Page 3 – The Pulse of Football

Mar

2025

Argentina looking to the future as they take on Brazil without Lionel Messi

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina can confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup with a victory over Brazil on Tuesday night.

Not for the first time, Argentina needed a diminutive attacker to produce a moment of magic to win a match last week. The only difference was that it wasn’t Lionel Messi who conjured it up. Instead, it was Thiago Almada who netted a stunner to give La Albiceleste a narrow 1-0 victory in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

Messi watched from Miami where he is undergoing rehab for an injury picked up playing for Inter Miami before the international break. The Major League Soccer club are tight-lipped at the best of times when it comes to Messi’s fitness status and so it’s unclear whether the adductor strain will keep him out for any great period of time.

Even if Messi is back in action quickly, Argentina must look to build something in preparation for when their greatest-ever player finally calls it a day. With the 37-year-old currently sidelined, the 2022 World Cup winners will get a glimpse of what a post-Messi future will look like when they face Brazil on Tuesday night.

Against Uruguay last week, Lionel Scaloni set up his attack to play off Julián Alvarez with Almada in the left half-space and Giuliano Simeone on the right side. Argentina were happy to concede a lot of possession to open up space in quick transition with Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Leandro Paredes comfortable controlling the ball in the middle when they could.

Alvarez led the line for Argentina as they won the 2022 World Cup, but he has developed a lot as a centre forward since then. In Qatar, the then Manchester City player was used as something of a ‘False Nine.’ He was in the team to create space for others around him. Now, Alvarez is a difference-maker in his own right, as he has demonstrated for Atlético Madrid this season.

Simeone is another who has made an impact for Atleti recently with the 22-year-old an irrepressible force in and out of possession. He might not be the most refined in a lot of his attacking play, but Simeone is carrying his winning mentality into the Argentinean national team. He is an asset.

Almada produced the game-winning moment, finding the back of the net with a laser from outside the box. The 23-year-old has made a good start at Lyon since making the move to Ligue 1 from Botafogo in January and is also growing in stature for Argentina. He will surely have a role to play at the 2026 World Cup.

Nico González came off the bench in the second half while Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios was also introduced to offer more muscle in the centre of the pitch as Argentina protected their lead. The highly-rated Nico Paz was also in the squad having caught the eye for Como in Serie A this season.

Of course, none of these players are Messi. Nobody is. If all goes well, Argentina will still be able to call on the former Barcelona number 10 next summer when La Albiceleste will be defending their title. Messi might be playing in MLS, but at his best he is still capable of winning a match at the top level.

The concern for Scaloni must be that Messi’s recent injury record casts doubt on his ability to play high-intensity matches in quick succession. He has missed a lot of football since making the move to Inter Miami two years ago. This season, Messi has started just two out of five MLS fixtures. Last season, he started only 16 games.

For the 2026 World Cup and beyond, Scaloni must build something for Argentina that makes sense and functions with or without Messi. There are signs he is already doing this – it wasn’t just Messi who missed last week’s World Cup qualifying win over Uruguay, but Lautaro Martínez and Paulo Dybala too.

*The qualifying picture ahead of Argentina vs. Brazil*

“The national team is a team. When one is missing, another steps up,” explained Scaloni after Almada’s goal put Argentina on the brink of rubber-stamping World Cup qualification. “We had some very important absentees, but we have great players to go out on the field. The team is always more than just the names.”

Argentina enter Tuesday’s match against Brazil seven points clear of their rivals at the top of CONMEBOL qualifying. The Seleção have recovered after a slow start to the campaign, but Argentina are very much seen as the dominant force in the region right now. A home victory on Tuesday would further confirm this while showing La Albiceleste are looking ahead to the next generation. A generation without Messi.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Argentina face Brazil in the Superclasico

South America’s two biggest footballing nations face off in the World Cup qualifiers for the first time since 2023. Argentina are without the great man himself, Lionel Messi, but Brazil are struggling to convince.

By Alex Roberts

Last week, Lionel Scaloni’s side came out 1-0 winners in their previous qualifier against Uruguay

thanks to a 68^th minute goal from Lyon’s Thiago Almada, keeping them at the summit of the CONMEBOL table.

It was a mixture of magic and luck that spared Brazilian blushes in their 2-1 win over Colombia. Deep in to stoppage time, Vinícius Júnior struck a hopeful shot from around 20 yards out, it took a deflection off Jefferson Lerma and ended up in the back of the net.

*The top six qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with the 7th placed team entering the intercontinental playoff*

The elephant in the room

Argentina have plenty of attacking talent, but a lack of Messi would be detrimental for any club or international side, no matter his age. He was ruled out of this one after picking up a groin injury during Inter Miami’s 2-1 MLS win over Atlanta United.

With Lautaro Martínez a major doubt, having missed the win over Uruguay with a hamstring issue, Julián Alvarez has been given the opportunity to be Argentina’s main attacking threat for this international break.

He impressed last time out, providing the assist for Almada’s winner. Messi won’t be there forever, and it will take more than one player to replace him, but Alvarez has it in him to become a major player for the World Cup holders.

Blocking out the haters

Brazil boss Dorival Júnior has had plenty of critics, most notably from the likes of Ronaldinho, but he was bullish after their win over Colombia, saying “time puts everyone in their place.”

Dorival’s side were undoubtedly better than Colombia in their game, but they didn’t exactly dominate. An early penalty and some Vini Jr. magic have done little to calm the voices of discontent, and Argentina are a different beast all together.

It would take a monumentally huge collapse for the five-time World Champions to not qualify for the 2026 tournament, they currently sit third with 21 points from their 13 games.

It’s what they’ll do when they get there that has people concerned.

Argentina’s new generation

Scaloni appears to be looking to the future, calling Bologna duo Santiago Castro and Benjamín Domínquez up to the senior team for the first time in their young careers. Neither have made an appearance… yet, but the chance to train at the highest level is just as important.

Como wonderkid Nico Paz received the call last year, providing an assist in Argentina’s 6-0 win over Bolivia. Like the other two, opportunities have been hard to come by, but time is on his side.

Whether any of them feature against Brazil is the big question. Their inclusion proves Scaloni know he can’t rely on the old guard for much longer. Their win in Qatar proved how close-knit the side were, taking time over any potential rebuild may not be such a bad thing.

Raphinha is a new man

Few could have predicted the season Raphinha would have. He’s been tearing it up for Hansi Flick’s free-scoring Barcelona side, and that incredible form is translating on the international stage too.

He was the man of the match in the win over Colombia, and he’s Brazil’s top goal scorer and assist provider in their qualification campaign so far. Dorival Júnior isn’t exactly known for the Joga Bonito that made Brazil virtually invincible in the early 2000s, but he’s given the former Leeds man a chance to shine.

Argentina’s defence is aging, they still have Nicolás Otamendi knocking about. Of course, experience is important, but having Raphinha running at you in the form he’s in would be a test for the very best.

Prediction

Matches between these two countries are usually a lot cagier than many may think, it’s a massive rivalry and neither side ever wants to lose. That being said, we reckon this one will be a 1-1 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Why Thiago Motta’s sacking is the tip of the iceberg for Juventus

Thiago Motta lasted less than a season at Juventus. His stint had a memorable European win, some solid defensive performances, a record number of league draws, a misfiring attack, and ended with heavy defeats to Atalanta and Fiorentina.

By Kaustubh Pandey

While Motta wasn’t blameless in the swift curtailment of his time with the Old Lady, due to his inflexibility, and faltering relationship with multiple players, Juventus find themselves at a very familiar juncture in their history.

Not too long ago, they had embarked on similar journeys under Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo. This, in turn, had happened right after Max Allegri’s first spell with the club ended with the board promising a modernisation that was cut-short on both occasions and Allegri returned to the club after a couple of seasons.

In a way, Motta’s dismissal is a similar, but uglier tale. The club has briefed against him constantly and has villainised the ex-midfielder up until his sacking, suggesting their are other factors at play, and Motta’s situation is only the tip of the iceberg at the Bianconeri.

Juventus’ lack of direction

Juve operate in the tight financial regime of Serie A and considering their recent point deductions, they have to be extra cautious about their finances. All of that means that Champions League money is very important for Juventus and qualification is an immediate need for any new manager coming in.

A lot of times though, managers like Motta (who are ‘project’ managers and build for the long-term) take a fair amount of time to make the team their own. In this case, Juve were playing a completely different brand of football under Allegri and they made a quick jump to Motta, who preaches a more attacking brand of football.

That process always takes time and that is the risk that comes with hiring ‘project’ managers. That risk – as seen from examples at Milan and Roma – can cost Champions League qualification, which limits the budget going into the next season.

Managers like Allegri or Stefano Pioli are problem solvers and they adapt to situations extremely well. Pioli won Serie A with a not-so-great Milan side and Allegri helped Juve to the Coppa Italia as recently as last season and helped them through a very difficult campaign impacted by a points deduction. They are the textbook managers who can solve an immediate need and help improve sustainability, bringing little risk of missing out on Champions League.

But Juve are confused. They want to modernise and perhaps replicate the Atalanta model, but they barely have the patience to do so. The last few seasons show that. Perhaps, this is the time for them to buy into one model completely.

Were Juventus’ transfers Motta’s transfers?

While Juve’s PR line when signing new players is always that the incoming is the manager’s preferred signing, that isn’t always the case.

Teun Koopmeiners was being looked at by Juve throughout 2024 before he joined. Quite the same was the case with Khéphren Thuram. While Douglas Luiz joined from Aston Villa, it was a deal based on financial convenience as moving on Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior gave them wiggle room in the market.

Throughout the season, there have been no signs that Motta knows how to use Luiz and Koopmeiners.

Later, Lloyd Kelly, Renato Veiga and Alberto Costa joined at the time of a defensive injury crisis. Those moves were made quickly as they filled obvious gaps in the backline after injuries to Bremer and Juan Cabal.

Beyond that, there is the question of breakout Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen being forced out of the club and Nicolo Fagioli suffering the same fate, despite impressing under Motta. Quite the same happened with Fabio Miretti, who is performing well at Genoa. Matías Soulé was also sold to Roma.

*Dean Huijsen player traits* *– with comparison against similar players in the top five leagues*

It can’t be a coincidence that all the club’s youth products – including Iling-Junior and Barrenechea were moved on at the same time. They were financial decisions made to earn capital gains and were barely managerial decisions. That is the reality Juve operate in and this problem will impact whoever signs on as the next manager too.

An untrustworthy dressing room?

Even though Motta is to be blamed for failing to control the squad dynamics, the Juve dressing room is full of instability.

Youth graduates Kenan Yıldız and Samuel Mbangula are constantly mentioned by the local press (that is often briefed by Juve) as for sale at the right price. Similar has happened for Andrea Cambiaso, who was linked with Manchester City.

It has also become clear that Juve painted a picture that the squad wasn’t happy with Motta. Whether that is true or not is a different point, but the club barely backed their own manager. Even if the players weren’t happy, that is often not a good sign at all.

Motta had to change captaincy multiple times during the season as he failed to trust players or vice versa. It became obvious that there is definitely an issue between the two parties. All of these problems can become major in the space of just a few months and after a point, it comes down to the culture that a club’s ownership imposes over a team.

A culture of instability will make every individual insecure at the club, things will turn messy, and that will cost many managers their job.

There are bigger things to worry about than Motta and as time goes by, Juventus fans will see them out in the open.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Liverpool are still missing Sadio Mane

While Liverpool are tasked with a revamp of their attack this summer and perhaps even replacing their main source of goals, the fact remains that they are still yet to even replace Sadio Mané.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

Mohamed Salah has been by far the most influential player in this season’s Premier League, leading the top flight for goals (27), assists (17), big chances created (21) and xG and xA per 90 minutes (1.02).

No player has scored more match-winning goals (nine), while the Egyptian has by far the most involvement in his team’s goals, with 63.8 percent either scored or assisted by Liverpool’s No. 11.

That not only sums up how remarkable Salah’s form has been throughout a campaign that has cemented the Reds as champions-elect, but also the burden on his shoulders to drag them to the title.

*Mohamed Salah’s shot map, Premier League 2024/25*

No other Liverpool player has scored 10 or more goals in this season’s Premier League, with Salah’s fellow forwards Luis Díaz (nine) and Cody Gakpo (eight) the only others to even net five or more. Across all competitions their output of 13 and 16 goals each is more respectable, but five of Gakpo’s came in the fourth-priority Carabao Cup.

While it may be something of a rarity, the last time Liverpool had a genuine share of goals between two or more players was when they last lifted the Premier League title in 2019/20 – Salah with 19 and Sadio Mané with 18.

The season before that, Salah and Mané were tied with 22 league goals apiece, with the pair sharing the Golden Boot with Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in only the third time the award has been held by three players at once.

*Premier League top scorers, 2018/19 season*

Barring a miraculous run in the final nine games of the season, neither Gakpo or Díaz – nor Darwin Núñez or Diogo Jota, for that matter – will come close to even troubling the top five in this season’s Golden Boot race.

That is not to denigrate their input, of course, as all of Liverpool’s five most established senior forwards have had their part to play in an outstanding campaign – but such an unbalanced spread of goals is not tenable season in, season out.

It is a dynamic shift which Arne Slot will be forced to deal with, particularly if Salah himself opts to depart Anfield at the end of the season.

Which brings the focus back to Salah’s old partner-in-crime in attack, Mané, a player whom he shared far from the most amiable relationship at times on the pitch but certainly found a fierce understanding as part of the best attacking trio in the world.

Roberto Firmino‘s influence on Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool was almost unparalleled and it is widely acknowledged that the club have yet to replace the No. 9, but it is equally clear that they have failed to replace Mané as the clutch player alongside Salah.

During Liverpool’s title-winning season of 2019/20, Salah was only responsible for 34.1 percent of his team’s goals – with 12 players, led by Norwich’s Teemu Pukki, more relied upon. That was largely due to Mané contributing with another 29.4 percent of their goals and assists. This season, Díaz has contributed to 18.8 percent as Liverpool’s second-highest.

*Mané’s career history, including Liverpool summary*

There were big moments from the Senegalese, not least seven match-winning goals in that league campaign – behind only Raúl Jimenez and Gabriel Jesus (both eight) and equal to both Salah and Firmino – as he became a flat-track bully of sides such as Newcastle, Aston Villa, Wolves, Norwich, West Ham and Bournemouth.

His brave header in the fourth minute of stoppage time in a 2-1 win over Villa was considered the moment that truly kickstarted Liverpool’s title charge.

Salah (45) and Steven Gerrard (30) are the only players to score more Champions League goals for the club than Mané (24), with the pair having made at least 18 more appearances in the competition each.

In fact only 14 players in Liverpool’s history have found the back of the net more often than Mané’s 120 goals in 269 games. Post-war, with records more reliable and the sport drastically changed, he would be in the top 10 behind only Ian Rush, Roger Hunt, Salah, Billy Liddell, Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Kenny Dalglish and Michael Owen.

Those names are among the most esteemed in the club’s history, but it is rare that Mané’s is spoken in the same breath.

That may be as he found himself overshadowed by Salah, or perhaps as there was more of a parity between him, Salah and Firmino; it may be due a lack of attachment after his departure to Bayern Munich or the downturn he has experienced since.

But the difficulty Liverpool have faced in adequately replacing the player who once wore their No. 10 shirt should sum up how important he was to their success.

“He’s the one player I have played with who I have thought I am glad I don’t have to play against him,” Trent Alexander-Arnold told Gary Neville in an interview for The Overlap last year.

“He was the perfect attacker. He had everything. As an athlete, probably in the end he was similar to Ronaldo. He had the jump, he could get up, he was fast, he could finish. His finishing probably wasn’t the same but he could finish with both feet. He was just a threat at all times.”

Mané possessed a bullish attacking threat and an assured two-footedness that allowed him to trouble sides from either flank and, towards the end of his time at Anfield, as a central striker. As Alexander-Arnold attests, he became as dangerous in the air as he was on the ground, while his pace on the counter was a major part of Klopp’s setup.

For a time, it seemed as though Díaz could offer the same maverick quality, but two serious injuries to the same knee appear to have sapped the Colombian of either his confidence or that unpredictability in one-on-one situations.

It is also fair to say that Liverpool are still yet to find another attacker as ruthless as Mané; as willing and capable of charging down lost causes; as decisive around in the 18-yard box.

Slot has, of course, opted for a different mould of left winger in Gakpo, whose ability to cut inside onto his right and test goalkeepers with phenomenal shooting power has drawn understandable comparisons with Arjen Robben.

But there remains a hole in the Liverpool squad where Mané’s attributes used to be, and ahead of a summer that could see a number of attackers leave – with question marks over Díaz, Núñez and Jota’s future along with Salah’s contract – it would be wise for the club to target a player with the same relentless quality.

Whether that is possible is, of course, another matter – as Mané’s focal role in Liverpool modern-day success should be more widely acknowledged. A legend who still has not been replaced.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: England take on Latvia in Thomas Tuchel’s second Wembley test

England should be able to run up a comfortable win against a Latvia team who’ve been out of form for years.

By Ian King

The road to 2026 continues

The Tuchel Era is upon us. The new England manager kicked off his spell in charge (and bid for a place at the 2026 World Cup finals) with a workmanlike 2-0 win against Albania on Friday night. A win is a win, and the manager was forthcoming about his team’s shortcomings afterwards. Latvia started theirs with a 1-0 win in Andorra, but more broadly their form has been wretched. Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Armenia, Liechtenstein and Moldova are the only teams they’ve beaten in the last four years.

First ever meeting

This is the first time that England have ever played Latvia, whose football association was originally set up in 1922 but who had a break of 50 years before reforming in 1990 as the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. The England women’s team beat the Latvia women’s team 20-0 in 2021 in a World Cup qualifier.

Key players

If there was one thing that England were missing on Friday night it was goals, and Latvia’s lowly position should give Tuchel the opportunity to let his players run wild a little. If he starts again – and he was withdrawn against Albania – Marcus Rashford increasingly feels like a player who could really do with a goal after nine appearances for Aston Villa without one, though it should be added that he’s certainly come close and that his performances since his loan have broadly been decent.

There’s not much celebrity to be found in the Latvia team. They only have one UK-based player, and that’s defender Daniels Balodis of St Johnstone, who signed for them at the end of the January transfer window. Their top goalscorer is Jānis Ikaunieks of RFS. He’s scored 12 goals for them in 64 appearances, and he’s one of just two players in their squad to have reached double figures alongside fellow striker Vladislavs Gutkovskis, who’s scored 11 in 51.

Team News

Anthony Gordon was the player who replaced Rashford on Friday night, only to limp away himself and subsequently be withdrawn from the squad. Whether that means Rashford gets another start is open to question, but it’s hardly as though Tuchel is short of attacking options as a replacement and an opportunity may have opened up for Morgan Rogers, who was introduced at the same time as Gordon on Friday night, to be thrown into the mix. Latvia emerged from their trip to Andorra with no fresh injury concerns.

Prediction

Thomas Tuchel survived his first test as the England manager and Latvia should be more comfortable opponents than Albania were. He may choose to rest several players from that match, and as ever getting the result in the first place has to be the priority. But Latvia are ranked 140th in the current FIFA rankings while England are ranked 4th, and a 4-0 win absolutely shouldn’t be beyond the home side, and it could be more.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the UEFA World Cup qualifiers with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

The Weight of Three Lions: Can Tuchel redefine England’s football identity?

Thomas Tuchel’s arrival as England manager is more than a new chapter in his career, it’s a cultural shift for English football.

By David Skilling

The England job, often described as the most scrutinised role in the sport, is a melting pot where tactical execution, public expectation, and national identity collide. For Thomas Tuchel, a German coach familiar with English football and its fans, this isn’t just about qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. It’s about redefining what England stands for on the global stage.

Managing England isn’t like managing a club. It’s not just about winning games or lifting trophies; it’s about embodying the hopes and frustrations of an entire nation. The England manager becomes a cultural figurehead, a lightning rod for debate, and sometimes even a scapegoat for broader societal tensions.

Tuchel steps into this role with an impressive CV, a Champions League winner with Chelsea and a serial title contender and winner across Europe, but no amount of club success can fully prepare someone for the unique pressures of international football. Unlike at the club level, where managers have daily access to their players and can shape them through constant training, international managers work with limited time and resources. They must build cohesion in weeks rather than months and make high-stakes decisions with far less room for error. For Tuchel, who thrives on precision and control, this will be an adjustment.

*Tuchel’s record with most recent clubs*

England’s relationship with its national team is complicated. The country that gave football to the world has spent nearly six decades chasing the ghost of 1966, its lone World Cup triumph. Every manager since Sir Alf Ramsey has been measured against that golden standard and everyone has fallen short.

Tuchel inherits a team that has made significant strides under Gareth Southgate, semi-finalists at the 2018 World Cup, and finalists at Euro 2020 and 2024, but one that still hasn’t crossed the finish line. Southgate succeeded in healing divisions within the squad and reconnecting the team with its fans, but critics argue he lacked the tactical edge to turn promise into silverware. Tuchel’s challenge is to build on Southgate’s cultural progress while addressing those lingering shortcomings.

England is unique in its blend of hope and cynicism when it comes to football. On one hand, there’s an enduring belief that this team should be winning trophies; after all, it boasts some of the best players in the world and is home to what most consider the best league in the world. On the other hand, decades of disappointment have bred a deep scepticism among fans and pundits alike.

Tuchel enters this paradox as both an outsider and an insider. As a foreign coach, he brings fresh perspectives unburdened by English football’s historical baggage. But having managed Chelsea, a club deeply embedded in English football culture, he also understands the unique pressures of working in this environment.

One of Tuchel’s greatest challenges will be navigating England’s complex football culture, a mix of tradition and modernity, nostalgia and ambition. The English game has long been defined by its physicality and directness, but recent years have seen a shift towards more technical, possession-based styles inspired by continental influences.

Tuchel represents this evolution while also challenging it. His methods are rooted in German efficiency and innovation, qualities that could help England overcome its historical tendency to lose composure when it matters, but he’ll need to balance these with an understanding of what makes English football unique.

This cultural balancing act extends beyond tactics to issues like media relations and public perception. The England manager isn’t just judged by results on the pitch; they’re also scrutinised for their personality, communication style, and ability to handle controversy. Tuchel’s sometimes direct demeanour worked at Chelsea because results spoke louder than words, but at England, where every press conference becomes front-page news, he might need a more refined approach.

Perhaps Tuchel’s most important task will be maintaining the unity of not just his squad but also its connection to the fans, a relationship that felt fractured before Southgate’s arrival. Football has always been more than just a game in England; it’s a reflection of national identity, a source of pride and belonging, but also a battleground for societal tensions. The England team often finds itself at the centre of cultural conversations that go far beyond sport.

*England’s next five matches, starting tonight*

Tuchel has shown himself to be socially conscious in his previous roles, speaking out on issues like mental health and inclusion, but leading England requires more than statements or gestures. It requires fostering an environment where players feel empowered to represent their country both on and off the pitch while navigating the inevitable backlash if things don’t go to plan

For too long, English football has been stuck between two worlds: one foot in its past, another tentatively stepping into an uncertain future. With so many heartbreaks over the years, underperformance, and recent near misses, Tuchel now has the opportunity, and perhaps the responsibility, to bring a trophy to English football fans and mend some of those scars.

As England embark on their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign under his leadership, one thing is clear: this isn’t just another managerial appointment; it’s a moment of reckoning for English football itself.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every England game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: England’s World Cup bid starts against Albania

The time has finally come. Thomas Tuchel is set to take charge of his first game as England manager. He has one mission, win a World Cup, and the journey begins with a qualifier against Albania on Friday.

By Alex Roberts

Lee Carsley, who has returned to the Under-21s, was at the helm last time the Three Lions took the field, beating the Republic of Ireland 5-0 in the UEFA Nations league, the country he represented as a player.

Albania, on the other hand, have just one win in their last five games, a 1-0 victory over Georgia, but Thomas Tuchel’s side shouldn’t underestimate the plucky Balkans.

What a week for Dan Burn

Fresh off the back of helping Newcastle beat Arne Slot’s Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, ending the club’s massive 70-year trophy drought, the 32-year-old is in line to make his England debut this international break.

Tuchel has been full of praise for the centre-back, lauding his leadership, and Burn himself is determined to make an impression, asserting that he isn’t with the side to “be a cheerleader.”

The heart of defence is one of the few positions England don’t really have a wealth of options in, but even then, Burn’s call-up came as somewhat of a surprise, especially considering Jarrad Branthwaite, who is largely considered the future in that position, was fit and available.

Tuchel isn’t there for a long time though, and Burn can definitely leave a mark.

A fine-tuned Albanian engine

Albania have a number of fairly young players that can do some serious damage to this England side, but few are quite as qualified as Inter Milan midfielder Kristjan Asllani, the engine of Sylvinho’s side.

Consistent playing time has been hard to come by in Italy, Asllani has started just six of his Serie A games, yielding a total of 599 minutes in the league. Of course, he has to compete with Nicolo Barella, and any CM in the world would find that hard.

The shackles are off when he’s with the national team, starring in Albania’s last two games against Ukraine and Czechia, even if they didn’t win. England are a different beast, but that should light a fire under him.

Hendo back in the fold

Jordan Henderson’s recall appears to be another indicator of Tuchel’s impermanence and priorities, focussing on the here and now rather than building a squad for the future. It’s not entirely different from Gareth Southgate’s approach, but completely different from Carsley’s.

The decision certainly raised some eyebrows, especially considering Henderson hasn’t exactly been a fixture for his Ajax side. To be fair to him, that’s likely due to his age rather than his ability.

The 34-year-old’s leadership was cited as the reason he was picked ahead of the likes of Adam Wharton. It’s the type of decision England fans and players are going to have to get used to. Tuchel is here for a good time not a long time.

Armando Broja’s much-needed getaway

It’s been a season to forget for the on-loan Chelsea forward. Injuries and his general fitness have been ongoing issues during his season at Everton, and in the few opportunities he’s had, he hasn’t exactly impressed.

The striker hasn’t scored a goal since 2023-24, the winner in Chelsea’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Preston. His stock is plummeting thanks to disastrous loans at Fulham and now Everton.

International football has always been a chance for players to get away, find themselves, and re-adjust. Much like a recently divorced woman who decides to travel to Asia. Broja will be hoping to channel his inner Julia Robers in Eat, Pray, Love.

*England’s last meeting with Albania, 2022 World Cup qualifying*

Prediction

Tuchel is a smart bloke, he will be looking at this game pragmatically, much like when he took over at Chelsea, he’s still figuring out what tools he’s got to work with. We’re going to go with a 2-0 England win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the UEFA World Cup qualifiers with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

The French forward line: Didier Deschamps’ embarrassment of riches

Many viewed France’s failure at Euro 2024 as the end of an era, and it was in a sense. Antoine Griezmann called time on his international career two months later while Olivier Giroud was phased out as he made the move to Major League Soccer. Didier Deschamps, however, remained in place as manager.

By Graham Ruthven

Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as Les Bleus boss will end after the 2026 World Cup despite pressure for him to quit earlier. Nonetheless, France’s national team is entering a new age and this is clearest in the attack. Indeed, Deschamps has a new-look forward line that could fire France to another World Cup.

Anyone who has watched Paris Saint-Germain recently will have had a hint of what France’s next generation of attack looks like. Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué have given Luis Enrique’s team some homegrown energy this season, improving as PSG have grown into genuine Champions League challengers over the course of the campaign.

Of course, Deschamps views the game very differently to Enrique. France won’t play on the halfway line at the 2026 World Cup. They won’t look to control matches through possession because France have never played in this manner under Deschamps. Deschamps-ball is nothing like Lucho-ball.

However, France will still play in a way that gives Barcola and Doué plenty open space to attack. Barcola’s raw speed makes him a constant threat on the break while Doué has the technical ability to cut inside, link up and get into good goalscoring positions. Barcola is 22, Doué just 19. They have an extremely bright future for club and country ahead of them.

Michael Olise is another member of France’s next generation already making a profound impact at the elite level of the club game. The 23-year-old is enjoying an excellent first season at Bayern Munich, contributing 22 goal involvements (13 goals, nine assists) in all competitions for the Bavarians.

Olise is an all-round threat. He is Bayern’s top assist-maker this season. Meanwhile, only Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala have scored more goals than him. The former Crystal Palace winger has created more Big Chances (19) than any other Bayern player and is also a prolific dribbler (2.9 per 90 minutes).

This gives Deschamps a lot to work with. Olise has been most commonly used by Vincent Kompany on the right side of the Bayern Munich attack, but he is also comfortable in a central position. The 23-year-old could be a key part of France’s next generation as they move on from the era of Giroud and Griezmann.

Kylian Mbappé remains France’s main man up front. After a sluggish start to life at Real Madrid, he has reminded everyone of his match-winning quality recently, scoring 17 goals in his last 17 matches. With Los Blancos still in the Champions League after sweeping aside Manchester City and Atlético Madrid, Mbappé could end the season a European champion.

Deschamps-ball has always been good for Mbappé because of the space it affords him. This space allows him to stretch the pitch and make the most of his blistering pace. There also isn’t much expectation on the Real Madrid forward to press from the front because France don’t do much of that as a team.

Mbappé has long produced his best form for the national team and there’s no reason to believe that won’t continue to be the case even amid tension between the player and Deschamps. Mbappé confirmed “disagreements” between him and the France manager that came to a head last year, but is back in the squad.

Then there’s Ousmane Dembélé. Long written off as a waste of potential, something has finally clicked for the 27-year-old who has scored an incredible 22 goals for PSG since the turn of the year. Now being used in a central role at club level, Dembélé is finding that his natural ability with both feet allows him to be more influential.

Tactically, Deschamps might not be able to fit Mbappé and Dembélé into the same forward line, but he has the options to make France one of the most fearsome teams in the international game again. At Euro 2024, Les Bleus were confusingly lifeless in the final third. They were easy to play against as Spain dumped them out in the semi-finals. France have the talent to be much better at the 2026 World Cup.

This is without even mentioning the likes of Randal Kolo Muani, Christopher Nkunku, Marcus Thuram and Kingsley Coman, all of whom have the ability to impact matches at the elite level. France once again boast one of the deepest talent pools in the international game. They should be among the frontrunners in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every UEFA Nations League game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Channeling Thomas Tuchel: 100 England fans pick their dream XI

We asked 100 everyday fans to pick their ideal England starting XI and we received 100 different teams.

By Mike Backler

Social Media. Pub. Phone-In. Tabloid. Town square. When it comes to England, no one’s ever happy. We want a team picked on form and not reputation. We want to do away with the big club bias. We want a never ending new dawn of young and hungry picked over tried and tested. We want two wingers. That’s a non-negotiable. We want pAsSiOn. We want the new, exciting one that hasn’t been picked and when he is, we want the next one.

But what does this mean when you put someone under the warm spotlight of picking an actual team? Do the compromises start creeping in?

We asked 100 England fans to pick their England X1 using the FotMob Lineup Builder. Here’s what we found.

Bellingham and who else?

‘Can we have the old Jude Bellingham back?’ seems to be the consensus. Not the Bernabéu Bellingham. The free-scoring, Champions League-winning, El Clásico-owning, messiah-like Bellingham from the adverts. But the Dortmund Bellingham. The box-to-box dream. Combative, boundless energy, ballerina feet in the midfield minefields. The missing link who seemed to knit it all together between Declan Rice and the endless bounty of attacking options at England’s disposal.

100 out of 100 have him starting, but a surprisingly high 73 out of 100 have Europe’s foremost number ten playing in a deeper role, opening the door for England to include another attacking talent.

England’s most free-scoring tournament under Gareth Southgate, at Qatar 2022, kicked off with Bellingham in a deeper role. But does that Bellingham still exist? Does it make any sense to move a player who scores and creates so freely for Real Madrid into a more disciplined role? Is it naive to think he still has that discipline? With the current crop of centre midfielders available, is it a case of… who else?

*England’s starting XI vs. Iran, Qatar World Cup 2022*

There’s always the call for overhaul. To be brave and back the young Lions, but none of the new breed of centre midfielders seem to have fully earned our trust yet. Kobbie Mainoo looked assured at last summer’s Euros but a patchy season sees him only make 16 teams. It’s too early for Adam Wharton with 12 and despite impressive debuts, Curtis Jones makes just one team and Angel Gomes isn’t even considered.

Play two bl**dy wingers!

The English love a winger. Paint on their boots, rampaging up and down the line, turning a full back inside out and whipping the ball into the mixer. To pick a team with anything other than two natural wide men is, well, for want of a better word, woke. And with Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon in our ranks, it’s a no-brainer isn’t it? Well, no. Only eight from 100 people surveyed picked them together. The debate about the balance of the side rumbled on all last summer but it still seems fans aren’t sure what the solution is. Grealish, Rashford, Foden, Palmer, Rogers, Bowen, Eze, Gittens. All feature in that role across our 100 teams. It’s a problem England have been wrestling with ever since Ryan Giggs decided he was definitely Welsh. All while the rest of the world couldn’t care less about wingers. Here’s a fun fact: No one has ever won the World Cup with two out-and-out wide-men. Take a look.

It’s a joke!

If you want to feel loved and supported by English fans and media, the absolute best position is to not be picked. The clamour is real. From Jack Grealish in Euro 2020 through James Maddison, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and now Morgan Gibbs-White. There was a period last season when, pumped up by a few decent displays, Rio Ferdinand claimed that James Ward-Prowse and Raheem Sterling should retire from England after being left out of the squad. In almost all instances, fast forward six months and the player in question is either no longer being mentioned, or they’re now the one the fans want dropped in favour of the new hot thing.

Our 100-strong focus group is an anti-hysteria machine. Gibbs-White may have received a late call up to Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad this week as a replacement but he made it into just two out of 100 teams. Morgan Rogers made 20, Phil Foden 44, Cole Palmer 80 and Bellingham made them all. So that would make Gibbs-White, excellent player that he is, fifth in the pecking order to play No. 10 for England. A season in the Champions League and he may just leapfrog a few. But for now, away from the Talksport reels with “Disgrace”, “Snub”, “Slams” and “Joke” in the title that they love to churn out every squad announcement, it kinda just makes sense doesn’t it?

*England’s starting XI vs. Spain, Euro 2024 Final*

Time for a new dawn!

The argument of form over reputation and of favouring players from big clubs will rear its head time and time again. But the thing about reputations, and shirts at the biggest clubs, is that you have to earn them.

The only area our 100 fans felt we needed real change was at full back and this is more out of necessity.

Trent Alexander-Arnold wins the right-back vote with 60 over veteran Kyle Walker, with 28. The left-back vote count reads like a sad election. Lewis Hall picks up 28 votes. Hapless Luke Shaw still gets 20. 18 year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly wins the day with 30 votes. Branthwaite, Colwill and Konsa fail to trouble the tried and tested Euros’ partnership at centre back.

In our survey’s ‘Most Selected XI’, Harry Kane and Rice make 98 teams. Saka, 96. Pickford, 92. Guéhi and Stones are the most selected defensive partnership with 84 and 72 picks, respectively.

Add Bellingham’s 100, Palmer’s 80 and with Foden’s 44 ousting Gordon’s 36 and you are getting dangerously close to the old guard of England’s Euro 2024 campaign.

So, after ONE HUNDRED different permutations it seems we don’t want a new dawn, we’re not that bothered about form over reputation, or big club bias, or giving youth a chance, or playing two wingers and we can’t agree at all on who should be starting. We just want to attack a bit more. Hear that Tommy!?

To try the FotMob line-up builder yourself, open – this link – from a web browser or head to fotmob.com and look to the right of the page.

Mar

2025

Dan Burn is enjoying his moment

Dan Burn is currently living the dream. On Friday, the 32-year-old was called up to the England for the first time. Two days later, the near-hometown hero from Blyth scored in the Carabao Cup final to end Newcastle United’s 70-year domestic trophy drought. All this for a player who was in the lower leagues until fairly recently.

By Graham Ruthven

Dan Burn’s career path has been an unconventional one. Released by Newcastle at the age of 11, the defender joined Blyth Spartans while working part-time in a supermarket. From there he played non-league football for Darlington before a £350,000 transfer to Fulham. Loan spells at Yeovil Town and Birmingham City followed.

A meandering period saw Burn also play for Wigan and Brighton where he earned a reputation as a dependable, if somewhat unremarkable, performer. When Newcastle re-signed Burn in January 2022, most viewed him as a stop-gap solution as the Magpies fought against the threat of relegation from the Premier League that season.

Since then, though, Burn has proved his worth as an important part of Eddie Howe’s team. New signings have arrived at St James’ Park as part of Newcastle’s squad reconstruction under Saudi Arabian ownership, but the defender has kept his place in the lineup. Only Bruno Guimarães has played more league minutes than Burn this season.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Burn is an unusual player. At 6ft 7”, he has the natural frame of a central defender (or a goalkeeper), and has played the majority of his matches there for Newcastle this season. However, Burn has also show his quality at left back. That’s where he could play for Thomas Tuchel’s England in the upcoming games against Albania and Latvia.

Should Burn make the pitch in either World Cup qualifier, he would become the oldest England debutant since former-Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies 15 years ago. It’s debatable whether when everyone is fit Burn should be part of the squad that goes to the 2026 World Cup, but there’s no doubt about his ability to perform in the short-term.

“I don’t care about people’s opinions – I know what I’m good at,” said Burn when asked about those who may question his place in Tuchel’s squad. “I feel like I have been doubted a lot over my career. Not many people at Darlington would have said I’d be sitting here doing a press conference for England, but as I said it has made me more resilient. I feel I deserve to be here.”

While Burn’s story is remarkable, the patronising tone with which some fans and pundits speak about him with is unwarranted. The 32-year-old will be more than comfortable against international opponents such as Albania and Latvia having held his own against Liverpool in a cup final just a few days ago. Burn is in the squad because he’s one of the best English defenders around.

Tuchel has also placed a focus on leadership since taking over as England boss. This is how he justified the inclusion of 34-year-old Jordan Henderson and it seems the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager sees Burn as another figure whose experience will help the team on and off the pitch.

“[Tuchel] wanted me to be in the squad to do what he felt my strengths are,” said Burn. “I thought I could offer just as much off the pitch as on. I feel I’m a leader off and on the pitch, and just sit into that role. It is going to be tough coming with all the international players, but that’s how I feel I can best help the team. He said I’ve been playing well for a long time, so obviously I’m not just coming in to be a cheerleader and help the boys out, I’m here to play.”

Burn’s call-up sets an important precedent for Tuchel at the start of his England tenure. It shows there is more than one pathway to international recognition. It proves to every eligible player that they will be given an opportunity should they work hard enough to climb the ladder like Burn has done over the course of his career.

Ultimately, Burn might be squeezed out of World Cup contention by the likes of Harry Maguire and John Stones who are currently sidelined through injury. In the present squad there is also stiff competition from Marc Guéhi, Levi Colwill, Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah for minutes in the centre of the defence not to mention Myles Lewis-Skelly and Tino Livramento who can play at left back.

Having been written off and doubted before, though, Burn knows what it’s like to defy expectations. This is something the 32-year-old has done over his entire career, from Blyth Spartans to winning the Carabao Cup with Newcastle. It should surprise nobody if Burns ends up going to the World Cup.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every England game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.