Club World Cup, Inzaghi's Al Hilal KO in the quarterfinals. Chelsea-Fluminense the first semi-final

Chelsea against Fluminense will be the first semi-final of the Club World Cup . On the first day of the quarter-finals , Maresca 's English team and Renato Portaluppi 's Brazilians advanced to the next round: nothing to do for the other Brazilian team, Palmeiras , and for Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal. The quarter-final picture will be completed today with the other two matches on the schedule, all European: Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund and the big match, the most anticipated challenge on the menu, between Bayern Munich and PSG .

Al Hilal fights, but Fluminense wins

In a surreal atmosphere, with tears from Portuguese players Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo during the minute of silence to remember Diogo Jota , Fluminense prevailed against Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal at the end of an emotional match, especially towards the end. A decisive goal from substitute Hercules in the 70th minute, when the match seemed to be going in the Saudis' direction. After a balanced first half, unlocked only by Martinelli 's great intuition in the 40th minute that gave the Brazilians the lead, in the second half Inzaghi's team stepped on the accelerator, finding the equaliser with a robbery goal from Marcos Leonardo , one of the players who have stood out in this World Cup. After the new Brazilian lead, Inzaghi's team tried to equalise until the very end: doubts for a contact in the area on Koulibaly, punished with a yellow card for simulation, an action that effectively ended the match.

Maresca's Chelsea in the semi-finals

The second semifinalist will be Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, who beat Palmeiras with the same result as the other match, 2-1. Despite the absence of James, who was blocked in the warm-up, the Blues managed to prevail at the end of a high-intensity, beautiful and spectacular match. The two most anticipated men stood out, the English Palmer , who scored a beautiful goal, and the future Chelsea player, Estevao , who had been in the shadows throughout the World Cup but who blossomed in the match against his next team. Ironically, in perhaps the most enjoyable match, two unfortunate deflections by Giay and goalkeeper Weverton on Malo Gusto's cross a few minutes before extra time decided who went through to the next round. Tuesday 8 July, at 9 pm, the challenge between the Blues and Fluminense to decree the first finalist.

Four Europeans on the field for the two semi-finalists

The semi-finalists will be completed today, with the challenges between PSG and Bayern Munich, scheduled for 18:00, and that between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, with kick-off at 22:00 Italian time. We start with the early final between the French and the Germans, the most anticipated match of the quarter-finals. On one side, the solid defense of Luis Enrique , led by Donnarumma, ready to start the unpredictable attack, while on the other there will be the German goal machine, already at 17 goals scored in the USA, even if the 10 goals against Auckland weigh heavily. In the second semi-final there will be no Bellingham derby, given the disqualification of Jobe of Borussia Dortmund: a match that nevertheless promises great emotions.