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Despite it being Julie Ertz's big night, Lynn Williams quietly stole the limelight with a brilliant two-goal performance.

All eyes were on Julie Ertz, and rightfully so. The U.S. women's national team legend was here to say goodbye, one last run and one last game for a player that has had so many important ones over the years. With her 2023 World Cup teammates around her, Ertz made way early on to a much-deserved ovation.

But, while this was Ertz's day, it was also Lynn Williams', too. A player that was overlooked at the World Cup could not be overlooked on Thursday night, even with all the fanfare around Ertz' goodbye.

Williams scored two of the three goals in the USWNT's 3-0 win over South Africa, offering the attacking spark that the U.S. needed so badly at the World Cup. Both goals, as unlikely as it may seem, came via set pieces, with Williams the surprising goalscorer on both.

Trinity Rodman's goal, though, was a display of the threat that the U.S. so desperately lacked Down Under. It was a lovely attacking move, one capped by a pass from Alex Morgan to Rodman for a simple finish.

In the first game of the post-Vlatko Andonovski era, the U.S. put out a lineup not unlike the one we saw at the World Cup. What that team lacked in the attacking end a few months back seems behind them, though, as this USWNT played the way that many expected them to this summer.

GOAL rates USWNT players from TQL Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Alyssa Naeher (6/10):

  Had just about nothing to do for the bulk of this game. Could this have been a good one to get a look at one of the other goalkeepers?

  Crystal Dunn (7/10):

  A solid game at fullback/wingback. When the lineup came out, there was hope she'd be in midfield. No luck, though, as she exited after 45.

  Naomi Girma (8/10):

  How many better defenders are there in the world today? Had to get back and stop a few South Africa attacks, but she did so effortlessly every time.

  Alana Cook (7/10):

  Totally solid, which only makes it more puzzling as to why we didn't see her more at the World Cup.

  Emily Fox (6/10):

  Helped keep South Africa quiet on that right-hand side. Nothing crazy, but a good performance overall.

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  Midfield

  Emily Sonnett (7/10):

  Was a secret weapon in that last World Cup game and she looked good again in a midfield role here. Ran plenty and helped the U.S. in possession.

  Lindsey Horan (8/10):

  Involved in all three goals and was fantastic on set pieces. About as good of a performance as you can expect from a midfielder.

  Julie Ertz (6/10):

  Was given her start, but it didn't last long before she was taken out to a standing ovation. Came oh so close to getting a goal from a corner kick, but it just wasn't quite to be.

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  Attack

  Trinity Rodman (7/10):

  Fantastic run and and great finish on a sequence that would have been very, very welcome at the World Cup. Should be a good one for her confidence after some ups and downs Down Under.

  Alex Morgan (7/10):

  No goal, which isn't ideal given her World Cup drought but, an overall good performance from the USWNT striker. Fantastic pass on Rodman's goal, a good display of what she can do in her role.

  Lynn Williams (9/10):

  Could the U.S. have used Williams in the XI at the World Cup? On this evidence, it sure looks like it! Williams was absolutely fantastic and, for a team that saw their attack sputter Down Under, that will be even more frustrating given her lack of minutes.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mary Alice Vignola (7/10):

  A very good first impression for the hometown defender, who did enough to show she can play at this level.

  Ashley Sanchez (6/10):

  Stop me if you heard this before: Could we have seen more of her at the World Cup?

  Ashley Hatch (6/10):

  Got her chance after missing the World Cup, and looked okay, but it'll be tough to hold off some of the young forward options behind her.

  Casey Krueger (N/A):

  Came on a bit too late to make an impact, replacing Fox at right back.

  Alyssa Thompson (N/A):

  Got a 15 minute cameo in place of Rodman as she looks to find more USWNT experience.

  Twila Kilgore (7/10):

  Did exactly what you want from an interim manager: made minor changes that produced big results. The next manager can reinvent the wheel, but it's Kilgore's job to make sure that it keeps moving.

Chelsea and Tottenham will reportedly have to pay more for Folarin Balogun than transfer rivals, with Arsenal setting different asking prices.

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• American striker is a wanted man
• Linked with clubs across Europe
• Any deal will not come cheap

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners are aware of the mounting interest being shown in United States international Balogun. He was expected to have been on the move before now after hitting 21 goals while on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims last season.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Balogun is eager to find regular first-team football and has been edging his way towards the exits at Emirates Stadium – with leading sides from across Europe mulling over moves for his services. Chelsea and Spurs are said to form part of that pack, but the claims that they will need to meet a full £50 million ($63m) valuation in order to get a deal done.

• AND WHAT'S MORE

  That is because Arsenal are reluctant to do business with a Premier League rival – particularly London neighbours – and will not offer any discount to domestic foes. With that in mind, Monaco remain favourites to land the highly-rated 22-year-old after already seeing one offer knocked back.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Balogun has not been included in Arsenal’s matchday squad at the start of the 2023-24 season, while spending time training away from the rest of Mikel Arteta’s squad, and is set to form part of a mass exodus from the Emirates before the summer deadline passes on September 1.

It was a night to remember for the European champions in Adelaide, and it was their 21-year-old superstar who stole the show again

England secured top spot in Group D and a place in the Women's World Cup last 16 on Tuesday in Adelaide after beating China, the Asian champions, 6-1 in an intriguing and exciting display. Goals came from Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly, with James getting two in a fantastic performance.

Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman opted to change her team's system for this match and it worked brilliantly, with there only four minutes on the clock when Russo broke the deadlock. From there, it was a one-sided contest, Hemp's cool finish coming before the half-hour mark while James made sure it was 3-0 at half-time with a gorgeous effort from the edge of the box.

China got back into the game when Wang Shuang netted from the spot after Lucy Bronze was penalised for handball, but James restored the three-goal cushion with a delightful side-footed volley before Kelly and Daly put the icing on the cake late on.

GOAL rates England's players from Hindmarsh Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Mary Earps (6/10):

  Too harsh to say she was at fault a little for the penalty, in pushing Bronze towards the ball? Maybe. Made a great late save to deny China a second.

  Jess Carter (7/10):

  Solid at the back upon her return to the side. Played in a wonderful cross for James' second goal.

  Millie Bright (7/10):

  Excellent battling and determination to plat a key role in Hemp's goal. Strong at the back, too.

  Alex Greenwood (7/10):

  Came up with a number of good headers and defensive interventions when China did get forward. Picked out James well to set her up for her first goal of the night.

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  Midfield

  Lucy Bronze (7/10):

  Wing-back really suited her and allowed her to bomb on down the right, getting into the box a lot to cause problems.

  Katie Zelem (7/10):

  Looked comfortable and composed on her first ever start for England and took good set-pieces, too.

  Georgia Stanway (6/10):

  Solid again before being subbed at half-time to protect her from getting a yellow card that would've suspended her in the last 16.

  Lauren James (9/10):

  Excellent footwork was on show throughout, allowing her to get out of tight spaces to create chances, and her two goals were sublime. Star of the show, again, with three assists also to her name.

  Rachel Daly (8/10):

  She wasn't playing as a centre-forward but she took up a lot of positions that one would, with this system really helping to make her stand out in attack, as showcased by her late goal.

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  Attack

  Alessia Russo (8/10):

  Scored a brilliant goal that will've done her confidence so much good given her recent struggles in front of goal. Was truly excellent in possession, too, with this system suiting her to a tee.

  Lauren Hemp (7/10):

  Occupied a lot of good positions in the box, especially with Russo roaming, and finished superbly for her goal.

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  Subs & Manager

  Laura Coombs (5/10):

  Replaced Stanway at the break but couldn't get into the game.

  Niamh Charles (5/10):

  Came on with 20 minutes to go as part of a triple sub but wasn't as much of a force as Bronze in the right wing-back role.

  Bethany England (5/10):

  The second name in that triple sub, she could've had a chance at goal almost immediately but elected to pass to Kelly. Otherwise didn't get much of a look in the box.

  Chloe Kelly (6/10):

  Completing the trio of changes, Kelly didn't have much time to get on the scoresheet but she still managed to do so, profiting from some poor goalkeeping to finish into an empty net.

  Ella Toone (N/A):

  Came on for the final 10 minutes, so didn't have time to make an impact.

  Sarina Wiegman (9/10):

  This was the perfect game for Wiegman to mix things up and what she experimented with suited the strengths of so many of the players in this team that had been underwhelming in the tournament so far. It certainly unlocked England's attacking potential, too, and showed that the Lionesses do indeed have a Plan B.

Here's everything you need to know about Al-Ettifaq after Steven Gerrard was appointed as the new head coach of the Saudi Pro League side.

Gerrard has become the latest big footballing name to move to the Saudi Pro League after he was appointed the new Al-Ettifaq manager recently.

The former Liverpool captain, who was sacked by Aston Villa last October, had initially rejected the chance to join the Saudi Pro League club last month.

However, with Saudi clubs successfully plundering Europe for star names since then, Gerrard just couldn't resist the proposition and has U-turned on his original decision.

Amongst the football fans outside of Saudi Arabia, Al-Ettifaq does not share the same degree of limelight as other illustrious Saudi teams Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Hilal.

Thus, there may be a lot of unknowns about the Commandos, but don't worry because GOAL brings to you everything you need to know about Gerrard's next club and their ambitions ahead of next season.

• Who are Al-Ettifaq?

  Al-Ittifaq are a Saudi Arabian club which competes in the Saudi Pro League, the top division of football in Saudi Arabia. They are one of the most established clubs in the country.

  Nicknamed "The Commandos" or "The Knight of Ad-Dahna (central division of Arabian desert)," they were founded in 1944 as a result of the merger of the three clubs in the city of Dammam, Al-Taawoun, Al-Sha'ab, and Al-Shabab.

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• Where did Al-Ettifaq finish last season?

  Al-Ettifaq finished seventh under Gerrard’s predecessor Antonio Cazorla last season in a 16-team Saudi Pro League, which has now been expanded to 18 teams for the upcoming campaign. In what was a largely underwhelming campaign, the Commandos finished 35 points off the top and nine clear of the relegation zone.

  Under Gerrard, they will be aiming to improve in a competition that has increased in quality following the recent recruitment drive to sign top-level players from Europe's top-5 leagues, with the trend set to continue throughout the European summer transfer window.

• How successful are Al-Ettifaq?

  Al-Ettifaq have a rich history in Saudi Arabian football and have experienced both highs and lows throughout their existence. They became the first Saudi club to win the championship whilst staying undefeated throughout the league season during the 1982-83 title triumph.

  In addition to the league title, the team has also lifted the Saudi King's Cup and the Saudi Crown Prince Cup on multiple occasions. The Commandos also won the (now defunct) GCC Champions League twice.

  However, they have failed to hit the heights of 1980s pomp since the turn of the century. More recently, they won promotion to the Saudi top-flight after lifting the first division title in 2015-16.

  Trophy	Count
  Saudi Professional League (top-tier)	x2 (1982-83, 1986-87)
  First Division (second-tier)	x1 (2015-16)
  King Cup	x2 (1968, 1985)
  Crown Prince Cup	x1 (1965)
  Saudi Federation Cup	x3 (1990-91, 2002-03, 2003-04)
  Arab Club Champions Cup	x2 (1984, 1988)
  GCC Champions League (now-defunct)	x3 (1983, 1988, 2006)

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• Where do Al-Ettifaq play?

  Al-Ettifaq play their home games at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium located in Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The multi-purpose stadium was built in 1973 and has a seating capacity of around 26,000 spectators. Saudi Second Division side Al-Nahda also share the stadium to play their home matches.

It's been clear from the start that the pair's relationship was built upon nothing other than a shared interest in making money

Lionel Messi has been suspended for a fortnight by Paris Saint-Germain. He will sit out two of their final five Ligue 1 fixtures. At least. Because who knows if Messi will play for PSG again? He certainly won't feature next season, that's for sure.

Any prospect of Messi extending his contract at the Parc des Princes is now over. His exit had, of course, become almost inevitable anyway.

As GOAL outlined after PSG's almost-annual Champions League last-16 elimination,the club wanted to keep the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner for commercial reasons. However, Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns meant that one of their ridiculously well-paid superstars was going to have to be offloaded this summer – and the smart money was always on Messi, given Kylian Mbappe remains the face of the PSG project, while nobody wants Neymar.

Still, the manner of the World Cup winner's departure is farcical – and yet very fitting.

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  'The greatest transfer window in history'

  Indeed, given everything that has gone before, it is only right that Messi exits in acrimony, despised by his own club's supporters, who consider him the personification of PSG's problems.

  It's all a long way from the fanfare which greeted his chaotic arrival two years ago, when Messi was regarded as the final piece of the PSG puzzle after what was dubbed as 'the greatest transfer window in football history'.

  In truth, the club's recruitment strategy in the summer of 2021 has proven a monumental letdown. Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira have done… okay. But Gigi Donnarumma has looked nothing like the star of Euro 2020, Sergio Ramos is a shadow of his former self, Gini Wijnaldum has already left for Roma (his loan move could soon be made permanent), while who knows where Achraf Hakimi will end up?…

  Messi, though, has been the biggest disappointment simply because his arrival generated the most excitement.

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  'The Messi Effect'

  He's obviously delivered off the field. As PSG's sponsorship director, Marc Armstrong, told GOAL in December 2021, "We have really felt an impact in all of our business areas: from sponsorship and merchandising to hospitality and ticketing.

  "The club also gained 20 million new subscribers to their social media accounts in the week which followed his arrival. We had the highest engagement rate in the history of player announcements," Armstrong enthused.

  These impressive numbers explain why PSG were keen to keep Messi for another season. He remains integral to a brand built on high-profile players. You take away the star names and PSG fear becoming irrelevant on the global stage; the dominant force in a domestic league that makes relatively little money from the sale of overseas TV rights.

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  'A most modern affair'

  PSG's objective has long been a first Champions League; Messi wanted a fifth. Which is one of the main reasons why this loveless marriage of convenience came into being.

  Messi genuinely believed PSG offered him the best shot at winning another European Cup – of all of the clubs that were willing to meet his exorbitant wage demands, of course (it wasn't a very long list…).

  And let's face it, this deal was really about money at the end of the day. That's why Messi and PSG got together; and that's why they're breaking up.

  This is a most modern affair. There has been no classic clash with the coach, no old-fashioned dressing-room dust-up, no late-night indiscretion. Messi just essentially cheated on Qatar with Saudi Arabia, and that was always going to provoke a public rebuke from PSG's owners.

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  'PR win for PSG'

  This is obviously a huge PR win for PSG – at least they'll try to spin it as such. They've sent a message to their superstars, and more importantly their long-suffering supporters: Such insubordination will no longer be tolerated at Parc des Princes. Players will not be able to do as they please from here on.

  A line has been drawn in the sand. A new era starts now. Will the fans buy it? Doubtful. They're not idiots. They know that the club's issues are deep-rooted and extend well beyond Messi. He may have symbolised their flawed philosophy, but he didn't implement it.

  It's hardly surprising, then, that the supporters are still set to meet on Wednesday evening with a view to calling for a total overhaul at the club. "It's time for things to change and for the Paris Saint-Germain institution to regain its soul, its Parisian spirit and its splendor," read a statement released by the Collectif Ultras Paris. "The event must be peaceful, the goal is to move things forward in a structured and intelligent way."

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa should reunite with Chelsea and Belgium star Michy Batshuayi this summer amid some recent transfer claims.

What’s the story?

According to recent reports from The Telegraph, Bielsa is keen on luring Batshuayi to Elland Road this summer, with the Belgium international spending last season on loan at fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace.

And now, speaking exclusively to This is Futbol, Carlton Palmer has dropped his verdict on the Whites pursuing a move for a player Bielsa has worked with before at French side Marseille.

He said: “Well he knows him, doesn’t he? Managers generally like to work with players they know, players like to go work for managers they know because they get the best out of them.

“Listen, Bielsa will be looking at that and thinking if he can get him in, it’d be a decent addition to the squad because that’s what you need. I think Bielsa will be interested. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Bielsa could transform him

Lauded as a “real goal-scorer” by former Borussia Dortmund boss, Peter Stoger, the £9m-rated Batshuayi has had the experience of working under Bielsa while at Marseille, and though he has since admitted it was a tough period for him, it’s something he claims has been invaluable to his development.

He said: “But looking back, I tell myself he knew who to do this with. Some needed this support. Me, he understood my personality, he knew that I could draw on my resources.

“I’ll tell you something. One day he told me something shocking. For several months, he hardly spoke to me. And the time he came to talk to me, he just said, ‘When you go out of here, you’re gonna go for 40 million’. He just told me that. In my head, I said to myself, ‘But he’s crazy’. In the end, he was right.”

And, after hearing about the links to Batshuayi, David Norris also pointed to Batshuayi’s previous relationship with the Leeds boss as something that makes it a really good move for Leeds.

He said: “If they had a good relationship before and then he moved on because it was for a better move, then managers and players normally have a good relationship.

“He is proven but he just hasn’t played enough games at Chelsea. He’d be coming from a big club who have got a lot of money and are doing things so, I think on paper that’s a good signing.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/leeds-united-marcelo-bielsa-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-elland-road-rodrigo-de-paul” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

Given that the “powerful” Batshuayi enjoyed some of his best form in football under Bielsa – he scored ten goals in 29 games for the Argentine – the Leeds boss would feel confident of transforming his career once again, and helping him realise the kind of quality that eventually earned him a move to Chelsea in the first place.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing a reunion with this Leeds United hero…

The much-criticised coach was sacked after the Blues' defeat to Aston Villa, but his failed tenure at Stamford Bridge doesn't have to define him

Despite the result, despite the fan discontent and despite Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa seeing them drop into the bottom half of the Premier League table, it was still somewhat of a shock to see Graham Potter be given his marching orders by the Blues' board on Sunday evening.

That same morning, journalists had been briefed – not for the first time – that Potter's position was safe. It was all a ruse, though.

To avoid news being leaked to the media, not even Chelsea's players were informed of Potter's dismissal. Ironically, this covert media operation was one of the only examples of the Blues managing an off-field situation competently since Todd Boehly took over the club last year.

There lies the key to Potter's quite cataclysmic failure at Stamford Bridge. He was always entering an environment that made it nigh-on impossible for any manager to succeed.

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  A mixed bag to start

  In October, Potter took over a Chelsea squad that was already bursting at the seams with new faces. Overall, eight summer signings had been made for a total outlay of around £250 million ($307m), while the emergence of Armando Broja and Conor Gallagher as first-team options added further complexity to the situation.

  To start with, Potter managed his playing assets pretty well, winning five of his opening six matches in the dugout. This run included a pair of comprehensive Champions League victories over AC Milan.

  Admittedly, results did tail off sharply in the run-up to the international break, with a 4-1 away defeat to former club Brighton being a particularly damaging blow. Still, when the Premier League paused for the winter World Cup, Chelsea sat eight points adrift of the top four with a game in hand.

  Fans would have expected more at the start of the season, but these sorts of teething problems should be expected when you go for a 'project manager', as Boehly insisted was his intention.

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  January spending made it nigh-on impossible

  The turning point in Potter's reign was when the January transfer window opened. Some signings were expected, of course, but no one was prepared for sort of splurge.

  By the time the market slammed shut, Boehly and Co had splashed over £300m on EIGHT new players – none of whom had ever made an appearance in the Premier League previously.

  It was a truly chaotic time. Every week, Potter would put on a brave face in press conferences, but it soon became clear that he had hardly been consulted in the recruitment process – and he often let slip that this influx of players was disrupting their preparations.

  Reports in February suggested that training had been severely affected, with Chelsea's 31-man squad restricting the amount of individual attention coaches could afford players. They couldn't even do 11v11 practice matches, without almost an entire starting XI being left out.

  This was just one of the countless issues the new arrivals no doubt caused. Remember the multi-day saga over who would be left out of the Blues' Champions League and Premier League squads? One can only imagine the catastrophic effect this had on dressing room morale.

  Even those who did make the cut were always going to be left disappointed thanks to the unevenness of the Blues' resources.

  To fill just three 'forward' spots, Chelsea currently have 10 players. They are, , Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, David Datro Fofana, Hakim Ziyech, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Christian Pulisic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mason Mount.

  It put Potter in an unmanageable situation, and although he did make mistakes – with some of his selections raising eyebrows – it is hard to see how he could have pieced together a winning team with such a bloated attacking pool.

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  Don't forget those injuries

  It seems implausible, but despite all of their spending, Chelsea were still left short in some positions at key points in the season.

  The absences of Ben Chilwell and Reece James were most damaging. Lewis Hall will likely go on to have a solid Premier League career, but the Blues youngster was forced to play out of position at left-back in January due to Marc Cucurella's struggles on and off the pitch. It is telling that Hall has since been entirely absent from Chelsea's matchday squad as he continues his development in the Under-23s.

  An ageing Cesar Azpilicueta was deployed on the opposite flank. Without the explosiveness of James and Chilwell – and with the forward line still building up their relationship – Chelsea were ponderous and predictable going forward in the period after the World Cup.

  Potter is not blameless in this, as the Blues seemed to lack any pre-planned patterns in the final third a lot of the time, but again this was largely a result of the conditions imposed on him rather than an inherent failing of him as a coach.

  Injuries out wide weren't the only problem. N'Golo Kante – still one of the best defensive midfielders in the world on his day – has played just three times in the Premier League this season.

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  A horrific fit for the club culture

  Like it or not, optics matter in football, and Potter never like a Chelsea manager.

  This is a club whose most-revered coach is Jose Mourinho – master of media mind games and tactical pragmatism. The Blues' post-Abramovich-takeover identity has been that of ruthless winners. The football and people's feelings are secondary, all that matters is results.

  That is what made Antonio Conte such a perfect fit – for one season at least – and made Maurizio Sarri stick out like a sore thumb.

  Although Boehly had seemed to be taking a different tact, hiring a young, modern coach and largely signing players for the future, in the end, he could not turn the tide of a fanbase that has gorged on success for close to two decades.

  'Mr Nice Guy' Potter attracted the ire of fans for his upbeat positive press conferences throughout his reign. He was always quick to insist "the boys gave everything today", even after an embarrassing defeat, and his much-maligned mention of that most-debated of metrics, 'xG', following his side's defeat to Villa was a fitting parting comment.

  His cool-as-ice touchline persona wasn't much appreciated either. So much so that he even had to defend himself, using a rather odd analogy.

  “This isn’t actually me all the time,” he said before his side's embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup. “Of course there are times where you get angry.” He looked down at the table and picked up a can of water before adding: “It’s not like I’m some robot just speaking to this can all the time.”

  "I’ve got to answer them as best as I can and respectfully as I can because I represent a fantastic football club," he continued. "I’ve got that job to do regardless of if I’m p*ssed off after a game. I have to come here and represent Chelsea in the best way."

  Potter may have thought he was being true to himself by handling questions respectfully, but it was out of step with what onlookers associated with a successful Chelsea manager.

How to watch Grenada vs USMNT in the CONCACAF Nations League from the US as well as kick-off time and team news

The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) will hope to top Group D with a win against Grenada in their CONCACAF Nations Leaguegroup stage fixture on Friday.

⚽️ Watch Grenada vs USMNT in the US today!

The game against Grenada will be Anthony Hudson's first competitive game in charge of the team this year. Christian Pulisic and co. recently lost to Serbia in the only friendly they played after the 2022 World Cup. Their journey in Qatar had ended with a defeat against the Netherlands in the Round of 16 and the then-boss Gregg Berhalter's contract wasn't resumed at the end of the year.

The upcoming fixture against Grenada will only be the fifth meeting between these two teams, and the USMNT has a 100 per cent win record. They will be looking keep that record intact as they resume their CONCACAF Nations League journey.

Jesus Ferrera scored four goals as USMNT beat Grenada 5-0 when the two teams met earlier in the group stage.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the CONCACAF Nations League fixture Grenada vs USMNT, plus team news, recent form and more.

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  Kick-off time

  Date:	March 24, 2023
  Kick-off time:	8.00pm EDT
  Venue:	Grenada National Stadium

  The game is scheduled for March 24, 2023 at the Grenada National Stadium. It will kick off at 8.00pm EDT in the US.

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  How to watch Grenada vs USMNT online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  U.S.	Telemundo, TNT, Universo	Sling TV, Peacock, fuboTV

  In the US, the match between Grenada and United States can be streamed on Sling TV, Peacock and fuboTV.

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  Team news & squads

  Grenada team news

  The Grenada squad has no fresh injury concerns to deal with ahead of their clash against USMNT. The squad includes nine players who are playing overseas and 14 playing in domestic leagues.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Belfon, Thomas, Richardson
  Defenders:	Pierre, Ettienne, James, Williams, D Pierrie, Mark
  Midfielders:	Paterson, Reagan, Theodore, Abraham, Harrack, Jacob, Charles
  Forwards:	Charles, Frank, Lewis, Isaac, Hippolyte, Mitchell, Julien

  USMNT team news

  The USMNT squad will miss the services of Tim Weah and Tyler Adams who had to be excluded from the squad concussion and injury problems respectively.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen, Matt Turner
  Defenders:	Sergino Dest, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Bryan Reynolds, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty
  Midfielders:	Brenden Aaronson, Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre , Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Alan Sonora, Djordje Mihailovic
  Forwards:	Taylor Booth, Daryl Dike, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Alejandro Zendejas

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  June 11, 2022	United States 5-0 Grenada	Concacaf Nations League
  July 5, 2009	Grenada 0-4 United States	Concacaf Gold Cup
  June 21, 2004	Grenada 2-3 United States	Concacaf WC qualifiers
  June 13, 2004	United States 3-0 Grenada	Concacaf WC qualifiers

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  Useful links

  • USMNT team page

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

  • How USMNT should line up vs Grenada

Everything you need to know about versatile Brazilian Roberto Firmino!

Roberto Firmino, born on October 2, 1991, is a Brazilian professional football player who currently plays as a forward for Liverpool in the English Premier League and the Brazilian national team. He is known for his skilful and versatile style of play, his ability to score goals, and his work ethic both on and off the pitch.

Firmino started his football career playing for Figueirense in Brazil before moving to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga in 2011. He quickly became a key player for the club, scoring 49 goals in 153 appearances across all competitions. His performances caught the eye of Liverpool, who signed him in 2015 for a reported fee of £29 million.

At Liverpool, Firmino quickly established himself as an important player in the team's attack, forming a formidable partnership with fellow forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. He has scored a total of 108 goals in 356 appearances for the club, helping them to win numerous trophies including the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.

Firmino's style of play is characterized by his technical ability on the ball, his intelligence and creativity, and his tireless work rate. He is capable of playing in a variety of positions in the attack, including as a central striker, a supporting striker, or as an attacking midfielder. His ability to drop deep and link up play with his teammates has been a critical component of Liverpool's success in recent years.

Firmino's international career with Brazil has been similarly successful. He represented his country at various youth levels before making his debut for the senior team in 2014. Since then he has participated in multiple tournaments for his nation, including the World Cup and Copa America, scoring 17 goals in 55 matches.

Off the pitch, Firmino is known for his positive attitude and his dedication to his craft. He is a devout Christian and often celebrates his goals by making a heart shape with his hands and pointing to the sky. He is also involved in various charitable initiatives, including supporting a charity in Brazil that provides educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

He has changed what it means to be a striker, by showing that forwards can be more than goalscorers to contribute to their personal and team success. A model professional and athlete, he is an inspiration for many budding footballers across the world.

Here are 15 fun facts about Firmino you need to know…!

• Tough beginnings

  Firmino was born in Maceio, Alagoas in Brazil. On top of his family's dire economic circumstances, the area he grew up in was heavily ridden with crime. Every day was a fight for survival for the future Liverpool star and his loved ones.

  As a result, Firmino's parents sheltered him a lot and prevented him from doing many things on his own. It was football which allowed him to escape from the crime which surrounded him and his parent's restrictions.

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• Unusual discovery

  Some of the greatest talents in world football have been discovered by either managers or excellent scouts whose main purpose is to identify talent and direct them to the path of success.

  However, in Firmino's case, it was Marcellus Portella, a dentist of all people, who identified the talent within the Liverpool forward.

  Portella was also a surgeon for the local Brazilian team Clube de Regatas Brasil and noticed Firmino, who wasn't getting much attention from others. The doctor decided that the young forward's talent was too special to be hidden and decided to become his representative, helping him join his first academy team at ­Figueirense

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  A jack of all trades

  Firmino is nowadays primarily associated with being the ideal false-nine and has made the position his own under manager Jurgen Klopp. However, the Brazilian has played various roles throughout his career, from being the main centre-forward to a winger to even being a central midfielder.

  In fact, one of the first positions he played during his academy days was as a defensive midfielder!

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• Shy nature

  While the Liverpool forward has become more confident in himself as he has progressed in his career, that wasn't necessarily the case at the beginning.

  Firmino had a lack of confidence in himself which also resulted in him not getting opportunities at an early stage despite having all the talent in the world. In fact, for the first two weeks, he let the Figueirense coach wrongly call him Albert because he was too shy to correct him.

Arsenal host bitter rivals Tottenham on Saturday and things could get fiery – on and off the pitch

The North London derby is always a huge occasion, but Saturday’s meeting between Arsenal and Tottenham is shaping up to be even bigger than normal. Mikel Arteta’s side go into the game sitting top of the Premier League after an impressive start to the season, but they are only one point above their unbeaten neighbours.

Tottenham know, then, that victory at Emirates Stadium –  a ground where they haven’t won in the league since 2010 – will see them move above their bitter rivals.

It promises to be an intriguing afternoon between two very evenly matched teams.

So where could the game be won or lost? GOAL takes a look at some of the key factors that could decide the contest…

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  Mikel Arteta vs Antonio Conte

  Observing the two managers on Saturday might be as interesting as watching what is happening on the pitch.

  As much as they might try and play it down, there is clearly going to be some animosity bubbling away under the surface when it comes to Mikel Arteta and Antonio Conte.

  The Spurs boss was clearly angered by Arteta the last time the sides met, hitting out at his counterpart after the game following Arteta’s complaints about some of the decisions that went against his side.

  “Mikel Arteta is doing a really good job but I listened to him complain a lot,” Conte said after Tottenham's 3-0 win in May. “I think he has to be focused more on his team and not complaining.

  “This is my advice. If he wants to take my advice it's up to him. I don't care. In six months I have listened to him complaining a lot. It's not good.”

  Arteta will have certainly noted those comments and he will want to get one over the Italian this weekend.

  The managers have two very different styles and the game plans they come up with for Saturday’s derby will be crucial in determining who comes out on top.

  Conte got his tactics spot on against Arsenal last time out and Spurs ended up cruising to victory, albeit against a side that had to play with 10 men for nearly an hour.

  Spurs will no doubt look to allow Arsenal to have a lot of the ball on Saturday and play on the counterattack, a tactic Manchester United used perfectly against Arsenal when the Gunners slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

  How Arteta sets his team up to cope with that threat will be key to Arsenal’s chances of a positive result.

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  Gabriel Jesus vs Cristian Romero

  This has all the ingredients to be a superb battle. Arsenal vs Tottenham, Brazil vs Argentina. What more could you want?

  Romero has shown during his time in England how he loves to try and wind strikers up. He’s strong, aggressive and will try and bully anyone he’s up against.

  But Jesus has proved since arriving at Arsenal how he is not afraid to give as good as he gets, and he has shown he is more than capable of dealing with a defender trying to get physical with him.

  One of Romero’s weaknesses is that he is prone to the occasional rush of blood. Sometimes he will dive in for a challenge and leave himself out of position.

  Should that happen on Saturday, then Jesus will certainly be alert enough to nick the ball away from him and get in behind.

  Both players will need to try and keep their heads amidst the intensity of the derby. Jesus is now only one booking away from a suspension, and Romero will be well aware of that and will no doubt be trying to get into his head.

  It’s an intriguing battle between two fine players.

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  Harry Kane vs Thomas Partey

  Usually you would say that a battle involving a team’s central striker would also involve the opposition’s centre-back.

  But the way Kane operates for Spurs can be like a No.10 at times, such is his preference to drop deep and perform the playmaker role for runners, especially Son Heung-min.

  So Partey – providing he is passed fit following his knee issue – will have a vital role to play in trying to deny Kane the space he thrives in.

  When Partey is at his best, there is no-one better at breaking up the play and winning possession back than the Arsenal midfielder, and Arteta will be desperate to have the Ghanaian available.

  But as important as Partey stopping Kane will be to Arsenal, it will be equally as important for Spurs that Kane can escape the clutches of the former Atletico Madrid man and dictate the game the way he wants to play it.

  If he can do that and find the space to work in, Kane's ability to pick a pass and find the runners should see the visitors generate plenty of opportunities.

  It will also allow him to get his own sight of goal, something that will spell real danger for Arsenal – especially given Kane has scored against them 13 times already in the Premier League.

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  Gabriel Martinelli vs Tottenham’s right side

  When you look at how both teams set up, the right wing-back role for Spurs looks like the one area that Arsenal could really look to exploit.

  Conte does not seem to have settled on a player to fill that role yet. He has used Emerson Royal more than most, but it was Ivan Perisic who lined up in that position against Leicester last time out.

  The expectation is that Royal will return to the line up against Arsenal and if that is the case, the Gunners will certainly look to exploit that flank and try to get at Spurs.

  Gabriel Martinelli has enjoyed a fine start to the season having already scored three goals and is a constant menace on the left side of the Arsenal attack.

  If the Brazilian youngster can win the battle against his compatriot, you feel that could be an area of the pitch where Arsenal could get a lot of joy.