Jesse Lingard is hoping to land a new contract in 2024, with the ex-Manchester United star promoting himself during solo training sessions in Dubai.
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Released by Nottingham Forest in 2023Ex-England star still without a clubWorking on fitness amid talk of U.S. moveWHAT HAPPENED?
The former England international was released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign and has been without a club ever since. He has taken in trial spells at West Ham and Al-Ettifaq, but no offers have been put to him.
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Lingard is looking to stay in shape, ensuring that he is ready for any call, and has headed to the Middle East for some warm weather work during the English winter. He is putting in the hard yards, with videos posted on social media in a bid to catch the eye of potential suitors.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lingard took in 232 appearances for United during his time at Old Trafford, while earning 32 caps for England, but has found form and fitness hard to come by in recent times. He is, however, still only 31 years of age and believes that he has plenty left in the tank.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD?
There has been talk of Lingard heading to the United States, where he would join Lionel Messi in MLS, but the 2024 campaign in America is not due to get underway until February so there is more work for him to do behind the scenes before any permanent deal is done. Everton are also said to be mulling over an approach, according to , which could deliver a shock return to the Premier League.
Chelsea's Sam Kerr looks to retain her title, but team-mate Guro Reiten and four other top players stand in her path
The PFA Awards have been a highlight of the footballing calendar for 50 years, and the organisation have now revealed the shortlist for the 2023 Women's Players' Player of the Year, with six brilliant players fighting it out for the gong.
Chelsea's Sam Kerr returns in an attempt to retain her title, while the Blues' Norwegian star Guro Reiten also finds herself as a nominee. The west London club have had a player win the award four out of the last five years.
Former Manchester United star Ona Batlle, who just reached the World Cup final with Spain, is also nominated along with Manchester City and Jamaican sensation Bunny Shaw, while Aston Villa's Rachel Daly and Arsenal's Frida Maanum close out the nominees.
Find out more about the six-woman shortlist below…
GettySam Kerr | Club: Chelsea FC | Nationality: Australia
Chelsea's Australian striker returns on the ballot sheet in an attempt to retain her title as the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year. Kerr scored 29 goals across 38 appearances in all competitions for the Blues during the 2022/23 campaign, earning Chelsea's Player of the Year award en route to becoming a WSL champion for the fourth-straight season.
AdvertisementGettyRachel Daly | Club: Aston Villa | Nationality: England
Leading scorer of the 2022/23 WSL campaign, Daly notched 22 goals in league play and 30 in total across all competitions. Daly was named WSL Player of the Season following her terrific 2022/23 campaign, which also saw Aston Villa reach their first-ever FA Cup semi-final.
Getty ImagesGuro Reiten | Club: Chelsea FC | Nationality: Norway
Reiten's brilliant 2022/23 campaign saw her win the FA Cup with Chelsea and top it off with a WSL title for the fourth-straight season. The Norway international had 13 goals and 19 assists across all competitions for the Blues and was particularly important when Kerr was absent through injury.
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GettyKhadija 'Bunny' Shaw | Club: Manchester City | Nationality: Jamaica
The 2022/23 season was an outstanding campaign for Shaw, who scored 31 goals across all competitions while adding nine assists along the way for Manchester City. The 26-year-old attacker extended her contract in May through to 2026 after her record-setting season.
The Algerian did not always get the praise he deserved, but he was a crucial part of Pep Guardiola's side and leaves a gaping hole in the squad
When Riyad Mahrez left Manchester City last month to see out his career in the Saudi Pro League, the reaction was mostly of indifference. Unlike with Ilkay Gundogan, there had been no great clamour for the Algerian to stay at the Etihad Stadium, and given he is 32 and had barely featured in the team's run to the treble (in contrast to Gundogan), many fans were happy for the club to take the £30 million ($38m) transfer fee from Al Ahli and run.
Mahrez was often seen as at best a useful squad player, and at worst a selfish and frustrating player who had missed penalties at crucial moments. But over the course of five seasons, he had made an invaluable contribution, scoring 78 goals and making 59 assists in only 236 appearances, many of them off the bench.
While the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan may have been the stars of City's historic season, their impressive squad depth was equally important in them winning every trophy that mattered, and their squad is significantly weaker without Mahrez.
Pep Guardiola will be more than aware of that, but so far he is yet to sign a replacement for the Algerian, instead prioritising the arrival of centre-back Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Mateo Kovacic, while also making a bid for West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta.
And in the Community Shield against Arsenal, he could see the limits of playing Bernardo Silva on the right wing, as the Portuguese was calmly dealt with by Gunners' full-back Jurrien Timber. In the end, it took a natural wide forward in Cole Palmer to come off the bench and score the breakthrough goal.
If City want to stand a chance of repeating last season's epic achievements they will need to find a successor to Mahrez, an incisive player who can make the difference against stubborn opponents. But who should they choose? GOAL runs through the options available to Guardiola:
Getty Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)
Michael Olise has a number of similarities with Mahrez, especially his remarkable control and a penchant for cutting inside from the right and on to his left foot. The French forward also has 'pausa', an ability to slow the play down while keeping a move flowing, which Guardiola values dearly.
Olise will have to improve his goal tally if he does join City, though. He scored only two goals in the Premier League last season, both of them injury-time strikes against Manchester United and West Ham, respectively. He did provide 11 assists, however, several of them from set-plays.
City have already declared their interest in Olise and are willing to pay up to £50 million ($63m) to get the France Under-21 international. However, they may have to wait until January to make their move, as Olise is still recovering from surgery he underwent to treat a torn hamstring sustained during the U21 European Championship in June.
Kaoru Mitoma was one of many Brighton players who had escaped top clubs' radars until last season, but had a stunning debut campaign in the Premier League. The Japan international is one of the most exciting dribblers in the league and has plenty of end product too, scoring 10 times and providing eight assists to help the Seagulls finish sixth and qualify for Europe for the very first time.
The 26-year-old is a strong candidate to replace Mahrez as he has already posted similar figures to the Algerian in just one season in England, and he would not be prohibitively expensive. Around £50m ($63m) would be enough to persuade Brighton to part ways with Mitoma, who they paid just £2.7m ($3.4m) for in 2021.
Getty ImagesJeremy Doku (Rennes)
Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is of a slightly different profile to Mahrez and is a player most suited to teams that counter-attack due to his pace and dribbling ability. However, at the age of only 21, he could be moulded into a City player and master the art of possession football.
City are reportedly considering him as an option with little more than three weeks left of the transfer window. Doku would certainly be one of the cheaper players to replace Mahrez, costing less than £30m ($38m), although he would also be a gamble as he is not yet as productive as the likes of Mitoma, posting just six goals and two assists in Ligue 1 last season.
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FC BarcelonaAnsu Fati (Barcelona)
Ansu Fati took world football by storm in 2019 by becoming the youngest player to score for Barcelona, the youngest to score in the Champions League and then the youngest to score for the Spain national team.
A thrilling start to his career was then seriously disrupted by knee injuries, but last season he managed to play in almost every Barcelona game in La Liga, hopefully demonstrating that his fitness troubles are behind him.
Barca's severe financial problems mean they would likely accept an offer in the region of £40m ($51m) for the forward, who inherited the No.10 jersey from Lionel Messi. That would be a great deal for City, considering Ansu is only 20 years old and already has four years experience of elite football in his legs.
An all-you need to know guide on where to watch the English Carabao Cup
Editors choice
ESPN+
Full and exclusive coverage of the EFL Cup from the 1st round through to the final.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$9.99
Get ESPN+Comprehensive coverage
fuboTV
Full access to ESPN channels and the most comprehensive range of other soccer coverage on the market today.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 10
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$74.99
Get fuboTVBest TV provider
DirecTV
ESPN channels are available through DirecTV's Entertainment Plan.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 20
DVR capabilities: Yes
Monthly from
$64.99
Get DirecTVBest value
Sling TV
ESPN is available via the Sling Orange plan along with a host of other news and entertainment channels.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
DVR capabilities: 50 hrs
Monthly from
$40
Get Sling TVEditors choice
ESPN+
Full and exclusive coverage of the EFL Cup from the 1st round through to the final.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$9.99
Get ESPN+Comprehensive coverage
fuboTV
Full access to ESPN channels and the most comprehensive range of other soccer coverage on the market today.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 10
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$74.99
Get fuboTVBest TV provider
DirecTV
ESPN channels are available through DirecTV's Entertainment Plan.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 20
DVR capabilities: Yes
Monthly from
$64.99
Get DirecTVBest value
Sling TV
ESPN is available via the Sling Orange plan along with a host of other news and entertainment channels.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
DVR capabilities: 50 hrs
Monthly from
$40
Get Sling TVEditors choice
ESPN+
Full and exclusive coverage of the EFL Cup from the 1st round through to the final.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$9.99
Get ESPN+Comprehensive coverage
fuboTV
Full access to ESPN channels and the most comprehensive range of other soccer coverage on the market today.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 10
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$74.99
Get fuboTVBest TV provider
DirecTV
ESPN channels are available through DirecTV's Entertainment Plan.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 20
DVR capabilities: Yes
Monthly from
$64.99
Get DirecTVBest value
Sling TV
ESPN is available via the Sling Orange plan along with a host of other news and entertainment channels.
Installation required: No
Simultaneous streams: 3
DVR capabilities: 50 hrs
Monthly from
$40
Get Sling TV
The EFL Cup is one of the premiere competitions in the English Football League, combining the top flight with the rest of the Football League in a thrilling knock-out competition.
Known as the Carabao Cup, it's a route into Europe for the winners and a chance for the minnows to go head-to-head with Premier League giants, and even claim a prize scalp. But how can you stream the EFL Cup across the season? Here's all the information you need to know…
Which channels have the rights to EFL Cup soccer?
At present, the only way you can stream the Carabao Cup, as it is also known, is through ESPN+. The subscription service broadcasts at least 30 EFL Cup games per year, with select games also available across the ESPN network.
The split of those 30 games, includes 25 games in rounds one to five, with two legs of both semi-finals, as well as the final, held at the iconic Wembley Stadium.
Best TV Packages to watch EFL Cup Soccer in 2023
If you're looking to watch the likes of Manchester United, neighbours Manchester City, Arsenal or any other team in the Carabao Cup, then there are a couple of options available, depending on how much action you wish to watch.
Upcoming English Carabao Cup ESPN+ schedule
Date
Game
Kick Off
Location
Tue Sep 26Ipswich Town vs Wolverhampton Wanderers12:45 PT / 15:45 ETPortman Road, IpswichTue Sep 26Manchester United vs Crystal Palace13:00 PT / 16:00 ETOld Trafford, ManchesterWed Sep 27Aston Villa vs Everton12:45 PT / 15:45 ETVilla Park, BirminghamWed Sep 27Brentford vs Arsenal12:45 PT / 15:45 ETGtech Community Stadium, BrentfordWed Sep 27Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion12:45 PT / 15:45 ETStamford Bridge, LondonWed Sep 27Liverpool vs Leicester City12:45 PT / 15:45 ETAnfield, LiverpoolWed Sep 27Newcastle Utd vs Man City13:00 PT / 16:00 ETSt James' Park, Newcastle
ESPN+Get ESPN+ today
The best option is going straight to the broadcaster itself. The ESPN+ streaming service is the only place you'll be able to watch every available game, from the First Round through to the Carabao Cup Final. You'll be able to watch all 30 games, for a subscription fee of $9.99 per month, as well as a host of other games from across Europe and ESPN's on-demand content.
Alongside the EFL Cup, ESPN+ also has rights to the English Football League, meaning you'll be able to watch live league games of the likes of Leicester City and Leeds United, while the FA Cup, England's other main domestic cup competition can also be streamed through the platform.
But it isn't just sides like Brighton and Crystal Palace you can tune in for, ESPN+ also offers streams of La Liga, Bundesliga and Dutch Eredivisie soccer right across the season as teams right across Europe battle it out for silverware.
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Unfortunately, there are few other options to be able to stream every EFL Cup game available to customers in the United States. However, there are packages that do include ESPN, which will mean you'll be able to watch some games, including most likely the Carabao Cup Final.
It comes at a cost though, with FuboTV's cheapest package being $74.99 per month. With that, though, you will have access to a large number of leagues, including the Premier League on NBC Sports, meaning you won't just be able to watch Newcastle United or West Ham in Carabao Cup action, but right across the domestic season.
With FuboTV's Pro Package, you'll receive around 160 TV channel options, many of which have soccer streams. So, while it may not be great for Carabao Cup action, it's perfect for soccer fans who want to stream games daily from across the world.
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Similarly, DirecTV will also provide you with the ESPN channels, but not ESPN+. Packages are priced a little higher than FuboTV at $89.99 per month, and the main benefit is again other soccer leagues rather than just Carabao Cup matches. It does mean you will be able to watch the likes of the Premier League year round though, with dozens upon dozens of matches to stream from when the season gets going in August and September, right through to May…
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Starting at $40 per month for the Orange package, you'll again receive ESPN but not their online streaming platform, meaning EFL Cup games will be limited. It's at a cheaper cost though and you will also receive TNT Sports, which offers further sporting events.
The Blue package can be added for an additional $15 per month, providing access to channels such as Fox, and NBC which again will open up the Premier League for you.
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With the top-flight campaign nearing its halfway point at the turn of the year, Goal assesses the star men of 2020-21 to this point
Though the delay to the start of the season means that the Premier League campaign is yet to reach its halfway point, the table is starting to take shape.
Defending champions Liverpool are again out in front, but the Reds have not had things their own way and look set for a much tougher challenge when it comes to winning a second successive league title.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester City and Everton have all shown flashes of form that suggest they could be in the hunt right until the final weeks, while the likes of Aston Villa and Southampton have also enjoyed periods in the upper echelons of the table.
But which players have been the standouts so far? Goal has selected its Team of the Season through to the end of the calendar year, though everything could change as we enter 2021…
GettyGK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
It is fair to suggest that Arsenal fans were split when it was revealed that Bernd Leno had been chosen to be the Gunners' No.1 for the new season given the impressive performances of Emiliano Martinez in the closing weeks of the previous campaign.
Martinez had played a key role in helping turn around the fortunes of Mikel Arteta's side, and with first-team football not forthcoming in north London he jumped at the chance of joining Aston Villa for £20 million ($25m) in mid-September.
His form for the Villans has mirrored that of his final months at Arsenal, with the Argentina international currently leading the race for the Premier League's Golden Glove with eight clean sheets from his first 14 appearances for the club.
Martinez has rarely put a foot wrong for Dean Smith's side, saving 76 per cent of shots faced, which ranks him second among the English top-flight's regular goalkeepers in 2020-21 behind Nick Pope.
AdvertisementGettyRB: Reece James (Chelsea)
With Trent Alexander-Arnold having struggled with injuries, the door has been opened for another young, English right-back to stake his claim to become the league's best player in his position.
Reece James' form for Chelsea has been so strong that club captain Cesar Azpilicueta has been relegated to the substitutes' bench for almost the entire campaign so far, with James also having earned himself a first England call-up during the autumn.
Going forward he is a revelation, with his crossing accuracy of 22.4% the second-best among full-backs in the Premier League so far this season.
He has also proven himself to be adept defensively, winning 27 tackles at a success rate of 63%; the fourth-best ratio among full-backs in 2020-21.
Getty ImagesCB: Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)
Though new signings Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy have taken most of the plaudits for Chelsea's improved defensive record, there is no getting away from the fact that Kurt Zouma has perhaps been the most consistently impressive of the trio so far in 2020-21.
The France international was tipped to become one of the world's great centre-backs before suffering a serious knee injury in 2016 that threatened to derail his top-level career.
This season, though, he is beginning to deliver on his potential. He has 38 headed clearances – the fourth-most in the Premier League – and has won 75% of his attempted tackles as well as 66% of his duels.
He has also become an attacking weapon from set-pieces, with his four goals the most among the division's defenders.
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Getty ImagesCB: Fabinho (Liverpool)
Liverpool's title odds lengthened significantly when Virgil van Dijk suffered his potentially season-ending knee injury against Everton in October, so seeming irreplaceable is the Netherlands international at Anfield.
And yet, Jurgen Klopp's side have conceded just seven goals in 12 league games since Van Dijk's injury – a record made even more remarkable given that Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker have all also suffered injuries in the meantime.
Holding midfielder Fabinho has been entrusted with filling the Van Dijk-shaped hole in the Liverpool defence, and while he too missed time through injury, the ex-Monaco man has looked very much at home at the heart of the back four.
The 27-year-old ranks as Liverpool's leading tackler and their player with the most headed clearances so far this term as they chase a second successive league title.
Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney was blown away by MK Dons' stadium but the Always Sunny star also aimed a cheeky jibe at their League Two rivals.
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Wrexham playing MK Dons in League Two McElhenney awed by Stadium MK Urged his troops to avenge their previous defeat at RacecourseGetty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Dragons made a trip to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire for their league fixture against the Dons on Tuesday evening. And upon arrival, McElhenney was fascinated by Stadium MK which has got two tiers and a capacity of 30,500. The seats are all black and on one side of the arena, the club name is written in white along with the crest in the middle.
AdvertisementWHAT ROB MCELHENNEY SAID
McElhenney put out a tweet that read: "Wow. @MKDonsFC stadium is beautiful. Of course, we’d love to break your hearts in it. Kinda like the way you did to us in our house. 😂 💔 Come on you Reds! @Wrexham_AFC".
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McElhenney was referring to the 5-3 defeat that the Dons inflicted on Wrexham back in August at the Racecourse Ground. It was a dreadful night for Phil Parkinson's troops as they were trailing 4-1 at one stage, before finding two late goals, which proved too little too late.
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
Wrexham looked like a team with a mission to get the three points against MK Dons with James McClean handing them the lead in the 22nd minute. However, their joy was short-lived as Dan Kemp equalised just four minutes later.
After a barren run, Wrexham headed into this match on the back of two successive wins with McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds' troops pushing for an automatic promotion spot. They will continue their journey on the road as they are set to face Gillingham on Saturday in League Two.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has high expectations for growth in the NWSL – and American soccer – leading up to the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup.
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NWSL expecting 'explosive' growthBuildup to 2026 World Cup resultCommissioner Berman speaks on upcoming campaignWHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking to reporters at the Financial Times' Business of Football summit in London, commissioner Berman revealed that she is expecting 'explosive' growth over the next two years. With the 2026 Men's World Cup on the horizon, and it being co-hosted in the USA, the opportunities for development are endless. The USA and Mexico also have a co-host bid on the table for the 2027 Women's World Cup, leaving Berman beaming over the possibilities.
AdvertisementUSA Today Sports WHAT NWSL COMMISSIONER JESSICA BERMAN SAID
"We know that in the U.S., the next four to six years, there is going to be an explosive growth, with or without the intentional investment we're making. … With the World Cup coming in 2026 and the possibility the Women's World Cup will come in 2027, there is an incredible amount of interest.
"There's this age-old question: When is America going to start paying attention to this global sport? Well, it's happened. They are paying attention, they love this sport, and we have this halo effect of the U.S. women's national team and their incredible success
"[Soccer] is one of the few sports where when you ask 100% [of the] people in the U.S. to close their eyes and imagine 'greatness, soccer and America' they think of women."
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Berman described the NWSL's 'superpower' as it's independence from men's clubs around American soccer – which is not the case in European soccer. Their freedom as a sporting league – and each respective club's ability to navigate on their own – gives them an edge as a powerhouse women's soccer league, as well.
Notably, the NWSL is starting to attract major overseas talent – with Racheal Kundananji joining expansion side Bay FC for a world-record fee, Barcelona Femeni's highly-successful coach Jonatan Giraldez signing a pre-contract agreement to join the Washington Spirit this summer and Chelsea superstar Jessie Fleming opting for a stateside switch to Portland Thorns.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR NWSL?
The 2024 season is set to get underway on March 15 with the NWSL Challenge Cup between last season's regular season champions, San Diego Wave, and the NWSL Cup holder's – Gotham FC. After the Bats and the Wave clash, the regular season will begin on Saturday, March 16 when the Kansas City Current take on the Portland Thorns.
Christian Pulisic and Milan will now need a whole lot of help to get out of the Champions League group stage after falling to Dortmund on Tuesday.
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Milan fall 3-1 to DortmundPulisic puts in solid, but goalless, shiftReyna benched, BVB advance to knockoutsWHAT HAPPENED?
The game got off to a wild start, with both sides earning penalties within minutes of one another. However, while Dortmund buried theirs, Milan squandered the opportunity. After a handball in the box, Olivier Giroud saw his penalty saved by Dortmund's Gregor Kobel in the sixth minute. Just four minutes later, Dortmund and Reus fired home from the spot. That lead lasted until the 37th minute, when Milan equalized on a goal from Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigerian winger broke through on the right-hand side, beating his defender before slotting a shot past Kobel to send the teams into the half level.
Dortmund, though, wouldn't be denied. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens proved to be the match-winner, as he slid a perfectly-placed shot past Mike Maignan, giving his side the 2-1 lead. Karim Adeyemi went on to add another as his shot banked off Maignan's hand and in, giving Dortmund the 3-1 lead, the win and, most importantly, all three points in this tight group.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
With the win, Dortmund have locked up their place in the Round of 16, having now earned 10 points through five games. A point in their final match against PSG would be enough for them to finish atop the group. As for Pulisic and Milan, hope is not lost just yet, although it is fading fast. They'll need a win over Newcastle as well as a Dortmund win or draw against PSG to have hopes of making it to the Round of 16. Should it come down to the draw, though, Milan would need to beat Newcastle by five goals just to equal PSG on goal difference.
GettyUSMNT IMPACT
It was a tough game for Pulisic, who, to his credit, did do a lot of good things in the loss. He had two decent looks on net, and put on a passing clinic, with the only thing really missing from his game was a goal contribution.
Overall, it's been a frustrating Champions League campaign for Pulisic and Milan, who have struggled in every facet. Their attack has gone silent for large stretches in this competition, while defensive mishaps have been too commonplace. As a result they'll need a lot of help to qualify for the knockout rounds, and they'll likely count themselves fortunate to still be alive at this point.
As for Reyna, he remains a backup at Dortmund and, based on substitution patterns, is still not one of Edin Terzic's preferred options. Despite his supersub heroics last season, Reyna hasn't been allowed to offer much this season as he remains glued to the bench for his club.
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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS
Christian Pulisic (6/10):
Can't knock the effort. Moved the ball well and had his moments, but just couldn't quite produce the magic needed to keep his team in the game. Definitely not at fault for the performance, though, as those around him needed to be much, much better.
Gio Reyna (N/A):
Still glued to Dortmund's bench, adding more fuel to the fire as transfer rumors swirl.
Yunus Musah (N/A):
Was suspended for this one due to yellow card accumulation. Makes you wonder if he could have helped a bit, although Milan would have needed several better performances to survive this.
After claiming top spot in their group in Qatar, the Three Lions now face Senegal for a place in the quarter-finals…
England are participating in their seventh consecutive World Cup but are looking for their first triumph since 1966.
Could they end that agonising wait at Qatar 2022? The early signs are positive at least, with the Three Lions roaring into the knockout stage by winning their group with seven points from three games.
After opening with a stunning 6-2 demolition of Iran, Gareth Southgate and his players came in for some criticism following a dour 0-0 draw with the United States, but they turned on the style again in a 3-0 rout of Wales.
Now, England face Senegal in the last 16, but who will start against the Lions of Taranga? As this tournament has already underlined, Southgate has plenty of top-class players to choose from…
GettyGOALKEEPERS
Everton's Jordan Pickford remains Gareth Southgate's undisputed No.1.
Indeed, it seems unlikely that either Newcastle United's Nick Pope or Aaron Ramsdale will see any game time in Qatar.
Name
Club
Nick Pope
Newcastle United
Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal
Jordan Pickford
Everton
AdvertisementGettyDEFENDERS
Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire received their fair share of criticism before the tournament got under way but both have performed well in Qatar to date.
Kyle Walker has also reclaimed his starting spot after recovering from an injury that ruled him out of England's first couple of games.
Sadly, though, Ben White has already gone home for personal reasons.
Name
Club
Harry Maguire
Manchester United
Kyle Walker
Manchester City
John Stones
Manchester City
Eric Dier
Tottenham
Kieran Trippier
Newcastle United
Luke Shaw
Manchester United
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool
Conor Coady
Everton
Benjamin White
Arsenal
Getty ImagesMIDFIELDERS
England have a young and talented midfield that includes Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, as well as the wise old head that is Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Indeed, Southgate's dilemma is who to leave out. Henderson replaced Mount in the starting line-up for the win over Wales and could hold on to his spot against Senegal.
Name
Club
Jordan Henderson
Liverpool
Declan Rice
West Ham
Mason Mount
Chelsea
Jude Belliingham
Borussia Dortmund
Kalvin Phillips
Manchester City
Conor Gallagher
Chelsea
James Maddison
Leicester City
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Getty ImagesATTACKERS
A welcome selection headache, but a headache nonetheless. Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka were both excellent against Iran, but disappointed against the USMNT.
Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford then starred in the win over Wales, meaning Southgate now has a couple of massive calls to make against Senegal.
Elsewhere, Jack Grealish and Callum Wilson have shown that they are decent options off the bench.
Harry Kane, meanwhile, has contributed only assists thus far, but don't be surprised if he catches fire in the knockout stage, just as he did at Euro 2020.
The coach can have no complaints about his imminent exit but the Bavarians' problems began before his arrival last year
After Bayern Munich lost a third consecutive game for the first time in nine years, midfielder Leon Goretzka confessed that he felt as if they were trapped in a neverending "horror film". Well, it's now claimed its first victim, with the club revealing on Wednesday morning that coach Thomas Tuchel will leave the Allianz Arena at the end of the season.
The decision to part company with the coach comes as absolutely no surprise, of course. Tuchel's tenure was hanging by a thread even before last weekend's shock loss at Bochum. However, the decision to drag this out until the end of the season is puzzling. Clearly, finding a suitable replacement at this stage of the season proved impossible.
But one cannot help but question the wisdom of continuing with a manager mystified by the nature of Bayern's struggles – and at odds with some senior players. There is a very real fear, then, that Bayern's bosses have done nothing but prolong the agony for Tuchel, Goretzka and everyone else involved.
GettyPoor passing and individual errors
Tuchel had argued that the 3-2 loss at Bochum needed to be contextualised. Bayern had "an xG value of 3.4", he pointed out, "and four, five, six top-class chances. We completely dominated the game and actually went behind out of nowhere. We never stopped putting in the effort until the end and then played with a man down for a long time. A lot went against us. I feel this defeat is different from the last two."
And he's right: Bayern are beating themselves in a variety of ways right now. They were absolutely atrocious from start to finish in their 3-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen 10 days ago, but actually started well in the midweek Champions League game against Lazio, only to bizarrely lose all belief against a side struggling in Serie A – even before Dayot Upamecano's first red card of the week.
On Sunday, meanwhile, they would have won had they been more clinical in front of goal and less sloppy at the back. But what kind of consolation is that? Being good offensively and defensively is kind of a prerequisite for a side that has aspirations of success.
And do the differing natures of the defeats really make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things? All it really says is that this is a team coming up with different ways to lose.
The terrifying thing for the fans is that Tuchel looked lost, devoid of any explanations for the poor passing, "individual errors" and "horrible mistakes" now plaguing Bayern's performances, because if he can't figure out why his players are struggling to get the ball to Harry Kane and are so prone to lapses in concentration, what hope does he have of eradicating them before the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie on which the team's entire season now rests?
AdvertisementGetty'Convinced' of Champions League turnaround
Because of the Bochum debacle, Bayern are now eight points behind an unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen with 12 rounds remaining, meaning it is now more probable than possible that the Bavarians will fail to win the Bundesliga for the first time since 2012. Indeed, when asked by if he still believes that Bayern can finish first, Goretzka confessed, "Not right now. I'm being honest about that."
One wonders if the players are just as pessimistic about their chances of overturning their 1-0 deficit against Lazio. They shouldn't be, of course. On paper, they are the far superior side.
On the pitch, though, they actually appear more insecure, worryingly prone to crises of confidence, and are now acutely aware that their campaign will be effectively over if they fail to beat the Biancocelesti on March 5.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen claimed that he and his fellow directors are "convinced that after the 0-1 defeat in the first leg in Rome, we will advance to the quarter-finals in the second leg before a packed Allianz Arena with our fans fully behind us."
Getty ImagesThe Kimmich clash
The idea that Tuchel's imminent exit will somehow galvanise the squad in the same way Jurgen Klopp's troops have rallied around their departing general is ludicrous, though, given it's clear that some senior players have already lost faith in their manager, chief among them Joshua Kimmich.
The Germany international has felt undermined by Tuchel since the start of the season, when the coach publicly questioned Kimmich's credentials as a No.6 and was fully supportive of the botched attempt to sign Joao Palhinha from Fulham.
Kimmich was arguably Bayern's most important player under previous boss Nagelsmann, but has long been tipped to leave the Allianz Arena this summer because of his dissatisfaction with the coaching staff, which culminated in a heated row with Tuchel's assistant, Zsolt Low, after the Bochum defeat.
Wednesday's news may obviously change things but one wonders how much faith he has in a club in an apparent constant state of chaos over the past 18 months.
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Getty ImagesAlready more defeats than Nagelsmann
Kimmich will certainly feel that Bayern erred badly in replacing Nagelsmann with Tuchel.
Bayern may have won the title last May, but only because of a shocking final-day collapse by Borussia Dortmund, and Tuchel has already suffered more defeats (11) than his predecessor despite being in charge for 40 fewer games.
When one considers that the performances have often been just as poor as the results, which have left the Bavarians staring at the grim prospect of a first trophy-less season in 12 years, the case for keeping Tuchel at the helm for another four months is as weak as Bayern's resolve right now.
The problem, though, was finding someone to take over at this stage of the season. Zinedine Zidane was touted as a possible replacement, along with former coach Hansi Flick, but there were doubts over both.
Zidane certainly specialises in commanding the respect of dressing rooms full of egos, but the French legend has been out of the game for nearly three years now, and while Flick could have been a decent stop-gap solution, he's coming off an historically bad spell in charge of a Germany squad full of Bayern players.
Even just looking towards the long-term future, Xabi Alonso, the man making Bayern and Tuchel looked bad, is considered the dream appointment, but is believed to favour a return to Anfield rather than the Allianz Arena if he leaves Leverkusen this summer.