Unfortunately I never saw one of them as I was watching the England U21s v Slovenia U21s in a dull 0-0 draw.

Makes a mockery of the competition. No doubt Auckland were delighted to be involved, but really?

A win in a group match is worth £1.5M, while a draw is £800k. They will get neither!!

I can see this competition taking over normal leagues in the future. It's simply all about money. I won't be watching a single minute of it.

The highlight for me were the commentators trying their best to keep the message going.

Quote of the match was "Auckland need to stay calm, keep the ball and move it forward".

It was 9 - 0 in the 85th minute!!!

Stadium half empty...

Why play this in LA? Why play this at all?

Wonderful to watch. Set up both goals, just had a tremendous shot pushed onto the bar with an incredible save.

But you're right. I'm not watching any more.

I wouldn't bother getting me arse out of bed for that!

And hey, for the rest of their lives, they get to say they played Bayern. I'd brag on that until I was 90, no matter what the score was!

Fair play to them.

It's all about the money, has been for the last 3 decades. Backed by oil money, it's got fuck all to do about fans. They'd happily play in empty stadiums (as we're seeing here) as long as they get the broadcast and sponsor money they need.

Nevertheless, it is totally pointless as it stands. Still, a few World Cups ago, there were some hidings delivered… but that seldom happens now as exposure and funding help to develop the game in non-traditional places.

For some reason, Auckland FC aren't allowed to play in the Asian Champions league, which is why they can't qualify for the Club World Cup.

By the way, there's also a team called Birkenhead United in the New Zealand Northern League.

Glad I'm not watching it.

And what's with this introduction of each player? Jeez, we'll be here all night!

Found it on Channel 5 while flicking. Turned off now

The match stats so far are a bit confusing, with the possession stat being Chelsea 54% and LAFC 38%. We're missing 8% of possession, unless the yanks count the ball being out of play as a %age of play?

Highest paid player is on around £70 a week.

We were in New Zealand back in 2017 and discovered Birkenhead is on the other side of the water from Auckland.

There is a "Birkenhead Ferry". I did photo it and post on FB with the comment "Royal Iris has sailed a long way".

Earlier that morning I am sure I saw a car which had a registration plate "EVERTON".

Last night, I put on Gary Neville's Soccerbox on Sky. I really entraining one with him and Phil Neville, going through our former captain's Everton career.

I'll the damp squib of a competition another go later. Manchester City and Real Madrid, although looking at the opposition, I won't brace myself.

I thought the Swiss -German was bad, but this Swiss-Italian has taken his moral corruption to another level.

Hobnobbing with dictators, wannabe dictators and blood soaked sheiks seems to be this little dwarf’s raison d’etre, not the good of the game.

What is it about the Swiss? Caution: I have Swiss relatives before I’m accused of anything.

It's a bit like Belgium, which I've never seen the point in. Probably formed to give a Royal family a crown. Slightly majority Dutch speaking, a sizeable French speaking one and a minority German community.

I would say FIFA's location says a lot and the cynic in me would point to it's reputation as being a tax haven.

Anyway, I'll give it another go.

A beautiful country with a strange mentality.

I also had the rego EFC 1 (first on a V8 Rover then on V12 Daimler) when I left I sold the car (big mistake in hind sight...another story) and gave the plate to a Blue down Christchurch way - no use to me in Qld.

Letting De Bruyne go is a crime. Man City have no one in the side to touch him. New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, I struggled to find them on the pitch, they were that anonymous.

Man City to challenge for the Premier League this season? Only if Man City's complete breakdown from last season happens to Liverpool will they have a chance.

I am not judging any club on this nothing tournament. Man City have a big rebuilding job on their hands. I know a lot talk about age. But De Bruyne? I'd take him tomorrow if we could. Likewise, the 35-year-old, out-of-contract Thomas Muller for a season or two.

Both unrealistic though.

He's only 36 so fits right in to Moyes's ideal player. I'm sure with 35, 36, 35 and a 36-year-old on our side, it's all go.

I would also get Modric (39), Ronaldo (40) and Young (40) to complete the set of Moyes ideals.

I've just sent an email to Moyes about Gianluigi Buffon: 43. 😁

But fantastic save to stop Real scoring from the spot.

Still 1 - 1 in added time.

As long as we get a blend of youth, potential, established players and experience, I'll be happy.

I'm being Waaay over the top sarcastic in my post on any player I mentioned.

Tongue in cheek to say the least. 😁