
Al-Hilal eye more glory against Fluminense at Club World Cup
While there was no shortage of heart and effort in Al-Hilal's display against Pep Guardiola's side, it was allied with an impressive tactical discipline, shape and technical quality.
And although they will be remembered for putting Middle Eastern club football on the map with that win, the victory came with a strong international influence.
Italian Simone Inzaghi took charge of the team just before the start of the tournament and is able to call on experienced talent such as Portugal full-back Joao Cancelo, former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
It is the latter, who played for Inzaghi at Lazio in Serie A, who proved to be the most influential against City and earned the label "fantastic" from Guardiola.
A tall, strong, physical presence in midfield, Milinkovic-Savic is a key element of Al-Hilal's counter-attacking style which proved to be so effective against City.
Inzaghi is glad to have a core of players that he can communicate with him and who give his team the necessary nous and experience for these tough tests.
"I didn't need to get to know Sergej. He is an extraordinary player who combines quality and quantity," Inzaghi said after Saturday's win.
"He ran a lot, just like all the other players. He, like Koulibaly and Joao Cancelo, speak Italian, so they also help my staff and me," he said.
'Historic accomplishment'
"It's definitely great to receive these compliments from a manager like Guardiola," Milinkovic-Savic told FIFA.com.
"We showed what level we're on. I'm feeling great here, we're training well and physically I'm feeling good. Inzaghi has now arrived, who I know really well, so now we need to believe until the end.
'What we did (against City) is inexplicable. We played against one of the best teams in the world and this motivates us more for the next games. It's a historic accomplishment for us, the club and the whole country. We believed for every single second and we've done it."
Full-back Renan Lodi, winger Malcom and striker Marcos Leonardo, who scored twice against City, provide some Brazilian influence which could come in very useful at Camping World Stadium on Friday.
Fluminense also overcame the odds to reach the last eight, beating UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan 2-0.
Having gone unbeaten in the group stage including a goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund, the Brazilians -- with 40-year-old Thiago Silva at the back -- have shown strong defensive resiliance.
While the two teams meet for the first time in a competitive game, several Brazilians have played for the Saudi club, none better known than 1970 World Cup winner Rivellino who won the domestic league with Al-Hilal after joining them from Fluminense.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
20 hours ago
- France 24
EU says China's links with Russia now 'determining factor' in ties
02:07 24/07/2025 EU tariffs on chinese EVs strain trade and diplomatic ties with Beijing Economy 24/07/2025 Thailand and Cambodia clash with jets and rockets in deadly border row Asia / Pacific 24/07/2025 At least 12 people killed as Thai, Cambodian border tensions spiral Asia / Pacific 24/07/2025 Thailand F-16 jet bombs Cambodian targets as border clash escalates Asia / Pacific 24/07/2025 Thailand and Cambodia border closed after weeks of tensions Asia / Pacific 24/07/2025 Xi urges deeper China-EU trust as Brussels calls for 'real solutions' Asia / Pacific 24/07/2025 Spain beats Germany in Women's Euro 2025 and will play England on Sunday Europe 24/07/2025 War in Ukraine : Russia agrees prisoner swap but no deal on ceaserfire Europe 22/07/2025 Bangladesh plane crash kills at least 27, including 25 children Asia / Pacific


France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
Liverpool sign forward Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt
"The 23-year-old has successfully completed a medical and agreed personal terms with the Reds, allowing him to fly out to Hong Kong to join his new teammates on their pre-season tour of Asia later this week," Liverpool said in a statement. The deal taking the France Under-21 international to Anfield is set to push Liverpool's spending past £250m this summer. Liverpool switched their focus to Ekitike following Newcastle's refusal to sell Sweden striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at around £150 million by the Magpies. Newcastle and Manchester United were also interested in Ekitike, but Liverpool have won the race for one of Europe's hottest young stars. It is believed the Reds have agreed to pay a potential further £10 million in add-ons to sign Ekitike, whose overall price tag could reach £79 million. Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Frankfurt last season after joining the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain. He was named in the Bundesliga team of the season as Frankfurt finished third in Germany last term. Liverpool have an opening in their forward line after Diogo Jota's recent death in a car crash in Spain. The Reds are also believed to be willing to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, while Colombia forward Luis Diaz has been the target of a rejected bid from Bayern Munich. Liverpool have already splashed out £116 million on Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz, as well as signing defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively. Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has also linked up with Arne Slot's side since the end of last season after agreeing his move from Valencia in 2024. Ekitike began his career with his hometown club Reims and had a brief loan spell in Denmark in 2021 before earning a move to PSG the following year. He struggled to make an impact in his first season in Paris alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, but claimed a Ligue 1 winner's medal. His opportunities were again limited at the start of the 2023-24 campaign before he joined Frankfurt on loan. "Hugo has improved tremendously in his 18 months with us and has been a real asset to our team and the club as a whole on and off the pitch," said Eintracht sporting director Markus Krosche. © 2025 AFP


France 24
3 days ago
- France 24
Newcastle cult hero 'Nobby' Solano appointed Pakistan coach
Solano, 50, who also played for Aston Villa and West Ham United in the English Premier League before retiring in 2012, was an assistant coach for his country Peru when they qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. "We have hired the services of Solano with a hope that he will bring more energy and zest to the national players and lift our standings at the international level," the Pakistan Football Federation president, Mohsen Gilani, said in a statement. The cricket-obsessed nation has reached the second round of Asian qualifying for the FIFA World Cup only once. Pakistan are 201st of 210 teams the in FIFA world men's team rankings, and have sought to improve standards by inducting players of Pakistan heritage based in the UK. Pakistan football has suffered badly from political parties fighting over control of the federation, which receives a large annual grant from world governing body FIFA. The federation was for 10 years run by a FIFA-appointed committee and earlier this year briefly suspended for political interference ahead of elections in May. FIFA in 2021 banned Pakistan from playing international matches for 15 months, also for political interference in the federation. Solano's first task will be with the under-23s men's team, who are due to face Cambodia, Iraq and Oman in September in qualifying for the U23 Asian Cup next year. Solano's first matches in charge of the senior team will be a double-header against Afghanistan in 2027 Asian Cup qualifying in October. Pakistan kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 away defeat to Syria in March and a 1-0 loss to Myanmar in Yangon last month.