The battle of Les Bleus
This heavyweight semi-final at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ comes with a distinctly French flavour. While it is no surprise to see the French champions field a clutch of national-team regulars, the same logic hardly applies to the Spanish giants. Despite that, Real Madrid C. F. have a rich history of fielding French stars. […]
Cambiasso: PSG’s positioning is always spot on
Before turning 20, Esteban Cambiasso already had an impressive footballing resume. It all began at Argentinos Juniors, a hotbed for fledgling Argentinian starlets, where he followed in the footsteps of fellow left-footed players Diego Maradona and Fernando Redondo. In 1996, Cambiasso left for Real Madrid C. F., where he played for the B team and […]
The records PSG could break at the Club World Cup
“Perfection does not exist,” wrote 19th-century French poet Alfred de Musset in his book, Confession of a Child of the Century. If he had seen Paris Saint-Germain play this season, he probably would have had a different opinion. Luis Enrique’s PSG have had an idyllic year in 2024-25, winning four out of four titles, and […]
Chelsea’s 2021 European champions: where are they now?
Chelsea FC will take on Fluminense FC in the semi-finals of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ on Tuesday, 8 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. However, the current Blues squad bears little resemblance to the team that secured the club’s place at this tournament. The Blues qualified for the Club World Cup […]
Three key battles in Fluminense v Chelsea semi-final
Thiago Silva v Cole Palmer Thiago Silva turns 41 in September but his timeless leadership skills have played a key role in Fluminense FC’s march to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ semi-finals. While the likes of Jhon Arias, Martinelli and Hercules have grabbed the goals for Fluminense, it is Silva’s defensive dominance that has […]
Caicedo on Flu semi, Chelsea’s trophy aim and table tennis
Moises Caicedo paused for a moment before answering the question. Then, with a grin and a chuckle, he declared: “I am the best.” The Chelsea FC man could have easily made that statement about his status as the world’s top midfielder, but in this case, it was regarding his place among the Blues’ table tennis […]
How Fluminense star Carlos Alberto became the ‘coolest cat’ in New York
Fluminense FC have made New York New Jersey their home from home in the USA during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. When the Brazilian giants take on Chelsea FC for their third game at MetLife Stadium in Tuesday’s semi-final, their fans are sure to be out in big numbers once again. The ties between […]
Fantasy Focus: Trent’s terrific night
Three weeks ago, new Real Madrid C.F. signing Trent Alexander-Arnold ($6.4m) surprised many at his official unveiling when he introduced himself in flawless Spanish. Just as impressive as his off-field adaptation has been, so too has been his seamless introduction to the Madrid first XI. That has seen the English defender emerge, as expected, both […]
Muller bids farewell to his beloved Bayern
After 17 years and 33 trophies, Thomas Muller has played his final match for FC Bayern München, with the German side falling to a 2-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup™. Asked to reflect post-match on what it means to have worn the club’s colours for the final […]
Fran Garcia: Real Madrid are chasing history
Fran Garcia is enjoying his best spell yet in a Real Madrid C.F. shirt, and he is doing it on the biggest stage of all: the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. The tireless left-back, who is often an unsung hero, took centre stage in his side’s quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund. He bagged a crucial […]