Boca and River Plate, two sides of a Club World Cup embarrassment that left Argentine football in a very bad position.

The Club World Cup is over for Boca Juniors and River Plate , the two giants of Argentine football who failed to represent their country as they should have in the 32-team tournament being held in the United States . They were great for their fans, but on the field they left much to be desired, each with their own set of weaknesses, merits, and sins.

It's painful to watch the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup and not find any teams from the country that will be world champions in Qatar 2022. And there are no excuses regarding the power of the Europeans because among the top 16 there will be an MLS team like Lionel Messi's hard-working Inter Miami , Mexico's Monterrey , and the full complement of the four Brazilian teams, extending their dominance in the Libertadores to this ecumenical event.

Argentina continues to shine thanks to its individual talents, thanks to Messi, Di María, Otamendi, Enzo, Lautaro, and the others. There's a reason it's one of the countries with the most goals in this first phase , where Flaco López, Tadeo Allende, and even Freytes from Córdoba, currently with Fluminense, among others, also scored.

But Boca and River Plate weren't up to the task and are returning home with more shame than glory, embroiled in internal crises because they know they could have done much more. One for failing to complete the epic performance against the Europeans and resulting in a footballing embarrassment against an amateur team; the other for squandering its privilege of being group leader and ending up being relegated by Sergio Ramos 's extremely limited Monterrey .

From excitement and pride to utter disappointment, that's how the fans of the Argentine Superclásico felt, united in misfortune. Boca Juniors held their own against Benfica and Bayern Munich but were pitiful against Auckland City , undoing all the good they had shown in terms of personality and rapport with the fans. They already knew they'd be eliminated, but even so, they showed no rebellion or football against the Oceanians, who have a squad that would fight for the middle of the table in the Primera C.

Gallardo's men were completely helpless in the final minutes of the defeat against Inter, where Montiel received a red card and Huevo Acuña wanted to fight with half the Italian team. It was a miserable ending, with running and shoving, which does nothing to enhance the image of Argentine football . River Plate's anger must have been with itself, as a few days earlier it had failed to beat Monterrey, a result that ultimately condemned it.

It was known that the Club World Cup would be more of a walk in the park than a competition for Boca Juniors and River Plate . The former took advantage of their home advantage in Miami to enjoy a first phase where the focus was on the stands, despite nearly upsetting the Europeans and failing to advance to the round of 16 due to minor details.

That "almost" for Russo's team was overshadowed by the third group stage match, which ended up being a game they should have done but fell short of, against Auckland. The draw ended 1-1, and the opposing team's goal was scored by a schoolteacher; an embarrassing afternoon in Nashville that left much of the squad in the spotlight.

River Plate's performance went from strength to strength, in contrast to the large number of millionaire fans who were moving to Seattle, in the deep northwest of the United States. The winning debut against Urawa Red was followed by a lackluster draw against Monterrey and finally the duel with Inter, who, when in Champions mode , swept aside Muñeco's team .

Argentina is also a leader in the disciplinary field , but in a negative way. Of the ten expulsions in the Club World Cup, five were for players from Argentine teams: two for Boca Juniors, for Ander Herrera and Nicolás Figal , and three for River Plate, for Kevin Castaño , Lucas Martínez Quarta , and Gonzalo Montiel . And there could have been more if the referee had been stricter with Marcos Acuña.

The disappointment is enormous. Boca and River Plate spent millions and millions of dollars on signings like never before, but they failed to build rosters or teams that could compete with the world's powerhouses. The opposite is true of Brazil , which not only dominates the Copa Libertadores but is also leading this World Cup.

Palmeiras , Flamengo , Fluminense , and Botafogo , the last four -time champions of the Americas, advanced to the round of 16 and did so with authority, without needing thrashings or adverse results. They played a total of twelve matches with a record of five wins, six draws, and just one loss. If South America stood up to the Europeans, it was thanks to the clubs from their neighboring country .

This Club World Cup , now entering its final stages, is the only measure available to assess the Argentine league's standing, several notches below the global elite. Could it be that a 30-team tournament has lowered the bar for the powerful, leaving them exposed when they leave the country? These are questions and debates that the AFA as a whole should address.

Boca returns to the country to compete in the Clausura Tournament and the Copa Argentina , or at least continue to add to the annual standings so as not to miss next year's Libertadores. The goal is to reconcile with their fans.

River Plate's next step is 100 percent focused on the Copa Libertadores , which resumes in August, and Núñez is expected to continue to open its wallet in search of reinforcements following Franco Mastantuono 's departure to Real Madrid.

The Club World Cup passed, a missed opportunity for both Boca Juniors and River Plate, which will only happen again in four years. Ultimately, they had qualified thanks to a ranking. The best thing they had on American soil was their fans, another characteristic of Argentine soccer.