retired_jdupont

*waves* </BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep, I think the tournament has huge potential. Sure, maybe not many people care now, but that was the same for the first few European Championships in the 60s. Will become an extremely important tourney in the future </BLOCKQUOTE>

Said it before, will say it again: FIFA ought to have it as a two-yearly event in the odd years between the WC and the Euros/Copa America, with 16 clubs. That'll see it taken seriously across the board. </BLOCKQUOTE>

The problem with 16 teams is that you end up including teams that didn't win anything.

But it could be solved by inviting the 6 continental winners + the league winners of Argentina, Brazil, England, Italy, Mexico and Spain. This way we already have 12 teams. Add then the runners-up of Libertadores, European CL, CONCACAF Champions Cup and the winner of the host country league.

DebSchiff

I don't think it is. Which is odd, I mean isn't this the kind of stuff Eurosport loves? Sure I saw the Asian Champions League on there a few weeks ago ffs.

retired_jdupont

Or maybe the Egyptian, Japanese and Saudi champions. That would make more sense than including runners-up.

DebSchiff

Nah, hold it every two years, fifteen teams, winners of the big two euro and SA competitions from the past two years, past two years winners of africa, north america and asia and the national champions of the host nation. Oceana doesn't get a place, most recent CL winners given a bye past the first round.

retired_jdupont

It has to be an annual competition, just like the CL and Copa Libertadores are.

Play it over two weeks in December or January in a knock-out format.

retired_rachelst

Should just be a massive worldwide tournament with the winners of every division in every championship in every country in a knock out. Would be brilliant.

retired_ashc21

Sepahan :cool:

runronnirun

pretty nonsensical crowbarring a team from the home nation in really (or another team if a team from the host country actually manages to earn a place on merit), especially with it being such a small tournament. hard enough to take the thing seriously with it essentially being CL winner vs Copa Libertadores winner with a not-particularly-difficult obstacle put in each of their paths, even harder when some random team gets to take part in a tournament to find the best team in the world just because their country is hosting the thing.

works alright in international football with the World Cup and other tournaments because there are more teams and you can generally be sure that the host nation is of sufficient quality that they'd have most likely participated anyway. except for Austria next year of course, but then we all know co-hosting is a gash idea.

retired_jdupont

Unfortunately FIFA think the attendances and the revenue will be higher with a team representing the host country.

retired_jdupont

Pachuca vs Étoile du Sahel (Sunday) is going to be an interesting game. Étoile du Sahel beat Egyptian's superpower Al-Ahly to win the African Champions League while Pachuca have a good team on paper, but don't always show that on the pitch. Pachuca were beaten 4-2 by JEF United in a friendly game a couple of days ago.