The Club World Cup quarterfinals will feature a clash between two teams that delivered major surprises in the previous round. Fluminense secured their spot by defeating Inter 2-0, while Simone Inzaghi`s Al-Hilal pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory against Manchester City. As these two unexpected contenders face off, one is guaranteed a place in the tournament`s top four, set to meet the winner of the tie between Chelsea and Palmeiras later the same day.
Match Details
Date: Friday, July 4
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Camping World Stadium — Orlando, Florida
Odds: Fluminense +180; Draw +230; Al-Hilal +150
Possible Lineups
Fluminense XI: Fabio; Xavier, Silva, Freytes, Rene; Hercules, Martinelli; Arias, Nonato, Canobbio; Everaldo.
Al-Hilal XI: Bono; Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; Neves, Kanno; Malcom, Milinkovic-Savic, Al-Dawsari; Leonardo.
Player to Watch
Bono, Al-Hilal: The Moroccan goalkeeper was outstanding in the previous match against Manchester City, making several crucial saves that were instrumental in securing Al-Hilal`s unexpected victory. His performance will be key if Simone Inzaghi`s side is to advance to the semifinals.
Storyline to Watch
Can Inzaghi make history? Simone Inzaghi took charge of Al-Hilal just before the Club World Cup after leaving Inter, and he immediately made a significant impact. He guided the team to a remarkable 4-3 win over Pep Guardiola`s Manchester City in the round of 16. Reaching the top four would represent an even greater achievement for the club under his early leadership.
Prediction
Following their impressive upset victory against Manchester City, Al-Hilal appears to be the favorite to win against the Brazilian side on Friday. They are expected to advance and face either Chelsea or Palmeiras in the semifinal. Pick: Al-Hilal 2, Fluminense 1.
