Bayern Munich’s need for a new number six was obvious last season. The Bavarians’ lack of structure and security in the centre of the pitch was brutally exposed in several matches as Bayer Leverkusen ran away with the Bundesliga title. More than once, Thomas Tuchel bemoaned his team’s lack of a top class midfield anchor. João Palhinha was meant to be that player.
The Portuguese midfielder travelled to Germany to complete a transfer from Fulham last summer. A fee was agreed. The medical took place. Pictures of Palhinha in the Bayern Munich kit were even taken. Fulham, however, couldn’t find a replacement before the deadline and the transfer collapsed.
Palhinha player traits
A year on, Palhinha has made the move to Bayern Munich, completing a transfer worth a reported €50m plus add-ons earlier this month. Through no fault of his own, the 29-year-old is already having to make up for lost time. What happened last year was regrettable. Now, though, Palhinha has the opportunity to prove why Bayern were right to return for him.
“It was important that we never lost touch,” said Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl, referencing what happened last summer. “João really wanted to come to Bayern, and we need players like that. He’s an important building block for our future. He will give us greater stability in the centre.”
Palhinha revels in doing the dirty work. Last season overall, he averaged 5.1 tackles per 90 minutes for Fulham, placing him in the top 1% of Premier League midfielders with a success rate of 2.5 tackles per 90. He also averaged 1.5 interceptions per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 10% for that metric, and 1.9 blocks per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 5% in this category. These numbers illustrate the sort of midfielder Palhinha is.
Palhinha’s defensive stats for Fulham in the Premier League 2024/25
Physically, the Portuguese is an imposing presence in the centre of the pitch. Standing at 6ft 3”, Palhinha’s long stride allows him to cover a lot of ground and win aerial duels. He also boasts excellent football intelligence and general reading of the game. There were few better in the Premier League at disrupting opposition moves than Palhinha. His positional awareness is elite.
At Euro 2024, Palhinha earned a place in Portugal’s midfield unit with his ability to switch play quickly key to getting Rafael Leão into one-on-one situations against opposition defenders. This is something that could help Bayern get the best out of their wide attackers. Palhinha’s biggest strengths can be found against the ball, but he offers something in possession too.
Portugal’s XI vs. Slovenia, with Palhinha earning the highest FotMob rating
All this highlights why Bayern Munich were so keen to land the Portuguese international. Theoretically, Palhinha should be the perfect safety net for the Bavarians’ counter-pressing style. A lot will be demanded of the 29-year-old to cover for his new attacking teammates higher up the pitch, but he has the skill set to succeed at the Allianz Arena.
After a protracted managerial search that saw Bayern Munich approach several candidates including Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick, Vincent Kompany has been hired to restore the Bavarians as the Bundesliga’s dominant force. The pressure is on after Bayer Leverkusen’s runaway title triumph last season.
Michael Olise’s arrival from Crystal Palace should give Bayern Munich more creativity higher up the pitch with the young French winger a consistent goal threat and assist provider. Olise was strongly linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, so it was something of a coup for Bayern to get the deal done for a reported €60m.
Hiroki Ito has also been signed by Bayern Munich after an impressive 2023/24 campaign for Stuttgart. The Japanese centre back is an exceptional defensive all-rounder who will give the Bavarians another option at the back as doubts continue to linger about Dayot Upamecano whose lapses in concentration were a problem last term.
Palhinha, however, will almost certainly be the most impactful signing made by Bayern Munich this summer. Olise is an exciting addition, but the Bavarians already had attacking difference-makers. Ito will strengthen the defensive ranks, but it’s unclear if he is a true upgrade on Kim Min-Jae, Matthijs de Ligt or Upamecano. Palhinha, on the other hand, offers something different. Something much-needed.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every Bundesliga game live with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings.Download the free app here.
Argentina narrowly prevailed 1-0 in Sunday’s Copa América Final against Colombia, with substitute Lautaro Martínez sealing the deal in the 112th minute and avoiding a penalty shootout in Miami. Whilst Colombia were unable to end a victorious era for the Albiceleste, one cycle did come to an end in Florida: Ángel Di María’s time with the Argentina national team.
Whilst Di María may not be regarded in the same vein as compatriots Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona when it comes to the greatest footballers of all time, he will nevertheless go down as one of the most clutch footballers in the history of the sport. A player who rises to the occasion in the most decisive moments, who shines the beacon in the most turbulent of storms, and who, no matter how hot the emotions are running, always retains ice in his veins. Call it clutch or divine intervention, it has been with him since he was a toddler – one day when he was three years old, Di María had wandered onto the street in his stroller and came within inches of getting hit by an oncoming car, only for his mother to rush out of their house and push him out of the way.
Growing up on the mean streets of Rosario, Di María helped his father bag charcoal so that he could sell it on the market, and whenever his boots came apart, his mother would glue them back together. Desperate for a career that could shepherd his family out of poverty, Di María continued to hone his skills at Rosario Central’s academy after joining the club at the age of three, but by the time he was 16, his development seemed to have reached a standstill. His father handed him an ultimatum: return to his academic studies, work alongside him in his charcoal business, or break into Rosario’s first team within a year. With just weeks remaining in their agreement, Di María finally made his professional debut on December 14, 2005.
Di María registered 6 goals and 2 assists in 39 total appearances for his boyhood club, but it wasn’t until 2007 that his first huge break came. Playing alongside future Albiceleste internationals like Sergio Romero and Sergio Agüero, Di María led Argentina to glory in the U-20 World Cup, and his stellar tournament caught the attention of Benfica, who signed him for an initial fee of €6 million. The lanky teenager from Santa Fe had finally hit the big time – he was going to be playing for one of the most successful teams in Europe. He bought a house for his mother and sisters, and asked his father to quit his job and move with him to Lisbon, where he made 44 appearances in his debut campaign.
One year after guiding Argentina to the title in Canada, Di María headed to China and made a name for himself in the Summer Olympics. With the score level in the 105th minute, Di María latched onto a through ball from Lionel Messi and evaded the lunging tackle of a Dutch defender before sliding it into the bottom right corner of the net. Argentina were going to the semifinals, where they would annihilate Brazil 3-0 and set up a date with Nigeria in the final. With an opportunity for the gold medal on the line, Di María once again made the difference, picking up a pass from Messi in the 58th minute and hustling from the centre circle all the way to the edge of the box before chipping the incoming Nigerian goalkeeper with the grace and composure of a veteran forward. As the rest of the players waited with bated breath to see if the ball would trickle in, Di María was already relishing the moment, with arms wide open and a mile-wide grin that spread like wildfire throughout the traveling Albiceleste support in Beijing.
Road to Superstardom
Di María’s father broke both of his knees as a youngster, whilst his grandfather lost both of his legs in a train accident. His patriarchal role models were unable to pursue their footballing dreams due to grave injuries, but as for Di María, he has been blessed with the luck of not having to cope with lengthy spells on the sidelines. According to Transfermarkt, Di María has not missed more than five weeks due to a single injury (apart from a 52-day spell in the summer of 2015).
“My dream was close to dying so many times” stated Di María in an interview with the Player’s Tribune. “But my father kept working under the tin roof, my mother kept pedalling, I kept running into space.”
Never one to take this good fortune for granted, Di María made the most of it and quickly cemented his reputation as one of the most promising wingers in football, leading Benfica to the 2009/10 Primeira Liga title and Taça da Liga title whilst also finishing as the top assist provider in the Portuguese league. It wasn’t long before Maradona was hailing him as Argentina’s next top superstar, with ‘El Pelusa’ calling him up for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Di María started four out of five matches as Argentina were sent packing from the tournament by Germany, and his impressive displays would draw the attention of Real Madrid, who signed him for €25 million plus €11 million in incentives.
After an inconsistent start to life in Spain, Di María was able to finally make some inroads in the 2011/12 campaign under José Mourinho, winning a place in the starting XI and scintillating the Santiago Bernabéu with his rapid dribbling and immaculate crossing. With Di María working his magic on the flanks, Real slammed the door shut on Barcelona’s dynasty, claiming a LaLiga record 100 points and 121 goals. Two years later, Di María was forced to adapt to a new role as an attacking midfielder in Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 following the arrival of Gareth Bale. Not only did he make the transition, but he thrived in the centre of the pitch, finishing as LaLiga’s top assist provider (17) and opening the scoring against Barcelona in their 2-1 win in the 2014 Copa del Rey Final. Di María returned to his former stomping grounds and delivered a Man of the Match performance in the UEFA Champions League Final, dribbling past a sea of Atlético Madrid defenders before forcing a point-blank save from Thibaut Courtois and giving Bale the chance to head home from close range in the 110th minute. Real won 4-1 at the Estádio da Luz, ending a 12-year wait for an elusive 10th Champions League title.
Di María headed to Brazil, where he would continue his big-game heroics by breaking the deadlock in the 118th minute of their Round of 16 match against Switzerland before assisting Gonzalo Higuaín’s goal in their quarterfinal tie. That same match, he injured his hamstring and missed out on the rest of the World Cup, with Germany prevailing 1-0 in the final courtesy of Mario Götze’s late winner. A few weeks later, Di María packed his bags for England and joined Manchester United for a Premier League record £59.7 million, with James Rodríguez’s arrival making him surplus to requirements at Real. However, he was never quite able to convince under Louis van Gaal and found himself on the move after one year in England, taking his talents to Paris Saint-Germain for £44 million.
The Argentine quickly gained a new lease on life in France, setting a Ligue 1 record with 18 assists in the 2015/16 season and winning four domestic trophies. However, his improved fortunes failed to translate to the international level. For the third straight year, Di María picked up an injury midway through the tournament, and for the second straight year, he watched from the sidelines as Chile edged Argentina on penalties in the Copa América Final.
After the Storm Comes the Rainbow
Nicknamed “El Fideo” or “The Noodle” for his slender frame, it seemed that the only thing thinner than Di María body were his chances of winning a trophy with Argentina. More heartbreak and anguish ensued for Di María, with his Albiceleste side losing to eventual champions France and Brazil in the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 Copa América. And whilst he did add 19 trophies to his cabinet during his time at the Parc de Princes, he was unable to guide PSG to a maiden Champions League trophy. Six years after spurring Real Madrid to La Décima at the Luz, Di María’s PSG came up short and lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final at the Luz. The following season, they lost to Manchester City in the semifinals and missed out on the Ligue 1 title to Lille on the final day of the campaign. Little did Di María know it, but redemption was just around the corner.
Argentina returned to the Copa América Final for the third time in four attempts, and apart from a 1-0 win vs. Paraguay in the group stage which saw him tee up Papu Gómez’s 10th-minute goal with an expertly timed through ball, Di María would come off the bench in four of Argentina’s first five fixtures. However, Lionel Scaloni would change his tune for the last match as Nicolás González dropped out for El Fideo. For the first time in 13 years, Di María was going to have the opportunity to contest an international final for Argentina.
Going up against the host nation and the defending champion, Argentina took the advantage in the 22nd minute as Rodrigo de Paul sliced through Brazil’s defense with surgical precision, and when Renan Lodi failed to clear the danger, Di María was there to cushion the ball down and delicately chip it past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Argentina held on for their first senior trophy since 1993, kicking off a pattern of excellence that has remained until this day.
By the time the 2022 FIFA World Cup commenced in Qatar, plenty of things had changed: Di María and Leandro Paredes had swapped PSG for Juventus, Messi had left Barcelona for PSG, whilst De Paul had made the move from Udinese to Atlético Madrid. Argentina would begin the tournament by losing a World Cup opener for the first time since 1990, with a shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia throwing their silverware hopes into disarray. Unable to find a way past a resolute Mexico backline, it seemed that Argentina were headed for an early exit until the 64th minute as Di María attracted the attention of several green shirts before sliding the ball towards Messi, who obliged with a ferocious shot from distance. Argentina would go on to win 2-0 against Mexico and Poland to finish atop their group, but they suffered a damning blow as Di María incurred a muscle overload in his left foot. He managed just eight minutes in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands and didn’t suit up for either knockout round match vs. Australia and Croatia – it seemed that once again, Di María in an international final was a luxury that Argentina could not afford.
Eternal Greatness
Eight years before, Di María had been denied the opportunity of contesting a World Cup Final by Real Madrid, who had feared exacerbating his injury and jeopardizing a potential transfer. He wasn’t going to let anyone stop him this time.
He ran rampant on the left flank and showed off his sensational close control and change of direction, and it didn’t take long before he had given Argentina the advantage, feigning to cross before maneuvering past Ousmane Dembélé and making a break for the box, where Ousmane elected to push him to the ground. Messi converted from the penalty spot whilst Di María doubled the lead before halftime, putting the finishing touches on a well-worked counter-attack and lasting until the 64th minute, before making way for Marcos Acuña. The next hour would see Messi and Kylian Mbappé trade blows like a pair of veteran prizefighters, but ultimately, it was Gonzalo Montiel’s penalty that sealed a historic victory for Argentina. After 36 years of heartbreak, Argentina were finally world champions.
Di María returned to Benfica in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer, racking up 17 goals and 15 assists in 48 appearances before heading to the United States for the Copa América. This time, his body cooperated: Di María started all but one match as Argentina returned to the biggest stage in South American football, scoring eight goals and conceding just once. Once again, Di María came up clutch in the final, completing six out of seven crosses, creating three chances, registering two shots on target and eight recoveries, and winning CONMEBOL’s Player of the Match. With Messi hobbling off in the second half due to an ankle injury, Di María held down the fort and led the line with customary poise and dynamism until Martínez finally opened the scoring against Colombia in extra time. Desperate to shore up the backline and protect their lead, Scaloni subbed Di María off for Nicolás Otamendi for the final minutes of his international swan song. As Sunday turned into Monday in Miami, Di María walked out with his teammates for the final time and basked in the splendor of the occasion.
At 36 years of age, El Fideo leaves behind a monumental legacy for club and country: only Messi (187) and Javier Mascherano (147) have more caps than Di María (145), only Messi (55) has more assists than him (29), whilst only Messi (109), Gabriel Batistuta (56), Agüero (41), Hernán Crespo (35) and Maradona (34) have scored more than Di María (31). Moreover, only Cristiano Ronaldo (42) and Messi (40) have racked up more assists in the UEFA Champions League than Di María (39). It remains to be seen whether or not Di María will renew his contract at Benfica and attempt to leapfrog his two former teammates in the assist charts, or if he will depart his club on a free transfer for the third straight year and pursue a new opportunity outside of Europe, but one thing’s for sure: Ángel Di María will go down as one of the greatest players of his generation.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every Argentina game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
Euro 2024 has come and gone, with Spain not exactly pre-tournament favourites – but ending as expected champions given their performances as the summer progressed, beating England in the final. There were plenty of surprises along the way and while some were team-wide, others were tournament-based and could be measured in numbers – such as a remarkably low tally of three goals being enough to seal a share of the Golden Boot for six different players.
2012 was the last time that happened, back when there was still a proper ruling in place to award a single boot to one player – Fernando Torres – rather than this year’s strangeness of basically sharing a toe apiece.
While “own goals” officially got the most, with ten, that’s one shy of Euro 2020’s record. Arda Güler, meanwhile, set the record for youngest debutant goalscorer at 19 years 114 days, with Lamine Yamal of course breaking the all-time youngest scorer in the semi-finals against France at 16 years and 362 days.
One other anomaly from Spain’s triumph: Jesús Navas set a new record as the player with the most years between his two medals at the European Championship: a winner back in 2012 as well as this summer, his 12-year gap beats Rainer Bonhof’s West Germany wins in ‘72 and ‘80. That man remains the only non-Spaniard to win the Euros twice.
The fastest goal was set by Nedim Bajrami, gifted an Albania goal by Italy after 23 seconds, while Hungary’s goal ten minutes into stoppage time to kill off Scotland was the latest one ever scored at a Euros in 90 minutes.
Individually, though, and away from just goals, come some of the more surprising stand-outs.
There is, for example, the previously out-of-form Cody Gakpo turning up to fire Netherlands through to the semi-finals – not just with goals though, but also creativity. Had some of his teammates matched his finishing they might have gone further: Gakpo finished with four big chances created to go with his three goals – only Yamal created more than him. However, Gakpo registered just one assist from an xA of 1.9; Spain’s two wingers claimed five between them from 4.1 xA.
From creating to missing, the worst culprit at the Euros for spurning statistically defined big chances was Germany’s Kai Havertz. The centre-forward missed seven big chances, but as he had an overall 10.5% conversion rate, there’s perhaps less blame on his shoulders than two others for early exits. Romalu Lukaku, for example, missed six big chances. Cristiano Ronaldo missed five, to complete a big top three of worst offenders. But while Lukaku’s cumulative xG for the tournament was 1.7, Ronaldo’s was 3.6 – and both of them managed precisely zero per cent conversion, with zero goals. Compared to Havertz’s two goals from a 4.1xG, it makes the fading Portuguese forward the tournament’s worst offender by a distance.
It’s not all about big chances, though, with consistency of chance creation naturally leading to sustained pressure, a team being on top and still the opportunity to score.
That makes two players impressive from outside of the ranks of forwards: in the top ten for overall chances created, a succession of wide forwards and central midfield playmakers and set-piece takers crowd the list. However, two full-backs also appear: Joshua Kimmich of Germany on the right (15 total, 2.8 per 90) and Ferdi Kadıoğlu (12 total, 2.4 per 90). The latter was genuinely excellent at the tournament, defensively resilient as well as clearly impacting going forwards: better than 92% of players at chance creation as well as both cross accuracy and tackles won, above 89% for successful dribbles and above a massive 95% of players for duels won per 90. All this impact including the most tackles and duels attempted by any player at the tournament – and just one foul made, with no bookings at all.
Finally a word for the goalkeepers, though really it’s just for one as the top stopper in most regards. Giorgi Mamardashvili was of course kept busy as Georgia made it to the last 16 on their tournament debut, and they conceded plenty along the way.
But it would have been an astronomical value if not for him and certainly their story would have ended in the group stage.
Mamardashvili made an average of 7.5 saves per 90 minutes – the second-placed keeper in that regard made just 4.3. Across the whole tournament he prevented 4.7 extra goals going in across just four games (by their xG value), again well clear of Jan Oblak in second. He was top stopper for sure and this tournament will only add to him being in-demand at club level.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
Relive all the key moments of EURO 2024 with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
Thierry Henry carried the Olympic torch through Paris in preparation for this summer’s Olympic Games in his home city and the former Arsenal forward will carry the hopes of the home nation as France manager in the men’s football tournament. After Euro 2024 disappointment, the Olympics present Les Bleus with another shot at glory.
40 years have passed since France last won gold in the men’s football tournament. For 16 years between 2000 and 2016, they didn’t even qualify for the Olympics. The Games haven’t always been a priority for France, but with Paris hosting the 2024 Olympics a deep run is being targeted this summer.
New Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise has been included in Henry’s 22-man squad for the tournament with his now former-Crystal Palace teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta also picked. Alexandre Lacazette will feature as an overage player with Rayan Cherki another Lyon player who has the potential to make his mark.
France’s performances at this summer’s Olympics could offer a hint of what the country’s senior team could look like in the years to come. Mateta, for instance, could succeed Olivier Giroud as France’s first-choice centre forward after the 37-year-old’s decision to retire from international duty. The Palace striker is a more traditional focal point than either Randal Kolo Muani or Marcus Thuram.
Castello Lukeba is another with the potential to feature for France’s senior team with the 21-year-old a first team figure for RB Leipzig. The central defender is physically strong, covers ground quickly and is comfortable in possession. He fits the mould of a modern centre back and is still improving with Chelsea reportedly interested in signing him.
Manu Koné is a ball-carrying midfielder whose dynamism could have been useful for France at Euro 2024. The 23-year-old was linked with Liverpool last summer and could use this summer’s Olympic Games as a platform to prove his readiness for the elite level. His defensive work will be key to Henry’s overall team structure.
The hope was that Kylian Mbappé would play at the 2024 Olympics with the Real Madrid star open to playing at the tournament. However, clubs aren’t obligated to release their players for the Olympics, making it unlikely that Real Madrid would let their newest superstar leave just weeks after joining.
That makes Olise the most reliable difference-maker in France’s Olympics squad, particularly after bagging a brace in last week’s warm-up friendly against the Dominican Republic. The London-born winger is tipped to play for France’s senior team one day and could give Les Bleus some much-needed creativity higher up the pitch after a Euro 2024 campaign that saw Didier Deschamps’ team unable to impose themselves on opponents.
Deschamps is expected to stay on as France manager despite much discussion about his future, but changes are required ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This is where Henry’s Olympic team could offer some solutions. The tournament will be a chance for several promising young players to prove they could make the step up.
For Henry, though, winning is all that matters for his French Olympic team on home soil. “When I arrived here, I spoke to the president of the FFF (French Football Federation) and I told him that I was visualising gold. No matter who is on this team, we must try to get that gold medal,” said the 46-year-old who has been France U21 head coach for the past year.
Henry himself has a point to prove this summer. While the 1998 World Cup winner is still revered for what he achieved as a player, his managerial record leaves much to be desired. Indeed, Henry was dismissed after just 20 games in charge of Monaco and failed to make much of an impression in his time as head coach of MLS side CF Montreal either. Henry needs the Olympics to go well.
Olympic football isn’t as prestigious in the men’s game as it is on the women’s side, but this tournament could be a testing ground for some of France’s most promising young players like Olise, Cherki and Lukeba. This is about more than just going for gold. This could be where Deschamps gets some much-needed new ideas.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from the men’s and women’s Olympic Football Tournaments live with FotMob – Download the free app here.
Argentina became the most successful team in Copa América history by lifting the trophy for the 16th time in Miami last weekend. They also are the most successful international team in the 2020s so far having won every major tournament they have participated in – two Copas América and one FIFA World Cup. That is quite a remarkable turnaround for a nation that failed to win any silverware for almost three decades prior to this run.
In fact, Argentina have lost just two of their 63 fixtures since being eliminated from the 2019 Copa América against Brazil. Clearly, Lionel Scaloni has done an incredible job of taking them to the top and keeping them there, and even more impressively, he has done so while their best player – and one of the best the world has ever seen – is in the twilight of his career.
A Constant Quest for Balance
Ever since he broke through at Barcelona, it has been abundantly clear to everyone in the world that Lionel Messi is one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. He quickly won everything he possibly could with his club, but despite eight attempts, an international trophy with his beloved Argentina continued to elude him. Sometimes, he was not adequately supported by his teammates on the pitch, sometimes the weight of pressure on him was simply far too much, but either way, it was clear that he could not single-handedly lead Argentina to glory no matter how good he was.
The Albiceleste’s Round of 16 loss to France in a seven-goal thriller in the 2018 World Cup proved to be a real turning point. It was the first international tournament Messi played in after turning 30, so at the time, people began to seriously reckon with the possibility that the great man could one day have to bow out from the international stage without lifting a trophy. For their part, the Argentine FA did what they always seemed to do – change managers after another disappointing tournament.
This time, though, they did something different. They made Lionel Scaloni – a member of the previous coaching staff under Jorge Sampaoli – their next manager despite his lack of experience, drawing a lot of criticism from fans at the time. A year later, he would lead them into an international tournament for the first time in the 2019 Copa América, losing to Brazil in the semi-final after a shaky campaign.
This time, though, the FA did not sack the manager and instead doubled down on their decision to back him by extending his contract until 2022. Again, fans were not happy, but just two years later, everything would change.
Scaloni learned from his mistakes and put out a much more balanced XI in the 2021 Copa, making some tough calls such as benching Sergio Agüero. Among the new faces in the side was Emiliano Martínez, whose penalty shoot-out legend was born when he saved three Colombian attempts in the semi-final. Brazil were the final opponent, and this time it was Argentina who triumphed thanks to the only goal of the game.
Finally, Argentina’s long trophy drought was broken, but that was far from the end of the story. They kept up the momentum and entered the 2022 FIFA World Cup on a 36-match unbeaten run – just one shy of the men’s world record. The proven XI took to the field against a Saudi Arabia side they would have expected to blow away, but instead, they suffered a shock defeat in one of the World Cup’s greatest upsets.
Balance had been the key to Scaloni’s previous success, but the trouble with balance is that it is not only tough to attain but even more difficult to maintain. To his credit, he realised that some changes were needed to get the best out of his side and immediately enacted them. Argentina reverted to the 4-3-3 formation with Alexis Mac Allister as the third midfielder, and soon enough, fellow youngsters Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez forced their way into the XI with their game-winning performances off the bench.
With those changes, Argentina got to the final against defending champions France, and the rest is history.
Moving On from Messi
The 2022 World Cup triumph was the crowning jewel of Messi’s unimaginably illustrious career. Not only did he finally get his hands on the elusive trophy, but he did so after an incredible tournament on an individual level as he won the Golden Ball with seven goals and three assists.
That was his glorious peak which could never be matched again. Everyone, himself included, recognised this immediately after the World Cup, but that did not spell the end of his international career. If anything, it was a new beginning as Messi could finally fully enjoy playing for Argentina with absolutely no pressure on his shoulders having won everything there was to win.
And so the show went on in the 2024 Copa América. Argentina got to the final without ever having to get out of second or third gear, as they eased past a simple group with Canada, Chile and Peru, emerged victorious on penalties in a tough quarter-final against Ecuador and once again got the better of Canada to reach another final.
Their opponents, a Colombia side who were on a long unbeaten streak themselves, gave them a real run for their money at first as they exposed some defensive gaps in the Argentine side that were previously untested, but the back line held firm. By now, Martínez’s presence in goal made them favourites in any penalty shoot-out, but winning without all that drama obviously was the preferred outcome.
The starting XI could not get the job done, and worse yet, Messi had to go off injured after twisting his ankle. The match went to extra time, and it was then that Scaloni made a triple change and called upon two of the players he displaced from the starting XI at the World Cup. The goal that then won the game could not have been scripted any better. Leandro Paredes won the ball back in midfield with a brilliant tackle before linking up with Lautaro Martínez, who spun in behind the opposition defence via a through ball from Giovani Lo Celso (the third substitute) before emphatically finding the back of the net.
The nature and context of that goal – created by three substitutes while a heartbroken Messi had to watch on from the sidelines – provided a glimpse into the future for the Albiceleste. The Inter Miami forward no longer is the best player in the world and will soon have to hang up his boots, but Argentina will still stay one of the world’s strongest sides.
All over the XI, they already have great balance even without superstar quality. Emiliano Martínez is the perfect man between the sticks for international football, the Cristian Romero–Lisandro Martínez centre-back partnership is supremely solid and helpful on the ball, and the full-backs are all serviceable if not remarkable. The midfield is almost perfectly composed between the deep-lying playmaking of Enzo Fernández, hard work and water-carrying of Rodrigo De Paul and creativity of Alexis Mac Allister. Up front, both Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez can decide games from the starting XI or the bench.
Of course, no one can possibly replace Lionel Messi, but Argentina also have to contend with the loss of Ángel Di María, who has already retired. The Benfica winger was arguably the best player of the old generation – apart from Messi – as he always worked his socks off, did whatever was asked of him without complaint even if he had to be shifted out of position and, unlike most of his peers, stood up and delivered on the biggest of days.
In a way, Argentina have replaced the world’s best player by assembling a squad of Di María-like players. Most of them are not the very best in the world in their position (but obviously are quite good nevertheless), but all of them fulfil the above checklist. As a result, they now have one of the world’s best teams which should continue to compete at the highest level for years to come.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every Argentina game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
Cast your minds back to the start of the World Cup in 2022 and the starting lineup for Netherlands. You didn’t need to go far to find a surprise name on the teamsheet: right at the top, in fact, with Andries Noppert in goal, winning his debut cap in the first group stage game. A great reward, but it showcased a problem area for the Oranje: they’d struggled for consistency and quality in goal for some time and he hasn’t won another cap since.
This time around they went for 21-year-old Bart Verbruggen, getting the talented 21-year-old some early tournament experience in the expectation he’ll be around for the long haul. So how did he get on at Euro 2024?
It’s of course important to place context: goalkeeping is such a tough position to analyse by numbers alone – and even by eye-test it can be a hugely subjective role. Should the No.1 be a tremendous shot-stopper first and foremost, or be an organiser of his defence? Must he dominate his area, be great with his feet, indomitable in the air?
The very best are all of the above perhaps, but even world-class performers come in different styles: Jan Oblak to Alisson Becker, for example, are worlds apart stylistically yet both reign supreme at the top of the elite game.
For Verbruggen, he naturally has a way to go to get to that level, but it was a relatively promising tournament nonetheless.
With the Dutch going to the semi-finals, he played six games, conceding seven along the way (own goals not shown on shot map below) – not a great rate, but they were open initially and struggling for a midfield setup after injuries and absences, none of which helps team cohesion and in turn the ‘keeper.
Verbruggen clocked out with a 70.8% save rate: ranking 15th in the tournament by that metric, so below where he might have hoped, but added context is needed. He prevented a total of 0.7 goals across his matches (by shot saved xG value), bringing him in around the same level as Albania’s Thomas Strakosha (72.2% saved, 0.9 prevented) across the board there. For further comparison, the aforementioned elite end of Slovenia’s Oblak ranked first for saves (88.2%) and second for goals prevented (3.8), with only the similarly excellent and overworked Giorgi Mamardashvili (4.7) ahead of him there. But Oblak has ten years on Verbruggen – that’s not a realistic or reasonable comparison to hold him up against.
There’s also the fact that as a team, the Dutch conceded a total expected goals value – all shots against them at the tournament – of 6.5, the third-highest of all nations. They were not iron-clad in front of Verbruggen, so some going past him is to be expected.
Other numbers are more in his favour: he made no direct errors leading to goals, his pass success rate was better than 85% of all other tournament goalkeepers, he kept a couple of clean sheets on the way.
There was also no shot lower than a 0.1xG value which beat him to find the net – that being Ollie Watkins’ strike – and no goals which got past him from outside the penalty box.
All things considered it was a solid, if unspectacular, tournament debut for him – with a couple of big highlights thrown in such as the low, late save against Türkiye to keep the Dutch ahead in the quarter-finals. There were no dramatic negatives, either, as was the case with a few goalkeepers in their first major tournament.
Throwing it forward, it’s also a case to put to Brighton that now is the time to build on that and make him their undisputed No.1 following a season of job sharing with Jason Steele. While six games is a small sample size, his performances with the Dutch were improved on those with the Seagulls.
And while he clearly wasn’t a finished article last year at the Amex Stadium, he was already superior to Steele in most areas: saves per 90, save percentage, goals prevented, high claims per 90 and pass success rate.
A new manager – Fabian Hürzeler, the Premier League’s youngest – may of course always take their own new route and start from the back with a teambuild, but it seems an ideal moment for Brighton to take a step forward with Verbruggen, knowing the young Dutch stopper must still improve further, but also expecting that he will with the experience of a major tournament behind him and the prospect of a big campaign ahead.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
With a greater emphasis on pressing and how much more sophisticated out of possession frameworks have become, time and space for attacking talents has decreased compared to previous eras in football. As such, many clubs are constantly on the lookout for 1v1 specialists who can also contribute a certain level of goals and assists. This need is especially pertinent in the Premier League given the level of coaching across the division.
We could look to Manchester City as an example of a club which has searched for wingers who can consistently create for others. Going back to the mid 2010s, they’ve spent significant fees on the likes of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish and now Jérémy Doku. With how much City dominate final third territory under Pep Guardiola, having wide attackers who are a threat off the dribble is essential. If you look at the best clubs in Europe, they tend to have at least one winger who can put the fear of god in to defenders as an on-ball creator. Those trying to gatecrash this elite level are trying to acquire that archetype of player.
This is where Désiré Doué comes into the fold. At only 19 years old, the French winger has the broad outlines of a player who could one day play for one of Europe’s elite. He’s another in a long line of highly touted young talents to have come from Rennes’ impressive academy, which not too long ago, helped produce an extremely exciting winger in Ousmane Dembélé.
It is not hard to see why he’s been tipped as the next prospect for whom Rennes will receive a massive transfer fee. His highlight reel consists of him frequently beating fullbacks either going towards the byline or cutting inside. He’s a clean receiver of the ball, and with neat touches to set up his impressive first step, he’s always threatening to make something happen. At 3.54 dribbles per 90 with a 67.4% success rate in Ligue 1 last season, he’s one of the most electric dribblers on the planet right now.
The brilliance of Doué’s dribbling does come with trade-offs, mainly that he can be susceptible to tunnel vision. It seems like once he cuts inside, he’s already made up his mind instead of surveying the available options to him. While this is an issue for many wingers, it’s probably more heightened with him. He’s also got a slight frame, which means he can get nudged off by defenders a bit easier, especially when trying to attempt long distance solo carries. This could get improved upon in the future through doing better at getting across his man to gain an advantage, in addition to greater strength and conditioning.
The best wingers are not just those who’ll frequently glide past their marker, but also have the technical quality to make incisive passes. Doué is a bit of a mixed bag as a creator. When he does look up, he’s good at scanning his options and can be inventive in the type of deliveries he attempts. The weighting of his passes can be erratic despite how impressive he is in terms of volume of passes into the box. This makes it tough for his teammates to get clean shots off after receiving a throughball or reverse pass into the box. The end results are still pretty decent at 1.72 chances created per 90 and 0.21 expected assists per 90, but given how much his dribbling can help him access valuable areas, those figures could be even higher.
Off the ball is Doué’s weakest point to his game. To some extent, this is understandable. Teenagers don’t tend to be savants with their movement. Even still, it lags behind his other skills by some distance. On occasion, you’ll see him make runs along the touchline or in behind to chase after long balls. He’s most likely to attempt forward movement off the ball if he’s combining with teammates. More times than not though, he’s receiving the ball against a set defence who can throw double teams his way. This can be seen in his shot map from league play last season, which mostly consists of attempts in the wide zone of the penalty box and outside of it. Without any runs in behind, it’s basically impossible to consistently generate good, to great shots.
Very few would disagree with the opinion that at 19 years old, Doué would be considered a project signing. The flashes of talent he shows are undoubtedly tantalising, and the fees getting reported at least partially reflect the massive upside clubs think he has and being willing to help him through further growing pains. As well, things have shifted in the market to where there’s a greater willingness to spend big money on young talents compared to 5-10 years ago. If you hit and find a star, especially as a superclub, you’ll likely get many years of elite production from them.
The big clubs can take solace that teenagers who show at least some promise in Ligue 1 tend to have successful careers. The obvious example is Kylian Mbappé. Rafael Leão had a single successful season with Lille and has been one of the best players in Serie A over the past few years. When healthy, Ousmane Dembélé has been a terrific player. If you don’t sink while playing regular minutes at such a young age, there’s a decent chance you end up have a strong peak.
One concern with Doué is that the pathway to stardom as primarily an on-ball initiator with limited off-ball value is very tough to accomplish. It’s certainly not impossible, but it would involve sizable growth as a playmaker, including less instances of tunnel vision. There have been several young talents over the years in this mould who ended up being fine players during their prime, but a few rungs below the level of the greats. Dembélé is an example of someone who was able to do it, but he’s a unique case in part because of being both footed. Incorporating more runs into depth would be helpful to contribute more goals and assists.
Doué is certainly an exciting prospect, and under the tutelage of top-level coaching, it’s possible that he ends up being a star in a few years time. Given the flaws in his skill set, it would be surprising if the leap happened in 2024-25, but player development can sometimes occur in a linear fashion. There is clear room for improvement, and it’s possible he tops out as a solid yet ultimately unspectacular player. On the other hand, history suggests that it isn’t a bad idea to bet on a teenager in Ligue 1 with some tangible results. It’ll be interesting to see where Désiré Doué goes next, because it’s possible that in the future, he’ll be thought of as one of the best players to have ever come from Rennes’ academy.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every developing transfer story on FotMob thanks to our active news feeds, club pages, and dedicated transfer centre. Download the free app here.
Our Major League Soccer expert James Nalton explains his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday and picks out three more standout players from the latest round of action.
It was a statement win for Dean Smith’s Charlotte side against reigning Supporters’ Shield title winners and 2024 challengers FC Cincinnati.
Charlotte came away with an impressive 3-1 win, and Westwood assisted all three of the goals.
A deep cross from the right halfspace for Iuri Tavares opened the scoring, then a neat through-pass for Liel Abada following some good pressing made it two.
Cincinnati were close to making it 2-2 after Luciano Acosta had already pulled a goal back, but the Argentine star saw a penalty saved by impressive Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina who was unlucky not to get an All-Star call-up.
Westwood then whipped in a corner for Kerwin Vargas to make it 3-1 and the game was won.
The English midfielder finished the game having created five chances and with a pass success of 93%.
“He controls the game really well when we need him to,” Smith said of Westwood’s performance.
“He understands the game. He knows how to slow it down when he needs to and knows how to quicken it up.”
9.1 FotMob rating: Facundo Torres, Orlando City
Orlando went a goal down early on against New England but Facundo Torres contributed to what was a great comeback win for the Lions.
His three shots in this game had a combined xG of just 0.19, hardly great chances, but his xG on target was 1.44, showing how good his finishing was.
Both of his goals were perfectly placed left-footed finishes into the corner of the goal from the right wing.
Ramiro Enrique scored in between Torres’s brace to give Orlando a 3-1 win on the road.
Three more standout performers
9.2 FotMob rating: Ryan Gauld, Vancouver Whitecaps
The familiar double-act of Gauld and Brian White were in top form again for the Whitecaps as the Canadian side defeated St Louis City 4-1.
Gauld assisted the first of White’s two goals to open the scoring and assisted the final goal of the game scored by Fafá Picault in added time at the end of the game.
That second assist also involved some determined defensive work to win the ball back before releasing Picault.
In between all of that, Gauld created six chances in total, in what was another display of his creativity from open play and set pieces and his all-round importance to the team.
9.0 FotMob rating: Christian Ramirez, Columbus Crew
This weekend’s meeting between Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew was not only a repeat of last year’s MLS Cup final but also pit two MLS coaches linked with the vacant United States men’s national team job against each other.
LAFC’s Steve Cheundolo has been heavily linked with replacing Gregg Berhalter, while many would like to see Columbus’s French coach, Wilfried Nancy, get the job.
Columbus came out on top in last year’s MLS Cup final, and did so again here, winning 5-1 in Los Angeles.
Christian Ramirez was on fire, heading in the opener and glancing in a free-kick cross from Alexandru Matan. Ramirez ended the game with an xG+xA of 1.23.
Cucho Hernández chipped in with a Golazo, fairly standard for him these days, and Diego Rossi and Matan got on the scoresheet too.
Columbus have two games in hand on league leaders Inter Miami, and at this stage look like a team that will really challenge Lionel Messi et al for the regular season title and the MLS Cup.
9.0 FotMob rating: Santiago Moreno, Portland Timbers
At this stage it’s a case of guess which Portland Timbers attacker will feature among the best players this week, it seems such a regular occurrence.
The third player of their attacking trident behind striker Felipe Mora is Santiago Moreno, and it is he who just gets the nod over the similarly impressive Evander this week.
The Timbers defeated a Suppoerters’ Shield (league title) chasing Real Salt Lake 3-0. It was RSL’s first away defeat since their trip to Miami in February.
Some great work at the byline from Moreno led to the cross and the opener for Mora. Moreno scored a well-executed half-volley to make it two before Evander rounded off the win.
The Colombian winger created six chances in total for an expected assist score of 0.8.
Last week the official Major League Soccer Twitter account posted about the MVP race, listing Luciano Acosta, Chicho Arango, Cucho Hernández, Denis Bouanga, and Lionel Messi, Timbers’ coach Phil Neville responded with a Tweet saying “Evander???????????????????”.
But how about Santiago Moreno???????????????????
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
While most football fan’s attention was quite rightly on the finals of the European Championships and the Copa America over the weekend, we were present for another rather unique experience in the world of football.
Hosted by Tromsø, a North Norway side based in the Arctic Circle, and kicking off at 10pm local time, the top flight clash with KFUM was played at a time of year when it is light for 24 hours a day.
This first ‘midnattssolkamp’ was a chance for relegation threatened Tromsø to escape the relegation zone against a newly promoted side punching well above their weight in recent times. KFUM are a humble club representing the sports association of the local YMCA in Oslo, Norway’s capital city and they are playing at the highest level in their 85 year history.
As it turns out, KFUM won the game thanks to a late winner from Momodou Njie, a result that sees them sitting eighth in the table.
For more images from the game, please check out @fotmobapp on Instagram and TikTok.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from Norway’s Eliteserien live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
Euro 2024 is now in the history books. Spain clinched their fourth European Championship with a 2-1 win over England in Berlin. And the new European champions dominate the FotMob Team of the Tournament with six players making the XI. But who else joins the Spanish sextuple and why do they make the cut?
Without further ado, here’s your Euro 2024 FotMob Team of the Tournament.
Goalkeeper: Giorgio Mamardashvili
The Valencia shot-stopper was part of a Georgia team that really captured the imagination of the neutrals at this tournament. The 23-year-old found himself in the Team of the Matchday in two of the opening three games as he helped Willy Sagnol’s men escape the group.
Against Czechia in a 1-1 draw,Mamardashvili made 11 saves and faced shots with an Expected Goals on Target total of four. It was one of the performances of the competition.
Right-Back: Jules Koundé
Perhaps a surprise name. Koundé did go under the radar for France in this tournament. The 25-year-old played his part in Les Bleus keeping four clean sheets across six matches. He also finished the competition having created 11 chances from his right-back role. In one particular eye-catching performance against Belgium, the Barcelona defender created five chances. He also made two appearances in the FotMob Team of the Matchday.
Centre-Back: Pepe
The 41-year-old simply refuses to grow old. The Porto centre-back was one of the best defenders at the tournament, helping Portugal to three clean sheets in his four starts. He finished with an average FotMob rating of 7.7. Against Czechia, he posted a tournament-high personal best with an 8.1 rating. In that game, he completed 93% of his attempted passes while also completing 100% of his dribbles, winning two of his three tackles and seven of his nine duels.
Centre-Back: Aymeric Laporte
It really wouldn’t be a surprise if a number of top European clubs were looking to bring Laporte back to the continent after his showing at Euro 2024. The former Manchester City man looked right at home against some of the best players in the world and, at 30, he’s still got a good few years left in the tank. He appeared in two Team of the Matchday XIs while impressing against Georgia (8.2 rating) and against hosts Germany in the quarter-finals in a game he posted a rating of 7.7.
Left-Back: Marc Cucurella
A surprise name for Spain. Not just in the starting XI but in the squad entirely. Earlier in the summer, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville singled the Chelsea man out as a potential weak link that could cost La Roja, saying: “The Spanish defence, it’s got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re going to go all the way. I have to say that him being at left back is a good example of why we think that.”
Safe to say Cucurella made Neville look extremely naive. The former Brighton full-back appeared in the Team of the Matchday on three occasions, he was the standout performer in the win over Italy and he assisted the winner in the final.
Midfield: Toni Kroos
Kroos ran the show for Germany on what was his farewell tour. Across his first four showings, his lowest FotMob rating was 8.1. He was one of the key reasons why many people tipped the hosts to go far in the tournament. Julian Nagelsmann’s side lost to eventual winners Spain in the quarter-final. Kroos wasn’t anywhere near as influential as he had been in earlier games but he was still a standout performer for Germany, completing 92% of his passes and creating two chances in the 2-1 defeat.
Midfield: Fabián Ruiz
Ruiz barely appeared for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 last season so his inclusion was a bold decision by the Spain manager. He more than justified Luis de la Fuente’s faith in him.
He finished the tournament with the highest average FotMob rating of the tournament (8.04). The 28-year-old scored two goals and claimed two assists, as well as appearing in four Team of the Matchday XIs. Rodri was named as the Player of the Tournament but there’s a strong argument that Ruiz should’ve won that particular award.
Midfield: Dani Olmo
In what turned out to be an unbelievable tournament for Olmo, the 26-year-old finished as the joint-top scorer despite not being a starter for Spain. He made three appearances in the FotMob Team of the Matchday too.
The versatile RB Leipzig midfielder scored the winner against France in the semi-final and also found the back of the net in the quarter-final victory over Germany. He finished with an average FotMob rating of 7.92, an average that only Ruiz could better.
Attack: Lamine Yamal
What a tournament the young Barcelona forward had.
Yamal, who only turned 17 on Saturday, was named the Young Player of the Tournament and it was truly deserved. The Spain attacker finished with four assists, including one in the final. He also scored one of the goals of Euro 2024 in the semi-final win over France. He finished the competition having created the most chances (19) and the most big chances (eight).
Attack: Cody Gakpo
Gakpo was another player to finish as the joint-top scorer at Euro 2024. The Liverpool utility man scored on three occasions and also registered an assist for the Dutch in what was an eye-catching tournament on a personal level. The 25-year-old, who played his part in the Netherlands reaching the semi-finals, finished with a FotMob rating of 7.66. To go along with his four goal involvements, Gakpo also carved out 12 chances and four big chances.
Attack: Nico Williams
After this showing, you can understand why so many clubs are reportedly courting the Athletic Club sensation. He finished the tournament with two goals, one of which arrived in the final, and an assist. Williams racked up an 8.2 FotMob rating against England. The recently turned 22-year-old created 13 chances across his seven outings, as well as four big chances. He was also averaging 2.4 successful dribbles per 90.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from Euro 2024 live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
