New era, new challenge: Inter aim for Club World Cup glory

If Madrid and PSG are the two big favourites for the Club World Cup, there are second-tier teams waiting for their moment. One of them is Inter, the reigning European runners-up. The Italian side, who were thrashed 5-0 by PSG in the Champions League final, travel to the United States with the aim of licking their wounds and making it to the final stages of the competition.

The team has had a good season despite not winning any titles. Runner-up in Serie A, runner-up in Europe and runner-up in the Supercoppa. Also out of the Coppa Italia in the run-up to the final. The Nerazzurri have not found the way to success and they have used their defensive strength and the goalscoring instinct of Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram and company.

Inter, who must be expected to be close to the favourites, secured their place at the Club World Cup by finishing ninth in the UEFA rankings. The Lombardy side have been drawn alongside CONMEBOL's top-ranked River Plate, Urawa Reds, the winner of the 2022 AFC Champions League, and Monterrey, the winner of the Concachampions in 2021. It will be Cristian Chivu's debut, following the departure of Simone Inzaghi just over a week before the start of the competition.

Squad list

Players to watch

One of the big names is Lautaro Martinez. The Argentinian striker has been a key player in the attacking department of his team, as he has become Inter's top scorer this season (22 goals in 49 games). However, the player from Bahia Blanca has been inconsistent in a number of key matches, such as the Champions League final.

Marcus Thuram should also be mentioned. The Frenchman has formed a lethal duo with the ‘Toro’, who he has come very close to catching in the scoring ranking. His goal-scoring ability makes him a danger for opponents and a weapon for the Lombardy side ahead of the Club World Cup. He has 18 goals and 5 assists in 48 games this season.

Another to mention is Yann Sommer. The Swiss goalkeeper, who missed out on a place in the final of the Champions League, had an exceptional tournament and his performances earned him a place among the best goalkeepers on the Old Continent and in the world. The Swiss goalkeeper has made a total of 145 saves this season, the most in the Champions League with 51.

Coach

A few weeks before the start of the Club World Cup, Inter were left without a coach as Simone Inzaghi signed for Al Hilal, another of the Club World Cup participants. The Italian coach, after falling just short of silverware this season, came full circle at the Nerazzurri with six trophies in four seasons. His replacement will be Cristian Chivu, a familiar face having spent six seasons with the club during his playing days and won nine trophies.

The coach has only just started his career in the dugout. His first stint has been with Parma, whom he has managed to keep in Serie A. He arrived last February and finally fulfilled the club's objective set at the beginning of the season. Parma had planned to renew his contract, but the coach from Resita put everything on hold in the face of the Lombardy side's interest. This move by the club where he played as a player changed the movie (2007-13). He signed until 2027.

Group stage fixtures

Matchday 1

Inter will face Monterrey of Mexico on Wednesday 18 June at the Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles). It will be an unprecedented match as they have never met before.

Matchday 2

Inter will face Urawa Reds at Lumen Field (Seattle) on Saturday 21 June. It will also be the first time they have met in an official fixture.

Matchday 3 

The Italians will close the groups on Thursday 26 June at Lumen Field (Seattle) against River Plate in one of the most attractive matches in the group stage. There is no precedent between the two sides.

Possible starting XI