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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gary Lineker gives verdict on Club World Cup final after FIFA broke their own rules
Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has made his feelings clear about the entertainment organised out in the US during half time of the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea and PSG Gary Lineker has admitted to being unimpressed by the glitz and glamour that FIFA attempted to add to the Club World Cup final. There were pre-match and half-time shows as football's global governing body looked to turn their showpiece game into a Super Bowl-style spectacle. The football remained the main attraction, as Chelsea produced a masterclass performance against Champions League holders PSG to win the Club World Cup. Enzo Maresca's side raced into a surprise 3-0 lead at MetLife Stadium, courtesy of a Cole Palmer brace and a goal from Joao Pedro before the break. During the interval, the crowd watched on as stars such as Doja Cat and Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin took to the stage. However, the half-time entertainment went well over the regulated 15-minute break and the show did not go down well with Lineker. The match, which kicked off eight minutes later than scheduled following a pre-game show featuring Robbie Williams, saw FIFA break its own rules regarding the length of half time. As per the seventh statute in the Laws of the Game, the midway interval in a football match should not exceed 15 minutes and only the referee has the power to alter it. The half-time show lasted 24 minutes in total. 'I must say, I don't know about half-time shows,' Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. 'It was so far away and also 23 minutes for half-time. I don't know. 'Do we really want to Americanise our sports. I mean, they obviously do that because their sports are not entertaining enough. So hopefully that will not catch on because it's too much, but I'm old school. But they did put on a good show.' Lineker's podcast partnered with DAZN during the Club World Cup and the former Match of the Day host had media duties during the final. However, the 64-year-old explained that he missed the pre-match entertainment due to the logistics inside the stadium. He had given himself 30 minutes to make it to a DAZN suite, but Lineker still struggled to make it in time. 'We were trying to get up in a lift before the game and there were two or three lifts but there was hundreds and hundreds of people trying to get in them,' Lineker said. 'And we almost missed kick-off because of the amount of time that we had to wait to get into these lifts. There was no other way of getting up there.' Chelsea celebrated winning the inaugural Club World Cup, defeating teams from the USA, Brazil, Tunisia, Portugal and France on their way to lifting the trophy. However, the drama continued to unfold even after the final whistle had been blown. A fight broke out between the two sets of players, with PSG boss Luis Enrique finding himself at the centre. The Spanish coach appeared to strike Chelsea striker Pedro in the face, with the Brazil international reeling on the floor. Enrique was pulled away from the confrontation by members of his coaching staff. However, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was also seen arguing with the opposing side. The row appeared to stem from PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi confronting Pedro and his Chelsea team-mate Andrey Santos. However, their dispute escalated, ensuring that there were some chaotic scenes as the Club World Cup came to a close. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Chelsea's Maresca won't change his preparations to face ‘best in the world' PSG
PA Media/DPA New York Enzo Maresca already rates Paris Saint-Germain as the best side in the world - but insists facing them is no more daunting than any other side. Maresca's Chelsea tackle the formidable French outfit in the Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New York on Sunday. PSG have vanquished most of their competition in recent months having stormed to Champions League glory on the back of a clean sweep of French domestic trophies. They have also done so playing exhilarating football, something they demonstrated by thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final in May and reprised in a 4-0 rout of Real Madrid on Wednesday. The odds are therefore stacked against Chelsea this weekend, but Maresca is taking no notice of pre-match predictions. 'We'll see,' said the Chelsea manager. 'For sure they are a top team, the best team in the world, but every game is different. 'I agree with most people, that they are the best in Europe, the best in the world, and the reason why is because they are showing this - they showed it in France, they showed in the Champions League, they are showing in this competition. 'They are a reference not only for me, but for all people who love football. I really like them, I really enjoy watching them but, at the same time, we are here to try to do our best and be different. 'What worries me about Paris Saint-Germain is what worries me about any team. The way I prepare for the game on Sunday is the same way I prepared for the game against Fluminense. 'It doesn't change much for me. I try to see where we can hurt them, I try to see where I can prevent them from hurting us and from there I prepare for the game.' The match is the centre-piece of FIFA's rebranded and lucrative, but also controversial, 32-team tournament, which has been staged in the United States over the past month. There has been plenty of criticism of the competition for issues including poor attendances, extreme weather, kick-off times, quality of pitches and its positioning in the calendar. Yet FIFA, the world governing body, has been determined to make it a success and will hope for a huge crowd at the 82,500-capacity arena for its showpiece game. To add to the occasion, US president Donald Trump is due to attend and the match will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show. Then there is also the small matter of prize money, with the winners set to bank a jackpot in excess of £90 million ($121.4 million). 'We are delighted to be here,' said Maresca, who is hoping midfielder Moises Caicedo can overcome an ankle injury. 'We feel privileged because we arrived here a month ago (when) there were 32 teams. 'Then you are lucky to be at the end, just two teams. We feel proud and I have the feeling that we are ready to play this final.'
Irish Independent
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Can Chelsea cause an upset in the Club World Cup Final against Paris Saint-Germain?
Here, we look at some talking points ahead of the game: The game The match itself is an appealing one, not least for the participation of PSG. It always seemed likely the big European teams would ultimately prevail in the latter stages of this tournament and, in the French side, the favourites have come through. Luis Enrique's side have been the outstanding force of the past year and, while not the ratings driver Real Madrid would be, organisers will be pleased for their involvement. Chelsea are more of a surprise and have been aided by a relatively kind draw but they have grown into the competition and have the individuals to cause an upset. What is at stake? Tournament organiser FIFA, the world governing body, and its president Gianni Infantino have done their best to attach considerable prestige to the tournament, the first to be played in this newly-expanded 32-format. Sunday's winners will not only be crowned world champions but be entitled to wear a gold badge on their shirts for the next four years. FIFA will doubtless emphasise this but there is also the small matter of a jackpot in excess of £90million on offer for the victor, which goes some way to explaining why competing clubs have taken the event so seriously. Both PSG and Chelsea are already guaranteed more than £80million. The occasion The Club World Cup, which now will be held every four years, has had plenty of detractors but FIFA is determined to make a success it. It wants to make the final a true showpiece occasion and to do this it is planning a star-studded Super Bowl-style half-time show to enhance the offering for a crowd it hopes will fill most of the MetLife Stadium's 82,500 seats. Adding to the occasion, United States president Donald Trump is due to attend. Weather The tournament in the United States has been bedevilled by a number of controversies concerning issues such as its scheduling in the calendar, poor attendances, venue choices, kick-off times, standard of pitches and the weather. The latter is again likely to be a factor on Sunday with the temperature forecast to be 29C by kick-off at 3pm local time, although that is somewhat cooler than a number of other games earlier in the tournament. The looming World Cup FIFA's determination to make a triumph of this event is underlined by the fact it is also partly a trial run for next year's World Cup. That is an even bigger tournament that will feature 48 teams playing across the whole North American continent, including Canada and Mexico, rather than just the US. The 2026 final will also be held at the MetLife Stadium and it will be hoped this weekend passes without major hiccup.
Rhyl Journal
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Can Chelsea cause an upset in the Club World Cup final?
Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points ahead of the game. The match itself is an appealing one, not least for the participation of PSG. It always seemed likely the big European teams would ultimately prevail in the latter stages of this tournament and, in the French side, the favourites have come through. Luis Enrique's side have been the outstanding force of the past year and, while not the ratings driver Real Madrid would be, organisers will be pleased for their involvement. Chelsea are more of a surprise and have been aided by a relatively kind draw but they have grown into the competition and have the individuals to cause an upset. Tournament organiser FIFA, the world governing body, and its president Gianni Infantino have done their best to attach considerable prestige to the tournament, the first to be played in this newly-expanded 32-format. Sunday's winners will not only be crowned world champions but be entitled to wear a gold badge on their shirts for the next four years. FIFA will doubtless emphasise this but there is also the small matter of a jackpot in excess of £90million on offer for the victor, which goes some way to explaining why competing clubs have taken the event so seriously. Both PSG and Chelsea are already guaranteed more than £80million. The Club World Cup, which now will be held every four years, has had plenty of detractors but FIFA is determined to make a success it. It wants to make the final a true showpiece occasion and to do this it is planning a star-studded Super Bowl-style half-time show to enhance the offering for a crowd it hopes will fill most of the MetLife Stadium's 82,500 seats. Adding to the occasion, United States president Donald Trump is due to attend. The tournament in the United States has been bedevilled by a number of controversies concerning issues such as its scheduling in the calendar, poor attendances, venue choices, kick-off times, standard of pitches and the weather. The latter is again likely to be a factor on Sunday with the temperature forecast to be 29C by kick-off at 3pm local time, although that is somewhat cooler than a number of other games earlier in the tournament. FIFA's determination to make a triumph of this event is underlined by the fact it is also partly a trial run for next year's World Cup. That is an even bigger tournament that will feature 48 teams playing across the whole North American continent, including Canada and Mexico, rather than just the US. The 2026 final will also be held at the MetLife Stadium and it will be hoped this weekend passes without major hiccup.
Leader Live
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Can Chelsea cause an upset in the Club World Cup final?
Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points ahead of the game. The match itself is an appealing one, not least for the participation of PSG. It always seemed likely the big European teams would ultimately prevail in the latter stages of this tournament and, in the French side, the favourites have come through. Luis Enrique's side have been the outstanding force of the past year and, while not the ratings driver Real Madrid would be, organisers will be pleased for their involvement. Chelsea are more of a surprise and have been aided by a relatively kind draw but they have grown into the competition and have the individuals to cause an upset. Tournament organiser FIFA, the world governing body, and its president Gianni Infantino have done their best to attach considerable prestige to the tournament, the first to be played in this newly-expanded 32-format. Sunday's winners will not only be crowned world champions but be entitled to wear a gold badge on their shirts for the next four years. FIFA will doubtless emphasise this but there is also the small matter of a jackpot in excess of £90million on offer for the victor, which goes some way to explaining why competing clubs have taken the event so seriously. Both PSG and Chelsea are already guaranteed more than £80million. The Club World Cup, which now will be held every four years, has had plenty of detractors but FIFA is determined to make a success it. It wants to make the final a true showpiece occasion and to do this it is planning a star-studded Super Bowl-style half-time show to enhance the offering for a crowd it hopes will fill most of the MetLife Stadium's 82,500 seats. Adding to the occasion, United States president Donald Trump is due to attend. The tournament in the United States has been bedevilled by a number of controversies concerning issues such as its scheduling in the calendar, poor attendances, venue choices, kick-off times, standard of pitches and the weather. The latter is again likely to be a factor on Sunday with the temperature forecast to be 29C by kick-off at 3pm local time, although that is somewhat cooler than a number of other games earlier in the tournament. FIFA's determination to make a triumph of this event is underlined by the fact it is also partly a trial run for next year's World Cup. That is an even bigger tournament that will feature 48 teams playing across the whole North American continent, including Canada and Mexico, rather than just the US. The 2026 final will also be held at the MetLife Stadium and it will be hoped this weekend passes without major hiccup.
