Auckland City from New Zealand is the only Oceania team among the Group C team. Although they have rich experience in participating in the Club World Cup, Auckland City’s strength is significantly different from the other three teams. They will take this opportunity to experience the competition stage and let the world football world see the efforts made by the Oceania team.
【Basic Information】
Country: New Zealand
Continent: Oceania
Promotion path: Team with the best record in the Oceania Champions League from 2021 to 2024
Main honors: 13-time Oceania Champions League Champions League Champions
Past Club World Cup record: third place (2014), fifth place (2009), first round out (2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023)
【Scene Analysis】
Auckland City, founded in 2004, is the best team in the New Zealand League and the Oceania Champions League, but compared with the remaining 31 participating teams in the Club World Cup, their strength is too weak. Historically, Auckland City has represented Oceania in the Club World Cup many times, but only won the third place in 2014, with relatively outstanding results. Most of the other participation experience ended with the first round. In this game, Auckland City’s lineup is not competitive in front of Bayern, Benfica and Boca youths. For them, enjoying the competition process and showing their own charm is the main goal of participating in the Club World Cup.
【Star Player】
Zhou Tong, who plays for Auckland City, is the only Chinese player in this Club World Cup. During his time in the Chinese Super League, Zhou Tong, known as the “little bully”, has distinct characteristics and is an attacker with excellent wing assault ability and occasionally contributes a stroke of his own.
When playing for Tianjin Jinmen Tigers in the 2022 season, Zhou Tong scored 2 goals in the league, and in 2023, Zhou Tong, who had joined Auckland City at the time, made his debut in the Club World Cup. In this game, he is still on the team’s roster. Zhou Tong’s existence has also attracted a lot of attention from China for Auckland City.
Apart from Zhou Tong, other players in Auckland City do not have outstanding resumes. This Club World Cup will be a great opportunity for fans around the world to get to know them. Therefore, the players of Auckland City will definitely go all out in the Club World Cup and will not give up every opportunity to show themselves.
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