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Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
When and where to watch the FIFA Club World Cup final
European champions Paris Saint-Germain will face a resurgent Chelsea on Sunday in the final of FIFA's revamped 32-team Club World Cup, capping off a month-long tournament in the United States that, while sparking debates over its calendar and conditions, has delivered sporting drama, replete with euphoria and French and English powerhouses, two of the richest clubs in world football, are now poised to compete for the honour of being the first champions of this expanded competition—an event created with the promise of revolutionising club football and serving as a curtain-raiser for the 2026 FIFA World final, slated to kick-off at mid-day local time at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, comes after a tournament defined by shocks, one that saw the surprise exits of Manchester City and Inter Milan at the hands of underdogs Al Hilal and Fluminense enter the final in scintillating form, having won seven of their last eight matches without conceding a single goal. Luis Enrique's side demonstrated their high-pressing, attacking style to devastating effect in their 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in the semi-finals, where two early turnovers forced by their relentless press led to a commanding two-goal lead within nine minutes. .Former Real Madrid boss, current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti sentenced to prison for tax fraud in off their maiden Champions League triumph, the Parisians are chasing their first world title, led by a manager who has replaced departed stars with a youthful, dynamic team committed to his total football who has been orchestrating PSG's play from his midfield role has been pivotal to their success, while fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi have provided blistering width and pace. In attack, Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembele, who has had a terrific season, has shone the brightest, scoring crucial goals and providing important assists to teammates. The team's defensive solidity has been equally remarkable, with their high turnover rate proving instrumental to their attacking threat. Adding to PSG's formidable aura is their manager's own history: Luis Enrique has never lost a one-off club final, winning all 11 he has meanwhile, have endured a far more arduous journey. The Blues arrived in the United States as winners of Europe's third-tier Conference League after a severely disappointing domestic season that saw them crawl to a top-four finish. For manager Enzo Maresca, who has understandably faced scrutiny and crticism over Chelsea's domestic performances despite spending hundreds of millions, the Club World Cup final offers a chance at said, the Blues have rallied impressively throughout the tournament, their campaign bolstered by the mid-tournament addition of Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion. The Brazilian forward, who has formed an exciting partnership with the ice-cool Cole Palmer, proved decisive in their semi-final against Fluminense, netting twice against his childhood team. Behind Chelsea's attack, the formidable midfield trio of Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, and Moises Caicedo have excelled at breaking up play and exploiting transitional PSG remain strong favourites, Chelsea's resurgence should not be trivialised, and the final promises to be a thrilling watch for fans and neutrals viewers in India, the Club World Cup final will take place a little after midnight, at 12.30 am on Monday, July Club World Cup final can be livestreamed at DAZN.
India Today
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Celebrated pundit Gary Lineker quits BBC after major social media controversy
Gary Lineker, one of Britain's most prominent football pundits and a former England captain, has stepped down from the BBC following a social media controversy that sparked widespread criticism. The 64-year-old, who hosted Match of the Day for over 25 years, will no longer be part of the broadcaster's plans for the 2026 FIFA World decision comes after Lineker apologised for reposting an image on Instagram that referenced Zionism and included a picture of a rat, a symbol historically associated with antisemitic propaganda. Although he stated that he never intended to share anything offensive, Lineker acknowledged the harm has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season," said BBC Director General Tim Davie in a statement on Monday. Lineker also issued a personal statement, saying: "I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic. However, I recognise the error and the upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."His departure marks the end of a significant era for BBC Sport. Once its highest-paid presenter, Lineker had originally planned to step down from Match of the Day this year but continue working with the BBC until 2026. That plan has now been cut recent years, Lineker's political commentary on social media has led to tensions with the BBC, which upholds strict impartiality guidelines. In 2023, he was briefly taken off air after criticising the government's immigration policy. He has also voiced opposition to Brexit and publicly supported calls for a second influence in the media landscape extends beyond the BBC. He is a co-founder of Goalhanger, a successful podcast production company behind series such as The Rest Is History and The Rest Is Football. His football legacy remains substantial, with a storied career that included stints at Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, and 80 appearances for the England national his broadcasting legacy at the BBC comes to a close in the shadow of Watch
