Botafogo stumbles and the advantage for Flamengo is 12 points; Check out the Brasileirão table

Eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup semi-finals, Flamengo begins its transition back to the routine of Brazilian football this Monday (30) . The delegation leaves the United States at 10 pm (Brasília time) bound for Galeão Airport, on Governador Island, in Rio de Janeiro.

The return marks the end of the international stint, but also the beginning of a new plan. With the focus once again on national and continental competitions, Rubro-Negro is organizing the squad's return for next Saturday, July 5th, at 9:30 am, at Ninho do Urubu.

FLAMENGO RETURNS TO TRAINING AFTER THE WORLD CUP

The coaching staff decided to give the players a week off, as a way of recovering physically and mentally after the exhaustion of the competition. The break is strategic, as Flamengo has a marathon of games ahead in July, involving the Brazilian Championship, the Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores.

SERIES OF GAMES UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON

The return will be marked by intense training at the training center, with a focus on regaining the lead in the Brasileirão and the decisive stages of the knockout tournaments. The tendency is for Mengão to use the period to adjust the team and recover players who returned from the World Cup with muscle fatigue.

Although Flamengo 's next match in the Brasileirão is theoretically scheduled against São Paulo, as the home team, confirmation of the date still depends on the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The game was scheduled to take place during the Club World Cup. With the early elimination, the club expected the match to be rescheduled. However, the CBF is facing difficulties with the tight schedule, and the current trend is that the duel with São Paulo will be held for July 13.

Fluminense is in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup. With goals from Cano and Hércules, the Tricolor beat Inter Milan this Monday, 2-0, and sealed their advance to the knockout stages of the tournament. Renato Gaúcho's team now awaits the winner of Manchester City vs. Al-Hilal.

SUMMARY

Fluminense needed little time to open the scoring against Inter. Two minutes in, Arias received the ball from Martinelli, advanced down the right and crossed. The ball deflected off Bastoni, and Cano, who completed 200 games for Tricolor today, took advantage of the chance to score the first goal of the match.

The team from Rio also missed a chance to extend their lead with Samuel Xavier, who shot just wide of Sommer's goal. Ignácio managed to score the second goal after a three-touch header in the box, but the move was disallowed due to the defender being offside. Inter had their best chances with long balls behind the defense. In one of the most dangerous plays for the Italians, Mkhitaryan received the ball in the box on the left and passed it to Dimarco, but Fábio saved it . Before the end of the first half, there was a brief scuffle between Renato Gaúcho and Mkhitaryan.

The first big chance of the second half came again in Fluminense's favor and through Cano's feet, in the 11th minute. Minutes later, Arias forced Sommer to perform a miracle with a bomb from outside the area. As the second half progressed, following the substitution rounds, Inter Milan grew in the game and began to put pressure on Fluminense - there were at least five clear chances. De Vrij missed an unbelievable shot in the six-yard box, and Lautaro had three clear chances in a three-minute interval - one of which hit the post.

In injury time, Hércules sealed the victory over Inter. Samuel Xavier took a throw-in, De Vrij headed the ball and the ball went past everyone before falling to the Tricolor midfielder. Hércules controlled the ball and invaded the area before shooting with his left foot, missing Sommer's goal! End of story in Charlotte.

AND NOW?

Fluminense now has to face either Manchester City or Al-Hilal. If the English team gets through, it will be a repeat of the Club World Cup in 2023, where the tricolor succumbed to the power of the blue side of Manchester, with Guardiola and his team.

On Monday afternoon (30), Flamengo's football director José Boto published a text on his Instagram account taking stock of the red-black team's campaign in the Club World Cup . The Mais Querido fell after losing to Bayern Munich, 4-2.

Boto about the red-blacks: "Thanks to our fans, who never stopped supporting the team"

WITH THE WORD....

"A journey with which we should be satisfied and proud has come to an end. We return home with the knowledge that we are a strong team, of great value and capable of competing at the highest level of world football," wrote the director.

THANKS

"Thank you to our fans, who never stopped supporting the team at every moment of the competition and in every city in the United States, Brazil and the world, because Flamengo is a Nation. Now, we need to recover well and prepare for the next challenges, because we want to achieve important goals this season. Strength, Flamengo !" he concluded.

Now, Flamengo will focus its efforts on the rest of the season and José Boto will have a window to further strengthen the red-black squad. Colombian Jorge Carrascal is close to being hired. The Delegation will leave for Rio de Janeiro this Monday (30), at 10 pm (Brasília time), with arrival scheduled for 6:30 am. Disembarkation will take place in the international hall of RIOGaleão Airport. The team will return to training on Saturday morning, at 9:30 am, at CT George Helal.