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Premier League

Thoughts and analysis from rip-roaring weekend of Premier League action

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

Man City flustered at Anfield

Just when it seemed Manchester City would end their barren run at Anfield, Liverpool reminded them why they haven’t won a Premier League game there since 2003.

Liverpool swarmed City within seconds of the restart, injecting urgency into a game they were trailing 1-0 at halftime. The ensuing action was breathtaking to watch. Anfield’s raucous crowd supercharged the atmosphere and helped Liverpool sucker City into the kind of box-to-box showdown few teams can force Pep Guardiola’s usually suave side into playing.

The hosts outshot the defending champions 12-3 during that manic second stanza, pressed their opponents into turnovers, and flustered the majority of City’s starters. That included the impervious Rodri, who had to hack down one player just to stem the tide.

It’s not often City entertain track meets like this one. They crave control, and after setting the tone early on with a clever set-piece routine that caught Liverpool’s defenders napping, the visitors struggled to keep the ball for more than a few seconds at a time.

There was a clear method to the chaos Liverpool rained down on City: run down the field, stretch them, and force them to play with their head on a swivel. City had approached previous matches at Anfield with an abundance of caution just to avoid descending into this kind of trench warfare, using possession as a form of defense. However, Liverpool, by sheer force of will, made it impossible for them to play conservatively.

Alex Livesey – Danehouse / Getty Images Sport / Getty

“If you can play football like this against City, that’s a statement,” Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports afterward. “And I love that.”

Guardiola had to withdraw Kevin De Bruyne – one of the most dangerous players on the pitch – just to find a way to keep the ball. De Bruyne can swing matches in an instant, and Guardiola is always willing to play him, whether the game calls for the Belgian’s open, creative passing or a more pragmatic approach. This time, Guardiola must’ve known a point was all City could get.

Mateo Kovacic offered more security, if not as much inspiration, and so he came on. Liverpool forced that change. They got City out of their comfort zone, which is only fitting because Klopp’s Liverpool have been the only team in England capable of breaking City’s dynasty under Guardiola.

Backup ‘keepers come to the rescue

Caoimhin Kelleher and Stefan Ortega would usually be spectators on a day like Sunday. But circumstance and injury pushed them into the fray. Not that they didn’t look the part. Each of them made exceptional saves with the game tied at 1-1 and ensured it ended that way.

At least Kelleher had the week to prepare. The 25-year-old has also had plenty of playing time in the absence of Alisson, who’s out long term with a thigh injury, and he seemed to gain confidence during Liverpool’s triumphant League Cup run. Ortega has played a similar role at City, appearing mostly in cup competitions, but he had mere minutes to warm up as Ederson’s mid-game replacement.

Imagine stepping into the cauldron that is Anfield with the title race on the line and a mistake the only likely difference between a positive and negative result. A few early errant passes confirmed Ortega was feeling the nerves and pace of the game. But he didn’t let it define his performance. He was proactive, coming off his line to block shots, and he kept it relatively simple with no-nonsense clearances. He looked more sure of himself than Ederson did, up to and including the moment the Brazilian conceded Liverpool’s game-tying penalty with a reckless swing at Darwin Nunez.

And therein lies the secret to sustaining success in the modern game. Both Liverpool and City have exceptional starting lineups, but their depth is second to none. They source talent from either their academy or teams a few rungs below them to ensure they can compete with or without their best players.

Michael Regan / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The role of the backup ‘keeper is perhaps the most underrated. It’s difficult to find shot-stoppers who are happy to play second fiddle and still be capable of tending goal themselves once every few months, sometimes fewer. Many clubs don’t want to spend big on second-choice ‘keepers, either. But where would Liverpool be without Kelleher? Two League Cups may not have been theirs. It’s even harder to retain such talent, but Kelleher’s ties to Liverpool, having been brought up as a diehard supporter, help.

Likewise, City would’ve lost Sunday’s game with a 40-year-old retiree shoring up Guardiola’s bench. But they did well to pluck Ortega from Arminia Bielefeld in July 2022, giving a solid ‘keeper a chance he otherwise wouldn’t have on one of the greatest teams of the Premier League era.

Mature Arsenal changing narrative

A mistake like the one Aaron Ramsdale committed against Brentford would’ve been disastrous for Arsenal last season. Heads would’ve been down and shoulders would’ve been slumped, with players unable or unwilling to move on from such a calamitous moment. But it’s a different story this season for Arsenal and a squad featuring several players who know a thing or two about overcoming adversity.

With the game tied 1-1 and its chances of winning fading fast, the north London club persevered late with the help of two other players who’ve dealt with their own difficult periods at Arsenal: Kai Havertz and Ben White. They further endeared themselves to fans Saturday, combining to score the winning goal in the 86th minute to spare Ramsdale’s blushes.

Before Havertz’s header, Ramsdale was feeling the heat at the Emirates Stadium after gifting Brentford an equalizer right before halftime. As Arsenal tried to close out a dominant first half, Ramsdale’s struggles with the ball at his feet proved costly again after his sloppy clearance attempt ricocheted off Yoane Wissa and into his net. It was the type of lapse in judgment that cost Ramsdale his job after David Raya was signed to be Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Conceding right before halftime was obviously crushing, but it offered Ramsdale a chance to escape to the locker room and compose himself away from jeering fans. He returned after the break with two huge saves to prevent Brentford from inflicting more damage before Havertz’s winning goal.

Resilience has been a hallmark of Arsenal’s impressive season, which has helped them remain in the title race with 10 games to go. It’s a quality that’ll be important in next week’s Champions League clash with FC Porto – when they’ll try to overturn a 1-0 deficit – and when Mikel Arteta’s men face their biggest challenge of the season against Manchester City after the international break.

Quick free-kicks

Klopp-Guardiola era ends with a bang

Few thought the rivalry between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger would ever be topped, let alone matched in terms of intensity and quality. But then Klopp and Guardiola came along. Liverpool and Manchester City games have been appointment viewing since the two exuberant tacticians brought their coaching talents to England almost a decade ago. Sunday’s encounter was no different, as the two – at the center of another title race – duked it out at Anfield in the last league meeting before Klopp leaves Liverpool this summer. Like so many games in the years since Klopp’s Liverpool and Guardiola’s City first met on New Year’s Eve in 2016, it was a contest of the highest quality that featured plenty of scoring chances and drama. That Sunday’s bout finished in a draw is perhaps a fitting way to close the chapter on a rivalry that’ll be remembered by Premier League fans for generations to come. Hopefully, these two brilliant footballing minds lock horns again somewhere down the line.

Spurs rise to the challenge

Tottenham’s failure to deliver in key moments is one of the Premier League’s longstanding memes. Sunday’s 4-0 hammering of fellow top-four contenders Aston Villa didn’t have quite the same stakes as some of their matches from recent seasons, but, keeping in line with the club’s upward trajectory under Ange Postecoglou, it was refreshing to see Spurs deliver in a big spot. A loss Sunday wouldn’t have been fatal in their chase to secure Champions League football, but it would’ve given Villa a healthy eight-point advantage going into the stretch run. With a game in hand on Villa, fifth-placed Tottenham, now only two points adrift of fourth, appear to be in the more favorable position after winning a game with “plenty of significance.” Both clubs still have to play all three of Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City between now and the end of the season, so there will be (at least) three more high-leverage games for Villa and Spurs in what’s an intriguing battle for fourth. Can Tottenham rise to the challenge a few more times to secure a coveted top-four spot, or will their “Spursy” tendencies of past seasons make an appearance?

Stat of the weekend

Liverpool accomplished an exceedingly rare feat this weekend.

Tweet of the weekend

Yes, this is technically cheating, but we’re dipping into the Championship for this one …

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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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