Sergio Ramos rolled back the years to help Mexican side Monterrey draw with European Champions League finalists Inter in their opening Club World Cup game.
Five-time Concacaf Champions League winners Monterrey took the lead after 25 minutes when Ramos, the 39-year-old former Real Madrid defender, lost his marker and out-jumped two Inter defenders to head in the opening goal.
Has Sergio Ramos lost any of his swagger?
Sergio Ramos didn’t go for any of those options when he ran out of road at the top level of European football.
Seven of the players who started the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain were in the XI here.
In their first Club World Cup matchup, Mexican team Monterrey and European Champions League finalists Inter drew thanks to a game-changing performance from Sergio Ramos.
After 25 minutes, Ramos, a 39-year-old former Real Madrid defender, lost his marker and outjumped two Inter defenders to head in the first goal, giving five-time Concacaf Champions League winners Monterrey the lead.
Kristjan Asllani’s deftly clipped free kick created the opportunity for Lautaro Martinez to equalize for Inter on 42 minutes after the ball was played back across the box.
Sergio Canales, a former Real Sociedad and Real Betis playmaker, beat Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer in the second half after hitting the post from 30 yards out. Soon after, Martinez’s fine finish was disqualified due to an offside veer. The Inter captain missed another opportunity, and Nelson Deossa had a chance to win for Monterrey but missed his shot into the side netting in an exciting finish.
Tuesday’s other Group E match saw River Plate defeat Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1. Inter will play Urawa of Japan on Saturday, while Monterrey will play River Plate of Argentina.
The main talking points from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena are examined here by Jack Lang.
Does Sergio Ramos no longer exude confidence?
Some athletes simply give up and fall into the comforting arms of retirement. Others travel to Qatar or Saudi Arabia in order to receive their paychecks. A somewhat sanitized adventure, MLS is what some people choose.
At the top level of European football, Sergio Ramos didn’t pursue any of those options. He traveled to Mexico, following in the footsteps of a few rebels who shared his views, including Ravel Morrison and Andre-Pierre Gignac. Even though Ramos is more of a fighter than a lover, the move has a certain romance.
Ramos’ brilliant main-character energy hasn’t diminished in the four months that have passed. He is, of course, Monterrey’s captain, and based on the reception he got prior to kickoff, he is already a huge favorite among the supporters. He continues to play with the same haughty swagger. Like a bad boy royal at his own house party, he strutted around the venue during the opening stages.
When he was summoned to action, his old reflexes took over. He charged down Sebastiano Esposito’s shot on the edge of the area and nipped the ball away from Martinez following a sharp diagonal from Alessandro Bastoni. He established the mood with his calm distribution while in possession.
However, Ramos has always been as much of a defensive rock as an attacking joker card. Thus, it was present. Oliver Torres, an old teammate from Sevilla, appeared to outnumber him when he swung a corner towards the far post with twenty-four minutes remaining. However, Ramos managed to elude Francesco Acerbi, loomed over Benjamin Pavard, and hammered a solid header into the net’s corner.
They were modest festivities. Ramos took full advantage of the moment, but he was only kidding. And rightly so.
Was this a flawless show? No. He appeared a little slack as the game went on and was caught off guard for Martinez’s goal. However, Monterrey persisted. The cameras followed Ramos as he left the game as man of the match, exactly as he always likes it.
What distinguishes Inzaghi’s Inter from Chivu’s Inter?
Cristian Chivu, the new Inter coach, made it apparent prior to this game that he would not be using the Orange Juice method of transition management. Not so much as to tear it up and start over. Chivu portrayed himself as a straightforward continuity candidate. Over the weekend, he said, “I told the boys that the path they have taken to this point is important.”.
The new Inter resembled the old one on the field. The old 3-5-2 formation of Simone Inzaghi was their formation. The starting lineup for this match included seven of the players who began the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. With the addition of Luis Henrique and Petar Sucic, Inter has started to restock their roster, but neither player was initially part of this team.
Here, no criticism is inferred. It’s not a disgrace to want to improve on Inzaghi’s excellent work at Inter. The players fit the system. Chivu, who is a relative novice at this level, would have been foolish to ring the changes.
Ultimately, they performed admirably. Down the left, the midfield created numerous crossing opportunities for Carlos Augusto and weaved some lovely patterns. They had a well-executed equalizer. In the final twenty minutes, they had opportunities to win the game.
Actually, tactics have little to do with Chivu’s primary mission. After a long season and following the events against PSG, he needs to boost these players’ spirits and give them new life. It won’t happen right away. This was a suitable first staging post, though.
Are you trying to find the music for your summer?
Even though it has nothing to do with the game, I feel compelled to tell you that Monterrey’s club anthem is an absolute hit. I mean this in a completely nonironic way. About fifteen minutes before kickoff, they played it in the stadium, and it made me feel better.
The words to the verses have not been looked up by me. Since lyrics always seem worse when written down, I don’t want to ruin it, but you are free to do so if you’d like. However, “Arriba, el Monterrey! Arriba, el Monterrey! Arriba, el Monterrey!” is the ideal refrain. Additionally, there is a crucial change for the last push that is a complete gut punch. Outstanding.
Would it be possible to draw a more comprehensive conclusion about the excitement of tournament football, including its novelty, discovery, and cross-pollination? However, it might just be a fantastic song, and that might be sufficient.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images).
