Club World Cup: Burnout, Boycotts, Heat & Poor Pitch Exposed First Sports With Rupha Ramani
Club World Cup: Burnout, Boycotts, Heat & Poor Pitch Exposed | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup promised to be football's biggest club spectacle — but instead, it's turning into a logistical nightmare. With European giants shockingly knocked out and underdogs rising, the tournament has delivered surprises on the pitch. Yet off the pitch, the fallout is worse: players are exhausted, schedules are brutal, pitches are exposed and rising temperatures put everyone's health at risk. From fiery criticism by football legends like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to expert warnings on player safety, the backlash is growing loud. Will FIFA listen before this marquee event burns out completely? Rupha Ramani dives into the controversy, the chaos, and what it means for the future of football's calendar.
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Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Diogo Jota honoured with emotional tribute at FIFA Club World Cup as Joao Cancelo, Pedro Neto break down in tears
The football world is still mourning Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. Their sudden deaths in a tragic car crash have shaken players, fans, and coaches alike. And nowhere was the emotion more visible than at the FIFA Club World Cup, where several of Jota's closest Portuguese teammates paid heartfelt tributes. Pedro Neto's touching moment with Chelsea Ahead of Chelsea's Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras, Pedro Neto stood at the halfway line holding a custom jersey with 'Diogo' and 'Andre' written on the back. Joined by Enzo Fernandez, Neto held up the shirt while the rest of the squad linked arms and bowed their heads for a moment of silence at Lincoln Financial Field. 🙏 A powerful Neto honors the memories of Diogo Jota and his brother André with a shirt bearing their names. Lights dimmed across the stadium as a photo of Jota and Andre during their Pacos de Ferreira days appeared on screen. Palmeiras players also stood together in respect. Neto, who shared the pitch with Jota at Wolves and for Portugal, was given the option to skip the game but he chose to play, showing strength amid personal heartbreak. Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves break down in Orlando At another Club World Cup quarter-final, Al Hilal faced Fluminense in Orlando. Before kickoff, players gathered for a moment of silence. That's when Joao Cancelo dropped to his knees, and Ruben Neves was seen crying. Both players had celebrated Portugal's UEFA Nations League win alongside Jota just weeks ago. 📸 - Ruben Neves starts crying during the minute of silence. Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi confirmed that the loss had deeply affected the squad. 'We all know it's a sad day. These things should never happen,' he said. 'Neves and Cancelo were very close to Diogo and Andre. Today, the atmosphere was not the same. It was a tragedy.' The football world griefs Diogo Jota Friday also marked the public wake for Jota and Silva in their hometown of Gondomar. A more private ceremony was held for the family earlier that day. Their funeral is scheduled for Saturday, with top officials including Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa attending the commemoration. From Liverpool to Lisbon, and from football's elite to fans around the globe, the outpouring of love continues. Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca said, 'We have lost two champions. Their deaths are an irreparable loss to Portuguese football. We will honour them every day.'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
FIFA Club World Cup: Chelsea edge Palmeiras, to meet Fluminense in the semi-final
A late own-goal by goalkeeper Weverton took Chelsea through to the Club World Cup semi-finals on Friday as the Premier League side edged Palmeiras of Brazil 2-1 in a last-eight tie that had been lit up by a moment of magic from young star Estevao Willian. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The teenage Brazil forward, who will join Chelsea after the tournament, was eager to impress his future employers and his brilliant 53rd-minute finish cancelled out Cole Palmer's opener in Philadelphia. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. But a deflected Malo Gusto cross went in off Palmeiras 'keeper Weverton in the 83rd minute to take Chelsea through to a semi-final showdown with another Brazilian side in Fluminense. "In the first half we were in control of the game and could have scored more than one goal," said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, dismissing suggestions his team had been fortunate. "They started the second half better than us and the dynamic of the game changed, but then in the last 25 minutes we were in control again and I think we deserved to win without being lucky." The scoreline was a repeat of Chelsea's victory when the teams met in the final of the Club World Cup under the tournament's old guise in 2022. "Overall Chelsea was better. They have better players and a better coach," admitted Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira. "They were lucky with the way they scored the second goal but it can happen in football and we need to accept it and move on." Chelsea will now be fancied to go on and reach the final, with Fluminense standing in their way in the last four at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday. If not everyone has yet been won over by the tournament, the intensity levels on the pitch are rising as it reaches the business end and there was a big-game atmosphere in Philadelphia. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lincoln Financial Field was almost sold out, with 65,782 fans in attendance despite much of the city having emptied out for the July 4 holiday and long weekend. This game played out to a backdrop of Independence Day fireworks lighting up the sky over the nearby Delaware River, but there were fireworks on the pitch too. Independence Day fireworks Chelsea lit the spark first, going ahead in the 16th minute thanks to a moment of class from England international Palmer. After drifting into a pocket of space just outside the Palmeiras box, Palmer controlled a Trevoh Chalobah pass on the half-turn, carried on into the area and dispatched a low shot past Weverton. It was the ideal start for Chelsea, who lost to Flamengo when they last faced Brazilian opposition in the same stadium during the group stage. Maresca added extra Brazilian flavour to the occasion by handing a first start to young midfielder Andrey Santos. With Moises Caicedo suspended, Santos occupied the holding midfield role for Chelsea while Pedro Neto lined up on the right wing, choosing to play despite having to come to terms with the tragic death of his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota on Thursday. Playing on the right wing for Palmeiras was Estevao, the 18-year-old Brazil prodigy set to join Chelsea in a big-money transfer agreed over a year ago. He knew this could be his last game for the Sao Paulo side, and Chelsea probably should have been two ahead before the interval only for Christopher Nkunku to blaze over after being teed up by Palmer. Instead Palmeiras equalised eight minutes into the second half, with Estevao the inevitable scorer. Positioned inside the Chelsea box to the right, Estevao controlled a pass by Richard Rios and took a touch to get in front of Levi Colwill, another to steady himself, and then surprised goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with an early shot that went in off the bar. Chelsea responded by sending on new signing Joao Pedro for his debut, the Brazilian becoming the 27th player used by Maresca during the tournament. The Blues pushed in search of a second goal but extra time was looking likely when the Premier League side grabbed a scrappy winner with seven minutes of the 90 to play. Following a corner played short, Enzo Fernandez found Malo Gusto and his attempted low centre from the left side of the box deflected off the toe of Agustin Giay to surprise Weverton, with the ball striking him on its way in. Fluminense beat Al Hilal 2-1 Fluminense's German Cano (top) celebrates with team members after winning the Club World Cup quarter-final against Al Hilal in Orlando. (AP) Substitute Hercules struck a 70th-minute winner as Brazil's Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 2-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. A fine left-foot finish from Matheus Martinelli had put the Rio club ahead in the 40th minute but Al Hilal's Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo levelled six minutes into the second half before Hercules stole the show to the delight of the vast majority of the 43,091 crowd. Al Hilal had pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, beating Manchester City 4-3, to reach the last eight and Simone Inzaghi's side fought hard until the end to keep their adventure alive. They bow out of the tournament having been unbeaten through the group stage, including holding Real Madrid to a draw, and having truly made their mark on the world stage. There was a moment's silence before the kick-off in memory of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, who died in the early hours of Thursday after their car veered off a motorway in Spain and burst into flames. Al Hilal's line-up featured two of Jota's Portugal team-mates in Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo. The first half was a tight and tactical affair with few chances until Martinelli opened the scoring when he picked the ball up from Gabriel Fuentes inside the box and span out to give himself space for a left-foot shot that rocketed past Yassine Bounou. Al Hilal went close to a quick response when Kalidou Koulibaly's header forced Fluminense's 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio into a fine save. The Saudi side were awarded a penalty when Samuel Xavier was ruled to have brought down Marcos Leonardo in the box but Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was eventually sent to the monitor where he overturned his own decision after seeing there had been no contact between the two players. After going in at the break trailing by a goal, Al Hilal came out strongly for the second half and drew level when Koulibaly headed a Neves corner down to Marcos Leonardo who poked home. Al Hilal's Brazilian full back Renan Lodi had a let off when his poor backpass fell straight at the feet of German Cano but the Fluminense striker's attempt to round Bounou was denied by the smart work of the Moroccan keeper. But the outcome was settled with 20 minutes remaining when half-time sub Hercules saw a shot from distance blocked but from the loose ball Samuel headed the ball back to the forward who raced into the box and fired past Bounou to make it 2-1. Al Hilal produced a flurry of corners and some intense pressure in the final minutes as they desperately sought a way to keep their dream alive but the Brazilians were good value for their victory. Work and commitment "We didn't have many chances but we made the most of them, the entire group worked and were committed," said Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho. "Our fans here in the USA and those in Brazil, they can be proud and I ask them to wear a jersey, in the mall, street, beach, wherever, wear that shirt – they should all be proud to wear that jersey," he said. The Fluminense coach was full of praise for the performance of his 40-year-old central defender Thiago Silva who ensured the Brazilians were able to withstand the second half pressure from Al Hilal. "Thiago Silva is huge for us, I worked with him 15 years ago, he is a coach on the pitch, very helpful and conveys calm and experience to the others. He is our captain and a leader and in hard matches like these against big clubs, its important to have people like him. He is key and fundamental," he said. Al Hilal coach Inzaghi said his side had been unfortunate to end on the losing side. "It has been a good World Cup for us but clearly we leave with a little bit of a bitter taste in our mouth because after what happened in that second half, we deserved much more," he said. "It was a tight match, decided by episodes, as happens in football. Fluminense are very well organised team that are having an excellent tournament," he added.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Fluminense Beat Al Hilal 2-1 To Reach Club World Cup Semis
Substitute Hercules struck a 70th-minute winner as Brazil's Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 2-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. A fine left-foot finish from Matheus Martinelli had put the Rio club ahead in the 40th minute but Al Hilal's Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo levelled six minutes into the second half before Hercules stole the show to the delight of the vast majority of the 43,091 crowd. Fluminense could yet face an all-Brazilian semi-final if their rivals from Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, are able to overcome Premier League outfit Chelsea in Friday's other quarter-final. Al Hilal had pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, beating Manchester City 4-3, to reach the last eight and Simone Inzaghi's side fought hard until the end to keep their adventure alive. They bow out of the tournament having been unbeaten through the group stage, including holding Real Madrid to a draw, and having truly made their mark on the world stage. There was a moment's silence before the kick-off in memory of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, who died in the early hours of Thursday after their car veered off a motorway in Spain and burst into flames. Al Hilal's line-up featured two of Jota's Portugal team-mates in Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo. The first half was a tight and tactical affair with few chances until Martinelli opened the scoring when he picked the ball up from Gabriel Fuentes inside the box and span out to give himself space for a left-foot shot that rocketed past Yassine Bounou. Al Hilal went close to a quick response when Kalidou Koulibaly's header forced Fluminense's 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio into a fine save. The Saudi side were awarded a penalty when Samuel Xavier was ruled to have brought down Marcos Leonardo in the box but Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was eventually sent to the monitor where he overturned his own decision after seeing there had been no contact between the two players. After going in at the break trailing by a goal, Al Hilal came out strongly for the second half and drew level when Koulibaly headed a Neves corner down to Marcos Leonardo who poked home. Al Hilal's Brazilian full back Renan Lodi had a let off when his poor backpass fell straight at the feet of German Cano but the Fluminense striker's attempt to round Bounou was denied by the smart work of the Moroccan keeper. But the outcome was settled with 20 minutes remaining when half-time sub Hercules saw a shot from distance blocked but from the loose ball Samuel headed the ball back to the forward who raced into the box and fired past Bounou to make it 2-1. Al Hilal produced a flurry of corners and some intense pressure in the final minutes as they desperately sought a way to keep their dream alive but the Brazilians were good value for their victory. - Work and commitment - "We didn't have many chances but we made the most of them, the entire group worked and were committed," said Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho. "Our fans here in the USA and those in Brazil, they can be proud and I ask them to wear a jersey, in the mall, street, beach, wherever, wear that shirt – they should all be proud to wear that jersey," he said. The Fluminense coach was full of praise for the performance of his 40-year-old central defender Thiago Silva who ensured the Brazilians were able to withstand the second half pressure from Al Hilal. "Thiago Silva is huge for us, I worked with him 15 years ago, he is a coach on the pitch, very helpful and conveys calm and experience to the others. He is our captain and a leader and in hard matches like these against big clubs, its important to have people like him. He is key and fundamental," he said. Al Hilal coach Inzaghi said his side had been unfortunate to end on the losing side. "It has been a good World Cup for us but clearly we leave with a little bit of a bitter taste in our mouth because after what happened in that second half, we deserved much more," he said. "It was a tight match, decided by episodes, as happens in football. Fluminense are very well organised team that are having an excellent tournament," he added. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
