Sport THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2021 Players,Players, fans will lovelo Qatar’s World Cup plans: Xavi I thinkthin (the timing of the tournament) is a big advantage – for pplayerslaye and fans. World Cups have historically been at the end of thet season for most players – when they are tired both mmentally and physically. In 2022, they will be in the best possible shape – and that’s a plus for everyone. Xavi Hernandez Sport | 10 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP QATAR 2020: Third place play-off: Al Ahly vs Palmeiras (6:00pm); Final: Bayern Munich vs Tigres UANL (9:00pm) German giants ready for CWC showdown against Mexican side Bayern, Tigres eye glory in Qatar FAWAD HUSSAIN Bayern Munich (left) and THE PENINSULA Tigres UANL players in action during training sessions on Bayern have won all three of their previous FIFA Club World Cup outings, Bayern Munich are just a win away the eve of the FIFA Club World from writing a new chapter in their Cup Qatar 2020 final which scoring at least two goals per game illustrious history as they face a spirited kicks off at the Education City and conceding none. Tigres UANL in the final of the FIFA Stadium at 9:00pm today. PICTURES: Club World Cup Qatar 2020, today. TWITTER/ Should Manuel Neuer keep a clean A victory at the Education City @FCBAYERNEN, sheet in today's final, the men from Stadium – a FIFA World Cup 2022 @TIGRESOFICIAL venue - will give the European cham- Munich would also equal Barcelona’s pions such an honour that has eluded record of four consecutive clean sheets them in their entire history spanning at the 2011 and 2015 championships. over 120 years. Since its inception in 1900, the For the Reds, it’ll be the first most successful German club has won a record number of Bundesliga (30), competitive match against a team from Cup (20), Super Cup (9) and League Cup Central America in the club’s history, (6) titles along with six UEFA Cham- just as the Mexicans will be playing a pions League titles besides winning European club in a competitive match many other events. for the first time. Today’s finale, which will kick off at 9:00pm, gives them a chance of lifting their sixth crown of the season, Bayern won the FIFA Club World which they haven’t done before. In Cup back in 2013. Since that triumph, fact, only FC Barcelona have achieved not a single European team has been the feat to date after their stunning beaten in the competition. The last 2009 season under Pep Guardiola. Led by coach Hans-Dieter Flick, defeat for a UEFA representative came who took charge in November 2019, in 2012, when Chelsea lost 1-0 to Bayern have won the German Super Boateng setback for Germans Bayern Munich not invincible, Tigres to give a strong show against Corinthians in the final. Tigres, on the Cup, the Bundesliga, the German Cup, says Ferretti the favourites. other hand, pulled off a first by the Champions League and the Flick, however, announced yes- “By statistics, Bayern are a winning European Super Cup this season, and terday the team will miss experienced Meanwhile, Brazilian-born Ferretti team, but it does not mean that they becoming the first CONCACAF team to standing in their way of their record central defender Jerome Boateng, who looked confident as he are invincible. They have lost like we reach the final of the FIFA Club World sixth title are Tigres – who have had to return home due to personal spoke to media yes- have lost, they have won like us, Cup. shown characteristics of a giant slayer reasons. terday, hoping for they are a solid team like us,” in the tournament. “This has stunned us,” Flick said of said Ferretti, who has Against Tigres UANL, Hansi Flick The CONCACAF Champions the 2014 World Cup winner, who coached the side to five League winners under long time coach started against Al Ahly. domestic league titles in could win what will already be his Ricardo Ferretti stunned Copa Liber- “Jerome came to me and asked recent years. sixth title in his 68th competitive tadores Palmeiras 2-1 to become me to return home. After a “Naturally we match as Bayern head coach. the first Mexican side to reach negative (COVID-19) the final of the elite test he tournament. Nevertheless, Bayern, who always think we must do things well won their maiden CWC title in 2013, when we play against a great team. will enter the title clash as hot will return We have the quality and we must put favourites owing to their golden run home and not be a team effort. I hope my team will give of form in which they have been vic- available until further André-Pierre a top display in the final.” torious in 18 of their past 19 European notice.” Gignac Tigres captain Guido Pizarro said: matches. Flick’s side has also won Today, Bayern captain “We will do our best against a top side. their past seven competitive matches Manuel Neuer – the Best FIFA We want to win the tournament. “ on neutral venues including their 2-0 Men’s Goalkeeper – also faces victory against African champions Al a task of keeping Bayern’s Palmeiras seek consolation Ahly in the semi-final on Monday clean sheet as his side has not win against Al Ahly when Robert Lewandowski’s brace conceded a single goal from Before the final, Palmeiras fired them into the final. their three games in the and Al Ahly will square off in European teams have dominated tournament. the third position play-off at this tournament, and since Bayern’s Neuer’s biggest chal- 6:00pm at the same venue. title-win seven years ago not a single lenge will be to Palmeiras were expected to team from the continent has been hold meet Bayern in the final beaten in the competition. Though Frenchman but a shock semi-final the odds are heavily in Bayern’s André- defeat relegated them to favour, coach Flick is not taking Pierre the third place play-off. anything for granted. Gignac, Coach Abel Ferreira said: “Tigres are a very talented side. who "We will fight for third place. It They have strong mentality and scored all was not what we wanted, but it is great attitude,” Flick told a virtual the three goals what we will fight for. Our goal is to news conference on the eve of the for Tigres in Qatar. play from start to finish, as it was final. “Gignac isn’t the only against Tigres." “I watched their semi-finals and I player. It will depend on the Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane said: was very impressed with their per- overall performance. Gignac “We have faith in all our players, and formance. They have a lot of speed also benefits from the strong we have to deal with the fact that and determination. We have to be in wingers. We have to keep him Mahmoud Kahraba and El Shahaat full force against them and avail out of the box and prevent won’t be able to play. However, I scoring opportunities. I have confi- Tigres from getting the chances,” understand that their actions were not dence in my team,” Flick added. Neuer said yesterday. intentional.” Bayern Munich Tigres UANL Coach: Hans-Dieter Flick (Germany) Coach: Ricardo Ferretti (Brazil) Manuel Neuer (captain), Niklas Süle, Nahuel Guzmán (Argentina), Carlos Jérôme Boateng, Leon Goretzka, Salcedo (Mexico), Hugo Ayala (Mexico), Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Rafael Carioca (Brazil), Jordan Sierra Alexander Nübel, Ron-Thorben Robert (Ecuador), André-Pierre Gignac (France), Hoffmann, Leroy Sané, Lewandowski Diego Reyes (Mexico), Juan Sánchez Purata Thomas Müller (Germany); (Mexico), Leonardo Fernández (Uruguay), Aldo Benjamin Pavard, Bouna Cruz (Mexico), Guido Pizarro (captain) SSarr,a Lucas Hernandez, Corentin (Argentina), Javier Aquino (Mexico), Francisco TTolisso,li Kingsley Coman (France); Meza (Colombia), Raymundo Fulgencio (Mexico), Javi Martínez, Marc Roca (Spain); Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Luis Quiñones (Colombia), Luis Rodríguez (Mexico), Douglas Costa (Brazil), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon), Jesús Dueñas (Mexico), Carlos González (Paraguay), Julián Quiñones Alphonso Davies (Canada), David Alaba (Austria), and Jamal Musiala (Colombia), Juan Pablo Chávez (Mexico), Érick Ávalos (Mexico), Arturo (England) Delgado (Mexico) and Patrick Ogama (Mexico) THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 11 FIFA Legends Kaka, Javier Mascherano and Julio Cesar Gignac vs speaking during a press conference held at the Lewandowski: Education City Stadium. A shootout between legends FIFA.COM – DOHA Can FC Bayern München emulate the 2009/10 Barcelona and complete one of the greatest achieve- ment’s in football history? Can Tigres UANL cause the biggest shock in FIFA Club World Cup final history? Legends Kaka, Mascherano and We’ll find out today, but one thing we know for certain is that both teams are indebted to 30-some- thing, foreign goal Julio Cesar predict enticing final machines. On the eve of the showdown, we spotlight Robert Lewandowski and FIFA.COM – DOHA winning six titles in a year] - so who What are their chances of actually Andre-Pierre Gignac. will you be rooting for? beating Bayern in the final? The FIFA Club World Cup always accu- Mascherano: I wasn’t part of that Kaka: It’s fundamental to have a It’s fundamental to have a great game Numbers mulates footballing expertise from across team, I arrived later. If Bayern win, we great game plan if you are playing a team plan if you are playing a team at this the globe, so it came as no surprise to see have to congratulate them, they have at this level.