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I think it’s no exaggeration to say this is the Club World Cup game that’s attracted the most publicity thus far. The gaggle of photographers and cameramen either side of the tunnel waiting for the players tell its own story. No doubt a certain Mister Lionel Messi will receive more glare than anyone else.
Here come the officials followed by the teams, as the club badges are unfurled during the now-standard light show.
Just a reminder that the winner of this one will play Bayern Munich or Flamengo (probably Bayern) in the quarter-finals.
That game takes place later on today. The other last 16 ties are:
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Inter Milan v Fluminense
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Manchester City v Al Hilal
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Real Madrid v Juventus
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Borussia Dortmund v Monterrey
And there’s some other live football in our offering today, as the Lionesses gear up for Euro 2025 with a final warmup friendly, taking on Jamaica at the King Power Stadium. Rob Smyth is all over the action.
Some vital pre-match reading from our man in the know when it comes to French football, Philippe Auclair.
David Beckham is in the building, sporting a sling on his right arm. It’s believed that GoldenBalls recently had surgery on his wrist – an injury that apparently dates back to something he sustained in an England match 22 years ago. Anyway, he looks happy enough as always – he’s another who’s got a foot in both camps this afternoon, as a former PSG player and a current Inter Miami co-owner.
No great surprises in the two lineups. As predicted, Dembélé is on the PSG bench, with Bradley Barcola joining the two starlets of the French side’s Champions League run, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, in the front three. Expect Inter Miami to play a loose 4-4-2, with Messi and Luis Suárez given license to roam around up front.
Both teams have two goalkeepers apiece on the bench, incidentally which is both increasingly common in modern football and usually a completely pointless exercise.
Team news
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; F.Ruiz, Vitinha, J.Neves; Doué, Barcola, Kvaratskhelia.
Subs: Tenas, Safonov, Beraldo, Ramos, Dembélé, Lee, Hernández, Mayulu, Zaïre-Emery, Kamara, Mbaye.
Inter Miami: Ustari; Weigandt, Falcon, Allen, Alba; Allende, F.Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suárez.
Subs: Yarbrough, Novo, Aviles, Picault, Rodríguez, D.Martínez, Sailor, Afonso, Obando, Cremaschi, Morales.
Preamble
The Club World Cup has reached its business stage. Saturday provided the first two last 16 ties, with Palmeiras winning the battle of Brazil, defeating the the South American champions Botafogo, while Chelsea overpowered Benfica. No doubt the Fifa suits will be licking their lips at the thought of this next last 16 encounter… it’s the Champions League winners against the Team Lionel Messi Plays For. Paris Saint-Germain versus Inter Miami.
In fairness, there’s no shortage of narrative for this one in Atlanta, given it’s Messi against his former employers – the team at which he never looked or felt particularly comfortable – and against his former Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique. Inter Miami have a good few others of an ex Barça persuasion, too. You may not give them a prayer and that may prove justified, but hey this could be lots of fun!
You suspect the team that beats PSG might become team that wins the Club World Cup. Let’s see what the MLS outfit can do to nullify Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé et al. Dembélé is expected to feature, most likely from the bench, after missing the CWC group stage with injury.
Kick off is at 5pm (BST), which is midday local time in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
