By Andrea Caropreso
Index
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In the land of cinema, Chelsea climbs to the top of the world thanks to its golden boy Palmer. A clear 3-0 victory, as the Blues, against all odds, sweep aside the European champions who had seemed untouchable until now. Their only minor slip-up was against Botafogo in the group stage—more of a blip than a real fall. Against Chelsea, however, there was no contest, with Cole Palmer scoring a stunning brace and Joao Pedro chipping in a delightful third.
The Match
From the very first minutes, the team in blue looked sharper and more energetic. Chelsea was well-organized tactically and took control of the match right away. The warning signs came early: Joao Pedro laid the ball off for Palmer, who aimed for the corner but hit the base of the post.
PSG responded with Doue, who wasted a great transition opportunity by opting for an unnecessary through ball instead of taking the shot. Chelsea didn’t show the same mercy. Palmer created a chance for himself and beat Donnarumma with an unstoppable low strike in the 22nd minute. For those who missed the first goal—no worries. Palmer repeated the trick eight minutes later: a fake shot, defender beaten, and Donnarumma left helpless again. The score was 2-0, leaving everyone stunned.
Only one team was on the pitch. For the first time, PSG seemed caught in the tactical trap set by Maresca. Joao Pedro delivered the final blow. Palmer fed him a brilliant through ball, and the Brazilian finished with a cheeky lob over Donnarumma. Joao Pedro, who joined in the June transfer window, has already scored decisive goals—like the one against Fluminense. The second half had little to report, aside from some scuffles that turned into a full-blown fight after the final whistle. Chelsea are world champions, and Maresca is building a winning side.
World Cup Numbers
And the Oscar goes to… Cole Palmer. Chelsea’s playmaker led his team to the world title and was named best player of the tournament. His teammate Sanchez received the best goalkeeper award. All this under the watchful eyes of Infantino and Trump, both pleased with how the final played out. Initially underhyped and perhaps even overlooked, the tournament ended up delivering competitiveness and high-quality football.
“The Club World Cup has been a huge success. We’ve generated over $2 billion in revenue,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino before the final. Yes, the issue of low crowd engagement remains open, but in the end, the American audience responded well. They also enjoyed the Super Bowl-style halftime show. Now, it’s holiday time for the clubs, but it’s only a temporary goodbye to the United States—another World Cup is just one year away…
By Andrea Caropreso
