The Pulse of Football

Oct

2024

Serie A is enjoying the fruits of another influx of British players

The juxtaposition of Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour sitting atop Serie A with Napoli has caused a considerable amount of whiplash back in the UK, but these two aren’t the only British players currently playing their trade in Italy.

By Ian King

Indeed if anything, we’re going through something of a golden age for players from the British Isles going to play in that particular country, something not seen since the 1980s and 1990s.

At present there are fourteen players from the UK in the first team squads of Serie A clubs, and perhaps even more surprising than this is that five of them – more than a third – are from Scotland. As well as Gilmour and McTominay, there’s also Lewis Ferguson, who’s the captain of Bologna, Liam Henderson of Empoli, and Che Adams at Torino.

With no representatives from Wales or Northern Ireland the other nine players are all English, and they’re a curious bunch, ranging from new signings to squad players and a couple of first team regulars. A total of nine clubs out of the twenty in the division have a player from England, Scotland or both.

The club in the deepest with English players is Milan, who currently have Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori, as well as Tammy Abraham on loan from Roma. It has to be said that Milan haven’t had a very strong start to the season. They’re currently 6th in Serie A and have lost both of their first two matches in the Champions League group stage.

With eight games of the league season having been played, Tomori and Loftus-Cheek have both been ever-present in the league while Abraham has only missed one game. None of the three were selected by Lee Carsley for the England squad for the current round of Nations League matches against Greece and Finland.

*Milan starting XI vs. Leverkusen, Champions League 2024/25*

Milan are the only one of the traditional big three of Italian football to have any British players whatsoever; neither Inter or Juventus have any. Clubs of this size want their players from the elite end of the spectrum, but neither really quite have pockets quite deep enough to justify throwing a nine figure sum at a young English starlet.

One place above Milan are Udinese, who feature Keinan Davis, who ran up almost 150 appearances for Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Watford before leaving for Udine in the summer of 2023. He only made eight appearances last season but has already featured in six of their seven Serie A games so far.

Napoli lead the current table, their spine infused with steel produced by the Men of the Clyde, but what of the other Scots? Che Adams has had a reasonably successful start to life with Torino, with three goals in his seven Serie A appearances. His team are in 7th place in the table, level on points with Milan. Lewis Ferguson is now in his third season with Bologna, where he is the captain.

Liam Henderson, meanwhile, is the most travelled of them all. He hasn’t played in Scotland since falling out of favour at Celtic and only making one appearance throughout the whole of the 2017/18 season. Since then he’s carved himself out a decent journeyman career in Italy, with spells at Bari, Hellas Verona, Lecce and Palmero, as well as three spells with Empoli, where he’s currently playing. Empoli are 10th in the table, a point behind Milan and Torino.

Henderson has been joined at Empoli this season by Tino Anjorin, who signed for the club during the summer after finally giving up the ghost of being given much of a chance by Chelsea. He only made one Premier League appearance for them, and was sent out on loan to Lokomotiv Moscow, Huddersfield Town and Portsmouth before Italy beckoned. He’s made four league appearances for them so far, which is four times as many chances as he ever got at Stamford Bridge.

Two places above Empoli – though the teams are tied on points and only separated on goal difference by one goal – are Atalanta. Ben Godfrey left Everton for Bergamo in the summer for £10m after four years at Goodison Park, but has only made one appearance for last year’s Europa League winners so far, though he did also play the last seven minutes of their opening Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of October and came off the bench against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup as well.

But of course, football isn’t all about chasing for European places, league titles and glory, and three of the English players currently playing in Italy are very much at the coalface at the moment, fighting a battle against relegation. Bottom of the table Venezia don’t have any British players, but the three clubs above them have one each.

Separated from the foot of the table by goal difference alone, Monza have Omari Forson, who rejected a new contract with Manchester United after having made four League appearances for them last season, while Brooke Norton-Cuffy, a former Arsenal academy product who was loaned out to Lincoln City, Rotherham, Coventry City and Millwall, is playing for Genoa.

And finally, Samuel Iling-Junior was signed by Aston Villa from Juventus – for whom he played 34 times last season – during the summer and immediately loaned back to Serie A, to play for Bologna. He scored a stoppage-time equaliser for them on his debut away to Como, but has only played twice for them since.

The reputation of English players abroad is growing. In Germany, Harry Kane is still averaging a goal a game for Bayern Munich, while Conor Gallagher and Jude Bellingham have impressed in Madrid, albeit for different clubs. But it’s Italy that has really invested significantly into English and Scottish players, taking a chance on players who have been happy to take a gamble on travelling in a way that was less common just a generation ago. And why shouldn’t they? It’s better than sitting on the bench in the Championship or slowly drifting from view. By comparison, winter in Italy sounds like quite the career-reviver.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Brazil to Kazakhstan: 6 Title races to watch in 2024

As men’s club football begins to resume after the latest international break, the summer leagues will enter the home stretch of the season. Some intriguing and exciting title races are set to play out all around the world, so we have picked out six to keep an eye on.

By Neel Shelat

🇧🇷 Série A: Botafogo Seeking Redemption

The Brasileirão almost always delivers incredible drama right till the end of the season at all ends of the table, and this year is no exception.

At the bottom, giants such as Corinthians and Fluminense are involved in what promises to be an almighty relegation scrap. At the other end, Botafogo find themselves top of the pile again, with less than ten games to go.

Fogo were in a significantly better position at this time last term as they were eight points clear at the top, but their title challenge was unravelling. Head coach Luís Castro’s departure for Al Nassr midway through the season proved to be the turning point, as the club went through three different managers and won just two of their last 17 matches. Ultimately, they not only lost the title to Palmeiras but also fell out of the top four and missed out on direct qualification for the Copa Libertadores.

The record champions are once again leading the chasing pack, but Botafogo are in much better form with an ongoing 11-match unbeaten streak. They are also in the Libertadores quarterfinals having defeated Palmeiras in the quarters, so they will have to carefully balance their commitments on both fronts if they are to lift their first major trophy in over 50 years.

🇨🇱 Primera División: Colo-Colo’s Comeback

Record Chilean champions Colo-Colo endured a rocky start to the season after hiring former Boca Juniors head coach Jorge Almirón. A quarter of the way into the season, they had accumulated just 10 points from eight matches – half the tally of league-leaders Universidad de Chile. Since the halfway point of the season, though, they have been on an incredible run which has earned them 31 out of 33 possible points.

Thanks to that streak, the title is now in Colo-Colo’s hands. All they have to do is win their four remaining matches, which include a couple of fairly tough tests against Palestino and Deportes Iquique.

🇫🇮 Veikkausliiga: HJK’s Dominance Set To End

Record Finnish champions HJK have won each of the last four Veikkausliiga titles and six of the last seven, but they will not be defending their title this year having lost their last three matches and failed to win any in the Championship group. However, they will still play a key role in determining where the title ends up.

Leaders KuPS will host them on the final matchday, needing a win to be sure of completing their first-ever league-cup double. Should they falter, Ilves – they of the brilliant Lynx cat badge – will have the chance to win their first league title in four decades.

🇮🇪 Premier Division: Five-Way Fight To The Finish

The League of Ireland Premier Division has been rather dominated by Shamrock Rovers in recent years, so 2024 has been a welcome change. The record champions could well win a fifth-consecutive title, but the battle is sure to go right down to the wire as just six points separate the top six with three rounds of fixtures left.

Shelbourne, the side led by Damien Duff, who were in the second tier just three years ago, are on a shocking run of form but somehow still lead the way. They have won just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions, so they will need to get their act together if they are to hold on. Derry City had the chance to overhaul them by playing their two games in hand over recent days, but they could only draw both of those. Derry will still get their chance, though, with the two set to meet on the final day in what could prove to be a showdown for the title.

Should the top three falter, Galway United might just be able to win their first top-flight league title with a burst to the finish. Their last three fixtures are all winnable, so a 59-point tally could give them an outside chance. They will first have to overcome fourth placed St. Patrick’s Athletic, who have an equal chance of winning their first league title in a decade.

🇯🇵 J1 League: Debutants Machida Zelvia Set To Fall Short

Over in Japan, newly-promoted side Machida Zelvia have enjoyed an incredible top-flight debut season. They mounted a shock title charge for about three-quarters of the season and spent a great deal of time at the top of the standings but look set to ultimately fall short.

With five matches left, they are now six points behind the leaders. The two main contenders now are defending champions Vissel Kobe and Sanfrecce Hirsohima, who are separated by just a point.

They will both have to balance their title charges with continental commitments, so we could be in for more twists and turns yet.

🇰🇿 Premier League: Half The League In The Title Race!

Perhaps the most exciting and unpredictable title race of the year is unfolding in Kazakhstan, where over half the league remains in mathematical contention!

Before the end of the season, these sides will face off as many as nine times, so the path to the top remains wide open for everyone. Defending champions Ordabasy are currently on course to win their second-ever league title, but they will have to fend off direct challenges from three rivals in their remaining four fixtures.

Aktobe, the second-most successful club in Premier League history are currently second as they seek their first league title in over a decade. FC Yelimay, who spent nearly a decade in the second division before winning promotion last year, are surprisingly level on points with them.

They could both be leapfrogged by Kairat Almaty, but the team to watch have to be FC Astana. The record champions are currently fifth but could jump up to second by winning their games in hand, though they have four fixtures against title contenders. Tobol Kostanay and Atyrau are the outsiders at the moment, but if there is one thing this season has taught us, it’s that anything is possible.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Check out the Leagues tab on FotMob for a comprehensive list of the divisions we cover – most with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2024

Captain Raphinha flourishing in new role at Barcelona

New life has been breathed in to Raphinha’s Barcelona career under manager Hansi Flick.

By Luke Bissett

Ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window, Raphinha seemed extremely likely to depart Barcelona. President Joan Laporta had expressed his desire to sign two of Spain’s stars from Euro 2024, Dani Olmo and Nico Williams, while Raphinha represented value as a saleable asset on the club’s balance sheet.

The Brazilian however remained in Catalonia and has quickly become one of the side’s standout performers under new manager Flick. Barca have enjoyed a scintillating start to the season, collecting 24 points from their opening nine games in LaLiga – their best start to a campaign since 2017-18 (25 points), and Raphinha has undoubtedly been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the German manager’s arrival.

The 27-year-old has begun the season in superb fashion, recording six goals and five assists across all competitions. Indeed, it’s the second most goal contributions of any LaLiga player this term, behind only teammate Robert Lewandowski (14). It took Raphinha until February of last season (24 appearances) to match his goal involvement tally of this campaign (11 in 11 games).

The attacker has cut a completely new figure under Flick, forming one of the most potent attacking tridents in European football alongside Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal. Barca have scored 34 goals in all competitions across 2024-25, the most of any side in the big five European leagues. Into his third season in Catalonia, Raphinha finally appears to be making good on his reported £55million transfer fee. He has impressively instated himself as an integral element of the attack – playing more minutes than any other Barca player across all comps this term (751).

Nominally used as a left winger in Flick’s 4-2-3-1, the 27-year-old has also been deployed as a No. 10 due to Olmo’s recent absence through injury. Yet regardless of his starting position, Raphinha has been afforded somewhat of a ‘free role’ in the set-up, giving him the ability to drift into central areas. This has allowed the Brazilian to ghost into more threatening parts of the pitch, thus enabling him to provide a real impact in the final third.

*Raphinha shooting stats, LaLiga 2024/25*

The attacker’s new-found freedom has been a breath of fresh air, showcasing just how much of a difference-maker he can be. He has seen his influence grow tenfold, boasting more open-play shot-ending sequence involvements than any other player in the big five European leagues (63).

There has never been any question over Raphinha’s productivity, yet he’s now consistently demonstrating it an alarming rate.

The 27-year-old poses an immense goal-threat, which has been certainly aided by his shackle free role. 11.9% of Raphinha’s touches have been in the opposition box this term (62/520), his highest percentage in a LaLiga campaign. The forward exhibits a real decisiveness in his end product, aided by his ability to generate opportunities out of nothing. In fact, he ranks third for both shots (30) and shots on target (14) across the Spanish top-flight.

Rewarded for his frightening form with the LaLiga Player of the Month award for August, Raphinha has been a central figure in the Barca attack. An attack that is recording a staggering goal return. Flick’s side have netted 28 league strikes – the most of any side after nine LaLiga games since Barcelona themselves in 2016-17 (29 goals).

One of the outstanding benefits to the Brazilian’s central role is that it has allowed him to operate as the key playmaker in the side. He has created 39 chances across all competitions – more than any other player in the big five European leagues. Raphinha has always possessed pure quality when delivering a final pass, however his decision-making has now vastly improved – offering a much more potent profile in the forward-line.

*Raphinha passing stats, LaLiga 2024/25*

The attacker is a constant livewire, always seeking to drag Barca up-field via his positivity on the ball – highlighted by his assist for Lewandowski’s second goal in their 3-0 win over Alavés last time out. Raphinha’s actions are always purposeful, as he displays a real impetus when leading the side’s fast-paced attacks. His 19 carries into the opposition box is the fifth-most of any player in LaLiga this season, while he is always seeking to attack space left behind.

By having the freedom to drift into central areas, Raphinha is always looking to combine with his teammates through neat interchanges. Though he does not shy away from progressing the ball via his elite ball-carrying. LaLiga defences retreating at a rapid pace as the Brazilian drives with the ball before unleashing from range or sliding runners in-behind has become an all too regular occurrence. And Barca have ensured to embrace this efficiency. Only Kylian Mbappé (77) has received more progressive passes than Raphinha in LaLiga this season (66).

One of Raphinha’s most impressive assets is his selfless work rate off the ball, something which is perfectly aligned to Flick’s counter-pressing philosophy. In fact, Barca have the lowest PPDA in LaLiga this season (8.7), displaying just how effective their press can be. And the attacker is the lead protagonist with his relentless running and energetic defending from the front.

This leadership has certainly been recognised by Barca fans and his teammates alike. The Brazilian was voted in as one of the four club captains by his fellow players in the summer, while the recent injury to regular captain Marc-André ter Stegen has led to Raphinha captaining the side in recent weeks.

From dispensable to essential, Raphinha is displaying his pure brilliance on a regular basis under Flick, and it is form which only seems to be amplifying.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush, the centre-forward pairing firing for Frankfurt

If there’s one thing Eintracht Frankfurt know how to do, it’s sell centre forwards for a mouth-watering transfer fee.

By Zach Lowy

After narrowly missing out on the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League Final, Eintracht sold attacking duo Luka Jović and Sébastien Haller to Real Madrid and West Ham for a combined €113 million, fetching a net profit of €99 million. They rebuilt their attack with Bas Dost (€7m) and André Silva (€3m) – Dost left after 16 months after struggling to make an impact, whilst Silva joined RB Leipzig for €23 million in July 2021.

Eintracht replaced Silva without spending a dime, with Rafael Santos Borré joining on a free transfer and playing a key role in their 2021/22 UEFA Europa League victory. Borré dropped to the bench following the arrival of Randal Kolo Muani, who took Frankfurt by storm with 40 goal contributions in 46 matches. One year after joining on a free transfer from Nantes, Kolo Muani returned to France and joined Paris Saint-Germain for €95m. To replace him, Eintracht repeated their formula by adding another young striker on a free transfer, with Omar Marmoush joining on a four-year contract from Wolfsburg.

“When Jesper Lindström left for Napoli, it looked as if Marmoush would be his replacement, but suddenly Kolo Muani was also gone,” said Christopher Michel, the leading Eintracht Frankfurt journalist for German outlet Fussball News. “Coach Dino Toppmöller recognized Marmoush’s qualities and spoke to him a lot and worked on his finishing. Toppmöller explained something important to him: he should have a plan for his finishes. Now, he is very intelligent and precise and uses his inside foot. As a result, Marmoush quickly became a top scorer and a crowd favorite – he took a big step forward in Frankfurt.”

With Lucas Alario and Borré heading to Internacional in the winter window, Eintracht elected to sign Hugo Ekitiké on loan, who had not played a single match in six months after being frozen out of PSG’s first-team squad. Whilst he was understandably rusty with one goal contribution in his first 11 appearances, Ekitiké scored his first Bundesliga goal on April 19 in a 3-1 win against Augsburg, prompting Eintracht to trigger their purchase option for a club-record €16.5m, less than half of what PSG had paid for him (€35m) just a few months ago. It didn’t take long for him to justify their investment, scoring 3 goals and 1 assist in his next 4 appearances and kicking off the 2024/25 campaign with a brace and an assist in a 4-1 cup win vs. Eintracht Braunschweig.

For the first time in three years, Eintracht Frankfurt are no longer playing with one centre forward, but two, and it’s clear to see that Toppmöller’s tactical gamble is paying off. Eintracht have scored 14 goals in their first six league matches, whilst only Stuttgart (27) have produced more big chances than Eintracht (23). Marmoush has stolen the show with 8 goals and 12 goal contributions – sitting three clear of all Bundesliga players in both categories. He leads the league in Expected goals on target (5.8), Shots on target per 90 (3.0) and big chances created (6), and is the highest-rated Bundesliga player on FotMob (8.58). Ekitiké, however, isn’t far behind at 7.78 (12th overall), and he transcends his Egyptian counterpart in various metrics like accurate passes per 90 (18.3 vs. 12.9). Not only is the Frenchman more involved in the construction of possession, but he’s also more active out of possession, averaging 1.0 clearances per 90 and 1.0 interceptions per 90 and winning 0.75 possessions per 90 in contrast to Marmoush (0.18 for all).

“Marmoush tends to arrive from deep with a lot of power and pace, whilst Ekitiké is the technically finer, fleet-footed and more complete striker,” said Michel. “The good thing is both are versatile, quick and are top finishers. When Ekitiké and Marmoush are in front of goal, a goal is almost guaranteed. Ekitiké is the technically stronger player, he has great technique, can get through in tight spaces, is strong on his feet, and is also good with his head. Marmoush, on the other hand, has a bit more power and speed. He needs a bit more space to play, but when he gets that space, he’s almost unstoppable. That’s why they complement each other so well.”

Apart from a 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on August 24, Eintracht have scored two or more goals in each of their eight matches this season, whilst they’ve also found the back of the net on three or more occasions in each of their last four. They fell behind within 15 minutes of their most recent match-up vs. Bayern Munich but quickly equalized via Marmoush, who latched onto Ansgar Knauff’s pass and took a touch to isolate himself from Raphael Guerreiro before firing a low shot past Manuel Neuer. It wasn’t long before he was terrorizing Bayern’s defense again, coming out on top in a physical duel with Dayot Upamecano, racing from the halfway line to the edge of the box before teeing up Ekitiké, who blazed a robust shot between Neuer and the near post. Upamecano equalized immediately whilst Michael Olise restored Bayern’s advantage after the break, but Eintracht would have the last laugh in the 94th minute as Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe headed the ball into the path of Marmoush, who steadied himself before caressing the ball into the bottom left corner with the poise and precision of a veteran marksman.

“In his current form, Omar Marmoush has nothing to envy about any striker in Europe,” said Michel. “His performance against Bayern Munich was world-class, and his duel against Upamecano is one that not many strikers win. He said this summer that he wants to be one of the three best players in the world. I don’t know if he can do that, but it commands my respect when a player follows up such an announcement with such a performance.”

Eintracht haven’t finished inside the Bundesliga’s top four in 32 years, but they find themselves on track to end that drought, sitting third in the Bundesliga, one point behind Bayern and RB Leipzig, one above Freiburg, and two above Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin. With the exception of Willian Pacho, who joined PSG for €40m, they’ve kept hold of their entire core and replenished their backline with the signings of Arthur Theate and Rasmus Kristensen. After a transitional first season under Toppmöller, Eintracht are finally starting to click on all cylinders and find consistency with a high-tempo, counter-attacking style predicated upon their striker partnership. They’ll be counting on both Marmoush and Ekitiké next Sunday as they look to end a run of 10 straight defeats at the BayArena and beat Bayer Leverkusen in their own backyard for the first time since December 2013.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Angel Gomes is carving a niche for himself in the England set up

Angel Gomes starred for England in their win over Finland and it has become clear over the last month that he will have a role to play in the future of the Three Lions.

By Kaustubh Pandey

In many ways, Angel Gomes wasn’t meant to be where he is right now and that is what made his appearances against Ireland and Finland rather pleasing. He put on a show against Finland yesterday, weeks after doing the same against the same opponent.

About four years ago, this would have seemed unimaginable for the then 20-year-old Gomes, who was leaving Manchester United after the expiry of his contract and then linking up with Lille on a free transfer.

This came after years of promise for United, where he showed glimpses of his talent in the first-team and also made a mark in the youth sides, famously making his club debut while coming on for the legendary Wayne Rooney. In the process, as a 16-year-old midfielder, Gomes became United’s youngest player ever since Duncan Edwards, something that essentially put a huge amount of expectation on his shoulders.

Towards the end of his stint at Old Trafford, a perception had developed that his stature was too diminutive to play in an attacking midfield role and despite United’s issues in that position before the arrival of Bruno Fernandes, Gomes never really played in the number ten spot. Often, it was felt that there was a lack of trust from United’s side, which led to his exit and the eventual move to Lille.

After impressing in a loan stint at Boavista, the midfielder became a squad player for Les Douges. Progress was slow, as he adapted to a new league, playing less than 1000 minutes in his first season in Ligue 1 and that is when he was used closer to goal by manager Jocelyn Gourvennec.

In the 2022/23 season, Paulo Fonseca arrived after his stint at Roma. The club lost Amadou Onana, Sven Botman and Renato Sanches but it didn’t discourage the new Portuguese boss at all.

That is when Gomes’ position changed, as Fonseca began to use the London-born player in a deeper role to make the most of his ability to play against a press, operate between the lines, and break them with his range of passing.

*Season summary since leaving Man United*

He got six assists in the 2022/23 season, taking the tally to ten in the 2023/24 season. While it was a drop in goal contributions from how he scored six and assisted three at Boavista, it was perhaps a better use of his strengths as a player and it negated his weakness.

His numbers from last season showed that he is so much more involved in build-up than an advanced midfielder would be. He is constantly carrying the ball forward, linking up play, taking about 70 touches per 90 minutes and playing 54 accurate passes per 90 minutes as well.

That is quite a transition for someone who started as a number ten and while coming through at United, the expectation was that Gomes would develop into the player who plays that final killer pass. He still does supply that, creating 2.35 chances per 90 minutes this season, and generating an Expected Assists per 90 minutes tally of 0.24 but there is clearly more involvement in the dictating of play as well.

His ability in deeper midfield is also helped by the fact that Gomes wins a majority of his duels too.

This season, he has won 60 percent of his duels and has won 57 percent of his aerial duels too, showing that he isn’t just someone who does on-the-ball work. He does benefit from a smaller frame, allowing him to be quite fleet footed in his approach when he is on the ball.

England’s recognition of his talent was probably a bit late as despite having a press-resistant and versatile midfielder in their pool, they largely ignored him until Lee Carsley’s temporary arrival at the helm.

But now, England are blessed with options like Gomes, Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo, with Declan Rice being the more established player in the heart of the park. It would be unlikely to see Mainoo and Gomes play together at the same time due to the similarity in their profile and height, and that is why the Lille star’s first start came alongside Rice, against Finland at Wembley in September.

In that game, Gomes played 86 forward zone passes – more than anyone else on the pitch. In total, he played 123 passes and that was the most in the game and an incredibly high figure.

It was against a side that stayed deep, allowing Gomes the room to play those passes but even against a side that presses high, the midfielder has the skill set to play between the lines, beat a man and break presses. That is similar to what Mainoo does but Gomes also provides a bit more versatility due to his background of being an attacking midfielder.

Yesterday, again against Finland, Gomes started alongside Rice, grabbing a beautiful assist for Jack Grealish’s opening goal and he played a total of 100 passes, behind only two other England players.

*England passes vs. Finland, Nations League, October 2024*

He was also more involved in the final third than he was in the first game against Finland, showcasing his versatility in the heart of the park.

While more challenges are yet to come, England now have someone who can dictate play really well against a side that sits deep. Gomes can carve them open, shift their block from side to side, and find gaps to make an impact.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Preview: Germany vs. Netherlands, two of Europe’s oldest rivals meet in Munich

One of international football’s more enduring grudge matches turns another chapter on Monday evening when Germany face the Netherlands in the Nations League.

By Ian King

The match will also mark the passing of a Dutch football legend; Johan Neeskens, the midfielder who starred in their team in the World Cup final in both 1974 and 1978, died earlier last week at 73 years of age.

The two sides met just a month ago at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam and played out an entertaining if inconclusive 2-2 draw. With three games now played Germany lead the group following Friday’s Deniz Undav-inspired win in Bosnia, while the Netherlands sit second after securing a late draw against Hungary following the sending off of captain Virgil van Dijk.

Germany remain in something of a state of flux. Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gündogan and Thomas Müller all retired following their quarter-final Euros loss to Spain in the summer. These four players had 451 caps between them, and that’s a lot of experience to lose. The upside to this is that it’s the sort of environment in which head coach Julian Nagelsmann has thrived before.

Furthermore, injuries to further key players including Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Niclas Füllkrug, leave their squad looking a little threadbare. The upshot of all of this is that 21 year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz is their fifth most-experienced current player, and he has just 25 caps. Of their entire midfield and attack, only Wirtz, Serge Gnabry, Robert Andrich and Pascal Groß have more than ten, and only two have more than twenty.

A combination of van Dijk’s suspension for this match, and the enforced absence of Manchester City defender Nathan Aké, who was carried off with a hamstring injury during the corresponding match last month, will be the main pre-match concern in the Dutch camp. Memphis Depay is left out of the squad by Ronald Koeman again, following his transfer to the Brazilian club Corinthians last month. Frenkie de Jong is, as ever, still recovering from his latest injury and will not be risked for the national team just yet.

Although it won’t be the first match for either side since his passing, the memory of Johann Neeskens will hang heavy over the evening. Half a century ago this year, he was in the Netherlands team that took West Germany all the way in the 1974 World Cup final. This rivalry will surely be set aside to commemorate the passing of such an important and influential player. It is to be hoped that the players can come up with an appropriate tribute to him on the pitch, as well.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Preview: England look to bounce back in Helsinki

After Thursday’s shock defeat to Greece at Wembley, it’s fair to say that the honeymoon period has ended for Lee Carsley, and although a first loss as interim England manager does not end his tenure, it may cast doubts on whether the former-Everton midfielder earns the role on a permanent basis.

By Dan Tracey

Carsley‘s tactical gamble was certainly a bold decision ahead of Thursday’s encounter, and with the question of who should play as England’s No. 10 being a hot topic over the summer, Carsley’s answer was to crowbar all of the potential candidates into the starting eleven against Greece.

It was a gamble that spectacularly backfired at Wembley and something that is unlikely to be repeated on Sunday when the Three Lions move on to Helsinki to face Finland – a team that that has already beaten by England in this current Nations League cycle.

That was the night where Harry Kane celebrated his 100^th international cap by scoring a second-half brace and after not being risked on Thursday, the Bayern Munich talisman will be itching to help his country return to winning ways.

Especially as only top spot in this four team mini-league secures automatic promotion to League A and following defeat in midweek, England find themselves three points off the pace now set by the 2004 European Champions.

A scenario that suggests that nothing less than a win will do in Finland and especially against a side that is yet to open their current Nations League account.

Things did look promising against Ireland on Thursday when Joel Pohjanpalo put Markku Kanerva’s men ahead in the first half. However Liam Scales would restore parity after the break and Robbie Brady would secure Ireland’s first win under new manager Heimir Hallgrimsson with just seconds of the game remaining.

A poor finish by the Finnish but with England’s lions currently wounded, Sunday’s hosts will now look to cause further anguish and it will be interesting to see if manager Kanerva unlocks the shackles that were on display at Wembley last month.

*Key stats, England vs. Finland, Sep 2024 (England represented by the lighter blue)*

Before Kane found his shooting boots after the interval, Finland’s resolve was rather robust in the first 45 minutes and if they can create the same levels of early frustration with a home support behind them, it may offer further impetus to attack their superstar opponents.

There’s no doubt that England will go into the game as favourites, but they had the same status against Greece a few days prior and if they fail to end the week on the high, the FA may have to re-think their plans as they continue the search for Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Oct

2024

Can a new approach improve Scotland’s results in the Nations League?

Battered and bruised after their dismal showing at Euro 2024 – where they finished bottom of their group with just one point – Scotland returned to action in the Nations League last month.

By Ross Kilvington

Facing life in League A, hopes were certainly diminished following the poor showings in Germany. The question was, would Steve Clarke be able to get the public back onside after a failure to qualify for the knockout stages at the Euros?

A Dismal Start

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Once said physicist Albert Einstein. While not going as far to dub Clarke insane, it appeared as though he hadn’t learnt his lessons from Germany.

Indeed, when Poland visited Hampden for the opening League A tie in the Nations League, eight players who started the 1-0 defeat to Hungary in Stuttgart retained their places.

Clarke did tweak his tactics, however. against the Hungarians, he persisted with three at the back, which clearly didn’t work.

For the visit of the Poles, the manager reverted to a 4-2-3-1 system, hoping to dominate the midfield while deploying Grant Hanley and Scott McKenna as the two centre-backs. Despite the change in approach, the Scots conceded twice in the first half.

Goals from Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay looked like it would earn Scotland an unlikely (and undeserved) point, but a Nicola Zalewski penalty in the dying embers of the match saw three points head back to Poland.

In the heat of Lisbon three days later, McTominay scored after just seven minutes. Was the Poland result a mere blip? Did Clarke’s men have it in them to secure their first win over Portugal since 1980?

The Portuguese came to life in the second half. Bruno Fernandes equalised shortly after the restart before Cristiano Ronaldo broke hearts in the away end with the winner just minutes from full time.

It was a marked improvement from the Poland defeat, no doubt about that, but questions marks remained over Clarke’s loyalty to certain players.

Will these losses impact the starting XI he unleashes to face Croatia in Zagreb on Saturday? Many of the Tartan Army will certainly hope so.

Fresh Blood and Old Faces

There were a few surprises in Clarke’s squad for the matches against Croatia and Portugal. Craig Gordan returns to the squad, despite his appearance against Finland before the Euros looking like his farewell.

Elsewhere, defenders Liam Lindsay and Nicky Devlin have been called up for the first time, while Andy Irving has been rewarded with a maiden call up having broken into the West Ham United side.

Familiar faces such as Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie and Andy Robertson once again feature in the squad, but by calling up Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan, is Clarke perhaps moving away from loyalty and giving chances to those who deserve it based on current form?

His stubbornness was a quality that helped forged an excellent team spirit, allowing Scotland to qualify for back-to-back European Championships. The performances in Germany and against Poland and Portugal last month indicate that he has to move with the times, especially with the pressure building.

A New Approach?

The 4-2-3-1 system which was used last month certainly looks like it could be worth utilising again during the next two Nations League matches.

Devlin can lay a claim to starting against the Croatians after a fine start to the season, while a new centre-back pairing must be found, as McKenna misses out and Grant Hanley has only played just 153 minutes all season.

Billy Gilmour and McLean will likely be deployed at the heart of the midfield, while it is the front four which could look a lot different than it did against Portugal.

Of course, McTominay has a firm grasp on the attacking midfield slot after his displays for Scotland over the previous 18 months. It isn’t just the fact the Napoli man has netted ten goals for his country since March 2023, but it is the importance of those efforts.

Two goals to see off Spain at Hampden. The clincher against Georgia a few months later. Opening the scoring against Switzerland at Euro 2024, the list goes on. He even scored after a minute for Napoli against Como last week, suggesting that he is enjoying life in Naples.

Clarke’s gambles should come on the flanks. Morgan and Gauld must replace John McGinn (injured) and Christie, especially considering their impact in the final third for their respective teams this season.

*Gauld vs. Morgan, MLS stats comparison, 2024 season*

Combined, the duo have registered 22 goals and 16 assists for Vancouver Whitecaps and New York Bulls. Compared to players in similar leagues, Gauld ranks in the top 3% for chances created, while ranking in the top 4% in MLS for winning possession back in the final third. These qualities could be well suited to Clarke’s tactical approach.

On the opposite flank, Morgan could offer a dangerous threat in the final third. Not only does he rank in the top 6% in MLS for total shots (86), but the winger even ranks in the top 2% for chances created when compared to his own peers.

Considering Che Adams’ excellent start to the season with Torino, he could be in prime position to add to his Scotland tally with both Gauld and Morgan flanking him.

Since swapping the south coast of England for Turin, the 28-year-old has already scored four goals, which should see him come back into the starting XI.

If Clarke repeats previous mistakes, Scotland could suffer another two defeats. But if he takes a gamble and goes with those players who are in form, the Scots could secure their first competitive win since September 2023.

It’s the hope that kills you.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Improving the fortunes of the USMNT could be Mauricio Pochettino’s toughest gig yet

If Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t aware of the scale of the job in front of him as the US men’s national team’s new head coach, it surely dawned on him during last month’s friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.

By Graham Ruthven

The 52-year-old’s appointment was confirmed between the two matches, meaning Pochettino wasn’t there in person, but he watched from afar as the USMNT suffered.

The defeat to Canada in particular exposed just how far off the expected standard the USA is right now. There was no coherent game plan. In and out of possession, the USMNT were shown up by a Canadian team coached by Jesse Marsch, an American who previously interviewed for the job Gregg Berhalter ultimately kept. Marsch had reason to be smug.

This current USA team was meant to be a golden generation. Players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna were supposed to lift the national team to new heights. Instead, the USMNT is stuck and has called on Pochettino to push them forwards and rescue the 2026 World Cup.

Under Berhalter, the USA was sliding towards a calamitous tournament on home soil. This summer’s Copa America highlighted how Berhalter’s team had regressed since the 2022 World Cup when the USA at least appeared to have given themselves a platform to build on. Ultimately, though, the foundations faltered.

Pochettino has under two years to prepare the USA for the 2026 World Cup. He has no time to waste in remoulding the national team in his own image, particularly because the USMNT doesn’t have to qualify for the tournament as one of three host countries. Pochettino will start with two friendlies against Panama on Saturday and Mexico on Tuesday and even those matches matter. Friendlies – and next summer’s Gold Cup – are all he has to work with.

Berhalter infamously stated he wanted to “change the way the world sees American soccer.” That always seemed like too grand a mission statement and Pochettino’s remit is indeed narrower. The former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur boss is reportedly only contracted until 2026. He will be judged in the micro, not the macro.

*The USMNT group table at 2024 Copa America*

Time might be Pochettino’s biggest opponent as USMNT head coach. The Argentine is renowned as a sharp tactician with a good feel for the modern game, but he may have no choice but to strip back his own ideological beliefs to point the USA in the right direction again. Pochettino might have to go back to basics.

“It’s most important to be simple, players need to not create too many complications,” said Pochettino during his first camp as USA boss in Texas. “The players cannot believe that when they’re going to arrive to their first day in Austin that we are going to be in the room spending two or three hours talking about tactics and different things. Most importantly, we need to settle a few concepts that I think are principle and after that I plan to develop with time.”

Some things will be out of Pochettino’s hands. Many of the USA’s best players are struggling for their club teams at this moment in time. Reyna, for example, has been plagued by persistent injuries for years. Even when he has been fit, the attacking midfielder has struggled for game time at Borussia Dortmund. In fact, Reyna has played more minutes for the USA in 2024 than Dortmund.

Until recently, Folarin Balogun was a peripheral figure at Monaco having made a €40m move from Arsenal last year. Even with the centre forward on a scoring run of three goals in his last three league games, Balogun has yet to be fully integrated into the USA attack. Adams, Sergino Dest and Tim Weah are all injured while goalkeeper Matt Turner hasn’t made a single Premier League appearance for Crystal Palace this season.

It might be the case that Pochettino simply doesn’t have the talent to guide the USA to glory at the 2026 World Cup, but US Soccer has rolled the dice by hiring an elite level manager. No national team at the USA’s level has ever made such an ambitious appointment. It could be argued that the USA’s hiring of Pochettino is the biggest managerial appointment in international football history.

Over 15 years of management, Pochettino has proved himself at all levels of the game. At Espanyol and Southampton, he had raised two teams beyond their perceived potential. He did the same at Tottenham, guiding the North London club to their first Champions League final in 2019. Even at Chelsea, as chaos took hold last season, Pochettino guided the Blues to a respectable sixth-place finish.

For all his experience in the game, though, Pochettino has embraced a new challenge by taking over the USMNT. This is his first job in international management and he could barely have taken on a more demanding one. The true measure of Pochettino’s USMNT will be taken at the 2026 World Cup and progress must be quick for this gamble to pay off.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Oct

2024

Preview: Lee Carsley looks to continue his 100% start as England take on Greece

Lee Carsley will be aiming to make it three wins from three games as interim boss of England, boosting his own credentials to perhaps take the job on full time.

By Karl Matchett

In truth, Nations League results perhaps won’t be the barometer by which the FA decide who their permanent successor to Gareth Southgate is, but certainly Carsley can’t be doing his chances any harm if he clocks up further wins and clean sheets.

A first squad which saw several surprise names called up has been replicated this time around, so chances for the likes of Rico Lewis, Angel Gomes and Noni Madueke could again be on the table after strong starts to their respective domestic campaigns. While another big talking point is the return of striker Dominic Solanke to the fold, seven years after his sole cap to-date, it will likely be the familiar faces who determine England’s fate against the Greeks – themselves top of Group B2 with six points as well, but a superior goal difference to the Three Lions.

Despite scoring one fewer, the numbers from fixtures against Ireland and Finland back England in this case: seven big chances, 4.3 xG across two games and 8.5 shots on target per game are top across the board in Nations League B groups…as might be expected, given they were relegated from the top tier in the previous edition.

The same questions remain for Carsley as would have been in place for anyone else after Euro 2024, with a couple of games never likely to yield the sole possible answers: where should Trent Alexander-Arnold play? What is the best midfield combination possible? And how many of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer should get in the starting lineup?

Quite aside from where they’ve performed this year, Carsley’s suggestion that at least two of that quartet can play from left-back is likely to be one experiment which is left aside, for now at least.

While there’s familiarity with some of the names in the Greek squad from playing in the Premier League, the truth is that there are too few elite-end performers in the Hellenic side to pose serious questions to England’s finest across 90 minutes. But in some respects, the best way to ensure focus and performance levels is to play those not assured of their place, thereby potentially levelling the quality level somewhat – and letting the Nations League remain a learning curve for squad and interim boss alike.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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