Connect with us

Premier League

Key thoughts and analysis from Saturday's Premier League action

theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from Saturday’s slate of action in England’s top flight.

Arsenal becoming too predictable

Arsenal’s season is at a crossroads. With five points dropped from their last two matches, including Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford, the Gunners’ six-point lead atop the Premier League looks tenuous at best. If Manchester City win each of their next two games, not least Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash at Emirates Stadium, they’ll leapfrog Arsenal into first place.

Suddenly, Mikel Arteta’s well-oiled machine is at risk of malfunction.

Simply put, Arsenal have lost the consistency that made them surprising title challengers this season. Though Arteta continues to roll out the same lineup on a weekly basis, he’s not getting the kind of assured performances that defined their early run up the standings. Arsenal have been particularly uninspiring in possession. They’ve converted just one one of their last 43 shots, the vast majority of which they’ve taken from speculative range, and struggled to find space to attack in the penalty area.

The one chance they did create Saturday came from out wide. When Martin Odegaard played a slick pass to Bukayo Saka along the touchline, the English winger picked out Leandro Trossard in the area with a perfect cross. Just like that, Arsenal were ahead. But not for long. They’ve struggled to replicate those plays. They haven’t utilized enough space on the wings or created enough overloads to bend defenders out of shape. They’ve mainly tried to run down the gut, and almost always hit a dead-end.

John Walton – PA Images / PA Images / Getty

Brentford knew Arsenal would have a hard time breaking down a low block. It made sense to defend their area with six men. No matter how many times the north London side tried to play down the ball, Brentford had a mass of humanity in the way.

Arsenal aren’t even playing a more conservative, risk-free game. They’re conceding more scoring opportunities now than at any other point of the season. Though Brentford fired just nine shots all contest, they threatened Arsenal’s goal on most occasions.

Now, Arteta must find a way to get his team to take over matches again. They can expect opponents to sit deep and absorb pressure. The Premier League is a copycat league, and if something works for one team, it usually works for another. Arteta has to anticipate that. These next few games could determine whether they’ll finish the campaign as champions or bridesmaids.

Varying fortunes for Chelsea’s new faces

Chelsea’s expensive recruits are delivering mixed returns thus far.

For the first time, Graham Potter was able to field his five marquee January signings from the opening whistle Saturday, starting each of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile, and Noni Madueke together in the eventual 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

Felix, widely mocked for picking up a red card on his Chelsea debut a month ago, was the standout performer at the London Stadium. Operating in the No. 10 position behind ostensible striker Kai Havertz, the Portuguese forward was a constant menace, finding pockets of space that allowed him to either initiate the attack or finish it off himself. He scored Chelsea’s lone goal by ghosting into the penalty area and cooly slotting a pinpoint Fernandez ball into the net from close range, and he had another tally taken off the board for offside.

All told, Felix was responsible for five of Chelsea’s 12 shots in the contest, taking three himself and creating two other chances. Shackled for so long at Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone’s attritional tactics, Felix provided exactly the kind of spark that Chelsea have been lacking this season. It wasn’t enough to help procure three points, but it was very encouraging nonetheless.

Fernandez, too, was impressive yet again. He’s immediately become the hub of the team upon his arrival from Benfica, doing absolutely everything in central midfield. He’s the focal point in possession – he completed more passes in the final third of the pitch than any player Saturday – and he provides a ball-winning presence when Chelsea are out of possession.

Mudryk and Madueke, operating on opposite – and inverted – wings against West Ham, were far more subdued. It’s not uncommon for wide attackers to become isolated during matches, of course, but if Chelsea are to make anything of their season, they need more from their wingers. The Ukrainian, in particular, has struggled so far to have a sustained impact. He’s shown flashes – his raw pace remains frightening – but he was largely a passenger against the Hammers before being taken off in the second half.

Each new signing is in a difficult situation right now. They all need time to acclimate, but their respective gargantuan transfer fees – including Felix’s, in the context of a six-month loan – have eliminated that luxury. Fair or not, they’re expected to make an immediate impact and help Chelsea – who now have just two wins in their last 13 league matches – salvage a sputtering season. Some are finding that task easier than others.

Damning defeat for Nathan Jones

Nathan Jones is on the brink. And he knows it.

Asked if Saturday’s debilitating 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers was his final game in charge of Southampton, Jones, typically so plucky in his dealings with the media, could only muster a defeated retort: “I have no idea.”

Hired in November to help rescue Southampton from relegation, Jones’ appointment has only plunged the club deeper into trouble; the Saints have just one win in eight league matches under the Welshman’s tutelage, losing the other seven contests. Saturday’s setback was the most disheartening yet.

Matt Watson / Southampton FC / Getty

After taking a 1-0 lead over their relegation rivals, Southampton received an enormous boost when Mario Lemina was sent off in the 27th minute. It was a dream scenario for a club in desperate need of a victory to vault itself from the foot of the Premier League table. Up a goal, and a man, Southampton – playing at home, no less – instead conspired to throw it all away, capitulating late in the second half en route to a defeat that may prove to be a death knell for Jones’ time on the south coast.

With furious boos raining down from the home fans upon the final whistle, Jones went straight down the tunnel.

“I enjoy a challenge, I want to be the best version of me. I could have stayed in a mining community, been a PE teacher, and had a nice life, married a nice Welsh girl, beautiful,” the former Luton Town manager said earlier this week amid mounting pressure. “But I didn’t. I want to test myself on every level.”

He’s failing that test right now.

Changing managers during the season is an imperfect science. Whereas the likes of Wolves, Aston Villa, and Everton appear to have made astute decisions with their respective midseason appointments, Southampton’s choice to entrust Jones with their escape attempt has backfired. Now what?

Quick free-kicks

Tottenham are erratic at the best of times

How can a team shut out Manchester City one week and concede four goals to Leicester City six days later? Though Antonio Conte used eight of the 11 players who started against the reigning champions last week, Tottenham Hotspur looked like a cheap imitation at King Power Stadium on Saturday. The gap between midfield and defense couldn’t have been bigger, and Leicester were all too happy to pass through it. Eric Dier couldn’t close down his man, and debutant Pedro Porro couldn’t deal with Harvey Barnes’ pace on the right flank. Backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster wasn’t necessarily the reason Spurs lost by such a wide margin, but perhaps his presence, rather than that of injured club captain Hugo Lloris, had a psychological effect. Tottenham must now regroup before Tuesday’s Champions League clash against AC Milan. Who knows which side we’ll see.

Willian enjoying second act in England

Clive Rose / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Fulham’s last-minute deal for Willian came as a shock. Joining the club Sept. 1, the 34-year-old arrived with his best seasons behind him. He’d just terminated his contract for the second time in a year. Short-lived spells at Arsenal and Corinthians failed to live up to expectations. Could Willian really perform at the highest level again? He’s answered that question emphatically. The Brazilian has helped Fulham consolidate their place among the Premier League’s top-ranked sides, showing the verve and class that made him such a lovable figure at Chelsea. His goal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday was a thing of beauty, a perfectly placed shot into the top left corner that sent Fulham on their way to a 2-0 victory. He now has as many Premier League goals as Antony, Manchester United’s £86-million signing. Fulham, remember, signed Willian on a free transfer.

Newcastle must be bold to reach Champions League

Newcastle United are in fourth place in the Premier League and unbeaten in 17 matches. Twelve months ago, they were battling just to stay in the top flight. Perspective is important, and it’d be foolish to criticize Eddie Howe and his players for the turnaround they’ve made. But it’s also fair to expect a little more from a team that’s trying to rejoin England’s elite. Saturday’s 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Bournemouth was Newcastle’s fifth stalemate in six matches, doing little to cushion its place among the top four. The gap to fifth has now shrunk to just two points, and with games against Liverpool, Manchester City, and a rejuvenated Wolves side on the horizon, Newcastle could easily drop more points over the next couple of weeks. Though they can defend against the very best the league has to offer, they don’t score enough to intimidate those teams. That has to change if they want to return to Europe’s top competition next season.

Stat of the day

Can Leicester and Tottenham play one another every week, please?

Tweet of the day

Tell us how you really feel about the Tomas Soucek handball incident, Chelsea admin.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Premier League

Breaking down thrilling EPL title race with 10 games left

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

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.

!function()”use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a)if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”])var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r

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

!function()”use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a)if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”])var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r

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.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Continue Reading

Premier League

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

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

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

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Continue Reading

Premier League

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

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.

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.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Continue Reading

Trending