Inter lose Sneijder for final

Published Dec. 16, 2010 12:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder is likely to miss the Club World Cup final on Saturday due to injury.

Inter face Mazembe, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the final after the Italians comfortably defeated Seongnam Ilhwa 3-0 in their semi-final in Abu Dhabi.

However, victory came at a cost after the Dutch international, who is seeking to win his fifth trophy in 2010, sustained a thigh injury and was substituted after just two minutes of the contest.

Dejan Stankovic, Javier Zanetti and Diego Milito all scored for the Nerazzurri, and Rafa Benitez was pleased with the performance following the early blow of losing Sneijder.

"It was not easy at the beginning, it was difficult for us to lose Sneijder early on in the game. We had to readjust," Benitez said.

"I think he has a muscular strain and it's almost certain he won't be there for the final."

Meanwhile, Inter president Massimo Moratti has given his backing to under-fire head coach Benitez.

He told Mediaset: "He (Benitez) prepared for the game in a good way. I was pleased by the concentration shown by the players."