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| Sunday’s Euro 24 Final Promises To Be a Thrilling Encounter |
Two exceptionally talented teams are set to face off, promising some breathtaking moments of football. Highlights include Bellingham’s spectacular scissor kick against Slovakia and 16-year-old Lamine Yamal’s stunning top-corner shot against France.
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad features the current top scorer and Golden Boot leader, Dani Olmo. Spain will once again rely on Rodri in midfield, who is arguably the best in the world right now and a favorite for Player of the Tournament. This Spanish team has won every match so far and boasts incredible pace on the wings.
Full-back Luke Shaw is back from injury and might start. On the right, Kyle Walker will face a tough challenge against Nico Williams and Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, both of whom have had outstanding tournaments.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, along with 19-year-old Kaibie Mainoo and Declan Rice, will give England a strong chance. They will compete for midfield dominance against Spain’s Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Olmo, which could be the deciding factor. Controlling the midfield and feeding the forwards will be crucial. England striker Harry Kane has been sluggish but showed good form against Holland, while Spain’s captain Alvaro Morata has yet to hit his stride.
This match could go either way, but Spain are slight favorites. It promises to be a thrilling game—don’t miss it!
Mo Salah Returns to Liverpool
Mo Salah reported for pre-training duty at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre on Wednesday, undergoing routine testing after more than seven weeks away from the club.
On Thursday, Salah participated in new coach Arne Slot’s fitness routines, devised with performance coach Ruben Peeters. Players now start with a six-minute race test, replacing Jurgen Klopp’s famous lactate tests. Salah last played for the Reds on May 19th in a 2-0 win over Wolves.
Egypt wanted Salah for their Olympic squad, but Liverpool overruled this to ensure he is available for Arne Slot’s opening games of the new Premier League season. The Olympics run from July 24th to August 9th, but players typically get three weeks of rest afterward. Liverpool kicks off the new season at Ipswich Town on August 17th.
Villa Eyeing Golden Boy Joao Felix
2019 Golden Boy award winner Joao Felix transferred to Atletico Madrid for a staggering £113m, helping the club to a La Liga title and earning Player of the Season honors. However, his relationship with coach Diego Simeone deteriorated rapidly. Felix still has a five-year contract with Atletico, but both parties are eager to part ways, and he has been out on loan.
Felix has three options: returning to his boyhood club Benfica in Portugal, going back to Barcelona where he has already been on loan, or joining Aston Villa. Villa’s coach Unai Emery believes he can help Felix recapture his top form, having admired his talent in La Liga.
De Ligt in Ten Hag’s Plans
News from Old Trafford indicates that Matthijs de Ligt is in talks with Manchester United, with the 24-year-old interested in leaving Bayern Munich for a Premier League challenge. Coach Erik Ten Hag wants De Ligt to team up with Lisandro Martinez in a 4-3-3 formation, considering this partnership his strongest defense if the deal goes through. Ten Hag and De Ligt previously worked together at Ajax. However, 60,000 Bayern fans have signed a petition urging their club not to sell him.
Chelsea Interested in Dortmund Forward
Chelsea aims to strengthen their attack to support Nicolas Jackson and the wider players. Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi, who has scored five goals and made two assists in 35 appearances, fits Chelsea’s strategy of signing younger players on long contracts. Adeyemi played as a central striker at RB Leipzig but has been playing on the wing for Dortmund. Chelsea met with the player’s representatives last week to discuss a deal, reportedly around £30m. Napoli is selling Victor Osimhen this transfer period, potentially opening the door for them to sign Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku.
What’s Next for Grealish?
Pep Guardiola values Jack Grealish for his potential when in form. However, the upcoming season is crucial for Grealish, as he must prove himself once again. If he fails to perform, Manchester City may sell him. Despite reports, Arsenal was never interested in buying Grealish; those reports stemmed from an incorrect website article. Grealish garnered sympathy after being left out of England’s Euros squad, and even Aston Villa fans have forgiven him for leaving in 2021.
Villa fans would welcome him back. City acknowledges they won’t recoup the £100m paid for him as he turns 29 in September. With Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Julian Alvarez on international duty and Jeremy Doku on holiday, Grealish could start the new season on the left wing. He has been showcasing his dedication on social media and will complete a full pre-season program to be ready for City’s opening match against Chelsea on August 18th.
