Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 106 i Soccer 360 Magazine

NICKNAME: THE TARTAN ARMY S360 PREDICTION | 18TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 39TH EURO APPEARANCES: 3 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 9 W: 2 D: 2 L: 2 SPIRITED SCOTS After over two decades of hurt where they watched on enviously at neighbours England, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales enjoy tournament football, Scotland have rejoined the party and are now set to take part in back-to-back European Championships. Steve Clarke’s men will look to cause problems for Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary in an intriguing Group A. There is plenty of Premier League experience in the mix too with Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay a standout performer in qualifying with seven goals which included a brace against Spain, and one of Europe’s most consistently exceptional full-backs in Liverpool…

S360 PREDICTION | 5TH PLACE NICKNAME: LA ROJA EURO APPEARANCES: 11  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3 FIFA RANKING 8TH SPAIN TO REIGN AGAIN? Spain boast a perfect blend of both youth and experience as they look to return to the glory years, but have plenty to put right at Euro 2024 after some poor showings at major tournaments over the past decade. A run to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 is their only noteworthy contribution during that time despite the many star names, although a somewhat unexpected triumph in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League has restored hope of a renaissance. The old guard of Dani Carvajal and Aymeric Laporte will ensure La Roja’s defence will take an immense effort to be breached by the opposition while Rodri will pull the strings masterfully from…

NICKNAME: THE EAGLES S360 PREDICTION | 22ND PLACE FIFA RANKING 66TH EURO APPEARANCES: 1 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 3 W: 1 D: 0 L: 2 SEEKING A SURPRISE? After finishing above the likes of the Czech Republic and Poland in qualifying, confidence is high inside the Albania camp with former Brazil defender and current Eagles head coach Sylvinho quietly optimistic about his side’s chances of upsetting the three heavyweights that they have been drawn alongside in a daunting Group B. With a mix of experience and youth, Albania have a perfect platform from which to attack what is just their second major tournament. Their first was at Euro 2016 where they gave a very good account of themselves, and the progress the national team has made since then…

S360 PREDICTION | 13TH PLACE NICKNAME: EAGLES EURO APPEARANCES: 5  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 33RD ALL EYES ON ATTACK In theory, it is much easier to qualify for the European Championships than the World Cup - after all there are more spots available and, with the introduction of the UEFA Nations League, more possible routes to get there. However, since becoming an independent nation Serbia have flattered to deceive and after appearing at three of the last four World Cups, they have finally made it to the Euros for the first time. Each of those appearances on the global stage have been accompanied by optimism and several pundits singling them out as potential dark horses, but a failure to capitalise on their undoubted ability and grasp the big moments has seen…

NICKNAME: ORANJE S360 PREDICTION | 8TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 7TH EURO APPEARANCES: 10 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 39 W: 20 D: 8 L: 11 KOEMAN’S CHARGES Over the years the Netherlands have been their own worst enemies with internal fractions often derailing their progress. However, in 2024, the omens are good. After all, it was in Germany in 1988 when the Netherlands defeated the Soviet Union at the Olympiastadion to claim their only major trophy to date. On paper the Netherlands boast a squad full of undoubted talent. The likes of Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay in attack give head coach Ronald Koeman a nice mix of youth and experience if he is prepared to give them their freedom, whereas Frenkie de Jong will feel he has…

S360 PREDICTION | 3RD PLACE NICKNAME: RED DEVILS EURO APPEARANCES: 6 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 3RD STRIVING FOR SILVERWARE Over the past decade, so much has been expected of Belgium. A golden generation of talent; a conveyer belt of quality players coming through their youth ranks took them from also-rans that hadn’t so much as qualified for a major finals since the 2002 World Cup, to the no.1 ranked team in the world and one of the favourites every time a tournament came along. Alas, for one reason or another they have never quite lived up to those lofty expectations. Their star-studded squad developed a habit of looking formidable in the early rounds but would often struggle to maintain that form in the later stages, especially against the stronger teams.…

NICKNAME: THE BLUE AND YELLOW S360 PREDICTION | 20TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 22ND EURO APPEARANCES: 3 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 11 W: 3 D: 0 L: 8 FIGHTING TO THE END For very obvious reasons, it hasn’t been easy for the Ukraine national team since they made it to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. Unable to play any games at home and with the unimaginably challenging backdrop of the ongoing conflict, they have kept going impressively and having narrowly missed out on a place at the 2022 World Cup, they came out on the right side of a tight play-off clash this time to seal their spot in Germany. Group E promises to be incredibly tight as they come up against Belgium, Slovakia, and Romania, but head coach…

S360 PREDICTION | 4TH PLACE NICKNAME: LUSITANIANS EURO APPEARANCES: 8 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 FIFA RANKING 6TH BACK ON TRACK Few teams competing at Euro 2024 can match the quality and class that Portugal possess throughout their squad. There is style, creativity, and quality, not to mention a handy sprinkling of some of the world’s best players. If France and England are the two standout favourites at the tournament, on paper A Selecao can easily be considered the best of the rest, and should have every ambition of being the ones lifting the trophy aloft at the Olympiastadion on July 14. It is undoubtedly a stronger side than the one which scraped its way to success at Euro 2016, with Ruben Dias the defensive linchpin; the inventiveness of Bernardo Silva and Bruno…

PHIL FODEN - MANCHESTER CITY Pep Guardiola has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal but none of his players are as devastatingly effective as Phil Foden. With a killer touch and fearsome shooting power, he has become an integral part of the City machine, and he is still only 23. His contributions became even more standout as the season reached its conclusion, including his sensational opener against West Ham United to help clinch the title on the final day. ERLING HAALAND - MANCHESTER CITY Apparently it has been a poor season for the Norwegian striker. He has struggled with injuries and in front of goal throughout the campaign and has been the subject of previously unheard-of criticism. The fact that he has won the Golden Boot again and been…

NICLAS FÜLLKRUG - BORUSSIA DORTMUND Füllkrug finished as the joint top goalscorer during the 2022-23 Bundesliga season - despite netting just 16 goals - which earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund last summer. The experienced striker proved to be a real revelation for die Schwarzgelben in both the Bundesliga and especially in the Champions League. Indeed, it was his goals against Atletico Madrid and PSG which helped the team secure their first semi-final and final appearance in the Champions League for the first time in over a decade. ALEX GRIMALDO - BAYER LEVERKUSEN Signed on a free from Benfica in 2023, Alex Grimaldo was one of the key protagonists in Bayer Leverkusen’s amazing run this season. The Spanish international is now rated as among one of the best full-backs…

JUDE BELLINGHAM - REAL MADRID Simply outstanding. Bellingham tops the list in the most obvious race of the season with the England star adding goals and style to the Real Madrid midfield. Comparisons and connections are already being made to greats of the Real Madrid past including a strong shout for being a perfect Zinedine Zidane-Steven Gerrard hybrid. ARTEM DOVBYK - GIRONA Ukrainian striker Dovbyk has shown there is still space for a throwback to an old school attacker at the top level of Spanish football. He battled with Bellingham for the Golden Boot throughout the season and his aerial prowess and line leading gave Girona the perfect platform to work from. SAVIO - GIRONA Girona’s brilliant season grants them two players in this list with Savio joining Dovbyk after…

HAKAN CALHANOGLU - INTER Composed, dependable and a goal threat, the German-born Turkish international was Simone Inzaghi’s midfield inspiration. The architect in the middle delivered his best ever season in the black and blue of Inter and struck double figures as the San Siro club raced away from their rivals at the top of the table. LAUTARO MARTINEZ - INTER Captain, leader and Serie A top scorer in a glorious season to remember. The 26-year-old Argentinian striker claimed the Capocannoniere crown as the league’s top goalscorer as the Nerazzurri sped clear of their rivals to win their 20th league title. Deadly in front of goal and an inspirational presence throughout a dominant campaign for Inter. MARCUS THURAM - INTER An incredible value for money free transfer pickup from Borussia Monchengladbach…

At the outset and especially throughout a highly indifferent Bundesliga campaign, few would have given Borussia Dortmund much chance of reaching the final, but a succession of strong and spirited team performances have taken them all the way to Wembley on June 1. The road to the final saw them top an extremely tough group that featured Paris Saint-Germain, Milan, and Newcastle United. A 2-0 loss in Paris on matchday one and a goalless draw at home to Milan left Die Borussen with a mountain to climb, but three wins on the bounce set them up to qualify for the knockout rounds. PSV Eindhoven waited for the Germans in the Round of 16, with a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands and a 2-0 home win setting up a quarter-final clash…

WHAT HAVE THIS SEASON’S MANCHESTER DERBIES AGAINST UNITED BEEN LIKE? Massive days, massive crowd. The one at Old Trafford was amazing, crazy for sure. It’s important the fans feel they can push us to get the three points. It’s the same when we play at Joie Stadium. WOULD YOU LIKE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY AT THE MAIN ETIHAD STADIUM TOO? Yeah, of course. I enjoy and really like to play in big scenarios. Also, the Etihad Stadium feels like home and hopefully, why not, we can play more games there. It’s always special. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES WHEN YOU PLAY AT THE LARGER, 53,400-CAPACITY ETIHAD? Every time we play at home we have a big crowd at the Joie Stadium but it’s always a special occasion. Things like the dressing-rooms…

GROUP A FIXTURES MACTH DAY 1: ARGENTINA VS CANADA JUNE 20 8:00PM EST PERU VS CHILE JUNE 21 8:00PM EST GROUP A FIXTURES MACTH DAY 2: PERU VS CANADA JUNE 25 6:00PM EST CHILE VS ARGENTINA JUNE 25 9:00PM EST GROUP A FIXTURES MACTH DAY 3: ARGENTINA VS PERU JUNE 29 8:00PM EST CANADA VS CHILE JUNE 29 8:00PM EST ARGENTINA COPA AMERICA APPEARANCES: 44 COPA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 15 Argentina, a foundational force in the CONMEBOL Copa América since the inaugural 1916 tournament in Buenos Aires, returns as the defending champions and the world’s top-ranked team, eager to defend their crown. With a history rich in soccer legends like Diego Armando Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Mario Alberto Kempes, the team boasts a record-tying 15 titles, including the most recent victory in…

GROUP D FIXTURES MACTH DAY 1: COLOMBIA VS PARAGUAY JUNE 24 6:00PM EST BRAZIL VS COSTA RICA JUNE 24 9:00PM EST GROUP D FIXTURES MACTH DAY 2: COLOMBIA VS COTA RICA JUNE 28 6:00PM EST PARAGUAY VS BRAZIL JUNE 28 9:00PM EST GROUP D FIXTURES MACTH DAY 3: BRAZIL VS COLOMBIA JULY 2 9:00PM EST COSTA RICA VS PARAGUAY JULY 2 9:00PM EST BRAZIL COPA AMERICA APPEARANCES: 38 COPA CHAMPIONSHIPS:9 FIFA RANKING HISTORY CURRENT 5 (April 2024) HIGHEST 1 (159 Times) LOWEST 22 (June 2013) Brazil, a perennial powerhouse in South American soccer, faces challenges after falling short of expectations in recent tournaments. Since winning the 2019 Copa America, Brazil experienced setbacks, including a defeat to Argentina in the 2021 final and an early exit in the 2022 World Cup…

There will be no summer breaks this year in Paris. With the 2024 Olympic Games set to take place in July and August there will certainly be plenty for fans of all sports to get excited about, including football. Although the game has been an Olympic sport for years, it has steadily become one of the more popular sports at the Games. In both the men’s and women’s competitions there is plenty at stake aside from the medals. On the men’s side although it is an under-23 tournament the event is usually used by football associations as a barometer for how ready their younger players are for the big stage. Players such as Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Buffon, Sergio Aguero, and Neymar have all played in the competition and used it…

GO PRO GILLET Jarred Gillet wore a head-mounted camera, dubbed ‘RefCam’, for the game between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The headset recorded the match as it unfolded but it was not broadcast live. Instead, the footage was used for a one-off edition of the show Match Officials Mic’d Up. The show, which is broadcast on Sky Sports, delves into contentious refereeing decisions, with PGMOL chief Howard Webb making an appearance earlier this year. JUST FOR KICKS VfB Stuttgart’s brand ambassador, Cacau, crossed the pond for a historic NFL Draft moment. From Stuttgart’s MHP Arena, he announced the Atlanta Falcons’ pick of linebacker JD Bertrand at 143rd overall, bridging the gap between American football and international soccer in a unique sports collaboration. FORGET FERARRI Skoda has delivered…

Kai Havertz (June 11) Arsenal / Germany A technically gifted attacking midfielder, Kai Havertz is comfortable using both feet and poses a threat in the air. Early in his career, his playing style drew comparisons to compatriot Mesut Özil, a player Havertz himself admired. However, at Arsenal, Havertz has found success in a more advanced role, flourishing as a striker. He scored the Champions League-winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final. Mohamed Salah (June 15) Liverpool / Egypt A quick and mobile attacker with a tireless work ethic, Mohamed Salah is a player blessed with exceptional technique and a keen eye for goal. He’s also a clinical finisher with superb agility, dribbling skills, first touch, and close control. His achievements speak for themselves: two PFA Player of the Year…

S360 PREDICTION | 19TH PLACE NICKNAME: MAGYARS EURO APPEARANCES: 4 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 26TH MAGYARS MAKING WAVES Hungary possess a side packed full of reliable if not spectacular players, but together they make a strong and extremely well drilled side. As we have seen in the European Championships before in the notable cases of Denmark in 1992 and in particular, Greece in 2004, that can sometimes be a winning recipe, so if they can be spot on tactically there is no reason why they can’t have a special tournament. That isn’t to say that the squad is lacking in star quality. A strong spine of Peter Gulacsi in goal, RB Leipzig teammate Willi Orban in defence, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield and the dynamic Roland Sallai up front - together…

NICKNAME: KOCKASTI S360 PREDICTION | 9TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 10TH EURO APPEARANCES: 6  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 22 W: 9 D: 6 L: 7 CROATIA TO CONQUER? In the time since Croatia made its competitive international footballing bow back in 1993, no team has exceeded expectations more consistently on the world stage. Their breakthrough came with sensational run to third place at the 1998 World Cup powered by Davor Suker, and more recently a golden generation has taken them to the 2018 World Cup final and another third place four years later. The only thing missing is a serious run at the European Championships, but for Luka Modric, the crown jewel of Croatia’s number for so long, that will be the aim for what is surely his…

S360 PREDICTION | 21ST PLACE NICKNAME: N/A EURO APPEARANCES: 1 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 57TH OUT TO IMPRESS It has been a long time in the wilderness for Slovenia, whose last outing at a major finals saw Landon Donovan’s last-minute goal against Algeria cruelly deny them a place in the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup and sent the United States through at their expense. In the 14 years since, they have been solid in a number of qualifying campaigns only to fall short against the higher seeds, but that all changed on the way to Euro 2024. In an extremely competitive group, Slovenia were barely out of the top two, winning seven of their 10 games to finish level on points with Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark. They hit…

NICKNAME: THREE LIONS S360 PREDICTION | 6TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 4TH EURO APPEARANCES: 10 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 38 W: 15 D: 13 L: 10 TIME TO DELIVER The time for excuses, near misses, and hard luck stories is over. If England are to regard Euro 2024 as a success, they simply must be the ones who are lifting the trophy at the Olympiastadion on July 14. After decades of falling short at major tournaments, a squad possessing a plethora of world class talent in midfield and attack couldn’t be more ideally placed to fulfil their limitless potential and go all the way. This England side has evolved since the agonising penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020. Jude Bellingham has gone from…

S360 PREDICTION | 14TH PLACE NICKNAME: DAS TEAM EURO APPEARANCES: 3  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 25TH FIERCELY COMPETITIVE Austria is among the nations to have benefitted the most from the decision of UEFA to expand the European Championships from 16 to 24 teams ahead of Euro 2016. Before then they had never qualified, with their only prior finals appearance coming in 2008 as co-hosts, but they are now entering their third edition in a row and are quietly confident of making their biggest splash to date. Under the guidance of experienced and influential tactician Ralf Rangnick, they qualified well with their only dropped points coming against group winners Belgium, playing with an energy that makes them both entertaining to watch and difficult to beat. Real Madrid’s David Alaba is the big…

NICKNAME: THE FALCONS S360 PREDICTION | 17TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 48TH EURO APPEARANCES: 2  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 7 W: 2 D: 1 L: 4 BACK ON TRACK It may not have garnered any global headlines, but Slovakia’s resurgence in 2023 under coach Francesco Calzona was highly impressive. The Italian took charge after a terrible showing in the Nations League which saw them finish behind the likes of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and masterminded a turnaround that took them all the way to Euro 2024 with seven wins out of 10 qualifiers. The Falcons therefore arrive in Germany believing that they can exceed expectations and make a foray into the last 16 or at the very least, continue their record of winning a match at every major tournament they…

S360 PREDICTION | 16TH PLACE NICKNAME: THE CRESCENT STARS EURO APPEARANCES: 5 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 40TH TOUGH AND TENACIOUS Since the turn of the millennium, there has been no middle ground for Turkey when they have made it to major tournaments, as they have either performed spectacularly well or very badly. This year they will hope to banish the demons of the past two European Championships and rekindle some of the spirit and inspiration that carried them to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2008 against all the odds. The reality is likely to be something in between. Reaching the last 16 will be seen as the minimum aim and it would be a major disappointment should they fail to achieve that, especially when their opening game…

NICKNAME: N/A S360 PREDICTION | 15TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 36TH EURO APPEARANCES: 10  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 37 W: 15 D: 7 L: 15 A STEADY RESURGENCE Former winners as Czechoslovakia, today’s Czech Republic side features a confident attacking flair that will leave defenders quaking in their boots. That is evident in the form of Bayer Leverkusen superstar Patrik Schick who has bagged nearly a goal every other game for the national side. In fact, Leverkusen players begin and end the team with Matej Kovar likely to be the man between the sticks. West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek will provide the experience in the squad as he approaches 70 senior caps and the central midfielder is also not shy in front of goal having netted over double figures…

The race for the Premier League title was exhilarating to follow in 2023-24. However, the battle against relegation was equally captivating, with only Sheffield United doomed well before the end of the campaign. But there has been one factor that blighted the story of the battle against the drop. Both Everton and Nottingham Forest would probably have been scrambling at the wrong end of the table this season anyway, but both felt wronged after being deducted points after being found guilty of breaking the league’s profitability and sustainability rules. The Toffees were initially docked 10 points, gained four points back on appeal before losing a further two points following a separate charge. Meanwhile, Forest lost four points to plunge them deeper into the relegation mire and saw an appeal against…

The second-year blues. Or, as those familiar with the American schooling system call it, “the sophomore slump”. Whatever one prefers to name it, it has been a common occurrence in sports, and football is no exception with Union Berlin becoming one of the latest outfits to experience this to some extent. In 2019, die Eisernen secured promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in team history and quickly began making waves in the top-flight. Two years later, they qualified for the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing seventh, and improved on that the following season by securing fifth, which was enough to earn a ticket to the Europa League. Their rise did not stop there, as in 2023, die Eisernen qualified for fourth spot, which guaranteed them a…

Real Madrid have developed an infamously poor recent record in the Copa del Rey, with just one win in a decade, as Los Blancos continue to struggle to knit it into their La Liga and Champions League successes. That has ensured the trophy has remained on the table for any side willing to invest in it with the required respect to navigate tricky knockout games as La Liga starts to intensify. No one could accuse Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao team of easing into the final, as they certainly did things the hard way, disposing of Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals and then Barcelona in the last four. They then stood firm and got their reward with a tight penalty shootout final win over Mallorca as they held their nerve as…

LEICESTER CITY, 2016-17 The outsiders from the East Midlands stunned world football when they claimed a first ever English Premier League title in the 2015-16 season. Yet it proved to be a one-off success as the Foxes slumped to 12th place in the following campaign. Title winning coach Claudio Ranieri was relieved of his duties in February 2017 as Leicester plummeted down the table. CHELSEA, 2015-16 The Blues almost fell into the relegation zone in a disastrous 2015-16 campaign which cost Jose Mourinho his job. The Special One returned from Real Madrid to lead the Stamford Bridge club to the Premier League in the summer of 2015 before everything went wrong amid a ‘palpable discord’ between players and manager. Mourinho was eventually sacked in December 2015 and replacement Guus Hiddink…

The last time European football’s most prestigious game was held in Wembley was an all-German affair between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in 2013. It was the first time in history that two Bundesliga sides had met in the final and was touted as being the most important of all Der Klassikers played between the two old rivals. Bayern’s path to the final saw them take on Valencia, Lille, and BATE Borisov in the group stage before squeaking past Arsenal on away goals in the Round of 16. The Bavarians then easily dispatched Juventus in the quarters before completely dismantling Barcelona in the semi-final. Dortmund, on the other hand, had much tougher opponents in the group stage, topping a group that contained Real Madrid, Ajax, and Manchester City. In the…

KORBIN ALBERT PARIS ST. GERMAIN/UNITED STATES) In her first full season with PSG, the 20-year-old midfielder has more than held her own in Division 1 Feminine and in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The Notre Dame and Eclipse Soccer alum used her speed and tight ball control to help build possession through the midfield for PSG, who made it to the semifinals of the Champions League and will finish second in France. LEON BAILEY (ASTON VILLA/JAMAICA) The Reggae Boy has been on the outs recently with the Jamaican Football Federation, sitting out the recent CONCACAF Nations League semifinals. But he has been on fire for Villa scoring 14 goals in all competitions and helping the team earn a UEFA Europa Conference League semifinal appearance. JOHNNY CARDOSO (REAL BETIS/UNITED STATES) Since…

GROUP B FIXTURES MACTH DAY 1: ECUADOR VS VENEZUELA JUNE 22 6:00PM EST MEXICO VS JAMAICA JUNE 22 9:00PM EST GROUP B FIXTURES MACTH DAY 2: ECUADOR VS JAMAICA JUNE 26 6:00PM EST VENEZUELA VS MEXICO JUNE 26 9:00PM EST GROUP B FIXTURES MACTH DAY 3: MEXICO VS ECUADOR JUNE 30 8:00PM EST JAMAICA VS VENEZUELA JUNE 30 8:00PM EST MEXICO COPA AMERICA APPEARANCES: 11 COPA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING HISTORY CURRENT 14 (April 2024) HIGHEST 4 (June 2006) LOWEST 40 (July 2015) Mexico is poised for a turnaround after their disappointing exit in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup—the first such early exit since 1978. Under the guidance of new manager Jaime Lozano, Mexico looks to reignite its attack with talents like Santiago Gimenez, Hirving Lozano, and Henry…

FRANCE BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: Gold Medal (1984) QUALIFIED: Host Nation KEY PLAYERS: DEF Castello Lukeba (Red Bull Leipzig) and FWD Bradley Barcola (Paris St. Germain) GUINEA BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: First Appearance QUALIFIED: Defeated Indonesia in an international playoff KEY PLAYERS: MID Ilaix Moriba (Getafe) and MID Ousmane Cannecy (Annecy) Barcola (Paris St. Germain) NEW ZEALAND BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: Quarterfinals (2020) QUALIFIED: First Place, OCEANIA Tournament KEY PLAYERS: FWD Riley Bidois (Loudoun United) and GK Alex Paulsen (Wellington Phoenix) Barcola (Paris St. Germain) UNITED STATES BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: Fourth Place (2000) QUALIFIED: First Place, 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship KEY PLAYERS: FWD Kevin Paredes (VFL Wolfsburg) and GK Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew) GROUP A FIXTURES GROUP A FIXTURES MACTH DAY 1: GUINEA VS NEW ZEALAND JULY 24 FRANCE VS USA JULY 24…

“It’s normal that I would go with Portugal. I had the chance to go twice, but they didn’t come at the right time for me. I got emotional when I didn’t accept the last offer, because I decided to stay at Roma and I think I made a mistake. Because now Portugal has a fantastic team, one of the best, in the top five.” – Jose Mourinho has revealed that he “made a mistake” snubbing the Portuguese national team to stay at Roma. “I don’t know about the grass because last season it was so, so high and dry. It’s like playing tennis at Wimbledon or Roland Garros - completely different, just ask a tennis player about the speed of the ball. It’s the same in football.” – Manchester City…

S360 PREDICTION | 2ND PLACE NICKNAME: DIE MANNSCHAFT EURO APPEARANCES: 13 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3 FIFA RANKING 16TH BIDDING FOR REDEMPTION Such is their formidable status and pedigree in world football, Germany are always marked out as one of the favourites when they enter a major tournament. The team’s reputation for being serial winners with ice running through their veins on the biggest footballing occasions has spanned several generations, but that has taken a hit in recent years and so the current side enters Euro 2024 determined to reverse a decade of disappointments, with the significant added pressure of being the hosts. It seems a long time since Germany lifted the World Cup in 2014. Since making it to the last four of the Euros two years later, they have managed just…

NICKNAME: RED CROSSES S360 PREDICTION | 12TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 19TH EURO APPEARANCES: 5 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 18 W: 3 D: 8 L: 7 SPIRITED SCOTS Switzerland are one of only two European sides - the other being France - to qualify for the knockout rounds of each of the past five major tournaments, but despite boasting this impressive record they have rarely looked capable of taking the next step and becoming potential dark horses. It feels like a similar story surrounds them heading into Euro 2024, with Murat Yakin’s team more than likely to advance from the group stage but not fancied to go much further. The realistic objective will be to emulate their achievements at Euro 2020, where they came back to defeat France…

S360 PREDICTION | 7TH PLACE NICKNAME: GLI AZZURRI EURO APPEARANCES: 10  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 FIFA RANKING 9TH THE SECOND COMING Drama is never far away for Italy as months after winning Euro 2020, they failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - remarkably missing out on the global showpiece for the second time in a row. Out went stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci along with head coach Roberto Mancini and in came veteran manager Luciano Spalletti to guide the team for the foreseeable future, looking to take with him some of the magic he bestowed upon 2022-23 Serie A winners Napoli. A difficult qualifying campaign saw the Azzurri scrape through to Euro 2024 on goal difference ahead of Ukraine, but Spalletti will be more buoyant as the…

NICKNAME: RED AND WHITES S360 PREDICTION | 10TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 21ST EURO APPEARANCES: 9  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 33 W: 10 D: 6 L: 17 DYNAMIC DANES It is hard to know what to expect from Denmark as they arrive in Germany after contrasting results at the past two major finals. At Euro 2020 they defied the odds to overcome main man Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest in the opening match by reaching the semi-finals with a series of eye-catching performances, before an outstanding qualifying campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup had them widely regarded as dark horses in Qatar, only to fall completely flat and finish bottom of their group with just a single point. This time they going in under the radar, which might…

S360 PREDICTION | 11TH PLACE NICKNAME: THE EAGLES EURO APPEARANCES: 4 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 28TH PRAGMATIC POLES Poland may consider themselves fortunate to be at Euro 2024 after struggling throughout qualifying and earning a second chance via the UEFA Nations League which they duly took by edging out Wales in a penalty shootout. Now that they have made it to Germany, Michel Probierz’s side will want to ensure that they are not merely making up the numbers. Placed in an enormously difficult Group D alongside favourites France, the Netherlands, and Austria, they are immediately on the backfoot and if they were to progress into the last 16 it would be one of the shocks of the tournament. However, if experience counts for anything, then the Eagles have bundles in their…

NICKNAME: LES BLEUS S360 PREDICTION | 1ST PLACE FIFA RANKING 2ND EURO APPEARANCES: 10 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 43 W: 21 D: 12 L: 10 THE TEAM TO BEAT When you cast a look over the 24 teams competing at Euro 2024, only England with their marvellous array of attacking talent can legitimately challenge France’s claim to be the favourites to win the tournament. There are, of course, other teams who are capable of going the distance, but none can match Les Bleus’ strength in depth across all areas of the field or indeed their track record at major finals over recent years. So far the only thing missing is a European Championship title to go with the World Cup trophy they won in 2018 and so…

S360 PREDICTION | 23RD PLACE NICKNAME: THE TRICOLOURS EURO APPEARANCES: 5 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 FIFA RANKING 46TH ROCK-SOLID ROMANIA Group E appears to be one of the most wide open in this year’s European Championships with Romania up against Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine. After failing to qualify for Euro 2020, Romania come into the tournament as something of an unknown and lacking household names. However, that is not to say the squad has a dearth of quality embedded in it. Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin has impressed in the Premier League this season and will play a crucial role in defence for the Tricolours. They also boast Ianis Hagi; the son of legendary joint Romania top scorer Gheorghe Hagi, who was on loan at Alaves from Scottish club Rangers during 2023-24. Since taking charge…

NICKNAME: CRUSADERS S360 PREDICTION | 24TH PLACE FIFA RANKING 75TH EURO APPEARANCES: 0  EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD: 0 W: 0 D: 0 L: 0 GEORGIA ARE GO When Georgia won a penalty shootout against former European champions Greece following a tense play-off to book their spot in Germany, the scenes of celebration were absolutely wild. Former Bayern Munich defender and current Georgia head coach Willy Sagnol had seen his side achieve something unprecedented in the nation’s relatively short footballing history, as 31 years of falling short in trying to qualify for a major tournament came to a jubilant end. Now the even harder task of trying to break out of Group F gets underway as they face Portugal, Czech Republic, and Turkey - three teams with infinitely…

FACTS Burnley, Everton, Luton and Sheffield United all lost their opening three Premier League games this season, the first time in English top-flight history as many as four different clubs have done so. None of the first 46 Premier League games this season ended 0-0. It’s the joint-longest run without a goalless draw from the start of a PL campaign (level with 2020-21).  The English Premier League thinks of itself as the biggest and the best in the world. With the money available to all 20 clubs, it is certainly able to attract a lot of the top talent from across the globe. But there has been a very familiar story in the last few years as far as the title race goes. Typically, Manchester City will have some competition…

FACTS Bayer 04 Leverkusen kept their 16th clean sheet in the Bundesliga this season, equalling their club record from 2014-15. Hoffenheim scored five goals in the first half during their 6-0 win against Darmstadt. hey never scored more than five in any half in the top-flight before. VfB Stuttgart have enjoyed 77% possession in the 1-0 win over FC Augsburg, setting a new club record in a Bundesliga match since detailed data collection began in 2004-05. A full 12 years. That is how long it has been since Bayern Munich have gone a season without winning a single trophy. For well over a decade, die Roten have turned the Bundesliga into a mostly one-horse race, which has naturally split opinion. For their fans, of course, it meant that at the very…

FACTS Jesus Navas as announced his farewell from Sevilla with 688 apperances with the club in all competitions, 273 more than any other player. Girona is the 14th LaLiga team to qualify for the European Cup/Champions League and the second Catalan side to achieve that after Barcelona. Ilkay Gündogan has been involved in 193 open-play shot-ending sequences in LaLiga 2023/24, more than any other player in the competition this season. The 2023-24 La Liga season has seen positive headlines mixed with plenty of negatives as Real Madrid finally wrestled the Spanish title away from arch rivals Barcelona and surprise packages Girona. It was close for a long time, but with the experience of Carlo Ancelotti at the helm and an increasingly ruthless side that gathered truly unflinching momentum as the…

FACTS Juventus have drawn four matches in a row in the 23/24 season. The Bianconeri played out four consecutive stalemates for the first time in the league since the 2012/13 season. Only Real Madrid (nine) have conceded less goals than Bologna (10) in the second half in the current Big-5 European leagues. Torino have not conceded a goal in the first half in 30 of the first 35 matches played in the 23/24 SerieA season The race to the Serie A title developed into a procession as Inter galloped out of sight to claim a historic 20th Scudetto. All the Nerazzurri’s challengers faltered as Simone Inzaghi’s side charged on virtually unopposed to win the league at a canter. Nobody could keep up with the searing pace set by a multifaceted…

“JOSELU SCORED TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GOALS OF HIS CAREER TO TAKE REAL MADRID TO THE FINAL” CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWCASTLE PUMMEL PSG Fabian Schaar’s screamer rounded off a memorable 4-1 victory for Newcastle United over Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage. The Geordie fans certainly enjoyed their first Champions League night at St James’ Park in almost 20 years and created a party atmosphere, but unfortunately, that would be the highlight of their campaign as they ultimately went out at the first hurdle. SEVILLA STUNNED PSV Eindhoven launched an amazing comeback to beat Sevilla 3-2 in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Former Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos opened the scoring for the Andalusians before Youssef En-Nesyri put them two up. The Dutch side began their turnaround on 68 minutes after…

The UEFA Women’s Champions League once again proved this year that the best tournaments in world football have a little bit of everything. Showcasing close matches, high-level performances, and plenty of upsets this year’s competition once again delivered a competition that will be remembered for years to come. Leading up to the final between Barcelona and Lyon Here are 5 notable moments from this year’s UEFA Women’s Champions League: ALIDOU BREAKS OUT- Canadian supporters certainly now know the name of Marie Yasmine Alidou. The Benfica midfielder had a breakout season in Champions League play this season, scoring five goals in Group Stage play to lift the Portuguese club into the knockout round. Her game-winning goal against Eintracht Frankfurt (1-0) and brace against FC Barcelona (2-2) proved that she is ready…

This isn’t the first time that South America’s top international tournament left the friendly confines of the continent. In 2016, to celebrate the 100th year of the competition the event was held in the United States with Chile narrowly defeating Argentina 4-2 in penalties to claim top honors. While there are some similarities to that year’s competition, much has changed in eight years. Whereas the previous edition was more or less a standalone tournament, this year’s Copa America will be in the United States for one specific reason: to prepare teams for the World Cup. With Canada, Mexico, and the United States hosting in 2026 and with teams having less time to play friendlies against non-continental opponents, this year’s Copa America may be the best chance for players and teams…

GROUP C FIXTURES MACTH DAY 1: USA VS BOLIVIA JUNE 23 6:00PM EST URUGUAY VS PANAMA JUNE 23 9:00PM EST GROUP C FIXTURES MACTH DAY 2: PANAMA VS USA JUNE 27 6:00PM EST URUGUAY VS BOLIVIA JUNE 27 9:00PM EST GROUP C FIXTURES MACTH DAY 3: BOLIVIA VS PANAMA JULY 1 9:00PM EST USA VS URUGUAY JULY 1 9:00PM EST UNITED STATES COPA AMERICA APPEARANCES: 5 COPA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0 As host nation of the Copa América and with the 2026 Men’s World Cup on the horizon, the USMNT sees the tournament as a pivotal opportunity. Led by stars like Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah, the team boasts depth with recent returns of Tyler Adams and Josh Sargent. In 2016, they hosted the Copa América Centenario, finishing fourth. Their Copa América…

When the Portland Timbers knocked off the Columbus Crew 2-1 to win their first and only MLS Cup in 2015, they did so in hostile territory. Not intimidated in the least by the raucous Mapfre Stadium crowd in Columbus, the Timbers opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the contest after Diego Valeri found the back of the net. Just a few minutes later, the Timbers took a commanding 2-0 lead when Rodney Wallace beat Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark in the seventh minute. Columbus did ultimately score one goal, but it wasn’t enough as the Timbers lifted the Philip F. Anschutz trophy despite having been in the league for just five seasons. They proved to less successful franchises that clubs didn’t need a long time to build a winning team,…

Before John Herdman had even agreed to take over as head coach of Toronto FC, he knew he was inheriting a squad that underachieved more than any other in MLS history. TFC had the highest payroll in all of MLS in 2023, with a squad salary of over $25 million. However, they still managed to finish dead last with just 22 points. The crucial factor is how Herdman has been able to get his Italian superstars Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi to buy in, which has completely transformed the team. “From the first day that we met the coach, I was always impressed with him,” Insigne said of Herdman in March. “He has great ideas defensively and offensively. The whole team works very well under him. Federico and I have…

CANADA BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: Gold Medal (2020) QUALIFIED: CONCACAF playoff victory over Jamaica KEY PLAYERS: DEF Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea) and MID Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns) COLOMBIA BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: Group Stage (2012 and 2016) QUALIFIED: Second Place, 2022 Copa America KEY PLAYERS: FWD Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid) and MID Daniela Montoya (Atletico Nacional) FRANCE BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: Fourth Place (2012) QUALIFIED: Host KEY PLAYERS: DEF Wendi Renard (PSG) and FWD Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon) NEW ZEALAND BEST PREVIOUS FINISH: Fourth Place (2012) QUALIFIED: First Place, 2024 OCEANIA Olympic Qualifying Tournament KEY PLAYERS: DEF Ali Riley (Angel City FC) and DEF Claudia Bunge (HB Koge) GROUP A FIXTURES GROUP A FIXTURES MACTH DAY 1: CANADA VS NEW ZEALAND JULY 25 FRANCE VS COLOMBIA JULY 25 GROUP A FIXTURES MACTH DAY 2: NEW ZEALAND VS COLOMBIA…