Down to the last four and vast amounts of money to be won by the four clubs in the last three games of this much-lambasted Fifa extravaganza in New Jersey, with Chelsea's game strangely not on Channel 5:

Tuesday 8 July 2025
20:00 Fluminense v Chelsea — DAZN
 
Wednesday 9 July 2025
20:00 PSG v Real Madrid — Ch 5; DAZN
 


Reader Comments (29)

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Mike Gaynes
1 Posted 08/07/2025 at 20:23:34
Very pretty goal by Joao Pedro against his boyhood club.
Rob Halligan
2 Posted 08/07/2025 at 20:42:43
Flumenense penalty, but after a VAR review decision overturned. Chalobah had his arm in a natural position, so rightly overturned.
Michael Kenrick
3 Posted 08/07/2025 at 21:22:30
Brilliant strike by the boy again.

Maybe we can make a low bid for Jackson, who will no longer be needed by the Chavs.

Mike Gaynes
4 Posted 08/07/2025 at 21:27:19
Chelsea has definitely made a good buy.
Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 08/07/2025 at 21:37:40
Interesting stat: Chelsea have four former Brighton players.

Not many people know that.

Rob Halligan
6 Posted 08/07/2025 at 21:42:03
Michael,

I bet you didn't either until it was mentioned during the commentary! 😂😂😂

Rob Halligan
7 Posted 08/07/2025 at 21:59:01
Flumenense have offered practically nothing in this game. This is only the second or third game I've watched during this tournament, so either it's just an off-day for Flumenense, or they've played some absolute dross to reach the semi-final.

It's been a stroll for Chelsea, but somehow I think it will be a different story altogether in the final, and one I wouldn't really expect them to win.

John Raftery
8 Posted 08/07/2025 at 22:26:43
You’re two or three ahead of me, Rob!
James Reed
9 Posted 09/07/2025 at 01:01:07
Joao Pedro, an infuriatingly good addition. Wonder what Delap is thinking about the project now.
Jay Harris
10 Posted 09/07/2025 at 16:13:35
Never mind Delap, James – what will Jackson be thinking now it looks like he is third choice?
Michael Kenrick
11 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:18:44
Helluva start to this second semi-final!

Two excellent save by Courtois before PSG score first after just 6 minutes from a poor Real Madrid error in their own area.

Liam Mogan
12 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:19:39
PSG are relentless
Michael Kenrick
13 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:21:03
Inncredible!

Another Real Madrid mistake and they are down by 2. Rudiger at fault, Dembele scores!

Liam Mogan
14 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:31:54
PSG play at an insane tempo. Nuno Mendes, their LB, is quite brilliant.
Michael Kenrick
15 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:35:51
PSG sliced through them and it's 3 - 0.

I thought it might be offside... but no.

Rob Halligan
16 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:36:00
3-0…..might as well put PSG’s name on the trophy now.
Tony Abrahams
17 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:40:33
I can imagine that goal, without even watching, when you describe how PSG, sliced through Madrid, Michael.

They are the masters of playing it quick, in tight area's, and if you get sucked in, god help you!

Danny O'Neill
18 Posted 09/07/2025 at 22:30:16
Last one for tonight.

I watched that tonight.

Although not a competition to read too much into, but PSG had already proven it in the Champions League.

Best team in Europe.

Derek Knox
19 Posted 10/07/2025 at 11:22:57
Having watched PSG a few times, and especially last night, where they made the 'darlings of Europe', Real Madrid, look totally outplayed and dare I say it, outclassed.

You may ask what is the point of this post? Well, PSG had the likes of Neymar and Mbappe amongst other so-called superstars, and achieved very little, apart from over-hype and unfulfilled expectations.

Luis Enrique has built a side of hard-working and skilful, hitherto, mostly of unknown players. I had only known of Ousmane Dembele myself. More importantly, they play 'as a team', and all know where and when to contribute. I am hoping that Moyes is constructing a similar formula for us, with a mixture of youth and experience.

Or, am I being too optimistic?

Ryan Holroyd
20 Posted 10/07/2025 at 11:26:06
I’m sure he would if he could have £500M to spend.
Danny O'Neill
21 Posted 10/07/2025 at 11:40:52
I understand what Derek is getting at.

PSG tried the superstar approach, but then reverted to a less high-profile build of a hard-working players blended with skill.

Are we building PSG? Lord no. But we can start to build something competitive along the lines of that model, within our means, whatever they may be.

Derek Knox
22 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:04:20
Danny, thanks for your understanding. Ryan, (God bless his cotton socks) seems to think that is only achievable by shelling out half a billion or so. Not so, and a point I have raised many times, these players don't start out with these price tags.

Unfortunately, the anathema of agents, and poor scouting on our part, fail to spot these players when they start off showing promise. Okay, it doesn't work every time, but better to have lost a widow's mite, as opposed to a king's ransom only to find painfully later, they are only turd jugglers! (Doucoure and Harrison spring to mind, although Harrison was only an extended loan.)

Robert Tressell
23 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:06:37
Derek, the evolution of PSG has been carefully planned. Galacticos to sell shirts, create a global brand and TV interest etc and sustainable revenues.

They also overpaid deliberately, I believe, to help overheat the transfer market and make life difficult for the competition (at a point when many clubs were getting rich).

They have moved away from this now because they have the brand, the revenue etc. The players they have brought are not high profile but they are well known as the outstanding players in world football – like the full-backs, the hard working but technically exceptional midfield trio and gifted runners, dribblers in Barcola, Doue and Kvaratskhelia.

This has not been done on the cheap. But we can borrow certain principles even if we don't have the money.

Buying players who are on the up and capable of playing front-foot, aggressive attacking football (both physically and technically). The best place to start is the flanks – and especially the right flank which has been the worst in the Premier League for two seasons in a row now.

Robert Tressell
24 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:08:45
ps. Ryan is right. £500m is an extremely conservative estimate of what it would cost to get Everton's squad to PSG levels. We are about £300m adrift of the likes of Villa Newcastle and Spurs.
Andrew Ellams
25 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:12:19
With the increase in the wage bill, I doubt £1B would get us to PSG levels.
Steve Brown
26 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:21:07
Robert,

I doubt PSG were intentional in overpaying transfer fees and compensation for galaticos who failed to win the Champions League. Their original strategy failed and they pivoted very successfully.

That is impressive as it is hard to do.

John Keating
27 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:24:08
A team is exactly what it says – a team. You can buy the best 11 players in their positions in the world and it would flop. A team is getting the right players that gel together that cost whatever.

Harry Catterick got it right: a blend of youth, experience and top price players – at that time. Kendall got the blend and gel spot on.

Hopefully Moyes will also get that blend right. It might take 3 or 4 years but slowly, carefully and a long-term plan we well get there.

Steve Brown
28 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:25:59
Derek, you are right.

Strategy, structures and standards need to be in place before a business increases net spend.

Otherwise, we will squander money, as Spurs and Man Utd have shown.

Robert Tressell
29 Posted 10/07/2025 at 13:15:26
Steve # 25, that's not quite what I said.

The strategy was about heating up the transfer market, creating a brand, creating revenue streams - and pricing out the competition.

Obviously there was no strategic aim not to win the Champions League. That would be strange strategic play (although Moshiri might like it).


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