Can South American teams save Club World Cup? Brazilian, Argentinian clubs 'play to win' and prove worth

Fluminense were dominant in a 0-0 draw against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday as South American teams remain undefeated against European sides in the early stages of the Club World Cup

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The day before Fluminense's Club World Cup opener against Borussia Dortmund, it was fairly easy to count the disparities between the two sides, big and small. For starters, Fluminense manager Renato Gaucho hoped it would be blisteringly hot in a way that would be familiar to players based in Brazil and out of place for those who call Germany home. Instead, the sides were treated to a mild day with some drizzle in the New York suburbs. It was not the main difference he had in mind, though.

"It's like what I said about going shopping," Gaucho said in his pre-match remarks on Monday. "What do you want, lobster? What do you want, shrimp? You can't get it for a fiver, right? And that's the difference. Financially speaking, they can get whoever they want.  They can sign whoever they want because they have the money  … People want the omelet but they won't give you the eggs to make an omelet."

Fluminense, though, overcame their obstacles just fine on Tuesday. In a 0-0 draw at MetLife Stadium, it was they — not last season's UEFA Champions League finalists Dortmund — who looked more likely to win, outshooting the opposition 14-7. They may have left something to be desired in attack, mustering just 0.65 expected goals along the way, but they were not only up for the task; they outperformed Dortmund in most meaningful categories. They were not the only ones, either.