Page 183 – The Pulse of Football

Sep

2024

Franco Mastantuono: River Plate’s freshest gem

River Plate are among the biggest and most successful clubs in South America, so they have unsurprisingly seen a good few world-beating talents come through their academy. That production somewhat dried up in the 2010s but is back in full swing now, with Franco Mastantuono set to join a growing list of graduates to seal a move straight to some of Europe’s most elite clubs.

By Neel Shelat

The emergence of a world-class talent at River Plate has almost become an annual occurrence of late. Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez starred around the lockdown period and earned moves to UEFA Champions League regulars, and Claudio Echeverri will soon follow suit as his transfer to Manchester City has already been arranged. Next on the list will most likely be Franco Mastantuono, the attacking midfielder who broke into the first team at the age of 16 earlier this year.

Mastantuono was a part of Argentina’s squad for their home Under-17 Men’s World Cup in late 2023 in which Echeverri made his talents known to the world, but the younger creator did not start any matches. He was promoted to River Plate’s first-team squad ahead of the 2024 season nevertheless, and he took his chance with both hands by becoming the club’s youngest-ever scorer in a Copa Argentina match in February.

Mastantuono has gone on to consistently make an impact when called upon by registering three goals and two assists in all competitions so far, including a strike in the Copa Libertadores and a memorable late winner in Martín Demichelis’s last match in charge of the club. In the process, he has cemented his status as the next big thing to come out of Buenos Aires.

Mastantuono’s profile

Given their ages and similar positions, it is tempting to compare Mastantuono and Echeverri. The two are quite different players, though, not least due to their opposite-footedness and consequent tendencies to drift out to either side. Echeverri is much more of a high-octane ball carrier who thrives at speed, whereas Mastantuono is much closer to an old-school number 10 or Enganche, as they say in Argentina.

Demichelis certainly seemed to recognise this as he gave the teenage playmaker a great deal of positional freedom in a 4-3-1-2 formation. Mastantuono used this to regularly drop back and help progress the ball with his sharp link-up passing and carrying or drift wide and cut inside, showcasing his skilful dribbling.

*Possession stats per 90, Liga Profesional 2024*

Even at such a young age, Mastantuono is exceptional technically and stands out on the ball no matter what pitch he is on. He likes to take lots of quick touches with his left foot – which he favours quite heavily – and can jink past defenders with ease and even wriggle out of tight spaces, using his lean frame well to slip past opponents. Of course, he will still grow physically and become tougher to muscle off the ball, so his already outstanding numbers could get even better yet!

We said Mastantuono resembled a typical Enganche, so his standout quality obviously is his chance creation. The Argentine teenager has always shown brilliant spatial understanding, genius vision and perfect weight of passing with his left foot, so he can receive the ball between the lines and slip his fellow attackers in behind with through balls or even chipped passes which look quite beautiful when they come off.

*Passing stats per 90, Liga Profesional 2024*

Finally, Mastantuono also poses a shooting threat from range. He is a very powerful ball-striker with his left foot and never shies away from letting fly when given a sight of goal, although he could work on his accuracy. He also can be a threatening free-kick taker.

Where should Mastantuono move next?

Inevitably, the big question for an emerging talent of Mastantuono’s calibre always is about their next move. He already was the subject of serious transfer interest from Real Madrid this summer, although a transfer did not materialise in the end. Nevertheless, a move to one of the world’s strongest clubs only seems a matter of time for him.

The 17-year-old playmaker will not be short of suitors, but he must make a careful decision to ensure he continues to succeed in Europe. His profile is a rather unique one in the modern game, so not every club and style of play will suit him well.

Stylistically at least, Real Madrid is the best fit for him as Carlo Ancelotti gives his attackers a great deal of freedom, which is what Mastantuono seemingly needs to shine brightest. However, he will likely not get much game time for Los Blancos ahead of players like Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and a slightly senior creative midfielder of a very similar profile, Arda Güler.

The two other clubs who appeared to take the most interest in him this summer were Barcelona and Manchester United, but both of them have concerning records with young talents in recent years for different reasons. Manchester City might come knocking at the door after Álvarez’s departure has opened up a spot in their attack, but whether their heavily positional style of play will suit Mastantuono is a big question.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Can Enzo Maresca bring the best out of Jadon Sancho at Chelsea

Jadon Sancho was widely regarded as one of the most exciting youngsters in Europe when he burst onto the scene with Borussia Dortmund, but he’s yet to fulfil his massive potential.

By Matt Smith

Back in 2017, Sancho made the bold move to jet off to Germany to join Borussia Dortmund after coming through the academy at Manchester City. After a few years in the Bundesliga, it looked to be a near-perfect decision. The now-24-year-old flourished abroad, quickly becoming a key player for Dortmund, proving himself domestically and in the Champions League.

Fast forward to now, and Sancho has joined Chelsea on loan after a failed move to Manchester United as the sometime-England international looks to revive his career. It simply didn’t work out for him at Old Trafford, eventually re-joining Dortmund on loan for the second half of last season where he proved again that he still has something to give at the highest level.

Moving to Stamford Bridge, Sancho joins a host of attacking talent, meaning it’s not going to be easy for him to become a regular starter. A prime, on-his-day Sancho undoubtedly walks into Enzo Maresca‘s side, and it’s up to the Chelsea coaching staff to unlock that once again.

*Sancho possession stats per 90, Bundesliga 2023/24*

Although the 24-year-old was only on loan for the second half of the 2023/2024 campaign, Sancho’s numbers showed that he can still be a creative and exciting threat on the wing. Completing 3.40 successful dribbles and 0.32 expected assists per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga, Sancho made a real impact for Dortmund, and was perhaps slightly unlucky not to have achieved more in terms of goal contributions.

Sancho has predominantly played as a left-sided winger during his career, and the former United man will take plenty of confidence in comments made by Maresca in the summer. The Chelsea boss allowed Raheem Sterling to depart due to preferring a different style of winger, with Sancho arriving shortly after.

In the Champions League last season, only four players completed more dribbles per 90 minutes than Sancho. Competing at the highest level, Sancho was a threat in Europe and the Bundesliga, showing that he simply needed the right environment to thrive.

At Chelsea, Sancho will now be competing with the likes of Pedro Neto and João Félix on the left, so it’s certainly not going to be easy to nail down a place in the starting XI. His versatility could favour him, though, as he’s more than capable of playing on the right-hand side. In Maresca’s system, the left-sided defender often tucks inside in an inverted role, regularly leaving the left winger isolated. As a result, Sancho could thrive playing on the right.

*Potential Chelsea XI built with the line-up builder at FotMob.com*

Malo Gusto and Reece James are attacking full-backs who love to get forward and hold the width for their team. Sancho often uses the runs of teammates to drag players out of position and attack the space vacated, so partnering him up with an attack-minded right-back could help him flourish.

Although many fans of the game will argue that elite-level players should be able to adapt to any team, league, or system, there’s no doubt some need the right environment to express themselves. The numbers Sancho produced at Dortmund show he has plenty of talent, and he didn’t become a poor player overnight when he moved to Manchester United.

At Old Trafford, United have often played a counter-attacking style in recent years, with the likes of Marcus Rashford tasked with running in behind. This isn’t Sancho’s game – it’s not Maresca’s either – he’s a player that wants the ball to feet and to make things happen. Sancho averaged 64.25 touches per 90 minutes last season, while Sterling averaged 52.38. They are different profiles, and Sancho is much more suited to Maresca’s style.

It’s a heavily possession-based style with Maresca looking to pass teams to death, getting the ball into his attacking players, producing patterns of play in the final third with the ball on the floor. Sancho is a highly technical winger who is comfortable playing one and two-touch football, and there’s a good chance he’s going to work well with Cole Palmer drifting into wide areas to create overloads while an attacking full-back overlaps.

*Sancho season summary from the breakout years at Dortmund*

The signing of Sancho may be considered a bit of a risk considering, as a whole, he has been labelled as a flop in the Premier League. As previously mentioned, environment is everything, and there is enough evidence to lean towards to prove that Sancho is far from a poor player. If Maresca can help develop Sancho and get him to produce even 70% of what we saw at Dortmund, the Blues are going to have a player who can contribute significantly. With Chelsea competing in Europe and domestically, they will need quality in depth, and Sancho will be chomping at the bit to prove everyone wrong.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: Ireland vs. England

A Nations League Group B fixture probably wouldn’t be one to arouse too much interest and intrigue in the normal course of events, if we’re being totally honest, but it’s a fresh start all around as Republic of Ireland host England in B2 – and with plenty of talking points on either side before a ball is even kicked.

By Karl Matchett

Lee Carsley is, of course, in the dugout for the Three Lions: temporarily chosen to oversee the post-Gareth Southgate era, he has mixed up the squad, called in some unestablished names and generally looks to be giving alternatives a first real chance to impress – all against the nation he represented as a player 40 times.

But it’s also a first game in charge for Heimir Hallgrímsson, selected to lead the Irish side after an extremely lengthy search, yet he starts his tenure without the players who might reasonably be labelled his first-choice goalkeeper, centre-back and potential playmaker, with Gavin Bazunu, Shane Duffy and Josh Cullen all out.

As ever that will merely mean chances elsewhere and there’s a talented group of youthful attackers to choose from: Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Evan Ferguson and Michael Obafemi are all 24 or under, yet each have a dozen to 25 caps already. There is a group to build around and towards, for the head coach who can find the balance of defensive resolve and attacking intent. Whether Hallgrimsson is that boss, we’ll now begin to see.

Even so, most eyes will remain on England. There are quite significant squad alterations considering they just reached another major tournament final: four uncapped players, a dozen with ten or fewer appearances at senior international level. The usual questions aimed at England will resurface regardless of starting line-up: how to improve the attacking style, who to pair in midfield, who the third attacker should be alongside Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.

One answer appears to already have been given, though. Kyle Walker’s absence, Reece James’ injuries and Kieran Trippier’s retirement means Trent Alexander-Arnold is not only a definite right-back option, but the likely starter at last. He’s been to three Champions League finals and has won everything the game has to offer, yet at 25 he’s only set to win his 30th cap. Will the interim manager show the next permanent boss that the Liverpool man deserves trust where Southgate lacked it? Ireland and Finland as opponents won’t be definitive, but that’s just one of the new beginnings the Euro 2024 runners-up will be looking at.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Sunderland have got off to a good start under Regis Le Bris

With four games of the Championship season played, there is a slightly surprising name at the top of the table as we head into the international break.

By Ian King

Sunderland had an underwhelming 2023/24 season, finishing 16th and with the main talking point being what felt like the interminable pursuit of a new manager to replace the disastrous Michael Beale.

When a decision was finally reached, there was a feeling that it wasn’t the one that the club had actually wanted. Will Still had been commonly understood to be their main target, but he couldn’t be persuaded to leave Reims (before later heading to Lens), so they ended up going to Régis Le Bris instead. Le Bris was certainly an interesting choice. He continued the club’s French connection, arriving at the Stadium of Light from Lorient, where he’d spent the previous twelve years coaching the youth team, B team and eventually first teams, but Lorient had been relegated at the end of the previous season, which naturally raised questions for supporters of his next destination.

But now, with four games of the season played, Sunderland supporters have good reason to feel enthused. The team have started their season with four straight league wins, scoring ten goals and conceding just the one, putting them two points ahead of West Bromwich Albion at the top of the table. And those four wins have been mighty impressive. At home they’ve seen off Sheffield Wednesday with a very convincing 4-0 win and the freshly-relegated Burnley. Away from home, The Cardiff City Stadium and Fratton Park are never easy places to visit, but they came away from those matches with 2-0 and 3-1 wins.

In the summer transfer window, the big talking point was whether the club would be able to persuade Jack Clarke, their top scorer last season with 15 goals, to stay. The answer to that question turned out to be negative and Clarke went to Ipswich towards the end of August, but if anything this seems to have had a galvanising effect upon the rest of the squad. Certainly, the two games they’ve played since his departure have seen no drop-off in their impressive start to the season.

As such, the managerial travails that the club underwent last season are already starting to feel like a distant memory. The decision to sack Tony Mowbray in December 2023 with the club in 9th place in the Championship table was certainly a perplexing one. In a division in which a number of other clubs are steroid-pumped with Premier League parachute payment money, to what extent should it have been expected that the team should be pushing at the very top end of the table?

True enough, they’d finished the previous season in 6th place in the table, but with this having been their first season back in the Championship following a four-year exile in League One, it seems reasonable to suggest that just getting into the play-offs was a huge achievement in the first place and one that would be difficult to match. And on top of that, at the time of Mowbray’s sacking the team were just three points off sixth place in the table and a play-off spot.

If it was a gamble, it’s a gamble that failed. Michael Beale was Mowbray’s replacement, but three months later he was sacked after twelve games following the shortest managerial spell in the entire history of the club. The rot that had set in on the season, however, couldn’t be treated. Sunderland only won six league matches of the 27 that followed Mowbray’s sacking and they finished the season in a distinctly underwhelming 16th place in the table, while any hopes of reminding their extremely noisy neighbours Newcastle United that they still existed feel completely flat when, after having been drawn to play each other in the FA Cup Third Round, the Magpies coasted to a very comfortable 3-0 win at The Stadium of Light.

Mike Dodds took over the running of the club for the remainder of the season following Beale’s ignominious departure from the club, but there was little in the last three months of their season to suggest that he could be considered a permanent replacement. Will Still, the manager best known as the manager who Reims liked so much that they paid a €25,000 fine for every match that he was in charge while he completed his UEFA Pro Licence, was evidently the man that Sunderland wanted to replace him, but Still eventually walked away with what was reported as “concerns over investment and the make-up of staff”.

Ironically, after the long and ultimately fruitless pursuit of Still, it only took three weeks for them to alight on a replacement, and Le Bris certainly seems to have got his feet under the table at the Stadium of Light quickly. Romaine Mundle, who played alongside Jack Clarke in the academy at Spurs, certainly seems to be taking his chance. On the evening of Clarke’s departure for Ipswich he scored the winning goal against Burnley, and followed that up a week later by scoring their third goal at Portsmouth. It’s the sort of transition that will leave the club’s supporters with a warm glow as we head into this international break.

Of course, with a club the size of Sunderland there will always be expectations, and everybody–including by all reports Regis Le Bris himself–knows how toxic the Stadium of Light can turn when things start to turn sour. But it’s only six years since the club was plummeting from this very division, still in convulsions following years of mismanagement under former owner Ellis Short. Things didn’t improve much under his successors, and his successors’ successors have also tripped at points, as could be seen with the hasty decision to sack Tony Mowbray. But things are going well as of now, and what is the start of the season if not a time to dream of better? Sunderland supporters can be forgiven their daydreaming, following their team’s excellent start.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Thomas Frank’s Brentford are up and running without Toney

It was a matter of when and not if Ivan Toney would leave Brentford.

By Sam McGuire

The England international has been courted by a host of clubs ever since an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League back in 2021/22. The former Peterborough United striker found the back of the net on 12 occasions and registered five assists as the Bees claimed a 13th-place finish.

Reportedly a target for Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, Toney enhanced his reputation the following season, scoring 20 goals and contributing four assists across 33 appearances. Toney was believed to be viewed by Spurs as the ideal successor to Harry Kane if he was to depart, but having missed the end of the campaign after being suspended for betting offences, a move was put on hold.

He missed the first half of last season but still managed four goals and two assists in 1,449 minutes for Brentford in the English top-flight. He did enough to make it into Gareth Southgate’s England square for Euro 2024.

With just 12 months left on his deal, the Bees needed to cash in on the wantaway forward this summer. It was a surprise to see him still at the club when the new campaign kicked off. He missed out on the matchday squad. Yet the move to Al-Ahli still came as a surprise. The expectation was that he would remain in the Premier League but he’s now made the Saudi Pro-League his home. He’ll likely be paired in an attack containing Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez.

Last season, Brentford struggled without Toney. They finished 16th in the English top-flight and for periods of the campaign, it looked as though they’d be in a serious relegation battle. Thomas Frank’s side underperformed at both ends of the pitch, scoring fewer goals than they should have while conceding more than expected. In fact Expected Points had they 10th in the Premier League. That, alone, paints the picture of their campaign.

The general consensus was that the poor attacking display was tied to the absence of Toney. Being without the 28-year-old certainly didn’t help the Bees but it is also worth noting they had an a bit of an injury crisis. For example, Bryan Mbeumo, a player who started the season in fine form, missed over three months of the campaign with an injury. In total, Brentford suffered 29 injuries across 2023/24. It was severe enough for the club to launch an internal investigation into why they had such bad luck.

Speaking in April, Frank said: “Of course, it is serious — we have had too many injuries.

“We’re doing a big review into what kind of injuries we’ve had and how quickly they [injured players] have returned to be able to play. That’s what we look into across all the departments — the coaching staff, sports science, performance department and medical department. Everything is linked.”

Combined that with the fact Yoane Wissa, another key attacker, was away on international duty for a month and you start to see that while Toney’s absence didn’t help, it was one of many reasons why they underperformed rather than the main reason.

Brentford looked to futureproof their attack this summer with the signing of Igor Thiago. The centre-forward scored 18 in 34 for Club Brugge last season and his performances in Belgium convinced the Bees to part with a club-record £30million to bring him to England.

The new No. 9 suffered a meniscus injury in pre-season and probably won’t be seen again until 2025. The fear was that there would be a repeat of last season with Brentford having to avoid a relegation scrap.

Three games into the season, things are looking good for Frank’s side. They are currently sixth in the Premier League table and the attack, without Toney or Thiago, is impressing. Only Erling Haaland (seven) has more goals than Mbeumo (three) while Wissa is, once again, catching the eye. The 28-year-old has three goal involvements in three outings.

Brentford have a distinct style of play. They’re playing to the strengths of their attackers.

The Bees have averaged just 40% possession in their opening three matches, a figure which sees them rank 17th for this particular metric. Despite this, they rank fourth for Big Chances (11) and eighth for Expected Goals (4.9). They’re also eighth for Shots on Target per 90 (4.7). Frank has his team sitting deep and compact in an attempt to frustrate the opposition. This style also lures their opponents into pushing higher and leaving space for Wissa and Mbeumo to attack.

This strike force is perfect for counter-attacking football and Brentford, so far, are nailing it. There are no signs at all that Toney is being missed. And it is quite intriguing to see how the Bees will perform once Thiago returns from injury. They have a powerful, pacey attack with multiple goal threats. If they all remain fit, there’s every chance of a comfortable mid-table finish this season.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Is Viktor Gyokeres the next elite level striker?

Viktor Gyökeres can’t stop scoring.

By Graham Ruthven

Just four games into the new Liga Portugal season, the Swedish striker has found the back of the net seven times for Sporting, registering one assist for good measure too. Not even Erling Haaland has notched as many goal contributions to start the 2024/25 campaign.

At a time when many of Europe’s biggest clubs are looking for an elite level centre forward, Gyökeres stands out. He has the technical and physical attributes to reach the top. The 26-year-old was playing in the Championship as recently as last year, but his upward trajectory has been a steep one. With every goal Gyökeres scores, his reputation grows.

The numbers speak for themselves. Gyökeres is leading Liga Portugal for shots on target per 90 (3.3) and Expected Goals (xG) over the first four games of the season (7.0), highlighting how his goalscoring exploits are no fluke. He has picked up where he left off last season when the Swede scored an incredible 29 goals in 33 league games.

Gyökeres has the qualities of a pure number nine. His movement in and around the opposition penalty box allows him to take up good goal-scoring positions with the 26-year-old mobile enough to run in behind and break away from markers with quick jinks. Gyökeres’ finishing might be the thing that catches the eye, but his positional intelligence is what facilitates this.

As a frontman, Gyökeres has the physicality and hold-up play to bring others into the game. This doesn’t come at the cost of his possession play, though, with the Swede ranking highly for various possession statistics – Gyökeres is in the 99th percentile for touches in the attacking third per 90 as well as progressive carries per 90.

Something that separates Gyökeres from many other conventional centre forwards is his playmaking ability. Last season saw the former Coventry City striker register 10 assists in Liga Portugal with Gyökeres also creating two big chances in four matches played so far this season. He can do it all.

At 26, Gyökeres isn’t the youngest top-level centre forward, but his meandering career path has allowed him to develop different areas of his game. In the EFL, the Swede had to handle the physicality of English lower league football. He played as one half of a front two at times and as a lone striker at others. Playing under Mark Robins at Coventry was particularly good for Gyökeres’ growth.

Gyökeres scored 21 league goals in his final season at Coventry, but few could have envisaged how his development would so dramatically accelerate in Portugal. The €20m paid to The Sky Blues for the striker now must be considered one of the best pieces of business conducted by any club in Europe in recent times.

*Gyökeres season summary at Coventry City*

Rúben Amorim has built around Gyokeres as his attacking kingpin with Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão deployed either side of the Swede to give him service. Gyökeres certainly isn’t Sporting’s only high-value asset – see Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio and Marcus Edwards – but he is the rarest of commodities. Centre forwards like him are hard to find.

Amorim himself was linked with Barcelona, Liverpool and West Ham over the summer and is destined to test himself in a ‘Big Five’ league at some point in the future. Whenever Amorim moves on and wherever he goes, he will surely push for Gyökeres to follow him such has been his importance to Sporting’s recent success.

“It will be difficult for Viktor to stay at Sporting if Rúben Amorim decides to leave the club,” said Gyökeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya. “We had eight proposals for Gyökeres last summer [when he left Coventry City] and he decided to join Sporting for Amorim.” The two figures’ futures could prove to be intertwined.

A buying club might have to stump up €100m to land Gyökeres. This is what Sporting have set his release clause at, leaving the Portuguese champions vulnerable to losing their top scorer. The way Gyökeres is going, €100m could represent a bargain given the prices being quoted for other strikers operating on a similar level.

“I’ve already said – we can’t control this,” said Amorim when asked about Gyökeres’ release clause. “If a player who had a big impact last season leaves, it would mean a lot of money coming in. This is part of the way Portuguese clubs keep their teams competitive. I’m not worried at all. We’ll see what happens. If they leave, it’s a sign that a lot of money is coming in.”

Arsenal are believed to be admirers of Gyökeres. The Gunners could use an orthodox centre forward in the mould of the 26-year-old to push them closer to the Premier League title. Gyökeres might not be Haaland, but he is the closest to the Manchester City striker Arsenal are likely to get their hands on.

Manchester United are another Premier League club that would be improved by signing Gyökeres. Rasmus Højlund has potential at the number nine spot, but he doesn’t have the finishing instincts nor the playmaking ability of the Sporting centre forward. Gyökeres would be an upgrade.

For the time being, though, Gyökeres must continue to deliver for his current club. Sporting CP qualified for this season’s Champions League by winning the Portuguese title, giving Gyökeres the opportunity to prove his worth among Europe’s elite. For Sweden, the 26-year-old could also make an impact in the UEFA Nations League and qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

At his current scoring rate, Gyökeres is on course for 59 league goals this season. That, of course, is unlikely to materialise, but his blistering start to the season has only drawn further attention to one of the most reliable goalscorers anywhere in European football. The Lisbon club might ultimately have to sell Gyökeres, but they’ll have many more goals to celebrate before that happens.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

The footballing legends that retired from international football this summer

International football is back after two months, and this time, there are quite a few familiar faces that will not be appearing for duty in the first FIFA window of the 2024/25 season. Today, we’re taking a look at the various legends who retired from international football over the summer.

By Zach Lowy

Argentina

The sole non-UEFA inclusion on the list, Argentina are the reigning world and South American champions and managed to claim a second-straight Copa América title this summer after edging Colombia 1-0 by the thinnest of margins. When Lionel Messi hobbled off injured, Ángel Di María stepped up and delivered to lead the Albiceleste past the finish line in his 145th and final appearance. It is no coincidence that Argentina lost three finals in a row when Di María was unfit and won three finals in a row when he was available – he will go down as one of the greatest big-game performers of this century.

Belgium

Whilst Di María was able to ride off into the sunset with the Copa América 2024, Jan Vertonghen suffered the misfortune of scoring an 85th-minute own goal in a UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 match vs. France, the sole goal of the match. It was an unbefitting end for the ex Tottenham defender, whose 157 appearances for Belgium put him 25 ahead of second-placed Axel Witsel. Having missed out on five straight major tournaments in the previous decade, Vertonghen ushered in a period of success for Les Diables Rouges that saw them finish third in the 2018 World Cup and reach the Euro quarterfinals twice, and he leaves a major void in central defence for Domenico Tedesco’s side.

Croatia

There has been a changing of the guard at the Croatian national team following their group stage exit at Euro 2024. Marcelo Brozović has called it quits after 99 appearances, whilst Domagoj Vida has hung up his boots with 105 caps. In contrast to Vida, whose last competitive appearance came in October, Brozović has been one of the first names on the team sheet and formed a stellar trio in midfield alongside Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić. Both players have proven indispensable in a golden generation that has seen the Vatreni finish second and third in each of the last two World Cups.

Denmark

Three years after their magical run to the semifinals, Denmark struggled to make their mark on Euro 2024, scoring just two goals and exiting in the Round of 16 vs. Germany. It has provoked a sea change with Kasper Hjulmand stepping down after four years at the helm, whilst Thomas Delaney and Simon Kjær have retired. Kjær has been a reliable servant at the back with 132 appearances, second only to Christian Eriksen (134), whilst Delaney has proven a tireless workhorse in the center of the pitch, amassing 81 appearances and competing in each of the Danes’ last four major tournaments.

France

It has been nothing short of a magical career for Olivier Giroud, who led Montpellier to their first and only Ligue 1 title before proceeding to claim three FA Cups with Arsenal and a Champions League with Chelsea as well as Milan’s first Scudetto in a decade. Giroud reached three major finals with France, and whilst he was unable to find the back of the net in their 2018 World Cup, he nevertheless played a vital role with his hold-up play and defensive output. No player has scored more goals (57) for France, whilst only Lilian Thuram (142) and Hugo Lloris (145) – his new teammate at LAFC – have suited up more times for Les Bleus than Giroud (137).

Germany

Out of Germany’s seven most-capped players of all time, three of them retired from international football this summer. Thomas Müller (3rd – 131), Manuel Neuer (5th – 124), and Toni Kroos (7th – 114) have called it quits following an epic chapter that saw them lead Germany to their first World Cup in 24 years, whilst captain İlkay Gündoğan has also retired after amassing 82 caps. With the exception of Müller, all three played started roles on home soil in the previous Euros, and each of them have left massive shoes to fill for their successors.

Netherlands

From winning four league titles with boyhood club Ajax, to returning and leading them to another three, to reaching the World Cup semifinals and playing under his father for the Netherlands, to guiding Girona to Champions League football, Daley Blind has done it all at 34 years of age. He has aged like fine wine and continued to exude calm and confidence as a versatile ball-playing defender, and he has walked away from international football after 105 caps (fifth overall) for the Oranje.

Poland

It is a new era for the Polish national team following the retirements of Wojciech Szczęsny and Kamil Grosicki. A hard-working winger who’s capable of creating magic at a moment’s notice, Grosicki has been a consistent fixture in the Polish national team with 94 appearances (10th). As for Szczęsny, he has not only filled Gianluigi Buffon’s shoes for Juventus, but he has also been a reliable pair of hands between the sticks for the Polish national team (84) and has proven an invincible fortress in high-stakes situations.

Portugal

Like Kroos and Szczęsny, Pepe hasn’t just retired from international football, but club football as well. The Brazil-born defender has solidified his status as a legendary defender for Real Madrid and Porto as well as a colossus at the back for the Portuguese national team, excelling in their 2016 Euros triumph. He has called it quits after 23 years in the game, and with 141 caps, only Cristiano Ronaldo (212) and João Moutinho (146) have played more times for Portugal.

Serbia

At 35 years of age, Dušan Tadić has been a source of inspiration and creativity for club and country. He has represented Serbia at the Olympics and two World Cups and continued to deliver at the attacking midfielder position, and after participating in his first-ever Euros, he has retired as the all-time appearance maker for Serbia (111).

Spain

It’s out with the old and in with the new at La Roja: whilst Nacho (29) and Joselu (13) have both retired from international football following a season that saw them win the Champions League and the Euros, Jesús Navas (56) has retired after a stellar career that saw him win two Euros and a World Cup, and become the oldest player to feature for Spain in a major tournament.

Switzerland

Last but not least, Switzerland have said goodbye to two legends of the game. Yann Sommer (94) has proven indispensable between the sticks since making his debut in 2008, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri leaves behind an array of mind-boggling goals and sensational performances in attack. Only Granit Xhaka (130) has racked up more caps than Shaqiri (125), and only three players have scored more goals than him (32).

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Arne Slot’s surprise Mac Allister switch showed Liverpool already have options at No. 6

Arne Slot pulled a surprise in switching Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister’s roles as Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-0, proving Liverpool already have more than one solution in their ‘problem position’ of No. 6.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

When the transfer window closed with Federico Chiesa the sole new arrival at Liverpool – along with a deal agreed to bring goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to Anfield in 2025 – there was an uproar among certain sections of the club’s support.

Liverpool went into the summer in agreement that a defensive midfielder and a wide forward were the priorities for new head coach Arne Slot, but only came away with one of those positions boxed off.

Spurned by Martin Zubimendi, who opted to continue playing to the backdrop of the San Sebastian mountains, those within their recruitment team resolved that there would be no panic buy – unlike perhaps a year previous when Wataru Endo was signed following failed deals for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

While Liverpool were clear in the distinction between ‘manager’ Jürgen Klopp leaving and ‘head coach’ Slot arriving, and therefore a shedding of non-footballing responsibilities, the decision not to pivot to an alternative target will have come with the latter’s blessing.

There was certainly no concern from Slot, who installed Ryan Gravenberch as his No. 6 upon returning to pre-season and retained his compatriot in the role for back-to-back 2-0 wins over Ipswich and Brentford.

When Erik ten Hag and Manchester United’s analysts will have pored over Liverpool’s new setup in preparation for their visit to Old Trafford, then, there will have been an expectation for the 22-year-old to remain the focus in that deep-lying role.

Only things were different in Manchester: the same midfield of Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were named on the teamsheet, but it was the Argentine deployed as the No. 6.

It brought a trio of excellent performances, with Gravenberch’s agility and running power key in breaking the lines and Mac Allister a tour de force both defensively and in progressive play in possession.

Only Virgil van Dijk (17) made more defensive actions than Mac Allister (10), who also recorded the most tackles won (5/6), the second-most recoveries (eight) and the third-most passes (42/49) of any Liverpool player.

The No. 10 contested more duels than any of his team-mates (14), and though he only won six of those, his tackle success rate (83%) showed how effective he was.

“Today you saw with [Ryan], Dominik and Macca, how much they were able to keep on running,” Slot told journalists in his post-match press conference.

“Because sometimes you’re late, but they just kept on running and arriving in the duel.”

Liverpool dominated the midfield battle, so much so that Ten Hag hauled Casemiro off at half-time for the inexperienced Toby Collyer, and it was the relentlessness of Mac Allister that played a bit part in that.

The Argentine’s front-footed approach led to the third goal of the afternoon for Mohamed Salah, catching Kobbie Mainoo in possession and driving forward in a move that saw the No. 11 sweep home for 3-0.

It is not a new role for Mac Allister, of course.

Having arrived from Brighton with an expectation that he would serve as one of Klopp’s two most advanced midfielders, he instead spent much of his first campaign in the holding role vacated by Fabinho.

That took time to get used to, but it refined his quality off the ball: no Liverpool player won more tackles per 90 minutes in last season’s Premier League than Mac Allister (1.9) and only Trent Alexander-Arnold (1.3) averaged more interceptions (1.2).

*Mac Allister defensive stats, Premier League 2023/24*

While Klopp used his No. 6s in the more traditional sense of a defensive midfielder – a blueprint laid out by Fabinho, who was nicknamed ‘The Lighthouse’ by assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders – the role has undoubtedly changed under Slot.

Slot scoffed at one reporter’s question on his use of a 4-2-3-1 in his unveiling press conference, but the roles of his three midfielders are at least closer to that basic structure.

That means a No. 6, a No. 8 and a No. 10, but with all three players fluid in their duties, and Liverpool’s buildup play is now centred around that unit.

There was a moment in the 3-0 victory at Old Trafford that summed it up, as Szoboszlai, Salah, Gravenberch and Alexander-Arnold replicated a training-ground rondo with Collyer and Marcus Rashford hopelessly chasing passes.

The ball was eventually played to Mac Allister in the centre and a chance opened up which almost led to a fourth goal – he was stationed deepest to provide the same stability, but he was as involved as the two midfielders marked as No. 8 and No. 10.

Ironically, there is a sense that the player Liverpool’s owners were willing to break their transfer record for, bidding £111 million for Caicedo before his move to Chelsea, would no longer suit the requirements for a No. 6 in Slot’s system.

Liverpool no longer have room for a destroyer in their engine room, and the Dutchman’s use of both Gravenberch and now Mac Allister has underlined that.

It does not mean a deep-lying midfielder is no longer a priority in future transfer windows, but these early signs do seem to vindicate the club’s stance that they would only sign an ideal player for the position, rather than a stopgap to appease fans and bulk out the squad.

Slot’s decision to flip Gravenberch and Mac Allister’s roles caught Manchester United by surprise, and it displayed that he has at least two options capable of performing the task in his new midfield setup.

While Gravenberch may be his de facto first choice in the role, don’t rule out seeing the likes of Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones or even Tyler Morton – a player coveted by Bayer Leverkusen in the final stages of the transfer window – fielded deepest at points this season.

A flexible Liverpool is an unpredictable Liverpool, and in only his third game in charge Slot made his first real tactical flex – that it paid off is a testament to not only the head coach, but also the irrepressible quality of Mac Allister.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Aberdeen are finding their mojo with Jimmy Thelin at the helm

Chants of “we’re going to win the league” rang out among a rapturous Aberdeen crowd in Dingwall after Kevin Nisbet scored a late winner against Ross County to secure a vital 1-0 victory.

By Ross Kilvington

After four wins from four games, the Dons are level with Celtic on points in the Premiership table, enjoying a stunning start to life under new manager Jimmy Thelin.

While certainly tongue in cheek this chant following the late winner over the Highland side comes just four months since Aberdeen finished the 2023/24 campaign in ninth position – their joint lowest top flight finish since 2012.

Peter Leven (twice), Barry Robson and Neil Warnock all led the club at some point last season, winning only 19 games combined. Something had to change, and fast.

The tried and trusted method of turning to those who knew Scottish football clearly hadn’t worked, as chairman Dave Cormack looked elsewhere for a manager who would be capable of returning the Dons to a top three finish in the Premiership, while potentially winning a cup or two.

Enter Thelin.

Making his mark in Sweden

The 46-year-old Swede worked his way from coaching the U17 side at J-Södra IF in 2009, before landing the role of first team manager five years later. Across the next three and a half years, Thelin would manage the club for 130 matches, leading them to the Allsvenskan via promotion in 2015.

While the club suffered relegation during their second season in the top flight, Thelin’s approach had made him an attractive proposition for other teams.

He was appointed manager of Elfsborg in January 2018, implementing an attacking 4-3-3 system which would become his staple.

Over the next six years, Elfsborg would finish outside the top six just twice – during his first two campaigns – while even finishing runners up in both 2020 and 2023.

This success in a league usually dominated by Malmö, or the Stockholm clubs, clearly piqued Cormack’s interest, leading to the club announcing Thelin as their new manager in April.

A gamble indeed, but one that looks as though it is already paying off.

A new era

Aberdeen scored just 48 league goals last season, relying heavily on Bojan Miovski, who scored 16 of them. If it wasn’t for the striker, the Dons would have likely ended up in the relegation playoffs.

Performing as well as he did in Scotland was bound to attract attention. The Old Firm were half-heartedly linked with the 24-year-old in January, yet the supporters knew he wouldn’t remain in the north east for long.

Indeed, when an offer of £6.8m was presented to Thelin by La Liga side Girona during the transfer window, it was clear he would be moving to Spain, finishing his time in Scotland with 44 goals in just 98 appearances.

Losing this sort of quality was a blow, but the Swede wasted no time in strengthening, signing a total of seven players to bulk out his first team squad.

The transfer window has clearly been a success, as the Dons have won nine games in a row – five in the League Cup and four in the Premiership – to begin 2024/25 with a perfect record.

Combining these new signings to the core group of players already at the club has evidently worked wonders, with the goals being spread around the squad so far.

Six players have scored two or more, with striker Ester Sokler leading the way with four goals after nine games.

Drawn in a League Cup group consisting of Airdrie, Dumbarton, East Kilbride and Queen of the South, 12 points from 12 was the goal and Thelin duly delivered. A late strike by Topi Keskinen gave the Dons a 1-0 win over Queens Park in the last 16. The performance was subpar, yet they dug in and secured the win over tricky opponents.

The Premiership is the priority, however, with Thelin’s charges enjoying a splendid start domestically. Four wins, eight goals scored and just two conceded is better than most supporters would have dreamed a few months ago.

What is most striking is how more dynamic they look, especially going forward. The Dons rank second in the league for possession won in the final third per game (4.5), while also ranking third for touches in the opposition box (98), expected goals (5.4) and big chances (11), behind only Rangers and Celtic.

Jamie McGrath has been at the centre of this newfound attacking confidence shown by the side. The Irishman has created 5.05 chances per game while registering 0.89 assists and winning possession in the final third 1.19 times per game.

The 27-year-old might be the standout, but the majority of the squad have thrived under the new regime, which could see Aberdeen return to the top three of the Premiership once again.

The Swedish tactician won’t be getting carried away, but if Aberdeen maintain this form over the coming weeks, don’t be surprised to see them challenging for second spot in the league, especially considering Rangers struggles so far this season.

Whisper it quietly, but it looks like Aberdeen are back.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Analysis: Barcelona off to a flyer under Hansi Flick

Just four matches into the 2024/25 season, Barcelona are already four points clear at the top of the La Liga standings. Naturally, then, they also are the only team to have preserved a perfect record, so Hansi Flick and his coaching staff must be happy with how they have started off.

By Neel Shelat

The first half of 2024 was anything but smooth sailing for Barcelona. A 4-1 loss to Real Madrid just two weeks after the turn of the year was a significant dent to their LaLiga title hopes from which they could not recover, they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey soon thereafter and finally had their Champions League dreams dashed by Paris Saint-Germain in April.

At the same time, there was a lot of flip-flopping going on in the background as far as head coach Xavi’s future was concerned. He first announced that he would leave at the end of the season following the Copa del Rey defeat, but an upturn in form and improved performances contributed to him backtracking on that decision despite the Champions League elimination. That was not all, though, as reported disagreements with club president Juan Laporta ultimately sealed his fate in May when he was effectively sacked at the end of the season.

Hansi Flick was consistently touted as a potential successor amid all this drama, so he was quickly hired as the next man for the job and given a two-year contract. However, Barcelona’s continued financial and management issues led many to believe that changing coaches wouldn’t change the club’s fortunes all that much.

Of course, it is still very early days so that could well prove to be true in the long run, but the initial indicators in Flick’s tenure have been positive for the Blaugrana.

Intense attacking football

As is their tradition, Barcelona aimed to keep lots of the ball under Xavi. They sought to control matches this way, but this often led to their possession becoming quite stale and devoid of any significant attacking threat. That has not at all been an issue for Flick’s side so far as they have shown consistent attacking intent in all four matches and been rewarded with heaps of chances and goals.

The big 7-0 win over a subpar Real Valladolid side last weekend naturally bumped their numbers up, but their performances against some of the league’s better defensive units, such as Athletic Club and Valencia, suggest that they should be able to maintain a high level of attacking output in the long run. With a clinical goalscorer like Robert Lewandowski and already elite ball-to-feet creator like Lamine Yamal in the side, they will always be very hard to stop when they click.

Flick’s job is to provide a platform for that, and he has clearly done well with his attacking setups so far. Lewandowski has unsurprisingly led the line but has received handy support from a narrow left winger (like Raphinha) who can attack the box alongside him or pose a threat in behind, diverting a bit of the opposition defence’s attention. The left back has freely overlapped to provide width on that flank, whereas Lamine Yamal has been allowed to stay wide on the right and been supported by underlaps to make the most of his dribbling threat. The final piece of the puzzle is someone like Dani Olmo – the perfect sort of midfielder to deploy in the central pockets of space opened up by these attackers’ movements.

Defensive question marks

The flip side to Barcelona’s relentless attacking approach is that their defensive weakness from Xavi’s tenure has persisted. Their lack of strong defensive midfielders does not help in this regard either, so opponents have continued to find some joy on the counter.

Barça have kept just one clean sheet so far and conceded first in two matches, so there already is cause for concern in this respect. Although they have been able to power past their opponents in each case so far, things could well go wrong on a bad day or against a particularly staunch defence. The trouble with Barcelona’s approach is that it has the potential to spiral into a vicious cycle – more intense attacking further weakens their at rest defence, potentially leading to goals conceded and an unfavourable game state which in turn necessitates yet more intense attacking, and so on and so forth.

Flick’s side are also yet to be tested by some of the best possession-based teams in the league, so we cannot say much about the effectiveness of their press or the solidity of their defensive block yet. Sides like Girona and Villarreal as well as Champions League opponents should give us a better indication in the next month or so.

Won’t somebody please think of the children?

The biggest concern for Barcelona remains their poor squad building. While it has not cost them anything in terms of results yet, its effects have already been felt.

From the very first day of his tenure as Barcelona head coach, Flick has had to rely on youngsters to an unreasonably high degree. Case in point: his starting XI for the season-opener at Valencia, which included as many as three 17-year-olds!

Lots can be said about how impressive it is that La Masia dependably continues to produce top-class talents who can seamlessly slot into one of the world’s best teams, but that does not change the fact that it is a terrible idea to rely on such youngsters for the entire duration of a 50+ game season. Barcelona have a terrible recent track record in managing young talents which the likes of Ansu Fati, Pedri, Gavi and Alejandro Balde can attest to, but lessons have not been learned.

Marc Bernal has already suffered a long-term injury, and the lack of depth across various positions unfortunately makes it quite likely that he will be joined on the sidelines by someone or the other sooner rather than later. With such a potentially fragile squad, the wheels could well come off Barcelona’s campaign when they begin to compete on multiple fronts.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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