Meanwhile, Argentina could pull off rare feat of marrying Messi era with youth
Implementing a period of transition and maintaining success are usually mutually exclusive in football, but Argentina could pull it off.
F365 Says
England’s gift of a Euro 2024 draw means Mainoo should not be only rookie
England finding themselves in the easier side of the draw is familiar territory, but Gareth Southgate is facing unchartered waters with his rookies.
The perfect night for England at Euro 2024 as Ronaldo strops and Georgia make history
Thank you, Georgia. As England-centric fans of fun football, giant killings and Cristiano Ronaldo strops that could not have gone better.
De Bruyne or bust for Belgium vs FRANCE as Arsenal, Man City stars’ flaws as clear as Lukaku’s
Doku was infuriating and Trossard did nothing. Their flaws are as obvious as Lukaku’s for Belgium, who got lucky against Ukraine and pay the price in the last 16.
Austria blow Euro 2024 wide open after beating France and Netherlands to Group D top spot
That was not in the script. Austria have won Group D, demoting France to second and into the same half of the draw as Spain, Germany and Portugal. Oof.
Rodrygo needs to deliver more for Brazil to avoid Mbappe ‘victim’ status
There’s more at stake this summer for Brazil striker Rodrygo than the chance to lead his nation to a tenth Copa America title.
Kobbie Mainoo can’t ‘control’ a game of football for England as Scholes’ bold Rodri claim debunked
Paul Scholes reckons Kobbie Mainoo can be England’s Rodri or Toni Kroos and we’re not having it. We love the Manchester United star, but he can’t “control” a football game.
Modric channels Alonso but left relying on three-goal England win to further his Croatia legacy
England are about to let down a whole new section of the global population; Croatia need them to beat Slovenia heavily to keep Luka Modric at the Euros.
FFP ‘swap deals’: How Chelsea, Villa, Everton, Newcastle are using PSR loophole before June 30
It’s not the transfer window deadline but the de facto one is approaching for a Premier League quartet engaging in suspicious swap deals. Here’s how they’re circumventing PSR rules.
Folarin Balogun passes first test as USMNT strive for striker solution at Copa America
If there is one player the United States need to perform well at the Copa America over the next few weeks, it’s Folarin Balogun.
McTominay cannot channel Keane against Juventus, Moyes gaslights West Ham and Scotland fail again
It started with John McGinn being fouled, had some David Moyes gaslighting halfway through and ended with Scotland exiting Euro 2024 in spectacular fashion.
De Bruyne masterclass gets Belgium back on track despite VAR continuing to troll Lukaku
It’s all square in Group E after Belgium’s win over Romania, which featured De Bruyne brilliance and the now mandatory disallowed Romelu Lukaku effort.
Portugal continue on blessed Euro path but look well equipped for tougher tests to come
Portugal look the part as potential Euro 2024 winners after securing top spot in Group F, but they got a lot of help from a disastrous Turkey display.
Kylian Mbappe is the difference between Didier Deschamps and Gareth Southgate
France were no great shakes without Kylian Mbappe as they drew 0-0 with the Netherlands. Didier Deschamps would be Gareth Southgate without him.
‘We don’t have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips’ is Gareth Southgate’s England resignation letter
Gareth Southgate must have known that the latter half of his England reign would come to be defined by that laughable quote about Kalvin Phillips.
16 Conclusions on England drawing with Denmark: Southgate out, awful Alexander-Arnold, rubbish Rice
England were miserably awful against Denmark and Gareth Southgate must be on the way out, along with midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold. That was Algeria bad.
Arsenal perfect signing proves why Edu is ‘going all out’ for £42m transfer as Spain’s starlets sparkle
Spain winger Nico Williams proved against Italy why he would be the perfect summer signing for Arsenal to boost their 2024/25 Premier League title hopes…
Serbia’s Jovic steals the spotlight as Sesko, Vlahovic and Mitrovic all falter again
It was meant to be the game for Benjamin Sesko, Aleksandar Mitrovic or Dusan Vlahovic. But none of them could be the Serbian hero and Slovenian heartbreaker.
England fan issues in Gelsenkirchen were predictable; Germany wasn’t prepared
There’s so much to admire about Germany and Euro 2024, but after England fans were stranded in Gelsenkirchen, their organisation should be under scrutiny
Shaqiri joins the Euros party in trademark style but much-improved Scotland stay alive in Group A
Scotland were so, so much better against Switzerland and a win over Hungary would now almost certainly see them through to the last 16 of Euro 2024.
Gundogan lands blow for the old guard in a young man’s game as Germany seal knockout spot
Euro 2024 has been no tournament for old men, but while Germany have their own share of thrilling youth they also have Gundogan and Kroos still doing bits.
Croatia’s Albania failure shows this is a tournament too far for imperious Modric
Albania held Croatia in Hamburg in a game to show Luka Modric is no longer the force of old. His time is coming to an end.
Danny Murphy turns co-commentary into miserabilist performance art as Portugal go Full Portugal
Portugal are among the favourites for Euro 2024 and kicked off their campaign with a late win over Czechia. So we want to talk about Danny Murphy.
Shinners, rain, a raucous Red Wall and Guler of the tournament – Turkey-Georgia had everything and more
Well that was bloody magnificent. If there’s a better game than Turkey v Georgia at this tournament then we really are all in for an absolute treat.
Guardiola is England’s ‘dream appointment’ but Manchester City struggles are revealing
Pep Guardiola is perhaps the greatest manager ever, earning the international post he so desires. But these Euros have been miserable for Manchester City.
Kante embarrasses Henderson again with phenomenal performance for stuttering France
N’Golo Kante and Jordan Henderson essentially made the same career choice in summer 2023 but their paths since could not have been much more different.
Lukaku descends further into Belgium madness as Thierry Henry prepares to pick up the phone again
Romelu Lukaku must have done some awful things in a past life because the world is out to get him. ‘It wasn’t easy’ to get over Belgium pain last time.
Harry Kane the new Erling Haaland for England? And that’s a *bad* thing?
Harry Kane was too uninvolved against Serbia? Gareth Southgate is ‘reinventing him as Erling Haaland’? Good. That benefits England at Euro 2024.
Jude Bellingham’s England (just) beat Serbia: 16 Conclusions on an unnecessarily nervy opener
England won but they were sloppy in a second half when control went out of the window. Thankfully, England have Jude Bellingham and he is mint.
Italy survive early Albania scare as Euro 2024 continues its rollicking good start
Italy conceded the fastest ever European Championships goal to a team that had only ever scored one finals goal before. This is going to be a great Euros.
Spain add youthful swagger to familiar precision to make compelling Euros case
Three Euro 2024 games, three statement wins. But Spain’s joyful demolition of wily old Croatia felt like it really might be the most significant of the lot.
Granit Xhaka: Switzerland’s calming influence and great hope for an impressive Euros
Granit Xhaka’s dominant midfield performance in Switzerland’s Group A win over Hungary shows he can take them far this summer.
Why you should never step up against Lionel Messi – or tell Juan Roman Riquelme to tie his shoes
Jimmy Conrad has the ‘nice calling card’ of tackling Lionel Messi in a Copa America. He never told Juan Roman Riquelme to tie his laces again though.