It`s Wednesday, and the football world is bustling. The knockout rounds of the Club World Cup are drawing near, while we anticipate the USMNT`s next appearance. Here`s a look at the latest developments.
Club World Cup Knockout Rounds Taking Shape
With just two days remaining in the group stage of the Club World Cup, ten teams have already secured their spots in the last 16. Juventus and Manchester City have qualified and will compete for the top spot in a playoff on Thursday. Before that, attention is focused on Groups E and F. While Group F might not feature the biggest names, matches like Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense hold significance. If the South African team were to win their match, they would be the sole African representative in the last 16, a possibility not to be dismissed given their close 4-3 loss to Dortmund.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Inter, who must secure a victory against River Plate to guarantee their place in the knockout stages. A late win against Urawa Red Diamonds offered a reprieve, and new head coach Cristian Chivu hopes it can break the `cycle of negativity` that developed after narrowly missing out on the Serie A title and suffering a significant defeat in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Chivu isn`t the only European coach facing challenges. Xabi Alonso aims for Real Madrid to top Group H, which requires a win against Salzburg. This task seems straightforward, but failure could have severe consequences; a loss to the Austrians coupled with an Al-Hilal win would see the biggest club exit the Club World Cup.
Another Champions League winner navigated a difficult final group game on Wednesday night, with Chelsea defeating Esperance de Tunis 3-0 in the intense heat in Philadelphia. This marked the 60th game of a demanding season for Enzo Maresca`s squad, but they are determined to use this challenge to their advantage instead of just seeing it as a final push before their summer break. As Liam Delap noted, the Club World Cup has actually helped him integrate into the team.
- Delap: `This tournament has really helped me settle in because you know if we`re back at the training ground, everyone would be disappearing at three o`clock. And here we`re together all the time, so it`s a great way to get settled in, and everyone`s been really helpful.`
Benfica`s surprising 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich demonstrated they are a serious contender and likely pleased Chelsea, who will now face the Portuguese side in the Round of 16, with the winner of Palmeiras vs. Botafogo next. Conversely, Bayern has landed on a seemingly more challenging side of the bracket, potentially facing the impressive Flamengo in the Round of 16, followed by the winner of a high-profile tie between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. An intriguing knockout phase is already taking shape.
USMNT Stars Linked with Summer Moves
Meanwhile, the Gold Cup involves a waiting game for the USMNT. Honduras, Panama, Canada, and Guatemala secured their quarter-final spots on Tuesday night. The winner of the match between the latter two will potentially face the USA if they advance from their game against Costa Rica this Sunday in Minneapolis. While we await the tournament`s resumption, transfer speculation fills the void; if USMNT players aren`t currently in action, rumors suggest they might be changing clubs this summer.
One player linked with a move is Yunus Musah, absent from the Gold Cup for personal reasons. Despite making 40 appearances last season, the 22-year-old seems likely to be affected by changes at AC Milan, with Massimiliano Allegri now in charge instead of Sergio Conceicao. Importantly for Musah, Luka Modric is expected to join Milan after Real Madrid`s Club World Cup involvement concludes. Milan`s sporting director confirmed that this means a departure for the US international.
- Sporting Director: `I consider Musah an excellent player, but we are looking for profiles with characteristics that fit the project we have with coach Allegri. We are seeking deep-lying midfielders for a three-man midfield. Musah doesn`t have these characteristics. He can play in a two or three-man midfield but with different characteristics. This is the real reason why we want to do something different.`
Musah`s next destination is less clear than it appeared recently. A week ago, a move from Milan to Napoli, joining Antonio Conte`s side, seemed probable. However, that possibility appears to have cooled, particularly since Kevin De Bruyne signed with Napoli. West Ham have also been mentioned in connection with Musah and have held a long-standing interest, having targeted him in the summer of 2023 following Declan Rice`s departure. For now, his future remains uncertain.
The situation for Johnny Cardoso is reportedly more definitive, with reports suggesting he is close to joining Atletico Madrid from Real Betis. The deal could be worth around $34.8 million for the defensive midfielder, who is currently with the USMNT squad under Mauricio Pochettino. This move is expected to finalize once the USMNT`s Gold Cup campaign concludes.
Cardoso`s defensive capabilities align well with Atletico boss Diego Simeone`s tactical preferences, and the chance to compete in the Champions League will undoubtedly be attractive to the 23-year-old. If this transfer proves successful, it could provide Pochettino with needed stability in midfield, an area that has seemed inconsistent in recent months. Conversely, there`s a concern that Cardoso might struggle for playing time, potentially falling behind players like Koke and Rodrigo De Paul, which could hinder his development and rhythm for next summer. Only time will reveal the full impact of this potential move for Cardoso.
