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Premier League is back: Analyzing busy Boxing Day slate of action

Just like that, the Premier League is back. theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from a jam-packed slate of action in England’s top flight on Boxing Day.

Nothing changes for Spurs

Far too often, the absence of one or two players makes the rest of Antonio Conte’s side crumble. Rodrigo Bentancur being unavailable left Tottenham Hotspur short of midfield industry during Monday’s 2-2 draw with Brentford, and they’ll lack bite in both defense and attack while Cristian Romero and Richarlison are out of commission.

The squad’s brittleness could be one of the key reasons for Tottenham’s poor starts to matches. Spurs conceded the opening goal in each of their last six Premier League outings – their longest run since the latter days of Tim Sherwood’s reign in 2014 – and that bad habit stretches back nine matches when you consider games in other competitions.

How Spurs fared after falling behind in last nine matches

Competition Match Result
Premier League Manchester United (away) Lost 2-0
Premier League Newcastle United (home) Lost 2-1
Champions League Sporting CP (home) Drew 1-1
Premier League Bournemouth (away) Won 3-2
Champions League Marseille (away) Won 2-1
Premier League Liverpool (home) Lost 2-1
League Cup Nottingham Forest (away) Lost 2-0
Premier League Leeds United (home) Won 4-3
Premier League Brentford (away) Drew 2-2

The fact that Tottenham lost only four of those nine games indicates the individual character and quality in the squad, and perhaps also the impact of a Conte team talk. They’ve gained more Premier League points from losing positions (14) than any other team this season.

Spurs were 2-0 down at Brentford, but an excellent Harry Kane header suddenly gave them purpose. Dejan Kulusevski’s enterprising wide play – something Spurs sorely missed in October – and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s finish then put them in the ascendancy. After their sluggish start to the fixture, Tottenham created enough chances to take three points.

“To have another comeback is positive, but on the other hand, we need to be more stable,” Conte said post-match.

This is a huge source of frustration. Tottenham are often reactive and seldom proactive. They must address the issues behind their poor starts – low confidence, a lack of motivation, and preparation that is either inadequate or damaged by player absences could all be blamed – if they are to fulfill their huge potential this campaign.

However, the fact that Spurs are falling into the same traps following a gap of over six weeks without a competitive fixture doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season.

Newcastle didn’t skip a beat

The unprecedented World Cup hiatus came at an inopportune time for Newcastle United, who were soaring up the table on the back of five consecutive Premier League wins. How teams would respond upon the resumption of the domestic campaign, particularly those that had built up significant momentum – like Newcastle – was a fascinating wrinkle created by the unique timing of the tournament in Qatar. Would clubs in good form have their progress halted?

Newcastle answered that question in emphatic fashion Monday.

The Magpies blitzed Leicester City, scoring twice in the opening seven minutes en route to a commanding 3-0 win that provisionally lifted Eddie Howe’s side to second place in the table. Newcastle, led by Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron, looked sharp from the opening whistle, cutting through Leicester with relative ease. No rust needed shaking off here.

Almiron, who scored a picturesque goal at the King Power Stadium, typifies Newcastle’s meteoric rise. Once frustrating and profligate, the Paraguayan has taken his game to another level this season.

Since their lone league loss of the season in late August, Newcastle are undefeated in 11 matches, a run that includes eight wins.

Progress was expected under Howe and the club’s wealthy new ownership group. But nobody quite expected this type of immediacy. A title challenge is no longer a preposterous suggestion. Newcastle, who haven’t yet showed off the full force of their newfound spending power, are already a threat to the perennial contenders. That’s a frightening prospect.

Their meeting with Arsenal on Jan. 3 could very well be a top-of-the-table clash. Who could’ve possibly predicted that?

Nketiah stakes his claim

How would Arsenal cope without Gabriel Jesus? In the wake of the Brazilian forward’s knee injury at the World Cup, the Gunners’ ability to maintain their unexpected title push without a vital contributor dominated the discourse around the club as the Premier League return neared.

Eddie Nketiah did his best to assuage those fears on Monday.

The 23-year-old delivered a standout performance in his first league start of the season, scoring an exquisite goal in Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback win over West Ham United that showcased both his talents inside the penalty area and how he’s different from Jesus.

Jesus, with his boundless energy, is more active in the pressing and buildup game for Arsenal, connecting with his teammates and taking up various positions on the field that create fluidity within Mikel Arteta’s attack. Nketiah, on the other hand, is a more well-defined striker. What he lacks in the all-around game compared to Jesus, he makes up with more clinical finishing.

“I’m not here to replace (Jesus), I want to be my own player,” Nketiah said after the match.

Nketiah will find the net if he gets the opportunities, just as he did during a red-hot run near the end of last season. The way he rolled his defender before picking out the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy against the Hammers was textbook. Nketiah could thrive with consistent minutes on a side that has several creative players crafting openings for him. He’ll get those chances in Jesus’ absence, even if Arsenal are active in the January transfer market.

“We have more faith in Eddie every single day,” Arteta said ahead of the league’s resumption. “We see every day what he brings to the team, what he is as a human being, and the way he is developing as a player … He is ready.”

It sure looks that way. And it bodes very well for Arsenal.

Quick free-kicks

Nunez is pure chaos

Nobody knows what Darwin Nunez is going to do at any given moment. Not even Darwin Nunez. The Liverpool forward is an irrepressible ball of chaotic energy, constantly whizzing around the field like a Tasmanian devil hopped up on caffeine. As a neutral observer, his frenetic and unpredictable style is intoxicating. Physically dominant and blisteringly quick, the Uruguayan uses his athletic ability to consistently take up excellent attacking positions. From there, though, all bets are off. Anything from an inexplicably bad touch or decision to a breathtaking goal is on the table when Nunez receives the ball in a dangerous area. That’s a rarity in football – he’s something of a unicorn with few, if any, comparable peers. Nunez squandered four glorious chances in Monday’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa, but his eagerness never waned. He simply kept buzzing around the pitch, running into the channels, putting defenders under pressure and making himself available for his teammates to find. He had more shot attempts (six), shots on target (four), and accumulated more expected goals (1.15) than any other player in the contest. He was eventually rewarded for his unyielding industry, playing a key role in teenager Stefan Bajcetic’s late goal that clinched the victory. Nunez truly is a treasure.

Wolves need Podence to be consistent

Naomi Baker / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Like many players at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Daniel Podence has struggled for form since last winter. So it was encouraging to see the Portuguese playmaker – in tandem with promising full-back Hugo Bueno – flourishing down the left in Julen Lopetegui’s first league game at the helm. In addition to his controlled finish for his team’s equalizer in the dramatic 2-1 win at Everton, Podence was Wolves’ most involved attacker, constantly taking risks to ensure Nathan Patterson had a rough outing. Getting more out of Podence – and, indeed, other attackers like Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, and the sidelined Pedro Neto – must’ve been near the top of Lopetegui’s priorities when he arrived. Fans should take confidence from Podence’s display on Merseyside after the 27-year-old was among a group of players who disappointed in the midweek League Cup win over fourth-tier Gillingham.

Should Saints backtrack on youth movement?

Nathan Jones’ temptation to bring in more experience may have heightened during Southampton’s 3-1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Adam Lallana’s headed opener somehow squeezed through the hands of 20-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, adding to calls for Alex McCarthy, Jones’ former Yeovil Town teammate, to be recalled to the starting lineup. Other players like teenager Sam Edozie are undeniably talented, but asking the league’s second-youngest squad to deal with the pressure of hauling the bottom-placed team to safety is a lot. The Saints look in dire need of recruitment in January, but they’ve only signed two players on loan over the past three winter transfer windows, so it may be wishful thinking to believe a goal-scoring striker and creative midfielder will be added. For the second time in his managerial career, Jones may live to regret leaving Luton Town for a bigger job.

Fulham unexpectedly firing

The 3-0 win at Selhurst Park comes with the major caveat of Crystal Palace having two players sent off, but Fulham’s rise is still no less impressive. It’s largely built on a previously unheralded attack that has scored seven more goals than Manchester United. Aleksandar Mitrovic’s Premier League record prior to this campaign was 24 goals across 104 appearances, but he’s raced to 10 goals in 13 outings this season while Marco Silva has fielded committed runners behind him. Andreas Pereira is thriving with regular football after his early-career routine of impressing during Manchester United’s preseason tours and doing little else thereafter. Bobby Decordova-Reid is a menace off the ball. And Willian, the former Chelsea winger who’s now 34, has been a surprise hit after joining on a free transfer following a sour end to his second spell with Sao Paulo club Corinthians.

Stat of the day

Andy Robertson stands alone in the Premier League era.

Tweet of the day

Tough break for Gary Lineker.

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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

Justin Setterfield / Getty Images Sport / Getty

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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