Orlando, Florida-Thursday had points during the pre-match news conference of Renato Portaluppi when it seemed that Fluminense was trying to justify the need to play the FIFA club World Cup quarterfinal against coach Al-Hilal.

After the question in the tight media room at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, the question was about the financial bay between two clubs. Fluminense are dealing with money issues. Are supported by al-Hilal Saudi ArabiaPublic Investment Fund. In one phase, Portalupi admitted that his team had “ugly ducking” in the previous eight than others. He said that Fluminense is “difficulties” with his budget and has been accepted that Al-Hilal “are working under various circumstances”.

But time and time again, the 62 -year -old Brazil made his comments worthy with the same phrase: “Football is fixed on the pitch.” That is correct, and whatever difference may be existing in the context of bank balance in Florida.

Fluminense again showed the determination and flexibility that he was served so well during his time in the US and booked his place in the semi-finals with a 2–1 victory over his rich Saudi opponents. After the final whistle, the players and employees added arms and danced around the center circle.

Next to Kick Off, Portalupi said that his campaign in the US was a “magical moment”. It is not over yet.

Portalupi said, “Fluminance fans are proud of what we have done in this club World Cup.” “Wear a jersey, go to the beach, go to the road, go to the mall. This team is doing beautiful things.

“When we talk about finance, we talk about ugly duck, but on the pitch it is 11 than 11. Our rival wants it but we want it even more. We will fly to New York to play semi -finals and it is well worthy.”

Clubs arrived in the World Cup with very little expectation. He qualified as the winners of the 2023 Copa Libertdores, but had been battling most of the last season for the last season. BrazilSecond division. After 11 games of this season, they sit in the sixth position in the table. In the final -16 against the Champions League, in the final -16, he won 2–0. He was also not against Al-Hilal, but he was defensive and skilled in front of the target.

Portalupi said, “We had some opportunities, but we knew how to make the best of them.”

Fluminance scored on the target with its first two shots. In the first half was a stunning strike for the first time from Martinelly, the second time winner of 20 -minute option Hercules. (He also came out of the bench to score against Inter.) Thiago silvaIn September 41, the experience and defense with strategic nous melted. Goalkeeper Fabio44, pulled An extraordinary savings To stop Kalidau Kulibali Header.

40 ‘martinelliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 🇭🇺@Fluminensefc Thanks 1-0 for a wonderful goal of Brazil. pic.twitter.com/Z23sR61KQY

– Dazn football (@daznfootball) July 4, 2025

“Thiago Silva is very large,” said portalupi. “He is a coach on the pitch. He calms and experiences other players. He is the captain, leader and it is important to have a player with his profile in hard matches against great clubs.

“He is original. During the week we try not to use him in training, so he is 100% available for the match.”

Al-Hilal’s main threat was Ruben Neos‘Free-Kicks and delivery from corners-it led a single equal Marcos Leonardo – But they could not repeat the performance in which they were shocked Manchester City 4-3 after additional time in the final round. Perhaps the beating city took a lot of them.

Two players, navs and compatriots Joao canceledHe was also working with a sad loss of a close friend. The pair was in tears before kick-off During one minute silence In memory of international team partner Diogo jotaWho died in a car accident with his brother Andre silva On Thursday.

Coach Simon Injagi said, “We have to say thanks to Ruben and Joao.” “We all touched the tragedy. They come Portugal So they were really sad. He did not give up and played the game in the best possible way, but he was very sad about his two friends who died. ,

Despite the defeat, after leaving the Inter Milan, the job was parachted a few days before the Club World Cup, Injagi said that his team has taken a significant step forward – especially thanks to the city’s victory. When he woke up to leave after the post -news conference after his match, he was dropped from the room by Saudi reporters. Al-Hilal is outside, but he has left his mark.

“The tournament was a milestone,” said Injagi. “They put their heart on the pitch. We played five games in 16 games and they gave it everything. I can’t really guilty them for anything. It has been a beautiful tournament, but of course we are a bit sad and sour tonight tonight.”

Meanwhile, fluminense, proceed. They reached the final of the last club World Cup – although the small version – before being beaten by the city well. They arrived in America with little expectation to repeat the feat, but now just sit away from the final.

Portalupi’s team will probably be the final four again underdog, although it has been a wonderful summer: their results mean that Flmines now is up to $ 60.8 million in the FIFA Club World Cup in the World Cup, which is equal to 81.7% of their total revenue last year. After defying obstacles already to overcome this, it will now be brave to place bets against them.

Diogo jota‘S Liverpool A source told ESPN that the team’s companions would attend the funeral of 28 -year -old and his brother Andre Silva in Portugal on Saturday.

Portugal and Liverpool were ahead and their brothers were Killed in a car accident On Wednesday evening, in northern Spain, while allegedly back to training for training with Jota to catch a boat to England to driving in the port city of the port city of Santner Premier League Champion on Monday.

Funeral of brothers Will be held on Saturday At the Matris de Gondomar Church, located 33 km from Porto, after the family and friends gather to wake up on Friday.

And a source told ESPN that members of the Liverpool squad will visit Portugal for the last rites on Saturday morning.

Both Jota and his parents have houses in Gondomar, where they started their game career as a child. Gondomer is a working class city next to Porto, where Jota was born.

There are many liverpool players Paid tribute To Jota, with Andy Robertson, Mohammad Salah And Virgil van lamp Issuing long posts about the disadvantage of pre -wolves.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and Club owner, Fenway Sports Group, also released a public tribute to the player.

The plan to return to Presiden training for Liverpool on Monday has been postponed in relation to Jota.

Information of Associated Press was used in this report.

Jamie Smith Is Test wicketkeeper who was always expected by England Jose Butler Will become but never done. As Smith removed a slog-sweep for four to reach the century of 80 balls, she equaled two Tests of Butler in 81 low innings; When Smith dropped Washington Sundar for a long time, he went to Butler’s highest score of 152.

Smith has successfully exploited the “F *** IT” mindset that Butler could never have caused herself a lot during his 57-testing career, despite his batting on the handle of his bat. While the Butler felt paralyzed by inconvenience when encountered with an empty canvas of Test cricket, Smith appears only to look upside down: he went to face a fire-up Mohammed Sirraj on Friday, and crunching a hat-trick ball through the mid-off for four.

Butler is the largest hitter of a white ball in England, but its test average 31.94 – more related, reflects an incomplete talent against the 54.18 strike rate – the strike rate of 54.18. But a week before his 25th birthday, Smith for England’s Batting: A devastating white-ball opener and counter-horseping Test number 7 is the future of the future, while to boot the wicket.

His innings in Edgbaston was disastrous, and Shubman was scuffling Gill’s mind despite India’s huge run-teaching. England often talks about identifying moments to absorb pressure, or to bring it back to his opponents: Smith seized a chance to score cheap runs against India’s change bowlers later.

Last week, in Headingly, Smith’s first innings seemed to be an ananathema for the traditional cricketing logic, making fame Krishna pulled on three balls before the deep square leg before being caused by a new ball. But that Emphasized that it was a “calculation” drama With designs on “take all speeds in the new ball”, and the failure of execution rather than plan.

He replied double to his attacker tendency, to bring Ravindra Jadeja to cross the line for 18 runs in an over. In his fifth day caseIncluding the winning hit on mid-on for six. In Edgbaston, he assessed a disappointing situation – England 503 with five wickets – and determined that there was a very little point in hanging around.

Gill placed fodder with another short-ball ploy for Smith, with three men set-three leg-side fields. Smith replied while showing a list of his performance of pull shots: a hard, flat slap behind the square; A full-fledged wave in the stand; A wrist-roll through midwicket; And he jumped the foot-side as a flat-bate through the mid-on. Prasad’s cost scored 23 runs.

Smith was empowered to attacker, throwing the gap between the short cover and mid-off to hit the first two balls of Sundar for four. When Gill fell into the familiar trap of spreading his ground – with five border -recorders for beautiful – Smith only returned to feeding single milk, turning the strike in the will in his huge stand Harry Brook.

By the time he reached his hundred – Third fastest equal to England in testsAfter a slight recession, Gilbert Jessop’s record Safe Safe – Smith faced only 26 balls from India’s two most dangerous bowlers: 12 from Sirj, 12, and 14 from the sky deep. Gill should bring him back soon, but Smith showed his game awareness by targeting the weak link in a struggling attack.

His partnership with Brooke, 303 value, was a glimpse in the future of England’s batting line -up – not only in tests, but in formats. Perhaps the most impressive aspect was his ability to change the gear: after running in the sixth before lunch, he moved to fourth place in the middle session after changing India’s plans, as if there was a coincidence in the middle lane.

After growing largely 18 months ago, Smith has become a spectacular appearance at the crease. When he arrived 174, he left his mentor behind Alec stewart England’s test wicketkeeper to register the highest score: This may happen some time ago before someone else has the opportunity to defeat Smith’s record.

A lower-order collapse-English no. 8–11 contributed five runs among them-Smith gave an opportunity to speed up a double-handrade. He reached 184, his final score, with two straight explosions from the sky: first, a straight six crunch, suggested that an attractive IPL contract is waiting for him; Second, one raising four through the mid-off, almost closed the bowler’s head.

Rishabh pants missed Smith last week, there was a reminder that his placed is not yet correct, and over time England could be wooed well to take England as an expert batsman. But there should be no immediate request to change its role: Smith Edgbaston had sufficient fit to bat for five hours after 151 overs in Edgbaston, and showed the value of being a real game-chainer at number 7.

Spending after the England decade Mats priorRetirement reshuffle between wicketkeepers: Butler, Johnny Bairstow And Ben Focal Everyone had his advocates, but no one ever managed to make the role his own. Smith can also be accused, which has made himself an automatic selection within a dozen tests.

Smith’s favorite player Kevin Peterson was growing up, and his statue’s shades in Birmingham were: dominance against short ball, disdain against spinners, and essential self-obsession necessary to bat with such fearlessness. It whispers, but England believes Smith may be better than her predecessors: it was an innings Adam gilchrist Playbook.