The countdown to the 21st World Cup can now well and truly begin following Friday s group-stage draw in Moscow.
All 32 teams learned their fate for next year s finals in Russia, and one from those nations will enter football history on July 15 when the final will be contested at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Before we get that far, though, the pool stages must be contested and – with the help of Opta data – we have analysed groups E-H.
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Brazil are the great entertainers and the most successful team in the history of the competition with five victories. A 7-1 humiliation to Germany in 2014 ended their hopes of home success. But Brazil, the only team to have qualified for every finals, coasted through qualifying and …
Theo Hernandez refused to disclose whether his future remains with Milan amid links to Bayern Munich, as the France international places his full focus on Euro 2024.
Defender Hernandez, brother of Paris Saint-Germain s Lucas, has reportedly drawn interest from Vincent Kompany s Bayern as the Bundesliga giants aim to bolster their defence.
The 26-year-old continues to impress for the Serie A side, who appointed Paulo Fonseca as Stefano Pioli s success this week, despite Milan finishing well behind rivals Inter in the 2023-24 campaign.
Unsurprisingly, his reliable form has led to speculation over his future in Italy, though Hernandez does not want to think about that ahead of France s Euro 2024 opener against Austria on Monday.
Now I am 100 per cent focuse…
Lionel Messi says breaking the single-season MLS points record is a secondary concern for Supporters Shield winners Inter Miami as they approach the playoffs.
Miami clinched their first Supporters Shield triumph by beating the Columbus Crew – the reigning MLS Cup holders – 3-2 on the road on Wednesday, with Messi scoring two goals including a wonderful free-kick.
With two games remaining in the regular season, versus Toronto on Saturday and the New England Revolution two weeks later, Miami could yet set a new points record for the league, with two victories enough to overhaul the Revs 2021 mark of 73 points.
Messi, however, says achieving that feat will mean nothing if the Herons cannot back it up in the postseason.
The points record is secondary, th…
Marcelo Bielsa s Uruguay are the only team capable of stopping Argentina from defending their Copa America crown, so says Sergio Aguero.
First, though, Uruguay will have to overcome nine-time Copa America champions Brazil.
Uruguay, who topped Group C with nine points from their three games, face the Selecao in Las Vegas on Saturday. They scored nine times across those three group contests, which is three goals more than any other team in the competition.
Brazil finished second in Group D, behind Colombia, drawing two and winning one of their matches. Not securing top spot means they now have to overcome a huge quarter-final test.
USA 0-1 Uruguay
Uruguay go through at the top of Group C, and the United States crash out after their goalkeeper attemp…
Frank de Boer has stepped down from his role as Netherlands boss after overseeing a disappointing Euro 2020 campaign.
The 51-year-old took charge of his country in late September 2020 following Ronald Koeman s departure for Barcelona.
He became the first Oranje boss to fail to win any of his first four games but oversaw improvement in the form of eight victories and a draw from the 10 subsequent fixtures.
Three of those triumphs came as the Netherlands cruised through the group stages of this tournament, setting up a last-16 meeting with the Czech Republic.
But the Dutch fell short of their quarter-final target as they lost 2-0 in Budapest; a result that has prompted De Boer to leave his role prior to a planned meeting with KNVB chiefs.
Frank d…
Robert Lewandowski s first-half strike proved enough as LaLiga leaders Barcelona overcame Getafe 1-0 on Wednesday.
Hansi Flick s side were wasteful at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, but ultimately got over the line to make it seven league wins out of seven matches to start the season.
Barca were without a glut of stars due to injury, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is set to be out for the rest of the season, joining Dani Olmo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Fermin Lopez and Andreas Christensen on the treatment table.
The Blaugrana also rested Pedri, though his absence was not felt as Lewandowski pounced on David Soria s error to put the hosts ahead after 19 minutes.
Barca had 16 attempts in total and mustered 1.92 expected goals, yet cou…
Pep Guardiola says any extension to his Manchester City contract will not be agreed until next year, insisting now is not the time to discuss his future.
City require just four points from their final two games to secure the fourth Premier League title of Guardiola s reign at the Etihad Stadium after thrashing Wolves 5-1 on Wednesday.
Title rivals Liverpool extended manager Jurgen Klopp s contract until 2026 last month, sparking speculation City could look to do the same with Guardiola, whose current deal expires at the end of next season.
But Guardiola says any new contract will have to wait until next year, even though he revealed he would be happy to stay for another decade if he was certain City would continue to perform at their current level.
I…
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has confirmed Qatar 2022 will be his last World Cup.
The mercurial Paris Saint-Germain forward will attempt to lift the trophy for the first time after helping his country win the Copa America last year.
Messi, 35, says he will not play in another World Cup following the showpiece in Qatar, which starts on November 20.
He told Star+: This is my last World Cup, surely, yes.
The seven-time Ballon d Or winner does not believe Argentina go into the tournament as the favourites to be crowned champions.
He added: I don t know if we are the great favourites, but Argentina itself is always a candidate because of our history, because of what it means, and more so how we qualified.
But we are not the top favourites. …
Luis Suarez s controversial actions in Brazil four years ago have helped the Barcelona star mature as a player, according to Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez.
Suarez was suspended from all football activities for four months following his actions in a clash against Italy in the group stages in Brazil, having bitten Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder.
That controversy did not prevent Barca signing Suarez from Liverpool, and the 31-year-old has gone on to enjoy a trophy-laden spell at Camp Nou.
The forward will lead the line along with Edinson Cavani for Uruguay and, speaking ahead of their opener against Egypt on Friday, veteran coach Tabarez insisted Suarez has matured since 2014.
Suarez comes to the tournament as a very mature player. I have known him a long t…
Darijo Srna still vividly remembers the pain of Croatia s Euro 2008 exit to Turkey with the two nations poised to resume their rivalry at Parc des Princes on Sunday.
A youthfully gifted Croatia side appeared set to go far in Austria and Switzerland and a late Ivan Klasnic goal had them in-front during extra-time of a tense quarter-final.
But Semih Senturk volleyed an equaliser in the final minute and Turkey prevailed 3-1 on penalties, before losing to eventual runners-up Germany in the semis.
Croatia gained a measure of revenge with a play-off win to deny Turkey a place at Euro 2012 and enter the latest meeting with bone-fide global stars such as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic in their ranks.
Nevertheless, captain Srna a veteran of 130 caps is no fan of ref…