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The Independent
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Trent Alexander-Arnold makes long-awaited Real Madrid debut
Trent Alexander-Arnold made his Real Madrid debut against Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup, playing 65 minutes. The match ended in a stalemate, with Real Madrid missing out on a victory despite an early lead from Gonzalo Garcia; Federico Valverde missed a 90th-minute penalty. Alexander-Arnold described his debut as a dream, despite the draw, and he acknowledged the global support from fans. He admitted to struggling against Al-Hilal's Salem Al-Dawsari during his time on the field. Alexander-Arnold also revealed he learned Spanish in a couple of months to better adapt to the club's culture.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Who is Gonzalo Garcia, Real Madrid's goalscorer against Al Hilal in FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Real Madrid took the lead against Al Hilal in its FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage match at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday (June 19 in IST) after 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia found the back of the net. The youngster, who had only made six senior team appearances before this match, replaced Kylian Mbappe in the squad after the Frenchman missed out due to illness. His strike in the 34th minute was the first goal under new manager Xabi Alonso, who took over the role from Carlo Ancelotti. FOLLOW LIVE | REAL MADRID VS AL HILAL LIVE SCORE, FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 Who is Gonzalo Garcia? Before joining Real Madrid's youth academy in 2014, Gonzalo had stints with SEK, Club Santa Bárbara, and Jarama Race. He spent a year in Mallorca's academy in the 2018–19 season, before returning to Real Madrid. In March 2022, he made his debut for Real Madrid Castilla which plays in the Spanish third tier. Gonzalo made his debut for the senior team in the 2023-24 season, in its 3-0 win against Cadiz in the league. He has gone on to make four more appearances for the club, assisting once in that period. He caught the headlines when he scored Real's winner in added time against Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals in February this year. He has made 95 appearances in all competitions for the senior team and youth teams, scoring 37 goals and recording 11 assists in that period.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Trent Alexander-Arnold already showing signs of old class in Real Madrid shirt even if he's put a new name on the back
T RENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD was caught up in a Club World Cup clash far more dramatic than anyone could have predicted as he made his Real Madrid debut. The ex- Advertisement 12 Trent Alexander Arnold launched his Real Madrid career on the right of defence as an inverted wing-back Credit: Alamy 12 He drifted into midfield when Real had the ball Credit: Getty And the He saw Gonzalo Garcia slot a brilliant team goal to launch But former Al-Hilal were furious with a spot-kick award against Mohammed Al Qahtani when his arm went across Fran Garcia's face on the corner of the box in the 90th minute. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But ex- Meanwhile, TAA was not just in a new top, he had a new moniker on the back - simply "Trent". So was his first Real game just as straightforward? Advertisement Most read in Football Here's our man STEVE BRENNER 's verdict on the 26-year-old's performance. 12 Alexander-Arnold outshone the very quiet Jude Bellingham Credit: Getty 12 He was heavily involved up and down the right side 12 TAA is looking forward to his future - with something new on his back Credit: Getty Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK An attacking threat? With the searing afternoon temperatures in Miami edging closer to a sweltering 33 degrees, the tempo of the game was a long way off the standard intensity. 12 Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals he's been 'waiting a long time' to join Real Madrid For most of the first half, Alexander-Arnold, along with his new pals, tried to conserve energy when possible. Advertisement But it was his initial pass deep in his own half that started the move which ended with Gonzalo Garcia's 34th-minute opener. The England international pumped his fists into the air when the ball hit the back of the net. Early in the second half, he found himself on the edge of the box with the ball at his feet, but the killer pass just eluded him. He also appeared to operate slightly more centrally after the break as Real searched for a winner. Advertisement Defensively sound? The former Liverpool man was operating in an inverted wing-back role, which saw him largely tuck inside closer to the centre-back pairing of fellow new boy When the Spanish giants were in possession, TAA drifted into midfield and was on hand to try and penetrate a robust Al-Hilal backline. He made a couple of key interceptions as the first half wore on — including one which helped set up the opener — and looked defensively solid. 12 Alexander Arnold was straight into the thick of the action Credit: Alamy Advertisement 12 This graph shows how he never switched flanks 12 The Three Lions ace looked solid defensively Has he settled in already? Certainly looked that way. Having fellow England international With Alonso also starting afresh in the Spanish capital, everyone, including Trent, is beginning with a clean slate. Advertisement Any surprises/anything new? Just having 'TRENT' on the back of his shirt was a new look for the 26-year-old. At Liverpool, and for England, the Scouser was the main man for free-kicks. But when one was given on 57 minutes, it was Turkish ace Arda Güler who stepped up—and subsequently failed to deliver. His race was run after 64 minutes, with Alonso keen to bring on fresh legs, but the sparks from his debut were promising enough. What did he say about it? "It's an incredible day for me to make my Real Madrid debut. It's something almost every player dreams of so to be able to achieve it is huge for me. Advertisement "Of course, there's some disappointment in there because we haven't won the game. It's the mentality you need to have as a Real Madrid player is to want and expect to win every game that you play in. "It's disappointing not to win. But there were a lot of positives, especially in the second half." On the support... "Incredible. I felt the support from the moment I signed for the club. It's absolutely sensational. The fanbase that is truly global all over the world. You feel it every single day, the fans at the training ground and the hotel and on social media. Advertisement "It's a huge thank you for that. We dominated the stands today, which was incredible. The support was truly amazing." On the game... "I think in the second half we kept the ball really well - that is what we lacked in the first half. "In this heat, it is important to keep hold of the ball as best as you can. We were in and around their box a lot. Advertisement "We put in crosses, got shots off but it just wasn't meant to be. We also had the penalty late on. These things do happen in football. "Nobody is to blame and we take the positives, and we have things we can work on. I am sure we will do that going into the next game." And on how long he's been learning Spanish... "Not too long. A couple of months. It was something important that I had to do. I want to adapt and give myself the best start possible going to a new country, new city and new team. Advertisement "It is important to show the intent that I want to embrace the culture, immerse myself in it and try to adapt as best as possible." 12 Alexander-Arnold looked at home in a clash that was also Real legend Xabi Alonso's first game back at the club as manager Credit: Getty 12 In contrast Bellingham was largely anonymous for the Spanish giants Credit: Getty 12 Advertisement
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jude Bellingham is AGAIN caught in x-rated rant at an official - just days after Thomas Tuchel admitted his own mother is REPULSED by Real Madrid star's on-pitch behaviour
Jude Bellingham rudely barked and swore at an official yet again in Real Madrid 's Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal. The 21-year-old shouted an offensive term at the linesman amid increased focus on his sometimes brash behaviour after England boss Thomas Tuchel admitted his mother finds his on-field demeanour 'repulsive'. The midfielder berated the linesman after Joao Cancelo kicked the ball against him and out for a throw for the Saudi Pro League side. But the England star was adamant that it took another nick off the former Manchester City defender, leading him to shout 'our ball, our ball, f*** off' at the linesman. Bellingham admonished the offical during a hard-fought draw with Ai-Hilal in Madrid's Club World Cup match at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Real have won the Club World Cup on six occasions, mostly recently in 2022, and Gonzalo Garcia struck first after 34 minutes to give the Spanish giants the lead. 🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Jude Bellingham to the linesman: 'Our ball, our ball! F*CK OFF!' — The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) June 18, 2025 But Los Blancos, who won the competition three years in a row from 2016 to 2018, were pegged back when former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves struck in an equalising penalty late in the second half. Federico Valverde then missed a stoppage time penalty, given after a VAR review, to prevent Madrid claiming a win on Trent Alexander-Arnold's debut and Xabi Alonso's first game in charge. Bellingham grew into the contest as it went on but he was unable to make the difference. His outburst at the linesman came just eight days after he was panned for kicking a water cooler in rage following the Three Lions' defeat by Senegal. He chased down the fourth official and booted a water cooler on full-time at the City Ground after his late goal was disallowed. In an extraordinary interview, Tuchel then revealed that his behaviour can intimidate team-mates because of his over-aggressive manner and have a negative impact on the team. Bellingham's attitude towards team-mates was also questioned at last summer's Euros. He was also handed a two-match suspension for swearing at a referee in a 1-1 La Liga draw with Osasuna in February. He was dismissed by referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero for foul and abusive language but the Englishman was adamant that he had not been abusive towards the referee, who accused the midfielder of telling him: 'F*** you'. Bellingham's account was that he had said: 'f*** off', but that these words were aimed at himself in frustration, rather than at the match official. The former Borussia Dortmund player was also caught swearing at the referee during Madrid's 3-1 defeat by AC Milan in the Champions League in November. Meanwhile, Real Madrid take on Mexican side Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg in theier next group fixtures in the US.
CNA
10 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Analysis:Reality check for Alonso as Real Madrid make lacklustre Club World Cup start
Xabi Alonso's glittering Real Madrid playing career offered no protection for their new coach against the harsh spotlight of expectation on Wednesday, as they laboured to a deflating 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in their Club World Cup opener. The result laid bare the task facing the 43-year-old Spaniard, who will be expected to conjure instant success after swapping Bayer Leverkusen for the pressure cooker of 15-time European champions Madrid. "We know things take time, we need to correct a few details, everything takes time it's been only nine days of work for me here," Alonso told a press conference after watching his depleted squad struggle against opponents they were expected to dispatch with ease. With captain Dani Carvajal and centre backs Antonio Ruediger and Eder Militao absent, Real's defensive fragility was exposed despite the summer additions of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The former Liverpool player looked particularly uncomfortable, failing to provide his trademark attacking threat while repeatedly being exposed by Al-Hilal's marauding Brazilian fullback Renan Lodi. A clumsy penalty conceded by Raul Asencio compounded Real's defensive woes, allowing the Saudi side to cancel out academy product Gonzalo Garcia's opener. Forced to innovate without the ill Kylian Mbappe and injured Brazilian teenager Endrick, Alonso's attacking options were limited. The 21-year-old Gonzalo, thrust into the spotlight, scored once but spurned several opportunities that could have settled the contest. Tactically, Alonso appeared to defer to Real Madrid tradition by abandoning the three-centre-back formation that defined his Leverkusen success, instead deploying a 4-3-3 reminiscent of Ancelotti's reign. One bright spot was Jude Bellingham's deeper, more central role, stepping into the creative void left by Toni Kroos's retirement a year ago. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo also showed flashes of threat, but ended up succumbing to the sweltering Miami heat. With Mexican side Pachuca looming on Sunday before a final group clash with RB Salzburg, Alonso faces a race against time to impose his vision on a squad accustomed to immediate success. For a club that measures achievement only in trophies, the pressure is immediately on Real Madrid's newest galactico - the one in the dugout.
