Cavani Reacts to Boca Juniors’ Elimination from Club World Cup: “It Wasn’t That Disappointing”
Boca Juniors ended their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign on a frustrating note with a 1-1 draw against Auckland City, an amateur team from New Zealand, on Tuesday (June 24). The result confirmed the Argentine side’s elimination from Group C, but striker Edinson Cavani struck a more composed tone after the match.
Cavani: “We Were the Protagonists”
Despite the early exit, Cavani highlighted the positives in Boca’s performance:
“Apart from the draw, I don’t think it was that disappointing,” the Uruguayan forward said post-match. “They sat back with ten men, which makes things difficult. We have things to fix, but we were the protagonists today.”
Cavani acknowledged the frustration but emphasized that Boca tried to control the match and played with purpose, even if they couldn’t break down Auckland’s low block.
A Draw That Didn’t Change the Outcome
Although the result against Auckland was underwhelming, Boca’s fate was already sealed due to Benfica’s win over Bayern Munich in the group’s other fixture. Regardless of Boca’s performance, Benfica secured qualification and left the Argentine giants out of the knockout stage.
Match Recap: Boca Juniors 1-1 Auckland City
- 26′ – Boca opened the scoring with an own goal by Garrow, after Di Lollo’s header struck the post.
- Second Half – Christian Gray equalized for Auckland City with a surprise header from a corner kick.
- The match was later interrupted by a storm in Nashville, halting play for over an hour.
- Upon resumption, Boca pushed for a winner but Auckland held on.
The New Zealand side, largely made up of semi-professional players, earned their first point of the tournament and claimed the Group C Fair Play Trophy.
Cavani Sees Positives
Though criticism from the Argentine press was fierce given the stature of Boca and the level of their opponent Cavani maintained a hopeful view:
“We had to stay out, but we saw good things. It was a difficult group,” he said.
What’s Next for Boca Juniors?
The early elimination raises questions about Boca’s international competitiveness and could impact planning for the remainder of the season. While Cavani continues to play a central role, there is speculation over possible changes to the squad ahead of the next transfer window.
