World Cup News

Liverpool are looking to seriously shake up their attacking lineup this summer. According to TEAMtalk, the Reds have set their sights on two highly impressive targets: Newcastle United’s electric winger Anthony Gordon and Everton’s dynamic forward Iliman Ndiaye. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! […] The post Premier League duo from rival clubs eyed by Liverpool to strengthen wide attacking positions appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United chiefs will be in attendance at Villa Park tonight to watch one target in action, with Chelsea also planning to do the same. Indeed, both clubs are keen to get a closer look at forward Santiago Castro in action when Aston Villa host his side, Bologna, in the second leg of their Europa […] The post Man Utd to send scouts to Villa Park this week to watch attacking sensation in action, with Chelsea following suit appeared first on Stretty News.

Manchester United could be targeting an alternative to Morgan Rogers this summer.

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.“

THIAGO SILVA admits leaving Chelsea for Brazil two years ago ‘wasn’t nice’. But the 41-year-old says his move back to Europe in December has not only brought him closer to his family - it also puts him in contention for a shock FIFTH World Cup call-up. Silva is back in England for the second leg...

Decision highlights how popular the England international is among the Arsenal players

Arsenal entertained Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium earlier tonight as they hoped to secure a good result at home in the UEFA Champions League. The Gunners made a solid start to the game but were held to a scoreless draw at the half-time break. The North London club struggled to find the winning goal […] The post Zubimendi Gets 7.5, Raya With 7 | Arsenal Players Rated In Hard-Fought Draw Vs Sporting appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Leeds United continue to pull further away from the relegation zone. They recently picked up a massive result that silenced the critics, beating Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. This win marks the first time the Whites have won at the Theatre of Dreams since 1981, giving them a huge boost in their fight to […] The post 27-Year-Old Leeds United Player’s Agent Backed To Push For A Coventry City Move: Long-Term Deal Needed? appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Oliver Glasner has revealed he would be open to managing in Serie A in the...

Everton find themselves in a great spot right now, sitting eighth in the Premier League after 32 matches. Since David Moyes returned to the dugout in January 2025, he has managed to pull the club away from a relegation scrap and into the hunt for European football. The Toffees recently cruised to a 3-0 win […] The post David Moyes Is Not Ready To Let 23-Year-Old Leave: Should Everton Gamble On Him Staying Fit? appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Jacobo Ramon has been linked with a move away from Como at the end of the season, and the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on him. The player has also been linked with a return to Real Madrid. However, a report from TEAMtalk claims that Real Madrid will wait until 2027 to […] The post Liverpool & Chelsea alerted as 21-year-old Spaniard faces career crossroads appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Liverpool are set to rival Real Madrid for Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck. It has been revealed that the Reds have set their sights on the German centre-back ahead of a potential move for him this summer. Schlotterbeck’s Impressive Form In German Football Schlotterbeck has enjoyed a good […] The post Liverpool Are Set To Rival Real Madrid For This Borussia Dortmund Defender: Good Choice For Slot? appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Aston Villa currently sit in a strong fourth place in the Premier League as the 2025/26 season enters its final phase. Unai Emery has turned the team into a real threat to the traditional big six, shown by their recent 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest and a solid 3-1 win over Bologna in the Europa […] The post Aston Villa Make A U-Turn Regarding 29-Year-Old’s Future: Why They Must Prioritise His Extension? appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Gerald Asamoah has waded into the argument of courting foreign-born players into the Black Stars. With less than two months left to start the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ghanaians have been left divided over the potential inclusion of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah to the Black Stars for the tournament.Although both players and some in the diaspora are yet to show interest in playing for Ghana, it is reported that the FA has engaged a couple of them.In recent times, Derrick Kohn and Patric Pffeifer switched nationalities to play for the Black Stars.And according to Asamoah, the process could become easier for the FA if they move to these players at a younger age.“We are waiting to see Kevin Prince Boateng here, and we go for him or Hudson-Odoi, and they say no we don't want to come because they didn't see how Ghanaians fought for them when they were young,” Asamoah told 3 Sports.“The British people did everything for them, and now they are done. They are now good players, and we want them. You need to start in the youth teams. You need to go there.“You don't need to go out. You...

Goncalo Inacio has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months. The 24-year-old Portuguese defender has done quite well for club and country, and multiple clubs are monitoring his situation. According to Edu Burgos, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United are interested in signing the Sporting CP defender. He has consistently shown […] The post Chelsea, Liverpool & Man United circle for €60m-rated versatile defender appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Aston Villa will entertain Bologna at Villa Park this Wednesday night as they look to secure all three points at home in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal clash. The Villans managed to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest recently, so they would have some confidence going into this […] The post Konsa And Buendia To Start | 4-2-3-1 Aston Villa Predicted Lineup Vs Bologna appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Focus sul Ranking UEFA, utile a capire quali saranno i due Paesi ad avere cinque posti nella prossima Champions League: classifica aggiornata e regolamento, tutto quello che c'è da sapere.

Former Germany international, Gerald Asamoah believes Ghana's biggest weakness is in its defence ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The four-time African champions will be embarking on their fifth World Cup in June, but the team has been without a win since beating Comoros in the final qualifier in Accra last year.The Black Stars have conceded ten goals in their last four friendlies, including a 5-1 defeat to Austria last month, leading to the sacking of Otto Add as coach of the national team.Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has been appointed as replacement for the ex-Ghana midfielder.Ahead of Queiroz's first assignment as Ghana coach, Asamoah pointed out that the Black Stars have a leaky defence, and that should be a priority for the Portuguese trainer."What are we good in? Are we good in defending or offensive game? We are really good in offensive games, so we need to work on our offence, so we need to work on our defensive play," Asamoah told 3 Sports."Keeping the defence is one of the important things you can do as a coach."The Black Stars will face World Cup co-hosts Mexico in...

In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Chelsea are determined to land Aston Villa playmaker Morgan Rogers. It is believed that the Blues are eyeing a move to acquire the services of the English talent later this summer. Rogers’ Impressive Form In English Football Rogers has enjoyed a good run of form at the West […] The post Chelsea Are Determined To Land This Aston Villa Playmaker: Good Choice For Rosenior? appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Dupers will take advantage of supporters' desperation to see Three Lions lift the World Cup this summer with a barrage of hoaxes, experts warn

Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori has not been included in Arsenal’s starting lineup or bench in...

Set to face Sporting CP in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, Arsenal might be dealing once again with the absence of star Bukayo Saka. Arsenal host the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash against Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium this Wednesday, looking to protect a slim lead and advance to the final four. While the Gunners enter as heavy favorites, star winger Bukayo Saka has been entirely left out of the Gunners’ squad. Bukayo Saka won’t be featuring in the return leg against Sporting CP due to injury. The England international was widely expected to return for Saturday’s fixture against Bournemouth but failed to make the squad; his subsequent absence from Tuesday’s training session further dims the prospects of him playing a role in this continental decider. Manager Mikel Arteta was noncommittal when asked if Saka or defender Jurrien Timber might return to the fold, offering only that “maybe one of them” could be involved. However, when pressed on the nature of the winger’s injury and its recent persistence, the Spaniard provided a bit more clarity for the worried Emirates faithful. “It’s something that he was carrying for a while. It was an Achilles issue,” Arteta said. “It’s progression but hopefully it’s going to be a matter of days and not weeks. But he has to see when the load is more how he responds to that kind of progression,” he added. Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber of Arsenal. Arsenal navigating a fitness crisis Saka isn’t the only concern for a depleted Arsenal squad; Tuesday’s training session raised red flags regarding several other key contributors. Missing from the main group were midfield anchors Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, along with defender Riccardo Calafiori. While Rice has reportedly recovered and should be available for selection, significant questions remain over whether Odegaard and Calafiori are fit enough to start. This personnel crunch may force Arteta to lean on his depth as he looks to defend a narrow 1-0 aggregate advantage in the Champions League clash. Confirmed lineups for Arsenal and Sporting CP Arsenal’s confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): David Raya; Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapie; Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice; Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli; Viktor Gyokeres. Head coach: Mikel Arteta. Sporting CP’s confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Maximiliano Araujo; Morten Hjulmand, Hidemasa Morita; Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Pedro Goncalves; Luis Javier Suarez. Head coach: Rui Borges.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces a defensive crisis ahead of Saturday’s clash against Chelsea, with both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez confirmed to miss the trip to Stamford Bridge. The news would come as a significant blow to United’s pursuit of a top-four finish, as Carrick will be forced to field a makeshift backline […] The post Massive blow for Carrick: Man United to be without two key players for match against Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

There’ll surely be huge demand for Manchester City vs Arsenal tickets as this weekend’s game...

Ghanaian supporters planning to follow the Black Stars’ 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in the United States will face significant transport costs, with a dedicated shuttle service to Gillette Stadium priced at about GHS1,000 per seat for the group-stage meeting with England.Ghana face England on June 23, 2026, in their second Group L fixture at the venue in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which will be branded “Boston Stadium” for the tournament.Organisers have introduced a structured transport system aimed at managing large matchday crowds, but the pricing has sparked attention among travelling fans.Boston’s World Cup host committee has confirmed a bus service branded the “Boston Stadium Express”, which will charge $95 per passenger for a round-trip transfer to and from the stadium.The fare applies uniformly, with no concessions for children, elderly supporters, or passengers with accessibility needs.The shuttle will be operated in partnership with Yankee Line and is expected to cater for up to 10,000 fans per match.Pick-up points will be spread across Greater Boston, including key transport hubs and selected hotels, with services beginning three hours before kick-off and return journeys departing roughly 30 minutes after the final whistle.Authorities have also warned that matchdays will...

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has revealed he is backing former teammate Antoine Semenyo and Manchester City in the Premier League title race following his side’s win over Arsenal.Scott scored in Bournemouth’s 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium, a result that handed City a timely advantage and reduced the gap at the top to six points ahead of a decisive clash.Speaking after the match, the 22-year-old disclosed he had contacted Semenyo, who recently joined City, and admitted he hopes his former teammate ends the season as champion.“I texted Antoine Semenyo afterwards; he was happy with us winning,” Scott said. “I’m hoping for Antoine, but Arsenal have been brilliant all year, so whoever wins it will deserve it.”Scott’s goal proved crucial in shifting momentum in the title race, with City capitalising by beating Chelsea 3-0 to close the gap further.Semenyo has played an important role in City’s recent form since his arrival, adding depth to Pep Guardiola’s attacking options.The title race has taken a dramatic turn heading into the final weeks of the season, with Arsenal’s form dipping and City gaining momentum.

England and Scotland fans will not be allowed to take part in a popular pastime during their World Cup fixtures

Christian Pulisic finds himself at the center of growing transfer speculation despite a difficult run of form, as interest from Liverpool and Tottenham begins to intensify Christian Pulisic finds himself at the center of growing transfer speculation despite a difficult run of form, as interest from Liverpool and Tottenham begins to intensify. The situation surrounding the winger has taken on a new dimension, with uncertainty over his future at Milan and questions about his role moving forward. The season began with promise, as Milan found rhythm and attacking fluidity in the early months. Pulisic scored eight league goals between August and December, playing a central role in the team’s push near the top of the table. That early momentum, however, has faded as the campaign entered a more demanding phase. The turn of the year has brought a dramatic shift in the Americans’ performances. He has not scored a competitive goal in 2026 and is currently enduring a drought of more than 100 days, a statistic that has raised concerns inside the club. Injuries have played their part, disrupting his consistency and limiting his overall impact in key matches. Milan’s broader struggles have only increased scrutiny on Pulisic and the attacking unit. A heavy 3-0 defeat highlighted the team’s inconsistency, with just two wins in the last five league matches putting its Champions League hopes under threat. Despite being among the more active attackers on the pitch, Pulisic has found it difficult to influence decisive moments. His inability to convert chances has mirrored the team’s struggles, contributing to a slide down the table at a crucial stage of the season. The Serie A giant remains in contention for a top-four finish, but the margin for error is shrinking. Upcoming fixtures are now seen as pivotal, both for Milan’s ambitions and for Pulisic’s future at San Siro. Milan’s reported asking price revealed As speculation grows, attention has shifted to Milan’s stance on a potential transfer. According to Il Giornale, Milan would consider offers in the region of $65 million for Pulisic. With just one year remaining on his contract worth approximately $5.5 million per season, the Italian outfit is under pressure to make a decision. Selling the 27-year-old winger could generate significant funds to reinvest in the squad, especially if Champions League qualification is not secured. At the same time, the club must weigh the loss of a high-profile player who has played a key role in its recent rebuild. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan looks on during the Coppa Italia match. Premier League interest gathers pace The report adds that interest from England continues to gather momentum as two major clubs monitor the situation closely. Liverpool is reportedly exploring attacking reinforcements, while Tottenham views Pulisic as part of a potential rebuild. Both clubs see an opportunity to secure a proven player who has already experienced the demands of top-level soccer. His revived reputation after leaving England, combined with his versatility and experience, makes him an attractive option despite recent struggles. The financial strength of Premier League sides means that meeting Milan’s valuation may not be a major obstacle. The key question is whether that interest will translate into a formal offer in the coming months.

IT is doubtful that Jonjo Shelvey pictured Iranian missiles flying overhead when his family upped sticks and moved to Dubai last year. The former England midfielder, 34, said in February that the UK was going "downhill" and he would rather bring his three kids up elsewhere. But tensions in parts of the Middle East have...

Chelsea face Manchester United this weekend in what could be the Blues’ last real chance...

With only the team finishing top of the group gaining automatic qualification to the World Cup, could Spain miss out on Brazil 2027?

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has been considered the ultimate favourite for the permanent role over the past few weeks. However, his chances took a massive hit following Monday’s result. The Red Devils ended their 24-day hiatus with a shocking 1-2 defeat to Leeds United, who earned their first victory at Old Trafford since […] The post Carrick ‘dealt major blow’ as Man Utd intensify manager search: Five main candidates emerge appeared first on Stretty News.

Marcus and Luke pack up the truck and head out onto the plains for another edition of Lions Watch, the show where we continually talk up England outsiders’ chances without any consideration for who we’d have to drop from the squad. And plenty more besides. We kick off today with a chat about England’s defenders as Nico O’Reilly’s impressive form pushes him closer to many people’s starting XIs - but does he make ours? Plus: getting the attacking blend right, some of the other World Cup groups and whether the likes of Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha can grab a last-minute spot on the plane. We stream Lions Watch live on YouTube every other Wednesday! Subscribe to our YouTube to get notified when we go live next. Get your Ramble merch HERE. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show an will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He plans to use his Stamford Bridge connections to get a deal over the line.

FIFA High-Performance Specialist Faisal Chibsah has underlined that Carlos Queiroz’s prospects of success with the Black Stars will depend largely on how quickly he adapts.The Portuguese coach, appointed on a short-term four-month deal, has been tasked with steadying Ghana’s preparations for the World Cup following the dismissal of Otto Addo after a string of four consecutive friendly defeats.With limited time before the expanded tournament begins, attention has turned to whether Queiroz can impose his methods effectively in such a compressed window.Chibsah, while acknowledging the pedigree of the 73-year-old former Real Madrid and Portugal coach, stressed that reputation alone will not guarantee results unless he adjusts to the specific realities of the Black Stars environment.“He will bring a bit of discipline to the team, which for me was lacking a lot. We would see [discipline] and also [Ghana would] definitely get an identity.”“The challenge for Carlos now would be how adaptable he can be taking on Ghana.”“Iran, Oman, Qatar [recent jobs of Queiroz] are not Ghana. Ghana, we expect more.”Ghana are aiming to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 2010, with Group L fixtures against England, Croatia and Panama...

FIFA High-Performance Specialist Faisal Chibsah believes Ghana’s decision to appoint Carlos Queiroz could mark a decisive shift in the Black Stars’ direction, particularly in restoring structure and discipline ahead of the World Cup.Otto Addo was dismissed after a difficult run of four consecutive defeats in international friendlies, leaving the federation to act swiftly with just months remaining before the expanded 48-team tournament.The former Portugal and Egypt coach has been handed a short-term four-month contract to stabilise the team and guide them through the global showpiece.Chibsah expressed optimism about the impact the 73-year-old could have on the squad’s mentality and organisation, while also stressing the demands that come with managing Ghana at this level.“He will bring a bit of discipline to the team, which for me was lacking a lot. We would see [discipline] and also [Ghana would] definitely get an identity,” Chibsah told Joy News.“The challenge for Carlos now would be how adaptable he can be taking on Ghana.”“Iran, Oman, Qatar [recent jobs of Queiroz] are not Ghana. Ghana, we expect more.”Ghana head into the World Cup with ambitions of reaching the knockout stages for the first time since 2010, with Group L...

Hugo Ekitike has suffered a long-term injury which could prompt action in the transfer market for Liverpool.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Tino Livramento is picking up speed as Newcastle weigh up a concrete move for his replacement