Its difficult to think of anything other than a thrashing playing Bayern. But City have been in these situations before and have done OK.
They’ve never played anyone remotely as strong as Bayern Munich though.
And if they did, the old format was a glorified friendly structure and most clubs didn't care about it. Given the money involved now, it makes it less than a glorified friendly, even though you can debate that it is.
On DAZN for free if you wanted to watch it live, otherwise you won't be able to replay the matches unfortunately unless you fork out for a monthly subscription.
We all know they're up against it at this tournament, and it's all part of the fantastic experience for the lot of them going up against these serious world class opponents. But I can't be the only one thinking that it could end up being quite damaging all the same.
4-0 down inside 20 was filling me with a very heavy sense of dread. Although they've kept them out for 20 minutes now, so some would say a steadying of the ship at least.
Yeah tough one but Bayern went strong and had to play what was in front of them.
Definitely looked like Auckland wern't use to playing in this way which they obviously arent. Playing deep and not having the majority of the ball. They lacked the urgency to break I felt, especially in the first half.
Yoo and Tracy did well. Gerson was very lively when he came on and was far better than Lobo. But Lobo had the unfortunate job of coming up as against Olise. What a player Olise is btw, woow.
Might be harsh, considering the opposition, but I was hoping for more from bigger players like Mitchell and Ilich. Mitchell caught ball watching. Whilst I thought Ilich was very immobile, rarely breaking out of second gear and not finding space to receive the pass.
Ahh well, what a once in a life time opportunity for the team. They gave it their all against a proper powerhouse of a club who did not take their foot off the gas (which I respect more)
Tough match for Auckland. Social media here in Europe has gone ballistic. Unfortunately this has shown NZ football in a very very poor light. We are currently a joke. You cant dress this up as a plucky underdog story. Its given lots of ammo to European football people who never liked the idea of an expanded World Club in the first place.
This is bad for NZ football. Alot of people outside the region won't understand our unique club situation. However fifa may have to change the rules to allow our pro teams in. Or not allow amateur teams in the competition.
Tough match for Auckland. Social media here in Europe has gone ballistic. Unfortunately this has shown NZ football in a very very poor light. We are currently a joke. You cant dress this up as a plucky underdog story. Its given lots of ammo to European football people who never liked the idea of an expanded World Club in the first place.
It’s a complete waste of time. Not good for football, nor player welfare. Yet more overreach from FIFA imo.
The international press headlines are tough, "its said this WCC is a circus, well the New Zealanders are the clowns" and another " the New Zealanders give pub football a bad look" ouch!
As someone has pointed out most people on the planet know nothing about NZ football and think City is our best team. Maybe FIFA will relook at amateur teams competing and fudge the rules to get AFC or the Nix in there. They have a good history of fudging the rules.
The international press headlines are tough, "its said this WCC is a circus, well the New Zealanders are the clowns" and another " the New Zealanders give pub football a bad look" ouch!
As someone has pointed out most people on the planet know nothing about NZ football and think City is our best team. Maybe FIFA will relook at amateur teams competing and fudge the rules to get AFC or the Nix in there. They have a good history of fudging the rules.
Couple of tough calls there - sure ACFC aren't a pro team, but they are hardly a social pub team either.
I'd love to see an actual pub team play Bayern, if they managed to keep it the scoreline anywhere near 10-0 I'd be surprised.
IMHO this is "the end of the line" for ACFC as it has existed since 2004. The end of the old NZFC and the debut of the OFC Pro League (not to mention the new Foley team) have removed not only their reason to exist, but rendered their "shamateur" business model unworkable.
Anyone remember the Knitting Circle, their glee at the Serepsisos scandals, their jibes about the "Aussie competition" and glorying in "coalface football" (i.e. the artificial NZFC franchise comp)?
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
This was on the cards. I was surprised that FIFA did not insist that ACFC strengthen. I assume the money is there. So, is this a cash grab? But, even if it is, FIFA could underwrite some better players if this tournament was truly that important to them.
The coaching issues and sending surely the worst squad they've ever sent make me feel that ACFC have really dropped the ball on this one.
The international press headlines are tough, "its said this WCC is a circus, well the New Zealanders are the clowns" and another " the New Zealanders give pub football a bad look" ouch!
As someone has pointed out most people on the planet know nothing about NZ football and think City is our best team. Maybe FIFA will relook at amateur teams competing and fudge the rules to get AFC or the Nix in there. They have a good history of fudging the rules.
Couple of tough calls there - sure ACFC aren't a pro team, but they are hardly a social pub team either.
I'd love to see an actual pub team play Bayern, if they managed to keep it the scoreline anywhere near 10-0 I'd be surprised.
Bayern regularly play a 'pub team' - FC Rottach-Egern. The scores are routinely in the 20's. Notably in 2019 Singh scored for Bayern in one of these games.
As others have noted, incredibly embarrassing and pretty damaging for NZ football's image (I guess for both the governing body and football in our country as a whole). One of the commentators had clearly never heard of ACFC before (understandably) and was waffling on about how they're the best footballers in the country and they're stars/heroes back home.
Non-kiwi fans will see and hear all this kind of stuff and it's to our detriment, makes us seem so much more tinpot than we are. Especially when obviously none of those blokes get even close to the national team, I found it pretty frustrating tbh.
As others have noted, incredibly embarrassing and pretty damaging for NZ football's image (I guess for both the governing body and football in our country as a whole). One of the commentators had clearly never heard of ACFC before (understandably) and was waffling on about how they're the best footballers in the country and they're stars/heroes back home.
Non-kiwi fans will see and hear all this kind of stuff and it's to our detriment, makes us seem so much more tinpot than we are. Especially when obviously none of those blokes get even close to the national team, I found it pretty frustrating tbh.
That's more embarrassing for the comments person to be fair, shows a lack of research and any real attempt to understand anything about where a team has come from. You'd expect that it would be a basic requirement to know something about the teams competing.
Probably the least surprising result ever, frankly I'm more impressed the scoreline wasn't worse. On the bright side Connolly has blown up on TikTok with his last video garnering nearly 200k likes, so that's a lot of publicity for Auckland City. I know people are worried about bad publicity but honestly no one expected ACFC to do well anyway so might as well grab the attention while they can
As others have noted, incredibly embarrassing and pretty damaging for NZ football's image (I guess for both the governing body and football in our country as a whole). One of the commentators had clearly never heard of ACFC before (understandably) and was waffling on about how they're the best footballers in the country and they're stars/heroes back home.
Non-kiwi fans will see and hear all this kind of stuff and it's to our detriment, makes us seem so much more tinpot than we are. Especially when obviously none of those blokes get even close to the national team, I found it pretty frustrating tbh.
We draw Germany at the World Cup. Kimmich & Pavlovic tell their Die Mannschaft team mates relax, the NZ team are a bunch of real estate agents and building surveyors. The AWs channel the spirit of Charles Upham, and the Woodsman nods in for a shock 1-0 win.
Back when Dolorarse was a ACFC fan , gee thats some time ago ...Doloras
IMHO this is "the end of the line" for ACFC as it has existed since 2004. The end of the old NZFC and the debut of the OFC Pro League (not to mention the new Foley team) have removed not only their reason to exist, but rendered their "shamateur" business model unworkable.
Anyone remember the Knitting Circle, their glee at the Serepsisos scandals, their jibes about the "Aussie competition" and glorying in "coalface football" (i.e. the artificial NZFC franchise comp)?
Good, then some teams might really underate us at the proper world cup and we beat themJazzy Jeff
As others have noted, incredibly embarrassing and pretty damaging for NZ football's image (I guess for both the governing body and football in our country as a whole). One of the commentators had clearly never heard of ACFC before (understandably) and was waffling on about how they're the best footballers in the country and they're stars/heroes back home.
Non-kiwi fans will see and hear all this kind of stuff and it's to our detriment, makes us seem so much more tinpot than we are. Especially when obviously none of those blokes get even close to the national team, I found it pretty frustrating tbh.
It is pointless in the sense that this won’t prove who the best club team in the world is. imanixsupporter
Negligence not getting in guest players.
Yes having ACFC in this comp is silly but I disagree with the eurosupremacist attitude that the whole thing is a waste of time
It's good for global football though. Take some of the attention and some money away from Europe for once.
Not sure it takes any money away from Europe? If anything, it gives it more given the number of teams playing in it? It’s a waste of time. If it needs to exist then it should be the actual champions of each regions international competition. That’s all, but it doesn’t and just makes a mockery of domestic leagues. All it does is prolong the football season and run more players into the ground.
As others have noted, incredibly embarrassing and pretty damaging for NZ football's image (I guess for both the governing body and football in our country as a whole). One of the commentators had clearly never heard of ACFC before (understandably) and was waffling on about how they're the best footballers in the country and they're stars/heroes back home.
Non-kiwi fans will see and hear all this kind of stuff and it's to our detriment, makes us seem so much more tinpot than we are. Especially when obviously none of those blokes get even close to the national team, I found it pretty frustrating tbh.
That's more embarrassing for the comments person to be fair, shows a lack of research and any real attempt to understand anything about where a team has come from. You'd expect that it would be a basic requirement to know something about the teams competing.
That BBC article linked to earlier in this thread shows it’s not that hard, they even talked to some of the ACFC players.
For all the talk that this is embarrassing for the club, I didn’t expect to ever wake up to the Beeb having live text updates on an amateur side from NZ with over 27000 people viewing the page - that’s the equivalent of filling Mt Smart with Becker rounding.
FIFA probably looked at Auckland’s (and Team Wellington) record at the previous edition of this tournament and thought they would be ok. Typically, the NZ semi-pro / amateurs have done well.
But I feel like FIFA weren’t aware that this is not the Auckland City of old. They no longer play in the franchise form of the NZ National League (which was likely higher standard) and their squad has been recently weakened by the creation of Auckland FC who have taken some of the best ACFC players.
I know why AFC and The Phoenix are not at the CWC but this really should change in four years time. Take the team with the best head to head over four years between Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix and have a professional representation from New Zealand/Oceania. Or at least they then play the winner of the OCL. Professional club should be a minimum requirement from now on.
Aside all this and I think it has been brought up earlier. Bayern have played semi-pro and even small professional clubs in the German Cup and bater them to a similar score line. So it does pain me to read about all the global flack the team are getting. They did all they could but probably shouldn't have been thrown in to start with.
Also I hear many reports saying their were players that couldn’t travel due to work commitments back home. Can anyone enlighten me to who this was?
