New players savior in 26 minutes! The Giroud jersey owned by the club cup has become the warmest moment!

On June 16, 2025, there were only 22,000 people in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA. This modern stadium, which cost $1 billion, became the most expensive "empty city" background board in the opening game of the Club World Cup where Chelsea defeated Los Angeles FC 2-0. But this seemingly plain contest has become the most vivid footnote in the football world due to the collision between new and old players and the temperature in the details. Veteran's "Jersey Episode": Giroud's No. 9 and fans' embrace

When the 38-year-old French striker Giroud took off his training suit and walked to the bench, he might not have expected to become the "alternative protagonist" of this game. As a veteran who just transferred from AC Milan to Los Angeles FC, this is the fourth time in his career that he faces his old club Chelsea. However, the No. 9 jersey handed over by the staff unexpectedly "missed", replaced by a strange battle jersey with "No. 39".

"It's like being suddenly recognized by a stranger. " Giroud later recalled. He stood on the sidelines, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, and looked at the Chelsea fans holding the slogan "Welcome Home" in the stands. Finally, a teammate rushed into the sidelines and handed him the No. 9 jersey he had spared back-and-the number on his left chest was folded and barely exposed. This slightly funny moment made the stands burst into the warmest applause. An American reporter wrote: "The temperature of professional football is often hidden in the folded folds of numbers. "

New Agent's "lightning assist": Drapp's 26-minute redemption

If Giroud's episode is a warm overture, then the turning point in the second half belongs to the 22-year-old English new agent Drapp.

Chelsea's offense was like a trapped beast in the first half - the ball possession rate was 65%, but 17 shots were only 6 shots, and attackers such as Palmer and Jacquesson missed the goal in total. Until the 79th minute, coach Maresca pointed to the wing: "Drapp, prepare! "

The right-back who joined the English Championship Ipswich completed the redemption in 3 minutes: In the 79th minute, he observed Enzo on the right at the front of the penalty area running without the ball, and then sent a straight pass on the ground. The ball hit the toes of the defensive player and landed accurately at Enzo's feet, who calmly pushed the ball into the goal! Before the end of the game, he once again assisted Neto with a cross to secure the victory.

"This ball was passed so smartly! " the commentator shouted excitedly. Data shows that the landing error of Drapp's two crosses was no more than 3 cm. After the game, he was called "using the pass to complete his confession to his new owner" by the Atlanta Constitutional Journal. This is the first time that Chelsea has beaten an American club in an official game in his history, and it is also the first time that European teams have defeated North American opponents in the intercontinental arena since the restructuring in 2012.

Ice and fire behind the data: The strength and hidden worries of the Blues

2-0 score, there are many interesting details:

Offensive efficiency difficulties: Chelsea only had 17 shots in the game and only 6 shots were directed, and all 7 shots in the first half were missed;

Goalkeeper bravely saved the master: Goalkeeper Sanchez saved three times to resolve Los Angeles FC's must-scoring goals. He scored once and faced Palmer's single shot, which was world-class;

New aid value was first revealed: Drapp contributed 2 assists in 26 minutes, with a running distance of 3.2 kilometers, and a sprint of 12 times (on average sprints every 2 minutes);

Referee's controversial penalty: Referee Valenzuela showed a yellow card for a tactical foul on Reese James in the 37th minute, and was questioned "interrupted the Blues' defensive rhythm".

"We played too fast. "Maresca admitted after the game, "Faced with the intensive defense of North American teams, we need to find space more patiently. "

The "Growth Troubles" of the Club World Cup: Empty seats and controversy

The most interesting "data" of this game is the attendance rate - only 22,000 people are sitting in the 70,000 stadium, which is equivalent to one empty for every 3 seats. On social media, fans jokingly call this "the most expensive open-air square in the world". A video taken by a live audience showed that a fan held up his mobile phone to shoot an empty stand: "A stadium that cost 1 billion yuan was not satisfied with it? "

What triggered discussion was the balance between the commercialization and competitive nature of the event. Although the Club World Cup expanded to 32 teams, the attendance rate of the opening match was far lower than that of the Scottish Premier League (average of 25,000 players per game). The Guardian commented: "When football becomes a capital game, are we losing our most precious audience? "

The road to the future: Chelsea's challenge and freshmen

Although he won the first game, Chelsea's Club World Cup journey is still full of thorns. Next they will face Brazilian Flamengo (June 21) and Tunisia Hope (June 25). The most popular thing is Giroud's "New and Old Dialogue" between Delapp and Delapp:

Giroud's persistence: At the age of 38, he has contributed 3 goals and 2 assists to Los Angeles FC this season, and he still maintains the self-discipline of professional players when facing the old owner; Delapp's rise: This new player, who is worth 18 million euros, proves his value with his debut. As the Times commented: "He puts Chelsea's wings in a real threat. "

Just as the scene of Giroud and Drapp celebrating at the end of the game, at this moment, the "empty seat" of the Club World Cup seems to be no longer important. What is important is that football is still telling stories about love, details and rebirth in the most realistic way.