Every year, or almost very year, the Club World Cup is thetournament of the best of the best in the soccer world, the champions of eachprovince of the world playing the champions of the other. Although some clubs have won multiple timesin the history of the championship, no team has won back to back. Real Madrid, with two previous titles underthe belts, will attempt to be the first back to back champs in serieshistory. Today they will battle against Brazil's Gremio in the FIFAClub World Cup final. A victory on Saturdaywould give them their fifth trophy of the year, they lost out only on the Copadel Rey. In 2017, the Vikings havecaptured also the Primera Liga, the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish SuperCup and the UEFA Super Cup. Coach Zidaneand captain Sergio Ramos have vowed not to look beyond their Brazilianopponents. Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid will give their “maximum” intheir bid to make history in Saturday’s FIFA Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi. The defending champions take on Brazil’sGremio in the showpiece at Zayed Sports City seeking to become the first teamto lift the trophy in successive years. While this championship is wellrespected in South America and in many places in the world, Europeans tend tolook beyond it to their normal season, and to the Champions League competitions.
Zidane acknowledges that Gremio represent formidableopponents. The Porto Alegre side were the last side to book their place in theClub World Cup having late last month sealed a first Copa Libertadores crown in22 years. Gremio defeated Mexico’sPachuca in Tuesday’s semi-final to secure the meeting with Madrid, whileZidane’s men struggled the following day to overcome UAE champions Al Jazira.They required an 81-minute goal from substitute Gareth Bale to seal thevictory. The come from behind win wasconsidered a miracle by the Spanish press, and Gareth Bale was referred to as"El Salvador," the Savior. ArchrivalsBarcelona are the only team which has won three Club World Cup titles, so witha victory Saturday, Real Madrid would join them on this lofty perch,vindicating themselves despite their flagging in the Spanish standings. Meanwhile, Gremio manager Renato Portaluppi has warned Madridthey will face a “super-motivated” opponent when the two face off in Abu Dhabion Saturday. May the best team win. The US sports world is concentrated, today, on the beginningof the Bowl Season in College Football. Todaythere are five bowls. R+L Carriers NewOrleans Bowl will be contested at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans,Louisiana, at noon, local time. The TroyTrojans (10–2) will battle the North Texas Mean Green (9–4), the Sun BeltConference vs. Conference USA. The AutoNationCure Bowl will be played at the Camping World Stadium, Orlando Florida, pittingthe Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (6–6) against the Georgia State Panthers (6–5),another matchup of the above conferences. The Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada, pits the #25Boise State Broncos (10–3) against the Oregon Ducks (7–5), the Mountain WestConference vs. the PAC 12. Truly, ifthere were ever a dog of a day in theBowl Season, today is it, but the Boise State vs. Oregon game, matching theMountain West Conference and the PAC 12, is the saving grace. There are two games rounding out the day, the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, at DreamstyleStadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, matching the Marshall Thundering Herd (7–5),and the Colorado State Rams (7–5), and the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, at the CramtonBowl, Montgomery, Alabama where the Arkansas State Red Wolves (7–4) and the MiddleTennessee Blue Raiders will play. An astounding controversy has erupted in Milano, Italy, wherethe blood feud is apparently not dead. Last year he was the phenom, and toast of the town... Now, AC Milan fans are venting their anger atGianluigi Donnarumma as Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain prepare to offergoalkeeper escape. Based on hispopularity, and renown as the great white hope of Italian sport, the Italiangoalkeeper signed a new contract, but is reportedly keen to get this new contractannulled, which would allow him free agency at the end of the year. This has enraged Milan fans, who have bandedtogether to display massive anti Donnarumma banners at their home games. The banners attack both Gianluigi Donnarumma's, who haspreviously been featured in this space, and his future at AC Milan. Fans have also demanded that the "otherDonnarumma," Gianluigi's "parasite"brother leave the club. The largest banner,unfurled at the San Siro stadium in ACMilano's Copa Italia victory over Verona, was aimed at Donnarumma and read:"Psychological violence by giving you €6million-a-season & signingyour parasite brother? It's time to leave ... our patience with you isover!" His contract, a four-year, €6 million-a-year deal, allows Donnarummato "annul" the deal. Donnarummais reportedly claiming that he signed his new contract under pressure from theMilan board, with Raiola even suggesting his client had received death threatsbefore committing his future to the club. That is certainly a lot to handle for a teenager. Donnarumma burst onto the scene in 2015 as a16-year-old and has since established himself as Milan's, and maybe Italy'sundisputed No 1. Watch this space for further updates. -- Posted By Rex to SR at 12/16/2017 01:19:00 AM -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "omnisport" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/omnisport. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
