Key events
Who’s left from 2021 final?
The 2021 final was played in February 2022. Blame Covid.
Chelsea’s lineup that day: Edouard Mendy; Antonio Rüdiger, Thiago Silva, Andreas Christiansen (Malang Sarr); Callum Hudson-Odoi (Saúl Ñíguez), Mateo Kovacic (Hakim Ziyech), N’Golo Kanté, César Azpilicueta; Kai Havertz, Mason Mount (Christian Pulisic); Romelu Lukaku (Timo Werner)
Tonight’s Chelsea lineup: Robert Sanchez; Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto; Enzo Fernandez, Reece James; Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer; Liam Delap
So that’s … no one.
Palmeiras 2021/2: Weverton; Gustavo Scarpa, Joaquin Piquerez, Luan, Gustavo Gomez, Marcos Rocha (Deyverson); Dudu (Rafael Navarro), Ze Rafael (Jailson), Danilo, Rony (Wesley); Raphael Veiga (Eduard Atuesta)
Tonight’s Palmeiras lineup: Weverton; Vanderlan, Bruno Fuchs, Micael, Agustin Giay; Emiliano Martinez, Richard Rios; Facundo Torres, Allan Andrade, Estêvão; Vitor Roque
Congratulations, Weverton. You are the only person remaining.
Preamble
One side of the Club World Cup semi-finals will be all-European. Will the other side be all-Brazilian?
Fluminense have booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Al-Hilal, the Saudi team that eliminated Manchester City in the Game of the Century (so far). Can Palmeiras join them and set up the ultimate showdown of Rio vs. São Paulo (aka Carioca vs. Paulista)? Or will this upstart club from London called Chelsea knock them out?
Chelsea will be playing through off-field distractions – a hefty fine from Uefa and the tragic death of Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, whose close friend Pedro Neto may miss this match. (UPDATE: Pedro Neto is in the starting XI.)
This quarter-final is a rematch of the 2021 final, which Chelsea won 2-1 in extra time. Chelsea that year featured a young American named Christian Pulisic. We understand he’s no longer there.
Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Jacob Steinberg’s latest dispatch from Philadelphia.
