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Premier League

Biggest question for every Premier League club going into new season

The new Premier League campaign begins this weekend. Below, we examine the most pressing question for each club heading into the 2021-22 term.

Arsenal

Is this a work in progress, or will the same old issues linger?

Once again, the pressure is on Arsenal to tighten the gap behind the Premier League’s elite quartet. But making the top six won’t be easy.

Intriguing summer buys and an exciting gaggle of youngsters offer hope of brighter times ahead. But with players like Hector Bellerin and Granit Xhaka still around – perhaps getting new contracts because no club is willing to buy them for a reasonable fee – and an injured Thomas Partey (again), Gooners could soon return to a familiar state of despair.

Mikel Arteta somehow can’t shake the mess and misfortune he inherited. His team faces a tough run of fixtures to begin its campaign.

Aston Villa

Will Jack Grealish’s exit hinder Villa’s rise?

Eddie Keogh / Getty Images Sport / Getty

There’s a belief at Aston Villa this season that would’ve been unthinkable when a fan angrily hurled a cabbage at Steve Bruce in 2018.

This club has changed. Quality performers like Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia have replaced vegetating veterans and failed foreign recruits. Dean Smith has greatly improved numerous players. The Under-18s won the FA Youth Cup in May. In the boardroom, Villa co-owner Wes Edens is already a proven winner through his investments with the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Perhaps chief executive Christian Purslow’s confidence that Buendia, Leon Bailey, and Danny Ings will cover Grealish’s attacking output and reduce the team’s “overdependency on one brilliant footballer” is justified. Time will tell.

Brentford

Can the Bees’ recruitment strategy cut it in the Premier League?

Brentford can legitimately claim to be one of the best run outfits in English football. Rival clubs have habitually preyed on their best players, but the Bees have a knack for using sophisticated data to uncover replacements at a fraction of the price. Either that or they move an existing player into a new position.

Brentford used a different striker in each of their past three Championship campaigns, but the goal output gradually improved: Neal Maupay scored 25 goals before he joined Brighton & Hove Albion, converted winger Watkins bagged 26 before he moved to Aston Villa, and incumbent marksman Ivan Toney netted 33. It’s prudent, and it’s successful.

Deals for Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa indicate Brentford will stick to their recruitment strategy as they play top-flight football for the first time since 1947.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Will they finish their chances?

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The point was well-worn but no less true: Brighton were good at creating chances last season but wretched at burying them. The Seagulls fired more shots than Leicester City, yet ended up with 28 fewer goals.

What’s been done to address this so far? Nothing, really. Box-to-box midfielder Enock Mwepu has come in, as have 6-foot-8 goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen and teenager Jeremy Sarmiento. But Graham Potter currently has a choice of Maupay or Aaron Connolly to start the season up front. Danny Welbeck is injured.

Like a few clubs in this league, Brighton are unbending in their philosophy. In some ways, it’s admirable. But it’s frightening when the team in question has players like calamitous center-half Shane Duffy on its books. Brighton’s attack needs to be better. Now.

Burnley

Is Sean Dyche happy with this?

Dyche grew frustrated with the lack of investment under former majority shareholder Mike Garlick, but ALK Capital promised the manager more spending following its takeover of Burnley at the end of 2020.

The Clarets subsequently bought nobody in January and haven’t exactly staged a summer spending spree. This window’s deals to sign Nathan Collins from Stoke City and ex-Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on a free transfer don’t seem enough to drag a thin, low-scoring squad away from another relegation battle.

Optimism is in short supply, and the patience of Dyche – who’s wrung out results for Burnley since 2012 despite their meager resources – must be wearing thin.

Chelsea

Is Thomas Tuchel more than a short-term solution?

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Chelsea don’t keep managers for long, but the transformation under Thomas Tuchel was something special. True, Roberto Di Matteo also won the Champions League soon after taking the reins, but the tactical tweaks and individual improvements overseen by Tuchel were remarkable given his brief time at the training ground.

Now they want more. “I think we have all a lot of goals this season. The Champions League title is not enough for us; we want to win more, and that’s our aim for the season,” Kai Havertz said ahead of the new campaign.

Whether Tuchel is a long-term fixture remains to be seen. Signing Romelu Lukaku is a huge statement of intent, but plenty of hyped-up youngsters have been sold or loaned out. So far, this seems like a brief assault rather than a lengthy project.

Crystal Palace

Is Patrick Vieira the right man to spearhead a new era?

Crystal Palace have ditched comfort. The jersey’s straight stripes are now diagonal, a Gary Cahill-led defense has made way for a partnership of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen, and the grandfatherly warmth of Roy Hodgson is replaced by former midfield hardman Vieira.

This could be fun.

The biggest question obviously lies with Vieira, whose greatest coaching exploits arguably came at Manchester City’s academy rather than during his subsequent gigs with New York City FC and Nice. The neighborhoods adjoining Selhurst Park are arguably England’s greatest source of youthful talent. But can Vieira cultivate more youngsters like Tyrick Mitchell while preserving Palace’s top-flight status?

Everton

Will Dominic Calvert-Lewin do it again?

Tony McArdle – Everton FC / Everton FC / Getty

Richarlison logged the fewest goals across his three seasons at Everton in 2020-21 when he scored just seven times – nine fewer than target man Calvert-Lewin.

It’s pretty clear Rafa Benitez intends to keep Calvert-Lewin as the Toffees’ focal point through two shrewd offseason acquisitions: Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray can revitalize the Toffees’ play down the flanks, remedying a position that was hampered by the inconsistency of Alex Iwobi and the departed Bernard. Calvert-Lewin should thrive off this service.

It will also be interesting to see if forward Ellis Simms can enjoy a breakout term – provided Everton resist the temptation to loan him out again. But above all else, performances must improve from the dire end to Carlo Ancelotti’s reign.

Leeds United

Can Marcelo Bielsa take Leeds into Europe?

Leeds don’t have much depth and could suffer if someone like Patrick Bamford, Kalvin Phillips, or Illan Meslier succumbs to injury. But this is how Bielsa works. The Argentine prefers to work with a small group and train them very, very hard.

Raphinha should benefit from a full preseason following his late arrival from Rennes in 2020-21, and Junior Firpo will hopefully solve the left-back issue. Bielsa has never shied away from promoting youngsters, either; the departures of Pablo Hernandez, Ezgjan Alioski, and other senior players could clear room for a youth-team product such as Jamie Shackleton or Sam Greenwood to make an impact.

European qualification is a possibility – on its day, this team is good enough – but more of the same would be fine for many supporters.

Leicester City

Will they collapse?

Alex Pantling – The FA / The FA Collection / Getty

In each of the past two seasons, Leicester City lost three of their final four Premier League matches, surrendering a Champions League berth in the process. Brendan Rodgers has earned plenty of goodwill from the Foxes’ recent Wembley successes, but he can’t afford to let his team stumble for a third successive campaign.

Initially, Leicester’s summer was extremely encouraging: Their best players are staying, and Patson Daka is a promising heir apparent to Jamie Vardy. But a significant injury to Wesley Fofana and Jonny Evans’ continued absence with a foot issue have exposed a problem area in defense. There’s been little to suggest Filip Benkovic and Daniel Amartey are top-grade center-halves.

Perhaps the Foxes will get their slump out of the way early this time.

Liverpool

Will depth be an issue again?

A Premier League ball hasn’t been kicked, and already Liverpool won’t be able to call upon Andy Robertson for Saturday’s trip to Norwich City. Surely another campaign won’t be blighted by a congested treatment room?

Robertson’s natural replacement, Kostas Tsimikas, played just six Premier League minutes last term – mostly because Tsimikas had rotten luck with injuries.

Center-back Ibrahima Konate is an impressive signing who goes some way to addressing a weakness exposed last season. But there have been no other arrivals as Jurgen Klopp pins his hopes on last summer’s main buys – Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota – staying fit. The German manager is also understandably encouraged by Liverpool’s superb end to the 2020-21 league campaign.

Manchester City

Sticking with a false nine, Pep?

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It seems an asking price of £160 million is too rich even for Manchester City, so Harry Kane may stay at Tottenham Hotspur while Pep Guardiola decides what to do with his attack.

Does he turn to Gabriel Jesus after the Brazilian’s disappointing 2020-21 season? Is Liam Delap set for a surprise run of minutes? Or is the false nine still the answer? The truth is, when Sergio Aguero and Jesus were out of the starting XI, City played arguably their best and most unpredictable football of the Guardiola era. For now, if Kane doesn’t join the club, the false nine probably sticks.

There’s also a question of what City do with the left-back position, but that’s been the case since Benjamin Mendy fell to his first injury in Manchester. Plenty has changed – Grealish in, Aguero out – but plenty remains the same. That’s not a bad thing for reigning champions.

Manchester United

Was United’s business enough to mount a title challenge?

Adding Jadon Sancho to a wealth of attacking options and Raphael Varane to the backline can only mean one thing: Manchester United are, at long last, genuine contenders for the Premier League title.

But two factors could hinder their pursuit of silverware.

First, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side only appears sturdy when both Scott McTominay and Fred start, leaving fans looking longingly toward the players who can play defensive midfield alone – like Rodri or Wilfred Ndidi – and give teams the option of fielding another attacking player. The other issue is obvious: The club’s ownership hasn’t changed, and there’s plenty of work left to win fans’ trust and keep the anti-Glazer protests at bay during the 2021-22 campaign.

Newcastle United

How will Steve Bruce be received at St. James’ Park?

Serena Taylor / Newcastle United / Getty

Bruce was insulated by emptiness last season. The bare seats of St. James’ Park meant the fans who want him gone – and there are plenty of them – were hurling abuse from their sofas rather than the stands, leaving the manager to guide the team to 12th place in (relative) peace.

But the city of Newcastle wants more. Some would say it deserves more. The football is seldom entertaining, even with players like Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron in the squad, and the regular relegation battles are rarely broken up by cup runs. In short, the Toon Army craves excitement.

A few bad home results to start the season, and the atmosphere on Tyneside could turn nasty. The first three visitors to Newcastle are West Ham United, Southampton, and Leeds.

Norwich City

Can Norwich cope without Emi Buendia?

Buendia’s importance to both title-winning Championship campaigns was without question.

He finished third for key passes in 2018-19 and made more successful tackles than defender Ezri Konsa and defensive midfielder Muhamed Besic combined. Konsa and Besic also played the equivalent of over 35 more games than Buendia. Buendia was then named the Championship Player of the Season in 2020-21 after logging a remarkable 122 key passes en route to 16 assists and contributing 15 goals.

A player of that unique quality is near-impossible to replace, so Norwich appear to have changed tack. Kosovan attacker Milot Rashica is more direct than his predecessor, perhaps reflecting a less methodical approach from the Canaries on their Premier League return.

Southampton

Will Adam Armstrong and Che Adams score enough?

Matt Watson / Southampton FC / Getty

Forty-six goals in 100 appearances was a considerable return from Ings’ three years with Southampton. Now, the onus is on Adams and Armstrong – the latter a £15-million summer buy from Blackburn Rovers – to compensate for Ings’ departure.

The Saints reportedly rejected a £25-million bid for James Ward-Prowse from Aston Villa, and they should continue to stand firm: The captain’s set-piece delivery is arguably the best on the planet. And if Ralph Hasenhuttl can’t get the best out of Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo, then Stuart Armstrong and the promising Nathan Tella will face plenty of pressure to carve out chances for the frontmen.

Adams and Armstrong need to start hot. Otherwise, Southampton could find themselves deep in the relegation zone by mid-October.

Tottenham Hotspur

Will he stay, or will he go?

It’s pretty obvious which question is nagging every Tottenham fan and, in fact, most followers of the Premier League: Will Kane be a Spurs player at the start of September?

The answer seems to rest on several factors. Will Manchester City submit an offer that satisfies Daniel Levy? Will any offer satisfy Levy? Can new boss Nuno Espirito Santo convince Kane he can win major trophies at Tottenham? Will Kane retract his wish to leave if nothing transpires over the next week or so?

Tottenham’s season hinges on this; they can’t replace the finest player their youth academy has ever produced. But if Kane stays, the prospect of Bryan Gil linking up with him, Heung-Min Son, and a Nuno-schooled Dele Alli is very exciting indeed.

Watford

Can someone make sense of this team, please?

Catherine Ivill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Where do we start? The transfer window has included signings as obscure as those of 34-year-old Juraj Kucka and Peter Etebo – the latter on loan from Stoke – and there are so many attackers in this squad. Some of them have been forgotten (Isaac Success and Ashley Fletcher), some may be unfamiliar (Joao Pedro and Cucho Hernandez), and some barely scored the last time Watford were in the Premier League (Troy Deeney and Andre Gray).

There are others, too. Ismaila Sarr is a standout talent who can frighten any top-flight full-back with his absurd acceleration. Joshua King has had strong spells in the Premier League but joins Watford after a poor stint with Everton. And there are plenty of youthful prospects like Kwadwo Baah and Domingos Quina.

That’s without even discussing what’s behind the attack. Xisco Munoz’s team is the league’s grandest mystery ahead of the big kickoff.

West Ham United

Was David Moyes’ return of form a false dawn?

Moyes’ return to West Ham in December 2019 was widely criticized for lacking ambition, but it rejuvenated the club. The player recruitment has improved exponentially, filling the team with exciting attacking talent and dependable players deeper in the lineup.

Moyes guided the club to its best league position in 22 years last season, and being a West Ham fan was suddenly enjoyable rather than punishing.

Now comes a much bigger test: maintaining progress. The summer window has been quiet, with the exception of goalkeeper Alphonse Areola arriving on loan. Michail Antonio’s hamstrings will have to withstand the majority of games, while more is expected of Issa Diop and Said Benrahma.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Can Wolves suddenly become an attacking force?

James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Bruno Lage has promised an attacking style of play at Molineux this season, and his record of 2.38 goals per game over his 18-month Benfica spell was considerably better than Wolves’ average of 0.95 last term.

But is it too much too soon? Raul Jimenez’s return after fracturing his skull last November seems close, but fans can’t expect him to score freely following an injury of that magnitude. Wolves didn’t use Lage’s preferred 4-4-2 setup once in 2020-21, with Nuno often opting for a back-three backline. And Adama Traore wasn’t the only attacking threat who was below his best last season.

Lage’s job is made easier by the defensive foundations laid down by Nuno, but turning Wolves into an entertaining team will likely be a gradual process following a low-scoring and forgettable campaign.

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Premier League

Breaking down thrilling EPL title race with 10 games left

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One of the most intoxicating title races in Premier League history is, mercifully, ready to resume.

The quirks of the calendar – an FA Cup weekend succeeded by an agonizing international window – means the titanic tussle between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will have been on hiatus for a full three weeks before it gets back underway on Sunday.

But there are no more impending interruptions. With 10 matches remaining for each title contender, we’re barreling toward a resolution to the type of three-way battle that’s exceedingly rare in England’s top flight. There’s never been a season in the Premier League era where three teams went into the final day with a chance to hoist the trophy. This could be it. The last time it happened was the 1971-72 campaign, when Derby County won an incredible four-team fight, narrowly beating Leeds United and, ominously, Liverpool and Man City to the crown. We’re overdue for that kind of drama.

That three sides have converged this way at all is, frankly, remarkable.

These are the three best teams in the country by an enormous margin. They’re the only ones with an expected goal difference per game of plus-1.0 or greater this season. The next best mark, surprisingly, belongs to Mauricio Pochettino’s erratic Chelsea team at plus-0.36. So, yeah, it’s not close.

The three of them are also on a tear and show no signs of slowing down. Arsenal have won all eight of their league games in 2024, scoring 33 goals in the process; Liverpool have collected 22 of a possible 27 points in that time; reigning champions Manchester City have racked up 23 of 27 points. They’ve combined for just one loss since the calendar flipped – Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in early February.

The only sides that look capable of halting their progress are each other, which makes this weekend’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad all the more significant.

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Each contender has a compelling reason for believing it’s “their” year.

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s men look far more assured and mature than last season when they set the pace for nearly the entire campaign, only to crumble down the stretch and relinquish their once sizeable advantage to Manchester City. Do-it-all superstar Declan Rice has been a transformative figure in midfield, while Kai Havertz, after an inauspicious start, is becoming an increasingly vital and consistent scoring threat. At least from the outside, there appears to be more self-belief within the Arsenal camp. Having learned from their experience in 2022-23, Arsenal won’t cede top spot so easily this time. It’ll need to be ripped from them.

Some may be inclined to dismiss their recent run because of their opponents. Yes, the Gunners have played some weak teams – Sheffield United! Burnley! Nottingham Forest! – but, for the most part, they aren’t just beating them; they’re blowing them away with a ruthlessness usually associated with title winners. For those still unconvinced, Sunday’s visit to the Etihad, where they were tossed aside like a rag doll in last season’s 4-1 loss, will be the ultimate litmus test to see if this team is ready to end the club’s 20-year title drought.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s persistent squad, already with the League Cup in tow, aims to send off their departing bench boss in style. Liverpool have been the most entertaining team of the trio this season. They create more chances than Arsenal and City and concede more opportunities. Darwin Nunez, the ultimate agent of chaos on a football pitch, is the perfect fit for a team with a habit of scoring late goals and delivering dramatic moments. Their title charge is built on more than just vibes, though.

Liverpool overwhelmed none other than City in their last league game before the international break but came away from the pulsating affair at Anfield with a 1-1 draw. City, usually self-confident and domineering in possession, simply held on against what Pep Guardiola dubbed a “tsunami” of pressure. There was obviously some added incentive at play, but Liverpool are built to go full speed regardless of the opposition. It’s in their nature under Klopp.

Manchester City

Despite not being at its vintage best this term, Guardiola’s accomplished crew remains the favorite in the eyes of many who, for good reason, simply refuse to pick against them. We’ve been conditioned to feel like City will inevitably be the last team standing because, well, they usually are. Five titles in the previous six seasons will have that effect on the collective psyche. However, Erling Haaland isn’t replicating his ferocious scoring pace from last season, and Kevin De Bruyne has been limited to six league starts. Also, outside of some electrifying Jeremy Doku performances, the summer signings haven’t exactly set the world alight. And yet, here they are, just one point off the top, showing the quiet confidence and tranquility that can only be obtained through winning experiences.

With Phil Foden leading the way and authoring arguably the best season of anyone in the league, City could become the first team in English history to win four consecutive top-flight titles.

Strength of schedule

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On paper, Arsenal have the most difficult fixture list.

Their remaining opponents average 41.8 points this season, roughly corresponding to ninth place in the table. Put another way, it would be the equivalent of playing Wolves (41 points) or Brighton (42) each week. It doesn’t help that many of Arsenal’s toughest matches are away from home. Coincidentally, they have upcoming trips to Brighton and Wolves, along with north London rivals Tottenham and Manchester United, following this weekend’s potentially decisive tilt at the Etihad. It’s tough.

Manchester City’s task is slightly more forgiving, as their remaining opponents average 40.7 points or 10th place.

Liverpool appear to have the most favorable schedule of the trophy chasers, with their opponents averaging 38.4 points, a tally representing the haul of a team in the bottom half of the table. While that’s better than the alternative, it’s not quite so simple for the Reds. On the back of a potentially draining Europa League quarterfinal second leg against Atalanta in mid-April – more on that soon – Klopp’s men have three away games in seven days against Fulham, Everton, and West Ham. In addition to battling their local nemesis, who could still be scrapping for survival at that point, Liverpool will also face a rambunctious Goodison crowd that would love nothing more than to play a critical role in stopping their hated rivals from winning another league crown.

Aston Villa and Spurs, meanwhile, stand out as common foes for all three title hopefuls. Sitting fourth and fifth, respectively, and engaged in their own fight to secure a Champions League place, they could play the role of kingmakers this spring.

European commitments

Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Balancing the mental and physical demands of domestic play with continental competition is a huge piece of this puzzle for all three teams. Midweek success can further galvanize a group, but taxing failures can cripple a team’s momentum at home.

Much like the domestic schedule, Liverpool seem to have an edge here. Arsenal and Manchester City will face European behemoths Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in a pair of mouthwatering Champions League quarterfinal ties beginning next month. However, Liverpool have a comparatively charitable Europa League encounter with Atalanta.

If they both advance, Arsenal and City will meet in the Champions League semifinals, an outcome that will surely be celebrated wildly on Merseyside.

How those games intermingle with the league schedule also matters. Liverpool play Crystal Palace and Fulham following their two matchups with the Italian outfit. After locking horns with Bayern, Arsenal have to contend with Aston Villa and Wolves. Manchester City, still active on three fronts as they seek a second consecutive treble, host lowly Luton after the first leg of their Real Madrid rematch and take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals following the second leg.

Injury concerns

Simon Stacpoole/Offside / Offside / Getty

Liverpool have been plagued by injuries all season. Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Andy Robertson, among others, have missed varying amounts of time, though the bulk of that group is getting back to full fitness. Alisson Becker remains sidelined and might not return until mid-April. Defensive stalwart Virgil van Dijk is the only Liverpool player to garner over 2,000 league minutes this season, indicating how disruptive injuries have been for Klopp’s team. And yet, they persevere.

Five Manchester City players have cleared the 2,000-minute mark thus far, and a couple more are on the cusp. But the club was without De Bruyne for the entire first half of the season, while trips to the treatment room ravaged Jack Grealish’s year. City also got hit the hardest by the recent international break, with John Stones and Kyle Walker hurt on England duty and racing against time to recover for Sunday’s match versus Arsenal. Swiss defender Manuel Akanji is in the same boat, and Ederson’s return date from a thigh injury remains uncertain. Never shy about tweaking his lineup, Guardiola could be forced to tinker yet again.

Arsenal have been largely unscathed, with six players eclipsing 2,000 league minutes. William Saliba, whose absence last season played an outsize role in Arsenal’s capitulation, has been on the pitch for every second of league play in 2023-24. Gabriel Jesus has battled ailments all year, and Jurrien Timber suffered an ACL injury just 49 minutes into his Premier League debut in the season opener. But the Gunners will be hoping their relative good fortune on the injury front extends right through May, especially as it relates to Bukayo Saka, who pulled out of the England squad to nurse a minor muscular issue.

Prediction

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First, a disclaimer: Luck will play a pivotal role in determining which team is crowned on May 19. Injuries will continue to be a factor. There will almost certainly be contentious refereeing and VAR decisions that favor and oppose the title challengers. There will also be finishing variance, with players missing seemingly easy chances and converting more difficult opportunities.

Impossible to predict? No matter. We’re not going to let that stop us.

Considering their advantageous schedule, at home and in Europe, along with their improving squad health at just the right time and the inescapable feeling that this is a team of destiny determined to send their beloved manager out on a high, we’re going with Liverpool, who’ll collect 88 points to pip their rivals and again interrupt Manchester City’s run of domestic dominance.

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Premier League

Euro 2024 playoffs: Miraculous Ukraine comeback, big result for Wales

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Wales, Greece, and Poland registered statement wins Thursday, joining three other teams in next Tuesday’s playoff finals for the three remaining places at Euro 2024.

Ukraine staged an incredible late comeback against Bosnia and Herzegovina in its semifinal to keep its Euro dream alive.

The highest-placed team in FIFA’s rankings that’s no longer in contention to reach the tournament in Germany is 60th-placed Finland.

Here’s how the playoff semifinals across Path A, B, and C played out.

Path A

Mateusz Slodkowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Poland 5-1 Estonia

Estonia barely stood a chance. Down to 10 men as early as the 27th minute, the northern Europeans could only muster a consolation goal in a 5-1 loss to Poland. The Polish achieved the rout without Robert Lewandowski getting on the scoresheet and remain unbeaten in 21 Euro qualifiers at home, a magnificent run dating back to September 2006. Poland is trying to make up for a poor qualifying campaign in which it finished third in Group E, four points behind the Czech Republic and Albania. The country hasn’t missed the Euros since 2004.

Wales 4-1 Finland

The Red Wall might descend on Germany this summer. Wales’ raucous supporters have legitimate hopes of traveling to another major tournament after the Dragons scorched Finland without the retired Gareth Bale and with Aaron Ramsey, 33, on the bench after more injury problems. Teemu Pukki gave the visiting team some hope just before halftime following well-taken finishes from David Brooks and Neco Williams. But Wales needed just 73 seconds of the second period to restore its two-goal cushion via Brennan Johnson’s tap-in. Daniel James took advantage of a defensive error before rounding the goalkeeper in the 86th minute to give the host a resounding victory.

Playoff final: Wales vs. Poland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET

Path B

David Balogh – UEFA / UEFA / Getty

Israel 1-4 Iceland

Iceland’s Albert Gudmundsson stole the show with an emphatic hat-trick against Israel on Thursday. His stunning free-kick into the top right corner canceled out Eran Zahavi’s opening goal for Israel, and he created a nice cushion for his country with a pair of markers in the final 10 minutes. Just before that, Zahavi blew an incredible opportunity to equalize the match at 2-2, missing a penalty awarded for handball against Iceland’s Gudmundur Thorarinsson. A red card to Israel’s Haim Revivo didn’t help the trailing side. Iceland is now a game away from making only its second-ever appearance at the Euros following its quarterfinal run in 2016.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Ukraine

Ukraine scored twice with just minutes remaining in regulation to snatch what seemed to be a sure victory from Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. Bosnia controlled play for most of the match and took the lead in the 56th minute when Mykola Matviyenko turned in Amar Dedic’s shot into his own net. But a colossal defensive lapse cost the Bosnians a chance to make it a record four countries from the former Yugoslavia at Euro 2024. Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench to equalize in the 85th minute and teed up Artem Dovbyk’s sensational winning header three minutes later to turn the playoff semifinal on its head. Ukraine now faces Iceland with a third consecutive Euro appearance at stake.

Playoff final: Ukraine vs. Iceland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET

Path C

GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE / AFP / Getty

Georgia 2-0 Luxembourg

Two clever finishes from Budu Zivzivadze in Tbilisi assured Georgia of a place in Path C’s final – and all without the help of suspended talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. But it wasn’t that simple for the host. Luxembourg thought it equalized during the second half, only for the goal to be eventually snatched away due to Maxime Chanot’s apparent foul 45 seconds earlier. Luxembourg’s Chanot was controversially sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and Zivzivadze effectively ended the match six minutes later with his second strike. Kvaratskhelia is available for the final.

Greece 5-0 Kazakhstan

Anastasios Bakasetas lashed home a penalty, Dimitrios Pelkas headed into the net’s roof, Fotis Ioannidis tapped in from close range, and Dimitrios Kourbelis added another header. And that was all before halftime. Kazakhstan’s impressive 2022-23 Nations League campaign and notable Euro 2024 qualifying wins over Denmark, Northern Ireland (twice), and Finland suddenly seemed ages ago, as Greece recorded its biggest halftime lead since October 1978 (5-0 against Finland). Aleksandr Marochkin’s embarrassing own goal in the 85th minute made Kazakhstan’s day even worse.

Playoff final: Georgia vs. Greece, Tuesday 1:00 p.m. ET

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Premier League

Look: Nike unveils beautiful kit selection for Euro 2024, Copa America

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Nike released a stunning batch of threads ahead of Euro 2024 and Copa America on Monday.

Days after Adidas launched its lineup for the summer’s top two tournaments, Nike followed suit with an array of colorful designs.

The U.S. manufacturer also announced redesigns for Canada and Poland, even though they’ve yet to qualify for their respective tournaments. The Canucks face Trinidad and Tobago in a one-off Copa America qualifier on Saturday, while Poland must navigate a four-team playoff to reach Euro 2024.

(All images courtesy of Nike)

Euro 2024

Croatia

Home

The square-shaped design that gives Croatia its unique look gets a slight upgrade. The home shirt features larger squares than ever before.

Away

Croatia’s away shirt plays on the national flag, with the traditional checkered pattern now on a slant.

England

Home

Influenced by England’s 1966 training gear, the home shirt has a classic feel with a rich blue collar and gorgeous trim along the cuffs.

Away

England embraces a deep purple hue for its away selection. The crest stands out with a contrasting off-white tint that makes the three lions pop.

France

Home

France’s home shirt may have the biggest crest of all of Nike’s offerings. The oversized rooster defines this shirt as much as the royal blue that’s made France’s kits a crowd-pleaser.

Away

The pinstripes mirror the colors of France’s national flag and span the width of the shirt in a simple, yet elegant design.

Netherlands

Home

Nike could’ve offered anything orange here, and it would’ve been perfect. But the Netherlands has something bolder and better to wear. The zig-zag pattern adds edge.

Away

The orange collar and cuffs pop alongside the three shades of blue Nike has chosen to create the abstract design on this work of art.

Poland

Home

Poland dedicates premium real estate on the country’s home shirt to its imposing crest.

Away

Poland’s away shirt is a daring choice. The graphic treatment adds texture, giving it a rugged feel while separating from the red tones of years past.

Portugal

Home

With possibly the best home shirt in Nike’s collection, Portugal leans heavily into its traditional red-and-green motif with a polo collar and thick cuffs. The logo sits prominently as well. A smash hit.

Away

Here’s another winner. Portugal’s away strip has a stunning textile imprint that gives off a cool summer vibe.

Turkey

Home

This is a menacing look. Turkey will look like a whirring red army with these imposing shirts.

Away

The classic red band returns to Turkey’s away uniform. Like the others, it features an oversized crest in the middle of the shirt.

Copa America

Brazil

Home

Nike goes big with Brazil’s crest and adds an intricate design to the same yellow hue the Selecao have used for decades.

Away

Brazil’s secondary strip feels like the beach. A horizontal wavy pattern covering the entire shirt mimics the country’s picturesque coastline.

Canada

Home

The only blemish in Nike’s lineup. Why is there a circle around the swoosh? And why are the shoulders so much darker than the body? None of it makes sense.

Away

The 13 pinstripes are supposed to represent the 10 provinces and three territories that make up Canada. Unfortunately, the rest of the shirt looks incomplete.

United States

Home

The United States men’s national team gets a classic home shirt with patriotic detailing along the color and sleeves.

Away

The gradient works perfectly with the red shorts the U.S. will wear at the Copa America.

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