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The dreaded international break has seemingly come at the worst possible time for Manchester United, with the Red Devils having just begun to find their groove under new boss Ruben Amorim.

Prior to this recent halt to proceedings, the Old Trafford side notably put four past Real Sociedad in the Europa League, before breezing past relegations strugglers, Leicester City in their most recent outing.

Following that 3-0 win over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Foxes, Amorim admitted that it was a “shame” that the international break was set to follow. His captain, Bruno Fernandes, is likely to have felt the same.

It was the Portuguese playmaker who rounded off that King Power rout with a delightful, sweeping finish from just outside the area, with that effort having been the 30-year-old’s fourth goal that week, after also netting a hat-trick just a few days earlier.

With six goals and assists to his name in his last four Premier League outings – having also scored in the FA Cup against Fulham – the former Sporting CP star is bang in form at this crucial stage of the campaign, with Europa League success likely to rest largely on his shoulders.

Bruno Fernandes' record under Amorim

Speaking earlier this month, Fernandes admitted that he had spoken with the United hierarchy about his future at the club last summer, having received an “offer” to leave the Red Devils.

Thankfully, as far as INEOS are concerned, the £300k-per-week hero opted to instead extend his contract at Old Trafford, with the midfielder now once again a key figure under the new Amorim regime.

Year in, year out, the 78-cap international steps up and delivers for the Manchester side, with it no surprise that his new boss lauded him as a “special guy” following that latest win in Leicester.

Despite initial question marks over where he would fit into his compatriot’s 3-4-3 set-up, Fernandes has inevitably made himself a key cog in Amorim’s machine, as his recent form has indicated.

From initially lining up in one of the two number ten berths, the one-time Udinese man has since dropped into a deep-lying berth alongside Manuel Ugarte or Casemiro, with that alteration having proven particularly fruitful of late.

Erik ten Hag

120

29

32

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

97

44

34

Ruben Amorim

27

12

8

Ralf Rangnick

26

5

5

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

4

2

Michael Carrick

3

1

1

Total

277

95

82

Indeed, since Amorim took charge, Fernandes has already registered 20 goals and assists in just 27 games in all competitions, with the 2020 arrival having featured the most number of times for the new boss, alongside Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui.

Like their captain, both men have proven themselves to be readily available and largely dependable in recent months, with Mazraoui particularly shining of late.

Man Utd's new Bruno Fernandes

What sets Fernandes apart in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era is not only his goal contributions, but also his availability, having missed just a handful of games in over five years in English football. It is no wonder that Amorim has described him as the “perfect captain”.

Similar praise has, however, been dished out for Mazraoui, with the 40-year-old stating that the Moroccan defender is the “future of our team”:

As his regular involvement under Amorim has illustrated, the ex-Bayern Munich man is not one to shy away from the action, with his manager also describing him as “amazing” for continuing to perform despite being physically “dead” on his feet.

Not only is the 27-year-old alike to Fernandes in that regard, but his versatility is also particularly key, having so far operated on either flank, or in the centre of defence in the 3-4-3, while having previously played in a number ten berth against Fenerbahce under Erik ten Hag.

Fernandes, for instance, has played in a deep-lying role or in a more advanced attacking berth of late, while he did also operate in a wide role during Ten Hag’s tenure.

Similar to his skipper too, Mazraoui has also been one of the rare transfer success stories of modern times, with journalist Liam Canning describing him as “one of United’s best signings in the past 10 years”, as he is “so technically good and intelligent” and – as alluded to – “can fill in anywhere”.

It is the full-back’s technical quality that truly does set him apart as he appears at ease when gliding forward with the ball at his feet, while he also ranks in the top 5% of top-flight full-backs for tackles made per 90, again illustrating his commitment to the cause. In the words of Statman Dave, he is a “10/10 every game”.

Rarely in the last decade or so, have United been able to look back fondly on a transfer, but if the early signs are anything to go by, then the £13m capture of Mazraoui could well buck that trend – as Fernandes has already done before him.

Next captain after Bruno: INEOS have struck gold on Man Utd's "warrior"

Man Utd could have found a new future skipper to succeed Bruno Fernandes

ByRobbie Walls Mar 17, 2025

Alarm bells are ringing for Mauricio Pochettino's squad with the Gold Cup on the horizon and the U.S. now losers of four straight

There was plenty of blame to go around at Geodis Park on Tuesday night, but Mauricio Pochettino was eager to shoulder as much of it as he could. This was his fault, he said. He took a risk, and that risk didn't work. The result of that? A 4-0 battering and, in this case, a hard lesson learned.

In truth, Pochetitno was far from the only one who will be having flashback about this Switzerland shellacking. Nathan Harriel and Walker Zimmerman made a mess of the first goal. Max Arfsten did little to stop the second. Matt Turner parried the third right into danger, while Mark McKenzie was turned like a top on the fourth.

Those are just the goals. The players on the other side of the ball did little to help, as the U.S. press was nonexistent and the forwards were all too silent.

Pochettino, as the architect of this four-match losing streak, says he'll bear the brunt of the blame. It was Pochettino who selected an experimental and limited-cap XI, one that featured nine changes and few of his established regulars. It was Pochettino that put those players in positions where the struggled to succeed. And ultimately, it was Pochettino who pulled the plug, allowing the U.S. to survive through a 0-0 second half and salvage some form of pride with the veterans thrown into the game.

"It's our responsibility, and my responsibility was the decision of the starting XI," Pochettino said after the game. "I wanted to give the possibility to others on the roster to play. That is the reason we took, but it's something that went in the wrong direction in the beginning. I think that was my first thought. To blame ourselves because it was our decision.

"I think the combination of the starting level of the team, I think wasn't at the pace, but this is about learning and then saying 'Move on.' In the second half, we changed the system and provided more calmness to the team."

At the moment, the mood surrounding the USMNT is anything but calm. Alarm bells are ringing with the Gold Cup on the horizon and the U.S. now losers of four straight, with Pochettino now 5-5 in his first 10 matches. This group, the one that will now head to that Gold Cup, was exposed against Switzerland. From top to bottom, everyone had a bad day.

Can they bounce back? Is there anything they can salvage from the worst loss of this still-new Pochettino era – and worst shutout for the USMNT since they lost 4-0 to Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying in 2016? Pochettino believes so. We'll find out in the Gold Cup, which starts against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday night.

"I think were are much better players, a much better team and much better coaches after a defeat like this, because you learn," he said. "If you're intelligent, you learn."

The U.S. has a lot of learning to do and little time to do it. The Gold Cup is days away and, after another rough night, the U.S. is limping into it.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Geodis Park.

Getty ImagesLOSER: Matt Turner

There were question marks before. Now there is considerable concern. When you're mired in a goalkeeper competition, you can't afford to make mistakes, and Turner made a massive one.

"The last thing you want is for balls to be rippling back into the net like that," Turner admitted, "so, yeah, it was frustrating."

Excuse him for the first goal, which would have been a tough save, but was possible. No chance on the second, given the collapse that led to it. The third, though? That was all Turner, as he parried the ball straight into the path of Breel Embolo for the world's easiest finish. Could he have caught it? Could he have pushed the shot somewhere else? Would a different goalkeeper have done better with it?

That last question, in particular, will be the one that will be the talking point. Even with a reported Lyon move looming, Turner's status is on shakier ground than ever, thanks to a underwhelming performance.

"Obviously, I hope to play every game at the Gold Cup, but I don't think that my performance tonight necessarily warrants being the out-and-out starter all the time," Turner said. "For me, I'm just going to continue to work hard in training and try to earn my opportunities when they present themselves.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWINNERS: The second tier watching from home

When this USMNT Gold Cup squad was announced, Pochettino explained that the reason several notable players were left out was because he believed he had others who deserved a chance to prove themselves. They haven't, at least so far, and those watching at home must be feeling like their temporary exclusion will only be that.

Players such as Joe Scally, Josh Sargent, Tanner Tessmann, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alejandro Zendejas and Auston Trusty were among those left out of the team. All are generally part of the USMNT's second tier – not quite starters, but are capable of starting when called upon. All will feel better about their chances after watching those nipping at their heels fall flat.

That's not to say that each of those guys doesn't have something to prove. All have question marks. That group is, generally, more proven than the one that is involved in this Gold Cup. And through these two games, there's little evidence that group is better. Things can change quickly, of course, and a deep Gold Cup run would enhance those on the squad. But at the moment, it's not been impressive.

Getty ImagesLOSER: Brian White

Another case of a newer player going against one of the game's best. Manuel Akanji is a Premier League champion. Brian White is not. That was painfully evident.

Whenever there was a duel between the two, Akanji threw White aside with ease. It was a different level of strength and skill than White is used to seeing in MLS. Akanji trains with Erling Haaland every day – why would he be concerned about White?

Pochettino removed him at halftime, turning to the physicality and size of Patrick Agyemang. Fortunately for the Charlotte star, Akanji, too, was off at halftime, although, to his credit, Agyemang instantly tested the Switzerland backline far more than White did during his 45 minutes on the field on Tuesday.

White is a good player, a talented finisher who makes the most of his opportunities in the box. On Tuesday, he was never allowed to get close, though, exposing some of the parts of his game not at a elite level.

"It's a good opportunity but, at the same time, you take a risk in competing with this level of opponent," Pochettino said. "Akanji, Manchester City, one year ago wins the Champions League. (Ricardo) Rodriguez, (Granit) Xhaka, so many good players. When you face these types of players and a team that is very solid, like Turkey, yes, it's a risk."

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Getty ImagesWINNERS: Supersubs

At halftime, down 4-0, Pochettino knew he needed a change. He made several, sending in an army of the players who have no doubt earned his trust.

Patrick Agyemang, Diego Luna, Tim Ream and Malik Tillman were joined by Pochettino newcomer – but Bundesliga veteran – John Tolkin. From there, the game was more neutral. Was it perfect? By no measure. The U.S. still struggled to create and never really got a foothold. It was better, though, closer to 50-50, which was good even if Switzerland was taking their foot off the gas. The second half was a 0-0 affair.

It's pretty clear now that this roster can be split into two parts: the players Pochettino knows and trusts and those with something to prove. Those substitutes, by and large, make up the former camp. All will play big parts in the Gold Cup and, potentially, in the games to come beyond this summer's tournament.

Bangladesh-born fast bowler goes straight into XI to face Surrey in County Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2023Arafat Bhuiyan, a British-Bangladeshi seam bowler, has become the seventh graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to sign professional terms, after joining Kent for the remainder of the 2023 season.Bhuiyan was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but has UK residency, and has taken 17 wickets for Kent’s second XI, including best figures of 4 for 81 against Hampshire earlier this month. He made his first-class debut in Kent’s ongoing fixture against Surrey at the Kia Oval.He currently plays his club cricket in the Kent Premier League for Blackheath, and has also featured for Surrey, Essex and Derbyshire’s Second XIs in the past six years, as well as stints for MCC’s Young Cricketers side in 2019, and SACA this year.”I’m over the moon to have signed for Kent,” Bhuiyan said. “It’s a dream come true to become a professional cricketer and I feel all my hard work has paid off.”I’m grateful to Kent, especially Second XI Coach Mark Dekker, for the faith they have showed in me, and hope I can perform well if given the opportunity.”Bhuiyan moved to Birmingham to be part of SACA’s winter training programme, and credited that experience for fast-tracking his professional ambitions.”I would also like to thank Dr Tom Brown from SACA for giving me the opportunity to train and for accommodating me during the Winter in Birmingham,” he said. “I can’t speak highly enough about the amount of work he is putting into this programme.”Kent’s Director of Cricket, Paul Downton, added: “Arafat comes highly recommended from our pathway coaches and has impressed with his pace and control with the ball for us this year. He brings much-needed depth to our bowling attack as we head into a busy period of the season.”

Jobe Bellingham made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in their FIFA Club World Cup opener against Fluminense.

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Bellingham makes Dortmund debutCame on as substitute in 59th minuteGoalless draw against FluminenseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The youngster followed in his elder brother Jude's footsteps and appeared in a Dortmund shirt for the first time since completing a €33 million (£28m/$38m) move from Sunderland last week. Bellingham was introduced on the hour mark as he replaced former Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross.

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Dortmund boss Niko Kovac had earlier confirmed that the teenager wouldn't feature in the starting lineup as he had only joined the squad for a week. BVB began their Club World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Brazilian giants Fluminense.

DID YOU KNOW?

It was also reported that Kovac will exploit the youngster's offensive capabilities from midfield by using him as an attacking midfielder, although he will also be used in a deeper role.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BORUSSIA DORTMUND?

The Bundesliga side will be back in action on Saturday as they take on South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in their second group game.

Vihari is not sure why he suddenly found himself out of the Test side, but feels he has the time and the skills to make another impression – and not just in red-ball cricket

Shashank Kishore11-Jul-2023On India’s previous tour of the Caribbean in 2019, Hanuma Vihari realised his childhood dream of scoring a Test century. Four years on and 10 Tests later, Vihari finds himself at a crossroads.When Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped during the home series against Sri Lanka early last year, Vihari replaced him at No. 3. It’s a spot he managed to hold on to for just three Tests, in which he made scores of 58, 31, 35, 20 and 11.Two of those innings were on a rank turner in Bengaluru where India beat Sri Lanka in under three days. Two others were in Birmingham, in the fifth Test against England in July last year, where there was seam and swing to counter. Not new, but certainly challenging.Related

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The slow burn finish that took South into the Duleep Trophy final

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Vihari: 'I play to win, even if batting with one hand or one leg'

Vihari hasn’t played for India since that Test. His overall numbers read: 839 runs in 28 innings with five fifties and one hundred. At 29, Vihari is now trying to find a balance between manufacturing a comeback and trying to maximise every opportunity that comes his way.On Wednesday, the same day Vihari leads out South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final against West Zone in Bengaluru, it’s likely India will field a debutant in Yashasvi Jaiswal at No. 3, half a world away in Dominica against West Indies.Vihari isn’t one to hope for someone to fail for him to get his chance, but after months of letting the feeling of being dropped gnaw at him, he says he has learnt to let go and is now only focusing on starting afresh.”It’s always tough to make a comeback,” Vihari said in Bengaluru during the Duleep Trophy semi-final, where he made a quickfire 43 on a tense final day to seal victory. “Once you’re dropped, it plays on your mental side as well. It affects your mindset. I’ve gone through that last season.”This season, I want to keep everything aside and focus on my batting, try to get better at my skills and do what I’ve been doing best for the last 12 years in first-class cricket. If it happens, it happens. If not, I’ll try to keep getting better and help my state side or zone.”

“I thought whenever I got a chance, I did my best. Maybe my best was not good enough for the Indian team. But again, I will try to keep getting better. That’s all you can do as a sportsman.”Hanuma Vihari on being dropped from the Indian Test team

Vihari admits finding motivation can be hard after being dropped. But he’s also aware there is no other way out but to find new answers to old questions.”It’s very tough to be motivated. That’s where family really plays a part. They’ve been supportive, they understand what I’m going through. It’s a difficult phase. If anyone says we are motivated to come back, maybe they are.”For me, it took a lot of time to understand why I was dropped and then to again get motivated to try and make a comeback. I try to work on my game both mentally and physically. Now I’m in a good space; I want to go out there and get runs. The rest I leave it to the selectors.”Vihari isn’t sure why he was dropped at the time he was but wants to draw inspiration from Ajinkya Rahane’s comeback story. A year and a half after being left out, Rahane returned to the Indian team for the World Test Championship final and is now in the Caribbean as vice-captain of the Test side.”I’m not sure still,” Vihari said when asked if he’d found an answer to why he was left out. “I thought whenever I got a chance, I did my best. Maybe my best was not good enough for the Indian team. But again, I will try to keep getting better. That’s all you can do as a sportsman. Keep getting better in different aspects. I’ll continue doing that this coming season.”Hope is always there until you retire that you can come back. I’m still 29 and have a lot of time to go. I’ve seen Ajinkya Rahane make a comeback at 35. I have a long way to go. I still feel I can contribute to the Indian side in the Test format, especially if I can get some runs in the domestic season.”1:59

Back to Ajinkya Rahane: India’s merry-go-round with Test vice-captains

Vihari, though, knows he doesn’t have the benefit that Rahane enjoyed – an IPL season to further his case. He played the last of his 24 IPL games in 2019, aggregating 284 runs in the competition overall at a strike rate of 88.47, and has gone unsold at the auctions since. Vihari said he has worked on his white-ball game but perceptions that he is a “Test player” haven’t helped.”You can’t do anything, I was doing commentary this season,” Vihari said when asked what one could possibly do in the situation he finds himself in, where he doesn’t play in the IPL.”Everyone says ‘he’s a Test player’, they brand me as a Test player. I don’t think its fair. I have grown as a white-ball player as well, but many don’t believe that because they brand you as a certain player, only red-ball or white-ball. It’s not fair on both sides.”A quality player can play all formats. If you’ve seen me over the years, I’ve been contributing to all teams. Hopefully I can make a comeback in IPL and white-ball to be seen more in public. Many players have been making a comeback in IPL and getting opportunities in red-ball cricket. Going forward, I want to play all formats. I want to be challenged in all formats. I’m just 29, I’m looking to make a comeback in all formats.”

Chelsea are reportedly set to hijack Newcastle's move for Joao Pedro, despite the Brighton striker currently being in talks with the Magpies.

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Joao Pedro in talks with NewcastleMaresca keen on swooping inRumoured fee of £60mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to The Sun, the Blues are considering a concrete bid for Pedro, although unlike Newcastle, they are yet to enter any formal negotiations. With the 23-year-old missing the final two games of last season and Brighton already lining up a replacement in Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas, a move to one of the two Premier League heavy hitters is expected, and Maresca has signalled he is interested.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea are on the hunt for reinforcements in multiple areas, with Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens reportedly a priority for the club. Pedro is seen as a strong alternative if they can't land the BVB man, but he's likely to cost at least £60m.

WHAT MARESCA SAID

Asked about the need for attacking reinforcements, Maresca said: "Jadon [Sancho] is not with us so for sure that is a position we need to do something. We have Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] and Ty[rique George] only as the proper wingers. So something, for sure, is going to happen."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

The recent £30m signing of Ipswich Town star Liam Delap may have strengthened Chelsea's attacking options, but the west London outfit is still aggressively pursuing numerous targets, including Gittens and Pedro. Meanwhile, Maresca is leading the club's Club World Cup charge in the States, with Chelsea facing up against Flamengo in their next fixture.

Sune Luus, Hayley Matthews and Chamari Athapaththu also named as the first nominees for the inaugural WBBL overseas draft

Alex Malcolm02-Aug-2023Five international captains in Harmanpreet Kaur, Sophie Devine, Sune Luus, Hayley Matthews and Chamari Athapaththu are the first players unveiled as nominees for the inaugural WBBL overseas draft to be held on September 3 ahead of the upcoming season.Four of the five players have been regulars in the WBBL with Devine and Harmanpreet both winning Player of the Tournament awards. Devine is the only player in WBBL history to have been named Player of the Tournament twice doing it in back-to-back seasons in 2019-20 and 2020-21 for two different clubs in Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers, where she is currently the captain.Previously, WBBL clubs have been free to recruit overseas players privately but for the first time this season the WBBL will have an overseas player draft after it was introduced in the men’s BBL last season. Both drafts will be held on the same day on September 3 and will have the same format. Sydney Thunder have the first pick in the draft following the draft lottery on July 13.ESPNcricinfo LtdInternational players will nominate for various salary bands with WBBL Platinum players to earn AUD$110,000 to be paid by the clubs from the AUD$732,000 salary cap. Gold players will earn AUD$90,000, Silver AUD$65,000 and Bronze will earn AUD$40,000.Harmanpreet and Devine will almost certainly be Platinum players available to be selected in the first round. Four of the five will be eligible to be retention picks. Harmanpreet will be available to be retained by Melbourne Renegades as will Matthews and Athapaththu. Matthews only spent one edition there last year, having played five seasons previously with Hobart Hurricanes, but captained Renegades in two matches last season. Athapaththu played two seasons at Renegades in 2017-18 and 2018-19 but played in 2021-22 for Scorchers before returning to Renegades last year.Sophie Devine latches on to a cut•Getty ImagesDevine can be retained by Scorchers but not Adelaide Strikers having been captain of the Scorchers for the past three seasons. Luus did play nine games with Brisbane Heat in 2018-19 but WBBL rules state that a player who was not on a team in the previous season can only be retained by a club if they have played at the club for a minimum of two seasons and haven’t been contracted to another team. Luus has only played for one season at Heat.Each club is only allowed one retention pick, meaning Renegades will need to choose between Harmanpreet, Matthews and Athapaththu as to which player they would like to retain. They can opt not to retain any of them. They could also re-draft all three if no other club chooses to take them when they are available.The WBBL will announce further draft nominations in the coming weeks.

“We can’t afford injuries in that big tournament which involves practice matches and lots of travel,” says Bangladesh captain

Mohammad Isam10-Sep-2023Shakib Al Hasan feels Bangladesh should rest their ODI World Cup-bound players during the home series against New Zealand later this month to ensure that they are “fit and healthy.” The three-match ODI series begins on September 21 and concludes on 26 in Dhaka, with both teams set to travel to India the following day. Both New Zealand and Bangladesh have two warm-up matches each on September 29 and October 2, respectively.Shakib conceded that one of the reasons to ask for this short period of rest is because of “lots of travel” that the team would have during the tournament in India. Bangladesh’s home series against New Zealand could also be an opportunity to test their bench strength. They are yet to name the squad for the World Cup.”We will try a few things in the three ODIs against New Zealand,” Shakib said. “If we can get one or two players from there who can fit into the team [later], it will be better for the team. Everyone has a chance [to play]. I personally believe that those who played in the Asia Cup could be rested from the New Zealand series, especially those who are confirmed for the World Cup.Related

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Ferguson to captain New Zealand in Bangladesh ODI series

“We cannot afford injuries in that big tournament which involves practice matches and lots of travel. We don’t have a lot of bench strength. It is very important for us that players are fit and healthy for the World Cup. I want all four of our fast bowlers to remain fit, now that Ebadot [Hossain] is out.”Bangladesh’s opponents, New Zealand, have picked a second-string squad led by Lockie Ferguson with Tom Latham among a group of senior players given a break before the World Cup.Meanwhile, Shakib suggested that the question about Mahmudullah’s return was “irrelevant” now, although BCB president Nazmul Hassan had stated twice since May that he was in contention. Mahmudullah has not played an ODI since March.”I don’t know if you mentioned Riyad [Mahmudullah] when he was missing from the last three series. Now you are saying it (laughs). I think it is very irrelevant. You have again asked the wrong question. Towhid Hridoy replaced Riyad .”

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso lost a key figure ahead of Juventus clash, with David Alaba ruled out for the remainder of the Club World Cup. The 33-year-old Austrian international had been sidelined since April after sustaining a meniscus injury in his left knee, which required surgery. Though he was making progress in his rehabilitation, his latest calf problem has forced Madrid to rule him out.

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Fresh setback for AlabaCentre-back ruled out of CWCHuijsen taking centre stageFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Alaba has not featured in any of Madrid’s three matches thus far and was expected to return later in the tournament. In his absence, new signing Dean Huijsen has risen to the occasion along with Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger in a three-man defence.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT ALONSO SAID

"David is taking a bit longer [to recover]," Alonso said on Thursday. "After the [meniscus] operation we need to be cautious and patient, so step by step, we'll wait a bit longer."

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Alaba isn’t the only big name Real Madrid are missing during the Club World Cup. Defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, along with midfield maestro Eduardo Camavinga, are also on the road to recovery. The trio have been undergoing fitness programs at the club’s training base in Palm Beach.

Ferland Mendy and Brazilian starlet Endrick have remained in Madrid for treatment. Mendy’s return appears far off, with Alonso admitting, "Ferland is still a long way from being on the pitch. Eduardo is taking great steps forward in his recovery. Hopefully, we'll have him back. I don't know if in the next game, or if we go further."

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DID YOU KNOW?

With Alaba and other senior figures missing, 21-year-old Gonzalo García has stepped into the spotlight. The young forward has impressed during the group stage, scoring twice in three appearances. His latest goal came in a 3-0 victory over Austrian side Salzburg in Philadelphia, helping Madrid finish top of their group and qualify for the round of 16. Gonzalo’s rise has been crucial, especially given the continued absence of Kylian Mbappé, who is battling gastroenteritis.

Finland capitalised on an Iceland red card as Katariina Kosola's fine strike delivered a 1-0 victory in the Euro 2025 curtain-raiser.

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Finland beat Iceland 1-0Antonsdottir is sent off Kosola then bags the winnerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE

The winger's goal 12 minutes after Hildur Antonsdottir's second-half dismissal was enough to earn the Fins a narrow win in a tense tournament opener in Thun.

Kosola had already gone close in the opening period, forcing Iceland goalkeeper Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir into a good save, before firing a presentable chance over the top.

Iceland threatened themselves with a couple of goalmouth scrambles, but the game changed in the 58th minute when Antonsdottir was sent off for a second bookable offence, catching her opponent on the top of the foot having already seen yellow for taking Kosola out just six minutes earlier.

Finland took charge from there and Kosola made the player advantage count, driving a rasping effort into the top corner on 70 minutes to give her side a priceless lead.

The Fins avoided any late drama to seal the victory and put themselves in a fine position in Group A. This was Finland's first win at a European Championship since 2009.

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The concerns for Iceland were not limited to the result, with captain and key defender Glodis Perla Viggosdottir, who plies her trade for Bayern Munich, struggling with injury in the first half and replaced at the break. Getting back into the competition will be tricky enough after losing their first match, let alone if they have to do it without their skipper.

THE MVP

Match-winner Kosola was the key player for Finland throughout the game, causing plenty of problems off the left flank. She had threatened her goal in the opening 45 minutes before finally hitting the jackpot with a stunning second-half strike.

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Getty Images SportTHE BIG LOSER

Iceland will reflect on Antonsdottir's red card as the moment that the match slipped out of their grasp. They had ridden a slow start and were coming into the game when the midfielder was dismissed, leaving them in all sorts of trouble.