As Wednesday arrives, the football world keeps moving forward. The knockout rounds of the Club World Cup are fast approaching, while we also anticipate the return of the USMNT. Here`s a look at the latest developments.
Club World Cup Knockout Rounds Take Shape
With only two days remaining in the Club World Cup group stage, ten teams have already secured their spots in the Round of 16. Juventus and Manchester City are through and will compete for the top seed on Thursday. Before that, attention turns to Groups E and F. Group F might lack major names, but matches like Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense are intriguing. A win for Mamelodi Sundowns would make them the sole African representative in the last 16, and given their close 4-3 loss to Dortmund, it`s not an improbable outcome.
Meanwhile, Inter faces significant pressure, needing a win against River Plate to guarantee progression to the knockout rounds. A dramatic late victory over Urawa Red Diamonds prevented an embarrassing exit. New head coach Cristian Chivu hopes this result can end the `cycle of negativity` that followed their narrow failure in the Serie A title race and heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Chivu isn`t the only European coach facing a challenge. Xabi Alonso`s Real Madrid must defeat Salzburg to secure top spot in Group H. While seemingly straightforward, failure could be costly; a loss to the Austrian side combined with an Al-Hilal win would result in the Club World Cup`s biggest club being eliminated.
Chelsea, another team that recently won the Champions League, successfully navigated their difficult final group match, defeating Esperance de Tunis 3-0 in Philadelphia`s intense heat. This was the 60th game of what has been a demanding season for Enzo Maresca`s team. However, they are focused on using this tournament to their advantage, rather than seeing it as just a final push before the summer break. As Liam Delap mentioned, the Club World Cup has actually benefited him.
`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 surprising 1-0 victory against Bayern Munich demonstrated they are a formidable opponent. This result is likely favorable for Chelsea, who will now meet the Portuguese club in the Round of 16, with the winner of Palmeiras vs. Botafogo awaiting. Conversely, Bayern has landed on a significantly tougher side of the bracket, facing the strong Flamengo in the Round of 16, followed by the winner of the high-profile clash between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. An exciting knockout stage is beginning to shape up.
USMNT Stars Linked with Summer Moves
Meanwhile, the Gold Cup is in a holding pattern. Honduras, Panama, Canada, and Guatemala qualified for the quarter-finals on Tuesday. The winner of the match between Canada and Guatemala will face the USA, provided the US team advances from their game against Costa Rica in Minneapolis this Sunday. As we await the tournament`s return, the football world remains active, with speculation surrounding potential moves for USMNT players.
One such player is Yunus Musah, who is not participating in the Gold Cup due to personal reasons. Despite making 40 appearances last season, it seems the 22-year-old may be impacted by coaching changes at AC Milan. While Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly taking over from Sergio Conceicao, the potential signing of Luka Modric after Real Madrid`s Club World Cup campaign could signal the end of Musah`s time there. As sporting director Igli Tare recently stated, this appears to be the case for the US international:
`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 certain than it appeared a week ago. It was previously expected he would move from Milan to Naples to join Antonio Conte`s team, but that possibility seems to have cooled, particularly since Kevin De Bruyne`s arrival there. West Ham has also been linked with Musah and reportedly showed interest in 2023 after Declan Rice left. For now, his future remains unclear.
In contrast, Johnny Cardoso`s situation seems more defined, with reports suggesting he is close to a move from Real Betis to Atletico Madrid. The transfer fee for the defensive midfielder, currently with Mauricio Pochettino`s squad in the US, could reach $34.8 million. This deal is likely to be finalized once the USMNT concludes its Gold Cup campaign.
Cardoso`s defensive abilities are highly valued by Atletico manager Diego Simeone, and the prospect of playing in the Champions League will surely appeal to the 23-year-old. A successful move could provide Pochettino with stability in midfield, an area that has been unpredictable recently. However, there`s also a concern that Cardoso might struggle for playing time behind established players like Koke and Rodrigo De Paul, hindering his development leading up to next summer. Whether this transfer fulfills its potential for Cardoso remains to be seen.
Other Football News
- Lyon Relegated to Ligue 2: Shocking news from France as eight-time champions Lyon are reportedly relegated from Ligue 1 due to financial issues. The club plans to appeal.
- Auckland City Makes History: Amateur side Auckland City achieved a remarkable 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors. Goalscorer Christian Grey`s next step? Back to teaching.
- Arsenal Bids for Norgaard: In a relatively quiet transfer window during the Club World Cup, Arsenal is reportedly offering over $12.5 million for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, who is also a Tottenham target.
- Updates on Musah and Pulisic: Further details from Igli Tare regarding the futures of AC Milan`s US internationals, Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic.
- Chelsea Secures Win: Report from Philadelphia on Chelsea`s important victory over Esperance de Tunis despite challenging heat.
- Boston Legacy Appoints New Coach: Filipa Patao, previously with Benfica, named head coach of the NWSL expansion team starting next season.
- Benfica Receives US Investment: The Portuguese club is the first in the country to receive US investment, in a deal potentially worth up to $23.1 million.
- Alex Morgan`s No. 13 Retired: San Diego Wave honors a club legend by retiring her iconic jersey number.
- Inter Miami Benefits Financially: As the sole MLS club in the knockout stage, Inter Miami stands to gain at least another $7.5 million.
- Club World Cup Hub: Your guide to staying updated on the games, key discussions, and standings.
