Dortmund's frustration at the start of the Club World Cup: 0-0 against Fluminense!

Dortmund's frustration at the start of the Club World Cup: 0-0 against Fluminense!

June 17, 2025 could go down in the history books for Borussia Dortmund - but not necessarily with positive memories. In the first group game of the FIFA Club World Cup, which is being played in the USA, Dortmund could not get beyond a 0-0 draw against Fluminense from Brazil. Despite a solid squad and high demands, coach Niko Kovac's team got off to a rocky start in the tournament, which Niklas Süle also loudly criticized. “We expected more,” said the defender, who was a little disappointed by the poor performance. [Wismar FM].

The match took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, which was sparsely attended. Fluminense impressed with more shots and an offensive approach, while Dortmund's defense was solid, but allowed numerous dangerous long-range shots from the Brazilians. Pablo in particular, the 44-year-old goalkeeper from Fluminense, was able to draw on his own experience: with his 1,375. Career game he is a legend. Thiago Silva, 40 years old and captain of the team, also successfully directed his teammates and prevented major threats to his goal. Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel ultimately became the match winner when he impressively deflected a dangerous shot from Everaldo.

Game progression and tactics

Dortmund appeared to be well organized defensively, but the team revealed a major shortcoming on offense. After deliberately omitting new signing Jobe Bellingham, who had only moved to Dortmund from Sunderland, he only came on in the second half when he replaced Pascal Gross. According to the New York Times, Bellingham still needs time to get used to Dortmund's style of play, which he showed in his 31 minutes on the field: with a lot of effort and a high level of physical presence.

In addition, the next challenges are already just around the corner. Dortmund will have to prove themselves in the upcoming group games against Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa and Ulsan HD from South Korea. The demands on the team are high, especially since Dortmund reached the Champions League final last year. But the performance shown so far raises questions.

Background to the Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in the USA from June 14 to July 13, 2025, includes a total of 32 clubs divided into eight groups. The idea of ​​the tournament was reformed in order to ensure greater relevance and income, especially for European teams. “We have a good hand in selecting participants,” said the organizer confidently. Em2024 highlights that Dortmund is among the 12 European teams taking part in this prestigious competition.

In summary, Dortmund are feeling a lot of pressure in the first edition of the 2025 Club World Cup. Cheered on by the fans and with expectations that couldn't be higher, it remains to be seen whether the team can show in the coming games that they have what it takes to win the title. The clock is ticking and the big stage awaits - after all, the Club World Cup is not just a competition, but also a chance for fame and honor.