<\/p>\n
European clubs have dominated FIFA\u2019s intercontinental Club World Cup since it was launched at the turn of the millennium, but there have been a few notable shocks<\/strong><\/p>\n Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona are among those that have suffered surprise defeats to clubs from South America and beyond.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve taken a closer look at the five European giants that failed to lift the Club World Cup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Manchester United (2000)<\/strong><\/p>\n United\u2019s decision to withdraw their participation for the 1999-00 FA Cup caused a shockwave of controversy, with The Sun reacting by a front-page splash that featured a range of opinions \u2013 from Simon Weston to Caprice to Darren Day. What a time to be alive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had to think of the situation regarding England hosting the World Cup,\u201d argued Sir Alex Ferguson.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one wants to see them not get it. I dare not think of the criticism we would have received if we had refused. That was unthinkable \u2013 and that\u2019s a Scotsman talking.\u201d<\/p>\n United drew 1-1 with Mexican side\u00a0Necaxa, lost 3-1 to Brazilian giants\u00a0Vasco da Gama \u2013 with goals from Edmundo and Romario \u2013 and beat South Melbourne 2-0.<\/p>\n Ferguson\u2019s side left with their tails between their legs with a group-stage elimination. Still, who could forget that glorious World Cup England hosted in 2006? Oh.<\/p>\n For the record, Caprice also correctly called out Man Utd\u2019s self-serving boycott of the 2000 FA Cup, sticking up for football fans everywhere. pic.twitter.com\/CalatnTGJ1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MattinWoolwich (@MattWWoolwich) July 14, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n United weren\u2019t the only European giants at the first-ever Club World Cup, which was launched with an eight-team format, with Real Madrid invited along as the 1998 Intercontinental Cup winners. The tournament had two group stages, with the winner of each facing off in the final.<\/p>\n Vicente del Bosque\u2019s Los Blancos fared better than their Premier League rivals, going unbeaten with seven points from nine. They beat Saudi side Al-Nassr and\u00a0Raja Casablanca but a 2-2 draw with Corinthians proved costly and they exited on goal difference \u2013 before beating\u00a0Necaxa in a third-fourth place play-off.<\/p>\n FIFA were surely hoping for the glamour final of Manchester United vs Real Madrid. Instead they got all-Brazilian clash at the Maracana, with Corinthians beating Vasco da Gama on penalties after a goalless stalemate.<\/p>\n After making a song and dance of the launch of the competition in 2000, the Club World Cup wasn\u2019t held for another four years due to financial difficulties.<\/p>\n The second edition of the tournament eventually arrived in the Autumn of 2005, in which Rafael Benitez\u2019s European champions Liverpool faced Copa Libertadores winners Sao Paulo in the final.<\/p>\n Liverpool eased past Costa Rican minnows\u00a0Saprissa with a 3-0 win while\u00a0Sao Paulo made it past Asian Champions League holders Al-Ittihad with a more memorable 3-2 to set up the clash at the Yokohama International Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve not travelled all the way to Japan to go sightseeing,\u201d Peter Crouch said ahead of the final. But Liverpool ultimately went home empty-handed. They couldn\u2019t find a way past Rogerio Ceni and lost 1-0.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea9 S\u00e3o Paulo 1\u00d70 Liverpool UM DOS GOLS MAIS IMPORTANTES DA HIST\u00d3RIA DO S\u00c3O PAULO, <\/p>\n “MINEIRO BATEU, BATEU, BATEU, GOOOOOOLLLLL” pic.twitter.com\/ISAjgPtlhN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Julio Casares \ud83c\udf65 (@JulioCasadasSP) April 26, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Brazilian domination of the early years of the Club World Cup continued in 2006 with\u00a0Internacional following in the footsteps of Corinthians and Sao Paulo.<\/p>\n Barcelona went into the final in a confident mood. They\u2019d beaten Mexican side Club America 4-0 in the semi-final, with Eidur Gudjhohnsen, Rafael Marquez, Ronaldinho and Deco finding themselves on the scoresheet.<\/p>\n Frank Rijkaard had the star power but\u00a0Internacional were dogged and organised and held the La Liga giants at bay. A 17-year-old Alexandre Pato started up top for the Brazilians, who lifted the trophy after a 1-0 win in Yokohama.<\/p>\n The European domination of the Club World Cup had begun by the time Chelsea arrived in Japan in the winter of 2012.<\/p>\n The Champions League winners had triumphed Club World Cup for five successive years and the expectation was that Chelsea would make it six.<\/p>\n But 2012-13 was not going to plan for the Blues. Roberto Di Matteo was sacked in November and successor Rafael Benitez was tasked with getting the season back on track.<\/p>\n Benitez\u2019s teamsheet boasted the likes of Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Fernando Torres but they were bested by a stoic\u00a0Corinthians side, managed by future Brazil boss Tite. The Brazilian club won 1-0 in Yokohama, the only goal of the game a close-range header from Peruvian striker\u00a0Paolo Guerrero.<\/p>\n Chelsea\u2019s defeat remains the last time a European side failed to win it. For 10 straight years, European sides have come out on top against South American, Asian and African opposition \u2013 including Chelsea, at the second time of asking, with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Palmeiras in 2021.<\/p>\n READ NEXT:\u00a0A forensic analysis of Juan Roman Riquelme\u2019s magnum opus v Real Madrid<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n TRY A QUIZ:\u00a0Can you name every player to win the Champions League & World Cup?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Real Madrid (2000)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Liverpool (2005)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\ud83c\udfc6 Mundial 2005
\ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f Est\u00e1dio Yokohama
\u26bd Mineiro <\/p>\nBarcelona (2006)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Chelsea (2012)<\/strong><\/h3>\n