Showing posts with label 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Monday, 14 July 2025
ENZO MARESCA REVEALS CHELSEA TARGETED THREE PSG PLAYERS IN CLUB WORLD CUP WIN
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| Enzo Maresca masterminded a victory over PSG (Picture: Getty) |
Enzo Maresca revealed the tactical masterstroke that inspired Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final.
The Blues were the underdogs heading into Sunday’s final at the MetLife Stadium, but produced a stunning display to shock the Champions League holders.
Cole Palmer showed his class with two well-taken finishes before setting up Joao Pedro, whose deft chip marked his third goal in just two Chelsea games having signed from Brighton midway through the tournament.
PSG have been far and away Europe’s best team this season, and comfortably dispatched of Real Madrid with a 4-0 win to reach the final.
But Luis Enrique’s side were tactically outhought for large swathes of the match, with their frustration on show towards the end of the match and shortly after full-time.
Few teams have been able to such produce a peformance against the French side this season, and Maresca revealed that the key to unpicking PSG on the night was by exploiting the space on in behind their midfield on the left side.
‘There are three midfielders, two of them were in charge of Reece [James] and Moi [Caicedo] this point, and Vitinha was in charge of Enzo [Fernandez],’ the Italian said post-match.
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| Cole Palmer starred as Chelsea won the Club World Cup (Picture: Getty) |
‘Analysing them, we saw that was a good opportunity to exploit that space, and we scored a goal on that side.
‘It was just a game plan, as we said many times, we tried to use different game plans, and we tried to help the players to be in a position where they can give everything.
‘Today, it worked quite well. But overall, I think, as I just said, it has been the effort from all the team, all the players, and I’m very happy, especially for them, because they deserve this moment.’
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| Luis Enrique cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines (Picture: Getty) |
Maresca continued: ‘I repeat, analyzing it, we saw that there was a lot of space on the left side of it, and that’s where we tried to win the game.
‘It went well, but I think we won the game in the first 10 minutes, when the team came out to demonstrate that we were here to try to win, respecting the rival, considering the rival the best team in the world at this time.
‘But I think in the end, you can give the players a plan, but in the end it’s them who have to execute it, and they did it very well.’
- Ben Fleming
Sunday, 13 July 2025
US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO ATTEND FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP FINAL
Donald Trump will on Sunday appear in the FIFA Club World Cup final, showcasing his unexpected attachment to a sport in which “America First” remains a dream, for now.
The US president is attending the final of the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup in his latest use of the beautiful game as a soft power political weapon.
His appearance at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, where Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea, is very much a trial run for the World Cup final, which will take place in the same stadium next year.
Trump has made it clear that he views both tournaments, as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as showcases for what he calls the “Golden Age of America” during his second term.
The billionaire Republican’s close friendship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a frequent visitor to the White House, is also a factor in his appearance.
Trump has kept the Club World Cup trophy next to his desk in the Oval Office since Infantino dropped by in March.
But Trump’s embrace of football, or soccer as he would say, is also personal.
The president’s 19-year-old son, Barron, is a fan, as Infantino pointed out in a press conference at FIFA’s new office in Trump Tower in New York on Saturday.
Asked if Trump liked the game, Infantino replied: “Well, I think he does. In his first term as president of the United States, there was a soccer goal in the garden of the White House.
“He then explained to me that his son loved football and that he loved the game. And of course, when you are a parent, you love what your children love, so I think that he loves it.”
"As a student at the New York Military Academy, Trump himself also reportedly played the game for a season.
Trump’s apparent fondness for football may seem unusual for a country where, despite growing popularity, the sport still lags behind American football, basketball, and baseball.
The former reality TV star has, however, always had an eye for popularity, power, and influence. And football, in its own way, brings all three.
Trump pointed out when Infantino visited the White House in March that the United States won the right to host the 2026 World Cup in 2018, during his first term as president.
He said he was “so sad” because he assumed he would not be president when the tournament came around — but his 2020 election loss meant that he would after all.
The FIFA Club World Cup has meanwhile proved more successful than its critics predicted, with around 2.5 million people attending games across the country and some gripping games.
Infantino, who is no stranger to dealing with hard-nosed leaders around the world, thanked Trump for his support on Saturday.
He said Trump “embraced immediately the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup, and of course, the World Cup next year.”
Infantino also joked that Trump “certainly loves as well the trophy” — whose gold-plated curves match the gilded makeover that the president has given the Oval Office.
But in typical form, Trump has also mixed political controversy with his football fandom.
Hosting Italian side Juventus in the Oval Office in June, he delivered a diatribe on transgender people in sports before asking the players: “Could a woman make your team, fellas?”
Most of the players looked bemused before Juventus general manager Damien Comolli replied: “We have a very good women’s team.”
“He’s being very diplomatic,” said Trump.
Trump’s hardline immigration crackdown — part of his “America First” policy — has meanwhile sparked fears that football fans will be discouraged from coming to the United States.
In May, Vice President JD Vance said that 2026 World Cup fans were “welcome to come… but when the time is up, they will have to go home.”
- AFP
Thursday, 10 July 2025
Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Sunday, 6 July 2025
MANUEL NEUER POINTS FINGER AT TEARFUL GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA FOR JAMAL MUSIALA HORROR INJURY
Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala suffered a horrible injury in a challenge with Gianluigi Donnarumma which overshadowed Paris Saint-Germain's victory at the Club World Cup
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| Jamal Musiala was injured in a collision with Gianluigi Donnarumma(Image: Rich von Biberstein/Getty Images) |
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer pointed the finger at Gianluigi Donnarumma after Jamal Musiala sustained a horror injury at the Club World Cup. Musiala was stretchered off during Bayern’s 2-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter finals in Atlanta after colliding with Donnarumma.
The Bayern star was taken to hospital with a serious injury picked up late in the first half at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Chasing an overhit pass from Michael Olise, he tried to get around William Pacho, only for Donnarumma to dive onto the ball, accidentally trapping Musiala’s leg between his body and the turf.
The seriousness of the situation was immediately evident, with the Germany international in agony and all the players distraught. Donnarumma dropped to his knees holding his face and was in tears when he realised the extent of the injury, which reports suggest is a fractured tibia and fibula, meaning potentially five months out.
Bayern veteran Neuer was still emotional after the match and criticised his opposite number in an interview with Sky Sports Germany. “It was a situation where you don't have to go in like that,” he said. “That's risk-taking. He was prepared to accept the risk of injuring his opponent.”
Neuer then alleged that Donnarumma only checked in on Musiala after being prompted. He said: “I went to him and said, ‘Don't you want to go and see our player?’ It's a matter of respect, of going there and wishing the guy all the best. He then did it. Fair play is always a part of it. I would have reacted differently.”
Donnarumma took to Instagram after the game, writing: “All my prayers and well wishes are with you @jamalmusiala10.” PSG won the game thanks to goals from Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, but their post-match thoughts were all with Musiala.
"It's important we talk about Musiala," said PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi. "I want to give my support to him. We hope to see him back on the pitch soon." Dembele added: "Shout out to Jamal Musiala. [The injury] is something you don't want to see on the field."
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany told DAZN: "He has had to go to hospital. It didn't look good. The overwhelming feeling is hopefully it's not as bad as it looks and he gets through this one."
Kompany later added: "I've rarely been so angry at half-time, not against my players. There are many things in life that are much more important than this, but in the end, for these guys, it's their life. He came back from a setback, and then it happens in the way it happens and you feel powerless.
"You try and get strength out of it because you want to do it for Jamal. The thing that gets my blood still boiling at the moment, it's not the result. I understand this is football, but it's the fact that it happened to someone that, for one, enjoys the game so much, but also is very important for us."
- Felix Keith
Saturday, 5 July 2025
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
AL HILAL SHOCK MAN CITY TO ADVANCE TO CLUB WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Al Hilal pulled off a sensational win over Manchester City in Florida, securing a 4-3 extra-time victory over the English giants to advance to the quarter-finals of the Fifa Club World Cup.
Marcos Leonardo scored his second goal of the match in the 112th minute after the game ended 2-2 after 90 minutes. Phil Foden's goal in first-half extra time set up a nervy finish, but the Saudi Arabian side held on to claim a famous victory, and with it a place in the last eight where they will face Brazil's Fluminense on Friday.
Bernardo Silva gave City a ninth-minute lead but Pep Guardiola’s side were punished for missing a series of chances as Leonardo and Malcom replied after the break.
Erling Haaland sent the game to extra time but City needed another equaliser from Phil Foden after Kalidou Koulibaly headed Al Hilal back ahead.
The decisive goal came after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's header was well saved by City goalkeeper Ederson, but the ball fell kindly for Leonardo, who slotted into an empty net to spark wild celebrations on the Hilal bench led by new coach Simone Inzaghi.
"We knew it was a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world," said Koulibaly. "We wanted to show our ideas, our talent, our power, and I think that we made a very good game.
"Defensively, we were very strong and offensively, all of the opportunities we could put inside we put in, so we can be happy."
Guardiola will rue a wasteful first-half display, while credit must also go to Hilal's Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine "Bono" Bounou, who made 10 saves in all.
City started quickly with Ruben Dias heading straight at Bono. There was a hint of handball in the build-up to City's opener, with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Ilkay Gundogan both given the benefit of the doubt, before Silva prodded home the Algerian's cross.
Al Hilal players surrounded referee Jesus Valenzuela but the Venezuelan was unmoved.
City should have extended their lead before half time but Bono denied Savinho, Gundogan, Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku.
Silva had a shot parried but, after riding their luck, Al Hilal went close through Leonardo and Malcom.
City failed to heed those warnings and were punished as Al Hilal struck twice in the first seven minutes of the second half.
The equaliser came as former City full-back Joao Cancelo drove in a low cross. Ederson pushed away and Malcom’s attempt on the rebound was blocked, but the ball looped up for Leonardo to head in.
City were stung again moments later as Al Hilal quickly recycled the ball from a corner they were defending.
Malcom broke from halfway and buried a low shot into the far corner.
City needed to respond and did so as a Silva corner led to a goalmouth scramble.
Haaland pounced from close range to level but, far from settling nerves, the Premier League side remained vulnerable.
Malcom was brought down by Dias for what seemed a certain penalty only for an offside flag to spare City. It also took a good recovery tackle by Manuel Akanji to prevent Malcom getting in another shot and Mohamed Kanno fluffed a free header.
City were inches away as Akanji headed against the post and Haaland’s follow-up was cleared off the line.
City, who lost Haaland to injury, were stunned when Al Hilal reclaimed the lead with Koulibaly’s powerful header in the first period of extra time.
Yet the drama was far from over as Foden, having come off the bench to replace another substitute in the ineffective Rodri, exquisitely volleyed in from a Rayan Cherki cross.
Al Hilal refused to lie down and scored yet again as Leonardo pounced.
It capped what has been a disappointing year for City, who surrendered their Premier League crown and finished the season without a trophy having also lost the FA Cup final.
But while City's sojourn may be over, Al Hilal's will continue when they return to the same stadium on Friday to play for a place in the Club World Cup semi-finals.
- Steve Luckings
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