GOAL US writers discuss the CWC heading into the quarterfinals and which players have made the difference – plus some predictions
Finally, some unpredictability. Be honest: how many people had Al Hilal in the last eight, two Brazilian teams – Fluminense and Palmeiras – in the mix, and Manchester City exiting the tournament before stadiums were even properly filled?
The Saudi Arabian side orchestrated a wonderful 4-3 upset over City in the round of 16, and were excellent value for their win over the Cityzens. It was a really good game of football, and also something for this confusing tournament to hang its hat on.
Elsewhere, there's plenty to like. PSG eased fears of a slow start by battering Miami, thus ending the run for the last of the three MLS teams still standing. Bayern are well in the mix. Real Madrid are doing interesting things under Xabi Alonso, and are starting to look like a real team ahead of the quarters.
The final is less than two week away – who wins this thing?
GOAL US writers debate the state of the Club World Cup in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
Getty ImagesHow big of a surprise was Al Hilal’s upset of City?
Tom Hindle: Pretty big but not exactly earth-shattering. Al Hilal had a draw with Real Madrid, and it seems as if Pep Guardiola has sort of been in beta-testing mode all tournament. In terms of raw name value and recent history, it looks pretty big. Zoom in on the realities – Al Hilal have European-level talent, Simone Inzaghi is a very good coach, City are knackered – and you could probably see this kind of thing coming. Also, City got $50M for a couple of weeks of semi football, and can send their guys on holiday. Not a bad deal.
Jacob Schneider: By far the best team in Asia, Al Hilal boast a roster of former European stars and current rising ones, too. Factor in that they have Inzaghi, as well. Still, this was the biggest upset of the tournament – and there's not one remaining potential result that could top it. City were favorites to win the competition, or at least compete for it, and their elimination was stunning. Their exit will be a storyline talked about throughout the remainder of the competition.
Alex Labidou: It was massive. Manchester City are among the richest clubs in the world and they appeared to be outdone from both a tactical and execution standpoint throughout the match. Yet, in hindsight, this was predictable. If the Club World Cup has taught us anything, it's that the world is catching up to Europe. The South American sides have impressed and Al-Hilal has an even greater advantage – big bucks. They have a manager who surprised many by taking Inter to the Champions League final and have names that would be on most Football Manager players' wishlists, such as Sergej Milinković-Savić and Marcus Leonardo. Not sure UEFA or FIFA want a Saudi Arabian title winner this summer, due to commercial and ticket sales implications, but it sure would send major reverberations if it happened.
AdvertisementAFPWhat is the significance of two Brazilian quarterfinalists?
TH: It's massive. Europe might be the gold standard of global soccer, but the rest of the world really isn't that far behind, and Brazilian teams are pretty bloody good. The European "elite" were all there or thereabouts come knockout time, and the Brazilians showed that little bit of extra quality and desire when it came to one-off soccer matches. That's really good for the tournament, and representative of the global soccer sphere. A semifinal run would be unbelievable.
JS: It's an tribute to the development of South American football, and specifically, the growth of Serie A in Brazil. For Fluminense, it's a dream for captain and former European great Thiago Silva. The ex-Chelsea and PSG defender has been one of the best center-backs in this competition, and at 40, he's still going strong. For Palmeiras, it's a sign they continue to do everything right. They've brought in top players over the past year, and developed a prospect in Estevao who is ready to lead them in the tournament.
AL: Teams from around the world are refining their approach, adding new tactical wrinkles, and there's a new set of hungry managers who want to prove themselves on a global scale. Managers such as Renato Paiva – who was shockingly sacked by Botafogo the day after their CWC elimination – and Palmeiras' Abel Ferreira conducted several broadcast interviews in English, almost advertising their potential to bigger employers abroad. And after this tournament, there will almost certainly be interest in Europe, and potentially Saudi Arabia and MLS. For the teams, the shock runs are likely coming to an end as Al Hilal and Chelsea await. But let's not focus on how the journey ends, but the ride that got us there.
Getty ImagesWho's the best player in the tournament, so far?
TH: Hard to single one out, to be honest. There's been quality across the board, but also plenty of guys on autopilot. Silva has been excellent for Fluminense. Vitinha has done his bit for PSG. but an outside shout for Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia. He's the only player to score or assist in every game, and is making a compelling case to keep Kylian Mbappe out of the XI just that little bit longer.
JS: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the answer that would please Europeans. He's been nothing short of brilliant for PSG, especially with the absence of Ousmane Dembele through the first few games. However, the real answer is Silva. He's been nothing short of brilliant, and has Fluminense tasting the semifinals. He doesn't look a day past 30 and has been lights-out in central defense. El Monstro.
AL: This is a tough one, but how about Angel Di Maria turning back the clock at 37 years young and leading the tournament in scoring with four goals? He likely won't be awarded the tournament's best player, with his club knocked out by Chelsea. But he's shown he can still play at a very high level. Will be interested to see how he does back in Argentina in the twilight of his career.
AFPPrediction: Who wins Bayern Munich vs PSG?
TH: PSG do them, probably. Their loss against Botafogo looked nothing more than a hiccup, and they've found their expansive best since then. Bayern won't make it easy, but the Parisians will just have too much. Let's say 3-1 PSG, with a Harry Kane pen thrown in for the lolz.
JS: PSG will handily win this one. As much prowess as Bayern have in their attack, PSG offers near equal, while having a better midfield and defense. It will be a low-scoring affair, but PSG will advance by winning the battle in the middle of the park.
AL: PSG have been impressive at times, but they still don't appear to be at their best, despite running rampant against both Atletico Madrid and Inter Miami. The stakes don't appear to be as high for them as they are for Bayern, who could potentially use this game as a launchpad for bigger ambitions. This is a game in which Kane and Michael Olise – second in the player of the tournament vote – could push PSG to their limit. Bayern 3-1 is the call.
