FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 7 Flamengo Shaheen shines can do it again, with fi ve wickets says former as Pakistan fi ght star Zico back in 2nd Test Saturday, December 21, 2019 Rabia II 24, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP Liverpool’s Brazilian boys ready to face Flamengo Forward Firmino and keeper Alisson were key figures for Klopp’s side in overcoming Monterrey in the semi-final DPA Doha Our desire to razilians Robert Firmi- win is big, says no and Alisson Becker will be out to overcome Reds’ Becker one of their country’s Bbiggest football clubs when lisson Becker understands the Liverpool take on Flamengo in importance of the FIFA Club today’s fi nal of the Club World World Cup to Flamengo but Cup. The match will begin at Ainsists the Brazilians’ desire to 8.30pm. secure the trophy is matched by Liver- Forward Firmino and keeper pool. Alisson were key fi gures for The Reds will face the South American manager Juergen Klopp’s side champions in the final in Doha today in overcoming Monterrey in evening as they aim to win the tourna- Wednesday’s semi-fi nal. ment for the first time in club history. Alisson made a number of Alisson spoke to the media ahead of important saves and Firmino the game and outlined his respect for came off the bench to notch Flamengo, who won the Copa Libertado- the stoppage-time winner in res and domestic title on one weekend in a 2-1 victory which now gives Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker speaks to the media at a November. European champions Liverpool press conference yesterday. But he equally underlined the determina- the opportunity of winning the tion within his team to make themselves club title for the fi rst time. defenders Dejan Lovren and the competition is expanded to world champions. Brazil keeper Alisson pre- Joel Matip, as well as Brazil- a new 24-team format in 2021. “It’s a very important match for me and dicts a diffi cult encounter with ian midfi elder Fabinho, who Flamengo and Liverpool have my team, to play against such a famous the champions of his home- can be deployed in defence, it met before, with the Brazilians team, and big team, like Flamengo,” said land in the match at the Kha- meant skipper Jordan Hender- beating the English side 3-0 in the Liverpool goalkeeper. lifa International Stadium. son had to move from midfi eld Tokyo to win the former Inter- “We played against Monterrey; football is “Flamengo have a lot of to fi ll the central defensive po- continental Cup in 1981. The the same, however, clubs diff er in terms quality, they have a good de- sition against Monterrey. Reds also lost the 2005 Club of style. The Mexican team played a very fence but I don’t know what Despite the match coming World Cup fi nal to another tough match and we didn’t play the best to expect from the game,” he at a diffi cult time of the sea- Brazilian side, Sao Paulo. match. said. son for Liverpool — who will Brazil’s Corinthians in 2012 “But tomorrow I’m sure we’ll spare no ef- “I just know it will be a nice return to meet second-placed were the last South American forts to win against Flamengo. Flamengo challenge for us, a good chal- Leicester City in a Premier side to win the trophy, with are a very famous team and has players lenge and I think for who will League match on Thursday — the titles since then going to who have participated in many interna- be watching the game it will be Henderson insisted the side Bayern Munich (2013), Barce- tional competitions, so they are used to a nice game with quality [of a] were keen to win a trophy not lona (2015) and four times to playing in big competitions and reaching high level. always treated in Europe with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, the final. “We are both champions of the importance it is regarded 2018). Flamengo coach Jorge “I hope tomorrow’s match will be a very the most important tourna- in South America. Jesus underlined the signifi - interesting and enjoyable one. And for ments, us with the Champions “We want to win and hope- cance of the competition for his us to win the title. However, the most League and Flamengo won the fully we can do that at the side by saying today’s encoun- important thing is for the fans to see the Copa Libertadores. weekend,” he told ter would be “the most impor- excitement and enjoy themselves watch- “I know how important this the Liverpool club website. tant match of my career.” ing the match.” championship is for the Bra- “We’ve got another tough op- And veteran Diego, a key He added: “It’s big for Brazilians. But I zilian teams and South Ameri- Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder ponent as we have seen during player in midfi eld remembered think it’s bigger for whoever is playing can teams, and I know it will be Roberto Firmino (L) dribbles the week, so it’s another tough in Germany from his time at this. Those outside don’t give value for a hard game for us.” past Monterrey’s defender game but we’ll recover and go Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg, this competition because it’s limited just Klopp is waiting on the fi t- Leonel Vangioni during their again.” said: “For us it is history. We are for the winners. ness of central defender Vir- 2019 FIFA Club World Cup Qatar, the 2022 World Cup ready to make a good game on “Flamengo won the Libertadores, we won gil van Dijk, who missed the semi-final match in Doha on hosts, will again stage the Saturday.” the Champions League, Monterrey won victory over Mexican side Wednesday. tournament between the win- Today also sees the match for the CONCACAF, and many other clubs Monterrey due to illness. ners of the six continental con- third place between Monterrey won big competitions. And we are here.” With injuries to central federations next year before and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. BOTTOMLINE Wily Jorge Jesus stands in Klopp’s way as Flamengo aim to stop Liverpool AFP Only the small matter of Klopp’s Brazil, never mind succeed. Doha Liverpool stands between them and a Jesus was already a comparative fi rst victory for South America in this veteran when his managerial career competition since Corinthians beat really took off upon joining Benfi ca in urgen Klopp’s impact on Liver- Chelsea in 2012. 2009. pool during four years in charge “This is the most important game of He stayed six years, becoming their has been transformative, but my career. It is the cherry on the cake longest-serving coach while winning the man in the opposing dug- of Flamengo’s season, the biggest fi nal three Portuguese titles and reaching Jout in today’s Club World Cup fi nal I have been involved in,” said Jesus. two Europa League fi nals. His move to has needed just a few short months to Those comments in some ways Flamengo came after three more years make history at Flamengo. speak to the importance of this occa- at Sporting Lisbon and a brief stint at Jorge Jesus was only appointed by sion in South America, with the Club Al Hilal. the Rio de Janeiro giants in June, the World Cup their one chance to com- Regular observers of Brazilian foot- arrival of the white-haired 65-year- pete with Europe’s giants. ball have noticed the success he has old Portuguese coach raising eye- Interest in this competition is al- enjoyed with a more typically intense, brows in Brazil. ways muted in Europe, especially as European approach, and that will give He immediately made his mark and it comes in the middle of the club them reason to believe an upset could in the last month has seen the coun- season. Meanwhile, the number of happen against Klopp’s team. try’s best-supported side win the Flamengo fans visible around Doha, “Of course with Jorge Jesus there Copa Libertadores for just the second decked out in red and black, confi rms is European infl uence but the players time and then claim a fi rst Brazilian what this event means to them. themselves are already quality,” Klopp title in a decade, fi nishing 16 points “This is the game of our lives and insisted. clear. we will be at our very best,” said the “If there was not a European coach it Jesus has overseen just two defeats Flamengo’s coach Jorge Jesus former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea would already be diffi cult. Jorge Jesus in 29 league games and his team are speaks at a press conference full-back Filipe Luis to Globoesporte. is very, very experienced and was very now one win away from lifting the at the Khalifa International Jesus has taken them there, to their successful in Portugal and now in Brazil Club World Cup after defeating Al- Stadium yesterday. 74th and fi nal game in 2019, having as well, so we have a lot of respect for Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday. become a rare foreign coach to work in that.” Gulf Times Saturday, December 21, 2019 FIFA Club World Cup 2 Qatar 2019 PREVIEW Hilal take on Monterrey in third-place play-off By Sports Reporter Doha audi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Mexico’s Monter- rey will square off in a match for third place at Sthe FIFA Club World Cup today.