QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune FIFA’s never QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune been more ready ahead of a World Cup than Qatar 2022: Infantino FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 PAGE 12 BAYERN MUNICH LIFT FIFA CWC QATAR 2020 TROPHY, EMULATE BARCELONA Pavard’s 59th minute strike sinks Mexican Tigres DPA/TNN DOHA EUROPEAN champions Bay- ern Munich defeated Tigres UANL of Mexico 1-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 final at the Education City Stadium on Thursday to emulate the Barcelona team of 2008-09 with six titles in one season. FIFA President Gianni In- fantino presented the FIFA Club World Cup trophy to Bay- ern Munich captain Manuel Neuer in the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olym- pic Committee. Benjamin Pavard scored the winner in the 59th minute, with the video referee saying that Robert Lewandowski was not offside in the build-up as originally ruled. Germany’s Bayern had a goal disallowed after a review earlier in the game with 12,000 fans allowed in, with face masks and social distancing. It was the latest success for Munich and their coach Hansi Flick who took charge in No- vember 2019 and led them to the Bundesliga, German Cup, Champions League, German and European Super Cups be- CHAMPIONS! Bayern Munich players and coach celebrate as captain Manuel Neuer raises the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 trophy at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on Thursday. (AFP) fore getting the sixth trophy in his 68th game at the helm. Only the Barcelona team Tigres, the first club from shortly after the restart. around coach Pep Guardiola the CONCACAF region to make Munich finally broke the and Lionel Messi enjoyed the final, were unchanged from deadlock shortly before the similar success with six titles their previous wins against hour, with a viedeo review in 12 years ago. Ulsan and Palmeiras with all their favour this time around. Bayern won the competi- goals from former France for- Kimmich fed Lewandowski tion delayed from December ward Andre-Pierre Gignac, whose header was denied by owing to the coronavirus for and started without fear. Guzman but fell to Pavard who the second time following Bayern soon gained control tapped into the empty net. Le- 2013, and previously also the and Joshua Kimmich found wandowski was first deemed former Intercontinental Cup the net in the 18th with a low offside but Munich could cele- in 1976 and 2001. drive into the far left corner, brate a few minutes later when Bayern were without only for the goal to be nullified the review confirmed the Pole Thomas Mueller on short no- after video review as Lewan- had been onside. tice as the influential forward dowski was ruled to have been Tigres, to their credit, tested positive for the Sars- in the path of the ball in an off- never gave up and Andre- CoV-2 virus and was isolated. side position. Pierre Gignac, metres out, Leroy Sane took his place Kingsley Coman had a long- was inches away from con- upfront and Niklas Suele was in range blast saved by Nahuel necting with a Javier Aquino defence after Jerome Boateng Guzman, Sane fired against flick-on in the final stages, had left the team Wednesday the outside left post in the 33rd but Bayern were wholly Bayern Munich’s Polish star Robert Lewandowski (No. 9) runs in to celebrate with French defender Benjamin Pavard (3rd left), and teammates, for personal reasons. and Gnabry curled inches high deserving of their victory. after Pavard scored during the FIFA Club World Cup nal against Mexico’s UANL Tigres at the Education City Stadium on Thursday. (AFP) FIFA legends anticipate ground-breaking World Cup 2022 in Qatar IFA legends Kaka, Javier in terms of technology and the same location,” said Kaka. start of the season. The truth is Mascherano and Julio comfort, this one has a differ- “That will be amazing because that the expectations are very FCesar believe the FIFA ent touch by maintaining the we will be able to watch two, good in that sense, in terms of World Cup Qatar 2022™ will identity and the culture of the maybe three, games in the the games and the level that is unite and inspire football fans country with very particular same day in different stadi- going to be seen.” from across the globe. details,” Mascherano said. “I ums with different atmos- Former Brazil goalkeeper The South American trio think that makes it quite spe- pheres and different support- Julio Cesar echoes the sen- – all previous winners of the cial, it differentiates it from ers. It will be really nice and timents of both Kaka and FIFA Club World Cup™ – the rest.” I’m looking forward to it.” Mascherano in believing that have been in Qatar for the Having participated in The compact nature of the Qatar 2022 has all the mak- 2020 edition of the annual previous editions of the FIFA first World Cup to be staged ings of a special World Cup. competition after it was post- World Cup during their illus- in the Middle East and Arab “I think Qatar is getting poned last year due to the trious careers, all three FIFA world is not the only unique ready in a way that will see COVID-19 pandemic. Legends believe the compact thing about Qatar 2022. With many football fans arrive from With the football world nature of Qatar 2022 offers the tournament taking place around the world,” said the having played many matches many advantages for the teams during November and Decem- former Flamengo, Inter Milan behind closed doors in recent that qualify, as well as the fans ber, many of the world’s top and Benfica shot-stopper. months, former Brazil play- that plan to attend. All the sta- players that ply their trade in “Everything I’ve seen here maker Kaka was delighted to diums are in close proximity Europe will be in peak condi- so far has been a pleasant sur- see Club World Cup games of one another in Qatar, with tion and able to perform at a prise, particularly in terms staged in front of a limited the longest distance between very high level. of the infrastructure that is number of fans in Qatar – FIFA legends Kaka, Javier Mascherano and Julio Cesar at the Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday. venues just 75km. In addition, “I think it will be some- already in place, so we know in line with the country’s fans and players will only need thing very positive because we by 2022 that Qatar will be COVID-19 protocols. a tournament like this – even if infrastructure to be completed Former Argentina mid- to stay in one accommodation are going to find the players, ready to host the World Cup. I “The experience was re- it is just with a limited capacity for football’s showpiece event. fielder Mascherano was very throughout the tournament, who are the soul of this sport think the tournament will see ally nice because we’ve all been in attendance – is a sign of hope This included a trip to Al Khor impressed with the stadium, meaning they will always be and in the middle of their a meeting of different cultures through a very, very tough pe- that we are almost finished af- to get a first-hand look at the which is designed to resemble close to the action. seasons, are not going to ar- and will be a special moment riod,” said the former Sao Pau- ter this dark period.” spectacular Al Bayt Stadium a traditional Arab tent. “It will be unique this rive tired,” Mascherano said. for the world after the difficult lo, AC Milan and Real Madrid As part of their visit to – the venue for the opening “It is incredible, beyond World Cup because all the “They are going to be at a good times we have all had to en- midfielder. “To be able to come Qatar, the trio also had the match of the World Cup on 21 the fact that the stadiums we stadiums are very close, so level because they already had dure with the pandemic.” back to the stadiums and watch opportunity to see the latest November 2022. have seen are all spectacular, everybody will be almost in plenty of preparation since the (SC.qa) Sports Friday, February 12, 2021 11 QFA PRESIDENT MEETS SAUDI MINISTER OF SPORTS AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association, received the Saudi Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal on Thursday. Earlier, the QFA President also met with President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, and President of the Dominican Republic Football Association Osiris Guzman, where they discussed matters of development of the game. His Excellency also met with Ahmed Mujahid, chairman of the tripartite committee in charge of managing the Egyptian Football Association, and Abdel Khaleq Masoud, member of the Executive Ofce of the Asian Football Confederation. El Shenaway does the star turn for Ahly Goalkeeper’s spot-kick saves seize third place nish for African champs Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy is mobbed by teammates after his saves ensured their win in the FIFA Club World Cup over Brazil’s Palmeiras at the Education City Stadium on Thursday. (AFP) Beat Palmeiras 3-2 on penalties AGENCIES DOHA MOHAMED El Shenaway saved two penalties in the shootout as Al Ahly of Egypt edged Brazil’s Palmeiras 3-2 to finish third at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ after 90 minutes had ended with the score 0-0.