It`s Wednesday, and the football world continues to buzz with activity. The knockout stages of the Club World Cup are rapidly approaching, while fans also eagerly await the return of the USMNT to action. Let`s take a look at the latest developments.
Club World Cup Knockout Rounds Taking Shape
Only two days remain in the Club World Cup group stages, and ten of the sixteen knockout teams are already identified. Juventus and Manchester City have secured their spots and will compete for the top seed on Thursday. Before that, attention turns to Groups E and F.
Group F may not feature globally recognized giants, but matches like Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense offer intrigue. If the South African side, Sundowns, manage a win against Fluminense, they would be Africa`s sole representative in the last 16. Their recent narrow 4-3 loss to Dortmund suggests they are capable of causing an upset.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan faces significant pressure, needing a win against River Plate to guarantee their place in the knockout phase. A last-minute victory over Urawa Red Diamonds provided a temporary reprieve, and new head coach Cristian Chivu hopes it can help overcome the `cycle of negativity` following their Serie A title miss and defeat in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Chivu isn`t the only European coach with challenges. Xabi Alonso`s Real Madrid aims to top Group H, requiring a win against Salzburg. Failure to do so, combined with a win for Al-Hilal, could see the tournament`s biggest club eliminated.
Another Champions League winner, Chelsea, successfully navigated their final group game, defeating Esperance de Tunis 3-0 in Philadelphia`s heat. This was game 60 of a demanding season for Enzo Maresca`s squad, but they are leveraging the Club World Cup to their advantage, using it as an opportunity for players to integrate rather than just concluding the season. As Liam Delap recently commented, the tournament has aided his acclimatization.
Delap: “This tournament has really helped me settle in because you know if we`re back at the training ground, everyone would be disappearing at three o`clock. And here we`re together all the time, so it`s a great way to get settled in, and everyone`s been really helpful.”
Benfica`s unexpected 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich showcased their strength and likely benefited Chelsea, who will face the Portuguese team in the round of 16, with the winner of Palmeiras vs. Botafogo potentially next. Bayern, however, find themselves in a tougher section of the bracket, facing a strong Flamengo side followed by a potential clash with either Inter Milan or Paris Saint-Germain. An exciting knockout stage is clearly taking shape.
USMNT Players Potentially Changing Clubs
At the Gold Cup, the waiting game continues. Honduras, Panama, Canada, and Guatemala have secured their quarter-final spots. The winner of the Guatemala vs. Canada match will face the USA if they overcome Costa Rica on Sunday in Minneapolis. While the tournament pauses, transfer rumors involving USMNT players are gaining momentum.
One such player is Yunus Musah, who is not participating in the Gold Cup for personal reasons. Despite making 40 appearances for AC Milan last season, the 22-year-old seems set to depart due to coaching changes at the San Siro, with Massimiliano Allegri arriving and Sergio Conceicao leaving. Additionally, Luka Modric is reportedly expected to sign for Milan after Real Madrid`s Club World Cup involvement concludes. Milan`s sporting director, Igli Tare, confirmed Musah`s likely departure, stating:
Tare: “I consider Musah an excellent player, but we are looking for profiles with characteristics that fit the project we have with coach Allegri. We are seeking deep-lying midfielders for a three-man midfield. Musah doesn’t have these characteristics. He can play in a two or three-man midfield but with different characteristics. This is the real reason why we want to do something different.”
Musah`s next destination is less clear than it seemed recently. A move from Milan to Naples to join Antonio Conte`s team appeared likely just a week ago, but that possibility has cooled, particularly since Kevin De Bruyne`s signing. West Ham United, long-term admirers who targeted Musah in 2023 after Declan Rice`s departure, have also been linked. For now, his future remains uncertain.
The situation is clearer for Johnny Cardoso, who is reportedly close to joining Atletico Madrid from Real Betis. The deal for the defensive midfielder, currently with Mauricio Pochettino`s Gold Cup squad, could cost Atleti around $34.8 million. The transfer is expected to finalize once the USA`s Gold Cup campaign concludes.
Cardoso`s defensive abilities are highly valued by Atletico boss Diego Simeone, and the opportunity to play in the Champions League is likely appealing to the 23-year-old. This move could provide Pochettino with stability in midfield, an area that has seen inconsistency recently. However, there is also a concern that Cardoso might struggle for game time behind players like Koke and Rodrigo De Paul, potentially hindering his rhythm ahead of next summer. Only time will reveal whether this transfer fulfills its promise for Cardoso.
Other Notable Football News
- Lyon Relegated: In surprising news from France, Lyon has been relegated from Ligue 1 due to financial mismanagement. The eight-time French champions plan to appeal the decision.
- Auckland City`s Historic Draw: Amateur side Auckland City achieved a remarkable 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors. Goalscorer Christian Grey is reportedly a teacher returning to his day job.
- Arsenal Bid for Norgaard: Amidst the Club World Cup quiet period, Arsenal has made a bid exceeding $12.5 million for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, who has also been linked with Tottenham.
- Updates on Musah and Pulisic: More details are available regarding the futures of AC Milan`s US internationals, Musah and Christian Pulisic, based on comments from Igli Tare.
- Chelsea Secures Win: Reporting from Philadelphia highlights Chelsea`s important 3-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis despite challenging heat conditions.
- Boston Legacy Appoints New Boss: NWSL expansion club Boston Legacy has named Filipa Patao, formerly of Benfica, as their head coach for the upcoming season.
- Benfica Receives US Investment: The Portuguese club Benfica is the first in their country to secure US investment, in a deal potentially worth up to $23.1 million.
- Morgan`s No. 13 Retired: San Diego Wave is honoring a club legend by retiring Alex Morgan`s iconic number 13 jersey.
- Inter Miami`s Financial Gain: As the only MLS club in the Club World Cup knockout stages, Inter Miami stands to earn at least an additional $7.5 million.
