🔬 The Debrief as Club World Cup's final four begins to take shape

🔬 The Debrief as Club World Cup’s final four begins to take shape

The Club World Cup is nearing its grand finale as two teams booked their place in the semi-final stage on Friday.

Here’s what happened.

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Fluminense continued Brazilian clubs’ incredible run in the tournament by sealing their semi-final spot with a 2-1 win over Saudi Pro outfit Al-Hilal in Orlando.

But Chelsea denied them a face-off with a domestic rivals as they triumphed over Palmeiras by the same score line at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

📸 Buda Mendes – 2025 Getty Images

First impressions are often lasting and Estêvão clearly read that particular brief.

The Palmeiras winger produced a star turn against his future employers Chelsea; by scoring a well-taken equaliser from an acute angle in a Player of the Match display.

It’s little wonder that Enzo Maresca is excited for his arrival later this summer.

Chelsea will come up against a Fluminense side who previously stunned Inter and frustrated Borussia Dortmund earlier in the tournament.

📸 FRANCK FIFE – AFP or licensors

Chelsea boss Maresca was full of praise for Estêvão: “You can see he is a huge talent,. You can see he is a fantastic player. We are going to help him to adapt and first of all to enjoy football. We don’t have any doubt, as he is so good, that he is going to be an important player for Chelsea.”

An emotional Abel Ferreira also reflected on Palmeiras’ outgoing star: “I spoke before with Maresca and told him: ‘You bought an amazing player but more than this you bought an amazing person’. You need to take care of him. You need to embrace him. In the beginning he will make mistakes’. He is an amazing player with a lot of skill. He is a player who can win a game alone.”

Thiago Silva revealed his pre-match message to his Fluminense teammates: “I wasn’t sure if I should say anything at all but what I said was very personal, something I hold dear to me all the time. I always say to never leave anything unsaid. Tell your friends and family you love them.”

📸 Francois Nel – 2025 Getty Images

The semi-final line-up will be fully set after Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain do battle while Dortmund and Real Madrid bid to take up the remaining spot.

📸 Kevin C. Cox – 2025 Getty Images

📸 Luke Hales – 2025 Getty Images

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🔬 The Debrief as Club World Cup’s final four begins to take shape

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