Preview

After a summer full of international football, the 2024/25 season is already set to get underway in England. As is tradition, the Community Shield will start proceedings by pitting Premier League winners Manchester City against FA Cup holders Manchester United.

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By Neel Shelat

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New Names, Same Issues For United?

Despite their FA Cup triumph, Manchester United had a big decision to make in the summer regarding head coach Erik ten Hag. An eighth-placed finish in the league and some of the worst underlying defensive numbers not just in England but across Europe’s top five leagues were big causes for concern, but the new management brought in by INEOS’ takeover decided to stick with the Dutchman and bring him reinforcements in the transfer window.

The signing of Leny Yoro as well as the various other names they have been linked to suggest that United are attempting a defensive renovation, but their performances and results in recent friendlies have seemingly reinforced the idea that the problems go beyond personnel and down to a tactical level.

The injury issues that plagued the Red Devils last season have not gone away either, as Yoro had to undergo surgery very soon after joining, Rasmus Højlund and Tyrell Malacia are out for the foreseeable future, while Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf are both doubtful for this match.

Stability Promises Success For City

On the other side of Manchester, City have enjoyed an incredibly peaceful window. The only signing they have made has been Sávio from sister club Troyes, so their expenditure this summer is by far the lowest since the Abu Dhabi-led takeover. They are yet to announce any major departures either, although that may soon change with Julián Álvarez reportedly set to join Atlético Madrid. Even then, their squad will be almost identical to the one that won the Premier League last season.

The most important transfer news for City this season will be about Pep Guardiola’s contract, which expires next summer. Regardless of whether or not he stays further, they look primed for success in 2024/25 at least.

Can Ortega Stake A Claim To A Starting Spot?

There was a good deal of speculation around Ederson and a potential move to Saudi Arabia this summer, but it looks like he will be staying for now. The Brazilian goalkeeper’s fitness is a doubt for this game, so Stefan Ortega might get a chance to continue making his case to become City’s number one. He might not have the same long passing range, but he is about as comfortable with the ball at his feet and potentially a more composed shot-stopper.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Once there were 24, but now there are two. England play Spain in the European Championships final in Berlin, a match between two teams who have taken wildly different routes through the tournament to reach this final showdown.

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By Ian King

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Spain have already set a tournament record by becoming the first nation ever to win six games out of six while receiving widespread plaudits for their progressive expansive football. Their star player only turned 17 yesterday, and is already being hailed as a generational talent. 

England, on the other hand, have scrambled there, requiring a stoppage-time equaliser and a penalty shootout to get through their quarter-final and a last minute winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final, all set to a deafening din of criticism at their style of football.

In truth, Spain aren’t quite as good as they’ve been hyped up to be and England aren’t as bad. Spain needed a goal a minute from the end of their quarter-final to beat the host nation Germany, while the way in which they took their foot off the gas during the second half of their semi-final suggests that they could also be suffering some degree of the same fatigue that has been so evident in England’s performances in previous matches. 

There has been an inherent contradiction throughout this tournament, regarding Gareth Southgate’s team this summer, in that cautious play has come about while they have something of a patchwork defence. This, it seems, is the most likely way in which they lose, with wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal tormenting their defence.

Yamal already has more assists to his name than anyone else. Williams has been helping out in both attacking and defensive positions. Rodri has been one of the players of the tournament in the heart of midfield, controlling the tempo of games and demonstrating a boundless passing range. 

Is there any hope for England? They start as underdogs, but this is a team of talent and it is reasonable to say that they have incrementally improved as they have progressed. The first half of their semi-final demonstrated a sharp upward step in their improvement trajectory, and if the psychological benefits of late goals and shootout wins are worth anything, then the mood of the players themselves should be buoyant.

This is a daunting challenge for a team that has lost five and won just two of their last eight meetings. England may take some heart from the fact that they won 3-2 in Sevilla, but they may take a little less from the fact that this was almost six years ago. 

If the match is tight, then England definitely have a shout. They have plenty of players who’ve already demonstrated that they can do this, but whether they’ll get another opportunity to do so this time around is a different matter altogether.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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You can follow every game from Euro 2024 live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

The second Copa América semi-final pits arguably the two most rousing teams at this tournament against each other.

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By James Nalton

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Uruguay scored nine goals in the group stage, and Colombia scored five in their quarter-final against Panama alone. We’ll gloss over Uruguay’s quarter-final against Brazil and hope the… let’s say different kind of entertainment in that game, was an aberration.

Uruguay are coached by Marcelo Bielsa and have Darwin Núñez leading the line. This can lead to some entertaining unpredictability and bursts of all-out attacking play, and they’re not afraid to go long to the bustling striker.

The directness of Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri has also stood out in this regard.

At the same time, Bielsa’s side have one of the best defensive records in the tournament so far. The one goal they did concede was a 95th-minute consolation strike scored by Panama’s Michael Amir Murillo. 

Watch this Uruguay team and wonder why midfielder Nicolás de la Cruz has never played in Europe, then see his collection of trophies won with River Plate and consider he might not have needed to.

The impressive Venezuelans were the highest-rated team at this tournament, but Uruguay aren’t far behind them.

Colombia aren’t bad, either.

If you hadn’t watched any of the Copa América so far and were reading a preview of a Colombia knockout game exclaiming James Rodríguez the star of the show, you might think the article is from ten years ago. But this is happening here and now, and it is to be savoured.

This isn’t just some nostalgia trip, or a manager playing a player in their thirties because they feel they have to. 

Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo is utilising James in such a way that it has led to the most productive tournament from the attacking playmaker since he starred in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

James leads the way for assists in this tournament with five, goals plus assists combined (6), chances created (15), and has the highest FotMob rating of any player at this Copa so far.

Only Lionel Messi has a higher expected assists score, both in total and per 90 minutes, and if James’s stats were attached to Messi, the Argentine would be receiving tremendous plaudits.

There’s a focus from James to go with his world-class technique which is especially apparent at set pieces. This, combined with the quicker, direct, tricky players such as winger Luis Díaz and midfielder Richard Ríos, has formed an attacking unit for Colombia that can be unstoppable.

Both Díaz and Ríos are among the top dribblers at this tournament, while in defence, right back Daniel Muñoz of Crystal Palace has also stood out.

Both these teams have been well supported at this tournament, so on and off the pitch this promises to be a passionate semifinal match in Charlotte.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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You can follow every game from Copa America live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

The second semi-final at EURO 2024 takes place on Wednesday evening in Dortmund as the Netherlands and England do battle to see who will have the privilege of facing Spain in Berlin for Sunday’s final.

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By Nathan Evans

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Both nations have faced similar frustrations during their respective campaigns, with Ronald Koeman’s side finishing third in Group C, while the Three Lions have been rather lacklustre from an attacking perspective – in contrast to how they looked on paper before the competition began. 

But that all now goes out of the window as Signal Iduna Park hosts the latest clash between two footballing nations who have shared some notable past meetings. From Koeman’s antics during the pair’s famous 1994 World Cup qualification match to the Netherlands’ 3-1 extra time victory in their last head-to-head fixture during the UEFA Nations League finals, a new chapter will be written this midweek. 

To say this semi-final is an intriguing affair would be an understatement. England would have been considered heavy favourites for this match from a pre-tournament perspective but given Gareth Southgate’s sides lack of cutting edge and in-game energy so far, the Dutch seem the side to beat on Wednesday. 

But despite their limitations at this tournament in Germany, England have really built a resilience that has not been seen from them in a long, long time. A 95^th minute Jude Bellingham equaliser against Slovakia in the Round of 16 highlighted that first, before Bukayo Saka managed the same feat versus Switzerland in last Saturday’s quarter-final. 

The Three Lions even looked incredibly comfortable during the ensuing penalty shootout, dispatching all five of their spot kicks with absolute conviction, a far cry from prior competitions that have cost them so dearly. 

Even despite that outcome, it’s clear to see that Southgate’s side will simply have to perform better during the 90 minutes to keep this talented Dutch outfit at bay. Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has looked excellent on the left wing at EURO 2024 to date, netting a joint competition-leading three goals, whilst his national and club teammate Virgil Van Dijk remains a rock in the backline. 

Additionally, Xavi Simons remains more than capable of producing magic at the drop of a hat in midfield and in Denzel Dumfries, the Netherlands still possess one of Europe’s most potent attacking full backs. 

As a result, expect England to remain in their back three shape, as seen against the Swiss in their quarter final victory, as they’ll try to suffocate the Dutch attack where possible. Then England fans will be hoping that their side can finally click and reach their full potential in order to qualify for a second successive final at the UEFA European Championships. 

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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You can follow every game from Euro 2024 live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.