Page 24 – The Pulse of Football

Feb

2024

Analysis: Inzaghi’s incredible Inter en route to another Serie A title

After their convincing win in the Derby d’Italia last weekend, Inter have opened up the gap at the top of the table to four points, with a game in hand to boot. Having lost just once in the league so far this season, they are clear favourites for the Scudetto – and deservedly so.

By Neel Shelat

Inter have arguably been the most underrated elite European team in the last year. A poor start to the 2022/23 season effectively ruled them out of the Serie A title race then, but some crucial mid-season tactical tweaks from Simone Inzaghi more than salvaged the season as the Nerazzurri won the Coppa Italia and reached the Champions League final.

They have carried that form into the 2023/24 season, as the Serie A leaders have lost just two of their 31 matches in all competitions. One of them knocked them out of the Coppa Italia, but they have already won silverware in the shape of a third straight Suppercoppa and could well get more as they must be considered among the Champions League contenders besides being the obvious favourites in the league.

Inter also have the chance to create some history in Serie A. If they win all of their remaining matches, they will end the season on 105 points, thus breaking Juventus’ record tally of 102 from the 2013/14 season. Of course, this is an incredibly lofty ambition but the possibility cannot be ruled out considering their current form.

Inzaghi deserves a great deal of credit for this, as he has almost perfected the 3-5-2 system with Inter. He has devised a tactical outline that gets the best out of his squad while not excessively relying on any individuals, thus making the team almost immune to transfer losses.

Inter barely broke stride at any point in 2023, so it is tough to believe that they lost a number of key players in the summer. Marcelo Brozović, Milan Škriniar, André Onana, Romelu Lukaku and Edin Džeko all bid their farewells, so the Nerazzurri had to find a lot of replacements without a mind-numbing transfer budget.

Some very shrewd signings as well as smart in-house solutions did the job, enabling Inter to continue playing the same way in 2023/24.

A total sum of €40 million was enough to bring in Yann Sommer, Benjamin Pavard and Francesco Acerbi, who have all become regular starters. Marcus Thuram was signed on a free transfer, and he has immediately become a star up front. Brozović was arguably Inter’s most important player last season, so replacing him was the toughest ask. This is where Inzaghi pulled off a stroke of genius as he decided to drop former attacking midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu into the regista role, which he has taken to like a fish to water.

All in all, Inter are quite simply the best team in Italy in all aspects. They can do anything and everything both with and without the ball, showing a level of versatility and flexibility that none of their counterparts around Europe can match.

Although the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation is often characterised as one used to play a very negative brand of football, Inter actually are one of the most eye-catching teams to watch in possession. Their build-up play is incredibly fluid and yet perfectly cohesive as you will often see midfielders dropping into the back line, centre-backs pulling out to the touchline, and wing-backs pushing up. All of this enables them to play through any press.

The best part of it all has to be their attacking play at the other end of the pitch. Inter can threaten opponents in almost all ways. They can consistently get in behind high lines through the clever runs of their strikers and wing-backs, they can get bodies into the box as crossing targets for whipped deliveries from the wing-backs or midfielders, they can put together slick passing moves in the final third to break down low blocks, and even if none of that works, they have some very dangerous long range shooters in their team.

Simply put, Inter’s attack is unstoppable. They have already crossed the 50-goal mark in the league, and they absolutely blow the competition out of the water when it comes to xG.

The Nerazzurri can also be exceptionally solid defensively, both in their super solid 5-3-2 block deeper down the pitch and with a well-executed high press to disrupt opposition build-ups. Their tally of just 10 goals conceded so far might be too good to be sustainable, but their underlying numbers are not bad at all.

A big chunk of the reason behind Inter’s defensive overperformance is their goalkeeper. Yann Sommer has been one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe for a number of seasons now, and he has already saved his side about six goals this term according to our xGOT model.

The defensive solidity of the three centre-backs as well as their excellent ball-playing ability is quite handy too, but the midfielders naturally stand out when it comes to play on-the-ball. Enough cannot be said about Çalhanoğlu and Nicolò Barella’s technical quality to do almost anything with the ball at their feet, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s intelligent positioning in the final third makes him a great creative threat.

The front two have been exceptional at the sharp end of the pitch as they already have 36 league goal involvements between them, but they are very well supported by the wing-backs and midfielders too. A big reason why Inter’s attack is so unstoppable is because you’d have to stop about half the side to shut them down for good.

Marcus Thuram’s excellent well-roundedness has caught the eye of many an onlooker, lately, but Lautaro Martínez somehow continues to go underrated. His tally of 19 league goals this season is over twice the amount of any of his teammates, as he has shown a real killer instinct in the box.

Quite clearly, Inter have all the ingredients of an elite team. Juventus deserve credit for somehow managing to keep up with them in the league so far, but they will surely only fall away in the remainder of the season. A comfortable league lead will also enable the Nerazzurri to focus on the Champions League even more, so they could well go one better than last season in that competition too.

In any case, Inter are irrefutably one of the best teams in the world right now, so they deserve to be given their flowers.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Serie A, with deep stats and players ratings, on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

Is Vivianne Miedema the key to getting Arsenal back in the goals?

Arsenal Women found themselves at a crossroads in the crosswinds bellowing through East London on Sunday, and at the centre of the intersection was Vivianne Miedema.

As the gusts blew through Victoria Road while West Ham Women walked away 2-1 winners against Arsenal, the Gunners fell to third place in the Women’s Super League standings.

By Johnny Keeley

After scoring her first goal since 2022 last weekend, Miedema and her teammates missed multiple golden opportunities against the Hammers. The Gunners in general left the match frustrated, unable to make better use of the majority of the possession and chances against West Ham’s low block. Now the Club’s season hangs in the balance.

No WSL team has ever won the title after losing three matches, so Arsenal will need to make history if they still want to claim their third WSL title, but they’ll also need one of their most talented players back to her best as soon as possible.

It’s certainly not fair to blame Arsenal’s lack of efficiency in front of goal on a player who’s just working their way back from a serious knee injury, but the underlying statistics highlight that what Arsenal is missing this season is exactly what a healthy and productive Miedema can provide.

As of right now, Arsenal’s problems aren’t coming from the top of the table. The Gunners have already played Chelsea and Manchester City this season, beating them by a combined score of 6-2.

The issues instead come to a head against the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and now West Ham, who have stifled the North London side with resolute defending. Surrendering possession to Arsenal, and challenging them to bang down the door.

Arsenal dominated in possession metrics and the amount of shots they took in all three of their losses, but their only goal came in their loss on Sunday, the other two being 1-0 defeats. In those three games, Arsenal took 72 shots, with only 16 of them being on target, resulting in just that one goal.

This helps pinpoint arguably the largest issue with Arsenal. The squad is dizzyingly talented with a group of players that should go toe-to-toe with any club team in the world. However, besides inconsistency in the goalkeeping department, Arsenal’s inefficiency in front of goal is what’s let them down the wrong path this season.

Midfielder Lia Wälti explained it best post-game after the loss to West Ham.

“It’s one of these games where you can’t really see where the spaces are,” Wälti said. “I think in the first half we created quick counter-attacks when we won the ball in our half so I think in these moments we just need to be more clinical in front of the goal. I think in the second half, we need to train how to play against low blocks because a lot of teams play really low and it’s not easy to score goals against those opponents.”

Arsenal as a team are second in shots in the league (253), and fifth in shots on target (75), but they sit dead last in shots on target percentage (29%). They’re also one of only four Clubs in the WSL so far this season to be underperforming their xG (-1.5). They need an efficient goalscorer in the worst way, and luckily for them they have arguably one of the best in the world in Miedema.

The last time Arsenal won the title in 2018-19, Miedema was the league’s top goalscorer with 22 goals, and had an astonishing 50% shot on target percentage. The following year Arsenal didn’t win the title but the Dutch international once again led the league in goals with 16 on a 46% shot on target percentage.

When healthy and firing on all cylinders, there’s few, if any, better players than Miedema at getting shots on goal. In limited action so far this season as she’s returning from injury, Arsenal’s No. 11 has only registered 20% of her shots on target, so far, with her one goal (a stunner as well) coming last week against Liverpool. Everyone knows the talent and ability is there, it’s just now up to how soon can she regain that form, and will it be in time to rescue Arsenal’s season?

The Gunners take on fourth placed Manchester United next in the WSL, while Chelsea and Manchester City square off against each other for top spot in the league. As frustrating of a loss to West Ham as it was for the Gunners, the title challenge isn’t necessarily over with games against City and Chelsea still ahead and plenty of time for the two leaders to drop points elsewhere.

To weather this storm and get back on the right path, being more efficient in front of goal would go a long way for Arsenal. The Gunners might not be able to solve their issue in time to win the title but if they do, a healthy Vivianne Miedema will likely be the answer.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the WSL on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

The Concacaf Champions Cup is back!

Maybe you didn’t know it had gone anywhere or maybe you’re asking “What’s the Concacaf Champions Cup?” The governing body in North America, Central America and the Caribbean opted for a name change ahead of a revamped tournament.

By Jon Arnold

It’s the same name the continental club championship carried for many years, evoking memories of the glory days of club soccer in the Concacaf region, well before MLS existed or Liga MX clubs had started to exert their power.

What’s different besides the name?

This tournament is going to be big. Like, really big. There are 27 teams competing to be the club champion of the region and things will run from today until June 2.

After teams from outside North America played the Central American Cup and Caribbean Cup, and North American teams qualified through league play or cup competitions, the field is full of squads looking to nab Concacaf’s fourth and final place at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup – plus secure bragging rights and start the new format off right.

Isn’t Lionel Messi in this?

Yes, Inter Miami qualified to the tournament by virtue of winning the Leagues Cup, but that also grants Miami a first-round bye.

So, will Messi play in Suriname?

Sadly, no. Well, not unless Caribbean champion Robinhood (yes, you read that right) gets to the final and so does Inter Miami. While Tata Martino’s men qualifying for the CCC sent thoughts of Messi globetrotting dancing through the heads of international soccer lovers, the most likely first game for the Herons is a Leagues Cup final rematch against Nashville SC. Win that, and it could be a trip to northern Mexico to meet Monterrey – or a U.S. Open Cup semifinal rematch against FC Cincinnati.

Of course, anything could happen. Moca, of the Dominican Republic, could spring a surprise on Nashville in the opening round, which might see Messi turn up to the DR. Stranger things – like Austin FC’s loss to Violette of Haiti last year – have happened in the CCC.

Strange things happen, eh? Is there a dark horse to back?

While the CCL was ripe for weird first-round upsets, it was like the old bit about the Germans always winning at the end, except it was Mexican teams. Just once in the Concacaf Champions League era did a team from outside Liga MX lift the trophy, with the Seattle Sounders toppling Pumas to win the 2022 edition.

The change back to the historic name recalls a time when teams from Suriname, Guatemala or Haiti could lift the trophy, but that feels extremely difficult this time around. With a first-round bye and a number of strong acquisitions, including bringing former Arsenal forward Joel Campbell back in the summer, Liga Deportivo Alajuelense, known as “Liga” looks to have the best path to be a non-power team in the late stages.

Within those ‘power’ teams, Liga MX squad Toluca takes on Herediano in the first round for the right to play Suriname’s Robinhood. A semi-final run looks totally possible for the Red Devils, especially with Mexico attacker Alexis Vega back at the club.

And the matchups to root for?

It feels like all the region is looking at the Round of 16 when there could be a Clásico Nacional in Mexico pitting Club América against Chivas de Guadalajara.

Chivas has to weather a trip to frigid Hamilton, Ontario and get past Concacaf veterans Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League, while América must keep its head against Real Estelí of Nicaragua.

Clásicos are always intense and always to be celebrated. One with a quarter-final spot on the line as both clubs look to clinch the region’s final berth to the 2025 Club World Cup would be electric.

Beyond that there’s the rematch potential for Inter Miami against Nashville, Orlando City and the Tigres potentially meeting again after last year’s series and – if things get really wild – all three Costa Rican giants on the same half of the bracket. They’d have to get past tough opposition to get to the quarter-finals but Saprissa squaring off with Herediano in that round or Liga in the semifinals would be some of the biggest matches in Central America in quite some time.

Oh, and a past version of Philadelphia Union against Saprissa brought us one of the most Concacaf moments ever. We’ll see if this year’s Round One clash brings the same intensity.

This week has some of the power Mexican clubs flying all over the region. Tuesday night Monterrey is in Guatemala City while América is in Estelí, Nicaragua – a town of fewer than 200,000. Chivas and Tigres both are packing their coats to square off with Canadian Premier League opposition.

And that’s all before someone travels to Paramaribo, Suriname next round.

Whether it’s familiar faces in exotic locales, Lionel Messi popping up in places you didn’t ever think you’d see him or renewed rivalry between teams in MLS and Liga MX, the CCC should have something for everyone. Sit back and enjoy the big, expanded ride.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Concacaf Champions Cup on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

Argentina’s Liga Profesional: The next talent pool for Premier League clubs

Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup – and the celebrations that followed it – were certainly memorable. Lionel Messi finally lifted the one trophy that had evaded him. An estimated four million people took to the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate La Albiceleste becoming world champions for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona. The party might still be going.

By Graham Ruthven

It also served a reminder of Argentina’s ability to produce elite level talent. Messi might have been the difference-maker in Qatar, but Lionel Scaloni’s squad for the 2022 World Cup was packed with quality. Argentina’s talent pool is deep and Premier League clubs are now plunging their hands into the water to find the country’s next superstar.

The 2024 January transfer window saw Brighton sign Argentina youth international Valentín Barco from Boca Juniors with River Plate youngster Claudio Echeverri also securing a move to Manchester City. This comes just two years after City spent a reported £14m to sign Julián Álvarez from the same Argentine club.

Álvarez has since become an important figure at the Etihad Stadium, winning the Treble in his first season as a Manchester City player. He led the line for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup and has deputised ably for Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland at club level this season. The £14m City paid for Álvarez makes his signing of the Premier League’s best bargains of recent times.

Not every player that comes out of Argentina can be an instant success like Álvarez, but Premier League clubs are looking more closely at domestic football within the country. In the past, most Argentine youngsters would need a stepping stone before reaching the top level in Europe. Increasingly, the stepping stone is being removed.

Brexit changed the landscape for English clubs looking to sign young talent from around the world. The new points system – which permits clubs to sign two players per year who do not meet visa requirements – has made it easer for Premier League teams to land players from continents beyond Europe. South America, in particular, is being looked at more closely.

In the past, players like Álvarez, Barco and Echeverri might have joined a club in the Netherlands or Portugal before making the move to one of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues. This is the route Ángel Di María took, playing for Benfica before joining Real Madrid. It was a similar story for Lisandro Martínez who signed for Ajax before ending up at Manchester United.

By cutting out the middle man, though, Premier League clubs can save themselves a lot of money. They can integrate talented players at a younger age and build around them in a more meaningful way. With smart scouting, there are bargains to be had and in the age of Financial Fair Play (FPP) and Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), this is extremely attractive.

It’s not just young Argentines who are making the move to Premier League clubs at a younger age. Brighton in particular have made South America a central part of their recruitment strategy with Facundo Buonanotte, Moises Caicedo and Julio Enciso all pitching up at the Amex Stadium direct from clubs in Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

Chelsea will also sign Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Páez this summer. The Stamford Bridge club appear intent on following the precedent established by Brighton and are expected to sign more South American youngsters in the summer transfer window – the Blues are reportedly interested in signing 16-year-old Estêvão Willian – known as Messinho – from Palmeiras.

Brazilian wonderkids have always been attractive, but the stock of young Argentines is particularly high after what happened at the 2022 World Cup. The country does an excellent job of preparing youngsters for the technical and physical demands of top-level European football, meaning many of its players can hit the ground running in leagues like the English top flight.

Barco will be integrated gradually by Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton while Echeverri won’t join Manchester City until the summer. Both players, however, are expected to make an impact on the Premier League at some point in the not-so-distant future and others will folllow the new trade route between Argentinean and English football.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Premier League game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 23

Once again, we have a wildly varied FotMob Premier League Team of the Week. It makes sense though given just how bizarre Matchday 23 was for results. With that in mind, here is your XI.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Goalkeeper: Mark Flekken

It is not often that you will see a goalkeeper concede three goals yet still make the Team of the Week. Mark Flekken did though. The Brentford shot-stopper conceded three goals in a loss to Manchester City but his exploits between the sticks prevented it from being a much greater scoreline.

The 30-year-old made 12 saves and faced shots with an Expected Goals on Target value of 4.21 on his way to an 8.8 FotMob rating.

Right-Back: Kieren Trippier

At one stage of the season, Trippier was a regular in the team of the week. He’s been an absentee over recent weeks but returned with a bang this week. The right-back was the difference-maker for Newcastle in their epic 4-4 draw with Luton Town. Trippier scored and assisted in what was a dominant performance going forward, all while doing his defensive job to a high level. He won all three of his tackles and came out on top in six of his nine duels.

Centre-Back: Ruben Dias

Dias was a colossus for Manchester City in their 3-1 win over Brentford. The powerhouse centre-back won all of his tackles, made six ball recoveries and won four of his seven duels. He also completed 97% of the 77 passes he attempted and this included a 100% record with long passes. It was an almost flawless performance.

Centre-Back: Lewis Dunk

Brighton emphatically returned to winning ways after a horror-show against Luton Town in mid-week. The Seagulls romped to a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace and captain Lewis Dunk really impressed. The 32-year-old scored and created two chances for teammates while also having a 100% record in duels. He also completed 98% of the 147 passes he attempted.

Left-Back: Alex Moreno

Moreno is quietly going under the radar at left-back for Aston Villa. The 30-year-old full-back, once again, impressed in the 5-0 win over Sheffield United. The maurading left-footer scored the fifth but his overall performance was eye-catching. For example, he was 100% in dribbles (2/2) and tackles (2/2). He won 75% of his ground duels and helped Unai Emery’s side to a clean sheet as they returned to winning ways.

Midfield: Alejandro Garnacho

There was another two-goal showing for Alejandro Garnacho as Manchester United defeated West Ham United 3-0. The 19-year-old Argentine winger registered a FotMob rating of 9.1 for his performance. To go alongside his two goals, Garnacho also created three chances, won four of his seven duels and had a 100% success rate in tackles.

Midfield: Matheus Cunha

Cunha registered a 9.8 FotMob rating for his showing against Chelsea. The nimble Brazilian playmaker bagged a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge while playing as a support striker to Pedro Neto. The 24-year-old also won the penalty, which he converted, and created one opportunity for a teammate. Cunha completed half of his dribbles and won eight of his 12 duels on a day he won’t forget for a very long time.

Midfield: Phil Foden

It was the Phil Foden show on Monday night. The Manchester City winger notched a hat-trick to steal the attention away from the returning Erling Haaland in a performance that earned him a 9.7 rating. The versatile 23-year-old had a total of six shots against Brentford and carved out three chances for teammates all while finishing the game with a pass success rate of 95%. Deployed on the left-wing, he was unplayable.

Attack: Richarlison

Richarlison can’t stop scoring. For the second time this season, he scored in a match against former club Everton. This time around he found the back of the net on two occasions as Spurs picked up a point away at Goodison Park. The in-form Brazilian was in fine finishing form and even created two chances for Spurs in the game. The No. 9 now has 10 goals and three assists in just shy of 1,200 Premier League minutes this term.

Attack: David Datro Fofana

This is one way to make an impression at a new club. Fofana joined Burnley on loan from Chelsea and made his debut for Vincent Kompany’s side in the defeat to Manchester City. He did grab an assist in that loss after coming off of the bench. He was given 27 minutes against Fulham and he managed to turn the game around completely as Burnley came from 2-0 down to claim a point. Fofana scored twice, the second arriving in stoppage time, in what was a clinical showing.

Attack: Ollie Watkins

Watkins ran riot against Sheffield United. The in-form forward scored once and assisted twice. He’s now, statistically speaking, the most creative player in the Premier League having claimed 10 assists already this term. Watkins was a threat throughout and was perpetually on the move, causing the Blades all kinds of problems.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

AFCON Quarter-finals Review: Ivorian resurrection continues, Williams’ penalty heroics save South Africa

The greatest-ever edition of the African Cup of Nations showed no signs of toning down the drama and madness in the quarter-finals, as four enthralling fixtures entertained fans in Côte d’Ivoire. As all eight contestants were teams that failed to reach this stage in 2021, a lot was on the line for them, and they sure played like it.

By Neel Shelat

🇳🇬 Nigeria 1-0 Angola 🇦🇴

As all the big hitters tumbled around them, Nigeria have gone from being expected to underwhelm pre-tournament to now assuming the tag of favourites. Their quarter-final against Angola was the first match they played with the pressure of that position on their backs, so many were interested to see how they would cope with it.

Angola were not to be underestimated, though, as they had played some eye-catching football and scored a fair few goals en route to this stage. Their target now was to reach the AFCON semi-final for the first time ever, having stumbled at this stage twice in the past.

The match was quite an even contest, as both sides created some presentable chances for themselves. The Super Eagles took their first one as Ademola Lookman swept home Moses Simon’s delivery, thus taking a lead into half-time.

The Palancas Negras squandered a couple of great chances but did not threaten as much as they would have hoped to on a rare off-day for their possession play, so they had to accept another quarter-final exit.

🇨🇩 DR Congo 3-1 Guinea 🇬🇳

DR Congo finally registered their first win of the tournament and ended a winless streak that extended to six matches as they overcame a disappointing Guinea side.

Kaba Diawara’s men were the ones who opened the scoring through Mohamed Bayo’s penalty, but they completely fell flat thereafter.

DR Congo quickly equalised through a clinical finish from centre-back Chancel Mbemba and were then given all the time they needed to build pressure in search of a go-ahead goal. Yoane Wissa eventually put his side in front from the penalty spot after the hour mark. A little bit later, an incredible direct free-kick from ex-West Ham full-back Arthur Masuaku sealed the result in the 82nd minute.

So, it was the Leopards who emerged victorious in a tie between two teams who haven’t looked nearly as good as their squad quality would suggest.

🇲🇱 Mali 1-2 Ivory Coast 🇨🇮

The Ivory Coast had defied all odds to reach the quarter-final. Having picked up just three points in their group and suffering their biggest-ever home defeat to end up with a negative goal difference, an exact set of other results somehow gifted them a knockout spot. Jean-Louis Gasset was made to leave mid-tournament, so Emerse Faé took interim charge as the Elephants went all the way to penalties before sending defending champions and favourites Senegal home.

As they returned to Bouaké and the Stade de la Paix – the site of their seemingly disastrous defeat to Equatorial Guinea – to face Mali, anyone expecting a straightforward match must have been terribly naive. There was drama right from the start, as Mali won a penalty within a quarter of an hour, but had it saved by Yahia Fofana. The hosts’ first half ended badly, though, as they went down to ten men when Odilon Kossounou received a second yellow card.

Mali did not capitalise on their numerical advantage as much as they should have, but they eventually managed to take the lead thanks to a wonder strike from Nene Dorgeles. Faé then brought the big guns off the bench as his side desperately needed an equaliser, and after some knocking on the door, they got it right at the death thanks to Simon Adingra.

Both sides threatened to some extent in extra time, but the match looked destined for penalties as the 120-minute mark grew nearer. Two minutes past it, there was another twist in the tale as Oumar Diakité redirected Seko Fofana’s shot past the goalkeeper to send the entirety of the Ivory Coast into raptures!

🇨🇻 Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa 🇿🇦 (1-2 on penalties)

Cape Verde sought to reach their first-ever AFCON semi-final, but they first had to overcome a tough-looking South Africa side. The Blue Sharks’ tactical solidity had earned them many plaudits in this impressive run to the quarter-finals, but they now came up against a group of players just as cohesive as them.

The Mamelodi Sundowns effect was felt all over the pitch for Bafana Bafana as they played some very eye-catching football at times (seven of South Africa’s starters play for the Sundowns), although it was Cape Verde who created the better chances thanks to the clever and well-timed runs in behind from their strikers. Both Garry Rodrigues and substitute Gilson Tavares managed to get into one-on-one situations on a number of occasions, but Ronwen Williams always managed to come up trumps.

Vozinha made some smart stops at the other end as well to keep the match firmly in the balance, taking Cape Verde to their first-ever extra time period at the AFCON. More good goalkeeping led to a penalty shoot-out which turned out to be quite singular.

The Blue Sharks went first, and Williams made not one, not two, but three consecutive saves in the exact same place to give his side a huge advantage. South Africa messed up a couple of their efforts too, but it did not matter in the end as Williams made a fourth save down in the other corner, this time to win the match!

Cape Verde will surely be bitterly disappointed after converting just one of their five penalties, but they should be quite proud of their efforts when they look back on the tournament as a whole.

Looking Ahead: Semi-finals

New favourites Nigeria will be the next team to face South Africa in what is set to be a battle between the meanest defences at this tournament. As both sides have kept four consecutive clean sheets leading up to this match, the stronger attack could end up making the difference. Will Nigeria’s superior quality shine through, will South Africa’s Sundowns contingent click, or will Williams repeat his shoot-out heroics? These are the questions that will be answered at the Stade de la Paix.

Ivory Coast will return to the Olympic Stadium to face DR Congo in a semi-final between two teams who have never looked overly convincing and yet always manage to get the job done. The hosts have been quite underwhelming ever since the first half of the opener, but they have pulled something out of the bag when most required in the knockouts. The Leopards, on the other hand, have emerged successful in wars of attrition against the likes of Morocco, and Egypt, but doing so with a capacity crowd on their backs will be a much tougher task.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Africa Cup of Nations, with deep stats and players ratings, on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

Asian Cup Quarter-finals Review: Iran beat favourites Japan, Qatar survive a scare

An exciting set of quarter-finals at the Asian Cup did not disappoint, as the brackets featured some teams looking to reach the semi-finals for the first time ever as well as some of the favourites coming up against each other earlier than expected. After four very tightly contested and dramatic matches, we are now down to four contenders.

By Neel Shelat

🇹🇯 Tajikistan 0-1 Jordan 🇯🇴

The quarter-finals began with a historic clash as debutantes Tajikistan took on Jordan, who were also looking to reach the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time in their nation’s history.

The match itself was far from a classic as both sides were very cautious about overcommitting and getting caught out on such a big occasion. Jordan just about looked the better team in the first half as they were able to better control proceedings both with and without the ball, so their eventual opener was not undeserved.

Vahdat Hanonov was the man who scored Tajikistan’s only goal in their Round of 16 clash against the UAE, and he broke the deadlock this time too. Unfortunately, the ball ended up in his own net on this occasion as a glanced header from a corner deflected off his shoulder and beat the keeper. The Persian Lions then had to take the initiative to find an equaliser, but they failed to create any noteworthy chances as both their starting strikers went off.

Nevertheless, Petar Šegrt’s men should be immensely proud of what has been the most incredible major tournament debut in recent memory. Tajikistan might not have won the whole thing, but they have surely won the hearts and support of so many fans in Qatar, back home, and around the world.

🇦🇺 Australia 1-2 South Korea 🇰🇷

Australia had looked unconvincing all tournament leading up to their massive quarter-final tie against South Korea, but this was exactly the sort of match where they could come into their own.

As we outlined in our tournament preview, the Socceroos’ playing style under Graham Arnold is very suited to absorbing pressure and counter-attacking against strong teams but can struggle a touch when it comes to breaking down the low block put out by weaker opponents. Since they had not faced a side of South Korea’s calibre so far, it was unsurprising to see them not look as good as they did at the World Cup.

For their part, Jürgen Klinsmann’s men were not at their best either. The German coach was largely at fault for that, as he chopped and changed formations in the Round of 16 against Saudi Arabia. For this match, they reverted to their tried and tested 4-2-3-1 system.

For over 90 minutes, the match went exactly as Australia would have wanted. They defended with great solidity in their compact 4-4-2 block and troubled the Korean defence on the break, taking the lead in the 42nd minute through Craig Goodwin. They squandered some great chances to add a cushion in the second half but never looked too threatened in their box as they dealt with crosses superbly, but then it all unravelled right at the end.

Graham Arnold decided to switch to a 5-4-1 formation to see out the win and took off some defenders to add fresh legs at the back, but that only allowed South Korea to turn up the pressure. Deep into stoppage time, Son Heung-min entered the box and drew a foul from substitute Lewis Miller, enabling Hwang Hee-chan to score the Taegeuk Warriors’ second last-gasp equaliser in as many games.

With momentum on their side in extra-time and an excessive number of defensive players on the pitch for Australia, only one outcome seemed likely. Son’s pinpoint direct free-kick gave South Korea the lead just before the break, and a subsequent red card for Australia effectively sealed the result.

🇮🇷 Iran 2-1 Japan 🇯🇵

Pre-tournament favourites Japan had never really looked convincing in their four matches leading up to the quarter-final, so they knew that fellow World Cup participants Iran had the potential to cause some serious problems.

The Samurai Blue got off to a great start as they controlled the match both in and out of possession, although Iran’s defensive block proved quite solid too. It was ultimately unlocked just before the half-hour mark when Hidemasa Morita peeled off wide to pick up the ball, drove towards goal with a one-two, and just about squeezed his finish past Alireza Beiranvand.

Team Melli were without star striker Mehdi Taremi who was serving a suspension for the red card he picked up against Syria, so there was some concern about where their goals might come from. Led by a great all-round performance from Sardar Azmoun, their front four really came alive in the second period. Mohammad Mohebi slotted in the equaliser just 10 minutes in, and it was all Iran for the rest of the period.

Japan’s squad was widely considered to be the strongest going into the tournament, but this match highlighted their defensive weakness. Both of their centre-backs looked shaky when contesting duels, with Ko Itakura in particular having a day to forget. He capped off a very disappointing performance by conceding a penalty well into stoppage time, which Alireza Jahabaksh emphatically converted.

With that, Japan were sent packing from an Asian Cup which almost seemed theirs to lose before it even kicked off. It is now over a decade since their last title, so some introspection seems in order for the JFA once the dust has settled.

🇶🇦 Qatar 1-1 Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 (3-2 on pens)

Qatar had looked strong throughout the tournament as they had conceded just one goal in four games, but a lot of that could be put down to the fact that they had not played top-quality opposition.

Uzbekistan cannot quite be considered the cream of the crop in Asia still, but they certainly promised a much tougher test than anything the hosts had faced to this point. The White Wolves’ initial set-up seemed to show an acknowledgement of the fact that they were not the favourites here, but they defended quite well and posed a decent attacking threat.

Unfortunately, all of the underdogs’ hard work was undone when keeper Utkir Yusupov made a meal of a deflected cross and effectively turned it into his own net in his attempt to catch it. The Uzbeks then had to take the initiative in search of a goal, which they managed to do almost instantly as if with a flick of the switch.

It was all Uzbekistan in the second period as they outshot the hosts 10-1 and controlled play in all phases, but the crucial part of the brief was to create a decisive chance. It was rather presented to them in the end as a high turnover allowed Odiljon Khamrobekov to get a presentable shooting opportunity, which he converted clinically.

Qatar were back in the ascendancy late on and in extra time, but they could not score again to settle the match. So, a nerve-racking penalty shoot-out awaited all those who made the trip to the Al Bayt Stadium. Only half of the spot-kicks were converted, but it was Qatar who emerged victorious after Meshaal Barsham saved the last two Uzbek attempts to turn the scoreline around.

Looking ahead: Semi-finals

Jordan’s first-ever semi-final will see them come up against South Korea, who will be clear favourites. Having plucked victory from the jaws of defeat twice in the knockouts, the Taegeuk Warriors will feel that this is theirs for the taking, but the question will be whether they have enough gas left in their tanks for the semi-final having played over four hours’ worth of football in the week leading up to it.

The big one will definitely be Iran versus Qatar. After their dramatic wins over Syria and Japan, Team Melli will definitely feel that lady luck is on their side as they seek to reach the final for the first time since their 1976 triumph. Qatar’s home advantage will be contested by the strong Iranian contingent based in the country, but the Maroons must be determined to overcome any challenges to their title defence on home soil.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Feb

2024

Premier League Review: Matchday 23

The Premier League is just relentless, isn’t it? Matchday 23 delivered in a big way with goals aplenty and eye-catching results galore. Here’s our review as the league leaders finally lose in what could be seen as a real momentum shifter in the grand scheme of things.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

A key point for the Toffees

If Everton are going to stay in the Premier League, their home form is going to be what keeps them there. The Toffees welcomed Spurs to Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon and a former blue threatened to add to their woes.

Sean Dyche’s men went into the game in the relegation zone and they have played a game more than the team currently above them, Luton Town. Defeat here would’ve left them one point away from safety having played two games more.

Richarlison, in fine form for Spurs, gave Ange Postecoglou’s side the lead inside of just four minutes. The ex-Toffee then restored the away team’s lead after Jack Harrison had equalised.

It appeared as though Everton were heading for an undeserved defeat, having had more shots, more big chances and a significantly higher Expected Goals total, before Jarrad Branthwaite, a transfer target for Tottenham in January, popped up with an unlikely equaliser in the 94th minute.

It could well be a big point for Everton.

Goals, goals, goals at St James’ Park

Luton Town have now scored four goals in consecutive Premier League matches. Who had that on their bingo card at the start of the season? Rob Edwards’ men followed up their 4-0 win over Brighton with an epic 4-4 draw with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

At one point, midway through the second half, the visitors had a 4-2 lead only for Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes to score two goals in the space of six minutes to tie things up. It was an end-to-end game with both teams creating high-value chances. In truth, it was as even as can be.

Newcastle finished with an Expected Goals total of 2.4 having had four big chances. Luton also had four big chances and finished the game with an Expected Goals haul of 2.36. The hosts just about edged possession (54%).

The point kept Luton out of the relegation zone while Newcastle are now just five points off of sixth place.

An empathic response

Aston Villa lost their incredible home record in mid-week with Newcastle United claiming a 3-1 win at Villa Park. A trip to Bramall Lane on Sunday was a potential banana skin too for Unai Emery’s men. Yes, Sheffield United are bottom of the league and had been in poor form, but they had been a genuine threat going forward in recent weeks.

If Villa were feeling sorry for themselves following the loss to the Magpies, the Blades could’ve caused some problems for the visitors.

Safe to say this wasn’t the case though with the away side running riot in the first half. They had a 3-0 lead inside of 20 minutes and had added a fourth before the half-hour mark. A goal in the opening two minutes of the second half completely killed the game off and Sheffield United just looked at limiting damage after that.

Ollie Watkins was the star of the show for Villa, scoring once and assisting twice. He’s now the first player in the Premier League to hit double figures in assists. Emery’s side are just five points off leaders Liverpool.

Wolves maul Chelsea

For the second time this week, Chelsea conceded four Premier League goals.

Mauricio Pochettino made changes to his XI following the 4-1 loss at Anfield to Liverpool and it appeared as though the plan was working when Chelsea went 1-0 up against Wolves inside of 20 minutes. Cole Palmer added yet another goal to his haul for the season.

Wolves responded though with Matheus Cunha levelling things up just minutes later. An Axel Disasi own goal gave the visitors the lead just prior to half time and then Gary O’Neil’s side really ramped things up after the break. Cunha scored twice to complete a hat-trick before Thiago Silva halved the deficit with a late goal for Chelsea.

The 4-2 home loss leaves Chelsea in 11th place in the Premier League. The Blues are currently closer to the relegation zone than they are the top four.

A statement showing at the Emirates

If the pressure was on Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, they didn’t show it. The hosts claimed a 3-1 win over Liverpool to blow the title race wide open. The Reds, losing just their second game of the season, had a nightmare second half in London with Alisson Becker and Virgil Van Dijk having a moment to forget in the build-up to Gabriel Martinelli’s goal.

Ibrahima Konate was also sent off for two bookable offences as goals from Bukayo Saka, Martinelli and Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal all three points. The Gunners are now just two points off the top and have momentum on their side following three successive wins.

Arsenal carved out six big chances and finished with an Expected Goals tally of 3.5 in what was a dominant showing in front of the home faithful.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Feb

2024

Charting Bournemouth’s rise under Andoni Iraola

A difficult decision and a difficult start. After Bournemouth opted to move on from last season’s saviour from the dugout, Gary O’Neil, and bring in Andoni Iraola instead, it looked early on as though the team was struggling to adapt and results were, to say the least, desperate. By 26 October, a full quarter of the campaign gone, the Cherries had yet to win a league fixture, had just three points on the board and sat 19th in the table.

By Karl Matchett

Iraola though, hadn’t panicked. And Bournemouth as a club, as a hierarchy, hadn’t wavered. Since that same date, they’ve played a further dozen league matches – with only Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham finding a way to beat them. Iraola has found his way, the players have learned his way and suddenly the club looks to be on a serious upward trajectory with a clear idea for improvement.

Perhaps equally importantly, they have current examples available to them of where that path could take them and just how high they might go.

Following a midweek draw at West Ham, the Cherries sit 13th, two places above where they finished last term and already just 13 points shy of their tally for the whole of 2022/23. Thanks to Iraola’s set-up and a few key players having a best-ever season of their careers, they are comfortably on course to eclipse that.

The Spanish coach spoke of his “obsession” to improve defensively early on, saying the team needed “more forcefulness” and putting emphasis on positional work against “side balls and second balls”. Later came the verticality he was after, a better pressing approach and more cohesive, controlled game in possession.

Those altered tactics can gradually be seen to be paying dividends in the Cherries sitting seventh for interceptions, eighth in final-third possessions won and 11th – and rising nicely – for touches in the opposition box. All of those numbers, associated with their press-and-attack transition play, are comfortably above their league position and looking to compete with sides generally in the top eight of the table. Similarly, their 34.6 xG conceded statistic is better than Man United, Wolves, Newcastle and Spurs, among others.

Areas for improvement clearly remain. Despite Dominic Solanke’s impressive 13-goal haul for the campaign so far, Bournemouth as a whole have netted just 29 and their season xG is only 30. But the foundations are well and truly in place for consistent and incremental improvements, with Iraola’s 4-2-3-1 setup giving good technical prowess in central midfield, plenty of variety in the support line and, crucially, great hold-up play and consistency from his No. 9.

Even with Solanke enjoying a standout campaign, another forward was an obvious need for the Cherries and in Enes Ünal, loaned on deadline day from Getafe with a permanent option for summer, they may now have that. The Turkish forward has long had plenty of promise but is still fully recovering from a long-term knee injury and will take some time to impact consistently.

Of further value this term has been the rotating cast in the attacking midfield line: Luis Sinisterra, Antoine Semenyo, Marcus Tavernier and Justin Kluivert provide dynamism, speed and an eye for shooting at every opportunity, though also plenty of inconsistency. Behind them, Ryan Christie has been a surprise reinvention success in the centre, while Alex Scott – injuries aside – has been an exciting revelation after his summer arrival.

It all speaks to a clear identity in what Iraola wants in his team, which has the knock-on effect of giving clarity in the transfer market whenever Bournemouth look to improve their squad and look to replace those who exit, if and when the inevitable big bids for their star players come in. The Vitality Stadium club don’t have to look too far for inspiration as to what can be done when that happens: further east along the south coast, Brighton have provided the template for smart scouting and smarter reinvestment once sales are made, and how the so-called smaller clubs can push to compete in Europe accordingly.

Consider the Seagulls again, their recent transfer business and add in the fact that Bournemouth owner Bill Foley completed his 2022 takeover for around £100m and it’s not inconceivable that, at some stage, a single player sale could eclipse that total club value. That’s what Iraola’s improvement this season has given the Cherries the possibility of contemplating; that’s what the fans can now hope for with sustained, and sustainable, growth on the pitch.

Perhaps Bournemouth are still a couple of seasons away from such concerns, but the Premier League moves swiftly and well-placed teams have been opportunistic before now at filling spaces left by those who make mistakes above them. Don’t bet against Bournemouth being next.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Feb

2024

Dusan Vlahovic is powering Juve in the Serie A title race

For a while, it seemed as if Dušan Vlahović would leave Juventus in the summer. But the Serbian stayed and is now returning to his best under Massimiliano Allegri and is hitting form at the right time for the Bianconeri.

By Kaustubh Pandey

Vlahović was the talk of the town in Europe during his time at Fiorentina. Vincenzo Italiano’s attacking system at La Viola seemed to be bringing the best out of the Serbian, who was constantly in the box and receiving loads of service. The 21/22 season was his last at the Artemio Franchi, as Vlahović bagged 20 goals in 24 goals in all competitions and that gave him the reputation of being a star marksman.

The Juventus move came as a surprise late in January and while Fiorentina fans weren’t happy about another club star switching La Viola for the Old Lady, it was a big move that Vlahović deserved because of how much he had progressed under different managers. The €80m fee was questioned by many and rightly so, it is unusual for Serie A clubs to spend an amount as hefty as that. Those doubts were accentuated, as Vlahović scored only seven times in the second half of the season at Juve while playing 15 games.

While that number would be enough for some strikers, it didn’t align with the expectations many had from the Serbian. He had gone from scoring in pretty much every game at Fiorentina to scoring in less than half the games he played in. The 2022/23 confirmed the doubts of many, as Vlahović scored only ten times in 27 games in a season where he suffered from injuries and Juve themselves had fitness issues across the board, while dealing with the constant threat of a points deduction. A perception also developed that the ex-Fiorentina man wasn’t cut for Allegri’s pragmatic approach and playing in a very attacking setup under Italiano had only increased his output.

Fast forward to this season, Vlahović has hit form at the right time for the Bianconeri in a vital title race under Allegri. In the last six games, the 24-year-old has scored seven times. It isn’t just the numbers that show how important he has been, but the timing of the goals have also been paramount. He recently scored once in a 1-1 draw against Empoli, bagged braces in 3-0 wins over Lecce and Sassuolo, while scoring once against Salernitana in a crucial 2-1 victory. Months after it seemed as if Vlahović’s future was doomed at Juve, he is shining and the stats show that.

This season, Vlahović has scored 0.81 goals per 90 minutes from an xG of 0.67 per 90, while taking 4.54 shots per 90 minutes. Taking more shots has led to more shots on target and has led to more goals.

Those numbers were much lower last season, as he took less shots and as a result, scored less goals and generated a lower xG. But that isn’t the root cause for him scoring more. Last season, as can be seen below, Vlahović took only 4.99 touches per 90 minutes in the opposition’s box, leading to the perception that he was not suited to Allegri’s system in the long term.

This season, it has changed completely – as seen below. He has taken 6.98 touches per 90 minutes inside the opposition’s box, which is a solid number for any centre-forward, suggesting that it is a myth that he can’t operate efficiently under Allegri. He is getting more touches in the final third, shooting more and as a result, scoring more while also generating a higher xG.

This has happened despite Juve’s average possession percentage having reduced this season to 47 percent. Having said that, Allegri isn’t facing a raft of injuries anymore. While Nicolo Fagioli and Paul Pogba have been either banned or suspended, the establishment of Manuel Locatelli and Weston McKennie as regulars in the midfield three has helped Allegri in attaining some certainty. Bremer, Danilo and Federico Gatti have also become regulars in the back-three, making sure that there is a tried and tested method in place.

A case can also be made of the fact that Vlahović himself has learned the art of playing in a system which is vastly different from that of Italiano’s. That transition has taken time, but it seems to have come about.

It is the emergence of young Kenan Yıldız though, which has proved pivotal for Vlahović and Juve themselves. The Turkish youngster announced himself after a fantastic strike against Frosinone and he has brought a much-needed amount of verve in the final third, as he constantly combined with Vlahović around the box. As Federico Chiesa continues to deal with injury issues, Yıldız has jumped on the chance to impress.

The 18-year-old isn’t a creator and hasn’t assisted Vlahović yet, there were times last season when the 24-year-old played alone upfront in a 3-5-1-1 shape due injuries in the side. Yıldız now plays beside him, taking risks, taking defenders on and helping Juve progress quickly. Him being on the ball gives Vlahović time to make runs, get into the right areas and get more touches in the final third.

The youngster’s emergence has also come about at the right time in the title race and indirectly or directly, the same is also true for Vlahović. With an all-important Derby D’Italia scheduled for today, the striker could decide how Juve fare and it could hinge on how Yıldız performs. The Scudetto race is hotting up and so is Vlahović.

(Images from IMAGO)

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