- by Landon Vogel
- on 27 Jun, 2025
All Eyes on Inter Milan as Dumfries Returns for Crucial River Plate Battle
If there’s a moment for Inter Milan to pull themselves together, it’s now. Just as the FIFA Club World Cup Group E enters its decisive phase, Inter Milan finally receives some good news—Denzel Dumfries is back in action. The Dutch full-back has cleared his latest fitness hurdle after missing the first two matches in the group, returning to full training at a time when the team can least afford slip-ups. His presence gives manager Cristian Chivu some breathing room, but things are far from straightforward on the selection front.
Inter shares the lead in Group E with River Plate, both locked at four points. Monterrey is right behind with two—adding fuel to the pressure cooker. For Chivu, every decision in this match matters, as the wrong lineup could see Inter’s tournament run cut brutally short if Monterrey pulls off a win elsewhere.
Yet, despite Dumfries’ return, the expectation is that Matteo Darmian will remain in the starting lineup at right-back. Chivu seems to be playing it cautious, not wanting to risk Dumfries just for the sake of change. The coach wasn’t impressed with Luis Henrique’s recent performance in the scrappy victory over Urawa Reds, hinting that the Brazilian could make way for more defensive stability on the bench. There’s a good chance Inter sticks with a slightly conservative approach to try to grind out the necessary result.
Chivu’s Headache: Injury List Grows as Key Decisions Loom
The real snag for Chivu isn’t just whether to start Dumfries—it’s the stack of big names still sitting in the treatment room. Inter fans were already holding their breath at the news of key absences: Yann Bisseck, midfield anchor Hakan Calhanoglu, defensive linchpin Benjamin Pavard, creative force Piotr Zielinski, striker Marcus Thuram, and all-action midfielder Davide Frattesi. Put simply, the heart of Inter’s regular starting eleven is torn out, leaving a patchwork squad to fight for their Club World Cup future.
Without Thuram leading the line, Chivu could turn to one of the Esposito brothers—either Sebastiano or Salvatore—to partner Lautaro Martínez up front. Neither has enjoyed a significant run of games, but the pressure cooker atmosphere may be just the setting for a surprise hero. Chivu, forced by circumstance, will need to balance the raw enthusiasm of his youngsters with the need for composure and savvy against a battle-hardened River Plate outfit.
So far, Inter’s tournament has been a rollercoaster. They opened with a frustrating draw against Monterrey, failing to break down a stubborn defense. Things almost unraveled further against Urawa Reds, as Chivu’s men needed a comeback late in the game to scrape a nervy 2-1 victory. Consistency has eluded them; the team has looked vulnerable in transition and has lacked sharpness in midfield—issues made worse by all those missing first-teamers.
This next match isn’t just about survival—it has the feeling of a fiery knock-out duel, even if the group stage still has a game to play. The fine margins of points and goal differences mean Inter can’t afford to sit back. Every substitution, every tactical tweak from Chivu, could spell the difference between fighting for the trophy or packing bags early. And with Dumfries finally available, Inter at least has one more weapon in their arsenal for what’s shaping up as a true test of nerve and depth.