In October 2024, Gianni Infantino enthusiastically proclaimed that Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team would participate in his personal venture—the freshly revamped FIFA Club World Cup. Understandably, this declaration raised quite a few eyebrows.
Infantino had fantasised about a summer showdown between the Argentinian World Cup champion and his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, this plan has proven to be a monumental flop, as reports suggest that the Portuguese superstar is unlikely to take part in the tournament.
Regardless, the impression lingers that Inter Miami’s qualification for the Club World Cup was a bit unwarranted, considering they only secured the MLS Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record.
Did Inter Miami earn their Club World Cup spot?
The squad, featuring Messi, was eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, faced defeat from Columbus Crew in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup, and most recently lost in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup—trophies that are, with all due respect, valued more highly than the Supporters’ Shield.
The announcement that Inter Miami would begin the tournament against Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium also failed to excite many football fans, and even Messi found Infantino’s disorganised sales pitch amusing in front of the local crowd.
For better or worse, David Beckham’s franchise will soon be competing with some of the planet’s elite football teams, though it would have been preferable for them to have been in a more impactful position a year ago.
Inconsistent form under Javier Mascherano
Currently, under new head coach Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami has demonstrated inconsistent performances. Their results have oscillated drastically this season, from a 5-1 victory against Columbus Crew to a stunning 4-1 loss against Minnesota United.
The team has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten outings, conceding two or more goals in eight of those matches. Without the contributions of Messi (21 goals, 11 assists) and Luis Suarez (21 goals, nine assists), Inter Miami could find themselves in a precarious position.
Criticism of Mascherano’s tactics
MLS analyst Taylor Twellman has voiced his discontent regarding Mascherano’s tactical approach, stating, “They allow chances to every opponent, and Mascherano is inflexible in his tactical setup, which limits their chances.”
He continued, “Starting a game with Messi, Suarez, and Busquets in your lineup means beginning with three players who lack aggression defensively.”
“The Club World Cup could pose significant challenges for them, and any failure could necessitate major changes in the summer transfer window.”
“Mascherano needs to reassess his tactical strategy to boost the team’s defensive performance.”
Issues with defensive performance
The fact that Suarez has only made three tackles all season supports Twellman’s claims, while Messi’s tally of 20 pales in comparison to Diego Gomez’s 55 and Marcelo Weigandt’s 62. Defensively, Inter needs to address their shortcomings quickly.
Tomas Aviles stands out with 42 interceptions, followed by Yannick Bright with 34, and naturally, Busquets with 32. Winning possession in the midfield, particularly where Busquets operates, appears central to Inter’s strategy, and his impressive 75.8% pass completion rate is among the best in the team.
His contribution is remarkable in light of him having made significantly more passes (2,215) than anyone else in the squad.
Jordi Alba’s aggressive play may cause issues
While Jordi Alba has recorded 1,894 passes—nearly double Messi’s 989—his attacking prowess may need to be balanced with stronger defensive capabilities to address their concerning number of conceded goals (27 in 16 MLS matches, the worst record among the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference).
Considering their opposition, including clubs like Porto and Palmeiras (and, with all due respect, Al Ahly), Inter Miami could find themselves severely outmatched and embarrassed.
This reality should motivate a tactical shift, as Twellman emphasises using Alba more as a wing-back instead of a conventional left winger. Notably, Alba’s advanced positioning leaves young left-back Noah Allen vulnerable.
This not only seems to be a major tactical error for Mascherano, but should Miami manage to win their game in hand, they’ll be just two points shy of the Eastern Conference front-runners, Philadelphia Union.
Regarding the Club World Cup, it’s evident that Infantino and FIFA stand to benefit if Messi is around for as long as possible; however, given the circumstances, that ambitious aspiration appears little more than a distant fantasy.
_______________________________________________
Sponsored:
FIFA Club World Cup – Every Game Free, exclusively on DAZN.
Click here to start streaming.
_______________________________________________
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
