Ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final between Fluminense and Al Hilal, Italian coach Simone Inzaghi is expected to field Brazilian forwards Marcos Leonardo and Malcom for Al Hilal, while Renato Gaúcho`s Fluminense will look to striker Cano.
This match could have been a replay of the 2023 Champions League final between Inter and City, or perhaps a more intriguing clash between Simone Inzaghi and his former Inter players. Instead, Chivu`s new Inter side surprisingly failed to reach the quarter-finals, as did Guardiola`s City, who were repeatedly breached (4-3) by Simone Inzaghi`s Al Hilal. Consequently, tonight`s first surprising quarter-final at Camping World Stadium in Orlando pits Fluminense against Al Hilal.
An Impressive Unbeaten Run
Renato Gaúcho`s Fluminense, with a mix of satisfaction and tactical shrewdness, has shown he`s not just a former playboy but a cunning coach. Throughout this World Cup, he`s varied his formations, starting with a 4-3-3, then adapting to a 3-5-2 against Inter in the round of 16 to mirror their setup and crowd the midfield. His strategy paid off. The Carioca `Tricolor` has not only earned nearly 40 million euros in prize money so far – half the squad`s total value – but also boasts one of the best defensive records after PSG, conceding only 2 goals against Ulsan and remaining unbeaten in three subsequent matches. Overall, Flu are on a 10-game unbeaten streak, including 7 wins, since May 11th against Atletico Mineiro (2-3). Today, Renato Gaúcho must replace the suspended René. It remains to be seen whether he will revert to the classic 4-3-3 with Serna or Canobbio on the wing, or if he`ll opt for the anti-Inter 3-5-2 (which quickly became a 5-3-2), potentially bringing in Bernal, Fuentes, or Guga for defensive cover.
Brazilian Derby in Attack
Simone Inzaghi`s Al Hilal continues to be without their most prominent Saudi player, Salem Al Dawsari, for about a month. Al Dawsari famously scored against Messi`s Argentina in the 2022 World Cup and finished as the top scorer in the last Asian Champions League with 10 goals. The Italian coach has capitalized on this absence to shift towards his preferred 3-5-2 formation, after initially starting with a standard 4-3-3 for the Saudi side. By moving Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves into the defensive line, Al Hilal has adopted a more vertical approach, already scoring 6 goals, matching Fluminense`s tally. The two Brazilian forwards have particularly shone for Al Hilal, making this match a `derby` for them. Marcos Leonardo, 22, formerly of Santos and bought for 40 million euros from Benfica, has already netted three goals in the World Cup, including a brace against City. Former Zenit Saint Petersburg player Malcom, 28, who cost the Saudi sovereign fund`s club 60 million euros and started his career at Corinthians, also scored against Pep Guardiola`s Manchester City. Additionally, supporting them defensively is left-back Renan Lodi, 27, formerly of Atletico Madrid and Atlético Paranaense, who was acquired from Marseille for another 23 million euros.
Key Strikers
Simone Inzaghi`s Al Hilal, currently on a 9-game unbeaten streak (4 under Inzaghi, with 6 wins) since their late April Asian Champions League derby against Kessie`s Al Ahli (who later became champions), made history by defeating Manchester City in extra time. This marked the first time an Asian team won against a European side in the Club World Cup, following their 2023 victory over South American champions Flamengo. At this point, dreaming big is free: if they also defeat Fluminense, Inzaghi`s team would face a more manageable semi-final against the winner of Palmeiras vs. Chelsea – certainly preferable to Real Madrid, PSG, or Bayern. Meanwhile, Inzaghi can also rely on the temporary loan of Abderrazak Hamdallah from Al Shabab, a 2022 World Cup semi-finalist with Morocco. The 34-year-old forward, who scored 21 league goals last season, finishing only behind Cristiano Ronaldo (25 goals) and Ivan Toney (23), will be available only for the duration of the Club World Cup. He previously played for Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, having scored a total of 207 goals in 232 matches in Saudi Arabia. In short, with Salem Al Dawsari sidelined, Hamdallah is exactly what the Saudi `Blue Wave` needed. Fluminense will counter with the Colombian Arias, a surprise performer in this World Cup, and the 37-year-old Argentine Cano, who returns from injury after scoring an impressive 84 goals in 2022 and 2023. It promises to be an exciting match.
