Chelsea's Do-or-Die Club World Cup Clash: Maresca Unleashes Full Attack Against ES Tunis

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has been a rollercoaster for Chelsea, a journey marked by both glimpses of promise and stark disappointments. After securing a favorable result against LAFC, the Blues suffered a resounding defeat to Flamengo. Now, the stakes couldn't be higher as they face Esperance Tunis today in a match that will determine their fate: a ticket to the Round of 16 or an early exit to begin planning for the next Premier League campaign.

This pivotal encounter is scheduled for 9:00 PM at Lincoln Financial Field. Both teams enter with three points, having each secured one win and one loss. This means the victor advances, while the loser's Club World Cup journey comes to an end. Chelsea arrives reeling from their 3-1 loss to the Brazilians, while the Tunisian side is buoyed by a narrow victory over the American club. Enzo Maresca's Chelsea is poised to attack with everything they have.

Chelsea's Projected Starting XI for the Decisive Showdown

Here's a look at the anticipated lineup Maresca will deploy as Chelsea goes all-out for qualification:

• Goalkeeper: Robert Sánchez – Despite conceding three goals in the last match, Sánchez's nine saves were crucial, hinting that the scoreline could have been far worse without his interventions.
• Right Wing-Back: Malo Gusto – His tournament performance hasn't been stellar, but a potential shift to a five-at-the-back formation might better suit his capabilities.
• Center-Back: Reece James – With limited minutes as a starter so far, Maresca is showing confidence in James, possibly eyeing a regular starting spot for the upcoming Premier League season.
• Center-Back: Tosin Adarabioyo – Trevoh Chalobah's opportunity against Flamengo wasn't seized, opening the door for Adarabioyo to start in this crucial group stage decider.
• Center-Back: Levi Colwill – Having started and completed both previous matches, Colwill is a consistent presence in the defense, making his inclusion in the starting XI highly probable.
• Left Wing-Back: Marc Cucurella – A reliable performer, Cucurella has consistently delivered, and despite the three goals conceded last game, his individual display was solid.
• Defensive Midfielder: Cole Palmer – Although discreet in his two appearances so far, Palmer remains an indispensable part of the Italian manager's tactical setup.
• Central Midfielder: Enzo Fernández – As a deep-lying playmaker, Fernández enjoys pushing forward into attack, a strategy that paid off with his goal against LAFC.
• Central Midfielder: Moisés Caicedo – Despite the loss to Flamengo, the Ecuadorian midfielder delivered a commendable performance, battling for possession and constantly pushing forward, even if without direct success on the scoreboard.
• Right Forward: Pedro Neto – Currently Chelsea's top scorer in the tournament with two goals, Neto has demonstrated immense capability in carrying the team, completing both matches with high effort.
• Left Forward: Liam Delap – With Jackson's expulsion, this match presents the perfect opportunity for the English striker to gain valuable minutes and contribute crucial goals to the team's cause.

For Chelsea, there is no margin for error. If they fail to deliver an all-out performance in this decisive match, they will exit the Club World Cup with a deeply disappointing showing, leaving fans and pundits questioning their readiness for the challenges ahead.