Erling Haaland woke up the audience to shouts

Mateo Kovačić scored City’s 2–0 goal right at the beginning of the second period. JOSÉ BRETÒN / AOP

FIFA’s World Cup tournament for club teams suffers from a credibility problem.

In practice, only the representatives of Europe and South America can reach the championship, but despite that, both have to take care of the World Cup semi-final, which tastes like a must-have bun.

Reigning Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense beat Egypt’s Al Ahly 2-0 on Monday, and on Tuesday it’s Champions League winners Manchester City’s turn to find out their semi-final.

City’s opponents, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, mounted a valiant defensive battle, but in the end their dream of a surprise dried up with Norwegian reinforcements by Marius Høibråten own goal right at the end of the opening period.

At the hour mark, Høibråten also steered, unfortunately Bernardo Silva I bet on an own goal, but at that point the match was already decided once and for all.

Namely, between Norwegian luck Mateo Kovačić had scored the only “clean” City hit.

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The Croatian Kovačić has already won the club world championship with Real Madrid (2016 and 2017) and Chelsea (2021). In Friday’s final, he gets to try for his fourth World Championship title.

Of course, Fluminense has a 35-year-old veteran defender in its ranks Marcelowho has celebrated club team World Cup gold four times with Real Madrid.

Tuesday’s semi-final never became a classic. The audience at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City stadium only woke up to a proper scream if the video board appeared sitting in the stands Erling Haaland’s picture.

A tougher fight is expected on Friday. The World Cup final between Fluminense and Manchester City starts at 10:00 p.m. in the Christmas atmosphere.

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