Maresca dreams of the final but first there is Fluminense: semi-final live on Canale 5

The Club World Cup has reached its final act: the semi-finals , starting tonight at 9pm ( live on Canale 5 ) with Fluminense-Chelsea . An unpredictable match on the eve of the competition: thanks above all to the Brazilians led by the great former Thiago Silva , who challenges his past to give himself yet another feat of his career. The Blues, however, want to stay in the running for another trophy, after the Conference won in May.

Not even the most optimistic (and perhaps crazy) would have said that, on July 8th at 9 pm in New York , Fluminense and Chelsea would be looking for a place in the Club World Cup final. The Brazilians remain the biggest surprise of the first edition with the 32-team format: thanks to a solidity and a path that have made the "Flu" one of the revelations of 2025 and, among others, Inter also know something about it. This group, led by an unbreakable Thiago Silva, has been able to hold its own against big teams like Dortmund and, despite taking risks in some circumstances with Mamelodi and Ulsan, has managed to rally around the experience of its leader, getting the better of the Nerazzurri in the round of 16 and Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal in the quarterfinals. Therefore, it's fine to call this Fluminense a surprise, but woe betide anyone who says that they are undeservedly in the running for the final.

Of course, Chelsea will represent another big obstacle, because the English, not even two months after winning the Conference , have shown that they have had a great season that seemed to culminate with the qualification for the Champions League and the 4-1 success in the final against Betis. Instead, the Blues, led by Palmer but also dragged by new purchases like Delap (who was disqualified in the semi-final), have managed to do even better and are now one step away from playing for the title of World Champions. A scenario that perhaps seemed even further away after the 3-1 defeat against Flamengo, but since then Maresca's Londoners have not made any more mistakes, overcoming Esperance and eliminating Benfica in the round of 16 and the uncomfortable Palmeiras in the quarter-finals. The dream is to repeat a ride, with due proportions, similar to that unexpected Champions League won in 2012 with Di Matteo .

Certainly a special match for Thiago Silva, who lifted the second Champions Cup with Chelsea, that of 2021, also triumphing that year in the Club World Cup and finally being elected MVP of the competition. But there will be no room for feelings, at least not from the kick-off onwards. The Brazilian will lead Flu together with the eternal Fabio, ready to defend between the posts, and players of quality and substance such as Freytes, Martinelli, Nonato and Arias, with the Hercules card who from the bench made the difference in the knockout phase. Chelsea, on the other hand, will focus on the new signing Joao Pedro (in place of Delap), Palmer, and Neto. Precious card to play in progress: Nicolas Jackson. Appointment at 9pm on Canale 5 to find out who will be the first finalist of the Club World Cup .