City cruises to its first-ever World Cup victory
After Julian Alvarez opened the score in the opening minute, City’s victory maintained the dominance of European teams in the competition since 2012.
The Brazilians’ hopes of an upset were all but dashed by Nino’s own goal in the first half, before
Alvarez and Phil Foden completed the scoring in the last 20 minutes.
This year, Pep Guardiola’s club had already won the FA Cup, Premier League, Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup. Erling Haland was out due to injury for the worldwide competition.
After eight years in charge, the Spaniard implied that his tenure at the club would be coming to an end when he stated that “the job was done” and “there was nothing else to win.”
We seem to have closed a chapter, in my opinion. At a press conference, Guardiola stated, “We’ve already won every title.” “There is nothing more to be gained. I feel like the work is finished and over.
After joining City in 2016, Guardiola won 16 championships with the team. With eighteen months left on his contract, he continued, saying he wanted to start a new chapter with the squad.
“Now that Christmas has arrived, get a new book and get to work on it once more. It’s over for the past eight years, he declared. “I’m closing the chapter in honor of eight years of amazing effort that went on behind the scenes. On the plane today, we rejoice; tomorrow, we rest. There are still players who are driven and ravenous. It’s an incredibly lovely day.
“To win these five trophies—for me, the five biggest prizes available to us—is incredible,” Captain Kyle Walker continued. I can honestly say that playing with these players is an honor; I couldn’t ask for finer teammates. I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of this. Being seated here today with the (five titles) under your belt is truly unique and a tremendous accomplishment because it is extremely difficult to win continuously.
Forty seconds after kickoff, Alvarez had the visiting City supporters roaring. Nathan Ake’s long shot was well-pushed off the post by goalkeeper Fabio, but Alvarez was fast to the rebound and went down on his hands and knees to chest it in.
In less than a year at City, the 23-year-old Argentine added to his impressive collection of medals, which already included the World Cup and Copa America at the international level, the Copa Libertadores at River Plate, and medals from the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
In the 27th minute, Nino scored an own goal as he diverted Foden’s shot into the net.
In the 72nd minute, Foden scored the game’s winning goal after sliding to poke in a powerful cross from Alvarez across the box.
With a goal from just inside the box to complete his brace in the 88th, Delighted City supporters broke into “Blue Moon.”
After Julian Alvarez opened the score in the opening minute, City’s victory maintained the dominance of European teams in the competition since 2012.
“I have the feeling we’ve closed a chapter. We’ve already won all the titles,” Guardiola told a news conference. “There’s nothing left to win. I have the feeling the job is done, is over.”
Guardiola, who arrived at City in 2016, claimed his 16th title with the club. He added he wanted to write a new chapter with the team where he has 18 months left on his contract.
“Now it’s Christmas time, buy another book and start to write it again. The last eight years it’s over,” he said. “When I close the chapter it’s for eight years of incredible work behind the scenes. Today we celebrate on the plane, tomorrow rest. The players out there are still hungry and motivated. It’s a beautiful, beautiful day.”
Captain Kyle Walker added: “To win these five trophies — for me, the five biggest prizes available to us — is incredible. I am so proud to have been a part of this and I can honestly say it’s an honour to play alongside these players; I couldn’t ask for better team mates It’s really, really hard to win consistently, so to be sat here today having won the (five titles) is really special and a huge achievement.”
Alvarez had the travelling City fans cheering 40 seconds after kick off. Keeper Fabio did well to push Nathan Ake’s long shot off the post but Alvarez was quick to the rebound, stooping to his hands and knees to chest it home.
At just 23, the Argentine added to his remarkable haul of silverware that includes the World Cup and Copa America at international level, the Copa Libertadores during his time at River Plate, plus Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup medals during just over a year at City.
Nino scored an own goal in the 27th minute, deflecting a shot from Foden sideways into the net.
Foden put the game away in the 72nd minute when he slid to poke in a hard cross across the box from Alvarez.
Alvarez completed his brace in the 88th with a strike from just inside the box, prompting delighted City fans to break into “Blue Moon.”
The victory made Guardiola the first manager to guide three different clubs to Club World Cup titles, winning with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, then Bayern Munich in 2013.
The Brazilians’ hopes of an upset were all but dashed by Nino’s own goal in the first half, before
Alvarez and Phil Foden completed the scoring in the last 20 minutes.
This year, Pep Guardiola’s club had already won the FA Cup, Premier League, Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup. Erling Haland was out due to injury for the worldwide competition.
After eight years in charge, the Spaniard implied that his tenure at the club would be coming to an end when he stated that “the job was done” and “there was nothing else to win.”
Prior to departing for Saudi Arabia, City’s dismal Premier League performance had given Fluminense cause for concern about Guardiola’s team’s vulnerability.
However, what was shown was the widening gap that vast financial disparities in the worldwide game were creating between Europe’s finest clubs and the rest of the world.
22 straight victories for European teams during the Club World Cup.
The manager of Fluminense, Fernando Diniz, told Brazilian TV Globo, “We faced a City which have been the best team in the world for the last five years and they know how to make the most of the opportunities they create.” They always hit the mark, scored goals quickly, and penalized us for our errors. We should be honored for our amazing year and for having laid the foundation for our arrival. There is nothing to be ashamed of—it was a fantastic ride.
The only negative aspect of City’s evening was Rodri’s apparent knee injury, which caused him to collapse onto the field after Alexsander grabbed him by the ankle. Rodri grabbed the back of his knee right away. He took a short break from the game after receiving treatment, but he eventually went down once more and fled the field in pain.
As the tournament’s best player, Rodri was given the Golden Ball and was able to cross the presentation stage to collect his prize. Walker, the captain of the City, won the Silver Ball.
An expanded 32-team format will be used in the 2025 tournament in the US.
