logo
Mbappe edging closer to full fitness as Real reach Club World Cup last eight

Mbappe edging closer to full fitness as Real reach Club World Cup last eight

CNA13 hours ago
MIAMI :Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Kylian Mbappe was edging closer to full fitness ahead of the Club World Cup quarter-finals after his side eliminated Juventus 1-0 in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Mbappe made his long-awaited debut in the tournament as a second-half substitute following a bout of gastroenteritis that sidelined him during the group stage.
Alonso expressed optimism that the France striker would be sharper in time for Saturday's quarter-final clash against Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey.
"I think day by day he will get better, and by the time of the quarters he should be in much better shape," Alonso told a press conference.
'We'll keep checking in with him every day.'
In Mbappe's absence, Gonzalo Garcia deputised brilliantly, scoring the only goal on Tuesday for his third of the tournament.
Midfielder Federico Valverde was instrumental in Madrid's hard-fought win, creating countless chances and earning praise from Alonso, who hailed the Uruguayan as a 'complete player' with leadership qualities that lift the entire team.
Vinicius Jr.'s positioning was another focal point, with Alonso explaining tactical tweaks that shifted the Brazilian back to his favoured left flank in the second half.
'We saw that giving him width allowed him to attack better from outside in,' Alonso said.
Defensively, Alonso credited his players' collective discipline for limiting Juventus's chances, highlighting Real's continued improvement at the back with only two goals conceded across four matches in the tournament so far.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Porto parting ways with manager Anselmi after early Club World Cup exit
Porto parting ways with manager Anselmi after early Club World Cup exit

Straits Times

time4 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Porto parting ways with manager Anselmi after early Club World Cup exit

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group A - FC Porto v Al Ahly - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - June 23, 2025 FC Porto coach Martin Anselmi before the match REUTERS/Susana Vera Porto are moving on from manager Martin Anselmi after their group-stage exit from the Club World Cup, the Portuguese club said late on Tuesday. Porto, who hired the 39-year-old Argentine in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract, finished third behind Palmeiras and Inter Miami with just two points from the games in Group A. "Porto informs that it has started negotiations with coach Martin Anselmi for the termination of the sports employment contract that had been in force since January 2025," Porto said in a statement. Porto finished third in the league last season, nine points behind champions Sporting. REUTERS

Porto parting ways with manager Anselmi after early Club World Cup exit
Porto parting ways with manager Anselmi after early Club World Cup exit

CNA

time5 hours ago

  • CNA

Porto parting ways with manager Anselmi after early Club World Cup exit

Porto are moving on from manager Martin Anselmi after their group-stage exit from the Club World Cup, the Portuguese club said late on Tuesday. Porto, who hired the 39-year-old Argentine in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract, finished third behind Palmeiras and Inter Miami with just two points from the games in Group A. "Porto informs that it has started negotiations with coach Martin Anselmi for the termination of the sports employment contract that had been in force since January 2025," Porto said in a statement.

Plenty of time for Bellingham brothers clash, says Kovac after Jobe's CWC suspension
Plenty of time for Bellingham brothers clash, says Kovac after Jobe's CWC suspension

Straits Times

time5 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Plenty of time for Bellingham brothers clash, says Kovac after Jobe's CWC suspension

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Jul 1, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham (77) controls the ball in the first half against CF Monterrey during a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images ATLANTA, Georgia - Jobe Bellingham may want to steer clear of tackling when the clock ticks over to the 28th minute of his next match. The midfielder was on track to face his brother Jude of Real Madrid in the Club World Cup quarter-finals but after picking up a yellow card in Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 win over Monterrey on Tuesday he will instead be looking on from the sidelines. That booking, for a foul on Nelson Deossa, was his second of the tournament and arrived in the 28th minute at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The 19-year-old's first yellow card came in Dortmund's 1-0 group stage win over South Korean side Ulsan HD -- also in the 28th minute. "I think we all saw that he was very disappointed," Dortmund manager Niko Kovac said. "I think he did not exactly know that the second yellow card is a suspension at halftime. He was a little bit surprised." While one door has closed, Kovac said there will be more opportunities for the siblings to face each other. "Okay, he's young. His brother is also young, so I'm convinced they will face each other, maybe next season in the Champions League, and then the future. The future is for them. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Life Star Awards 2025: Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the most decorated actors in show's 30-year history World Paramount settles with Trump over '60 Minutes' Harris interview for $20 million Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord Singapore Man charged over allegedly receiving scam proceeds of more than $1.5m in his firm's bank accounts Sport FAS introduces 'enhancements' to SPL, with increase in prize money and foreign player quota "And yeah, the Club World Cup would be nice, but now it isn't. Someone else must play for him, but it's also okay." Jobe, who sealed a 33 million euros ($38.92 million) move to Dortmund from newly-promoted Premier League club Sunderland in June, was substituted in the 55th minute to avoid any chance of a red card, said Kovac. "I substituted him not because of his performance. I changed because he had a yellow card in this game, and you saw we had some very intensive duels, and I did not want that someone is maybe then booked twice," Kovac added. Jude, 22, also played for Dortmund from 2020-2023 before making the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu. Dortmund play Real at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday. REUTERS

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store