
سهم بوينج يهبط 5.5% بعد تحطم طائرة هندية من طراز 787
The big kick-off is looming large, with watchlists getting whittled down day by day.
We've been doing that ourselves as we previewed all 32 nations (the last few of those will be out very soon), sorting the Fantasy wheat from the chaff.
Now, it's time to pin some picks down by position.
We start with the goalkeepers, where we aim to include shot-stoppers from across the pricing spectrum.
First, a reminder of how 'keepers score points in Club World Cup Fantasy. Action Points Clean Sheet (must have played 60+ minutes) +5 First goal conceded 0 Each additional goal conceded -1 Goal Scored +9 Penalty save (not including shootouts) +3 Every 3 Saves +1 Scouting Bonus: If your player scored 5+ points and is owned by fewer than 5% +2 Fixtures: Urawa (June 17), Monterrey (June 22), Inter Milan (June 26)
Let's start with a bit of wayward FIFA pricing.
When you consider that the goalkeeper of part-time New Zealand outfit Auckland City is $4.6m, being able to snap up Armani for even less than that seems like a huge oversight.
Armani has, unsurprisingly, found his way into over 15% of Fantasy squads at the time of writing. That figure probably rising further by Sunday's deadline.
It's not just price that the budget custodian has on his side but fixtures, too.
River Plate don't face group favourites Inter till Matchday 3, so Armani is a lock for Matchdays 1 and 2. For those on a Matchday 3 Wildcard, he's then dispensable for the final round.
The Argentine giants kept clean sheets in nine of their 16 league games in 2025, conceding on just nine occasions. Fixtures: Al Ain (June 19), Wydad (June 22), Man City (June 26)
It may have been another disappointing season overall for Juventus – fourth in Serie A, out of the Champions League in the knockout round play-offs – but defensively, the numbers haven't been too bad.
In Serie A, their record of 35 goals conceded was bettered only by champions Napoli (27). A tally of 17 clean sheets in 38 matches was impressive, too.
Even in the Champions League, where they floundered in the group stage, they shut out Aston Villa, Manchester City and Club Brugge in quick succession.
It's not a vintage Juve side, nor do they boast a rock-solid backline.
But it still ought to be enough for a clean sheet or two in Matchdays 1-2, when Al Ain and Wydad provide the opposition.
Di Gregorio's understudy Mattia Perin ($4.9m) is out after undergoing surgery last month, while you can't imagine rusty long-time third-choice Carlo Pinsoglio ($4.0m) or rookies Giovanni Daffara ($4.0m) and Giovanni Garofani will get a look-in. Fixtures: Auckland (June 15), Boca (June 21), Benfica (June 24)
Premium goalkeepers, like they are in FPL, will be harder sells in Club World Cup Fantasy. That goes especially so for those with an ownership of over 5%, as all of the (fit) $5.5m-and-up options have, as there is no Scouting Bonus to be had.
Thibaut Courtois ($6.0m) is hard to justify at that price, particularly as opening opponents Al-Hilal are capable of grabbing a goal via the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic ($7.5m) and Salem Al-Dawsari ($5.6m). Gianluigi Donnarumma ($5.7m) and Jan Oblak ($5.5m) face each other in a tricky Matchday 1 fixture for both of their sides, while you're never quite sure when Pep Guardiola is going to start Stefan Ortega ($5.1m) over Ederson ($5.6m) when it comes to cups. Alexander Schlager ($5.5m) is currently battling to be fit, meanwhile.
Perhaps we're naive to think other clubs on the continent won't play their back-up goalkeepers on occasion but the early predictions are that Neuer is between the posts for what is surely the greatest clean sheet opportunity of all in Matchday 1, against Auckland City. Retired from international duty, he also hasn't had a late arrival to the States like some of his teammates have.
Bayern boasted the best defensive record in the Bundesliga in 2024/25, with Auckland a few rungs down from even the weakest team that Vincent Kompany's troops would have faced in the German top flight.
Neuer is our premium pick, then, but there are cheaper routes into the German champions' backline. Fixtures: Boca (June 16), Auckland (June 20), Bayern (June 24)
Selected by just 1.8% of Fantasy managers, Trubin is currently eligible for Scouting Bonus. Not many desirable goalkeepers can say that, with 11 other shot-stoppers currently above the 5% threshold.
Trubin isn't a Hail Mary punt, either. Benfica have favourable(ish) fixtures to start the Club World Cup, following in Bayern's footsteps by facing Auckland in Matchday 2.
Before that is a meeting with Boca Juniors. While the Argentine club are a famous name, this is not a vintage Boca team – they have not won a trophy since 2022 and have just changed their manager after another disappointing campaign.
Benfica conceded a miserly 28 goals in their domestic campaign, meanwhile, missing out on the title only on the final day.
They've also proven they can cut the mustard against the top teams, beating Atletico Madrid and Juventus – amongst others – in the Champions League this season and running Barcelona close in a nine-goal thriller. Fixtures: Monterrey (June 18), Urawa (June 21), River Plate (June 26)
Speaking of Europe's premier club competition, who knows what frame of mind Inter will be in after missing out both Serie A and the Champions League at the final hurdle. They're also under new stewardship after the departure of Simone Inzaghi.
But at least they have two favourable fixtures to being their Club World Cup campaign.
A remarkable Champions League group stage campaign had seen them keep seven clean sheets in eight matches, before things opened up at the back in the knockout rounds. Again, though, Monterrey and Urawa Red Diamonds are probably not even of the standard of Monaco, Sparta Prague and Red Star Belgrade, who Inter shut out earlier in 2024/25.
Matchday 2 sees a favourable fixture shift for the likes of Oblak, Donnarumma and Porto's Diogo Costa ($5.6m), so they are names to consider from that point onwards, especially if you're Wildcarding then – and if money's no object, of course.
Keep an eye on team news from RB Salzburg, meanwhile. With Schlager's fitness uncertain and loanee Janis Blaswich not in the Club World Cup squad, we could have a super-cheap goalie facing Pachuca and Al-Hilal in Matchdays 1 and 2.
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Nahar Net
27-06-2025
- Nahar Net
Messi's PSG reunion, Real Madrid face Juventus in Club World Cup last 16
by Naharnet Newsdesk 27 June 2025, 16:22 From Inter Miami's Lionel Messi facing former side Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid meeting Juventus and Chelsea taking on Benfica, AFP Sport looks ahead to the Club World Cup last 16. - Palmeiras v Botafogo - Saturday, June 28, in Philadelphia (1600 GMT) All four Brazilian representatives reached the last 16 and at least one will be in the quarter-finals, as Palmeiras and Botafogo face each other. Botafogo are the reigning Brazilian and South American champions and beat European champions PSG on the way to qualifying from their group at Atletico Madrid's expense. Sao Paulo side Palmeiras -- featuring Brazil prodigy and future Chelsea winger Estevao Willian -- won their group and are above Botafogo in the Brazilian league. However, Botafogo are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Palmeiras, including the two legs of a Copa Libertadores last-16 tie last year. - Benfica v Chelsea - Saturday, June 28, in Charlotte (2000 GMT) Enzo Maresca's Chelsea finished second in their group but avoided a strong Bayern Munich side by doing so, pitting them against Benfica. The Portuguese powerhouses, who boast veteran playmaker Angel Di Maria, edged the German giants in their final group game. Benfica will believe they can upset their inconsistent Premier League opposition and former Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez. New Chelsea striker Liam Delap is looking to continue adding to his tally after getting off the mark in the group stage. - Paris Saint-Germain v Inter Miami - Sunday, June 29, in Atlanta (1600 GMT) Messi's Inter Miami were a surprise package in the group stage, beating Porto on their way to progressing to the last 16, but a late collapse against Palmeiras meant they finished second and must face the Argentine playmaker's former side PSG. This season PSG ended a long wait to win the Champions League for the first time and Luis Enrique's side are expected to vanquish their MLS opponents, but Botafogo beat them in the group stage to prove they are not untouchable. - Flamengo v Bayern Munich - Sunday, June 29, in Miami (2000 GMT) Brazilian side Flamengo stunned Chelsea in the group phase to claim top spot but must overcome the might of Vincent Kompany's Bayern if they are to progress. With Harry Kane, Michael Olise and a Thomas Mueller looking to end his time at Bayern with a new trophy, the possession-hungry Bundesliga giants have as much firepower as anyone left in the tournament. Highly rated Flamengo coach Filipe Luis has his work cut out to keep Bayern at bay. - Inter Milan v Fluminense - Monday, June 30, in Charlotte (1900 GMT) Recent runners-up in the Champions League, Inter ground out wins over Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate to finish top of their group and will now hope to avoid becoming the latest European team to stumble against Brazilian opposition. Fluminense, of Rio, held Borussia Dortmund en route to qualifying for this stage and will be full of motivation to claim a major scalp against Cristian Chivu's side. - Manchester City v Al Hilal - Monday, June 30, in Orlando (0100 Tuesday, July 1) City come into the knockout phase in ominous form after being the only team at the tournament to win all three group games. They have scored 11 times in their last two matches, with a 5-2 destruction of Juventus coming after they put six past Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates. A game against Al Hilal, the 2021 Asian champions, will give City no reason to be afraid, even if the Saudi club boast numerous former stars of leading European leagues, including Joao Cancelo. - Real Madrid v Juventus - Tuesday, July 1, in Miami (1900) This is a clash between two traditional European titans who have met 21 times before. There have been two Champions League finals between the clubs, both won by Real. A 5-2 defeat for Juventus against Manchester City suggests they may find the going tough against Madrid. Real are adapting to life under a new coach in Xabi Alonso, who experimented with a three-man defense against Salzburg. He will hope to have Kylian Mbappe back after the Frenchman missed the group stage with illness. - Borussia Dortmund v Monterrey - Tuesday, July 1, in Atlanta (0100 Wednesday, July 2) Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has not held back on expressing his feelings about having to play in extreme heat at the tournament so he will be happy the game against Mexican side Monterrey is at the covered and air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite their complaints Dortmund have grown into the tournament. They face former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos and a Monterrey team that has impressed, notably a creditable draw against Inter Milan.


Nahar Net
24-06-2025
- Nahar Net
Atlético Madrid bounced from Club World Cup despite 1-0 win over Botafogo
by Naharnet Newsdesk 24 June 2025, 17:23 Atlético Madrid was eliminated from the Club World Cup on goal differential Monday despite beating Botafogo 1-0 on Antoine Griezmann's dramatic late goal. Botafogo advanced from Group B along with Paris Saint-Germain. All three clubs finished group play with two wins and a loss, but Atlético's 4-0 thrashing from PSG in its tournament opener eight days ago came back to haunt the Spanish giants. Atlético kept steady pressure in the second half, and Julián Alvarez finally spun away from two tackle attempts and fired a long pass across the penalty area to halftime substitute Griezmann, who banged it home for his first goal of the tournament in the 87th minute. Atlético knew that goal wasn't enough to advance. Coach Diego Simeone's group kept up the pressure, but couldn't break through again. Botafogo, the current champions of South America, did what was necessary to advance, limiting Atlético to one late goal despite a 23-7 disadvantage in shot attempts. Goalkeeper John made four saves. PSG beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to win the group on goal differential, even though Botafogo stunned Champions League winners PSG 1-0 at the Rose Bowl four days earlier. Botafogo had a strong counterattack all afternoon and nearly stole an early lead, but Jan Oblak stopped Jefferson Savarino's breakaway in the 10th minute. Oblak also made a fingertip save on Igor Jesus' exceptional deflection on net in the 67th minute. Key moment Alvarez was involved in two clashes in the Botafogo box in the first half, but neither resulted in a penalty. He fell when tackled by Jair Paula in the 25th minute, and he went down again near halftime when Gregore stepped on his foot at the top of the penalty area. Takeaways Botafogo was a few minutes away from winning all three matches in what might be the toughest group in the tournament, but Griezmann's late goal didn't undeservedly ruin an impressive three-game effort for the Brazilian giants and their raucous supporters. Atlético got off to a slow start in the U.S., and it couldn't rally quickly enough at the end. It's a disappointment, but it also means an extra week or more of rest before the sport's grind begins again in early August. What they said "Every refereeing decision in this tournament went against us. ... We had the same number of points as the Champions League winner and Libertadores winner, but we missed out because of the match against PSG, where every decision always went against us. We're close. We're competing well, but we still need a little more." —Simeone "We can't focus on the referee. Sometimes we're not at our best, and we must address that." —Griezmann "If Renato Paiva had said back in Brazil that we would get through this group, I would have been criticized to the core by everyone, wouldn't I? Now we did what no one expected. We have to thank the Botafogo fans, and we have to be proud for Brazilian football." —Botafogo coach Renato Paiva


Nahar Net
20-06-2025
- Nahar Net
Mbappe discharged from hospital
by Naharnet Newsdesk 20 June 2025, 15:03 Kylian Mbappe was discharged from the hospital Thursday after experiencing an acute case of gastroenteritis, and it was not known when he will be able to play for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup. Mbappe missed the Spanish giant's opening game of the tournament — a surprise 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal in Miami — because of a fever. Coach Xabi Alonso said the France international was in "rough shape" and hadn't been able to train for days. His illness casts doubt over what part he might be able to play in the monthlong tournament in the United States, with Madrid facing Pachuca in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday. "Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to the team's activity," Madrid said in a statement. Gastroenteritis is also known as stomach flu and symptoms can include vomiting and diarrhea. Mbappe's absence is a blow to the Club World Cup, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes will be one of the elite events in soccer and rival competitions like the Champions League and Premier League in popularity and value. After Lionel Messi, Mbappe is arguably the biggest star in the show, with Madrid one of the favorites to lift the trophy in the inaugural edition of the tournament. But a crowd of more than 62,000 at Hard Rock Stadium missed out on a rare chance to see him in person in the U.S. when he was unavailable for Madrid's first game at the home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins on Wednesday. Alonso missed him, too, in what has been a difficult start to the tournament for the team's new coach. Madrid was underwhelming against Al Hilal — Saudi Arabia's most successful team — and missed a 92nd-minute penalty to win the match. It was Alonso's first game in charge of the 15-time European champion, which is famously demanding of its coaches. Last month he replaced Carlo Ancelotti, who left to join the Brazil national team after winning three Champions Leagues and two Spanish titles in two stints at the club. Despite being the overwhelming favorite against Al Hilal, Madrid had to settle for a draw after surviving a number of scares in the first half — leaving Alonso to call for patience. "We know this is going to take time," he said. The 26-year-old Mbappe was Madrid's top scorer last season, with 43 goals in 56 appearances in his first year since joining from Paris Saint-Germain. His hospitalization came almost exactly one year after he sustained a broken nose at the European Championship and had to wear a face mask to continue playing in the tournament.