Tag Futebol

Off-pitch matters are taking centre stage once again for Les Bleues, who are still trying to win a major tournament for the first time

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Women's Euro Tickets

• Secure your Women's Euro 2025 tickets for this summer's international tournament
• Location: Switzerland
• Stadiums: Various, including St. Jakob Park, Stadion Wankdorf, Stade de Genève and more
• Date: July 2 – 27
• Final: July 27, St. Jakob Park

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• Book hotels, apartments and accommodation across Switzerland for the Women's Euros
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• Look for accommodation based on your dates, number of bedrooms, and budget on Booking.com

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• New kits from adidas, Nike and Puma have been released for the Women's Euro tournament
• Grab your favourite team's kit to support throughout the games
• Search for your team, including Italy, England, Germany and more
• Available in sizes XS – XXL

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Tickets

Women's Euro Tickets

• Secure your Women's Euro 2025 tickets for this summer's international tournament
• Location: Switzerland
• Stadiums: Various, including St. Jakob Park, Stadion Wankdorf, Stade de Genève and more
• Date: July 2 – 27
• Final: July 27, St. Jakob Park

From

€149

Buy nowRead More

Accommodation

Where to stay

• Book hotels, apartments and accommodation across Switzerland for the Women's Euros
• Search for places to stay near the stadiums, across Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva and more
• Look for accommodation based on your dates, number of bedrooms, and budget on Booking.com

From

€49

Book nowRead More

Kits

Shop your kit

• New kits from adidas, Nike and Puma have been released for the Women's Euro tournament
• Grab your favourite team's kit to support throughout the games
• Search for your team, including Italy, England, Germany and more
• Available in sizes XS – XXL

From

€50

Buy nowRead More

Tickets

Women's Euro Tickets

• Secure your Women's Euro 2025 tickets for this summer's international tournament
• Location: Switzerland
• Stadiums: Various, including St. Jakob Park, Stadion Wankdorf, Stade de Genève and more
• Date: July 2 – 27
• Final: July 27, St. Jakob Park

From

€149

Buy nowRead More

Accommodation

Where to stay

• Book hotels, apartments and accommodation across Switzerland for the Women's Euros
• Search for places to stay near the stadiums, across Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva and more
• Look for accommodation based on your dates, number of bedrooms, and budget on Booking.com

From

€49

Book nowRead More

Kits

Shop your kit

• New kits from adidas, Nike and Puma have been released for the Women's Euro tournament
• Grab your favourite team's kit to support throughout the games
• Search for your team, including Italy, England, Germany and more
• Available in sizes XS – XXL

From

€50

Buy nowRead More

France is one of the most historic and prolific football nations in the world. In the women's game, Lyon, its dominant domestic force, have won eight Champions League titles in the last 15 years, including five in a row between 2016 and 2020, with three more narrow final defeats coming in that same time period. Yet, despite French players consistently being at the very forefront of OL's achievements, it has never translated into success for the national team.

Les Bleues are notoriously a 'nearly' side. After finishing fourth at the 2011 Women's World Cup, France have never made it beyond the quarter-finals – despite hosting the 2019 tournament – and only once have they progressed to the semi-finals of a European Championship. At the Olympic Games, its a similar story, with a fourth-placed finish in 2012 followed up by quarter-final exits in 2016 and 2024, the latter of which was again on home soil.

As Euro 2025 begins, there are signs that their fortunes could change. Under new head coach Laurent Bonadei, Les Bleues are in flying form, having won all eight of their fixtures this year, and are certainly a serious contender for the title. But as they prepare to compete in the 'group of death' with England, the Netherlands and Wales, there are also suggestions that this could actually just be another underwhelming campaign characterised by chaos.

• Getty Images
  

  Constant controversy

  In recent years, it seems that France just cannot enter a major tournament quietly and without off-pitch fuss. For a long time, that drama often stemmed from head coach Corinne Diacre, a polarising figure who had her fair share of fall-outs with key players. Diacre took the post after the team's disappointing quarter-final exit at Euro 2017 and made her mark in her first tournament in charge, when she omitted Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who had just won the league's Golden Boot, from her squad for the 2019 Women's World Cup. At Euro 2022, it was Amandine Henry's turn to be left out, just days after her Player of the Match display in Lyon's win over Barcelona in the Champions League final.

  Of course, a manager is entitled to make these decisions – but when the team repeatedly fails to get over the line in a major tournament, despite having the talent and potential to do so, such choices will be put under the microscope and scrutinised. Plus, it wasn't just player selection that made Diacre so controversial. Her management style was often criticised, with Wendie Renard, Lyon's eight-time Champions League winner, explaining in her autobiography that Diacre stripped her of the national team captaincy in 2017 because she believed the star defender had not "yet reached international level".

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• Getty Images
  

  Quarter-final curse

  When Renard announced that she would not play at the 2023 Women's World Cup, the federation as a whole was suddenly being questioned, too. "I love France more than anything else, I am not perfect, far from it, but I can no longer support the current system which is far from the requirements of the highest level," she said in a statement that led to Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, France's two star attackers, following suit. Those actions brought about change, with the federation dismissing Diacre from her role as head coach.

  However, that was just four months before the World Cup was set to begin, leaving Les Bleues in a tricky spot going into the tournament. In came Herve Renard, well-known for his achievements across various men's national teams, having enjoyed success with Zambia, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. This, though, was his first job in the women's game.

  It didn't start well,as France were beaten by Australia in the quarter-finals. It was the sixth time in their last seven major tournaments that Les Bleues had exited at that stage, the exception being their Euro 2022 semi-final loss to Germany. At their home Olympics a year later, they made it seven quarter-final exits in eight tournaments when they lost to Brazil, despite dominating that knockout clash and having so many chances to seal victory. It was a result that came amid so much talk of Renard's future, with him linked to both the Egypt and Nigeria jobs in the build-up to the Games, and he would leave his role after the tournament ended.

• Getty Images
  

  New dawn?

  Under Bonadei, Renard's assistant and eventual successor, things felt different. He came into the job with minimal fuss and has delivered great performances and results since taking charge back in August. After experimenting and looking at as many players as possible in a quartet of friendlies at the end of 2024, which produced two wins and two defeats, Bonadei has overseen a run of eight successive wins in 2025, the first six of those in the Nations League, which Les Bleues will play the finals of later this year.

  It has all sounded positive away from matches, too. Bonadei has brought in a coach that specialises in mental preparation, in order to address the "collective or individual blockage" that France's recent major tournament performances suggest exists, and he has tried his best not to change much about his interactions with the players from when he was an assistant.

  "I am closer to them now because my management is based on authenticity," he explained in an interview with . "I told them, 'If you called me Laurent and addressed me informally when I was an assistant, above all, don't start addressing me formally and calling me coach, because I remain the same. The most important thing is respect. If I ask you something, you do it. If you ask me something, I try to meet your expectations'."

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• Getty Images
  

  Chaos returns

  It all seemed to be going impressively well, then… Until the bombshell news in April that Bonadei had dropped Renard, Eugenie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali from his squad and that they would not be going to Euro 2025, either. It was a huge shock; all three are hugely experienced players, Renard was the team's captain and Le Sommer the vice-captain. If the latter was a more understandable omission, having, aged 36, not been as key a player for Lyon as in previous seasons, and Dali a decision made on coach's preference, with the midfield an extremely competitive area of this team, Renard's absence in particular was stunning. Aged 34, she remains one of the very best centre-backs in the world.

  A recent injury to Griedge Mbock Bathy, and concerns over whether she will be fit to start the tournament in the heart of France's defence, has increased the attention on that decision, while the fact Bonadei explained his reasons with an Albert Einstein quote only added to the absurdity of it all.

  “These are tough choices,” he said. “They are difficult to make and difficult to announce to the players. It’s a decision that’s hard to hear, hard to understand and almost impossible for them to accept because they’re legendary players for the French team. I didn’t make this decision in the spur of the moment. You’d think, given the timing, that this is crazy – but it’s not. As Einstein said, ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result'. I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection.”

يعيش المهاجم الواعد، إندريك، حالة من الإصرار الشديد على فرض نفسه داخل ريال مدريد، رافضًا كل المقترحات التي تقضي بإعارته خلال الموسم الجديد، رغم صعوبة الحصول على فرصة في اللعب.

أحلام إندريك مع ريال مدريد ليست وليدة اللحظة، منذ طفولته، تعلق بالنادي الملكي، وكان يتابع مبارياته من جهاز والدته، ويستعرض تاريخ أساطيره مثل دي ستيفانو وبوشكاش، حتى تحول الشغف إلى هوس.

اللاعب البالغ من العمر 18 عامًا رفض عروضًا مغرية من باريس سان جيرمان وأندية إنجليزية كبرى، مفضّلًا الانتقال إلى ريال مدريد، حيث يرى أن نجاحه هناك هو الهدف الأسمى، ولو تطلب الأمر انتظارًا طويلًا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ريال مدريد يعلن رحيل لاعب جديد في ميركاتو الصيف

رسالة كتبها إندريك لأخيه الأصغر في مارس الماضي، كشفت عن عمق معاناته ونشأته القاسية، وعن دور والده ووالدته في صنع شخصية حديدية لا تعرف الاستسلام، تفاصيل مؤثرة عكست خلفية نجم يعرف جيدًا ما يريد.

ورغم تعرضه لعدة إصابات عضلية، وظهور موهبة هجومية جديدة في ريال مدريد هو جونزالو جارسيا، لا يزال إندريك يتمسك بأمل البروز بقميص الميرينجي، خاصة أن العام المقبل سيشهد انطلاق كأس العالم، بحسب صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية.

المنطق الكروي يقول إن الإعارة ستكون الحل الأفضل لإندريك، بحثًا عن دقائق لعب وتسجيل أهداف تعيده إلى الواجهة، نادي خيتافي برز كوجهة محتملة، لكن وكلاء اللاعب، يرفضون ذلك تمامًا.

Arsenal are now racing to sign an “exciting” £21m player in the summer transfer window, alongside a number of their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Gunners gearing up for busy summer

As we approach the business end of the Premier League season, it is looking increasingly likely that Mikel Arteta’s side will finish in second place for the third season on the spin, with injury issues doing the manager absolutely no favours.

With that in mind, Arteta has set out to bring in more depth in the summer transfer window, and one position in which he is currently lacking options is striker, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres being targeted to fill the gap.

Bukayo Saka’s absence has also exposed the need to bring in new wide options, and the Gunners are now racing to sign Ademola Lookman, while Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Zubimendi are among the targets in central midfield.

Arsenal could now look to hijack Man City move for "world-class" £54m star

The Gunners have joined their Premier League rivals in the race for a defender.

By
Dominic Lund

Mar 25, 2025

One position which may be viewed as less of a priority is goalkeeper, but with Neto set to return to AFC Bournemouth at the end of the campaign, Arteta may be tasked with bringing in a new back-up option between the sticks.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are now racing a number of their Premier League rivals for Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle United also in the picture.

Lammens has caught the eye this season, given his impressive distribution of the ball and presence in the penalty area, with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also placing him on their shortlist.

Amid the widespread interest in the goalkeeper, Antwerp believe they can hold out for a fee of around €20m – €25m (£17m – £21m).

"Exciting" Lammens is one for the future

There is currently little reason to replace David Raya, who is in the prime of his career at 29-years-old, however there are signs the Antwerp goalkeeper could be capable of being a solid long-term replacement.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has spoken particularly highly of the Belgian, having been impressed by his ability to stop crosses and distribute the ball.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also described the 6 foot 4 colossus as “exciting”, and that is definitely how you would describe his last-gasp goal for Club Brugge to progress against Real Madrid in the UEFA Youth League.

Signing a new goalkeeper shouldn’t be a priority for Arsenal this summer, given that any new signing is unlikely to displace Raya in the starting XI, but Lammens could definitely be one for the future.

Liverpool are now targeting a “flamboyant” forward who was unearthed by Jürgen Klopp as a youngster, and he could be available for a fee of just £21m, according to a report.

Reds eyeing forwards amid Salah uncertainty

Of course, every Liverpool fan will be hoping Mohamed Salah puts the rumours to bed and signs a new contract, but for now the Egyptian’s future remains in doubt, which means potential replacements are being identified ahead of the summer transfer window.

FSG have recently sent scouts to watch Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz, with a £50m offer being prepared for the versatile forward, but the Italian side are said to be seeking around £84m, meaning the two clubs could be some way apart in negotiations.

Interestingly, the Reds have also been handed the opportunity to sign former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, who is now at Bayern Munich, with the German set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

"Tenacious" £50m Premier League ace "close" to move with Liverpool in pole

The Reds are in pole position currently.

2 ByHenry Jackson Mar 14, 2025

Sane is proven in the Premier League, but an intriguing alternative option from the Bundesliga is also entering the equation, with a report from Caught Offside revealing Liverpool are now eyeing a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff.

Although not available on a free transfer like Sane, Knauff would also be a relatively inexpensive addition, with the German club looking to hold out for a fee of around €25m (£21m).

The 23-year-old has impressed Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmoller this season, and he also once caught the eye of Klopp at a very young age, with the legendary former Reds boss watching him in action in a youth tournament at just 12-years-old.

Klopp invited the winger for a trial at Borussia Dortmund, and he later went on to make 16 appearances for the Bundesliga giants before making the move to Frankfurt.

"Flamboyant" Knauff proving his worth at Frankfurt

The former Dortmund man never managed to establish himself as a first-team regular at Signal Iduna Park, but he has since gone on to prove his worth at Frankfurt.

The Gottingen-born winger’s output has been steadily increasing, with six goals and four assists to his name in all competitions this season, and he places in the 97th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers across the big five leagues.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously described the Frankfurt star as “flamboyant”, and he is also a very impressive dribbler, placing in the 95th percentile for progressive carries and the 88th percentile for successful take-ons.

As such, there are clear signs Knauff could be an exciting acquisition for Liverpool, who should continue to monitor his performances, and his potential availability for the very affordable fee of just £21m is a real added bonus.

Newcastle United supporters could hardly believe their eyes come the full-time whistle at Wembley on Sunday as the club’s long domestic silverware drought of 70 years was finally put to bed.

The Magpies pulled off a shock 2-1 win on the biggest stage over Arne Slot’s soon-to-be Premier League champions in Liverpool to lift the EFL Cup, with Eddie Howe’s camp now immortalised forevermore at St James’ Park as the group that put Tyneside firmly on the footballing map.

Not even all-time greats such as Alan Shearer could pull off a moment such as this when he was playing, with the notorious sharpshooter tasting silverware at Blackburn Rovers in the form of a top-flight title success, but amazingly went trophyless at the Toon.

Shearer's legendary status at Newcastle

No one can say Shearer didn’t enjoy great times donning his beloved black and white stripes.

Indeed, the now-retired striker went on to win three Premier League golden boots leading the line for his hometown club among other personal accolades.

The much-loved number nine’s long-standing association with the Toon would also see him become the division’s all-time top-scorer, with a jaw-dropping 260 strikes coming his way from 441 total league appearances, meaning a trophy here and there falling to the wayside is a pill that can be swallowed.

1996/97

31

23

1997/98

17

2

1998/99

30

14

1999/00

37

23

2000/01

19

5

2001/02

37

23

2002/03

35

17

2003/04

37

22

2004/05

28

7

2005/06

32

10

Shearer did get to two FA Cup finals as a Magpie, but both times Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United would outsmart Newcastle, leaving the 63-time England international empty-handed in that regard.

That’s where the Newcastle stars of today can one up the lethal marksman, with this equally deadly attacker now heading down the path of forging a better legacy for himself at St James’ Park than the goalscoring titan.

Newcastle star could leave with a bigger legacy than Shearer

Every single member of the starting XI against Liverpool will be remembered for some time now, with Dan Burn’s bullet header against the Reds reaffirming his status as a fan’s favourite.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Meanwhile, Bruno Guimaraes’ visible emotions at the end cemented his own tag as a memorable captain figure.

That’s before we’ve even mentioned the Swedish goal machine that is Alexander Isak, with the ex-Real Sociedad centre-forward sealing the historic victory in the English capital when smashing this early second-half effort past a startled Caoimhin Kelleher.

This crucial strike would give the Newcastle masses more breathing room to dream inside Wembley, with a two-goal cushion proving to be worthwhile come the end of the frantic contest, especially when Federico Chiesa got Slot’s men back into the game right at the death.

Ultimately, however, Isak’s 23rd goal of the season would gift Howe’s men their long awaited silverware, with the 6 foot 4 striker now up to a mightily impressive 58 strikes in total for the Magpies from 100 clashes.

24/25

33

23

5

23/24

40

25

2

22/23

27

10

2

That’s some distance from ever eclipsing Shearer’s ridiculous goal haul, but it must be said that Isak has now bettered the distinguished Premier League Hall of Fame member when it comes to firing home strike after strike that then results in a jubliant trophy success.

Isak could well tarnish his ever-rising popularity at St James’ Park if he was to uproot this coming summer though, with the likes of Arsenal and now reportedly Slot’s men sniffing around, but his legacy if he does depart has been undoubtedly boosted by the heroics he provided on Sunday evening.

Alternatively, Isak could sense this is just the beginning for Newcastle in terms of picking up illustrious honours, as the “world-class” attacker – as he was once labelled by Shearer himself – aims to keep firing in the goals to round off the Toon’s successful 2024/25 season with a potential top four finish.

If he stayed and fired the Toon to even greater success, he could well better that man Shearer’s legacy at St James’ Park. Wouldn’t that be a story?

Not just Burn: 10/10 Newcastle ace had his "greatest game in black & white"

Newcastle United sealed a historic Carabao Cup victory.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 16, 2025

Twelve stadiums from 11 cities will host the Club World Cup in 2025, and we explore each of those venues…

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The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks a transformative moment in football history as the competition expands to include 32 of the world’s top club teams.

Watch Club World Cup 2025 free on DAZNStream now

Modelled after the FIFA World Cup format, this revamped tournament will be held in the United States, a nation well-versed in hosting prestigious international events. Replacing the traditional approach, the new format features group stages followed by knockout rounds, delivering a month-long football festival.

The 2025 Club World Cup will be the first under this new structure, with a host of iconic teams set to compete, including the defending champions, Manchester City, who triumphed in the UEFA Champions League in 2023, Chelsea and current European champions Real Madrid. Other participants include the best clubs from Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and beyond, making it the most globally inclusive Club World Cup yet. Below is a guide to the venues and cities hosting this landmark tournament.

Getty Images SportLincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, this 67,594-capacity stadium is home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. With a history of hosting international football, including CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, Lincoln Financial Field provides a vibrant atmosphere for fans.

Stadium NameLincoln Financial FieldLocation:PhiladelphiaCapacity: 69,000AdvertisementGetty Images SportAudi Field | Washington D.C.

One of the smaller venues in the tournament, Audi Field has a capacity of 20,000 but offers an intimate and energetic setting. As the home of D.C. United in Major League Soccer, it is known for its passionate fanbase and state-of-the-art design.

Stadium NameAudi FieldLocation:Washington D.C.Capacity: 20,000Getty Images SportLumen Field | Seattle, Washington

This 68,740-seat stadium is a fortress for the Seattle Sounders and a haven for football fans in the Pacific Northwest. Its electric atmosphere and breathtaking views make it a standout choice for the Club World Cup.

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Hulton ArchiveRose Bowl | California

A venue synonymous with football history, the Rose Bowl boasts a capacity of 88,500, making it one of the largest stadiums in the tournament. It famously hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final and countless other iconic matches.

Stadium NameRose BownLocation:Pasadena, CaliforniaCapacity: 88,500

The January transfer window may be closed, but Chelsea are already believed to be favourites for the signing of a Premier League star this summer.

Chelsea end January window with one major signing

Enzo Maresca did get backed with his desired midfield cover, as Chelsea sealed a late deal to sign Mathis Amougou from Saint-Étienne for around £12 million, but it wasn’t exactly the window of dreams for Stamford Bridge chiefs.

Chelsea tried to sign another £80m Premier League player in record deal

His club issued brutal response to the Blues.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 4, 2025

Chelsea were widely reported to be chasing a striker, and held rumoured talks over a few noteworthy names.

Brighton (away)

February 14th

Aston Villa (away)

February 22nd

Southampton (home)

February 25th

Leicester City (home)

March 9th

Arsenal (away)

March 16th

Mathys Tel was subject to negotiations over a move to Chelsea, while other reliable media sources reported that Ipswich Town starlet Liam Delap was attracting serious interest from BlueCo amid Nicolas Jackson’s torrid run of goal-scoring form.

A new centre-back was on their agenda as well, right at the beginning of January, but Chelsea ended up activating their re-call clause for Trevoh Chalobah.

There was serious talk of Chelsea potentially re-signing Marc Guehi in a deal from Crystal Palace, with Maresca’s side said to have internally discussed the possibility of a January move for the star England international before deciding on Chalobah.

Tottenham also made an audacious late £70 million swoop for Guehi, which took everyone by surprise, but the £50,000-per-week defender didn’t go anywhere despite Spurs’ club-record breaking bid, with Palace chairman Steve Parish keen to keep the man he dubbed “sensational”.

Now, journalist Dean Jones has shared who is more likely to sign the 24-year-old this summer – Chelsea or Tottenham.

Marc Guehi likely to choose Chelsea move this summer

Jones, speaking on GiveMeSport’s Market Madness podcast, via YouTube, says that Guehi is likely to choose a move to Chelsea this summer if he does leave Selhurst Park.

“I had some scepticism when I first saw they went in for him. I’d heard nothing about it. At Tottenham, I have some reasonable contacts, but it wasn’t something I’d heard before all of this,” Jones said.

“They probably sensed that this was their big chance to go and do it because the likelihood is that Marc Guehi would choose to go to Chelsea, I’ve heard that for a long time now, and that will probably still be the case if Guehi leaves Crustal Palace at the end of the season then that’s where he ends up.”

The homegrown centre-back, with just under 18 months left on his Palace contract, appears set to be one of the most sought-after centre-backs of the summer – which is no surprise given his status as an England regular and one of the top flight’s standout centre-halfs.

The La Liga giants will relocate their commercial operations to Miami, positioning the club in what has become a hub for soccer business

Barcelona cites Miami's emergence as epicentre of American soccer businessSpanish giants receive grant from Miami Downtown Development Authority to facilitate move.New Miami office to focus on managing club assets and attracting potential investorsGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

In an announcement, FC Barcelona revealed that it will relocate its United States commercial operations from New York to downtown Miami. The club has reached an agreement with the Miami Downtown Development Authority to establish a new business space focused on managing Barcelona's assets in the region while seeking new commercial opportunities and potential investors. The statement from club president Joan Laporta confirmed the same and also added that their goal is to provide the best Barca experiences to the fans.

“The city of Miami has become a hub for soccer in the United States and for us it makes sense to establish our commercial operations in one of the key markets for the Club's business,” said Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona. “We look forward to exploring all the synergies that can be established to provide the best Barça experiences to our fans throughout America"

AdvertisementWHAT CHRISTINA CRESPI SAID

“From youth leagues to diehard fans, look around Miami and it's clear we are a city that loves soccer,” said Christina Crespi, CEO and Executive Director of the Miami DDA. “Bringing a historically recognized Club like FC Barcelona to downtown Miami is a testament to the rich business ecosystem in our district, and being able to leverage our business incentive program shows the power of partnership businesses get with the Miami DDA.

“This move not only strengthens our identity as a premier destination for world-class sports but will also fuel significant economic growth and create new jobs in the urban core.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

FC Barcelona's history with the United States dates back to 1937 when the team first visited during the Spanish Civil War. The club has significantly expanded its American footprint in recent years, now operating two Barça Academies Pro in Miami and New York, a Barça Residency Academy in Arizona, and three additional Barça Academies across the country. The club also maintains 15 official supporters clubs throughout the US and has conducted 54 soccer camps across 35 American cities in 2024 alone.

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AFPWHAT’S NEXT?

Barcelona will establish its new commercial office in downtown Miami, focusing on managing the club's assets throughout the Americas. The Miami DDA, which has awarded more than $820,000 to new businesses in the district over the past year, will support Barcelona's integration into the local business community. This move aligns with Miami's continued growth as a soccer hub, particularly as the city prepares to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Jules Kounde went from villain to hero in a crazy Copa del Rey final as Barcelona stole away the crown in extra-time, beating Real Madrid 3-2.

Barcelona suffocated Real Madrid from the outset as they outworked and outplayed the men in white in the opening exchanges. The forward line harried the Madrid defence relentlessly which crumbled and submitted to the persistent pressure. Barcelona held the majority of possession and it was only a matter of time, just under half an hour, before they took the lead.

Pedri fed Lamine Yamal, who stood Fran Garcia up before laying back to the midfielder in acres of space to stroke home into the top-left corner from outside the area. Madrid never looked like threatening the Barcelona defence which looked completely assured throughout the first half.

Mbappe was introduced at half-time and Los Blancos threatened immediately. Vinicius robbed Pedri and flashed one past the post, before Mbappe’s runs through the middle started to cause problems. The Frenchman, fouled by Frenkie de Jong, swept the resulting free-kick off the left post and in to equalise. The Madrid attacks continued to flow and when Aurelien Tchouameni headed in Madrid's second from a corner, they looked set to become champions.

But Yamal had other ideas, sending Ferran Torres through, who rounded Courtois and passed into the gaping net. With the score at 2-2 and seeming destined to be heading to extra-time, Raphinha jinked past a lunging Asencio and collapsed to the floor – winning a penalty. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned and the game went to extra-time.

If fans were expecting the fireworks of the second-half to continue then they would be disappointed. But with both sets of players looking exhausted and the affair starting to peter out, Kounde stole ahead of Brahim Diaz to intercept and fire low and into the bottom corner. Just when Barcelona thought they had won it, Gavi fouled Mbappe in the box but was saved by an offside in the build-up. The seconds eventually trickled away and Barcelona were the Copa del Rey champions.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from La Cartuja…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Wojciech Szczesny (6/10):

  Had little to do in the first half, made a smart stop from Mbappe early in the second half. Could do little with the Madrid goals.

  Jules Kounde (8/10):

  Did not allow Vinicius an inch of space but lost Tchouameni at the corner for Madrid's second. Stunning winner in extra-time will steal all the headlines.

  Pau Cubarsí (7/10):

  Made an important cutout from a Jude Bellingham pass which led to the first goal – solid throughout.

  Inigo Martínez (6/10):

  Fortunate that the offside flag saved him from conceding a penalty on Vinicius.

  Gerard Martín (6/10):

  Picked up a yellow card for a late challenge but kept a lacklustre Rodrygo quiet.

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• Midfield

  Pedri (7/10):

  His spectacular finish from outside the area fired Barcelona ahead. Dictated tempo in the first-half but struggled with physical Madrid midfield after the break.

  Frenkie de Jong (5/10):

  Started strongly but was isolated and consistently tested by Mbappe. De Jong gave away the free-kick on the Frenchman that led to the equaliser.

  Dani Olmo (6/10):

  Did not offer too much of a threat going forwards and, after being on the end of a number of heavy Madrid challenges, was substituted just after an hour.

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  Attack

  Lamine Yamal (8/10):

  Toyed with Fran Garcia and took his time to pick out Pedri for the opener. Faded in the second half until special assist for Ferran Torres.

  Ferran Torres (6/10):

  Had looked unable to fill the Robert Lewandowski-sized hole until he popped up to make it 2-2.

  Raphinha (5/10):

  Thrashed two good chances yards wide of the post in the second-half which could have put the game out of Madrid’s reach – almost deeply costly misses.

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  Subs & Manager

  Fermin Lopez (6/10):

  Struggled to help stem the flow of Madrid attacks in the second-half. Stepped up in extra-time and looked most likely to create an opening.

  Gavi (5/10):

  Flickered in and out of the game but failed to make a huge impact.

  Ronald Araujo (7/10):

  Helped shore up the Barcelona defence in extra-time and made a vital block from a cross.

  Eric Garcia (5/10):

  Brought on in extra-time, Garcia had little to do in a quiet 22 minutes.

  Pau Victor (N/A):

  Came on just before winning goal.

  Hansi Flick (6/10):

  An almost perfect first-half was undone by one Madrid change. Failed to respond to the more physical challenges posed by Mbappe and Madrid in the second-half. Will be relieved to have won the trophy.

Players not being able to sustain the amount of cricket they’re being expected to play will force changes, ICC chair believes

Osman Samiuddin27-Jul-2022

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice on packed calendar: ‘It is an issue for members to work their way through’•IDI/Getty Images

The growing, unsustainable burden on players could eventually force boards into making the global cricket calendar a more manageable one, according to ICC chairman Greg Barclay.Barclay was speaking after the conclusion of the ICC’s AGM where the Future Tours Programme (FTP) has been going through the final stages before it is published, and where a major thread of discussion among members has been around the balance in the calendar between T20 leagues and international cricket.More relevantly, he was speaking just over a week after Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, decided to retire from ODI cricket, at just 31, blaming what he said was an unsustainable workload. Stokes’ decision came 16 months out from England’s defence of their World Cup title, which he was vital in securing in 2019.Related

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The new FTP, from 2023-2027, has not been made public yet, though ESPNcricinfo has a copy of a near-complete draft. The calendar, as it stands, is marked by an unrelenting schedule of ICC events and bilateral cricket and, increasingly, unofficial windows which are being earmarked by boards for their own T20 leagues; that is apart from a two-and-a-month window for the IPL, which is all but formalised.”The fact is that we have a limited amount of time in the calendar,” Barclay said. “There’s 365 days in a year, there’s more cricket being played through ICC events, through bilateral cricket, a proliferation of T20 leagues so there is a lot of pressure on that calendar. Are we at a tipping point?”I’m not sure but it is an issue for members to work their way through. There’s a lot of cricket to fit in there and it’s simply not all going to fit. It’s not an issue so much for this organisation [the ICC], but certainly for members to try and work their way through optimum outcomes is going to be a challenge.”What they also need to take into account is that the players themselves will simply not be able to sustain the amount of cricket they’re probably going to be expected to play so that’s going to force some changes as well.”The ICC believes it has witnessed a strong commitment to the international game among members at this AGM. But for a growing number of members that commitment is clearly tussling with a newfound zeal for their own domestic products, whether a T20 league or the Hundred. Both CA and ECB have carved out – or tried to – little windows for the BBL and the Hundred in this FTP.”There are a number of members who are putting particular attention on their domestic leagues,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC CEO said. “The one thing over the last few days is the commitment to international cricket and bilateral cricket is as strong as it has ever been. But each of them has to manage that balance between domestic competitions, their international schedules and the management of their players. Each of those boards is in a slightly different situation. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to that balancing situation and each country attacks it slightly differently.”If something does eventually give way, the speculation has been on ODI cricket. Without the context of the Super League in the next cycle, the format is back to being a bilateral staple. But that has not been evident just yet, and not in the draft version of the FTP.”We talked a fair bit about the structure,” Allardice said. “One of the things about the three formats and the way they are incorporated in the FTP is that members and fans in countries have slightly different preferences for formats. At this stage, there was some discussion about the mix of formats, not specifically ODIs in the calendar. Countries are still scheduling a healthy number of ODIs as well in their FTPs, so in the FTP you won’t see significant changes to the number of ODIs, or proportion being played.”The Super League has been scrapped because the 2027 World Cup has been expanded into a 14-team event; that has rendered a 13-team Super League redundant. The current cycle of the league has been hit by severe disruptions because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has prevented it from really taking off.That might be rectified as we approach the end of league, with nine months still left, a number of series still to be played out and a number of big-name teams potentially having to play a qualifier to get into the 2023 World Cup.One of those could be South Africa, who did not help their own cause by pulling out of a three-match ODI series against Australia, in order to get their own T20 league off the ground. The ICC had no say in the fate of that series, and is not yet clear on how points will be awarded, but is looking forward to a tight fight for qualification towards the end.”We’ve still got nine months in the window available to complete the Super League,” Allardice said. “The ICC’s role in that competition is to say here are the eight teams you are playing against. The timing of those series and how those series are scheduled is between the two members to resolve.”We saw the announcement by CA and CSA and as we head to the end of the competition we will deal with that. Whether Australia and South Africa have come to some arrangement around making up some series – there may be some discussions still going on – the competition still has nine months to run and we’ll be dealing with [how the points are to be awarded] towards the end.”The ODI Super League was a way to provide context to ODIs. It has another nine months to play out and I’m sure as we approach cut-off date, the last couple of spots in 2023 will become quite exciting.”