Flamengo will be the South American representative in the 2025 Intercontinental Cup and, therefore, will have the mission of ending a fast that has already lasted 13 years. This is because the last time a South American club won the tournament was in 2012, when Corinthians beat Chelsea 1-0. Since then, only the Europeans have won the cup. But, with Rubro-Negro on the rise, thousands of fans are optimistic and looking for How to download the bet365 app to place your bets.
The truth is that Flamengo’s life will not be easy at all. Firstly, the Rio club will have to overcome the competitive Cruz Azul, from Mexico, in the semifinals. And there is a factor that always weighs on Brazilian teams and helps explain the lack of titles in the Intercontinental Cup: the excess of games.
To give you an idea, Flamengo’s match against Cruz Azul will be Rubro-Negro’s 76th of the season. The Mexican team, on the other hand, will “only” make its 54th appearance. In other words, the wear and tear of Brazilian players interferes considerably in the dispute. It’s no surprise that many teams here haven’t managed to get through to the semi-finals and, when they reach the final, they pose little danger to the Europeans.
Exceptions
Of course, from 2013 onwards, there were some exceptions. Flamengo itself is one of them, when, in 2019, it played a good game against Liverpool, taking the match to extra time. They ended up losing 1-0, with a goal from Roberto Firmino, but they posed a threat to the Reds and were not intimidated.
The same happened with Palmeiras in 2021, who drew 1-1 with Chelsea in normal time, but, at the end of the second half of extra time, conceded a penalty goal that guaranteed the English team the title.
Strengthened teams
In recent years, Brazilian football has been strengthening and, as a result, some teams are managing to assemble very qualified squads. Flamengo, without a doubt, is the main example.
It is undeniable that there is still an important difference when comparing with top European teams: this is the case of Paris Saint-Germain, Rubro-Negro’s possible rival in the decision.
In any case, Botafogo, which is currently an inferior team to Flamengo, showed that it is possible to compete and beat PSG. In the Club World Cup held in the middle of the year, Glorioso beat the French 1-0, and the result was essential for the Rio club to advance to the next stage in the tournament.
Therefore, despite the inevitable exhaustion of Flamengo players, the Intercontinental Cup could bring pleasant surprises to football lovers. An eventual final between Rubro-Negro and PSG has the potential to be a match that is not only balanced, but also very well played.
