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Premier League

10 thoughts from the weekend's Premier League action

theScore examines the most important Premier League developments from the weekend, dissecting the biggest talking points after a busy slate of action.

United’s transfer policy comes back to bite them

Saturday’s disappointing draw at Old Trafford was a perfect example of Manchester United’s lack of a competent defensive midfielder, as Everton exposed the club’s failure to address its most urgent need in last summer’s transfer window.

As the Toffees searched for an equalizer, Cristiano Ronaldo was introduced despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s efforts to give the Portuguese star a breather just days after his Champions League heroics. But Ronaldo – the club’s headline-grabbing signing of the summer – wasn’t the answer for a Manchester United side that was once again let down by its midfield.

Andros Townsend was the hero for the visitors with a goal that likely wouldn’t have materialized if United had a world-class defensive midfielder in the fold. Instead, Solskjaer’s decision to stick with Fred backfired again, as the Brazilian struggled mightily and was largely to blame for Townsend’s second-half equalizer with two crucial missed tackles in the build-up.

Though it’s premature to say United are in full-blown crisis mode, things could change quickly over the coming weeks. With a gauntlet of upcoming tough matches against Leicester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester City, the pressure on Solskjaer will undoubtedly intensify if he continues to stubbornly rely on a player who proves he’s not cut out for the job.

Rejuvenated Townsend pays tribute to idol Ronaldo

Townsend just couldn’t help himself.

After scoring the aforementioned equalizer, Townsend had only one thing on his mind as he jetted over to the corner flag to perform his rendition of Ronaldo’s famous goal celebration.

Clive Mason / Getty Images Sport / Getty

While the stunt likely didn’t sit well with United supporters or Ronaldo himself, the 30-year-old said he meant no disrespect toward his superstar idol.

“I probably didn’t do the celebration justice and didn’t execute it properly,” Townsend said, according to Jamie Jackson of The Guardian. “It’s just a mark of respect to a guy who influenced my career.”

Townsend’s goal was the continuation of the English winger’s bright start to the season. He now has five goals and three assists in all competitions since his arrival at Everton last summer.

Mixed fortunes for Chilwell as he tries to regain place

Ben Chilwell was handed his first Premier League start of the season in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Southampton, but a late goal and another decent effort following a slick one-two with Mateo Kovacic may not be enough to convince Thomas Tuchel that Chilwell should be preferred to Marcos Alonso.

Chilwell didn’t touch the ball in the final third until the 26th minute, as he initially appeared reluctant to join Chelsea’s attacks. Tuchel was visibly angered in one instance when the left-wing-back halted a run and missed Callum Hudson-Odoi’s excellent pass behind the Southampton defense.

Chelsea academy graduate Tino Livramento also outfoxed Chilwell and drew a rash challenge from the 24-year-old, earning Southampton their second-half penalty.

But Chilwell has never been the strongest defender, so, most of all, Tuchel will insist on more attacking input from the Englishman in his next start.

Hwang proving invaluable for Wolves

The frustratingly long wait for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans to celebrate a Premier League goal at Molineux is finally over. And it was all thanks to the club’s new in-form striker, Hee-Chan Hwang.

The South Korean helped secure three points against Newcastle United on Saturday with an attacking display that will surely endear him to Wolves fans. Three weeks after opening his scoring account in England, Hwang gave Wolves the lead with a calm finish to end the club’s three-match goal drought at home.

Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

He added another just before the hour mark to cancel out Jeff Hendrick’s controversial equalizer and, ultimately, give Wolves the victory. It was a performance that Wolves so desperately needed during a season in which Bruno Lage’s men have struggled in attack and squandered countless scoring opportunities.

Though he wasn’t cut out for life in Germany, Hwang has transitioned wonderfully to the Premier League and appears poised to be the main focal point of Wolves’ attacking scheme as the season unfolds.

Team effort earns Leeds a maiden win

“There were a lot of positive things – we didn’t make errors, we didn’t allow counter-attacks, we didn’t let their forwards stand out,” Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa said after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Watford, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth.

And one of the main positives for Leeds were the performances of some of Bielsa’s supporting cast. Of course, Raphinha was the Whites’ most dangerous player and Kalvin Phillips kept the team ticking from midfield, but those usually on the periphery of the first team ensured its injured stars weren’t missed.

Jamie Shackleton – deputizing for Luke Ayling – followed last weekend’s fine outing at West Ham United with an efficient showing at right-back, keeping Emmanuel Dennis and Ken Sema quiet throughout. Rodrigo has played better since being deployed further upfield in Patrick Bamford’s usual slot, where he can hassle defenders while still dropping to collaborate with Leeds’ midfielders.

And Bielsa noted that Dan James, who’s quickly been handed a starting berth due to Jack Harrison’s COVID-19 issues, is improving with each game. The former Manchester United winger will be difficult to displace in the lineup after he drew four fouls and unsettled the Watford backline with his rapid pressing.

It was only 1-0, but Leeds should’ve won by a more comprehensive scoreline.

Arsenal still too inconsistent to make inroads

It says a lot about Arsenal’s expectations that a goalless draw at Brighton & Hove Albion can be considered a minor feat. After all, the Seagulls entered the weekend ahead of the Gunners, and the average age of Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup was just 23.5 years.

Steve Bardens / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The problem is Arsenal’s inability to consolidate serve when they have the upper hand. Arteta’s players didn’t show any of the ambition from last week’s 3-0 drubbing of Spurs and escaped a worse fate at The Amex only because of Brighton’s poor finishing. Just two of the hosts’ 21 shots hit the target.

Arsenal struggled once again to carry a good performance into the next game. Last season, they followed up an impressive 1-0 victory over Manchester United – their first win at Old Trafford in 14 years – with a disaster-class of an outing against Aston Villa. Arsenal went the next seven Premier League matches without a win before going unbeaten the following six and again falling out of form.

To a certain extent, Arteta has to expect ups and downs from a younger team. But it’s a reflection of his capabilities, as well. He’s got to find a way to keep Arsenal from making mountains out of peaks and bottomless pits out of valleys.

Saturday’s result doesn’t exactly achieve that. Brighton thoroughly outplayed their richer rivals, dominating possession and the left flank in particular. The lashing rain certainly played a factor, but overall, Arsenal never looked to gain control of a match they should have designs on winning if they want to make the great leap forward.

Munoz’s sacking was cruel but predictable

The search for a new manager is underway at Watford after the head-scratching sacking of Xisco Munoz.

On the surface, it’s a harsh decision considering the newly promoted club’s promising start in the Premier League campaign under the coach that guided them back to the top flight last season. The issues behind the scenes, however, run much deeper at a club that’s developed a reputation for its dysfunctional relationships with managers.

After Saturday’s narrow loss to Leeds United, the Hornets sat 14th in the table with a four-point cushion above the relegation zone. Board officials at the club had seen enough to pull the plug, saying “recent performances strongly indicate a negative trend at a time when team cohesion should be visibly improving.”

With Munoz gone less than two months into the season, chances are thin that the Hornets can find a better manager. But that’s never put Watford off in the past, as the club begins its quest to appoint a manager for the 17th time in 10 years.

Road warriors Brentford can’t be stopped

Away days have never been so sweet for Bees supporters. Sunday’s trip was short but memorable, as fans flocked to east London to watch Brentford put on another impressive display to secure a dramatic win over West Ham United.

With the last kick of the game, Yoane Wissa’s winner helped preserve Brentford’s undefeated away record in the club’s first season of top-flight football since 1947.

The result was especially impressive considering Brentford was without key contributors in Kristoffer Ajer and Vitaly Janelt. Yet, Thomas Franck’s seventh-placed side defied the odds once again to sustain its high-flying start and trigger wild celebrations in the away end at London Stadium.

Milner not immune to time

There are few players harder to replace than Trent Alexander-Arnold given the quality of his distribution and his energy down the flank, so Liverpool’s right-hand side was going to be targeted regardless of who was selected in that full-back position.

The fact that Alexander-Arnold’s replacement was James Milner, who turns 36 in January, simply made it a more inviting inroad for Manchester City.

The veteran had a difficult first half. Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Joao Cancelo continually scribbled patterns around Milner, with Foden giving the ex-City player the biggest headache. Foden and Milner were involved in one of the opening period’s main talking points when the latter bundled over the former in an action that began outside the box and finished inside it, but the referee made no call on the incident.

Simon Stacpoole/Offside / Offside / Getty

It was a surprise when Milner returned for the second half with Neco Williams and Joe Gomez available on the bench, and with midfielder Fabinho – a former regular at right-back for AS Monaco – already on the pitch. Jurgen Klopp’s faith almost backfired when Milner somehow escaped a second yellow card for a blatant trip on Bernardo Silva.

But Milner and Liverpool got away with it, and Mohamed Salah scored his sensational goal shortly thereafter. Pep Guardiola was incensed.

Beautiful bedlam at Anfield

Thankfully, Milner’s struggles and the loose touches and passes that littered the first half didn’t define the encounter on Merseyside. The match exploded in the second half and produced the pulsating action we’ve come to expect from Liverpool and City’s meetings.

All four goals were crammed into a 22-minute spell as the two teams buzzed around the park, vacuuming up loose balls, harrying opponents, and seemingly taking turns to attack.

Each goal was quality. Fabinho and Salah combined beautifully before the Egyptian teed up Sadio Mane for the game’s opener, Foden’s finish was precise but Gabriel Jesus’ weaving run and pass before it were even better, Salah’s goal will be a front-runner for goal of the season, and Kevin De Bruyne started and finished the move for his deflected equalizer.

The game was end-to-end right until the final whistle, with the much-improved Rodri appearing from nowhere to deny Fabinho a goal with an immaculate tackle in the 87th minute.

Mark the next league scuffle between these sides in your diary: April 9, 2022.

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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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