Premier League
Premier League matchmaker: 1 player each club should sign this summer
It’s been just under a week since the English summer transfer window officially opened, but the early business conducted (or not conducted) already has fans brimming with optimism or in meltdown. With more than two months to go until the window shuts, we highlight one player who could boost each club’s expectations heading into the 2023-24 Premier League season.
Note: Estimated transfer values provided by transfermarkt.com.
Arsenal: Declan Rice
Club: West Ham | Position: Midfielder | Value: £90 million
Rice has been linked with Arsenal for some time now. On the surface, the union seems like a match made in heaven. The England international would address Arsenal’s need for a holding midfielder in the wake of Granit Xhaka’s expected departure, and the Gunners would match his wish to evolve further as a player in London. Despite Rice’s success with both club and country, there’ll be lots of pressure on the 24-year-old to make a smooth transition and deliver results immediately. He’s reportedly set to become the club-record signing, and Arsenal are expected to compete for the Premier League title after falling short last term.
Aston Villa: Harvey Barnes
Club: Leicester City | Position: Winger | Value: £30M
To build on their seventh-place Premier League finish, Villa must first identify a left-winger with the ability to challenge and replace Leon Bailey and Philippe Coutinho. While the rest of Villa’s squad upped their game, Bailey and Coutinho regressed, leaving their attack vulnerable to dry spells. Bailey’s injury record is of particular concern. Enter Barnes, who’s unlikely to drop down to the Championship with Leicester City. Barnes is a clever player who can cut in and score with regularity, and that would take some of the goal-scoring burden off striker Ollie Watkins.
Bournemouth: Che Adams
Club: Southampton | Position: Forward | Value: £19M
Bournemouth need goals. They can’t possibly go another season with central midfielder Philip Billing as their joint-top scorer. Even if the Cherries aren’t the most attractive destination – they’re one of the bookies’ favorites to go down next year – they have an ambitious owner in Bill Foley, who’s already had success building the NHL’s Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights’ roster. In the meantime, though, they’ll have to focus on more realistic targets. Adams, 26, has both Premier League experience and upside, and it won’t take a huge fee to pry him from recently relegated Southampton.
Brentford: Brennan Johnson
Club: Nottingham Forest | Position: Striker | Value: £30 million
Brentford might find the solution to their attacking needs in Nottingham. Ivan Toney, who scored a team-high 20 Premier League goals last season, is suspended until January after admitting to over 100 charges related to betting breaches. Atop their target list to replace him is Johnson, who’s been on their radar since January. He’s once again their primary target heading into the summer, with reports suggesting the Bees are ready to pay a club-record £30 million to pry the gifted forward from Nottingham Forest.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Conor Gallagher
Club: Chelsea | Position: Midfielder | Value: £40 million
Brighton’s bid to replace the gaping hole left after Alex Mac Allister’s departure north to Liverpool might involve an attempt to bring Gallagher to the south coast. The 23-year-old could benefit greatly by continuing his once-promising evolution under the tutelage of Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi. But it won’t be cheap, as Chelsea could price Brighton out with a ludicrous demand.
Burnley: Amad Diallo
Club: Manchester United | Position: Winger | Value: £15 million
If Burnley can’t broker a return for Nathan Tella – the Southampton winger who logged 17 goals and five assists during last season’s loan at Turf Moor – Vincent Kompany will need to look elsewhere to upgrade his attack. Diallo recently finished an impressive temporary stint with Sunderland, where he scored 14 goals and provided three assists. He’ll still find it difficult to break into Manchester United’s starting XI, giving Burnley an opportunity to pounce. The Ivorian constantly dribbles inside from the right and strikes with his left foot, but like Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben, his predictability doesn’t make him any easier to stop.
Chelsea: Nicolas Jackson
Club: Villarreal | Position: Forward | Value: £26M
Jackson, a 21-year-old striker who scored nine goals in his final eight appearances for Villarreal last season, is Chelsea’s type. The club has almost exclusively recruited young players since Todd Boehly took control in May 2022, spending hundreds of millions of pounds in the process. Jackson’s reported £29.8-million release clause makes him a much more economically friendly signing. Chelsea could also save money by selling or loaning out Romelu Lukaku for another season. Their priority must be signing someone who can offer more of a threat up front than the chameleonic Kai Havertz.
Crystal Palace: Mike Tresor
Club: Genk | Position: Winger | Value: £13 million
It might be time for Crystal Palace to plan for life without Wilfried Zaha as his contract nears its conclusion. Tresor’s acceleration, trickery, and tendency to cut in from the left onto his stronger right foot are slightly reminiscent of Zaha. But where he sets himself apart from the Eagles favorite is how he constantly has his head up in possession. The 24-year-old’s vision and excellently weighed passes helped him to a gargantuan 24 assists in Belgium’s top tier – twice as many as the player who ranked second – and he also contributed eight goals. The Genk winger should be on plenty of clubs’ radars this summer.
Everton: Moussa Dembele
Club: Lyon | Position: Forward | Value: Free
Dembele could be the transformative piece Everton need after they produced the second-fewest goals last season. When healthy, the French striker, who has experience playing in Britain with Fulham and Celtic, has proven himself to be a lethal finisher who doesn’t require a lot of touches to be effective. His presence in Sean Dyche’s attack – which struggled to fill the void for the ineffective and oft-injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin – would offer an upgrade in quality and help ensure the Toffees don’t find themselves in a dogfight to avoid relegation again next spring.
Fulham: Kyle Walker-Peters
Club: Southampton | Position: Right-back | Value: £21M
Walker-Peters is one of Southampton’s most valuable players from both a tactical and financial perspective. He proved his versatility during the 2021-22 season, moving to left-back to accommodate the development of right-back Tino Livramento. An injury to Livramento allowed Walker-Peters to shift back to his natural position on the right, and he thrived, moving the ball up the field with purpose and efficiency over 30 Premier League starts. Walker-Peters will end up at a bigger club one day, but a pit stop at Fulham could suit him well. The Cottagers need reinforcements across their defensive line, making the adaptable 26-year-old the perfect signing.
Liverpool: Nicolo Barella
Club: Inter Milan | Position: Midfielder | Value: £64M
Everyone knows Liverpool need midfielders. Even with the signing of left-sided playmaker Mac Allister, the Reds have a lot of questions to answer. Can Trent Alexander-Arnold reinvent himself as a right-sided midfielder? Are Fabinho’s best days behind him? Can Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones take the next step? With a return to the Champions League nonnegotiable, Liverpool need more of a guarantee, and Barella is exactly that. A bustling central presence, the Italian is a far more dynamic force than Fabinho and just as comfortable pushing forward on the right side of a midfield three.
Luton Town: Tom Heaton
Club: Manchester United | Position: Goalkeeper | Value: £500K
Manchester United still have plenty to resolve with their goalkeeping situation. David De Gea is negotiating a new contract, Dean Henderson is desperate for first-team football, and Jack Butland joined Rangers after his Red Devils loan expired. But doesn’t 37-year-old Heaton want to start matches? Luton are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper since Ethan Horvath returned to Nottingham Forest, and Heaton’s presence between the sticks and in the dressing room could be a considerable boost for Rob Edwards’ squad.
Manchester City: Mateo Kovacic
Club: Chelsea | Position: Midfielder | Value: £34M
Manchester City have acted fast here. The treble winners are reportedly finalizing a deal worth £34 million to sign Kovacic from Chelsea, giving them a solid option in midfield and a potential replacement for Ilkay Gundogan. Even though Kovacic has struggled to maintain consistency over the years, he remains a well-rounded player who can progress play and create chances. Pep Guardiola loves midfielders who can do a bit of everything and could help Kovacic realize the potential he’s shown under several managers at Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Chelsea.
Manchester United: Mason Mount
Club: Chelsea | Position: Midfielder | Value: £55 million
Manchester United might let Chelsea stew on this one. The Red Devils’ opening £40-million offer was reportedly rejected last week, but their confidence that Mount won’t sign a new contract means there’s no rush for them to improve their bid. Either Chelsea climb down from their hefty £70-million asking price or risk losing the English international for nothing next summer. One thing’s for sure: Mount would be a fine addition to Erik ten Hag’s squad after Christian Eriksen appeared fatigued toward the end of last season.
Newcastle United: James Maddison
Club: Leicester City | Position: Midfielder | Value: £50 million
Ahead of their return to the Champions League next season, Newcastle are expected to flex their financial power this summer. The Saudi-backed team has already shortlisted several targets, but none spark the same excitement so far as Maddison. The 26-year-old would likely be a central figure in Newcastle’s campaign – both domestically and in Europe – if the Magpies can seal a deal with relegated Leicester City.
Nottingham Forest: Carlos Borges
Club: Manchester City | Position: Winger | Value: £11 million
Borges might be about to get an opportunity to shine in the Premier League. Fresh off being named Premier League 2 Player of the Season, the Manchester City academy winger has caught the attention of a Nottingham Forest side that’s eager to revamp an attack that ranked third-last in scoring last season. While it’s difficult to predict how well his scoring success last season – 21 goals in 24 games – will translate to England’s top flight, he has the breakout potential to evolve into a star in Steve Cooper’s team.
Sheffield United: Tommy Doyle
Club: Manchester City | Position: Midfielder | Value: £6 million
Doyle and James McAtee enjoyed excellent loan spells at Sheffield United from Manchester City last season, but attracting the latter would prove difficult given Pep Guardiola wants to include him in his first-team plans next season. The 21-year-old Doyle, an intelligent midfielder who joined City when he was eight, would be a more realistic transfer target – and it’s safe to say he’s grown attached to the Blades. “I love the place, and I would love to come back. I’ve got a special bond with the club and the fans so we’ll see what happens,” Doyle said in May.
Tottenham Hotspur: Jadon Sancho
Club: Manchester United | Position: Winger | Value: £60 million
With Sancho’s future at Old Trafford reportedly at a crossroads, Tottenham Hotspur could be an ideal landing spot for the winger to revive his career. Signing for the north London club could be beneficial for both sides, as Spurs will be eager to rebuild this summer and improve on last season’s disappointing eighth-place finish ahead of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge. Adding to speculation over Tottenham’s interest is the club’s need for attackers with the recent departure of Lucas Moura and the possibility of star striker Harry Kane leaving this summer.
West Ham United: Joao Palhinha
Club: Fulham | Position: Midfielder | Value: £30 million
West Ham can soften the blow of Rice’s expected departure with the addition of one of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign’s standout midfielders. Palhinha was the most important cog for Marco Silva’s Fulham as they finished 10th in their top-flight return. Palhinha lacks Rice’s driving runs through the middle, but he’s a destroyer. He registered 147 successful tackles last term – the highest total from the past seven Premier League seasons. One note of warning for West Ham, though: The importance of Harrison Reed, Fulham’s lively No. 8, beside Palhinha can’t be underestimated. Tomas Soucek is ill-equipped for that role.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: James Ward-Prowse
Club: Southampton | Position: Midfielder | Value: £50 million
The competition for Ward-Prowse this summer could get heated as Southampton are expected to offload the 28-year-old free-kick specialist following their relegation. Of all the teams linked with the Saints star, Wolverhampton Wanderers could be the most ideal place for him given their need to revamp their midfielder. With club hero Joao Moutinho gone and Ruben Neves on the way out, there may not be a better option out there who’s as capable of delivering game-changing moments and showcasing leadership qualities.
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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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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