FIFA Club World Cup Thread

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12 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

Do red cards get wiped at some point like yellow ones or will pacho and hernandez now miss two games like Jackson? 

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup/usa-2025/articles/yellow-red-cards-suspensions

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ALPHONSO DAVIES left speechless LIVE after JAMAL MUSIALA'S serious INJURY

 

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insane ending going on

was 2 0

then 2 1

then 3 1

now a pen for Dortmund and red card for Huijsen

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3 2

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wow

almost 3 3

Cuntois with a super save at the death

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one of the most bizarre games post Covid

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you have arguably the 2 best CBs so far in the tournament

Pacho and Huijsen

both get red cards today and will both miss the semis

plus our best CB, Colwill misses the other semi due to yellow cards

as does Fluminense's 2nd best CB

and IF Al-Hilal had went through, another CB who has been amazing (KK) would have been suspended, lol (yellow cards)

[Thor 2,701]

If we play PSG, play Penders and Sanchez in goal together and get 8 defenders on as well. 

Try and get to ET and penalties to win it. 

[NikkiCFC 8,318]

 

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6 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

 

FUCK Qatar!

 

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Real Madrid are using Valverde to protect Alexander-Arnold – how will that go against PSG?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6476803/2025/07/07/alexander-arnold-valverde-real-madrid-psg/

As Xabi Alonso imposes his tactical ideas on Real Madrid, there have been compelling, subtle tweaks across the tournament.

That continued as Madrid defeated Dortmund 3-2 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with a fluid, adaptable shape that shifted when Alonso’s side were in and out of possession.

Given their difficulties with ball progression against Juventus, Alonso returned to a back-four system in possession, with Aurelien Tchouameni starting in his familiar midfield position rather than the central defender in a back three.

This meant that Madrid were able to shift the ball laterally and vertically to threaten Dortmund’s shape. While Arda Guler would occasionally drop between Madrid’s centre-backs or into a left-back position to allow Fran Garcia to stay high and wide, the below example was a typical structure from which they built.

How Madrid looked out of possession is where things looked interesting.

New signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen have assimilated well into the back line, and Alonso has expressed his satisfaction of the team’s chemistry within the early weeks. Madrid are the only side not to have fallen behind in a game across all Club World Cup teams.

With Alexander-Arnold not particularly known for his one-v-one defending, Alonso has put structural tweaks in place to mitigate against any vulnerabilities, via Federico Valverde.

The Uruguay international has deputised at right-back on many occasions for Madrid, but his discipline to protect Alexander-Arnold on Madrid’s right was a notable theme of the game against Dortmund.

As ever, Valverde was everywhere — bringing safety on the ball, pushing forward, and catalysing Madrid’s attack when needed. Off the ball, he was often playing as a wing-back.

With Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi drifting towards the touchline, Alonso was acutely aware of the threat that the pacy 23-year-old could offer — particularly when supported by wing-back Daniel Svensson.

Valverde was tasked with dropping in and forming a back five out of possession. Sometimes this would mean Alexander-Arnold taking a narrow position — almost as the right centre-back — across Madrid’s back line…

…but on other occasions, the England international returned to his wider position to track Adeyemi, with Valverde tucking in to close any gaps Dortmund could exploit and stay goalside of any runners in behind.

Such was the tactical intelligence from Alonso’s players, that the back five would be retained even if the configuration of players themselves were different.

After 23 minutes, when Antonio Rudiger was pulled into a wide position, Alexander-Arnold tucked in, Huijsen shuffled across, and Tchouameni was the one to drop into the defensive line to ensure that those gaps remained filled.

There were countless other examples, but another benefit of this situational back five is that it allows centre-backs Huijsen and Rudiger — both of whom are front-footed in their defensive style — to jump out and snuff attacks at source, knowing they have the protection of their team-mates to shuffle across.

When he is not deputising as a right-back, Valverde has been known for supporting Dani Carvajal defensively under Carlo Ancelotti — but the extent to which Valverde was dropping into the back line has been notable under Alonso.

A perfect example of Alexander-Arnold and Valverde dovetailing is shown in the second half. As Alexander-Arnold steps forward to engage with left wing-back Svensson, Valverde steps back to cover the space and shut out Felix Nmecha’s underlapping run.

A pulley system that will please Alonso as much as their finishing and shot-stopping.

“It has been a tactical tweak that we wanted,” Alonso told The Athletic after the Dortmund game.

“He had to decide when he was dropping and when he was pressing a little bit higher, but we know with Fede that he is such a complete player that he gives you whatever you need, and we use him in different tasks. So when Trent was tired, we used him as a right-back. I’m really happy to train him, and he is a top player for us.”

So, why is this so relevant? Well, Alexander-Arnold and Valverde have the unenviable task of shutting down Europe’s most threatening left-sided attacks on Wednesday against Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final.

The skills of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are one thing, but the underlapping runs from supporting team-mates means that Madrid will have to be particularly switched on in wide areas.

It might be the direct running of left-back Nuno Mendes, any one of PSG’s forward line, or a supporting midfielder — typically Fabian Ruiz — but Luis Enrique’s side have a knack for pulling players out of position.

In their quarter-final with Bayern Munich, it was Desire Doue’s run that Kvaratskhelia found in the disorganised back line of Vincent Kompany’s team. Doue’s subsequent cutback to the edge of the area found Ruiz in space, and a better finish would have seen PSG punish Bayern midway through the first half.

Even when that run is not found, it is still threatening as a decoy.

The best example of this comes from PSG’s last-16 match against Inter Miami with another penetrative underlapping run from Doue. This time, Kvaratskhelia cuts inside and drives straight towards the goal with no Miami player able to get near to him without making a foul.

While you might point to poor defending above, the speed, conviction and fluidity with which PSG drag opposition defenders away to create space is attacking play of the highest level.

For Madrid fans, the good news is that flexibility and fluidity is starting to show under Alonso, in and out of possession. Wednesday’s match will be the biggest test of that under their new head coach.

If Madrid are going to shut down PSG’s threat on the left, they will need to combine Alexander-Arnold and Valverde to great effect again.

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Jamal Musiala set for at least four months out with fractured fibula

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6475892/2025/07/06/jamal-musiala-injury-bayern-munich/

Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala is set to be sidelined for at least four months with a fractured fibula suffered at the Club World Cup.

The Germany international sustained the injury in Bayern’s quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday just before half time, following a collision with Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Musiala rolled off the pitch and received treatment before the half ended, and was then replaced by Serge Gnabry for the second half.

The 22-year-old is returning to Munich on Sunday to undergo surgery and it is anticipated he will be unavailable for Vincent Kompany’s side until November at the earliest.

What You Should Read Next

Jamal Musiala’s horrific ankle injury: The impact, Bayern Munich’s reaction and what happens now

Some in Bayern Munich ranks harshly pointed the finger at Gianluigi Donnarumma for the challenge that left the youngster seriously injured

The fibula (calf bone) is located on the outer side of the lower leg, extending from below the knee down to the ankle. It is the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg, with the the tibia (shinbone) the weight-carrying bone in the lower leg.

Donnarumma was criticised by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for his role in the incident, who said his opposite number was “taking a risk” by the manner in which he went into the challenge.

Italy international Donnarumma later posted his well wishes to Musiala on social media.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLvNToJotW4/

Bayern coach Kompany said in his post-match news conference he has “rarely been so angry” as he was at half-time, but he did not suggest this anger was directed at Donnarumma. He had earlier said the collision was an “accident”.

Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl described Musiala’s injury and absence as “a real shock for Jamal and all of us.”

“Everyone knows how immensely important Jamal is for our game and what a central role he has for our team,” said Eberl. “In addition, the human significance is enormously difficult, we all feel for him: Jamal has just recovered from an injury and will now be missing for a long time again.

“He will get everything he needs from us. We will accompany him and be at his side and are already looking forward to him back on the field.”

Musiala missed the final two months of the 2024-25 season with a hamstring injury, which caused him to miss his side’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Inter.

The former Chelsea youth player, who signed a new contract at Bayern in February, had returned for Bayern’s Club World Cup opener against Auckland City FC, in which he scored a hat-trick after being brought on as a substitute.

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🤮

President Trump says he’ll attend Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6481998/2025/07/08/club-world-cup-final-president-trump-infantino/

United States President Donald Trump will be at the Club World Cup final on Sunday.

Speaking with reporters at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump confirmed his plans to attend the 3 p.m. final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match will pit Chelsea, 2-0 winners over Fluminense on Tuesday, against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.

“I’ll be going the game,” he told reporters at the White House, after his nearly two-hour meeting.

The confirmation comes a day after FIFA revealed that the organization opened a New York office at Trump Tower ahead of the men’s World Cup next summer.

Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have forged a closed relationship that has become more visible following’s Trump re-election. Infantino was there for Trump’s victory rally in Washington, D.C., and also at his inauguration. He has described the two as having a “great friendship.”

Trump was president when FIFA awarded the 2026 World Cup to the United States, Mexico and Canada back in 2018. He resumed power in time to be at the helm of the co-host nation next year.

Infantino was at an event at Trump Tower on Monday to launch a five-day exhibition of the Club World Cup trophy when he announced that FIFA would be moving in.

“We have to be in New York – not just for the FIFA Club World Cup this year and the FIFA World Cup next year – we have to be in New York as well when it comes to where our offices are based,” Infantino said at the event, as Trump’s son, Eric, stood beside him.

He made sure to thank President Trump, “who is a big fan of soccer.”

Infantino has praised Trump as a staunch supporter of FIFA and its many events taking place in the United States. Last week, Trump’s “big, beautiful” budget bill included a $625 million line item for security funding for next summer’s World Cup.

The FIFA head has spent the last year visiting the White House and the president’s Florida base Mar-a-Lago on numerous occasions. He accompanied Trump on a recent tour of the Gulf, a trip Infantino prioritized over FIFA’s annual congress in Paraguay in May. The decision drew sharp criticism from European football chiefs, who staged a dramatic walkout.

So, it’s not surprising that Trump would be present at the Club World Cup final, given his close ties to Infantino.

Last month, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters that he also invited Trump to the tournament’s championship match.

“(I) invited him to the Club World Cup final,” Murphy said during a brief press availability at Liberty State Park, exactly one year before the start of the 2026 World Cup. He joked, “I’m not sure he could come.” Turns out, Trump would.

Before Trump’s press availability ended on Tuesday, a reporter asked if he’d be bringing the trophy to the game on Sunday. The president quipped: “Yeah, I’m going to deliver it. I have it in my office.” He then smiled.

While it seems fair to assume that Trump was referring to the Club World Cup trophy on display at Trump Tower, he could have been making a joking reference to the replica World Cup trophy he’s displayed previously in the White House.

(Top photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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Big break for us IF PSG beat Real

Willian Pacho got a 2 match ban for his red card and will miss the final as well. Same for Lucas Hernandez.

Lucas Beraldo will start next to Marquinhos, but after that, the only CB they have left is the still not remotely fully fit Presnel Kimpembe (still not fully recover from that horrid complete achilles rupture 2 and half years ago, he is likely never going to recover to a remotely acceptable degree, and he turns 30yo next month)

Milan Škriniar supposedly leaves this week (maybe today) to sign a perm deal with Fenerbahçe and he has not played for PSG in ages, as he was loaned to Fenerbahçe in January

Plus, they now have zero true backup at fullback (both RB and LB), as Hernandez is banned and Nordi Mukiele has been seriously injured for some time (since April 24th), so they would have to toss in a MFer or winger to cover there (unless the damaged Kimbempe somehow could do it)

 

[Fulham Broadway 17,312]

Interesting to see our opponents tonite. 

We fear no one.

[Fulham Broadway 17,312]

Ronaldo on the pitch - (the fat one) - really humble guy 

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crazy small bench for PSG

they only have 4 outfield sr team players

plus 2 GKers

and 3 youth players

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the 3 PSG youth on the bench:

Noham Kamara CB 18yo

Ibrahim Mbaye RW 17yo

Senny Mayulu CMF 19yo (by far the most experience of the 3)

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Cuntois with 2 insane saves already