Manchester City beats Urawa and catches Fluminense in the World Cup – 12/19/2023 – Sport

Manchester City fulfilled its favoritism, on Tuesday (19), and advanced to the Club World Cup final. The English team easily defeated the Japanese Urawa Red Diamonds, 3-0, at the King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah, and confirmed the expected decision on Friday (22), against Fluminense.

The European champion, however, will enter the field without two of its best players. Shortly before the clash with Urawa, midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and striker Erling Haaland, with different physical problems, were replaced on the list of entries for the competition, held in Saudi Arabia.

In other words, not even a surprising recovery will put them on the field against Fluminense, also in Jeddah. They, as well as striker Jérémy Doku, another injured player, are officially out of the tournament, replaced by young athletes with no real experience in the professional team.

De Bruyne’s absence does not come as a surprise. The 32-year-old Belgian suffered a more serious injury to his right thigh at the start of the European season and needed surgery. His presence at the World Cup, which is not City’s priority, was already treated as unlikely, with the cut now confirmed.

In Haaland’s case, there was an expectation that he would be fit to play. Top scorer in Europe last season and nominated for the 2023 best player award – the FIFA award will take place in January –, the 23-year-old Norwegian is undergoing treatment for a bone stress reaction in his right foot and ended up being ruled out.

Even without the goalscorer, Manchester City had no greater difficulty in finding the net against Urawa Red Diamonds, Asian champions – who, in their debut at the World Cup, had scored 1-0 against Mexican León, champions in the dispute of North America and Central America. The score was not greater due to the carelessness shown in the final half hour.

Better in the first half, the English team stopped after some good saves from goalkeeper Nishikawa and finally opened the scoring with an own goal. In the 46th minute, Marius Hoibraten tried to cut Matheus Nunes’ low cross and beat the archer himself, which practically ended the possibility of an upset.

The move loosened the resistance of the Japanese team, and the favorite began to reach the area with great ease. Seven minutes into the final stage, Kovacic received a great low ball from Walker and hit Nishikawa. At 14, it was Bernardo Silva’s turn to take advantage of the rebound. There were still several other chances, without any new goals being scored.

The game was closely watched by Fluminense coach, Fernando Diniz. He will be the next to challenge the favoritism of Guardiola’s City, who did not reach the World Cup at their best. With physical problems and defensive difficulties, the team has won just one of its last six matches in the English Championship.

“We know that City are the greatest team in the world,” said Diniz, without the illusion that they will face an opponent weakened by the results before the trip to Saudi Arabia or by the absences of De Bruyne, Doku and Haaland. “We will map, study as much as possible and do our best in the final.”

Tuesday was a rest day for Fluminense players, who gathered to watch the day’s clash. In the second, the tricolor team fulfilled its role and defeated the Egyptian Al Ahly 2-0. The African champion was considered a difficult opponent, as it had easily defeated the Saudi Al Ittihad, which includes Kanté, Romarinho and Benzema.

Now, everything comes down to the expected clash between the European champion and the South American champion, with the former’s undeniable favoritism. Corinthians was the last South American club to win the World Cup, in 2012. Since then, all ten champions have been clubs from the old continent.