A year after registering the weakest campaign of a South American team in the Club World Cup, Palmeiras has the chance to seek a better result. On Tuesday (8) of next week, the alviverde team will debut in the 2021 edition of the tournament, trying to leave behind the bad memories of 2020.
This time, with significant changes in the squad and a longer preparation time, they are expected to fight for the title. Something that was distant in the previous competition, with defeats to Tigres (MEX) in the semifinals and to Al Ahly (EGI) in the third place match. Never had a team from South America finished the World Cup without at least one triumph. The four representatives from the continent who previously lost their debut match —Internacional (2010), Atlético-MG (2013), Nacional-COL (2016) and River Plate (2018)— prevailed in the duel for third place.
Shortly after the failure of 2020 – already in 2021, in the run-down pandemic calendar, which also left the 2021 decision for 2022 –, coach Abel Ferreira said that the group was leaving Qatar with "scars." But he noted that the brands would make players "better prepared to respond in the future." The possibility of giving this answer presents itself now, in the United Arab Emirates.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon