Latest news with #MatheusMartinelli
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Thiago Silva's timeless leadership has Fluminense dreaming of Club World Cup glory
With the royal blue armband still strapped around his left bicep like a tourniquet, Thiago Silva is incongruous to the setting. Having laid the Fluminense crest in the middle of the pitch at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, the entire team and staff form a loop around the centre circle. Hands intertwined and raised aloft as if on a podium, they skip half a rotation left and half a rotation right, to the beat of thousands of Brazilians celebrating the 'ugly ducklings' overcoming the opulence of Al Hilal to reach the final four of the Club World Cup. Advertisement It is a haze of maroon euphoria but their leader Silva, the man whose words inspired them to another underdog victory in the last round against Inter Milan, breaks the circle slightly early. Some players are hugging like velcro, others have flags draped around them. Some swing club scarves like a lasso. Not Silva. He is stoic, walking alone towards the tunnel, sipping from a water bottle, his mind already focused on the semi-final. A picture of tranquility that makes his spine-tingling team talk four days earlier look like it was delivered by a different person. Control is his superpower. At the full-time whistle, he momentarily dropped to his knees and pointed to the sky before being hounded by the bench, but within seconds he was back to serenity. Silva, who turns 41 in two months, was a well of composure all game. When Matheus Martinelli scored to take the lead against Al Hilal, he did not chase after his team-mate. He stood mid-pitch and pointed to the sky for a couple of seconds before talking his defensive partner through a tactical point. In most other teams, at 28 years old, Ignacio would be regarded as a senior player. Not in this Fluminense team. There is one God here and he is the No 3, sporting a cut on his nose that he refuses to have attended to apart from during a water break in which he and manager Renato Gaucho speak only between themselves. He is also the player, above all, who really does not have to be here, putting his body on the line, treating every opposition attack like interrogation of his pride even after 15 years at the top of European football. But he is here, and he is guiding Fluminense, his club, towards immortality. It may have been Hercules who got the final goal, just like against Inter Milan with another cross-goal this time on his right foot, but it was another herculean effort from their quadragenarian centre-back that provided the base to win. Advertisement Even with a resume that boasts Serie A, Ligue 1, Champions League and Copa America winners medals, the Brazil centurion plays with the concentration of someone who refuses to take a single moment of defensive peace for granted. He enjoys suffering because he knows what it is to suffer. In 2005, he spent six months in a hospital with tuberculosis and was initially told he might not be able to play football again. It led to depression and he had not played over 15 senior games in a season by the age of 23. Silva has had to battle to get to this point in his career, the final stretch which is now only two games away from one last, defining triumph. Back at the club that kickstarted his career aged 21, following an unsuccessful move to Porto having worked his way up from the third division of Brazilian football, you sense that returning to the underdog mentality with his boyhood club is awakening something deeper, more intense inside him. 'Thiago Silva is huge,' said his manager Gaucho after the 2-1 win. 'He's the coach on the pitch. He conveys calm and experience to the other players. He's the captain, the leader and, in hard matches against great clubs, it's important to have a player with his profile. 'He's fundamental. During the week we try not to use him in training so he's 100 per cent available for the match.' Silva is held in such lofty esteem by his colleagues but they are so subservient to him they are more akin to a flock. He is the elder they aspire to be, the voice they hang on to at the few still moments in the game — or in the minutes before they go out to play, like his speech he delivered before the 2-0 victory over Inter. 'Don't wait until after the game to say what you could have done, no,' he said, shaking his head profusely before standing up to wipe his face clear of the tears. Advertisement 'My stepfather was the person who made me become Thiago Silva. He was sick and I didn't know how serious the illness was. 'I went back to the national team and the World Cup ended the way it ended. He was hospitalized and I went back to Paris. I started the pre-season and in one of my first matches my wife called me and said 'Your father passed away'. 'What am I trying to say with this?… I didn't go to see him at the hospital because I thought he was going to be fine. Don't leave for later what you can do now because there might not be time. 'Seize the moment, enjoy it, but enjoy it with responsibility. Having said that, we need to finish the match with 11 players. Don't take this to an unfair place. Be fair but compete. Compete, dammit. We all need to compete, together.' There are not many speeches worth quoting in full but in under 90 seconds he captured what has made him such a powerful leader throughout his career — and perhaps why Brazil lost 7-1 to Germany at the 2014 World Cup in his absence. 'Thiago is a big reference in global football,' said Fluminense winger John Arias. 'He's one of the best defends in history and he has our complete admiration and respect. 'He's a wonderful person, magnificent. He had a rough time because he lost his stepfather and sometimes this kind of difficult in life helps you to find motivation and this is what happened with Thiago.' His 896 career appearances is a rich pool of experience but the man behind him in goal, 44-year-old Fabio, has also played a crucial part in Fluminense conceding just three times in five games. He has now played 1,379 senior games as a professional footballer, a total that is now only six shy of former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton's disputed all-time record. Silva's counterpart Kalidou Koulibaly, who spent the 2022-23 season with him at Chelsea, momentarily came to blows with Silva after claiming a penalty but he had nothing but praise for him at full time. Hours later, Chelsea would be confirmed as Fluminense's semi-final opponent, after defeating Palmeiras in Friday's second late game. 'I have a lot of respect for Thiago,' he said. 'I know him from Chelsea and a little before. For me, he is a legend having played together for a year. I know him very well. Nice guy, nice team-mate. He gave a lot of advice to his team and controlled the team. We saw it today and we saw it in this tournament. Advertisement 'He deserves to be here. Today I lost against him and am very sad but I hope he continues to the end.' The full-time music that greets each Fluminense win is becoming familiar. A mellow trumpet-laden ballad that has the ambience of a 1940s speakeasy, it is everything the increasingly sanitised, indistinguishable landscape of modern European football isn't. In many ways, it is Thiago Silva at this Club World Cup. Understated, happy to be in the background, but with a spirit that proudly marches on.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Super-sub Hercules strikes to send Fluminense into last four at Club World Cup
Matheus Martinelli and substitute Hercules struck as Brazilian side Fluminense advanced to the Club World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Saudi club Al-Hilal. Martinelli fired into the top corner after finding some room in the box following Gabriel Fuentes' cutback five minutes before half-time although they were quickly pegged back in Orlando. While Al-Hilal were denied a penalty by VAR, Marcos Leonardo struck from close range following a corner in the 51st minute for his fourth goal of the tournament. But Hercules, who came off the bench to guarantee Fluminense's win over Inter Milan last time out, struck in the 70th minute as the super-sub fired low into the net after his initial shot was blocked. Fluminense will next take on Chelsea in New Jersey on Tuesday after a fortuitous late own goal snatched a 2-1 victory for the Blues over Palmeiras. Extra time was looming at Lincoln Financial Field when Malo Gusto's cross took deflections off Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton and ended up in the back of the Brazilians' net in the 83rd minute. The London side had led early on through Cole Palmer but were pegged back by a superb strike from Estevao Willian, the 18-year-old winger who will join them after the tournament. PA
Leaders
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Leaders
Al-Hilal Bid Club World Cup Farewell After Slim Loss to Fluminense
Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal concluded their impressive journey in the FIFA Club World Cup after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to Fluminense of Brazil in the competition's quarterfinals at Orlando's Camping World Stadium on Friday. Matheus Martinelli opened the scoring for the Rio club 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, sealing the victory for the Brazilian side to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. Al-Hilal's Journey 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. Their journey has been remarkable and deserves recognition. 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. This highlights their strong performance throughout the tournament. 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. This adds a somber note to the event. Al-Hilal's line-up featured two of Jota's Portugal team-mates in Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo. This connection adds a personal touch to the story. First Half Details 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 Bono. This describes the initial cautious play and the breakthrough goal. 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. This shows Al-Hilal's immediate attempt to equalize. 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. This adds drama and a bit of controversy to the match. Second Half Action 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. This shows their resilience and determination. 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 Bono was denied by the smart work of the Moroccan keeper. But the outcome settled with 20 minutes remaining when the defense blocked half-time substitute Hercules's shot from distance but from the loose ball Samuel headed the ball back to the forward who raced into the box and fired past Bono to make it 2-1. Final Minutes 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. This encapsulates the final efforts and the conclusion of the match. Fluminense could yet face an all-Brazilian semi-final if their rivals from Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, are able to overcome Premier League Chelsea in Saturday's other quarter-final. This adds an interesting subplot to the tournament. The Riyadh-based giants' journey in the Club World Cup ended in a narrow defeat, but their performance has left a lasting impression, as they fought valiantly and showcased their talent on the world stage. Short link : Post Views: 23
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Fluminense book Club World Cup semi-final place with win over Al-Hilal
Brazil's Fluminense continued their fairytale run at the Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal on Friday in Orlando to book their place in the semi-finals. The tournament underdogs struck first through Matheus Martinelli in the opening half before Al-Hilal hit back after the break when Marcos Leonardo found the net. But Fluminense refused to be denied and regained their lead in the 70th minute through Hércules to secure a memorable win over Al-Hilal in the first meeting between the two clubs. 'If you asked me a while ago whether we would reach this stage, a semi-final, I wouldn't say I wouldn't believe it because I believe in everything that I do, but it was so far away from us,' said the captain Thiago Silva. The Brazilian side, who entered the tournament as one of the biggest long shots, will now face the winners of Friday's other quarter-final clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea. Fluminense opened the scoring when João Cancelo failed to clear his line, allowing Gabriel Fuentes to roll the ball to Martinelli who brilliantly picked out the far post with a left-footed strike into the top right corner. 'Many people didn't believe in our potential, in our team but each game and each step we proved we can be tough,' said Martinelli, who will miss the semi-final after picking up a yellow card shortly after his goal. When we step on the pitch it's difficult to beat our team.' During first-half stoppage time, a rising Kalidou Koulibaly headed the ball on target but a fully-stretched Fabio used his left hand to swat it away and keep Fluminense in front. Al-Hilal made a quick start to the second half and drew level after a cushioned header from a wide-open Koulibaly hit the legs of Leonardo, who quickly reset his feet and fired home from close range. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Moments later, Fluminense's Samuel Xavier looked to have tripped Leonardo in the area, prompting the referee to immediately point to the spot, but after a VAR review it was considered 'normal football contact' and the call was reversed. Fluminense nearly restored their lead in the 55th minute when German Cano broke free but rather than shooting he tried to take the ball around Yassine Bounou and the Moroccan goalkeeper managed to poke away the ball. Hércules, who scored off the bench in the last-16 win over Inter Milan, came in for Martinelli after the break and struck again when he took a brilliant touch into the area and fired into the bottom corner. 'I really want to congratulate my squad for the way that they played, they poured their hearts out on the pitch tonight,' said the Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi. 'And of course we are sorry but we need to be proud.' The match began with players and fans observing a minute's silence in memory of Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, who both died in a car crash on Thursday.
The Advertiser
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Hercules sends Fluminense into Club World Cup semis
Brazil's Fluminense have continued their fairy-tale run at the Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in Orlando to book their place in the semi-finals. The tournament underdogs struck first through Matheus Martinelli in the opening half before Al-Hilal hit back after the break when Marcus Leonardo found the net. But Fluminense refused to be denied and regained their lead in the 70th minute through Hercules to secure a memorable win over Al-Hilal in the first meeting between the clubs. The Brazilian side, who entered the tournament as one of the biggest long shots, will now face the winners of Friday's other quarter-final clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea. Al-Hilal announced themselves in the footballing world when they beat Manchester City 4-3. Liverpool FC and Portugal national team star Diogo Joto and his brother Andre Silva, who died Thursday in Spain in a car accident, were honoured with a pre-game moment of silence. Cameras showed Al Hilal starters and Portuguese compatriots Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo fighting off tears during the observance. Brazil's Fluminense have continued their fairy-tale run at the Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in Orlando to book their place in the semi-finals. The tournament underdogs struck first through Matheus Martinelli in the opening half before Al-Hilal hit back after the break when Marcus Leonardo found the net. But Fluminense refused to be denied and regained their lead in the 70th minute through Hercules to secure a memorable win over Al-Hilal in the first meeting between the clubs. The Brazilian side, who entered the tournament as one of the biggest long shots, will now face the winners of Friday's other quarter-final clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea. Al-Hilal announced themselves in the footballing world when they beat Manchester City 4-3. Liverpool FC and Portugal national team star Diogo Joto and his brother Andre Silva, who died Thursday in Spain in a car accident, were honoured with a pre-game moment of silence. Cameras showed Al Hilal starters and Portuguese compatriots Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo fighting off tears during the observance. Brazil's Fluminense have continued their fairy-tale run at the Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in Orlando to book their place in the semi-finals. The tournament underdogs struck first through Matheus Martinelli in the opening half before Al-Hilal hit back after the break when Marcus Leonardo found the net. But Fluminense refused to be denied and regained their lead in the 70th minute through Hercules to secure a memorable win over Al-Hilal in the first meeting between the clubs. The Brazilian side, who entered the tournament as one of the biggest long shots, will now face the winners of Friday's other quarter-final clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea. Al-Hilal announced themselves in the footballing world when they beat Manchester City 4-3. Liverpool FC and Portugal national team star Diogo Joto and his brother Andre Silva, who died Thursday in Spain in a car accident, were honoured with a pre-game moment of silence. Cameras showed Al Hilal starters and Portuguese compatriots Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo fighting off tears during the observance.
