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Premier League

Thoughts and analysis from goal-heavy weekend of Premier League action

theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from another entertaining weekend of Premier League football.

Pep needs a rethink

Something’s amiss at Manchester City.

As a creator, Erling Haaland made telling contributions during Sunday’s pulsating 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. He showed great awareness to cut the ball across for Grealish, who put City back ahead in the 81st minute, and, as the match edged toward its conclusion, set up Grealish on a one-on-one opportunity that could’ve earned all three points. However, referee Simon Hooper, who initially allowed play to continue, stopped the breakaway to give City a free-kick. It was yet another perplexing decision in a wretched campaign for Premier League officials.

But Haaland was also wasteful. In the first half, he steered the ball wide from 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy and somehow lifted another inviting chance high into the stands. There were some unlucky elements to City’s outing – Jeremy Doku and Julian Alvarez hit the woodwork in the opening stanza – but ultimately, City failed to kill Tottenham off. It was the same scenario in their previous Premier League matches against Liverpool and Chelsea.

Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The attack must be more clinical and can lose intensity once they’re ahead, the latter of which could hint at complacency but is likelier the result of missing Ilkay Gundogan (now at Barcelona) and Kevin De Bruyne (injured). However, that’s still not the biggest issue.

The defense is unraveling.

Josko Gvardiol is taking longer than his fellow summer arrivals to acclimate to Pep Guardiola’s game plan and the pace of English football. He can be exposed at left-back; jostling, jinking wingers can outmaneuver him and right-back Kyle Walker is too far away to bail him out with his pace. Guardiola was right to substitute Gvardiol given the freedom Dejan Kulusevski was enjoying down the flank, but his replacement, Nathan Ake, summed up City’s defensive problems with Tottenham’s third goal. Ake lacked sharpness and aggression when Brennan Johnson’s cross sailed over, letting Kulusevski leap above him and head past Ederson.

Sharpness and aggression were also missing for two of Chelsea’s four goals, both of RB Leipzig attacker Lois Openda’s strikes on Tuesday, and the lethargic passing that preceded Giovani Lo Celso’s finish at the Etihad Stadium. Statistically, Manchester City’s current defense is only slightly better than the backline deployed during the opening months of Guardiola’s tenure, when Aleksandar Kolarov sometimes filled in at center-back and other full-backs, like Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna, were well past their best.

Last season, playing four center-backs brought more solidity to Guardiola’s team. It was the solution that led to City winning the treble. This term, the center-back department – whether it’s three or four center-backs fielded – is what must be fixed. Guardiola needs to get creative once again to strengthen his side’s charge for trophies.

Liverpool are mentality monsters again

Who expected Liverpool to concede as many goals to Fulham as they had allowed in their previous 10 home matches combined? But when the defending is “awful,” as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made clear, the improbable gains a few percentage points.

Defending was optional at various points of Sunday’s chaotic match at Anfield, which ended 4-3 in favor of Liverpool following a two-goal outburst at the end of regular time. Trailing 3-2, Liverpool turned the result on its head when substitute Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold rifled unstoppable shots in the 87th and 88th minutes.

That it required such heroics may alarm Klopp, whose side had striven so hard to restore the mystique around Anfield after last season’s breaches. But the late comeback proved something more important in that Liverpool have reacquired the mental strength that delivered many of their most famous results during Klopp’s eight-year reign.

“At 3-3, everyone could see the boys wanted more,” Klopp told reporters, including The Guardian’s Will Unwin.

Peter Byrne – PA Images / PA Images / Getty

Klopp referred to his players as “mentality monsters” when they were regularly fighting for trophies. After spending a season in the wilderness, the term could apply again. His next-man-up philosophy is back in full force, with Endo showing incredible calm off the bench and Cody Gakpo injecting energy. There is no selfishness in this team or time for the players to get down on themselves. Darwin Nunez had missed enough chances for any striker to throw a tantrum, but he kept his head and kept going, channelling his frustration by urging the crowd to make more noise. Though he couldn’t get on the scoresheet, Nunez celebrated hardest of all his teammates when Endo and Alexander-Arnold fired back. That’s what Klopp has always demanded: full buy-in from each one of his players in good times and bad.

That sense of self-belief vanished during the 2022-23 campaign, when the Reds dropped points to the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Wolverhampton, and Bournemouth. Every setback threatened to derail their season.

Now you get the sense that Liverpool welcome the challenge.

It’s not that they just fought back Sunday. They scored some ridiculous goals in the process. All four of Liverpool’s goals came from distance, including Alexis Mac Allister’s spectacular half-volley. Mac Allister hadn’t scored for Liverpool before Sunday’s contest, going 16 fixtures without hitting the net. But something had changed.

“Before the game you could see Macca’s foot is right today,” Klopp said. “He was really into shooting. I thought, ‘Wow, you better try it.’ And he obviously thought the same.”

Shorthanded Newcastle pass another test

It’s no secret that Manchester United and Newcastle United aren’t on the same level.

The gulf between the two clubs appeared long before Saturday, and recent results and run of form offered a clue as to what may transpire, but the evidence from over 100 minutes of action at St James’ Park revealed a Grand Canyon-sized abyss.

The mere suggestion that Saturday’s narrow 1-0 result was flattering for Manchester United would be the understatement of the year. Despite missing 13 players through injury, the Magpies still managed to overwhelm in the same fashion by which Tottenham were embarrassed last season in a 6-1 thrashing at the unforgiving stadium on Tyneside in April.

Clive Brunskill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Manchester United were repeatedly under pressure, enduring wave after wave of attack from a Newcastle side that was able to generate countless opportunities without much resistance. In Manchester United’s attack, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were rendered useless due to the team’s inability to get out of its own half. Rashford tossed his gloves away in anger after being subbed off, while Andre Onana was a fan favorite for all of the wrong reasons. The Cameroonian was relentlessly targeted after his costly blunders against Galatasaray on Wednesday in the Champions League.

But, overall, it was a lack of discipline, leadership, and a disjointed squad that doomed Manchester United and allowed Newcastle to put on a show with their fluid attack.

Newcastle would’ve obviously liked to have secured three points with a more clinical display after outshooting the Red Devils 22-8, but they won’t complain considering they’re dealing with an injury crisis that deepened when goalkeeper Nick Pope suffered what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder in Saturday’s game. His expected absence will likely pose another obstacle for a Newcastle team that’s exceeded expectations without a host of head coach Eddie Howe’s first-team regulars, such as Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, and suspended Sandro Tonali.

Quick free-kicks

Arsenal living on the edge

GLYN KIRK / AFP / Getty

A win’s a win. But the way Arsenal ended Saturday’s 2-1 victory dulled the shine of what should’ve been a celebratory outcome against a difficult Wolverhampton Wanderers side. In a match in which the Gunners played well enough for 85 minutes to win comfortably, Arsenal’s failure to kill the game off resulted in an unexpectedly intense end to the contest. Instead of putting the finishing touches on a game where they led by two goals after 13 minutes, Arsenal had fans on the edge of their seats after Wolves cut their deficit in half in the 86th minute. It ended up serving as a wake-up call for the hosts, who had seemingly switched off in the second half after dominating the opening 45 minutes. But Mikel Arteta’s men eventually saw the game out, with Arsenal registering their fifth victory by a single goal to pad their lead atop the Premier League summit. While it seems silly to suggest that a team coming off a 6-0 rout in the Champions League needs to be more clinical, Arsenal will need to convert their chances in front of goal more consistently if they have any hope of staying in front of the pack.

Yarmoliuk taking his chance

It took a spate of injuries for Yehor Yarmoliuk to be given opportunities to start for Brentford, but the Ukrainian teenager is quickly endearing himself to the club’s fans. He’s an energetic presence in the Bees’ midfield, keenly hassling opponents and sometimes snapping into challenges. The home crowd gave him a warm reception when he left Saturday’s 3-1 win over Luton Town in the 69th minute after attempting three tackles, completing over 93% of his passes, and producing three key passes. His promising performance followed his fearless full Premier League debut against Arsenal the previous weekend. Yarmoliuk is quickly dispelling any fears that his torn hamstring toward the end of last season with Brentford’s B team harmed his development.

Can Burnley kick on from here?

Matt McNulty / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Before thrashing Sheffield United 5-0 on Saturday, Burnley had lost seven straight home matches by a combined score of 19-5. Vincent Kompany’s side, which won the Championship at a canter, had suddenly become relegation fodder. They couldn’t beat Chelsea, West Ham United, or Crystal Palace – all mid-table fare – so they had to prove they could at least beat the teams around them. That has now happened. The Clarets buried Sheffield United long before Ollie McBurnie was sent off in first-half stoppage time. They genuinely looked good. There were signs of Sean Dyche’s old Burnley – Jay Rodriguez’s goal after just 15 seconds came from a hopeful cross into the penalty area – and signs of the swashbuckling side that ran the second tier ragged under Kompany. With upcoming matches against Wolverhampton, Everton, and Fulham – all winnable – the Clarets have an opportunity to kick on and pull themselves out of relegation trouble.

West Ham should be more watchable

David Moyes repaired his reputation after returning to West Ham United at the end of 2019. He revived a team that had lost its way under Manuel Pellegrini with astute signings and simple yet effective game plans, with his crowning moment coming courtesy of June’s Europa Conference League success. Still, plenty of West Ham fans wouldn’t mind a change at the helm. Despite boasting the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in their ranks, the Irons are often hindered by Moyes’ caution. James Ward-Prowse eventually hit a succession of balls toward Tomas Soucek and Bowen as they sought a late winner in Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace, but for much of the match, West Ham seemed to fear losing more than they wanted to win. Moyes was given a generous transfer budget last season and has some talented attack-minded players at his disposal, so West Ham supporters have every right to expect more entertainment from their team. The club needs to raise its ambitions.

Stat of the weekend

Son Heung-Min joined an exclusive, though not entirely desirable, club with his performance at the Etihad Stadium.

Tweet of the weekend

Guardiola’s reaction says it all after Kulusevski scored a late equalizer for Tottenham in Sunday’s 3-3 draw at City.

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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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