Preview

Apr

2025

Preview: Forest looking to complete a double over Amorim’s Man United

High-flying Nottingham Forest away may be the biggest test yet of whether there’s any substance to Manchester United’s recent upswing.

By Ian King

Pre-and-post International Break form

Both Nottingham Forest and Manchester United go into their meeting at The City Ground in decent form. United are four games unbeaten in the Premier League and through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, while Forest have taken seven points from their nine and got through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1991 at Brighton last weekend.

H2H History

In January 1990, Alex Ferguson famously went to The City Ground in the FA Cup needing a win to stay in his job. He got it, and the rest of that story writes itself. Things aren’t quite that bad for Ruben Amorim. Not yet.

More recently, Forest have won two of their last three against Manchester United and beat them 3-2 at Old Trafford last September. But United did win on their last trip to The City Ground, in the FA Cup Fifth Round last February, and it is also worth remembering that prior to these last three games United had won the last eleven in a row, a record stretching back to 1995/96.

Key players

What an evening it would be for Anthony Elanga to show United what they gave away. They sold him to Forest for £15m in the summer of 2023. Since then, Elanga has made 65 Premier League appearances for Forest, scoring ten goals, and managed a hat-trick of assists in Forest’s recent 7-0 demolition of Brighton.

Whichever way you cut it, Manchester United continue to be heavily dependent on their captain, Bruno Fernandes. His hat-trick against Real Sociedad in the Europa League made it five goals in his last three games in all competitions, while he has three goals and three assists in his last five Premier League matches.

Team News

Manchester United’s early FA Cup elimination gave them a break, and Amorim can welcome back Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Altay Bayındır and Tom Heaton. Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu has now served his suspension, but Lisandro Martínez, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Ayden Heaven and Jonny Evans will all be absent.

Nuno Espírito Santo has a couple of significant doubts. Chris Wood ran into problems with his hip while on international duty with New Zealand, and is a major doubt for this fixture. And there was a fresh worry on Saturday, when Morgan Gibbs-White collided with a goalpost at Brighton. He’ll be in need of assessment before starting.

Prediction

This match does feel like something of a summit. Forest are where United may feel they should be, and with both teams in decent form this does have the vibe of a pretender to the throne staking their claim. But we should believe the evidence of our own eyes. Forest are A Good Football Team, and winning this fixture would be confirmation of what we already know. I’ll go 3-2, though in the full knowledge that anything could happen tonight.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Apr

2025

Preview: Arsenal get back to action against Marco Silva’s Fulham

Arsenal host Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday as Mikel Arteta’s side desperately attempt to cling onto their title hopes.

By Matt Smith

Marco Silva’s men will be looking to overcome the disappointment of being eliminated from the FA Cup at the weekend as they continue to fight for the European places in the league.

The Cottagers have picked up some impressive results over Arsenal in the last few seasons, and are unbeaten in their last three meetings. The last time the two sides met, they couldn’t be separated as goals from Raúl Jiménez and William Saliba saw the game end 1-1 earlier in the season.

Team News

Arsenal have received a major boost heading into the game with Mikel Arteta confirming that Bukayo Saka will be available for selection once again. The England international is yet to feature in 2025 after undergoing surgery. In more disappointing news, Riccardo Calafiori will be unavailable after picking up an injury on international duty.

Fulham aren’t expected to have any fresh fitness woes, with Silva confirming that there is ‘nothing serious’ except a few knocks and some tiredness from the Crystal Palace clash.

Defence over attack

Arsenal have been one of the most impressive sides in the Premier League this season when it comes to their defensive performances, conceding just 0.8 goals per game, fewer than any side in the league. Going forward is where the issues lay, and losing Saka for a large portion of the campaign undoubtedly hampered their impact in the final third.

The Gunners have created 45.7 expected goals this season, ranking them seventh in the division. If they are hoping to win the Premier League, they’re going to have to show more of a threat in the final third.

Fulham a tight-knit unit under Silva

Similar to Arsenal, the Cottagers are a difficult side to penetrate and have conceded just 33.4 expected goals this season, only bettered by the Gunners and Liverpool. The addition of Joachim Andersen at the back has helped their cause, meaning they’ve conceded just 1.3 goals per game on average.

The defeat at home to Crystal Palace in such a crucial FA Cup tie might have knocked some of the wind out of the sails of Fulham, but they’ll need to bounce back quickly if they want to stand a chance of winning the incredibly tight race for Europe.

The return of Saka could be key

Despite Saka missing the whole of 2025 so far, the England international still leads the way for goals and assists combined for Arsenal. Saka has also created the most big chances (19), has the highest expected assists tally (5.6) and averages a higher match rating than any other player in the squad (7.76).

Arteta simply doesn’t have another player who can replicate what Saka produces. There’s an argument to suggest he could be rested with a Champions League clash against Real Madrid coming up, but even a 30-minute cameo against Fulham could make all the difference for Arsenal.

Prediction

Winning the Premier League title is still mathematically possible, so we’re not expecting the Gunners to slip up. We’re going for a 2-0 Arsenal win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Bournemouth and Man City round off the FA Cup quarterfinals

Bournemouth host Manchester City in the quarter-final of the FA Cup at the Vitality Stadium as the Cherries go in search of their first major trophy.

By Matt Smith

Andoni Iraola’s side have in fact never reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, but they come up against serial trophy winners Manchester City, who are looking to find a silver lining in what has been a disappointing season.

Bournemouth actually got the better of Pep Guardiola’s men the last time the two sides met, securing a 2-1 victory in their first meeting of the 2024/2025 Premier League campaign. Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson struck for the home side that day, with Joško Gvardiol netting a late consolation.

Team news

Iraola will be without two of his star performers for this one, with Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen both suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the competition. It’s a crucial blow for the Cherries, but Iraola has confirmed that Marcos Senesi is edging closer to full fitness and could replace Huijsen.

City should have no fresh injury concerns heading into this game. Rodri, John Stones, Nathan Aké, and Manuel Akanji remain on the treatment table, but Oscar Bobb has recently returned to action for the U21s.

Bournemouth dropping off after impressive start

Bournemouth enjoyed a sensational start to the Premier League season, which saw them in contention for a European place. However, in recent weeks, the Cherries have dropped off drastically, failing to win (in 90 minutes) in their previous five matches.

Iraola’s side have been one of the most impressive sides going forward in the competition so far. Only Manchester City (12.9) have created more expected goals in the FA Cup this campaign than Bournemouth (8.9) Justin Kluivert has created eight chances for his team-mates in the competition, but he’s only provided one assist.

City scoring at will in the FA Cup

Although Guardiola’s side have struggled in the Premier League and Europe, they’ve been finding the back of the net with ease in the competition. The Citizens have scored 4.3 goals per match this campaign, more than any other side.

City have also created a whopping 26 big chances, double the number of Wolves who have created the second-most in the competition. The attacking quality of City needs no introduction, and on their day, the majority of sides in Europe will struggle to contend them.

Doku the danger man

Jérémy Doku hasn’t featured too heavily in the FA Cup so far, but with City only competing for one trophy, we could see Guardiola go full strength and start the winger. In the Premier League this season, Doku has produced 6.82 successful dribbles per game, comfortably more than any other player.

*Doku’s possession stats, Premier League 2024/25*

Due to injuries, Bournemouth are likely to line up with Lewis Cook at right-back. Although he’s performed impressively in that position, he’s naturally a midfielder, so that could be an interesting match-up at the Vitality Stadium.

Prediction

Although City have struggled this season, the thought of Guardiola’s side going without a trophy feels unfathomable. We’re going for a 1-1 draw, with City advancing in extra-time.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Top of the table Barcelona face Girona

Barcelona players barely had any time to recover from a grueling international break, earning an impressive 3-0 win over Osasuna on Thursday night – just 72 hours after jumping off the plane. It’s something they’ll have to get used to; Hansi Flick’s side face Girona as their manic schedule continues.

By Alex Roberts

Without a win in their last five games and sitting down in 13^th, it’s fair to say Girona have failed to build on last season’s Champions League qualification. Losing Artem Dovbyk and Savinho has essentially made their attack impotent.

Top of LaLiga, Barcelona have no such issues, actually, they can’t stop scoring. In the league alone they’ve bagged 78 goals. It’s getting a bit out of hand to be quite honest.

*Barca average 2.8 goals per game in LaLiga*

Real Madrid thought THEY had scheduling issues

Earlier in the season, Carlo Ancelotti bullishly said his side would refuse to play if they didn’t have at least 72 hours rest. Barcelona would be so lucky. The Catalonians have a massive EIGHT games (including this one) over the next three weeks.

Flick wasn’t quite so entitled about the situation, but he was clearly furious about their hectic next few weeks in his presser ahead of the win over Osasuna, saying: “I don’t want to speak about my reaction, I think it is not good.”

He of course went on to speak about it, in some depth, but he has every right to be annoyed. The Osasuna game was ‘indefinitely’ postponed because of the unfortunate and untimely death of beloved club doctor Carles Miñarro Garcia. The powers that be should have been more sympathetic.

A stand out in a struggling side

Girona have been poor this season, but Yangel Herrera has not. The Venezuelan is the heart beat of Michel’s squad, sitting in the pocket between the defence and his fellow central midfielders.

Herrera’s four goals and three assists can only be bettered by veteran striker Cristhian Stuani, who has eight goal contributions for Girona this season. That’s not bad for defensive midfielder whose main job is to start attacks rather than finish them.

Barcelona’s midfield is arguably the best in the world at the moment, at the very least it’s the most balanced, even with Dani Olmo set to miss the next couple of weeks. Herrera will have his work cut out, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t up to the challenge.

Maybe Barca shouldn’t sell Frenkie de Jong after all

The Dutchman has been linked with a move away from Camp Nou since he walked through the door. It’s not entirely his fault, the club’s ongoing financial issues have forced them to try to sell one of their prized assets.

De Jong has refused to leave, however, and over the past few weeks, he’s shown exactly why Flick and Co should do absolutely everything they can to keep him around. Much like Herrera for Girona, he is the base from which everything builds.

With a 94.1% pass accuracy and a 66.7% long ball accuracy, he’s one of the best ball players in the world, never mind LaLiga. Barcelona have had plenty of transfer flops over the past decade or so, De Jong isn’t one of them.

*LaLiga as it stands before Sunday’s games*

Prediction

Barcelona score loads of goals and Girona don’t, it’s as simple as that really. We’re going to go with a comprehensive 4-0 win for the league leaders, to restore Barca’s three point advantage over Madrid.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Preview: Real Madrid looking for routine win as Leganés visit the Bernabeu

Think about Real Madrid and it’s usually, glitz, glamour, trophies and transfers. But the truth of arriving at those big-ticket moments is about doing the job during the more mundane, run-of-the-mill matches like this: a home match against a relegation struggler where the expectation is of nothing more than a forgettable, routine victory.

By Karl Matchett

The cucumber growers are not a banana skin

It’s Leganés who come to town on this occasion, with both they and Los Blancos just a single position and a handful of points in the table shy of their seasonal objectives – but there any similarities end. Real Madrid are second in LaLiga, chasing down Barcelona who have a three-point lead with ten games to go. For Leganés, it’s relegation they seek to avoid, but they lie 18th, the final drop-spot, in a congested battle to avoid falling to La Segunda.

Los pepineros don’t have a great track record of spoiling the party against Madrid; they’ve never won a game against them from nine LaLiga meetings and results this term were 0-3 in league play and 2-3 in the Copa, both games at the Butarque rather than the Bernabéu and the latter featuring a heavily-rotated Real side.

Recent form

More recently, Real have won seven of their last eight and haven’t lost a fixture played at the Santiago Bernabéu since November. They have LaLiga’s best home record too this year, four points more than Barcelona after the same games, or the same points as Atlético after playing two at home fewer. For Leganés, it’s six defeats from the last eight and one away win in LaLiga all season – though, to be fair, that did come against Barcelona of all teams. It’s reasonable to expect that if they survive it will be based on home form – five wins from 14 so far – not trips to the title challengers, yet even a surprise draw would go a long way to helping considering the four teams 15th to 18th are separated by just one point.

Team news

The usual suspects are unavailable for the long haul for Real, including Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão, and the shorter-term doubts such as Thibaut Courtois and Ferland Mendy are unlikely to be risked either given the Copa semifinal coming up in midweek. Leganés have their own long-term issues with left-backs Borna Barišić and Enric Franquesa both sidelined but are otherwise at full capacity.

Key player

Ultimately these types of matches tend to be settled by greater final-third quality, even if performance levels aren’t in top gear. But sometimes that means someone needs to be the spark to turn a stroll into a success and Federico Valverde is frequently that someone for Real Madrid. He’s won more duels than 98% of similar LaLiga players, won the ball back in the final third more than 84% and has had more shots on target than any other central midfielder. A true team dynamo from deep.

*Valverde’s defensive numbers, LaLiga 2024/25*

Prediction

Bringing it back to the top then: an ultimately forgettable result in the context of the season with a routine Real Madrid win, 3-0.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Preview: Inter Miami return to action vs. Philadelphia

Inter Miami get back to it against Philadelphia Union having been one of only two MLS teams not to play during the international break. Will Lionel Messi be rested and recovered enough to feature as they face the league leaders?

By James Nalton

An international break for Inter Miami but not for MLS

Inter Miami, along with their would-be opponent that week, New England Revolution, were spared from playing during the international break while all other MLS teams did.

This means they have played one game less than the rest of the league, but despite that are still just two points off the top of the table.

Inter Miami’s ability to keep up with the other teams while balancing games in the Concacaf Champions Cup, playing a good chunk of the season down to ten men, and the absence of Messi for several games is a good sign as they look to retain their Supporters’ Shield trophy and finish top of the overall MLS standings once again.

This weekend’s opponents will be a good test of this, as they have already threatened to be one of Miami’s challengers at the top of the table.

Philadelphia Union’s impressive start

Philadelphia Union have just entered their first season since 2014 without Jim Curtin as their head coach at the start of it.

Former St. Louis City coach Bradley Carnell took over ahead of the new campaign and has the team playing their brand of pressing football with renewed vigour.

They shot to the top of the Eastern Conference thanks to the goals of Tai Baribo and the creativity of left-back Kai Wagner, along with the team ethic instilled by Curtin and continued by Carnell.

Only Columbus Crew have won possession in the final third more than the Union, and they the highest FotMob rating in the league so far in 2025.

If Carnell’s side click, they could cause problems for Miami in and out of possession.

See Messi Play?

It’s becoming a regular section in these previews. Will Messi play?

Messi didn’t make the Argentina squad for this international break after picking up a groin injury in Inter Miami’s game against Atlanta the week before.

He’s been back in training, but not fully and has clearly been nursing the injury.

It would be a surprise to see him miss international duty and play so soon after, and there’s a chance the club are eyeing one of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal legs against LAFC for his return.

*Top FotMob average ratings in MLS, Messi and Wagner in the top three*

The Champions Cup balancing act

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has done well to balance his squad and manage early season progress in two competitions.

However, Concacaf’s Champions League and Copa Libertadores equivalent, the Champions Cup, has now reached the quarterfinals stage, where Inter Miami will face one of the strongest continental teams in MLS, Los Angeles FC.

LAFC have qualified for the Champions Cup twice in the last five seasons and finished as runners-up on both occasions.

It will be a big test for Mascherano’s team, and if they are prioritising continental progress early in the season, then this could affect their lineup for the game against Philadelphia.

Prediction

Union have won all three of their road games this season, and if Tai Baribo continues his goal-scoring form, they could cause an upset and head back to Pennsylvania with a memorable 2-1 victory.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Barcelona play rearranged fixture vs. Osasuna

Barcelona host Osasuna on Thursday evening in a highly controversial fixture that has prompted anger from both clubs.

By Graham Ruthven

Playing catch-up

This fixture was originally postponed earlier this month due to the death of Barca team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.

The rearranged fixture was therefore always likely to congest the schedule for both teams, but neither are happy with the game being played so close to the international window when some players won’t be long back from national team duty.

Barca and Osasuna both failed in their appeals for the fixture to be moved, meaning the two teams faced the prospect of two games in just four days – Barcelona play Girona on Sunday with Osasuna up against Athletic Club.

Despite the scheduling controversy, Barca start the final stretch of the club season in excellent shape. They have won their last seven league games in succession and sit top of LaLiga. The Catalans are title favourites at this point.

For Osasuna, though, the hope is that the international break gave them the opportunity to reset after a six-game winless run across all competitions.

While Vicente Moreno’s team have a six-point cushion on the relegation places, they must find form quickly to avoid being sucked into trouble near the foot of the table.

Key players

For club and country, Lamine Yamal is the brightest spark on the pitch. He proved this by scoring a crucial goal for Spain in their UEFA Nations League win over the Netherlands. The teenager will likely be Barca’s main threat against Osasuna too.

Nobody has scored more goals for Barcelona this season than Robert Lewandowski and the Polish striker is expected to lead the line for the Catalans on Thursday, although Ferran Torres could be a rotational option.

*Barcelona’s top scorers in LaLiga, 2024/25*

Pedri and Gavi will control the game in central midfield with Frenkie de Jong currently in good form as the midfielder who gives Barcelona a different dimension due to his eye-catching dribbling ability.

Osasuna have already beaten Barca once this season and will look to recycle the game plan that worked back in September by exploiting the Catalans’ high defensive line.

Ante Budimir netted in that match, and has 15 goals to his name in LaLiga this season. The Croatian will pose a threat once more at Montjuïc with Rubén García and Aimar Oroz two others to keep an eye on.

Team news

Ronald Araújo and Raphinha are expected to be back in the Barcelona squad, but after playing for Uruguay and Brazil respectively on Tuesday night it’s possible both players could start Thursday night’s game on the bench.

Pau Cubarsí is a doubt after picking up an ankle injury while playing for Spain in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. However, Iñigo Martínez is back in training after recovering from a knee issue.

Osasuna will be without Bryan Zaragoza after the on-loan Bayern Munich winger was forced off against Getafe before the international break.

Lucas Torro will serve a suspension while Enzo Boyomo will be in the same situation as Araújo and Raphinha having played for Cameroon earlier this week.

Prediction

We’re expecting Barca to head in to the weekend with a three point advantage at the top of LaLiga, winning this game with a minimum of fuss, despite all the noise pre-match: Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and 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

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

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)

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