That’s all we’ve got time for on today’s Friday football news blog. Here’s a summary of what’s happened on a busy day building up to the Champions League final:
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Arsenal and PSG have held their pre-match press conferences, with Mikel Arteta revealing Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke are fit to play.
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Luis Enrique, Marquinhos and Ousmane Dembele spoke on the Paris side of things, paying big compliment to Arsenal.
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We had the news that Ibrahima Konaté is to leave Liverpool this summer and plenty of reaction to it.
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And Lincoln’s Michael Skubala has made the move to become Bristol City manager.
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You can also find plenty of World Cup news by scrolling down this blog, or exploring our dedicated World Cup landing page.
Thanks for all your emails and for reading. Happy weekend!
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As former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat prepares to become the oldest manager at a World Cup when he leads out Curaçao, he’s spoken about taking inspiration from Celtic’s title-winning manager Martin O’Neill, 74. Before jetting to the tournament, Advocaat’s side face Scotland in a Hampden Park friendly tomorrow afternoon (1pm BST kickoff) and the Dutchman has been chatting to the media.
Here’s what the 78-year-old said:
Martin was already a great coach and he proved it again. Age doesn’t matter. It is the way you feel.
Working with people is the most important thing. Working with a group, with different ideas, that makes things interesting. Martin O’Neill was also a coach like that, people know exactly what they have to do. If you are clear to players, then they are clear to you as well.
That is the way I always worked and I still enjoy it. The good thing is that I am still fit. I feel fit. Otherwise, it would be a different story. I don’t feel that age.
Arteta’s presser has now wrapped up and Arsenal will now train on the turf at the Puskas Arena.
This was semi-interesting, on the idea Arsenal are underdogs for the game:
They are defending the trophy and they are the champions and we are here to take that away from them. We know how tough it is.
Confirmed: Away from the Champions League press conferences … Michael Skubala has been confirmed as the new head coach of Bristol City, signing a three-year contract until 2029.
Skubala said: “I’m delighted to take up this exciting opportunity. I’ve had some really positive conversations with the board, who have been very clear about the club’s ambition. I’m ready for the challenge ahead and looking forward to meeting the players, staff and supporters. Preparations for pre-season are well under way and we have an important and exciting few months ahead.”
Saying “the ambition is bigger” for European glory is a nice line from Arteta, in my view. There may be some connected to Arsenal thinking tomorrow is a free-hit given the Premier League has finally been bagged.
But you can see in Arteta’s steely expression how desperate he is to grasp this opportunity to win Arsenal’s first ever Champions League. The Spaniard has spoken about “how unlucky” the Gunners were not to reach the final last year, when they were defeated, of course, over two legs by PSG.
“The journey in the competition shows how capable we are of doing it tomorrow,” adds the Arsenal boss.
A few bits and bots from Arteta:
On facing Luis Enrique: “He’s always been a reference as a player and then when he became a coach. Particularly what he’s done with this PSG team, you can see his fingerprints all over it, the way they behave and play. He’s been an inspiration and tomorrow we will be clashing on that touchline.
On the game itself: “It’s the opportunity to own the moment, to write a new chapter in this football club and we have to play tomorrow with clarity, a lot of courage and a relentless desire to win.”
Is the pressure off after winning the league? “No. The ambition is bigger. We have won but we want the second one. There has to be a platform to reach bigger destinations and aim for more and the team is capable. I want the players to be so confident that we’re going to do it.”
Arsenal's Timber and Madueke passed fit for final
That’s the end of the section with Ødegaard and Saka. Mikel Arteta has taken his seat for the second part of the press conference.
“The preparation has been really good, really positive,” he begins. “Tomorrow on that field we’re going to have to earn the right to win the trophy.”
Arteta reveals Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke are fit enough to start, if selected with Ben White the only player ruled out for the Premier League champions.
“I look around and I see the joy and the desire all the players have to play this match,” says Arteta on why picking his team will be tricky.
Saka shrugs off Arsenal fatigue compared to PSG
Here’s a good question for Saka, a journalist pointing out how many more minutes Arsenal players have played compared to their Paris Saint-Germain rivals across competitions this season.
The England winger has dismissed the notion that fatigue could play its part in the final. He says: “We’ve had a week to recover and prepare for this game, and a game like this is not going to be decided on minutes, it’s going to be decided on moments of quality and which team is better organised.”
Ødegaard then talks about his “very frustrating” periods out with injury this season. The Arsenal captain is down on minutes compared to his teammates due to those injury travails.
Saka is answering a few more questions, on Arsenal’s team spirit:
“I feel like we’re a very tight-knit team, we get on very well and we’re willing to fight for each other. That goes a long way in the Premier League, and hopefully tomorrow [against PSG] as well.”
Ødegaard says the weight of pressure has lifted from Arsenal’s collective shoulders after claiming Premier League glory.
“All that pressure and outside noise [re winning the Premier League] has now gone. We’ve been through a lot as a group and I think what we’ve been through prepared us well for this last week.”
Saka is speaking: “Trying to win the Premier League and Champions League with Arsenal felt a long way away when I was seven, eight years old… tomorrow I’m very excited to create more history for the club I club.”
And here’s Ødegaard on trying to win Arsenal’s first Champions League: “We want to make even more history and when you get the taste of winning and lifting another trophy, you know how nice it feels. We want to do it again.”
Saka also reveals Thierry Henry has been messaging him ahead of the final. Now there’s a man who knows a thing or two about winning the top pots.
And Ødegaard is asked about receiving a video message from Patrick Vieira. “Now we have a chance to do something they haven’t done,” says the Norwegian.
Press conference: We’re now hearing from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, as well as captain Martin Ødegaard as well as Bukayo Saka.
Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie welcomed the continuity and clarity delivered by Steve Clarke’s contract extension.
Clarke and the Scottish Football Association this week ended a lengthy period of uncertainty over the head coach’s future when the 62-year-old signed a new deal that takes him through to the end of the 2030 World Cup campaign.
The news has clearly come as a boost to the 26 players in Clarke’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Hampden friendly against Curacao, Christie said: “It’s brilliant that he’s managed to get it done before the tournament. Obviously, with the success he’s brought us as a squad and as a nation, it’s a bit of a no-brainer for me.
“We’re all absolutely delighted that we’ve got him for a good chunk of time as well.
“Since he’s come in, in terms of the professionalism, he’s brought in all aspects, on the pitch, off the pitch, the hotels we’re staying at, the food we’re eating, all that kind of stuff, which has probably been helped with Andy (Robertson).
“He’s been an incredible captain as well and obviously played at the top level, so he knows what elite football looks like.
“In terms of the squad, he’s managed to maintain consistency. It’s been massive in terms of just getting people experience of playing for their country and understanding what it takes to be successful and to play against big nations and get good results.”
Mikel caught your attention very young. The word I’d use is alive; you saw it in his eyes. He grasped everything fast, had character and was so competitive. Give him the ball, he’ll find a solution.
You looked at him and thought: ‘Bloody hell, he’s got something special. If anyone makes it, it’s him.’ He had personality, ambition.
Please enjoy Sid Lowe’s backgrounder on Mikel Arteta as the Arsenal manager seeks Champions League immortalty.
Going down under for a second now, with Jack Snape assessing the lie of the land in the Australia camp with the Socceroos gearing up for a friendly against Mexico before head coach Tony Popovic names his 26 players for the World Cup.
As reported earlier, one of those players could be Cristian Volpato – who has switched allegiance from Italy and will join his new squad mates for the game.
Going back to Brazil, it’s crazy that they’ve won just one tournament since victory in the 2007 Copa America, which came in 2019. They’ve only made two of the past six finals of their continental tournament in that time and their World Cup run since 2002 is pretty shoddy by their standards, too, knocked out in the quarter-finals on four of the past five occasions (the other was the 7-1 semi-final humiliation by Germany in their home tournament).
After reaching three successive World Cup finals from 1994 to 2002 and winning the thing twice, are Brazil now a ‘fallen giant’ of the international game? Either way, Carlo Ancelotti has a major job on his hands this summer.
Their current team is not packed with talent in the way you might imagine, but Vinícius, Raphinha and co could still have a big say in North America.
The guys at Press Box PR have put numbers together re Arsenal’s title parade on Sunday 31 May:
There is expected to be around 500,000 Arsenal fans lining the route on Sunday as Mikel Arteta and his team show off their Premier League title – and a possible Champions League trophy, too. That would match the turnout of Manchester United fans when United paraded their treble win of three trophies around Manchester in 1999, according to reported figures at the time.
Liverpool’s parade after their league triumph in 2024-25 still takes the top spot for the hard numbers of total attendees with a reported 750,000 fans in attendance. That works out to around 48.0% of the city’s population, not counting the number of out-of-town fans present.
In terms of the biggest turnout in proportion to the size of their town or city, Liverpool are beaten by Blackburn Rovers (94-95) and Leicester City (15-16), with the Foxes attracting an estimated 70.5% of the population of Leicester to see Claudio Ranieri’s heroes. Blackburn run Liverpool close too with an estimated 45.0% of the Blackburn population of the day coming out to celebrate Rovers winning the title in 1995.
Density is another way to judge the popularity of a parade, and looking at the number of fans per mile, Leicester again comes top an estimated 160,000 fans per mile.
According to this metric, Arsenal come in second thanks to the estimated 125,000 fans per mile who came to witness Arsene Wenger’s champions of 1998, 2002 and 2004.
Another of our red-hot World Cup team guides has dropped and it’s a biggie: Brazil. It’s been 24 years of hurt (in WC terms) for the Seleção. Can they return to the top of the world game this summer?
Arsenal’s media activity in Budapest this afternoon/evening includes Mikel Arteta’s final pre-match press conference and an open training session at the Puskas Arena.
We may get some sense of Arsenal’s likely lineup for the final in the coming hours.
In the mean time, enjoy some some images from PSG’s open training session …
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Cheers John. Annoyingly (as a non-Arsenal fan) I’ve got that ‘North London Forever’ song stuck in my head, reading all this Gunners/Champions League final content.
Can anyone recommend a remedy?
Right then, back to Cheshire, with Dom Booth, and Arsenal’s press conference to follow.
Steve Clarke, the Scotland coach, has been speaking about his new contract: “It was always important that we got it done before the tournament.
“It gives everybody clarity moving forward, keeps the stability around the position, the squad and hopefully the future of Scottish football. The thinking has always been two tournaments. When I came in it was a two-tournament contract. When we extended it was into two tournaments.
“The decision after Euro 2024 was for me to clear my head a little bit and work out what was going to happen after that. It was my decision to run that down, and obviously the qualifying campaign for the World Cup went really well, have a look at what’s coming next in terms of longevity of the squad, new players that are starting to bubble under that maybe can be part of the squad in the future.
“And then it’s just a decision that I thought was the right decision to make, to stay on. At the end it was quite an easy decision because obviously I know how much the players enjoy being together. I know how they enjoy working with myself and my staff and it just felt right to continue.”
Luis Enrique on Arteta’s Arsenal: “It is an opponent we know very well. We played against them last year and the year before.
“I think we can tweak our performance up front and at the back as well and that’s what we do. In terms of managing a final, it is different, and it is about making the most of it, but for the Champions League final you never know when you’re going to be back.”
More Dembele, on winning the Ballon d’Or:
“It hasn’t really changed the way I am or the way I play. I do know, though, that I’ve had a lot more responsibility since I arrived at Paris Saint-Germain.
“Right now I’m trying to perform well on the pitch, whether it’s in the big matches or the smaller ones. I still have that desire, that hunger to win trophies with this club, with all the staff and this squad, and that’s the only thing in my head. Individual awards, I know people talk about them a lot, but those come afterwards.”
Luis Enrique continues: “I don’t think there is any better motivation than winning the Champions League but we will see. We will see who wins. Because that is it. We have won our leagues and I will focus on what is best for our team.”
More Marquinhos from the PSG press conference.
On Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia: “Ousmane and Kvara are having an incredible season, we need these leaders to step up in decisive moments like tomorrow. We’re lucky to have them with us. I’m saying this on behalf of all the supporters too, when they see them play. They give everything and for that these two players deserve to be just as exposed and highlighted.”
Reports emerging, including from David Ornstein, that Jose Mourinho has signed up to return to Real Madrid.
Luis Enrique has also been talking about Arsenal: “I would say two ideas are the same that look like one another but are different. They are also a high-scoring team and we are a team that defends well. We are looking to get to same place but have just taken different routes.”
John Nicholson gets in touch: “Champions League buildup Mikel Arteta anagram: A Title Maker.”
PSG's Dembele allays injury fears and lauds 'excellent' Arsenal
Luis Enrique has named Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi in the Paris Saint-Germain squad to face Arsenal in the Champions League final: PSG are at full strength, in that case.
Dembele has been speaking at the PSG press conference, some quotes here:
On his injury: “No, I wasn’t scared about missing the final. I stopped when I felt the niggle, and I had 10-15 days to get ready for the final. “I am 100% ready and raring to go.”
On Arsenal: “They play great football, and are great across the board. Set pieces, everyone knows that. Arsenal is an excellent team. We‘ve seen them running away with the Premier League title and also what they showed us in the group stage of the Champions League. Their journey in the Champions League has been great, they deserve to be in the final and deserve to win the Premier League.”
Marquinhos also spoke: “We know what their strengths are. In a game nobody knows what is about to happen. Nobody knows what’s going to trigger what and that’s why you need to be ready. We’ve been able to adapt, we’ve always been ready to deal with it. You don’t know what a match is going to be made of, especially a final.”
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Liverpool have unveiled a new memorial to the 39 victims on the 41st anniversary of the tragedy. Representatives of Juventus were present to see the new ‘Forever Bound’ sculpture, which features two scarves knotted together and includes the names of all those who died at the 1985 European Cup final between the two clubs in Belgium, when a wall collapsed inside the stadium after rival fans clashed.
Cheers, David. Last night, I was in Crookes, Sheffield, where Graham Fellowes, AKA Jilted John, AKA John Shuttleworth, began his career.
And with that, I’ll hand you back to the cool and trendy John Brewin. Here we go 2-3-4.
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Kev The Poet from Uffculme emails:
Your headline asks ‘what are Barca getting with Anthony Gordon?’ The hair of Claire Balding, the anger management skills of Yosemite Sam and the gravitational sense of Jurgen Klinsmann.
I think his thatch has subtlely moved on from his David Sylvian days, Kev. I’m more interested to know if the quick-to-criticise element in the Barca faithful have a working knowledge of novelty punk.
A fabulous spot from Krish on email.
Hello Dave. Arsenal is winning the Big Cup tomorrow. Luis Enrique’s name anagrams to ‘I Ruin Sequel’. The readers may laugh at using anagrams for predicting the outcome but these were the same readers who tuned into Paul the octopus during the 2010 WC.
Hard to argue with that. I’ve had a quick look to see what we can get out of Mikel Arteta. How about ‘Team Like Art’. Does this suggest the Gunners win it in style? Or will Arteta take his players on a consolation visit to The Louvre if the Parisiens turn them over?
Champions League final: If PSG need to beware of Bukayo Saka, Arsenal must call on all their defensive structure and nous to hold off Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
In the Tbilisi streets where he grew up the PSG winger’s success is an inspiration and a continual source of pride, says Ted Todorovic-Thomas.
Could Bukayo Saka be Arsenal’s difference maker in tomorrow’s Champions League final? Good read here from Arthur Renard on Arsenal’s former head of coaching recalling the words from Freddie Ljungberg that shaped the young winger’s career.
Sticker unboxing. Welcome back guys. Right, I’m going in…
First up … oh, a sticker with ‘eat well M&S FOOD’ on it. It’s actually No.1 in the collection. Could be worth something.
Next up guys … it’s Lauren James. Cool.
Okay guys … next one … it’s England and Manchester City reserve goalkeeper James Trafford. He’s part of England’s World Cup squad.
Next up guys … blimey, it’s the last one. You only get four in a packet … anyway guys it’s some England Lionesses holding their arms out. Lucy Bronze on it. And Alex Greenwood. No.36 in the collection.
Thanks guys. Don’t forget to like this thread and give me – Dave Tindall – a follow or something or other. #stickers
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Thanks Dom. In an incredibly exciting start to my one-hour cameo, I’m going to open a packet of Panini stickers – live! These came into my hands after a friend’s mum was given them for buying some food in M&S. They’re the Official England Sticker Collection. I think you call this ‘unboxing’ and if I was an influencer I’d be charging a fortune for opening these live on TikTok.
I’ve got the patter and everything. Watch me. Well, read this…
Hi guys, got some stickers here (I’m sounding more like Tony Hart but we move on). Okay, let’s see who I’ve got. Tune in, in five minutes. Thanks guys.
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I shall now be handing the blog reins to David Tindall for the next hour or so. Enjoy his company.
Some news.
Massimiliano Allegri looks to be the favourite to take over at Napoli.
And if his managerial CV is anything to go by, it will probably be the first of two stints he has in Naples. Allegri has managed AC Milan, Juventus and US Grosseto twice apiece.
If appointed on a reported two-year deal, Allegri will replace Antonio Conte, who announced he was leaving last week.
An email has landed in my inbox from Gary Bostock:
Hi Dom, the Guardian’s Manchester set on duty seem to be enjoying Liverpool’s player departure predicament far too much for my liking. Liverpool made a giant rick last summer in not getting the Marc Guéhi transfer done early for the sake of an extra £5m or £10m. This would have strengthened their hand with Konaté to the extent they probably wouldn’t have bothered negotiating and sold him in January.
I have full confidence the Liverpool hierarchy will make the right moves this summer, Gary. Barring Isak, who they massively overpaid for, they actually signed well a year ago. Florian Wirtz is a fine playmaker who just suffered a slow start in a new league and Hugo Ekitike is a phenomenal forward. Jury’s still out on the ultra-attacking full-backs, I guess.
If you receive The Guardian’s emails you may have received a message from our head of sport, Will Woodward, advising that the paper’s World Cup wallchart comes free with tomorrow’s edition.
I mean, you have to get a wallchart, it’s the law.
Rayo Vallecano coach leaves after Conference League final loss
Rayo Vallecano coach Iñigo Pérez is stepping down two days after the club’s defeat to Crystal Palace in the Conference League final.
Rayo president Martín Presa confirmed today in a press conference that Pérez was not going to sign a new contract. Pérez has not said where his next job will be, but has been linked with a move to Villarreal, who will play in the Champions League next season.
The Conference League showpiece was the club’s first ever major final, with Jean-Phillip Mateta’s instinctive second half strike clinching victory for the Premier League outfit in Leipzig.
Rayo finished eighth in La Liga, missing out on another European campaign next season.
Here’s what Pérez said in an emotional press conference:
It’s very hard, but it’s necessary. You have to be able to let the longing not become a sadness you can’t escape. In sports, these are cycles that come to an end. I’ll miss everything.
When you lose, it hurts, but you have to consider whether you gave it your all or not. It caused us pain, but the passage of time will create memories and later make us happy.
Today there’s pain, sadness, a beautiful goodbye for me, but we have to move on, we have to continue because, as they say, life goes on.”
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Fewer than one in five Premier League fans want the video assistant referee (VAR) to be scrapped even if most believe the system is still working badly, a new YouGov survey has found.
Introduced in the 2019-20 season, VAR remains a hot-button issue, with Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham saying recently he wants it removed entirely.
According to YouGov, just 18 per cent of 434 adults who watch Premier League football matches at least fairly regularly agreed with him.
The more widely held view is to keep the system but make changes to how it is used, favoured by 68 per cent of those surveyed, with 12 per cent happy to keep using the technology without any modifications.
However, there remains an overall negative perception of VAR, with 59 per cent feeling it has worked poorly, unchanged from the last YouGov survey on the system two years ago.
Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of regular viewers think VAR has made watching games less enjoyable.
Bristol City close in on Skubala appointment
Bristol City are close to appointing Michael Skubala as their new manager, according to widespread reports.
Skubala guided Lincoln City to a stunning promotion from League One this season, winning the league title and later being awarded the third tier’s manager of the season prize.
Bournemouth assistant Tommy Elphick was initially thought to be in the frame for the Bristol City job, which is vacant after Roy Hodgson’s interim spell in charge, but opted to stay with the Cherries. Hodgson replaced Gerhard Struber in March, with the Robins finishing 12th under the veteran former England boss.
Skubala, 43, is a former PE teacher, who held roles in the Coventry and Nottingham Forest academies alongside his day job, before a spell with Leeds where he was briefly the caretaker manager.
I have started consuming Football Weekly via the medium of YouTube. Give it a go.
Argentina are contenders to successfully defend their World Cup crown but their chances will be undermined if coach Lionel Scaloni relies too much on the players who triumphed four years ago, so says Argentine great Daniel Bertoni.
Argentina are once again be led by their talisman Lionel Messi with 16 other players from the 2022 vintage in their squad for this summer’s tournament.
“I think Argentina is a candidate (for the title), given our record of reaching the final six times and winning three of them,” 71-year-old Bertoni told AFP.
“But if we believe we will be champions again due to our name, and on what we have accomplished (in the past), that is a mistake.
“The thing that can really kill Argentina, is the coach relying too much on the players who won them the crown four years ago.”
How many defenders are Liverpool going to need to sign, then, if and when they lose Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson this summer?
RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande is the main name dominating the transfer headlines around the Reds now, so he hardly solves the problem. I know there’s plenty of excitement about Giovanni Leoni, the young defender who cruelly suffered an ACL injury early in the season.
Jérémy Jacquet is coming in from Rennes this summer but the Anfield suits might need to line up a couple more defensive recruits.
I’m starting to get the feeling (Jeremy) that USA are either going to have a brilliant World Cup, or a completely shambolic one. Stories like this make me tend towards the latter.
Here’s a bit more from the Republic of Ireland camp after their friendly against Qatar was halted by fans throwing tennis balls featuring the Palestine flag onto the pitch. Supporters are unhappy with the scheduling of games against Israel later this year, amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
“It’s obviously a unique scenario,” said midfielder Jamie McGrath. “The people [protesters], we have to listen to them, they have the right to do what they do, as long as it’s done in a peaceful way, that’s all that matters.
“I’m sure it’s going to heat up over the next few months. Like I said, we don’t want to be put into a position. Hopefully the powers above us can work something out or use it for the greater good, I’m not sure what the process will be as it heats up.
“At the end of the day, we’re footballers and we don’t want to be caught in this, but sometimes we might have to.”
Veteran defender Seamus Coleman said he “knows the difference between right and wrong” on the issue of the proposed Nations League games in September and October, set for Dublin and an as-yet-decided neutral venue.
Who is Tim Payne? I’ll have to hurry you teams. (Wrong spelling for the former Aussie keeper-bat).
He’s actually the New Zealander defender dubbed ‘the least known player at the World Cup’ by a influencer from Argentina. And he’s just shot to social media fame. Great little yarn, this.
Why is the Champions League final kicking off at 5pm (BST) this year? It has been brought forward from its previous 8pm slot to “enhance the overall matchday experience for fans, teams and host cities” according to Uefa, who made the decision back in August.
“While a 21:00 CET [8pm BST] kickoff is well suited for midweek matches, an earlier kick-off on a Saturday for the final means an earlier finish – regardless of extra time or penalties – and offers fans the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the evening with friends and family, reflecting on the game of the season,” said Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.
Which is all well and good, but means I will likely miss the game unless my cricket match finishes early. We’ll have to skittle them out quick!
Thanks John. Although I do wonder whether being born in Manchester city centre and residing for the past seven years in Greater Manchester damages my ‘Cestrian’ qualifications, but that’s probably for another day.
Football …
And with that, I shall hand over to another fine Cestrian in Dominic Booth.
Argentina announced their World Cup squad on Thursday, with Lionel Messi, despite his recent injury scare, given the captain’s armband. As well as confirming Messi’s presence, Thursday’s announcement notably excluded Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono from the Argentina squad. Eighteen-year-old Mastantuono is considered one of the brightest prospects in Argentine football but has struggled since joining from River Plate.
There 17 of the 26 players who won the title in Qatar. Call-ups include 21-year-olds Nicolas Paz and Valentin Barco. Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez, who only made his international debut last year, also features. No Emiliano Buendia.
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate, ARG), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille, FRA), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Facundo Medina (Marseille, FRA), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors, ARG), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami, USA), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Alexis MacAllister (Liverpool, ENG), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, ESP), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg).
Attackers: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras, BRA).
Neymar injury places World Cup in doubt
After that big announcement last week, there’s a chance Neymar misses out.
Via PA Media:
Neymar’s World Cup hopes have been hit after medical checks revealed the full extent of his calf injury.
The 34-year-old Santos forward, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, is expected to be sidelined for between two to three weeks after scans carried out by the national team’s doctor revealed a grade two muscle tear.
Neymar will miss Brazil’s two warm-up friendlies against Panama on Sunday and Egypt on June 6 and faces a race to be fit in time for their opening World Cup group game against Morocco on June 13.
The former Barcelona and Paris St Germain playmaker initially played down the severity of the injury, sustained in Santos’ 3-0 defeat to Coritiba on 17 May.
Brazil doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told a press conference: “After missing Wednesday’s training session to undergo imaging tests in Teresopolis, the MRI ruled out the initial hypothesis of a simpler issue.
“He arrived here at Granja, underwent all the medical exams and we finished with an MRI that identified a grade two muscle injury in the calf, not just swelling.”
Santos statement from Thursday that they had shared all the medical tests by May 18 and added: “The two-week period began on the 17th and ends this Sunday [31st], by which time the player should be fit to return to training.
“It should always be borne in mind that these estimates vary from person to person and depend on the team’s needs and the importance of the matches. The Brazilian national team’s physiotherapy team also includes professionals from Santos FC who have been working with Neymar Jr. for over 10 years and throughout this entire recovery process.
“The club’s medical department is aligned with and in agreement with the treatment schedule set by the CBF’s medical team. The professionals at Santos FC are familiar with the player’s recovery capacity and are confident that Neymar will be ready to play in the World Cup.”
The week of Manchester City farewells continues. We’re told Guardiola and Gallagher was the “last word” but I’m yet to be convinced. Meanwhile, John Stones, set for the World Cup, destination beyond that unknown has said his social media goodbyes.
I want to take this opportunity once again to thank everyone. My team mates, back room staff, the fans, and everyone involved with the club! “My last few days at the club were unbelievable… saying goodbye on the pitch with my family and the crazy parade. I really felt the appreciation and love from you all. I’ll never forget the send off I’ve received, I’m so very grateful for it and it will stay with me forever. “It’s been an absolute honour and privilege to play for you and this football club. I lived out all of my dreams, and helped make dreams come true for us all! “I wish the team and everyone involved with City nothing but the best in the future and in it’s new chapter, and I will look forward to coming back as fan to watch with you all in the future.
Updated
Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona was a big surprise, perhaps most of all for Marcus Rashford. Our north east reporter, Louise Taylor, on the player who is leaving Newcastle.
Hansi Flick may pitch him as a direct competitor for Raphinha on the left, but Gordon is also capable of indulging in the positional interchanging that promises to make an attacking trio also containing Lamine Yamal extra formidable. Yet if a player who spent much of last season at centre-forward often forces defenders into taking gambles they would prefer to avoid, Gordon’s signing is not without risk.
To fill the Konate hole: Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni last summer, only for him to suffer a cruciate injury, and Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, who joins this summer, after missing much of the Ligue 1 season with a serious shoulder problem.
That’s Salah, Robertson, Konate all leaving Liverpool, with Trent Alexander-Arnold having departed last summer, all on a free. What does that say about Liverpool’s decision makers? Well, it was reported this season the club has the highest wage bill in the Premier League and selling players for a fee probably doesn’t meet the high wages these players now demand. Put those together and you are looking at £100m plus of fees, but that’s probably dwarfed by the wages of two-year extensions, say. Big summer ahead.
Some more detail on Konate, via PA Media: “A month ago the centre-back confidently announced after the Merseyside derby win at Everton that a resolution was imminent.
“However, the Press Association understands the club were unable to come to terms on the financial aspects and as a result the defender will leave Anfield next month after a five-year stay.”
It’s the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday, and here’s Tom Garry’s preview from the Manchester City end. They take on Brighton.
Persuading Khadija “Bunny” Shaw to perform a remarkable U-turn and stay for another four years was vital.
The Jamaica striker, who scored 21 times in 22 league games this season, had signalled firmly to the club she had decided to leave, because other teams were offering more lucrative contracts and talks with City had broken down.
Memories of 1986 for co-hosts Mexico, and their legendary coach.
In 1985, Bora Milutinović took the players away from their clubs for a full year. They toured the world, playing more than 20 friendlies in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.
Decades later, Milutinović still believes the decision was correct.
“In my time, the only way we could accomplish anything was to be together,” the 81-year-old says over the phone from China, where he is travelling. “Thanks to that time spent together, we created a suitable environment where we were mentally prepared, and it was so effective that we played a very, very successful World Cup in ’86.”
On Ibrahima Konate, the briefing appears to be that he will be leaving Liverpool, as no deal could be agreed.
Good story from our Guardian US colleagues.
Speaking to reporters, US Soccer CEO JT Batson said Pochettino and the organization are focused on the World Cup, declining to confirm specifically that Pochettino and Milan had held talks. However, he added that Pochettino and his staff “have been transparent about club interest for the last couple of years”, adding that “there’s been a longer list of outreach than what has even been reported.”
Batson also declined to say whether US Soccer was engaged in extension discussions with Pochettino, and similarly deferred comment when asked if another big-name manager such as Jürgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola could be next, saying the organization is “focused on this summer”.
Josh Kroenke, Arsenal co-owner, has been speaking to all and sundry this week.
“[In] our experience of winning things in the States, when you win something, the sun’s still going to come up the next day. You’ve got to get back to work and there are many teams trying to gain on you, including some historically great ones around the Premier League. We’re going to look to strengthen because we know teams around us are going to get better. If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still.”
Transfer news: There’s talk the Tottenham reboot will begin with two free transfers in Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. Both would seem highly sensible buys, Robertson perhaps in the leadership role Jordan Henderson has at Brentford, and with England.
Krishna, a regular correspondent, gets in touch: “Hello, John. Budapest will see 21st century’s vindication of the famous Aesop’s fable of The Tortoise and the hare. Get ready for a root canal treatment like 1-0 victory after extra time.”
The aforementioned Qatar played Ireland last night in Dublin, and lost 1-0.
The game was played against the backdrop of mounting controversy over Ireland’s forthcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel, with the game scheduled for October 4 in Dublin a particular focus, and protesters hurled tennis balls bearing the message “stop the game” onto the pitch on several occasions during the first half.
Veteran defender Seamus Coleman had expressed concern that Ireland’s coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson and his players have been left in the firing line by those above them, and McGrath admitted the situation is difficult.
Hallgrimsson said: “Seamus spoke really well about it the other day. We all don’t agree with what’s going on. Ideally it’s not in our hands. It’s not a nice situation to be put into. Like I said, personally, none of us agree with what’s going on.”
Late decision for the Sassuolo player, an actual Italian at the World Cup.
The 22-year will make a shock switch of allegiance from Italy to Australia four years after turning down the opportunity to represent the country of his birth at the tournament in Qatar.
Football Australia is still awaiting confirmation from Fifa that the formalities surrounding Volpato’s change of heart can be completed before Socceroos coach Tony Popovic names his 26-player World Cup squad by 1 June.
A couple of World Cup team guides.
Pochettino setting the bar low for Pulisic? Just one goal?
“I was disappointed with him [for missing the Gold Cup],” Pochettino reflected in a discussion with the Guardian and other reporters on Thursday. “I am transparent about that. He was disappointed with our decision not to include him in the two friendly games [against Switzerland and Turkey].”
Pulisic is 27, feels like he’s been the coming man for a long time now.
Ed Aarons spoke to the player who may hold the key for Arsenal, Kai Havertz.
Havertz is looking ahead to Arsenal’s final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, when not many give them a chance of winning. It was the same when Chelsea, managed by Thomas Tuchel, took on a formidable City assembled by Pep Guardiola that had won the Premier League by 12 points. Chelsea had finished fourth, a further seven points adrift.
“We were the underdogs on that day, for sure,” Havertz says. “We hadn’t had the best season. But now it is completely different.”
Updated
An overnight transfer line.
If Konaté walks away from Liverpool out of contract, it will be the second consecutive year – after Trent Alexander-Arnold ran down his deal before a £10m move to Real Madrid – that the club will have lost one of their first-choice defenders without receiving a significant fee.
Konaté has had a disappointing season but losing an established centre-back will come as a blow for the sporting director Richard Hughes, with new defensive recruits Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni both working their way back to fitness after significant injuries and transfer speculation swirling over the future of Joe Gomez.
The World Cup is less than a fortnight away though doubts begin to swirl.
Ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, there has been uncertainty surrounding this World Cup fixture in Los Angeles.
There were conflicting signals whether the Islamic Republic of Iran would allow the national football team to travel to the home of its attacker, and whether the US would welcome Team Melli. With kick-off now weeks away, it appears the game will go ahead as planned. Still, there is the possibility of protests by the large local Iranian population in “Tehrangeles”, many of whom fled the 1979 revolution, and acts of defiance by players. It’s more than a football story.
Jonathan Wilson, true to form, used Agincourt in his tactical preview of the final.
Although PSG have scored more goals from non-penalty set plays than Arsenal in the Champions League this season (eight to five), it probably is reasonable to assume that corners and free-kicks offer Arsenal’s best chance of a goal. But the biggest danger to Arsenal is probably a counterattack. Most opponents sit deep against PSG, especially in Ligue 1, but the evidence of PSG’s wins over Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich is that they are lethal in transition.
Arsenal cannot let Desiré Doué or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia get a run on whoever they have at full-back. Both are rapid, supreme dribblers and terrifyingly direct. And full-back is an issue for Arsenal, especially on the right. Ben White is out with a knee injury and Jurriën Timber is doubtful with a groin problem sustained against Everton in mid-March.
Let’s start with an Opta Analyst preview of the Champions League final.
Luis Enrique has regularly rested his players from Ligue 1 games. So, even though PSG have played a lot of matches, their most important players have been rotated heavily and should go into this weekend’s final relatively fresh.
Many of PSG’s best players have played very little domestic football this season. Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé started just 11 of their 34 Ligue 1 games; Neves, Mendes and Fabián Ruiz made 13 starts each; Kvaratskhelia 18, Doué and Hakimi 16, and Marquinhos 11. And it’s not like they come off the bench all that much, either. Not one of them has played even half their team’s minutes in Ligue 1 this season.
Preamble
Good morning, football. It’s all on Saturday, Budapest and the Champions League final. The capital cities of England and France decamped to the capital of Hungary. Plenty of buildup to that to come, and further news as the transfer market begins to key into action, plus World Cup news.
Join us.
