⚽ Fluminense vs Inter Club World Cup: Brazilian Side Stuns Inter
🇧🇷 Fluminense Shock Inter in Club World Cup Round of 16
In a dramatic Fluminense vs Inter Club World Cup encounter, the Brazilian side knocked out Champions League finalists Inter Milan with a 2-0 win in Charlotte. Goals from Germán Cano and Hércules ended Inter’s run early, before they could even reach the quarter-finals.
This loss marks a tough start for new head coach Cristian Chivu, who recently replaced Simone Inzaghi after Inter’s 5-0 thrashing by PSG.
⚡ Key Moments from the Fluminense vs Inter Clash
- 🕒 3rd Minute: Germán Cano opens the scoring after capitalizing on a defensive lapse and a deflected cross.
- 🧤 Fábio’s Heroics: The 44-year-old goalkeeper made four critical saves, including shots from Lautaro Martínez in the 80th and 82nd minutes.
- 🥅 Late Finish: In the 93rd minute, Hércules sealed the win with a composed low strike into the bottom corner after a long throw-in.
- ❌ Disallowed Goal: Ignacio thought he’d doubled the lead in the 39th minute, but VAR ruled it offside.
🧠 Tactical Breakdown: How Fluminense Beat Inter
Despite less possession, Fluminense created more dangerous chances. They played with sharp counters, tight defensive structure, and discipline. In contrast, Inter dominated the ball but lacked the cutting edge, especially in the final third.
🔒 Fluminense’s Defense:
Veteran Thiago Silva led the backline with precision and calm, helping secure their third clean sheet of the tournament.
⚠️ Inter’s Errors:
Inter’s backline hesitated at key moments, particularly in the opening goal and during late-game pressure. Their midfield couldn’t break Fluminense’s pressing rhythm.
📉 Cristian Chivu’s Rough Start as Inter Manager
The Club World Cup was Chivu’s first major test after taking over from Inzaghi. But being knocked out in the Round of 16 means Inter leaves the tournament early — a disappointment for a club with high expectations.
His challenge now will be rebuilding team morale and dealing with vocal leaders like Lautaro Martínez, who publicly questioned the team’s commitment.
📢 Lautaro’s Post-Match Criticism: “You Must Want to Stay at Inter”
After the defeat, Inter captain Lautaro Martínez was visibly emotional and blunt in his interview with DAZN:
“We’re fighting for important goals, and whoever wants to stay here needs to show it. Whoever doesn’t, should leave.”
His comments may signal deeper locker room unrest following two humiliating defeats in a month.
🧮 What’s Next in the Club World Cup?
- Fluminense now advance to the quarter-finals, where they’ll face the winner of Manchester City vs Al Hilal.
- If it’s City, it’ll be a rematch of the 2023 Club World Cup final, where City triumphed 4-0 in Saudi Arabia.
Another Brazilian team, Palmeiras, has already qualified and will face Chelsea in the other quarter-final.
🏟️ Match Venue: Charlotte’s Empty Seats Raise Eyebrows
Despite the high-profile clash, just 20,030 fans attended at the Bank of America Stadium — far below the 74,867 capacity. This marks the third low-attendance match at the venue in the tournament.
❓ FAQs – Fluminense vs Inter Club World Cup
❓ Who scored in the Fluminense vs Inter match?
Germán Cano (3rd min) and Hércules (93rd min) scored for Fluminense.
❓ Who will Fluminense face next?
They’ll face the winner of Manchester City vs Al Hilal in the quarter-finals.
❓ What did Lautaro Martínez say after the loss?
He criticized the commitment of some teammates and said players who don’t want to stay should leave.
❓ How did Fluminense perform defensively?
They kept their third clean sheet of the tournament, with key performances by Fábio and Thiago Silva.
🔚 Final Thoughts
The Fluminense vs Inter Club World Cup result will go down as one of the most significant upsets of the tournament so far. With veterans stepping up and Inter unraveling under new leadership, Fluminense now march into the quarter-finals brimming with confidence — and ready for a possible rematch with Manchester City.
