World Cup News

Il club del presidente Laporta lamenta danni sportivi ed economici per l'eliminazione dalla Champions League.

Denzel Dumfries’ journey at Inter Milan has never been short of drama, drive, and decisive moments. Since arriving in 2021, the Dutch right wing-back has faced scrutiny and praise in equal measure. But the 2024–25 season was arguably his most complete and defining campaign yet — a year that combined physical dominance, tactical maturity, and… The post Denzel Dumfries: The Relentless Engine Powering Inter’s Right Flank first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

“I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go about to expound this dream.” – William Shakespeare Let me ask you something: A Brazilian talent, born in the favelas, who managed to rise from deep poverty and reach the… The post Ronaldinho – A Midsummer Night’s Dream first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

The top comment on the YouTube video: “19-Year Old Justin Janssen Bossing The Midfield!” reads: “It’s amazing to see your grandson playing football like Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona!! Grandpa and Grandma are incredibly proud!!” To Mr. and Mrs. Janssen, we could not agree more. Justin Janssen plays like an inconsiderate tarot reader. This… The post Justin Janssen Doesn’t See You Coming, By Choice first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

By: Oliver Fisher One thing is clear heading into the summer for AC Milan: a top-notch striker is wanted, if a return to the Champions League is secured. As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report, while Dusan Vlahovic is an idea that is back in fashion, the name of Robert Lewandowski remains a strong presence in the […] The post GdS: Barcelona star and Chelsea loanee on Milan’s list of Vlahovic alternatives appeared first on SempreMilan.

With fans in the stands, we take a look at every attendance in English and European football including biggest in midweek. It was a busy few days of football with supporters up and down the country going through the turnstiles to watch their sides all in action. We saw the most highly anticipated clashes, local […] The post Every Attendance in Midweek – 16th April 2026 appeared first on Fan Banter.

Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali has addressed intense rumors linking Inter Milan target Tarik Muharemovic with a summer exit. Speaking to Gazzetta.it via FCInterNews, Carnevali confirmed growing interest from the Premier League in the 23-year-old. Muharemovic has emerged as one of the top candidates to replace Alessandro Bastoni at San Siro. Indeed, the Italian center-back could […] The post Sassuolo CEO Delivers Update On Inter Milan Top Defensive Target Amid Premier League Interest: “The Price Changes” appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Manchester United’s loaned-out forward Marcus Rashford is reportedly open to a surprise return to Old Trafford this summer. The England international is currently on loan at Barcelona for the season, but it remains to be seen his move there will be made permanent. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES […] The post Surprise player open to Manchester United return this summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Aston Villa and Fulham are also interested...

Il campione argentino investe in una società di calcio.

Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu confirmed that Alessandro Bastoni will not feature in Friday’s home clash against Cagliari. During today’s press conference, the Romanian tactician addressed his center-back’s current situation, as reported by FCInterNews. Alessandro Bastoni is experiencing a rough patch. In addition to a minor fitness issue, the 26-year-old is facing heavy scrutiny […] The post Inter Milan Vs Cagliari – Cristian Chivu Confirms Italy Superstar’s Omission Amid Barcelona Links: “Not Called Up” appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has vowed to file a new complaint to UEFA about their referees, describing them as ‘intolerable’ after his side’s Champions League exit. The Catalan giants were knocked out in the quarter-final by La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, losing 3-2 on aggregate after a mouth-watering second leg clash at the Riyadh Air […]

Bernardo Silva’s summer exit from Manchester City has been officially confirmed today, with the club releasing a statement on their official site. We reported earlier this month that Silva had informed Man City of his decision to leave, with Juventus, Napoli, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid among the Portugal international’s suitors. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP […] The post Confirmed: Bernardo Silva leaving Manchester City – here’s what could happen next appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The future of Marcus Rashford has been a major talking point in Barcelona all season, and while at the beginning of the season he seemed to carve out a spot in Hansi Flick’s squad, the space for him is rapidly reducing. Manchester United agreed to allow him to leave on loan, with Barcelona retaining a […] The post Marcus Rashford chances of remaining at Barcelona continue to slide appeared first on Football España.

Manchester United transfer news is sure to dominate headlines this summer as it so often does, and one big name being strongly linked with the club is Nico Williams. The Athletic Bilbao and Spain winger was notably a target for the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich last summer only to end up signing […] The post Report: 23-year-old wing-wizard says YES to Manchester United transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi has dismissed the idea of a move to Real Madrid this summer. The former Real Sociedad star was heavily linked to Los Blancos in the second half of last season, but had agreed a move to the Emirates. While Zubimendi completed a €70m move to Arsenal, Real Madrid did not bring […] The post Arsenal star Martin Zubimendi on Real Madrid move: “I think the moment has passed” appeared first on Football España.

Barcelona's Raphinha apologises after gesturing towards Atlético Madrid fans espn.in

By: Oliver Fisher Former AC Milan defender Marcel Desailly has spoken about Rafael Leao’s untapped potential, and the bizarre Maldini-Bastoni comparisons. Desailly was bought from European champions Marseille and became a crucial pillar in Fabio Capello’s Milan that won the Serie A and European Cup double. In the final in Athens against Cruijff’s Barcelona, he scored the final […] The post Desailly believes Leao has Ballon d’Or potential but asks question: “Does he really want it?” appeared first on SempreMilan.

If Real Madrid’s players were furious last night following their elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League, President Florentino Perez was not a shoulder to cry on afterwards. Perez was disappointed after a result that for many, including him, seems to have ended Los Blancos’ season. Jude Bellingham called the decision […] The post President Florentino Perez fumes at Real Madrid players in dressing room: ‘Intolerable’ appeared first on Football España.

La Liga giants Barcelona will reportedly have to break the bank to sign Inter Milan superstar Alessandro Bastoni in the summer. According to Gianluca Di Marzio via FCInter1908, the Nerazzurri have named their asking price amid the Blaugrana’s growing interest. Bastoni’s career is at a crossroads, with the 26-year-old facing an uncertain future at San […] The post Di Marzio – Inter Milan Set Asking Price For Italy Superstar Amid Growing Barcelona Interest appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Barcelona have settled on Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni as their primary target for the summer transfer window to strengthen their backline, and are reportedly hoping to speed ahead with negotiations. The latest is that the Blaugrana would like to close a deal for the Italian international before the World Cup. However the negotiations with Inter […] The post Barcelona look to include La Masia talent in Alessandro Bastoni deal appeared first on Football España.

With the Champions League semi-finalists officially decided in midweek, the final four have been announced and European giants are now within touching distance of writing their own respective pieces of history. Watching former European champions Barcelona and Liverpool fall by the wayside in midweek, there has certainly been some blockbuster stories from across the continent. […] The post Meet Europe’s Final Four: Your essential Champions League semi-final guide – Key stories, Full Preview & Best Betting Odds appeared first on Soccer News.

Beware, Gunners!

Bernardo Silva lascerà il Manchester City a fine stagione: la Juventus ci prova.

Inter Milan center-back Alessandro Bastoni continues to be heavily linked with a mega-money transfer to Barcelona this summer. According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInter1908, the Nerazzurri will dictate the terms of the Italian star’s potential move to the Camp Nou. Bastoni’s future at San Siro has become one of the major talking points after […] The post Report – Inter Milan Dictate The Terms As Barcelona Push For Italy Defender Amid “Shared Desire To Complete Transfer” appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Inter Milan legend Aldo Serena has urged the club to make an audacious summer swoop for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer. Speaking to La Repubblica via FCInterNews, Serena discussed Inter’s potential moves in the upcoming transfer window. The Nerazzurri could reluctantly part ways with long-serving stalwart Alessandro Bastoni in the coming months. Indeed, the 26-year-old sits […] The post Inter Milan Legend Urges Nerazzurri To Sign Juventus Defensive Stalwart: “I Would Sign Him” appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Inter Milan are looking to tie Cristian Chivu down to a new long-term contract at the end of what could be a highly successful season. According to FCInterNews, the 45-year-old’s contract renewal remains one of the club’s highest priorities heading into the summer. Cristian Chivu is on the verge of winning the Scudetto in his […] The post Summer Transfer Window Mapped Out – Cristian Chivu Renewal & €100M From Player Sales To Bolster Inter Milan Squad appeared first on SempreInter.com.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Barcelona want to include 19-year-old full-back Héctor Fort in...

Inter Milan center-back Alessandro Bastoni won’t be in contention for the squad when the Nerazzurri face Cagliari on Friday night. According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, this latest omission can only fuel Barcelona’s hopes of signing the Italian star. Alessandro Bastoni could be counting his final days at San Siro. Indeed, the 26-year-old defender’s […] The post Inter Milan Vs Cagliari – Italy Superstar Sidelined For Friday Clash Amid Intense Barcelona Rumors appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Serie A pacesetters Inter Milan are bracing for a transitional summer transfer window, with numerous long-serving stars set to leave the club. According to La Repubblica via FCInterNews, the San Siro giants have already identified four priorities for the summer. On the verge of winning the Scudetto in his first season at the club, Cristian […] The post Report – Inter Milan Earmark Four Priority Targets For Summer Transfer Window appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Welcome to another episode of the Arsecast – the Arsenal podcast. In this episode I’m joined by Tim Stillman to look back on Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at home to Sporting, a result which sees us qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second year in a row. We chat about some of […] The post Episode 872 – Arsenal give us a semi appeared first on Arseblog ... an Arsenal blog.

Serie A giants Roma have reportedly added Inter Milan wingback Carlos Augusto to their list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window. According to Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, the Giallorossi are monitoring the Brazilian’s current situation at San Siro. Signed from Monza in 2023, Carlos Augusto has proved to be a valuable asset […] The post Report – Roma Set Sights On Inter Milan Wingback As Contract Talks Hit Stalemate appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Runaway Serie A leaders Inter Milan resume their pursuit of a 21st Scudetto on Friday as they host relegation-battling Cagliari at San Siro. According to Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, head coach Cristian Chivu is weighing major changes to his starting lineup. Despite Lautaro Martinez’s absence, Inter pulled off a stunning comeback at Como last […] The post Inter Milan Vs Cagliari – Cristian Chivu Considering Major Starting XI Changes appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Inter Milan will reportedly sort out the futures of long-serving stalwarts Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco at the end of the season. According to Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, the latter could soon commit to a new long-term contract at San Siro. Heavily linked with a summer move to Barcelona, Alessandro Bastoni is enduring the […] The post Report – Inter Milan To Sort Out Futures Of Two Italy Megastars At The End Of The Season appeared first on SempreInter.com.

Un'operazione difficile, ma tutt'altro che impossibile. Secondo quanto scrive Repubblica l'Inter in estate farà un tentativo per Nico Paz, gioiellino del Como, che in questa stagione ha segnato 11 goal, contribuendo alla grande stagione della squadra allenata di Fabregas. Un'idea che può diventare una trattativa solo se ci sarà un'apertura da parte del Real Madrid, che controlla il suo cartellino e che a fine stagione eserciterà il diritto di riacquisto. Ma la sua permanenza a Madrid è tutt'altro che scontata. IL COSTO DELLA RECOMPRA Nico Paz si è trasferito al Como nell'estate 2024 a titolo definitivo per 6 milioni di euro, firmando un contratto quinquennale fino al 2028. Al contempo però il Real Madrid si è assicurato il 50% sulla futura rivendita del giocatore, più la possibilità di riacquistarlo a cifre definite per tre sessioni di mercato estive: 8 milioni nel 2025, 9 milioni nel 2026 e 10 nel 2027. Non è da escludere che i blancos possano pagarlo di più per riportato a casa, aggiungendo alla cifra già decisa dai contratti, ovvero 9 milioni di euro, una sorta di "premio di valorizzazione". Il Como infatti la scorsa estate poteva guadagnarci di più dalla cessione del talento argentino ma ha respinto una ricca proposta del Tottenham da 65 milioni di euro più 10 di bonus. IL REAL MADRID VENDE NICO PAZ? Il Real Madrid resta una possibilità per Nico Paz, che a giugno volerà negli Stati Uniti per giocare il Mondiale con l'Argentina, ma a oggi è un'incognita. Dopo una stagione fallimentare da zero titoli, con Xabi Alonso e Arbeloa in panchina, in estate ci sarà una rivoluzione. Servirà fare cassa per finanziare i nuovi acquisti e il nome di Nico Paz potrebbe finire sulla lista dei partenti. Toccherà al nuovo allenatore esprimere una preferenza: là davanti di certo c'è tanta scelta, da Rodrygo a Vinicius, da Mastantuono ad Arda Guler, da Brahim Diaz a Endrick, di rientro da Lione. Qualcuno è di troppo. Secondo Repubblica l'Inter vorrebbe usare i soldi dalla cessione di Bastoni al Barcellona per Nico Paz, valutato dal Real Madrid almeno 50 milioni di euro. Il gancio è il vicepresidente Javier Zanetti, amico del padre Pablo, già suo compagno in nazionale argentina. Il feeling tra Nico Paz e il mondo Inter è reale: la dimostrazione sta nella foto postata su Instagram da Paula de la Fuente, moglie di Zanetti, dopo la cena del trequartista argentino, assieme al padre e un'altra leggenda nerazzurra come Diego Milito, al ristorante milanese Botinero del vice-presidente e bandiera nerazzurra. Tra Inter e Real Madrid c'è il Como, che in caso di qualificazione alla prossima Champions League farà un tentativo per trattenerlo ancora una stagione in riva al lago.

The Newcastle United fans who want to blame Eddie Howe for anything and everything, completely ignore the fact of how badly let down he was last summer. By Alexander Isak... You can click here to read the full article.

Ex AC Milan and Chelsea star Marcel Desailly believes Inter star Alessandro Bastoni should move to Barcelona and would lift the La Liga giants to the next level. Marcel Desailly argued that Alessandro Bastoni should move to Barcelona this summer if he had the chance. Furthermore, the former Marseille star believes that Bastoni would improve […] The post Ex AC Milan & Chelsea Star Desailly: “Inter Milan’s Bastoni Could Lift Barcelona To Next Level” appeared first on SempreInter.com.

UCL stats: Yamal second to Messi, moves past Haaland; Bayern overtake Barcelona; Arsenal's 1-0 record espn.in

Arsenal are monitoring the situation of Spanish defender Óscar Mingueza who will be available as a free agent at the end of this season. The 26-year currently plays for Celta Vigo, but negotiations over a new deal have broken down. And the Gunners are now considering making a move for him because he ticks one... The post Gunners monitoring Spanish full-back appeared first on Footie Central.

Liverpool reportedly look to be leading the race to sign Marcos Senesi on a free transfer this summer, with Chelsea and Manchester United not planning moves. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY The 28-year-old is nearing the end of his contract at […] The post Report: Big boost for Liverpool as Chelsea & Man United cool transfer interest appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League after losing their quarter-final tie 6-4 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Madrid made a stunning comeback at the Allianz Arena, scoring three goals in a breathless first half. But their efforts went in vain, as Luis Diaz and Michael Olise struck […]

Pau Cubarsi promises to be one of the standout young players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Languishing around 14th in the Premier League, stinging from a recent derby defeat to Sunderland, and still bruised by a brutal Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona, the mood on Tyneside is tense. With the squad repeatedly throwing away points from winning positions, the spotlight is burning brightly on manager Eddie Howe. DOWNLOAD […] The post Ex-Premier League icon contender to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle United appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Atletico Madrid’s progress against Barcelona in the Champions League, their evolution under Diego Simeone and what the future holds for departing AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola were all discussed on this episode of the Tifo football podcast. This episode of the Tifo football podcast is hosted by Joe Devine, features Jon Mackenzie, Kaya Kaynak & Colin Millar and is produced by Steve Hankey. Join the Tifo Discord server - https://discord.gg/qKkNm2fb Denis Doyle / Stringer / Getty Images Europe via Getty Images 00:00 - An intro 08:50 - Atletico Madrid knock out Barcelona 19:30 - Atletico's evolution & Kaya’s quotes 27:08 - CL permutations without full knowledge of results 32:10 - strongest CL winning narrative? 37:28 - a break 37:30 - THE RONDO 45:10 - Andoni Iraola will leave AFC Bournemouth 53:18 - Where should Iraola go next? 1:04:17 - a recent media acquisition 1:18:18 - should football games be shorter? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Argentine youth developer Facundo Alvanezzi discusses his 11 years at FC Basel, his role in shaping stars like Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, and why fostering "hunger" and embracing mistakes is the secret to producing elite talent. Alongside the technological leaps of the 21st century, soccer has evolved through the implementation of new instruments and methodologies embraced by clubs across all levels of the game. Yet technology alone does not always translate into better players or better human beings. World Soccer Talk had the opportunity to sit down with Argentine youth developer Facundo Alvanezzi, who spent 11 years at Swiss club FC Basel between 2008 and 2019. Having trained in South America and studied the methods of some of Europe’s most renowned clubs, including FC Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, Alvanezzi applied his knowledge to help produce elite talents such as Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabian Schär, among others. A former professional player in Argentina who also played in Italy, Alvanezzi began his coaching career at Aldosivi before departing for Basel in 2008. Moving from scheduled training sessions with limited soccer balls, “compensated by the amount of talent,” to an environment where every youth team trained on a heated pitch, had balls for every player, full kits and access to psychologists, nutritionists and other health professionals represented a dramatic shift in perspective. FC Basel and a commitment to youth development Already proficient in Italian from his playing days, Alvanezzi still had to immerse himself in the cultural and linguistic demands of his new environment, all in service of what he considers the cornerstone of his work: communication. In a single training session, he might move between Italian, French, and German while coordinating multiple groups of young players across state-of-the-art facilities designed to maximize their development. FC Basel’s U-14 squad. “A club like Basel worked with all 14 or 15 age groups all at the same time. The First Division had its own separate pitch. But for everything related to the youth levels from U21 down, everyone had their own respective pitch. Even the littlest ones, the 5 and 6-year-olds, had their own synthetic fields with dimensions suited for 5 or 6-year-olds. Just to give you an idea—no time was wasted there. In other words, time is utilized in a way that enriches you instead of being a deficit that hinders the development of future players.“ Alvanezzi then put into context the remarkable achievement of a small nation punching well above its weight. “You can’t forget that Switzerland has a population of between 6 and 7 million inhabitants, so the emerging talent back then was very scarce. They did an extraordinary market study so that today they have 17, 18, 19, and 20-year-olds—which didn’t happen before—playing and qualified for the next World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada. So, basically, everything related to infrastructure and planning… whether you like it or not, having that entire grid set up allowed me—as someone passionate about football who loves being on the pitch—to work peacefully. I knew I had my designated pitch to work with the U15s, the U16s, the U17s,” he added. The role of a youth developer and the cultivation of talent A fluent Spanish speaker, Alvanezzi describes himself as a “formador de juveniles,” a youth developer rather than a coach, drawing a sharp distinction between the two roles: “The developer (formador) teaches and builds; they earn very little, if anything at all. In terms of titles—U14s, U15s, the Reserves… I don’t care about those. The coach (entrenador) is there to train, to play, to compete, to get points, to win a domestic league, a Libertadores, a Euros, a Champions League, or a World Cup. They are two completely different things. That’s why there aren’t many coaches developing players, and there aren’t many developers coaching elite teams.“ Another key principle in his approach is trusting the creative instincts of young players rather than issuing directives, recognizing that the youth phase is when information can have the most profound impact. He pairs this with a cosmopolitan perspective while never abandoning his own core beliefs. Facundo Alvanezzi on the touchline. “In other words: at no point do I impose. I don’t impose knowledge, authority, or didactics—nothing. I seduce. Those are two completely different things. And I try to seduce through knowledge. Because when you have knowledge, you can ‘disarm’ the player; when you explain the how, the when, the where, and the why. Of course, when I go somewhere else, I adapt, but I cannot renounce my genes.“ When he arrived in Switzerland, Alvanezzi found himself surrounded by cutting-edge technology, GPS tracking and gym equipment, yet he remains committed to the idea of developing players “with a ball.” “In player development, I adapted to the systems, but with my own imprint. I carry the Argentine imprint everywhere. It’s this: I watch a player—how he walks—a 5-year-old, a 10, 15, or 20-year-old. I watch him walk. I throw him a ball. I watch him make a couple of touches—juggling in the air, a change of direction. And right then, I realize what that footballer might be capable of. Or not,” he explained. The value of mistakes in youth development Elite clubs increasingly measure the success of their youth teams by silverware, mirroring the pressure placed on the first team. But for Alvanezzi, perfection is not the goal. Forcing young players into rigid systems, he argues, sends them to the first team with significant blind spots, and he views the ability to make mistakes as one of the most valuable learning tools available. “Here are players I can ask to play a football of possession and position. And then there are footballers to whom I have to say, ‘You: control the ball, don’t carry it, and pass it to a teammate.’ Meanwhile, for another player—because I go against the establishment and the system—,” Alvanezzi said. “I believe one of the virtues I have in this vocation of developing players is that I value the error. From the error, I create the virtue of the success. In the context of teaching, I don’t criticize the player; I seduce him. ‘But what if I struggle, I lose the ball, it’s hard for me, and they score on us?’ And what’s the problem? I don’t want my trophies and medals hanging in my house. What good are they to me? If, in the end, I didn’t get any player to move up to the First Division. If I didn’t develop a single player for the first team,” he added. Alvanezzi, who says he has not a single medal or trophy displayed in his home, considers the players he has helped reach the elite level to be his true honors: “Now, my ‘medals’ are an average of 45 to 50 players who reached the top level. Especially at Basel. We had a coach like Thorsten Fink, who helped us a lot and used to play for Bayern Munich. He helped us bring up kids at 16 or 17 years old. I had the pleasure of training players like Yann Sommer, Granit Xhaka, Shaqiri, Breel Embolo, Noah Okafor, Fabian Schär , Eray Cömert, Neftali Manzambi, Raoul Petretta, Cedric Itten—an immense number of players. Those are the medals one gets to hang up.“ He then stressed that the developer’s job demands patience and an embrace of the mistake. “They need to learn to play with the right foot, with the left foot, and have a lot of contact with the ball. When I arrived at Basel and asked for—for example, the squads there are 18 players—I asked for no less than one ball per player. At first, they just looked at me. ‘Why one ball per player?’ Because, what did I achieve over the years? That in an hour and a half, the players went from an average of 200 touches in a standard session… once I integrated the technical and game-based training, that multiplied to 1,400 daily touches with the ball. The more touches you have, the more you polish the errors.“ In an environment dominated by innovation, Alvanezzi believes the fundamentals are often left behind, and his street soccer mentality changed the culture at Basel. “In Europe, ‘soccer practice’ (11v11) doesn’t exist. From Monday to Friday, it’s all small-sided games. Everything. So when I got to Basel, imagine the resistance from the other coaches. They told me, ‘No, Facundo, you’re crazy. The players will get injured; we don’t do that here; everything is small-sided.’ “And I told them, ‘The 11v11 is the symptom for Saturday or Sunday; it’s how you know which player you can count on and which one you can’t. You might think you can count on someone, but on a full pitch, it becomes too big for them, and they become completely disorganized. We need a parameter.’ Well, I implemented it at Basel until it became their own ‘modus operandi’ that on Thursdays, we did the 11v11 practice. The teams started improving exponentially because they were finally playing football not in a 20×20 or 30×30 space, but in 100×65—which is where real football is played,” he added. ‘Hunger’: the defining trait of the players who made it Among the many stars Alvanezzi has helped develop, a common thread runs through the backstories of those who reached the highest level: adversity. Both Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka were born and raised in a disintegrating Yugoslavia amid violence before finding asylum in Switzerland. Breel Embolo‘s path was similar, leaving Cameroon with his family before settling in France and eventually Switzerland. That contrast between their upbringing and those of more comfortable peers is precisely what Alvanezzi calls “hunger,” the spark that gave them a decisive edge. “From an early age, when you watch them train—unlike the vast majority of Swiss youth developers who never experienced need—these were kids of struggle. They are born, raised, and developed out of hardship. So, the only possibility they had to emerge—unlike other great Swiss talents I had at Basel who didn’t make it—they weren’t going to make it because they lacked that ‘hunger.’ That potentiality of saying, ‘Through soccer, I am going to help my family; I am going to emerge; I am going to be somebody.‘” Alvanezzi then reflected on the social realities that shaped Xhaka, Shaqiri and Embolo. “They lacked even the most basic conditions in an elite, first-world country. They were segregated because they weren’t Swiss. They are three starters for the Swiss national team who have played in World Cups, but Breel is from Cameroon, and the other two are Kosovar. When society wasn’t integrating them, but they were useful to the national team football-wise, they nationalized them.“ Alvanezzi with Neftali Manzambi, Breel Embolo, and Charles Pickel. He then illustrated how that hunger translates into a measurable competitive advantage. “Genetically, all of that plays in their favor, 80 or 90% more than the well-off Swiss player… That “plus” works in your favor. While they came to training on foot or by tram, the vast majority of players of Swiss origin came every day with their fathers in a different car—a Mercedes-Benz, a Porsche… That factor of having nothing missing ends up working against you. Since you have everything, what am I going to be ambitious about? Playing in a World Cup? I’m not interested. Reaching the first team? If I make it, I make it, and if I don’t, I still have everything,” he stated. A memorable trip to South Africa In 2010, following the World Cup in South Africa, Alvanezzi traveled to the country for fifteen days representing the Swiss U15 national team with Basel at the Danone Nations Cup, competing against teams from Japan, Argentina, China, England, Italy and others. What left the deepest impression on him, however, was not the competition itself but the cultural awakening it triggered among his Swiss players and the youth developers around them. “They didn’t know what it was like for a kid not to have a cell phone, or to walk around barefoot. They couldn’t understand why colored people sat at one table and white people at another because of the legacy of apartheid. All the Swiss kids traveled with the latest cell phones. They would leave half of their plates full of food. And 50 meters away, at the fence in a gated area of the complex, local kids would come to beg for food,” he recalled. FC Basel youth squad in 2010 Danone Cup. “Along with several other Latino coaches, I would gather the leftover food and give it to them. It reached the point where FIFA was going to fine me, because they said I wasn’t allowed to feed the people. And I told them: ‘Why not? It’s the most important thing; they’re hungry. The only one who understood it on that trip was Breel Embolo,” Alvanezzi added. Talent, mentality and the cohesion of a group One of the most enduring debates in sports is whether the right mentality can outshine raw talent through sheer hard work, or whether that notion is simply wishful thinking. For Alvanezzi, the two qualities are not in competition but are complementary, with every player on a team assigned a specific purpose that allows both to coexist. Using the contrasting examples of Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, one a physical force of nature, the other a pure embodiment of technical brilliance, he illustrates how different profiles can coexist within the same system “They are complementary and different at the same time. You can link this to the aspect of mental construction. Mentality is also something you develop. If I convince you that in three years you have to improve your heading or your left foot, and you end up doing it in a match to stop a counter-attack… that is mentality,” Alvanezzi stated. “When you see Haaland playing with his back to the goal, he looks like an average player; put him facing the goal, and he’s an animal. He hides his deficit in back-to-goal play—and tries to do it as little as possible—but he has an above-average mentality that allows him to fail ten times and try again. Cherki, on the other hand, relies entirely on his talent. He has a different mentality, but he understood that to stay at the elite level, he must not interpret that (reliance on talent) as a fragility,” he added. While Alvanezzi acknowledged that mental strength is partly something “you bring it with you, but you can also incorporate it,” he was equally quick to point out that he has seen players with extraordinary talent but no capacity for hard work, and others with far less natural ability but the psychological resilience to make it to the top. Bridging that gap, he argues, is just as much the developer’s responsibility as any technical instruction. “Mental construction is also developed. If I talk to you and try to seduce and convince you of your errors with respect, you will be more receptive. Today, kids are given 20 hours of leisure time outside of training, and we don’t teach them how to think. But to develop players, you must be emotionally well-constituted and rationally grounded. If you aren’t vocational and emotional, you cannot develop players; you should do something else.“ Beyond individual qualities, Alvanezzi insists that everything must be considered through the lens of the collective, where a single weak link can unravel even the most talented group: “The developer has to work with a clear idea and a common goal. The ‘mind’ of the team, 90% of the time, has to be uniform. If it isn’t uniform, the group disintegrates, no matter how much talent you have.“ “If mentally you are thinking ‘white’ and I am thinking ‘black,’ and we have to play with a red ball, but neither of us wants to yield, it means we aren’t complementary. Individualism and egocentrism generate a very large negative impact. We all row to reach the shore and save ourselves; it can’t be that one rows right and another rows left, leaving us in the high seas until a wave drowns us,” Alvanezzi concluded. Stress: the invisible enemy of athletes As in any high-performance discipline, stress management has become one of the defining challenges in modern soccer, a sport that has seen its fixture calendar grow to near-unsustainable levels. “Players today have an enormous match load. They play 80, 90, 100 matches a year. In my era, that didn’t exist. And that carries an enormous physical, mental, and psychological toll, which is one of the many reasons why footballers get injured. Everything is connected. And if the head isn’t right, the body will never be right,” Alvanezzi stated. Xherdan Shaqiri of Basel (Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images). With stress affecting muscles, tendons and bones alike, conventional metrics like GPS data and weight measurements become meaningless when the mental aspect is ignored, he argues. “A player will always tell you they are at 100%. I liked, and I still like, for the player to train at 50% or 60%. If a kid trains at 100% five days a week and then tries to play at 200% on the weekend, they end up getting hurt. Sooner or later. It’s a universal law.“ These pressures are not confined to the professional game, extending deep into the youth system as well. “Let’s take away the weights, take away the GPS, work more on the mental side, and talk to the footballer. When a footballer tells you they want to stay 60 minutes longer after training… ‘No. Go home. Rest. Eat well. Take a nap. Look after yourself. Read, watch a movie. Relax. Do yoga. Meditate.’ But for all of that, you have to talk, and you have to be prepared,” he stated. Alvanezzi also addressed the lack of preventive awareness he has observed at the youth level: “That’s why I like it when a player comes and tells me: ‘This and that is happening to me.’ ‘Don’t worry. You’re not playing this match; you’re going to train at 50%.’ I’d rather give you two weeks of rest than have it be six months of forced leave due to a ligament tear. Today, there is no prevention because we, the developers, aren’t prepared to prevent; we are competitive, egocentric beings who want to win everything, forgetting that we don’t play anymore.“ U.S. soccer and MLS evolution: the legacy of 1994 Through friends living and working in the United States, and despite acknowledging that his English is far from perfect, Alvanezzi has been able to witness a genuine transformation in the country’s soccer culture, one he traces directly back to the 1994 World Cup, when MLS was widely seen as nothing more than a retirement league. That perception, he says, has been thoroughly dismantled. “Today, football in the US—I’m not saying it competes head-to-head with baseball, basketball, or ice hockey—but it has gained a very prominent position. It’s no coincidence that Lionel Messi, the most emblematic figure in world football today, is playing in MLS. Players who before, as you said, came perhaps for a final retirement to spend their last seasons in a low-caliber competition, find it’s a different world now. It has grown so much that renowned players prefer to come to MLS rather than go to a country in the Middle East or Asia.“ While acknowledging that MLS remains a league in the midst of its evolution, Alvanezzi offered a measured timeline for when it could fully establish itself at the highest level. “The evolution in terms of the training and qualification of the coaches and developers is very good. I have excellent references. Like any expanding football in a developmental stage, I think it will take them another 5 to 10 years to consolidate. It usually takes 10 to 15 years for a major league to stabilize and reach an international competitive level. They are currently in that developmental process from every point of view,” he stated. The influence of Latinos in U.S. soccer Once considered a secondary destination for professional development, the United States has transformed into a country that offers genuine, high-level opportunities for coaches and developers alike. That growth has been driven in part by soccer’s surging popularity, the influence of the Latino community, and high-profile figures like Lionel Messi and David Beckham, who have brought the sport to new audiences across the country. Lionel Messi greets David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami CF (Elsa/Getty Images). “There are many Latinos and Argentines working in development at important clubs and academies. It is expanding in a very interesting way. They take the culture they don’t have—they are very pragmatic in that sense. Whatever they lack, they acquire it. Don’t ask me how, but they go after it. If they don’t have a qualified scientist, they go find one in Germany, Norway, or Sweden and bring them to their country to make it evolve. They do exactly the same with soccer.“ For youth coaches specifically, the shift in available resources has been nothing short of transformative. “They start from the foundation: youth development. And because of their immense purchasing power as a nation, they can leverage incredible infrastructure. Being in an academy there—even one not affiliated with a famous MLS club—means having 4, 5, or 6 pitches to train on. They have indoor gyms for “fast football” when the weather is bad. Material in abundance. For a developer like me, who dealt with hardships starting out in Argentina—not in terms of talent, but in terms of equipment and structure—imagine what that solves.“