Summer Transfer Series, 2024: Atletico de Madrid

Atleti’s Fab Four

MADRID — In this latest installment of LSB’s Summer Transfer Series, we’ll review Atletico de Madrid’s blockbuster transfer window and how Diego Simeone’s four newest squad members will have Atletico rivaling Los Blancos for the La Liga crown this upcoming campaign.  

When the summer transfer window opened on July 1st, everyone already knew that Real Madrid had agreed to terms to sign Kylian Mbappe. As such, it seemed as though the rich were once again getting richer and that the rest of La Liga, rivals Barcelona and Atletico included, would be left in the dust for the foreseeable future. After all, Los Blancos is already coming off of a League / European Cup Double. A double in which, domestically, Real didn’t just win La Liga, the Madridistas won it by convincing 10 and 19 point margins ahead of Barça and Atleti, respectively. In addition, Real dispatched Manchester City for the second time in three years, as well as beating German giants Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig in the knockout phase of the Champions League. 

So, when THAT team then goes out and acquires one of the world’s top talents in Mbappe, then assuredly all chances of a Spanish side other than Real Madrid wining La Liga is all but mute. But, as the great Lee Corso would say whilst pointing his pencil at the television monitor, “Not so fast my friend”. Real may in fact be a heavy favorite to win the Spanish top flight this year, but don’t underestimate the All Whites’ crosstown rivals, Atletico.

Without any fanfare, Simeone and his staff have put together the best collection of incoming talent of any team across Europe this off-season. The four standouts are: Robin Le Normand, Conor Gallagher, Alexander Sorløth, and Julian Alvarez. Below are brief bios on each player and collectively the subsequent reason why these men will get Atletico back into legitimate contention for winning La Liga. 

Robin Le Normand (CB)

French born and bread, Le Normand became naturalized as a Spanish citizen in May of 2023 after residing in the Iberian-based country for the past seven years. Just over a year on from naturalization, the former Real Sociadad central defender won the European Championship with Spain. Like most players that don’t feature for Spain’s top three clubs, Le Normand was overlooked by many across Europe despite his world class quality. 

Whilst playing for Sociedad, Le Normand helped guide La Real to a Copa del Rey title in 2020, the club’s first major title since 1987.  Then, in 2021 Le Normand became the first defender since Diego Godin (Atletico, 2014) to win La Liga Player of the Month. And now, he features as a starting member of Spain’s national team, and just completed this €34.5 million move to Atletico — €15.5 mil less, by the way, than Manchester United just paid for the out-of-form Matthijs de Ligt.

Alexander Sorløth (CF / ST)

Los Colchoneros’ second signing of note is Norway’s big bodied striker, no not Erling Haaland, rather it’s the lesser known Alexander Sorløth. According to ESPN, Atleti has recently purchased the Norwegian international from Villarreal for roughly €32 million. 

Similar to Le Normand, Sorløth debuted in La Liga for Real Sociedad. However, the Norwegian hit his stride this past year whilst playing for Villarreal. As the imposing figure upfront for the Yellow Submarines, Sorløth dominated opposing back lines en route to scoring 23 goals and providing six assists during the 2023-24 league season. Thus, Sorløth finished one goal shy of Artem Dovbyk for earning La Liga’s Pichichi Trophy. However, Sorløth’s stout striking tally did best that of several world class attackers, such as Robert Lewandowski (19), Antoine Griezmann (16), Vini Jr. (15), as well as former Atletico striker Alvaro Morata (15). 

Morata is rather noteworthy, since Sorløth is the man tabbed to replace him at the Wanda. Whilst Morata is a talented and tough center forward, Sorløth’s arrival is undoubtedly an upgrade, as indicative of the aforementioned statistics. The Norwegian will provide more consistency than his predecessor in front of goal, something that Atleti desperately crave.

Julian Alvarez (SS / CF / ST)

Diego Simeone’s third signing, Julian Alvarez, comes with a hefty price tag worth up to €95 million, but the 24 year old Argentine will likely be the best addition of the bunch. Despite his tender age, Alvarez already possesses a well-decorated CV. Prior to moving abroad in 2022, Alvarez was an integral part of South American giant River Plate, where he won the domestic league, all three domestic cups, as well as the Copa Libertadores and Recopa Sudamericana. In addition, en route to claiming the 2021 South American Player of the Year Award, Alvarez dazzled to the tune of netting six times in a single match against Alianza Lima in the Copa Libertadores. Simply incredible! 

Since that time, Alvarez has plied his trade for Manchester City, where he’s won everything there is to win in England, as well as the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. 

Meanwhile, from an international perspective, Alvarez has won two Copas America, a FIFA World Cup, and a CONMBEL-UEFA Cup of Champions, whilst suiting up for La Abliceleste. 

Needless to say, Alvarez comes to the Wanda with sky high expectations and with a chance to get regular playing time alongside Sorløth, unlike at Man City where the Argentine was seemingly stuck in Haaland’s shadow.

Conor Gallagher (CM)

The final signing for Atletico de Madrid, is Conor Gallagher. As of now, Gallagher hasn’t officially signed, but is still expected to, thanks to a breakdown pertaining to a contingent deal with a current Atletico player needing to head the other way to Chelsea. Assuming that things get ironed out and this deal indeed gets completed, Los Colchoneros will be getting a talented midfielder, who at the age of 24, is already a bonafide leader, as indicative of his captaincy for Chelsea last term. 

Gallagher is a Chelsea graduate, and a member of the organization since 2008. At senior level, the 18 capped England international rose to prominence on loan at Crystal Palace during the 2021-22 campaign. At 6’ tall, he’s an imposing figure in the middle of the park, aiming to disrupt play for the opposition, whilst controlling it for his teammates.

The thought of Atletico featuring midfield options of Gallagher, Antonie Griezmann, Rodrigo De Paul, Marcos Llorente, Lemar, Koke, and Rodrigo Riquelme is downright frightening. 

Prediction: Atletico to Rival Real, Like 2013-14

For Atleti, last season’s statistical performances — allowing 43 goals, tied for most in a single season for ATM since the 2013-14 season — was an aberration. The foundation of Simeone’s squad is defense, and with the signing of Le Normand and potentially Gallagher, Atleti’s defensive totals should progress back to the teams’ means of allowing just 29 goals per campaign. This alone would increase Atletico’s overall points total, but we’ve yet to talk about the attacking end of things. 

Offensively, Atletico did in fact have one of its best season’s statistically over the past 11 seasons — netting 70 goals. However, this total should be the floor for this current squad, rather than its ceiling. With the additions of goal scoring connoisseurs Sorløth and Alvarez, Simeone’s side should net at an even higher clip than it did a year ago. 

Conversely, whilst Florentino Perez brought in the most coveted player in recent memory, Mbappe, Real not only lost legendary midfielder Toni Kroos through retirement, but also failed to bolster an aging back line, one in which is now without club stalwart Nacho Fernandez, who moved to the Saudi Pro League after hoisting the European Championship Trophy for Spain. 

Therefore, unlike most pundits, I’m not excepting a runaway campaign for Real Madrid. Rather, La Liga will be as tight as it’s been since Los Colchoneros pipped Madrid and Barcelona by just three points to win the league in 2013-14. 

Summer Transfer Series, 2024: Real Madrid

By: Chris Lewnau

TAA To Madrid

MADRID — A day after Kylian Mbappe was presented as Real Madrid’s newest Galactico, news broke Wednesday morning that Real has set its sights on another star signing this summer. According to Bild journalist Christian Falk, Madrid President Florentino Perez and and his staff have been in contact with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold over a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

TAA's current contract at Liverpool expires after this upcoming 2024-25 season, and with Jurgen Klopp having recently retired from managing LFC, it could be the perfect time for TAA to call time in Merseyside as well.

In addition, it’s worth noting that despite Arne Slot — Liverpool’s new manager — having been at the helm for roughly two months, he clearly hasn’t made re-signing TAA a priority, which speaks volumes.

One reason for this could be that Slot favors youngster Connor Bradley, moving forward. Bradley (21) burst onto the scene during the 2023-24 campaign, whilst filling the void for the injured TAA. Bradley is sounder defensively than TAA, and although Bradley doesn’t have the wondrous right leg that TAA possesses, the U-23 Liverpudlian still offers quite a bit moving forward down the right flank.

As for Madrid, if you take a minute to think about it, the timing is right for Real to reinforce the right back position. Yes, Dani Carvajal is still more than capable, as indicative of his superb performance at Euro 2024. However, the former RM Castilla graduate is getting a little long in the tooth, so to speak. Carvajal will turn 33 in January, which is midway through this upcoming campaign. Thus, a move for TAA — he turns 26 in October — will ensure the right flank is under elite care for the present and future.

Also, financially speaking, the timing of this move would benefit both clubs. As aforementioned, with just one year left on TAA’s deal, Real Madrid would be able to purchase the England international on the relative cheap. Meanwhile, Liverpool will still earn a tidy sum — which would boost the funding for Slot’s redesigned squad — for the sale of the club’s finest academy graduate seen in decades.

Now as for TAA, from a sporting and financial perspective, a move to Real Madrid would be a dream come true for any player, unless one prefers El Clasico rival Barcelona. The King’s club is regarded as football’s pinnacle team, as indicative of Madrid’s record 15 Champions League and 36 La Liga titles. In addition, between wages and likely increased off-field opportunities that come with playing for Real, the Englishman would most assuredly deepen his monetary pockets. Lastly, Trent would be able to play with his Three Lions teammate Jude Bellingham, as well as other Galacticos such as Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Aurilien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and so on. Therefore, this seems like a no-brainer for TAA to move to Madrid.

2024 Copa America: Group Stage Review | Knockout Preview

By: Chris Lewnau

Failure: USA & Mexico 

With CONMEBOL’s Copa America being held on North American soil, hopes were high for CONCACAF’s preeminent nations, the United States and Mexico, to get out of their respective groups, and make some noise in the knockout stage of the tournament. Yet, instead, that optimism appears to have been wishful thinking as both The Yanks and El Tri crashed out of the Copa America with third place finishes in the group stage. 

For the Americans, they broke records en route to unfulfilling expectations. Most notably, according to Fox Sports, the United States is the first host nation of a Copa America to fail to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament. Wondering just how many Copas America there’ve been since the inception of the group/knockout rounds format? The answer is 19, including this 2024 edition. Simply put, embarrassing. 

As for Mexico, they’re a shell of what they once were. The standout performers from the fabled “golden generation” that won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as those that followed shortly thereafter, have all retired from the national team, and it shows. The quality from players, such as Giovanni dos Santos, Raul Jimenez, Hector Herrera, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, and many more, haven’t been replaced. 

What’s worse for El Tri is that their youth academy is a shambles. The Under-23 Team has recently lost matches to Ivory Coast’s U-20 Team 4-1, Japan’s U-19 Team 3-1, and scraped past South Korea’s U-21 Team on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie. Thus, the situation for El Tri is dire, and not just for the present, but for the future as well. 

Afloat, But In Trouble: Brazil

Brazil, led by manager Dorival Junior, has underwhelmed thus far in the tournament. The Seleção, having produced just a win and two draws, looked pedestrian in the final third of the field this past Tuesday versus Columbia, despite the star-studded names of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, and Raphinha leading the line. As indicative of their average performance, Brazil’s loan goal, whilst as dazzling as it was by Raphinha, didn’t come through the run of play. Rather, it was a one-off free kick strike by the Barcelona winger. 

In totality, the fact that Brazil has struggled to score in open play is worrisome, especially since stiffer competition is upcoming with the knockout phase beginning tonight. The inconsistent run of form from back to front shouldn’t come as a surprise, however.

The Seleçao have been stuck in neutral since the start of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in September of 2023. As such, through six matchdays thus far, Brazil is 2-1-3, whilst occupying CONMEBOL’s sixth and final automatic berth slot. Therefore, the signs of mediocrity have been present for some time, many though, didn’t want to admit it. Why? Because it’s Brazil, the home of “o jogo bonito”.

Needless to say, with Brazil advancing to the knockout stage, the Seleçao has, thus far, stayed afloat. But, trouble looms large as a date with Copa America record-holders Uruguay is on tap this Saturday. 

Knockout Stage: Preview & Predictions

Tonight the knockout stage is set to get underway with current titleholders Argentina squaring off against South American foe Ecuador. Unlike the Euros, which has a Round of 16, the Copa America jumps straight to the quarterfinals as only eight teams advance from the group stage. 

Of the octuplet, six of the nations are from South America, and they are Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Meanwhile, just two countries come from North America, Canada and Panama. Amongst the remaining teams, Argentina is the clear betting favorite (+125), according to betMGM, followed by Brazil (+333), Columbia (+555), and Uruguay (+555).

Below are my predictions for the knockout phase. Hint: The champion will be from South America, sorry Canada and Panama. 

Note: the numbering associated with each nation is said nation’s current FIFA world ranking. 

Quarterfinals

1 Argentina over 30 Ecuador

54 Venezuela over 48 Canada 

14 Uruguay over 4 Brazil 

12 Columbia over 43 Panama

Semifinal 

1 Argentina over 54 Venezuela

12 Columbia over 14 Uruguay

CONMEBOL Copa America Final 

1 Argentina over 12 Columbia 

Led by the greatest player of all-time, Leo Messi, Argentina will win its second consecutive Copa America. In the process, La Albiceleste will become just the second nation in the history of international football to win three consecutive major titles (e.g. Continental Championship followed by the World Cup followed by another Continental Championship). Currently the only nation to achieve this is Spain when La Roja won  the European Championship in 2008, the World Cup in 2010, and the European Championship in 2012. Lastly, Argentina will separate itself from Uruguay, becoming the sole record-titleholder with 16 Copa America titles. Absolutely incredible. 

Fun Factoids: Copa America 

Note: Facts as of July 4th, 2024

(15) Boarding South American nations Argentina and Uruguay are co-titleholders with 15 Copa America victories.

(29) Argentina has appeared in a record 29 Copa America finals.

(34) Argentina has accrued a record 34 medals in the Copa America (15 Gold, 14 Silver, and 5 Bronze).

(17) Norberto Mendez (ARG) and Zizinho (BRA) have each scored a record 17 goals in Copa America fixtures.

(36) Leo Messi has played in a record 36 Copa America matches.

(6) As a player, Angel Romano (URU) has won a record 6 Copa America titles. 

(6) As a manager, Guillermo Stabile (URU) has won a record 6 Copa America titles. 

(18) Leo Messi has produced a record 18 assists in Copa America history. 

(31) Leo Messi has produced a record 31 goal contributions (Goals + Assists) in Copa America history. 

(4) Leo Messi has appeared in 4 Copa America finals. 

(1) Leo Messi has won 1 Copa America title. 

(0) interestingly, Pele and Diego Maradona have combined to win 0 Copa America championships.

(0) Surprisingly, Pele and Diego Maradona have combined to make 0 appearances in a Copa America final.

Euro 2024: Week 2 in Review | Knockout Preview

By: Chris Lewnau

Late Game Heroics: Hungary, Germany, Italy 

Sports 101 will tell you that one should keep playing until a whistle is blown. Until that time, anything can happen, thus give it your all, don’t give up. Whelp, that’s exactly what transpired for Hungary, Germany, and Italy this past week. All three nations scored match altering goals with virtually the final kick of their respective game.

Firstly, despite Hungary shaken by starting striker Barnabas Varga being stretchered off and transported to the hospital due to multiple broken bones in his face thanks to a nasty collision with Scotland’s goalkeeper, Magyarok continued to battle as the team knew it needed all three points to stay alive in the competition. 

Ultimately, with time running out, the Hungarians struck on the counter attack. Forward Kevin Csoboth slotted the ball into the back of the net at the 90+10’ mark. Csoboth promptly pulled off his shirt in jubilation and ran to the stands to celebrate. Upon sharing the moment with his fellow teammates and supporters, Csoboth broke into tears. He not only was over come with the joy of winning the match, but rather more importantly for earning the three points for his fallen teammate.

The magical moment will go down in Hungarian footballing lore, even though Hungary ultimately failed to qualify for the knockouts, thanks to Georgia’s miraculous record setting 2-0 upset of Portugal several days later. 

Secondly, nearly simultaneously, Germany was in action against Switzerland. The Swiss, up 1-0, and just a toe offside from being 2-0 up, had the Euro 2024 hosts, Germany, baffled. Die Mannschaft was seemingly answerless in a battle to break down Switzerland’s defense. 

As such, the Germans were facing the prospect of actually losing Group A, resulting in a date with defending champions Italy in the Round of 16. But, as destiny would have it, at the 90+2’ mark a delectable cross into the box found the head of substitute striker Niclas Füllkrug. The Borussia Dortmund man redirected the ball past Yan Sommers for a last gasp equalizer! 

The draw earned Germany the point required to win Group A, avoid the combination of having to play Italy, followed by England (If Germany beats Italy and assuming that the Three Lions beat Slovakia), and re-instilled the championship belief that the home supporters possessed entering this tournament two weeks ago. 

Thirdly, speaking of the Italians, Gli Azzuri went into matchday three firmly in second place in Group B. Similarly to Germany, Italy just needed a draw to maintain their position and advance to the knockout stage. However, the Italians were facing a desperate Croatian side that knew this was it for the Slavic nation’s golden era. 

The Croats needed a win to advance, anything else wouldn’t suffice. As such, longtime captain and former Ballon d’Or winning midfielder Luka Modric struck early in the second half to put Croatia ahead 1-0. That lead would last for a while, well into stoppage time.

With prospects looking bleak for Gli Azzuri as seconds ticked away, Italy was gifted with one final counter attack. Croatia was caught out, and Modric, having already been subbed off, was left haplessly biting his shirt on the sidelines, only able to observe. 

With the clock at precisely 94 minutes and 40 seconds, just 20 seconds from full-time, Mattia Zaccagni become a national hero as he coolly curled the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a sublime finish at the death. A kick that sealed Gli Azzuri’s chances of advancement whilst crushing Croatian hearts and abruptly completing Modric’s European Championship career. 

Knockout Stage: Preview & Predictions

Courtesy of several surprising results during the group stage, we’re now looking at an unbalanced knockout bracket. The left side of the fixture list is absolutely loaded, featuring three-time champions Germany and Spain, two-time winners France, one-time victors Portugal and Denmark, as well as Belgium, currently FIFA’s third ranked team in the world. 

Conversely, the right side of the knockout bracket boasts just three nations of serious note, which are two-time winners Italy, one-time champion Netherlands, and, according to ESPN BET, current betting favorite England. 

Whilst nations like Austria, Switzerland, and Romania impressed over the first three fixtures of the competition, not many, if any, truly consider these teams contenders to reach the final, let alone win the Euros. Frankly, outside of Holland or Italy, you’d be hard pressed to find someone that believes even these two footballing enriched nations will realistically beat England, not to mention whomever comes out of the bracket’s opposite side. 

Below are my picks from the Round of 16 through the European Championship Final. Note, the numbering associated with each nation is said team’s current FIFA world ranking. 

Round of 16

8 Spain over 74 Georgia
16 Germany over 21 Denmark
6 Portugal over 57 Slovenia
2 France over 3 Belgium
7 Netherlands over 47 Romania
25 Austria over 42 Turkey
5 England over 45 Slovakia
10 Italy over 19 Switzerland 

Quarterfinals

8 Spain over 16 Germany 
2 France over 6 Portugal
7 Netherlands over 25 Austria 
5 England over 10 Italy

Semifinals 

8 Spain over 2 France 
5 England over 7 Netherlands 

UEFA Euro 2024 Germany Final

8 Spain over 5 England 

Over the first two weeks of the tournament, Spain has decidedly been head and shoulders above its competition. Looking the part, La Roja come out of the group stage as the only nation to collect a maximum nine points out of nine, in other words, go 3-0. This record, mind you, includes a 1-0 victory over Albania with Spain having featured its reserve side, because La Roja had already clinched advancement to the knockouts. Rather impressive, I’d say. 

As aforementioned last week, España is loaded at every level of the park, and more importantly, the players are performing at their best with confidence and chemistry, unlike fellow heavyweights France, England, and others. 

Therefore, I foresee Spain hoisting the Henri Delaunay Trophy come Euro 2024’s end; thus, making the Iberian nation sole record-holders with four European Champion titles in the process. 

Euro 2024: Opening Week in Review

By: Chris Lewnau

Germany - Today marks a full week since host Germany bossed the Scots off the park en route to a 5-1 win in Euro 2024’s curtain raiser. Since that momentous night in Bavaria, whether it’d be scintillating or auspicious, several plots have begun unfolding. As such, below are a handful of takeaways from week 1 of Europe’s premier international competition.

Most Impressive: Germany and Spain

Where else to start then with the aforementioned host nation, Die Mannsschaft. The Germans are off to a scintillating start to this tournament, led by Jamal Musiala. The 21 yr  old phenom, who plays club football for Bayern Munich, currently leads the golden boot race as top scorer with 2 goals from 2 games. The attacking midfielder has been silky smooth with the ball at his feet. The young man from Stuttgart has made defenders miss, created chances for both him and his teammates, and also, perhaps most importantly, struck the ball the great aplum, hence his two goals. Simply put, he’s been clinical.

If Germany can continue overrunning its opponents in the midfield and producing stout defense at the back, led by Antonio Rüdiger and Manuel Neuer, coupled with Musiala’s lethal form in the final third, then the host nation very well may have a date with destiny in Berlin come July 14th. 

Meanwhile, if Germany is to in fact get to the final, then Die Mannschaft will have to beat La Roja in the quarterfinals first, and that won’t be an easy undertaking. Spain looks like the class of the tournament, thus far. Similar to the host nation, Spain is 2-0 in group play. In addition to the undefeated start however, Luis de la Fuente’s side owns the best resume to date, with wins over Croatia and, most recently, the defending European champions, Italy. 

The Iberian nation has looked electric along the flanks, led by not one, but two youngsters across the front line in Nico Williams Jr. (21) and Lamine Yamal (16). That’s right, Yamal is 16 years of age, becoming the youngest player ever to feature at the Euros. For a player of his age, simply seeing the field at all would be a feat within itself, but to make matters even more impressive, the La Masia graduate provided a sumptuous assist to Dani Carvajal in his debut. 

Whilst Yamal dazzled in the opener, Williams Jr. ran Italy ragged in game two. Posing as a constant threat down the left flank, Nico routinely got past the Italian defense and ultimately it was his cross that led to the decisive goal of the game. 

Needless to say, the front line has been ruthless, but La Roja’s dominance doesn’t stop there. The midfield triumvirate of Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, and Rodrigo, has been stellar in winning the ball back nearly immediately after possession has been lost.  In addition, the incisive passing through the middle of the park and into the final third of the field has been mouthwatering to watch (Exhibit A: Goal #1 vs Croatia).

Lastly, Spain’s defense has produced back-to-back clean sheets. Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella was absolutely phenomenal at the back versus Gli Azzurri. He cleared and intercepted countless passes along the left flank, and as a result, Cucurella was a big reason as to why it took the Italians 44 minutes and 58 seconds to take a single shot against Spain. Whoa!

Without a doubt, Spain and Germany are on a quarterfinal collision course, and at this point, the winner will be heavily favored to advance to the final and perhaps the betting favorite to win it all come July 14th. 

Betting Favorites: England and France 

Speaking of favorites, heading into Euro 2024, England and France were co-betting favorites at +400, according to ESPN BET. Therefore, we’d expect to see world class play from The Three Lions and Les Bleus. However, England is off to a rather auspicious start to the campaign. Yes, Gareth Southgate’s squad is unbeaten, but they struggled to hold on against Serbia en route to a 1-0 win. Then yesterday, England once again struggled to hold on to its lead, except this time The Three Lions succumbed to the pressure put on by Denmark on way to a 1-1 draw. 

Thus far, England’s starting XI has looked disjointed in the midfield, and has lacked chemistry and composure at all levels. It’s shocking to see since this squad is loaded with world class players from clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, etc. Players such as Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and John Stones have all conquered the mountain top at club level winning the Champions League and domestic league titles at some stage. In addition, lest we forget, England’s all-time leading goal scorer is none other than team captain Harry Kane, a man that just set a new Bundesliga record whilst at Bayern Munich for most goals scored (36) in one’s first season in Germany. Therefore, it’s head scratching to see, just like all of his predecessors, Gareth Southgate not being able to get the best out of his England squad when it comes to the Euros (The Three Lions have never won a European Championship). 

Now with four points from a possible six so far, England will most certainly qualify for the knockouts. However, if Southgate can’t get his team clicking and playing with pride, then The Three Lions will most assuredly lose to stiffer competition. 

Conversely, France, whilst also winning its opening match by a slender 1-0 margin, faced a great deal of adversity having received and withstood some brutal play from the Austrians. Les Bleus’ top two attacking stars in Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann drew blood in this match, literally.

In the first half, Griezmann slammed into the advertising boards courtesy of a sideline push by the opposition. As a result, the Atletico Madrid legend received treatment for a cut to his head. Next came Mbappe’s incident. In the second half, the Real Madrid man sustained a wound of his own to the face as blood poured out from his nose whilst medics tended to him on the pitch. Prognosis, broken nose for Mbappe. 

France’s star striker ultimately had to be subbed off, despite trying to press on. For days thereafter, it seemed as though he’d be unavailable for today’s match against the Dutch. Yet, footage surfaced yesterday of France’s captain participating in training while wearing a French tricolor face mask. Therefore, it now appears that Mbappe may in fact be available for matchday 2 against the Dutch.

Between Mbappe and Griezmann, the toughness of these men is apparent, the desire to achieve greatness and be ever-present for Les Bleus and the nation is obvious, and the mentality is infectious. Hence, the 2018 World Cup winners, France, has now improved to sole betting favorites over the past few days to +350, according to betMGM. 

History Made: Slovakia stuns Belgium

One of the great subplots in sports is the underdog story. However, rarely in competitions at the highest level, such as the Euros, do we actually witness David beating Goliath. But, this past Monday we indeed saw the heavyweight get knocked out as Slovakia stunned Belgium 1-0! 

According to the FIFA World Rankings, this was the biggest upset in European Championship history as the Belgians are ranked third globally compared to the Slovaks ranking of 48th worldwide at the time of victory.

The performance from Sokoli was valiant. The Slovaks were the aggressors, putting Belgium under duress time and again. Now, it wasn’t all one way traffic, of course not. The Belgians had two second half Romelu Lukaku goals ruled off by VAR, which aided in this Cinderella story coming to fruition, but by no means was this victory undeserved for the Eastern Europeans. Slovakia gave every ounce of energy, sweat, blood, and tears, into pulling off this upset. If anything, as FS1’s color commentator, Warren Barton, stated during the broadcast, “sometimes you make your own luck”.

Conversely, Belgium is an absolute mess. Once again underachieving on the big stage. It appears to be the end of an era, an era dubbed the “Golden Generation”. Yet, the same era that failed to win any major silverware during its time that featured world class talent such as Kevin DeBruyne, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Lukaku, the Tottenham Twins in Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, and more.

UEFA Euro 2024 Germany: A Sporting Spectacle 

The setting of the Euros captures the world in which fanaticism and patriotism collide and collaborate! It’s a special scene to watch and listen to. Right from the off, the Euro 2024 intro gives you chills from memorable European moments gone by. Seeing former greats, such as Ruud Gullit, Fernando Torres, Zinadine Zidane, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, and many more, being recreated in their iconic snapshots in time sets the stage for what we are about witness LIVE. 

Follow that up with scenes from fan zones across the continent and live footage honed in on rabid supporter sections inside the stadium, coupled with the on-field pomp and circumstance that proceeds the kickoff, you can’t help but be overcome with pride and excitement, as well as the anticipation of soaking in what has yet to unfold. 

Euro 2024 is truly a sporting spectacle of which is rarely seen.

LSB Football Friday

#13 Irish, Overlooked in Preseason Coaches Poll

For decades, many would claim that Notre Dame Football has received the benefit of the doubt when it comes to preseason rankings.  A traditional power bias in favor of the most decorated college football program of the 20th century.  Another reason perhaps may have been that pollsters enjoyed propping up the Notre Dame’s initial ranking to help bolster early season intrigue on September matchups against the likes of rival Michigan, or rare home-and-homes against Texas, Georgia, or last year against Ohio State in-particular.  As we know, Notre Dame provides the biggest viewership of any school in America, and having the Irish as a Top 5-10 team just adds to the spectacle that comes with the shiny stage of the Golden Dome and Touchdown Jesus.

However, in recents years I’ve noted a shift in the initial rankings.  Now, it appears that the  Irish are being ranked lower than anticipated, with an outlier being last season of course.  As proof, Notre Dame has outperformed their preseason ranking on six of the past eight occasions.  Thus demonstrating that Notre Dame is consistently being undervalued and overlooked in August.  I believe that this season is no exception.  Therefore, Notre Dame clocking in at #13 in the Preseason Coaches Poll is a complete farce, and here’s why.

Defense

Despite losing the Ademilola brothers, as well as 2nd round NFL draft pick Isaiah Foskey along the defensive line, Notre Dame’s defense should be just as good, if not better than last year’s unit that carried the can for much of 2022.  

Considered a Top 10 group according to Pro Football Focus, the Irish linebacking corps will be as stout as we’ve seen it since the Manti T’eo era in 2012.  With the likes of grad students Jack Kiser, Marist Liufau, and JD Bertrand leading the unit coupled with some supremely talented youngsters in Jalyen Sneed, Drayk Bowen, and Jaiden Ausberry, amongst others, the linebacking corps will not only set the tone for the defensive side of the ball, but also provide excellent run stuffing, blitz, and passing coverage capabilities to stifle the opposing offense. 

Speaking of stifling opponents, the Irish secondary will be doing just that this fall as well! With Freshman All-America Benjamin Morrison back and now starting from the get go in Dublin combined with a pair of four star true freshman in Christian Gray and Micah Bell, as well as redshirt freshman Jaden Mickey, and seasoned veterans Cam Hart and Clarence Lewis, the Irish have itself a unit that will rarely let it’s opposition breath down the field. 

Offense

The Irish boast one of the most intimidating offensive lines in the country.  The line is bookended by tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fischer, two men that will gain All-America honors and 1st round NFL Draft grades come season’s end.  As a whole, the unit will contend for the Joe Moore Award as the Nation’s Best Offensive Line. 

In addition to the stout play upfront, the Irish bring back Doak Walker Award candidate Audric Estime! As I like to call him, “Baby Bettis”, the thumping, yet light footed tailback will easily eclipse 1,000 yards rushing, and may even get to 1,500 yards when the season is all said and done. 

Lastly on offense, Notre Dame will have an elite quarterback taking snaps under center and out of the shotgun this season, thanks to the addition of graduate transfer Sam Hartman! Unlike last year, when the Irish were seemingly inept at the position for the majority of the season and contributed most to the failures against Ohio State and Marshall specifically, this campaign will depict what an offense can look like under the guidance of an All-America caliber QB.  Hartman not only holds several all-time ACC passing records, but he’s also a veteran with immense leadership skills.  He’s already won over his teammates, who refer to him as “The Players’ Marcus Freeman”. In other words, Hartman is viewed by his colleagues as the coach on the field.  This combination of top-tier talent and leadership at the quarterback position is something that the ND faithful hasn’t seen for some time.  Ian Book was the closest thing to Hartman since Brady Quinn during the peak years of the Charlie Weis era, and Book served the program well en route to two CFP appearances, however, it’s unquestioned that Hartman is on another level from that of Book, and in time, perhaps we’ll see that the former Demon Deacon even eclipses Quinn in ND lore.

What would it take for that to actually happen with Hartman playing just one season in the Gold and Blue?  Whelp, that’d be to help lead this Irish squad to its first national title in the 21st century and end the winless run it currently holds in BCS and/or NY6 bowl appearances.  I believe that Hartman is in fact the missing piece that the Notre Dame program has been searching for, since what feels like forever.  As a result, I’m confident that we’ll see a Notre Dame team this season that reaches the standard of yesteryear, of the days when Lou Holtz toed the sideline in the late 1980’s.  So buckle those chin straps folks, because I believe that a championship is on the horizon for Our Lady this season! 

Recap, Motor City Cup

Under the picturesque backdrop of the downtown Detroit skyline nestles Comerica Park, traditionally known for housing the Detroit Tigers, a local Major League Baseball club. However, yesterday evening the Copa played host to the Motor City Cup. The MCC was a one-off preseason cup match between European football clubs Crystal Palace and Sevilla! This match marked the second time that Detroit has hosted a preseason soccer friendly, the first being PSG Vs Roma at Comerica Park in 2017, a match that was part of the International Champions Cup. Back then, the game finished 1-1 after full-time, with Les Parisiens winning via a Penalty Shootout. 

Similarly, this go-round saw another 1-1 draw with the match set to be decided on PK’s. Sevilla opened the scoring just moments before halftime thanks to an Ivan Rakitic tight angled screamer that bounced off the inside of the far post and into the back of the net. Then in the second half, Crystal Palace had gained momentum with their positive play that culminated in an equalizer from Eberichi Eze’s dazzling run and nutmegged strike in the 75’. From then on, it was all Crystal Palace. The Eagles produced a bevy of chances, with 10-men Sevilla holding on for dear life. The Rojiblancos produced countless blocks and last-ditch clearances within their own box in an attempt to get to penalties; and get to the shootout they did. 

At that point, Sevilla was able to recollect themselves and finish the match on equal footing. Finally, in the most unusual, but in all reality, quite exciting sudden-death style penalty shootout, Sevilla won the match courtesy of a successful Ivan Rakitic penalty kick coupled with a Joachim Anderson missed shot that clanked off the crossbar! 

It was a result that appeared to be a disappointing one for 313 Presents and its affiliates. I say this, because whilst being in attendance, it certainly seemed that the setup of the stadium had a British bias in favor of Crystal Palace. The Eagles supporters section was given blue and red flags before the match to add to the excitement and ambiance of the moment. Then when Sevilla scored, there was a roar on our end, which included the Rojiblancos supporters section. However, these fans were neither given flags, towels, or scarves nor were they treated to a light show or corresponding pop music song to enjoy the go-ahead goal with, unlike when Eze equalized. Once Crystal Palace scored, a classic from the Beatles was promptly played and a Copa light show ensued inside the venue whilst the Eagles celebrated their goal. It wasn’t until when the match had officially been decided, after Anderson’s missed PK, that Comerica Park played a Spanish tune, Sevilla’s anthem. But, hey, the the seven-time Europa League winning Rojiblancos are used to being the underdogs, the overlooked, and once again they overcame, won the game, and lifted another trophy! What’s Crystal Palace ever won?! Oh yeah, the Full Member’s Cup in 1991. A competition that was created for English teams that were banned from competing in Europe at the time due to the Heysel Stadium Disaster in 1985.

Anyways, it was a fun evening all-around. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see Detroiters  of all ages repping their soccer kits, listening to compelling footballing banter amongst fans, and of course getting to watch some of the global game’s best players in-person. Moving forward, I hope Detroit and/or Ann Arbor can host a match like this on an annual basis, as there’s definitely a thirst for elite soccer in Southeastern Michigan.  

Lew's Fun Factoids of the Week

2 - This evening will mark the 2nd European soccer match to be held at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.  Lewnau SB will be onsite for the match!

2 - MLS seller dwellers, Inter Miami, has now won 2 games from 2 matches since Leo Messi has donned the Herron’s all pink kit.

3 - FC Barcelona beat rivals Real Madrid 3-0 in a preseason El Clasico from Jerry’s World yesterday afternoon.

3 - Barca is now 3-0 against Los Blancos in the United States.  In addition to yesterday’s victory, FCB won 3-2 in Miami in 2017 and 1-0 in Las Vegas in 2022.

3 - Messi has scored 3 goals since joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami.

3 - The United States Women’s National Team is seeking to become the first team to win 3 consecutive World Cups.

7 - Watching Vinicius Jr during this US preseason tour has been a bit different, and that’s because the left winger is no longer wearing #20.  Instead, the Brazilian national has switched shirt numbers to the iconic #7 for Real Madrid.  Other notable #7’s for Los Merengues are Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, and Luis Enrique, amongst others.

11 - Much like Vini Jr, Rodrygo Goes is now sporting a new kit number, #11.  Former notable #11’s for Los Blancos include Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Luis Enrique, and of course, one of my all-time favorite players, Ronaldo “O Fenomeno”!

700,000 - £700,000 weekly wages plus a phone call or two from fellow Liverpool legend Stevie G is all it took for Saudi side Al Ettifaq to lure Jordan Henderson away from Merseyside.

50,000,000 - It’s being reported that Frenchman Ousmane Dembele will be heading to the City of Lights soon, all thanks to PSG set to pay Barcelona Dembele’s €50 million release clause.   

Preview: MLS All-Star Game

With the GOAT, Leo Messi, officially being unveiled as a Heron in South Beach last Sunday, coupled with his highly anticipated on-field debut this Friday, it’s no wonder why the MLS All-Star Game was nearly forgotten about this week.  But fear not folks, the match hasn’t passed us by just yet.  Tonight is kickoff from DC at 8:30pm on Apple TV. So, let’s get acquainted with the teams and players involved ahead of game time.

MLS All-Stars

This year’s roster is comprised of 28 players across the league chosen by a combination of fan, media, and player vote coupled with Manager Wayne Rooney’s 12 selections and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber’s two picks.  Some notable selections are GK Roman Burki, DF Walker Zimmerman, MF Hector Herrera, FW Jesus Ferreira, and FW Christian Benteke.

Roman Burki made over 200 appearances for Borussia Dortmund between 2015-2022.  Walker Zimmerman was a key contributor to the United States Men’s National Team during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.  Hector Herrera not only was an integral part to El Tri’s midfield during its golden generation, but also the Mexican international plied his trade at club level for Porto and Atletico Madrid.  Meanwhile, Jesus Ferreira recently broke out as a USMNT starlet after tying Clint Dempsey for most goals scored by an American in a single Gold Cup with seven strikes.  Lastly, Belgian international Christian Benteke played 10 seasons in the English Premier League, including one season at Liverpool.

Arsenal FC

As for the Gunners, the roster for this match is still up in the air considering that the London based club is just beginning preseason.  Notable players that fans and media alike would enjoy seeing on the pitch are GK Aaron Ramsdale, MF Martin Odegaard, MF Kai Havertz, MF Declan Rice, MF/FW Bukayo Saka, FW Gabriel Jesus, FW Gabriel Martinelli, FW Eddie Nketiah, and FW Folarin Balogun.

Of these nine players mentioned, the biggest buzz will likely be around three men, Havertz, Rice, and Balogun.  Havertz and Rice are newly hired guns to the London armory.  Thus, this’ll be the first chance for many to see them suit up in the red and white uniform.  As for Balogun, he’s one of the newest faces to the United States Men’s National Team.  Therefore, the crowd will be clamoring for his appearance in this match.  Whilst out on loan, Balogun dominated Ligue 1 last season as he scored 22 goals for Reims.

LSB Prediction

With an 8-7 record in favor of Europe over MLS, history shows us that this match is historically competitive, and much more so than what many would have thought.  However, as aforementioned, Arsenal is in preseason mode, whereas the MLS All-Stars are in midseason form.  As a result of this situation, the matches are finely balanced, which is what we’ll see again tonight.  The MLS All-Stars will have a greater desire to win this match compared to the Gunners simply seeking quality scrimmage companionship en route to staying healthy ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.  With that said, I’m still picking the Gunners, even with a well rotated squad that’s humming in second gear.  Saka will strike early and Balogun will win it late.  MLS All-Stars 1 - 2 Arsenal FC

Copa Oro Decepción

In the waining hours of Wednesday night, the United States was once again pushed to its limit.  Just like this past Sunday against Canada, the Americans fell behind in extra time.  Then similarly the US clawed its way back, ultimately equalizing to force a penalty shootout.  However, unlike Sunday, the shots from the spot weren’t quite as kind to the Americans.  As a result, the US Men’s National Team lost to Panama 5-4 on PK’s, and were subsequently bounced from CONCACAF’s premier competition.  It marked the first time since 2015 that the United States failed to reach the Gold Cup Final.  That within itself is disappointing.  Couple this statistic with the possibility of the US equaling rival Mexico’s record of eight Copa Oro titles, if the Americans were to win this 2023 edition of the tournament, and the sting of yesterday’s loss becomes that much greater.  Compound that info with the fact that America is ranked #11 in the world compared to Panama, who’s ranked 57th, and this result should have simply never occurred.  But why did this upset happen?  The answer to this question is what’s most upsetting about the loss, and more importantly the reason why the US failed to continue its recent run of CONCACAF dominance.

The why is simple.  Neither the United States Soccer Federation nor the US players themselves thought that this competition was important enough to field a legitimate squad, an “A” team if you will.  Rather the roster was largely comprised of MLS players, many of whom had little to no experience.  Yes, there were some exceptions, such as Matt Turner and Jesus Ferrera, however this squad was far from its finest, and as a result the US missed its chance at another trophy.

Now many will say, well the US competed and won the CONCACAF Nations League earlier this summer with its strongest squad, thus the players needed a break.  I’d retort by saying that the Nations League is supposed to be regarded as a secondary tournament, weighted less than the Gold Cup.  Therefore, if a “B” or “C” team were to ever be fielded, then it should have been in the Nations League instead of the Gold Cup.  In addition, the “A” team only played two matches, the semifinal and final of the Nations League during this international window.  Thus, it's not like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Brendon Aaronson, Timothy Weah, and the list goes on, had played an entire tournament (group stage, quarterfinal, semifinal, final) prior to the start of the Copa Oro.  Many would then counter by stating that these players had just finished their club seasons and need time to rest.  Sure, that'd be ideal, however, there's still the preeminent CONCACAF competition to be played, therefore, the players should strap up their boots and get out onto the field.  Let’s face it, would Leo Messi pass up a chance at an international trophy to rest, especially that of the Copa America (South American equivalent of the Gold Cup)? Unequivocally, the answer is NO.  No elite player, certainly from Europe or South America, would ever pass up that chance, especially if you’re going to be the favorite in said competition, like the US were.

These actions, these omissions of top American players from this Gold Cup is an admission of a lack of desire for one’s country, for soccer in this country.  It's an example of the gap that remains between the United States and its fellow competitors from Europe and South America.  If the US is to ever reach the levels of an Argentina, France, Spain, Germany, England, Brazil, heck even much smaller countries such as Croatia, Netherlands, Belgium, Uruguay, etc., then the players need to exhibit the hunger, the unwavering desire to win for the Red, White, and Blue.  The “A” team could have easily participated in this edition of the Gold Cup and then rested afterwards, arriving late to their respective club camps, which is customary for top internationals by the way.   Instead however, the Americans chose their club over their country. Chose to get aquatinted with the city of Milan or the new surroundings of Torino or Berlin.  These are the decisions that were made by the players from what’s supposed to be the golden generation of US soccer.  And heck, even the US’s reappointed manager, Gregg Berhalter, didn't even want to participate in this competition as he sat the tournament out, and will instead rejoin the team in the fall.  It’s a lack of ambition, from the top on down.

Summer Window: Part 4

Captain America’s Move To Milan

As an American businessman, Todd Boehly likely envisioned Christian Pulisic being a cornerstone piece to Chelsea Football Club’s US marketing strategy for years to come.  After all, Pulisic is the face of the United States Men’s National Team, and despite only being 24 yrs old, the Pennsylvania native is already squad captain.  Thus, Christian is the present and future of US soccer.  However, after just a year on from when Boehly and his consortium purchased CFC from Russian Oligarch Roman Abromovich, Pulisic is now officially a former Chelsea player as he was sold to AC Milan for a measly £18.8 million fee (including add-ons).  It closes Christian’s chapter in West London that spanned four years, and included some serious silverware.  Pulisic won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.  However, throughout his time at The Bridge, Captain America was simply a fringe player.  He came to Chelsea as a ballyhooed Dortmund youth disciple, bursting onto the scene when scoring in the Champions League against Benfica in 2017 at the tender age of 18 yrs old; becoming the youngest player to ever score in a UCL match. Couple that strike with a consistent run of form domestically, and it wasn’t before too long that top clubs were clamoring to acquire his services.  As a result, Chelsea bought Team USA’s brightest ever prospect from BVB for €64 million in January of 2019.  Thus, Chelsea selling Pulisic for just over €20 million is not only a €40 million loss on the player, but also an admission that Christian’s time at Chelsea was simply put, a failure.  With Pulisic in his mid-20’s, he should be entering the prime of his career, signing on the dotted line to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge, but instead, Captain America’s development stagnated as he was riddled with injuries, lost the trust of his managers (most notably Thomas Tuchel), and couldn't produce in the final third.  But it’s not all sour grapes for Pulisic as we can't forget that he released his first book during his time in England.  Yeah, great timing for a player to shade his current manager in a way for all the world to read whilst supposedly still trying to fight for his place in the squad.  But as I digress, as one chapter ends, the next one begins.

Moving to Milan will be an opportunity for a much needed restart to Pulisic’s club footballing career.  These next few years will be vital.  If Christian can circle the wagons and begin creating chances, scoring goals, and assisting teammates again, then there’s still a chance that he can reach his potential as viewed when he was a teenager.  Perhaps he then re-signs with ACM or earns a move back to a Big Seven club in England. Conversely, if Pulisic disappoints in his upcoming time at the San Siro, then he’ll likely never play for a Top 4 league in Europe again.

Summer Window: Part 3

The Gunners Add Two New Pieces Two It’s Arsenal

Over the past couple of weeks, Stan Kroenke’s Arsenal has splashed the cash in a manner not seen from the club since the days when Arsene Wenger toed the Emirates’ sidelines.  The Gunners have spent £175 million on the acquisitions of Kai Havertz and Declan Rice.  Havertz, traditionally a wide attacking player, was often shoehorned into the #9 role for a calamitous Chelsea side that slugged its way to a 12th place EPL finish last season.  As a result, Havertz’s numbers were underwhelming, contributing just ten scores (9 goals and 1 assist) in all comps.  Despite the troubled season, many clubs around Europe still fancy his talents.  Remember, it wasn't too long ago that the German international was the man to produce the decisive strike to beat Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Final.  Couple his silky footballing skills with the fact that Chelsea went through three managers last season, and is currently being run by a baseball guru (NOT football), Todd Boehly, this was the perfect time for Arsenal to take advantage of the dyer situation in West London.  As such Mikel Arteta and his staff were able to sign Kai for a fee of £70 million, which is roughly £6 million less than what the Blues paid to acquire him from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2020.  Personally, I think that this was a brilliant piece of business for the Gunners.  Unanimously, pundits have said that Arsenal needs to deepen its squad, and if it wants to go a full 38 rounds against Pep Guardiola’s Man City, bringing in Havertz will do just that.  The German can play either wing, and will provide quality competetion and rotation for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.  In addition, when Arsenal need a forward thinking boost from midfield or simply needs to give Martin Odegaard a breather, Havertz can play as an attacking midfielder as well.

As for Declan Rice, Arsenal are getting a terrific midfielder.  A player who possesses power, pace, size, and a propensity to produce on corners.  With that said, at first glance it appears that Gunners have overpaid for the England international.  The fee of £105 million was artificially inflated for a variety of reasons.  First being that Rice is British, and simply put, UK players are routinely overvalued due to biases within the footballing community.  Secondly, the player was coming from a fellow London-based club in West Ham United.   Thus, the Hammers weren’t going to sell the face of the franchise to a local rival without getting top dollar.  And thirdly, Manchester City made a late push to sign Rice, which in turn only solidified West Ham’s stance of demanding a sum that would break the record for a transfer fee shelled out to a British-born player in order for Arsenal to acquire Declan’s services.  In addition, it appears that the Gunners had to part ways with central midfielders Thomas Partey and Granite Xhaka, in part, due to the large sum required to purchase Rice coupled with having to pay the English international’s hefty wages.  Losing these two stalwarts in the middle of the park will be a major issue this coming season for Mikel Arteta, as the pair were Arsenal’s defensive fulcrum in midfield and provided the proper balance to mitigate the spaces left open due to Martin Odegaard’s attacking runs into the final third.

Therefore, only time will tell whether or not the losses of Partey and Xhaka coupled with the addition of Rice will not only be a success, but also an improvement.  Therefore, knowing that Arsenal needed to grow the depth of the squad this off-season, the Gunners might have been better served taking a page out of Jurgen Klopp’s book and  acquiring talent valued a bit less, but in turn purchasing multiple midfielders to provide the necessary squad coverage to compete against Man City and the rest of Europe’s elite.

Summer Window: Part 2

Karim, The Dream’s Saudi Stint?!

Yep, you read that right.  Current Ballon d’Or holder and Galactico, Karim Benzema, is leaving Madrid a year early to chase the cash in the middle east.  Benzema will reportedly earn roughly £600 million per season for the next three years after signing with Saudi stalwarts Al Ittihad.  That’s an unbelievable sum of money for any sportsman to earn, let alone a 34 year old who’s skills, thank’s to Father Time, will continually diminish.  Thus, the Frenchman, who knew that this was likely his last contract before retirement, took the money and ran.  Conversely, Florentino Perez let his star striker leave without fuss and fee, which was admirable considering that Benzema still had a year left on his contract and Real didn't have a succession plan in place.  With that said, this is Real Madrid we’re talking about, they’ll always attract the top talent.  Therefore, I’d be shocked if Los Blancos doesn’t have the #9 role filled by the start of the season.  Harry Kane and most recently Kylian Mbappe has been names rumored to be top replacements for Karim, The Dream.

Good luck Karim, you’ve given the footballing world a plethora of mesmerizing moments.  Now enjoy basking in the Saudi sun, swimming in cash, and battling against fellow Galactico Cristiano Ronaldo for the King’s Cup.

Liverpool Begins Midfield Makeover

For a large chunk of last season, the Reds were simply awful.  Yes, there were plenty of injuries, thus weakened matchday squads on the regular.  However one thing was for certain, Klopp’s midfield was neither gegenpressing nor standing firm in its own half of the field.  As a result, Liverpool routinely lost control of matches, left its backline vulnerable on countless occasions, and often times created minimal opportunites in the final third.  Therefore, the situation became abundantly clear that a complete overhaul of the midfield had to take shape this offseason.  In turn, Jurgen’s first summer *signing is Argentine international Alexis Mac Allister.  The 24 year old box to box midfielder was one of the key cogs for Brighton & Hove Albion’s quest to secure European football for the first time in its club’ history, as well as Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph on the international level.  The central midfielder is a workhorse in the middle of the park.  Always on the move, creating havoc for the on-ball opposition, and showing a propensity to push the ball forward and slot a shot home with class when needed.  Thus, Alexis is a quintessential ‘Klopite’, and the right choice to begin Anfield’s midfield makeover.

*The signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton to Liverpool was for an initial transfer fee of £35 million plus £20 million in add-ons. Meanwhile, the player signed a five year deal worth an unspecified amount.

Summer Window: Part 1

Magic Messi In Miami

With the Champions League Final now in the rearview, the focus is squarely on the summer transfer window.  Despite players not officially being able to be registered with new clubs until July 1st, several marquee moves have already been made.  The most notable transfer is the GOAT, Leo Messi, leaving the City of Lights, and heading west to the southern shores of Florida where he’ll ply his trade David Beckham’s Inter Miami in the MLS.  In turn, Leo not only left Les Blues, but also turned down approaches from his beloved club FC Barcelona and Saudi stalwarts Al-Hilal.  It was reported that Al-Hilal offered the Argentine international a 2 year / $800 million deal.  Meanwhile Barca, a club currently in financial despair, couldn’t yet offer Messi a formal contract because the Spanish side still needed to clear $200 million from its current wage bill.

The move for Messi to Inter Miami is a coup for both the club and Major League Soccer in a whole.  According to Sebastian Salazar of ESPN FC, Inter sold out all of the club’s remaining home games for the 2023-24 season, despite Vice City currently floundering in last place in the league.  In addition, the tickets on the secondary market are being sold at price increases of 1,000% above face value.  Needless to say that with Messi in Miami, seeing a Herons’ match is the hottest sporting attraction in America right now, and assuredly the biggest draw for North American soccer since Pele donned the New York Cosmos kit from 1975-77.

Hey Jude, Hala Madrid!

Another move that has been confirmed is Borussia Dortmund’s midfielding maestro Jude Bellingham heading to the Spanish capitol to play for the Kings of Europe, Real Madrid.  For much of Bellingham’s transfer chase, it was Liverpool, not Real, that seemed to be in pole position to sign the Englishman.  However, once it was clear that the Reds needed more of a midfielding overhaul rather than having the luxury of dumping all its summer resources into one player, the Reds had to bow out the race.  This allowed Madrid to swoop in and sign the teenage sensation for a reported $103 million plus add-ons.  With the addition of Jude, Los Blancos undoubtedly have the best group of midfielders on the planet for both present and future.  Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Freddie Valverde are all under the age of 25, and are coupled with aging world class legends in Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric and World Cup winner Toni Kroos.

That’s it for part one of this ongoing summer transfer series.  Be sure to tune in next week for info regarding players Karim Benzema and Alexis Mac Allister. Adios!

UCL Final Recap

For the first time ever, the Saudi-owed, Manchester City Football Club has won the Champions League after suffering and ultimately surviving against a spirted Snakes squad in Internazionale Milano!  It was a match, that frankly, should have been won by the Serie A side, however the footballing gods had other plans.  After six years of UCL failure under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, the Cityzens were due to have lady luck on their side.  Thus, despite the Light Blues being out shot, having created fewer quality chances, and allowing monumental backline gaffes, the ball simply wouldn’t go past Ederson’s goal line. And in turn, thanks to a well defended cross that fortuitously ricochetted directly to City’s defensive midfielder Rodri, one certainly not known for possessing goalscoring prowess, whom did indeed dispatch the open look into the back of the net, propelled Man City to a 1-0 final’s win from Istanbul, Turkey.

With the win, City has now become just the 10th team in the history of the European Cup/Champions League to win the famed ‘Treble’.  City came from behind to catch and ultimately cruise past Arsenal to claim the 2022-23 Premier League title.  Then MCFC dispatched their city rivals in Manchester United to win the 2022-23 FA Cup, before finally securing the Champions League trophy last night.  Also, it’s just the second time that an English club has won the Treble, and that was of course Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1998-99 Red Devils.  City was decidedly the best team in club football over the totality of this season, regardless if I believe they deserved to win last night or not.  In addition, despite Erling Haaland failing to score in both cup finals, he has proven to be what was the missing piece to City’s ultimate success.  The Norwegian, who broke the PL single season goalscoring record this season, has been a terror for opponents even when he's not touching the ball, because he opens the game up for his teammates around him, such as Rodri most recently.

Lastly, in the present, pundits are comparing this squad to Pep’s 2008-09 Barcelona Treble winning side that featured Leo Messi, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, and several other top players.  To me, and to reference Downton Abbey’s, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham , that’s “AMBITIOUS”. However, I understand the English media providing a City biased viewpoint.  With that said, long term we shall see how this team is remembered considering the club currently has 101 counts of rules impropriety charges from the Premier League. Additionally, just a couple of years ago, the club got off scot-free from allegations brought forth by UEFA thanks to a statutes of limitations technicality— a stipulation that the Premier League doesn’t have.  Thus, the question has to be asked, if any or all of these 101 counts are proven to be true will this title, this treble, heck, even this entire Pep/City era, even be officially recognized come 5 to 10 years from now?  If FIFA has a say in the matter… well that’s an article for another day.

Preview: The Emirates FA Cup Final 2023

Manchester Derby Edition

Manchester City vs Manchester United
Wembley Stadium, London, England
3 June 2023 | 10AM | ESPN+

As the 2022-23 season winds down, the stakes have ratcheted up for several football clubs across Europe as there are still several promotion/relegation battles brewing, but most importantly for the cup finals that have begun commencing.  Today we get to witness whether or not Manchester City can complete the second leg of their Treble winning aspirations as the Cityzens square off against city rivals Manchester United in the tradition-enriched FA Cup.

City locked up the Premier League title for the fifth time in six seasons last month with three matches still to play at the time.  However, the Cityzens have gone a pedestrian one win, one draw, and one loss (in that order) since clinching the title over challengers Arsenal.  Could this be a sign of things to come for City?  Will the Light Blues be rested and ready to go come today and next weekend against Inter in the UCL Final? Or, will City simply turn up as a rusty, out of form squad that read too much of their own press clippings? One would think that Pep Guardiola would have his men ready to go, however the team’s performances over the past three matches would indicate otherwise.  You can’t just turn or and off the proverbial switch when trophies are on the line.

Meanwhile for Man United, they’ve already won silverware this season too, the Carabao Cup.  Thus, a win later this morning would see the Red Devils secure a Domestic Cup Double.  A rather impressive feat for any club, but especially for United considering that this season was the first for manager Erik ten Haag in Manchester.  He’s transformed this squad top to bottom through a variety of moves, none more important than diminishing Cristiano Ronaldo’s role and ultimately pushing for the Portuguese’s exit from the club during the winter transfer window.  As far as acquisitions go, the signing of Casimero was an absolute stroke of genius.  Many believed that the Brazilian was past his best, but that clearly has not been the case as the former Real Madrid stalwart has been just that, a stalwart, for United this season.  He’s produced decisive goals at crucial stages throughout this campaign, and as routine, he's hunkered down the defensive midfield area, providing a sound structure in the middle of the park, which has allowed Bruno Fernandes to spring forward without worry of gaps not being covered behind him.  Lastly, the confidence that ten Haag has reinvigorated Marcus Rashford with this year has been of vital importance, and as such the England international has produced his finest season to date, netting 30 times in all comps.

When you put this all together, you see a reborn Manchester United squad.  A team that believes in one another, believes in the manager and his vision for current and future success, and believes that they can win whenever, wherever, and against whomever.  As such, United is a team that is dangerous, and one that City should not overlook.

Prediction

Without a doubt, City are favorites coming into this match, and deservedly so.  They’ve been the gold standard in England for the past decade, and now possess the soon to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner Erling Haaland.  This team on paper and, at times this season, on the field have looked like a footballing juggernaut.  However, the Light Blues have been coasting since they beat Real Madrid in the UCL semifinal on May 17th.  As a result, I believe that United will be sharper, hungrier, and physically and mentally stronger than City will be today.  Thus, the Red Devils will win 2-1, and for City, this result will pose as a wakeup call ahead of next week’s ultimate fixture against Inter Milan.

Jude's Meisterschale Immortality

For the 1st time in eleven years, barring an unforeseen upset, a club other than FC Bayern Munchen will win the Bundesliga title.  Yes that’s right, Bayern has gone an entire decade straight of being German Champions.  An absolutely remarkable feat, even if the monetary gap between FCB and its domestic challengers has widened significantly over the years.  But indeed the end of an era for FC Hollywood is near, and near is Saturday afternoon when rivals Borussia Dortmund clinch the title with a win at home over Mainz.

The last time a club other than FCB hoisted the Meisterschale was in the 2011-12 season when a Jurgen Klopp led BVB Dortmund finished atop of the Bundesliga table, and that was for a second season in a row, I might add.  Looking back at that team, Klopp had assembled a squad filled with future stars in Robert Lewandowski, Matts Hummels, Ivan Perisic, and Ilkay Gundogan.  In addition, there were many other talented professionals in the side such as club captains Lukasz Piszczek and Marcel Schmelzer, as well as Mario Gotze, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Shinji Kagawa, and the list goes on.

Similar to that 2011-12 team, this current edition of Dortmund appears to have a youthful core of players such as Jude Bellingham, Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko, Gio Reyna, Mateu Morey, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Gregor Kobel.  In addition to this septuplet, BVB features a slew of players in the peak of their primes such as Julian Brandt, Emre Can, Niklas Sule, Raphael Guerreiro, Marius Wolf, and of course, Sebastian Haller.  Lastly, seasoned-veterans Marco Reus and Matts Hummels round out this well balanced squad.

If there is one player that was most instrumental in this title winning triumph for the Black and Yellows, it must be the teenaged sensation Jude Bellingham.  The box-to-box midfielder does it all.  He not only possess the technical and athletic skills of a world class player, but also the mental prowess to be a leader, even at the tender age of 19.  As such, he's officially been designated as Dortmund’s 3rd Captain, behind only the aforementioned Marco Reus (1st Captain, age 34) and Matts Hummels (2nd Captain, age 34).  In addition, Jude isn’t just already an England international, but also an every day starter for the Three Lions.  His contributions were a large part to England’s admirable run in World Cup 2022, losing narrowly to the defending Champions France in the Knockout rounds.  For Dortmund, he embodied the spirit, the will, and the fight of the Yellow Wall.  And as such, he continued to press on, leading BVB from 9 points down in the table, to catching and ultimately surpassing Bayern in the standings.

Unfortunately for Dortmund, this title may be its first and last for awhile, as the club will undoubtedly sell Bellingham on for a fee between $120-150 million to either Real Madrid or Manchester City.  Despite Dortmund having one of the largest fanbases in Europe, and routinely churning out top attendance numbers year-over-year at Signal Iduna Park, the club simply can’t compete monetarily with the likes of Real, Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern, and heck, even somehow $1.5 Billion in debt Barcelona.  And because of this monetary gap, coupled with a perceived disparity in club/league prestige, Dortmund will likely sell on many of the other aforementioned youth starlets in the coming years, same as BVB did with Jadon Sancho, Cristian Pulisic, and Ousmane Dembele in recent memory.  As a result, Dortmund is unlikely to retain the title next season, it’ll be back in Bavaria I’m sure, which is why this title triumph should be held in the highest esteem.  A club, Dortmund, that runs in a financially respectable manor, scouts and recruits the best prospects across the globe, nurtures these young men, developed them into top professionals, and now finally has won a league title before its youthful core gets picked a part one by one from super clubs throughout Europe, should be thoroughly applauded, and it’s players will be immortalized forever in the Rhineland.  This 2022-23 Bundesliga title is truly the triumph of triumphs in today's era of money driven football, as an organic approach was won for the first time in a long time.

UCL Final To Feature City/Inter

The 2023 Champions League Final matchup is set!  After two decisive ties, Manchester City and Inter Milan will square off on Saturday, June 10th from Istanbul, Turkey!  The Cityzens absolutely throttled the ‘Kings of Europe’, Real Madrid, last night to the tune of a 4-0 scoreline. In perhaps City’s best performance of the Pep Guardiola era, we saw Bernardo Silva score twice, the out of former Eder Militao concede an own goal courtesy of the mounting pressure imposed by Manchester City, and then followed by 2023 World Cup Champion Julian Alvarez netting shortly before the final whistle.  It feels as though this is finally the year in which we witness City win the elusive Champions League trophy.  The addition of record-setter Erling Haaland coupled with Pep having his squad peaking down the stretch (City have won 19 of the past 23 games, drawing the other four, in all competitions) makes it seem as if this version of City is truly unstoppable and destined to not just be crowned Champions of Europe, but rather be immortalized as Treble winners at the conclusion of this campaign.  The Premier League is all but wrapped up now.  At most, City need just two points from their remaining three league fixtures to win the club’s fifth EPL title within the past six years.  Then, there’s the FA Cup on June 3rd from Wembley Stadium, where City face crosstown rivals Manchester United.  The Red Devils would love nothing more than to squash City’s hopes of winning the Treble, but the odds are firmly against an upset occurring.  Thus, it’ll be up to Internazionale to stand stout and prevent the Cityzens from achieving club football’s most prized accolade, The Treble!

Inter Milan has a riche, trophy-laden history of their own.  They’ve been to the mountain top of Europe on more than one occasion, winning the Champions League three times.  Most recently was in 2010, and in that season, the Nerazurri staked claim to the club's 1st and only Treble winning season.  A club winning the domestic league and cup, as well as the Champions League all in the same season has occurred just nine times in 67 years.  Fast forward to this year, and Inter has a chance to win the Domestic and European Cup Double, which is still quite the accomplshment.  In order to stop streaking City from becoming the tenth Treble winner, they must defend for their lives, and as aforementioned in previous articles, I believe that the Snakes’ backline has the ability to stand firm and suffer for 90 minutes.  However, I foresee the matchup in the midfield playing a crucial part in this game, as Kevin DeBruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Rodri are breathtakingly effective and efficient in winning the ball, picking passes, making runs into the box, and slotting home strikes from all over the 18 yard box. Another pivotal factor in this match, only made possible if Inter can keep the match tied or have a lead on City heading into the final 20-30 minutes, is mental makeup.  Whilst Inter’s current squad of players haven't experienced this European stage before, the club itself has, and as we've seen with Real Madrid and fellow city rival AC Milan, when the club has that winning pedigree, that confidence permeates through the clubhouse and often times spills onto the pitch, which could very well happen for Inter in Istanbul.  However for Man City, they’ve never won the Champions League, and the core of this squad only has the memory of being favorites against Chelsea some years ago and failing to score en route to losing 1-0 to the Blues.  Thus, if the match is still hanging in the balance at the latter stages, will City rise above past failures, and kick on to winning the club’s first UCL title and likely Treble or will the Cityzens succumb to the pressures of the past and present once more?  Get your popcorn ready, because we’ll find out in two weeks time.

Lewnau SB's Thow-Ins

Ancellotti Irritated By Officials

My how the tables have turned as Madrid was finally left on the wrong side of a controversial call in the UEFA Champions League.  For years, pre-VAR in particular,  we’ve seen Los Blancos be the beneficiary of weak, questionable, and down right egregious calls within the White House walls on European nights.  As such, those ‘missed’ calls from the officiating crew would help spur Madrid on to winning said matches en route to stockpiling their Champions League trophy cabinet.  However, last night we witnessed a sideline decision favor Manchester City.  The ball clearly went out of play, but the officials didn’t see it and because a certain amount of time had passed between that incident and Kevin De Bruyne equalizing from long range, VAR decided not to play its part.

Carlo Ancelotti was quite vocal about the issue Tuesday night during his post-game presser, and although many pundits are siding with VAR’s decision not to buzz down to the head official on the field, I believe there is credence to what Carlo was saying.  For me, the goal should have been disallowed, and in turn Madrid may have indeed won the match 1-0 instead of drawing 1-1, which at this stage of the competition is a massive difference in the aggregate scoreline. Just because Camavinga had intercepted a pass and gained possession back for Madrid shouldn’t automatically disqualify Los Blancos the opportunity for VAR to intervene.  Camavinga was still in and around Madrid’s own penalty area as opposed to Madrid receiving the proper throw-in near midfield.  In addition, the Real player was under duress from the Man City opposition, a situation that would have likely not occurred had the thrown-in been awarded.  And lastly, because of where the turnover occurred, Man City recovered the ball in a highly advantageous area for goalscoring, which is what ultimately happened via De Bruyne’s sumptuous strike.  Thus, Madrid undoubtedly should have been awarded the throw-in.  But hey, unless you’re a Madrid or Spain supporter, you probably took some enjoyment out of the fact that Real finally got the raw end of a pivotal postseason call.

Sergio Busquets To Leave Barca

After spending nearly the last two decades in Barcelona, Sergio Busquets is set to call time at the Spotify Camp Nou.  The Blaugrana’s current captain has been a senior team member for 15 years, and during which time he’s won an incredible 32 trophies.  Included in his haul features eight LaLiga, seven Copas del Rey, and three Champions League titles.  He’ll be remembered for his midfielding mastery, being able to relieve pressure with the most minimal amount of movement in thanks to his incredible ball skills. Time and again, the Spaniard would leave defenders deceived, and baffled to have not dispossessed him.  It’s truly an end to an era, as Busi was the last active Barca player from Pep’s 2009 Champions League winning starting Xl.  We thank you for the memories Sergio!  #ForcaBarca

UEFA Champions League Semifinals Preview, Part 2

Associazione Calcio Milan

Road To Semifinals

For AC Milan, the road to the semifinals began as a breeze.  The Rossoneri cruised into the knockout phase of the Champions League finishing four points ahead of Red Bull Salzburg as runners-up in Group F.  However, the competition ratcheted up a notch for the Round of 16 as the Diavolo squared off against Tottenham Hotspur. As such, with the London based club led by international captains Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Milan was picked by many to exit the Champions League.  But that wasn’t the case.  Over the 180 minutes of this two-legged tie, the Rossoneri was able to bottle Harry and Heung-min en route to a 1-0 aggregate win.  The lone goal came in the first leg at the famed San Siro and was struck by Real Madrid loanee Brahim Diaz.  Then came Milan’s stiffest test yet in the quarterfinals against Napoli.  The Naples based club has run away with Serie A and will soon be crowned champions of Italy for the first time since Maradona donned the powder blue kit in the 1980’s.  As a result of the Azzuri’s excellent season both domestically and in Europe up to this stage, Milan once again was considered underdogs.  But once again, the Rossoneri responded with a stellar defensive performance over the two legs and stifled Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen, limiting the Nigerian forward to a conciliation goal in the 90+3’ of the second-legged match of the tie.  In turn, Milan won the tie 2-1 and now look forward to a Derby della Madonnina semifinal against bitter city rivals Inter.

Players To Watch

The aforementioned Diaz has been a delight for Milan since joining the Rossoneri outfit in 2020.  He’s largely a creator of play, however he’s still scored six times and assisted on a further four occasions from his attacking midfield role this season.  In addition to Diaz, watch out for Olivier Giroud.  The veteran striker has routinely been over looked and under appreciated dating back to his days at Arsenal.  However, Giroud, France’s all-time leading goalscorer, has consistently popped up with goals in crucial moments wherever he’s been, including in Milan.  Most recently, Giroud struck the back of the net just before half-time against Napoli.  That goal gave the Rossoneri a 2-0 advantage over the two legs of the tie and created a level of confidence within the squad that ultimately saw Milan push through to the semis.

LSB Prediction

What a rare spectacle we’ve been blessed with this year as us spectators get to watch a two-legged semifinal between Milan rivals Inter and AC in what’s called the Derby della Madonnina!  As such, the San Siro will be as energized as ever considering what’s at stake, a trip to the UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul, Turkey.  This matchup features Serie A’s last two Scudetto winners as Inter won the title in 2021 followed by AC last season in 2022.  In addition, these two clubs have the richest history for Italian based clubs in Europe with inter having won the Champions League and Europa League three times apiece.  Meanwhile, AC has won the UCL seven times (Second most al-time) and the Europa League twice.

Once kickoff has commenced and the 180 minutes has been played, I foresee Inter Milan edging AC 3-1 on aggregate.  Thanks to a stouter defensive unit featuring Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, and Alessandro Bastoni coupled with a more dynamic midfield and physically imposing strikers in Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan will be headed to the UCL Final!