BVB stumbles at the start of the Club World Cup: Süle criticizes poor performance!

BVB stumbles at the start of the Club World Cup: Süle criticizes poor performance!

Last night Borussia Dortmund got off to a rocky start in the Club World Cup. They were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Fluminense of Brazil at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Coach Niko Kovac said after the game that the point win could be seen as a small success given how the game went. This impressively describes the general condition of BVB, which seemed less fresh and dynamic after a month-long break from competition before the opening game against Holstein Kiel. In this first half, Dortmund didn't even have a single chance to score, while Fluminense exerted significantly more pressure.

In the match against Fluminense, it was right winger Jhon Arias who presented Dortmund's defense with major challenges. “We have more deals than Dortmund,” said Kovac worriedly. Fluminense's defense, led by the experienced Thiago Silva, was stable and hardly allowed Dortmund to develop. In addition, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was largely to blame for the fact that there was no defeat in the end. With a save against Everaldo in the 69th minute, he saved the team from falling behind.

Limited opportunities for newcomer Jobe Bellingham

There was a surprise in the line-up: the young newcomer Jobe Bellingham, brother of star Jude Bellingham, celebrated his debut. Kovac had counted on him, but Bellingham only came into the game in the 59th minute and immediately provided a breath of fresh air. “He still needs time to get used to our procedures,” Kovac said after the game. Although Bellingham showed commitment and physical presence on the field, it was not enough to improve his team's cramped performance.

The course of the game left Dortmund with questions about their ability to improve in the current tournament. A clear improvement in performance will be needed against Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa and Ulsan HD from South Korea in order to be successful in their group. The kick-off time of 12pm local time was also cited as a possible factor for the poor performance, which meant that Dortmund's attacks were hardly dangerous.

Numbers game and personnel changes

The spectators at MetLife Stadium saw a match with few highlights. While Dortmund were able to record several corners and throw-ins in the opponent's half, Fluminense was particularly noticeable with dangerous long-range shots. This passive style of play from Dortmund was also noticed by the referee Ilgiz Tantashev, who handed out three yellow cards in an overall fair game:

• Ramy Bensebaini (Dortmund) in der 5. Minute
• Matheus Martinelli (Fluminense) in der 8. Minute
• Yan Couto (Dortmund) in der 90+5. Minute

Overall, it remains to be seen whether BVB will turn things around after this sobering performance. The fans can only hope that the team can make better use of their potential in the next game. Because one thing is clear: the audience is eagerly awaiting their team's next appearance in the Club World Cup.

For more information about the game and its impact on Dortmund's chances in the group, also read what Wismar.fm, The New York Times and Yahoo Sports say about it.