United have 2 world titles and they don’t have any. This final could go a long way in fixing tjhat record and get revenge on the team that embarasssed them 38 years ago.
In the Club World Cup itself both teams struggled in their respective semi-finals. Flamengo had to come back from a goal down to beat Al-Hilal 3-1 with goals by Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique, While Liverpool needed a last-gasp Firmino winner to sink Monterrey 2-1. Both teams are dealing with long and tough schedules., Liverpool are the midst of playing 11 games in about a month. Flamengo started their season back in late-January with the Carioca. Liverpool have injury concerns as Fabinho is out with a serious injury, while Van Dijk and Winjaldum are doubts for the final, Flamengo have a team that is mostly fit but maybe a little bit tired from the sheer amount of games they played in the last 10 months. For Liverpool this is a chance to add a title they never won to their collection, But make no mistake the final is more important to Flamengo. Flamengo have a chance to make history do something that very South American culbs post 2004 have been able to do: become world champions. Since 2004 only Corinthians, Inter, and Sao Paulo have lifted the Club World Cup as South American clubs. With the new format coming in 2021 it will be harder for South American clubs to win the tournament, as there will be eight European teams competing and it will be every 4 years. Since the financial disparity is so great between European and South American clubs, a bigger event only decreases their chances for South American clubs winning the world title. (According to transfer market valuations Liverpool’s team is worth 10 times the amount Flamengo’s squad) So this might be Flamengo’s best chance to add to their 1981 crown. Liverpool are clearly favorites and they should be. They have won the Champions League and that is the hardest club soccer tournament in the world. But Flamengo will have a legio of fans behind them and they will be inspired by the 1981 side., That Flamengo side was also underdogs to a mighty Liverpool side, that Liverpool side also had other priorities that were deemed more important, that Flamengo side were also coming off a gruelingt season. The odds were more likely then but if Liverpool take Flamengo lightly, the Flamengo side could be once again reliving 1981 all over again.
Notes
English teams are 2-8 all-time against South American sides in Intercontiental Cup and Club World Cup matches including 2-7 in finals. Manchester United won both finals beating Palmerias 1-0 in 1999 and LDU Quito 1-0 in 2008.
Brazilian clubs are 9-7 against European sides in the Interconitental Cup/Club World Cup format. They are also 3-1 against English teams with Flamengo beating Liverpool 3-0 in 1981, Vasco da Gama beating Manchester United in 2000, and Sao Paulo defeating Liverpool 1-0 in 2005.
Flamengo fans have even made songs dedicated to their famous victory over Liverpool in 1981. The song notes that in “December of 1981, Flamengo routed Liverpool, 3-0 against Liverpool, and became marked in history.”
The last time a South American club beat a European side in the Club World Cup it was in 2012. That year another Brazilian side Corinthians defeated an English side Chelsea 1-0.
Liverpool are the club with most Champions League titles without a world title, every other European club with at least 3 Champions League titles has at least one world title.
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