International Champions Cup: Star players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesco Totti here next week
SOME of the world’s best players, in the world’s biggest sport, playing legitimate matches in front of sellout crowds at the world’s best sporting arena. What’s not to get excited about?
SOME of the world’s best players, in the world’s biggest sport, playing legitimate matches in front of sellout crowds at the world’s best sporting arena.
What’s not to get excited about?
The MCG is set to be rocked by global giants Real Madrid, Manchester City and AS Roma from Saturday onwards in a six-day festival of football that will attract in excess of 200,000 fans through the gates.
Playing in a tournament known as the International Champions Cup, all teams have promised to bring their best players to Australia, meaning the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Yaya Toure and Francesco Totti are set to grace the hallowed turf of the ‘G.
When Madrid take on City on Friday, July 24, that match alone will pit together two squads that last year were worth a staggering $1.7 billion combined.
All games will also be broadcast live on GEM.
Former English star Michael Bridges, a past teammate of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka at Leeds United, will be doing expert commentary for the games and said the ICC tournament will rival January’s Asian Cup as the biggest football event ever staged in Australia.
“To host the Asian Cup and win it in our backyard was something that was amazing, a great achievement,” Bridges said.
“But in that you get a few teams that aren’t as good, players that aren’t as well known ... whereas here you’re getting the best players from around the world, that play for the greatest clubs in the world and to have these players on our shores is just amazing.
“So yes, it possibly is the biggest tournament that we’ve had in this country because of the magnitude of the players.”
Bridges said A-League fans who head to the ground can expect to see matches that are played at a pace that “is on a different level” to what they are accustomed to.
“And it’s great to see players on the ball, but it’s also interesting to watch the off the ball movements,” he said.
“For any readers who enjoy watching the AFL — and I do — you go to the stadiums and you watch the off the ball movements, you get a totally different perspective.
“So what you’ll see at the MCG, for example, is wide players moving in to certain areas to leave space for other players, you’ll see the one-twos and the combinations of players where they also then use that individual brilliance and flair that they do have to create chances and score goals.
“That’s the difference and that’s where the A-League is getting to because of the coaching ... and I think (Socceroos coach) Ange Postecoglou has taken things to a new level.
“But here, with the best players coming to town, it’ll be something else.”
Originally published as International Champions Cup: Star players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesco Totti here next week