Key events
Reader Peter gets in touch:
I hope you will get the chance to interview the former Liverpool man who is about to make his Real Madrid debut, because ‘Alexander Abnos asks Alexander-Arnold’ has a nice ring to it.
I have to say … I don’t hate it!
I care very little about these two clubs and this tournament, but am curious how Trent will do, shouting at his new teammates in flawless Scousespañol.
If ever there was a time for a “mic’d up” segment, it’s this.
The teams are heading out on to the field – and by “teams,” I mean “each individual player on each team, one by one” as Fifa continues with its player-by-player introductions with the associated light show.
We’re over a dozen games into this thing and it still feels weird.
Real Madrid fans:
What do you want to see from the new signings on the backline today?
Or, by chance, are you more interested to see how Gonzalo García works with first-choice support?
Al-Hilal’s XI
Some names you might recognize and some names you might not pepper Simone Inzaghi’s lineup for Al-Hilal, who qualified for the CWC thanks to winning the 2021 AFC Champions League.
Morocco international Yassine Bounou, commonly known as Bono, starts in goal.
In front of him, it’s a backline of João Cancelo at right back, Renan Lodi at left back, and a center back pairing of Saudi Arabia international Hassan Altambakti and former Chelsea and Napoli man Kalidou Koulibaly.
In midfield, it’s Salem Al-Dawsari, Nasser Al-Dawsari (no relation), Sergej Milinković-Savić, Rúben Neves, and Malcom.
22-year-old Brazilian Marcos Leonardo starts up top.
Why no Kylian Mbappé?
The French superstar is not in Real Madrid’s starting lineup, which Xabi Alonso explains in the prematch broadcast is a result of him experiencing a fever for the past few days.
It’s a big moment for Gonzalo García, starting in Mbappé’s place.
Real Madrid’s XI
Predictably, Trent Alexander-Arnold starts for Real, nominally as a right-back with Fran García on the left. Former Bournemouth man Dean Huijsen also makes his Real Madrid debut at center back, partnering Raúl Asencio.
Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni are the midfield trio, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are the wingers, and 21-year-old Gonzalo García is the striker for Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge.
Hello and welcome to Real Madrid v Al-Hilal – one of the more intriguing cross-confederational matchups of the Club World Cup, if I do say so myself.
We’re about 35 minutes from kickoff now. Lineups to come …
Alex will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Barney Ronay on Real’s new signing:
On Tuesday morning the Miami Herald carried a story about a Local Man arrested in Florida’s Polk County for breaking into a stranger’s house to make himself dinner and have a bath rather than going home to face his wife after an argument.
The Local Man, who has no criminal history, was apprehended just as he was settling in for a relaxing soak. He has since been charged with burglary. So on balance, and while an entirely tempting, innovative option, this is probably not the way to go.
Pressure makes diamonds, as online graft-influencers like to say. But it also makes the average human yearn for a little quiet space. That same Tuesday morning Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could probably also do with a break from the white noise, was taking his second Real Madrid training session in the 32C (90F) heat of the Gardens North County District Park, a hundred miles south-east of Polk, and in a team where the entire experience can at times resemble an unceasing spousal argument.
You can read the full article below:
