Philadelphia.- With the return of Kylian Mbappé To training, real Madrid It suffers a mood injection hours before the final battle against Salzburg, on Thursday in Philadelphia, which will decide whether or not to continue in the Club World Cup.
At the moment no one guarantees that the French star will play in the final match of Group H, at Lincoln Financial Field (01H00 GMT on Friday), but it is already a good sign that Wednesday will participate in the practices after almost two weeks off due to a gastroenteritis.
The disease briefly passed through a hospital last week in Florida and, according to the Spanish press, would have lost weight, an impact on his body that could be significant at a time when the American heat demands the maximum the physicist of the players.
The 26-year-old French striker has not been able to debut in the World Cup, where Xabi Alonso’s men have had iras and go: debut with a gray draw against Al Hilal (1-1) and Victoria, with a man less almost almost the entire game, against Pachuca (3-1).
Although they lead the key, victory or draw are the only safe paths to the eighths. A defeat would leave them out of the renewed FIFA tournament if the Simone Inzaghi Saudis defeat the Mexican eliminated in a game that will be played simultaneously in Nashville.
Canterano, again to the rescue
If the game was lost in the House of the Philadelphia Eagles, winners of the American Football Super Bowl in 2017 and 2024, Mbappé would add a new disappointment in the final stretch of a season that was of everything but quiet for meringues.
Without pocketing any great trophy and fireding his most laureate coach, the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, now in command of Brazil, the team had in the gala star – Laliga’s scorer with 31 goals and top European gunner with 43 – one of its few high points.
“He is recovering and, day by day, we are increasingly optimistic about his participation in the next meeting,” Alonso said at the end of the victory against Pachuca in Charlotte.
With the question of whether the French world champion will be available on the hot “Philly”, the responsibility of guiding the Madrid offensive in a vital duel can fall again on the young feet of Gonzalo García.
The 21 -year -old canterano marked the goal against Al Hilal and participated in the first two annotations against Pachuca, a message for Endrick, the 18 -year -old Brazilian promise that was absent in the United States due to injury.
Turn the giant
In his third match in command of the most laureate team in Europe, Alonso must replace the decline of the Central Raúl Asencio, expelled in the 7th minute of the clash against Pachuca.
The position will surely be occupied by the German Antonio Rüdiger, who denounced an alleged racist insult by Captain Tuzo, the Argentine Gustavo Cabral, at the end of the game. FIFA opened an investigation into the case.
“We have to improve and continue meeting, because new players have arrived. We have to prepare in the best way because it will be a very important and demanded game,” said Federico Valverde.
The Uruguayan, a strut of the midfield merengue, screened a complicated match against a Salzburg needed to add. Like Madrid, Austrians have four points, but worse goal differential, so the draw leaves them at risk of elimination.
“We have great attackers in the team. It will try to find the best decisions,” said DT Thomas Letsch. “It is clear that to continue in the tournament we have to win.”
Regardless of the final position in the table, the group classifieds will have high demand duels in eighths: Manchester City or Juventus.
Probable alignments:
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois – Trent Alexander -Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger, Fran García – Arda Güler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde – Vinícius Jr, Gonzalo García. DT: Xabi Alonso.
Salzburg: Christian Zawieschitzky – Stefan Lainer, Joane Gadou Kouakou, Jacob Rasmussen, Frans Kr. DT: Thomas Letsch.
