All posts by h716a5.icu

Gregg Berhalter's team accomplished their end goal, but it's safe to say it wasn't a convincing process…

In the end, they got there. The United States men's national team is headed to the 2024 Copa America on home soil, which, ultimately, was the big goal of this camp. However, there was no big celebration, no big blowout of champagne or anything like that. The mood, overall, was somewhat somber. Despite defeating Trinidad & Tobago on aggregate, Monday night certainly didn't feel like a win.

That's because it wasn't; it was a 2-1 loss. That defeat left a sour taste after what will, in the end, be seen as a hugely important camp. It's one that will have lasting ramifications, and not just because of the tournament runs it set the U.S. up for.

With the road to the Copa America now officially beginning, everything the U.S. does will now have one eye towards the summer, and it's safe to say that Sergino Dest hasn't started that road off well at all. His boneheaded red card left his team-mates seething, with the defender being scolded for his "immature" and "disrespectful" decision-making.

That leaves his grip right-back spot a bit less tight than it was before, and it raises a huge question: With two red cards in two big games just a few months apart, can the U.S. really trust Dest the most intense of situations?

That'll be one talking point going forward, but there's plenty do discuss. So, with that said, GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from camp…

GettyWINNER: Antonee Robinson

The big winner of the camp, not that Antonee Robinson needed that title, to be fair. Gregg Berhalter called him an "animal" after the second match, and it feels like a good description. Robinson did just about everything asked of him after missing the October window, proving once again why he's so key to this team.

He's been the left-back for quite some time, and despite the emergence of Kristoffer Lund, it doesn't feel like that'll change any time soon. There's no one in the pool quite as complete as Robinson, who brings so much to the team.

With the U.S., he plays a bit more attacking than he does at Fulham, and he seems to enjoy it. In two games this camp, he got two goals, which is always a nice sight from the full-back position.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Sergino Dest

We already discussed what Dest's dismissal meant in the moment, but now it's time to look at the bigger picture. This incident, his second inexcusable red card of the year after that Nations League mess against Mexico, now leads to one big question: Can the USMNT trust Dest to keep his cool?

On the latest evidence, the answer is no. The Mexico incident is one we can kind of excuse, as players sometimes lose their tempers in those sorts of rivalry games. Getting sent off against Trinidad & Tobago with your team up 4-0 on aggregate? That's not passion; it's stupidity.

Do you think South America's top teams won't have seen that? If a relative minnow like Trinidad & Tobago can get in Dest's head, what do you think a team like Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay can do when the heat is turned up much, much higher?

Dest's play style already makes him something of a liability in those big games, but it seems his mentality may do so as well. And, with the Copa America looming, he has a lot of trust to earn back if he's to make an impact in next summer's tournament.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Gio Reyna

All of the prior nonsense feels like it's even more in the past, as Gio Reyna is more important to this team than ever right now. His goal in the first game was a great finish, one that really put the tie out of reach. He combined well with Folarin Balogun during the sequence and has, realistically, been the only USMNT player to unlock any sort of on-field chemistry with the striker so far.

The finish marked Reyna's third goal in two games, which makes it pretty clear that the past is well and truly behind him. Injuries have thrust him into the XI, no doubt, but his presence in midfield is now undeniable. When he came off after Dest's red card on Monday, the U.S. never looked the same, lacking the control and creativity in midfield to do anything but survive in that second half.

Overall, it's safe to say that Reyna, in just a few games, has rebuilt things quite a bit under Berhalter. It'll take a bit more time to truly earn back the trust of some sections of the USMNT fanbase, but it's clear that this past winter's incident isn't hanging over player or coach. All involved have moved on and, at least so far, taken things to another level, which is a credit to the player and person Reyna is as he leaps into this next phase of his USMNT career.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyLOSER: Folarin Balogun

We'll start by saying that, overall, Balogun's return is pretty good so far. The striker has three goals and two assists in about 530 minutes since debuting for the national team. If your striker averages just under one goal contribution-per-90, you'll probably take that, especially if you're the USMNT.

However, these felt like games where Balogun could really assert himself as the USMNT's superstar attacker. Without the injured Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, these felt like games where Balogun could step up, score some goals and carry a team that needed a bit of juice without two star forwards. Instead, we leave camp saying that Balogun is still adjusting to the USMNT, and that the USMNT is still adjusting to Balogun.

His first game wasn't bad, as he did get that assist on Reyna's goal. However, Ricardo Pepi certainly outshined him with his fantastic flicked-on goal to open the scoring off the bencg. The second game? Little more than a cardio session, as Balogun was limited to mainly hold-up play outside of one early chance.

It's clear that the USMNT is still learning how to play with Balogun. He's a different type of striker than any the U.S. has ever had and adjusting to his skillset will take time. His first real games against a lesser CONCACAF team, though, should have been a chance for Balogun to dominate on quality alone, and he never really did that throughout the two matches.

The Blues are having a bad season but it may have wider reaching effects with a huge international tournament on the horizon at the end of the season

Getty ImagesAlvaro Morata | Spain

Alvaro Morata was left out of Julen Lopetegui's Spain squad for the first time since he joined Chelsea when his bad form hit ahead of the selection for the games against Germany and Argentina in March. 

The Chelsea striker was key in the qualification campaign for Spain, but he was described as "frustrated" by his friend Marcos Alonso, who earned his first call-up for those friendlies. 

Lopetegui picked Diego Costa, Rodrigo and Iago Aspas ahead of Morata, but offered some encouraging words to the Chelsea man. 

"There are many players that deserve to be in the national team but are not here," Lopetegui told Onda Cero radio. "Alvaro has gone through a spell with injuries and that is why we considered it best for him not to be on this list.

"I did call Alvaro before giving the list to tell him that he was not going to come. It's my duty and I do it also with many other players. It's normal that all the players want to come and feel frustrated if they don't."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDavid Luiz | Brazil

David Luiz has not played for Brazil since March 2016 as Tite moves the Chelsea centre-back out of his favoured group, with a call now looking very unlikely. 

The 30-year-old was struggling to be selected even when he was in top form, but he has since seen his chronic knee injury worsen, as his team's form also drops. 

Luiz is fifth or sixth on the pecking order and his best hope may be that a new coach comes in and reinstates him into the reckoning after the tournament is done. 

Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesTiemoue Bakayoko | France

Tiemoue Bakayoko's debut season at Chelsea has been nothing short of a disaster since he made his £40 million move from Monaco last summer. 

Antonio Conte tried hard to integrate Bakayoko into his starting line-up, but his good performances were outnumbered by his poor ones and he is now often seen on the bench. 

His sending-off against Watford was pivotal and it could go down as one of the Premier League's worst-ever displays. 

This poor form, coupled with an immense competition for places with France, means it is almost certain that Bakayoko won't build upon his solitary cap for his national team in the summer. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesGary Cahill | England

Gary Cahill is used to being an ever-present in both Chelsea's and England's squads but things have changed for him recently. 

The good form of Antonio Rudiger has meant that Chelsea's captain has often been left on the bench, which has become a big problem for Cahill in a World Cup year. 

Gareth Southgate admitted it was hard to leave out Cahill, who still holds some hope of getting back in to the Russia 2018 squad, for the recent games against the Netherlands and Italy. 

Southgate said: "Tarkowski and Mawson are players you want to look at for now and beyond the summer. I want to see [Eric] Dier in a back three, too. It’s a very difficult call because Gary has played a lot of qualifiers and is a great guy."

We independently choose all products featured on our site. We may earn a commission when you purchase something through the links provided.

Everything you need to know about the new Juventus kits for the 2023-24 season

Juventus and adidas, a football pairing for the books, and one that will continue on in the 2023-24 season. The duo know how to make a kit an instant classic, the Kaleidoscopic Juventus 2022-23 third jersey a quick favourite among fans.

👕 Shop Juventus 2023-24 kits at adidas right now

adidas unveiled the all-new Juventus 2023-24 home kit on May 12, and what a kit it is. The new home kit takes the legendary Juventus black and white, and modernises the concept for the new supporter. Staying true to club DNA, the home kit features the classic black and white vertical stripes, recoded for the new season with a brushed stroke finish, replicating the unique pattern of a Zebra. And those yellow details? It's a 10/10 from us.

On May 14, Juventus debuted their all-new 2023-24 pre-match jersey during their Serie A match against US Cremonese at Allianz Stadium. The pre-match jersey is a more literal take on a Zebra's coat, but still draws inspiration from their 2023-24 home kit. Its all-over black and white zebra-style print is the perfect addition to the club's growing 2023-24 kit collections.

Juventus unveiled the all-new 2023-24 away kit on July 10, paying homage to the iconic Monte Rosa in all its sunset glory.

So, what new kits will the Juventus squad wear in 2023-24? GOAL takes a look at the jerseys that will be worn by Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria and co., including rumours and leaks, plus how to buy them online.

Juventus 2023-24 kits

The Juventus 2023-24 home kit was launched by adidas on May 12.

For the new 2023-24 season, adidas looked to reimagine the iconic Juventus black and white stripes for a new generation of Juventus fans.

The classic vertical monochrome stripes have been modernised and given an animal-style Zebra makeover through a graphic brush stroke finish. To top it off, the shirt is finished with bright yellow detailing for the Three Stripes, club badge and JEEP sponsor. A top-tier kit we cant wait to see out on the pitch.

The Juventus 2023-24 home kit is available right now, and an authentic shirt will retail for £130.00 at adidas.

Advertisement

adidas unveiled the Juventus 2023-24 away kit on July 10, and what a beauty it is. Taking its place comfortably in the existing 2023-24 kit collection, the away kit is the perfect addition to an already iconic season of kits for the club.

The new away shirt sees a change in direction from the designs of previous Juventus away kits, taking on a predominantly white base.

The fresh new look boasts an eye-catching aesthetic that reflects the iconic snow-capped glacial peaks of the Italian Alps. Rising above its crisp white base, the grey stripes and iconic Juventus pink show a rugged texture that mirrors the rocky Monte Rosa cliff face that punctuates the city of Turin's skyline. The result is an elegantly styled kit with an obvious nod to Turin in a striking and original look.

The Juventus 2023-24 away kit is available to buy now from adidas, with a men's replica shirt retailing at £80.00

A no-nonsense black kit for the Juventus third? Projections and rumours are heading that way. In recent years adidas have had fun with the Juventus third kits, so opting for an all-black would be quite the turn in direction.

There isn’t much speculation to go off, but this Twitter projection suggests the all-black kit will be accented with white detailing and kept really simple. The prediction looks awfully similar to the Juventus 2022-23 away kit, replacing the v-neck with a rounded collar but keeping the theme with signature white accents.

No release date or launch for the Juventus 2023-24 third kit has been announced, but we can expect to see it in the late summer of 2023 – the kit retailing at £70.00 for a replica from adidas.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Juventus debuted their all-new 2023-24 pre-match jersey on May 14, during their Serie A match against US Cremonese at Allianz Stadium.

The Juventus 2023-24 pre-match jersey is a more literal take on a Zebra's coat, but still draws inspiration from their 2023-24 home kit – and boy, do they look good together.

Taking up the base of the shirt is a rendition of the Juventus black and white stripes. The stripes are a lot thinner than any we've seen on previous kits, giving the appearance of a grey look.

The zebra-style pre-match jersey is the perfect addition to the club's growing 2023-24 kit collections. The Juventus 2023-24 pre-match kit is available to buy right now from adidas.

Emma Hayes has explained why Fran Kirby did not start Chelsea's 4-1 victory over Paris FC on Thursday in the Women's Champions League.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Kirby starts on bench against Paris FCHayes: Decision influenced by upcoming England gamesChelsea have one more game before int'l breakWHAT HAPPENED?

The England star was omitted from the starting XI against the UWCL giant killers at Stamford Bridge, with Hayes opting to field Sjoeke Nusken, Erin Cuthbert and Jessie Fleming in midfield. However, with the scores level at 1-1 heading into half time, the Chelsea boss opted to introduce Kirby for Fleming, with the Blues going on to score three unanswered, second-half goals – two of which were registered by Sam Kerr as she completed a 55-minute hat trick.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT EMMA HAYES SAID

Asked why Kirby did not start, Hayes explained that she had one eye on keeping the attacking midfielder fit for England's upcoming games. "I felt there was a lot of work out of possession that over 90 minutes might have been too much for Fran I said this to Sarina [Wiegman] this morning. It’s so important we keep her healthy for England and Chelsea," she said.

"And while Fran always wants to play in every moment, I felt that was the perfect cameo for her. The team needed it. I thought we didn’t work close enough to Sam [Kerr] in the first half, I thought we struggled to build in a double pivot. I changed that shape after 20 minutes but we were sloppy in the first half."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Kirby was recently named in Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses squad for vital UEFA Women's Nations League clashes against the Netherlands and Scotland. Following an unexpected away defeat to Belgium in the last international break, England's chances of qualifying for the finals – and thus securing Great Britain's place at next year's Olympic football tournament – are out of their hands.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Kirby has earned 67 England caps during her career so far, during which time she's netted 18 goals. She made her Lionesses debut all the way back in 2014, scoring in a 4-0 friendly win over Sweden.

Goal takes a look at the best classic World Cup matches of yesteryear in anticipation for this summer's tournament in Russia

GettyBelgium 3-2 Japan | 2018

It took until the 93rd minute for Belgium to claim a 3-2 victory over Japan in their last 16 fixture, staging an incredible comeback after finding themselves 2-0 down just after the break.

Belgium missed a host of chances throughout the game with Romelu Lukaku able to have a hat-trick but spurning every opportunity. Japan – outsiders to win the tie – scored twice in the span of four minutes in the second half to visibly shake Belgium, and were the superior team for large amounts of the game.

Roberto Martinez's side, however, were able to dig deep and score three goals after Japan's opening brace. Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini (the unlikely hero) netted to make it 2-2 before Nacer Chadli scored in the final minute of stoppage time to cap off a brilliant counter-attacking move by Belgium.

AdvertisementFrance 4-3 Argentina | 2018

It was the Kylian Mbappe show as the young forward slotted home twice and played an instrumental role in the build-up to the first goal to send Argentina and Lionel Messi home at the last 16 stage.

France opened the scoring through an Antoine Griezmann spot-kick but Argentina levelled through Angel Di Maria. Benjamin Pavard netted again to put Les Bleus in the lead before Gabriel Mercardo struck home to equalise – but Mbappe scored twice in the span of four minutes to put his side 4-2 up.

Sergio Aguero scored in stoppage time to make it 4-3 but it wasn't enough to force the game into extra time.

It was a thrilling encounter on all sides that fully allowed France to finally showcase their quality in Russia following underwhelming opening group stage performances.

The victory for France means that Argentina crash out disappointingly, and Les Bleus will face either Portugal or Uruguay in the quarter-final.

GettySpain 3-3 Portugal | 2018

Spain vs Portugal was always the match that would have the most build-up ahead of the 2018 World Cup, and it lived up to the hype and more. Enthralling from start to finish, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty to put Portugal up under four minutes before Diego Costa netted shortly afterwards to equalise. Spain led eventually through a fine Isco screamer and another Costa goal, but it wasn't enough to keep Ronaldo quiet.

The Real Madrid star scored an incredible free-kick just before the end of regular time, bagging a hat-trick in the process and putting his name in the history books as he has now scored in four consecutive World Cups. David de Gea's goalkeeping blunder wasn't even the talk of the match as Ronaldo proved that he remains his country's talisman and could very well lead his team far in Russia. The group game between the rival nations has already earned classic status.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettySpain 1-5 Netherlands | 2014

Spain had all their hopes of defending their 2010 glory by being hammered 5-1 by the Netherlands in the group stages that sent shockwaves across football. Xabi Alonso opened the scoring through a penalty won by Diego Costa, but the Netherlands retaliated thick and fast through Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Stefan de Vrij to break the hearts of the three-time, back-to-back world and European champions.

Antonio Conte believes that Bayern Munich have made Harry Kane better and the striker deserves to win trophies after summer switch from Tottenham.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Conte managed Kane during spell at TottenhamEngland striker yet to win trophy in his careerCoach wants striker to win silverware with BayernWHAT HAPPENED?

Conte managed the England international during his spell in charge of the north London outfit. The Italian coach spoke highly of Kane's ability to find the net and insisted that moving to Germany has helped him evolve as a player.

Advertisement(C)GettyImagesWHAT CONTE SAID

In an exclusive interview with , Conte said: "We’re talking about a player who is amazing. This opportunity to play for Bayern Munich made him better. No doubt about his capacity to score.

"I think he needed to go and to change, to find another club, another mentality, another situation. It was important for him. He deserves to win trophies and we are talking about one of the best strikers in the world. He is one of the best I’ve worked with, for sure. He’s a good guy and a good person too. He needed this new experience, another chance. Now he is a more complete player than before.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Conte raised questions about Tottenham's mentality and aimed a dig at his former club after he found it "really strange" to celebrate a fourth-place finish. No wonder he is delighted that Kane has left Spurs for a fresh challenge at a new club which potentially provides him more opportunities to win silverware.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite Kane's individual success, having scored 28 goals for Bayern, he is yet to secure a trophy with the German outfit. He lost the DFL Supercup at the beginning of the season and was subsequently knocked out from the DFB-Pokal in the second round in November. Winning the Bundesliga is also proving to be a challenge as they currently find themselves second in the table, trailing Bayer Leverkusen by five points.

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by three wickets and ended as Pool A leaders, but their bowlers were fully challenged for the first time in this World Cup

The Report by Mohammad Isam13-Mar-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:05

Bevan: Not the finish NZ would have liked

New Zealand ended the group stage with a perfect six-out-of-six record, but their bowlers were fully challenged for the first time in this World Cup as they sneaked a three-wicket win over Bangladesh. The win ended a five-year losing streak against Bangladesh, and it was was hard work all the way for the tournament favourites.Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman made New Zealand count to 288, the biggest total they have conceded in this tournament so far, before Shakib Al Hasan’s four-wicket haul nearly derailed their chase. But Martin Guptill’s sixth ODI hundred set an excellent platform, before Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson kept them going in the final ten overs. Tim Southee struck a six and a four in the penultimate over to complete the win.Guptill struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 100-ball 105, and added 131 for the third wicket with the struggling Ross Taylor, who made 56 off 97 balls. Elliott and Anderson made 39 each on the back of each other, the latter’s contribution more immediate to the final equation, hitting three sixes and three fours in his 26-ball blitz.Shakib, the stand-in captain, bowled himself and Taijul Islam at the start of New Zealand’s chase. It was the first time two left-arm spinners had opened the bowling in an ODI. It worked almost immediately, with Shakib picking up McCullum and Williamson in the fifth over, but Guptill, who survived a close leg-before shout on 19, and Taylor held the innings together. Guptill’s last ODI hundred was against India in January 2014, so it was an important innings for the opener.Having played out a maiden in Shakib’s first over, Guptill attacked his second over, launching two sixes and a four, and continued to hit boundaries through the off-side frequently, his stand-out shot a bullet off-drive off Taskin Ahmed in the 12th over. He reached the three-figure mark in the 28th over but holed out to long-on two overs later while trying to clear Shakib.Elliott hacked Shakib and Taijul for five fours and a six before falling to an uppish square drive, caught at sweeper cover by Taskin off Rubel. Taylor’s tortured stay ended when he was trapped leg-before by Nasir Hossain, and Luke Ronchi gave Shakib his fourth wicket in the 45th over.Anderson was the right man at the right time, hitting three straight and slog-swept sixes before missing one from Nasir in the 48th over. The late introduction of Nasir was a masterstroke and his offspin provided control from one end.After Bangladesh were sent in, Mahmudullah struck his second successive hundred to nullify New Zealand’s swing and seam threat. Brendon McCullum attacked right from the start, but Mahmudullah countered by putting together unremitting partnerships. He became the second Bangladesh batsman after Shahriar Nafees to score two ODI centuries in a row.For the first ten overs of the match, however, Bangladesh looked like they would become the latest bit of roadkill in New Zealand’s wake. Trent Boult and Tim Southee swung and seamed the ball at good pace as Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal struggled to score a run. Imrul lasted 5.4 overs before Boult bowled a late outswinger to the left-hander, like a yo-yo delivered at high pace. The batsman tried to play the ball, pitching on middle and off, through the on-side and it went past his edge and ripped out his off stump.Tamim survived Southee’s inswinging yorker and an edge that dropped short of the slips, and picked up the first boundary of the innings – a clip off the pads off Boult – in the eighth over. He was dismissed two overs later, though, nicking Boult to Corey Anderson at second slip.Mahmudullah offered two catches off the first three balls he faced, first brushing the diving Guptill’s fingertips at square leg and then bursting one through Anderson’s clasp at second slip. He didn’t look back from that point, particularly with Southee and Boult losing movement and eventually going out of the attackMahmudullah preferred the off side for his fours, and seven out of his 12 came in the arc between third man and extra cover. The other five came mostly through midwicket. His three sixes were wonderful strikes – a slog-sweep, a pull over square-leg off the front foot and a final flying kiss over long on.Mahmudullah allowed everyone to bat around him, but dominated the Bangladesh innings with big hits whenever they were needed. The best of the lot were three consecutive fours he hit immediately after completing his century, cutting past third man, crashing through the covers and dinking through square leg, making New Zealand look a little clueless for the first time in four weeks.Ten boundaries came off the first 28 balls of the Mahmudullah-Sarkar partnership before they eased off the pedal between the 14th and 24th overs. Soumya began with two straight hits, the first a full ball dug out through mid-off. An upper cut, a carve over point and a smash through the covers followed, and after a lull for about ten overs, he tapped Mitchell McClenaghan past midwicket after jumping across to get in line of the delivery. He reached his maiden fifty off 54 balls before hitting Daniel Vettori down long-off’s throat in the 28th over.His 90-run third-wicket stand with Mahmudullah took Bangladesh out of the quicksand and into dry land. They scored at five an over comfortably, even though they went boundary-less between the 15th and 24th overs.Mahmudullah added two more 30-plus stands with Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim before letting Sabbir Rahman have a go at the short boundaries. Sabbir struck five fours and two sixes – a forehand smash over long-on off McClenaghan and a one-kneed clout off Grant Elliott – in his 23-ball 40.Bangladesh’s 103 from the last 10 overs was only the fifth time they had scored more than 100 runs during this phase of an ODI innings. Boult, Anderson and later Elliott – brought into the attack just to bowl the 48th and 50th overs, with Mitchell McClenaghan struggling with his follow-through in his first game of the tournament – took two wickets each.

The tournament gets under way in Israel on Monday, with some of the continent's top teenage talents keen to impress and lead their countries to glory

Usually an annual tournament, the Under-17 European Championship has not taken place since 2019, making this year's edition particularly special.

The finals, which are being held in Israel, get under way on Monday, May 16, with potential stars of the future appearing in pretty much every one of the 16 squads.

The likes of Wayne Rooney, Jadon Sancho, Toni Kroos, Cesc Fabregas and Mario Gotze have previously been named Player of the Tournament, meaning there is plenty of scope for the stars of the 2022 competition to reach the very top.

But who are the players to watch out for? GOAL and NXGN have picked out 17 potential stars of the future who will be on show over the next two weeks…

SoccratesIsaac Babadi (Netherlands)

The defending champions from 2019, the Netherlands will again be among the favourites in 2022, with Isaac Babadi likely to be one of their leading lights.

Not since Memphis Depay was breaking through has there been this much excitement at PSV surrounding one of their academy stars, with Babadi having dominated at U18s level in 2021-22, despite not turning 17 until early April.

The attacking midfielder who plays either off the left or centrally as a No.10, also made his debut for Jong PSV in the Dutch second tier at the start of 2022, and has already caught new PSV first-team manager Ruud van Nistelrooy's eye in Eindhoven.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTom Bischof (Germany)

Only one player scored more than Bischof's six goals in qualifying for the tournament, with the Germany midfielder a player many are tipping for a huge career.

Already the youngest player to ever debut for Hoffenheim, the 16-year-old recently signed a new contract with his boyhood club to ward off transfer interest from leading teams in both Germany and around Europe.

Julian Nagelsmann has twice tried to sign Bischof, first at RB Leipzig and most recently for Bayern Munich, but both times he has missed out on the left-footed No.10, who can also play as a box-to-box midfielder.

Getty ImagesEl Chadaille Bitshiabu (France)

Bitshiabu has stood out ever since he arrived at PSG due to his height, but the centre-back certainly has the ability to match his physical traits.

The youngest player in the history of the Ligue 1 champions after debuting in December, he will turn 17 on the opening day of the tournament in Israel.

A lack of further first-team exposure could lead Bishiabu to leave Parc des Princes this summer, with Bayern Munich, Manchester City and RB Leipzig having been credited with interest, but first expect him to be the standout defender at these U17 Euros.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesIker Bravo (Spain)

Regarded as the best striker within La Masia when he left Barcelona in the summer of 2021, Bravo has already made his mark for Bayer Leverkusen in his debut campaign in Germany.

The 17-year-old broke Florian Wirtz's record as Bayer's youngest-ever debutant in October, and made his Bundesliga bow a month later, highlighting why he chose to further his career in Leverkusen rather than be forced to wait for his opportunities at Camp Nou.

He will lead the line for Spain at the U17 Euros, and will be expected to combine with his former Barcelona team-mate Dani Rodriguez in attack for La Roja.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner enjoyed a triumphant return to Old Trafford in 2021, but things turned sour long before he left the club on Tuesday

Cristiano Ronaldo's time at Manchester United has come to an end for good. The 37-year-old's departure from Old Trafford was announced on Tuesday in the wake of a scathing interview in which he revealed his lack of respect for coach Erik ten Hag and spoke of feeling "betrayed" by the club.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner returned for a second spell at the Premier League giants in the summer of 2021.

But after just one disappointing year which culminated in United's failure to qualify for the Champions League, Ronaldo made clear that he wanted to leave for a team competing in Europe's most prestigious club competition.

No deal came through in the summer transfer window, and instead he had to suffer on the bench for most of the first half of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Portugal star has finally been granted his wish, however, and leaves under a dark cloud, bringing an end to a partnership that was once so beautiful and fruitful but ends in bitterness and acrimony.

Here is the story of Ronaldo's second spell at the Red Devils…

GettyThe prodigal son returns!

The prospect of Ronaldo joining fierce rivals Manchester City late in the 2021 summer transfer window and then firing them to domestic and possibly European glory put the fear into the head honchos at Manchester United.

They jumped into action amid reports that their former star could soon be sporting the blue jersey of their city rivals and made sure to lure him back to Old Trafford.

United agreed to pay almost £13 million up front to Juventus and signed Ronaldo to a two-year contract with an option for a third.

And so it was. Over 12 years after he first departed for Real Madrid, the man who helped United to three Premier League titles and a Champions League crown was back.

AdvertisementGettySpectacular second debut

What a way to mark your return! Ronaldo grabbed all the headlines in his first game back for the Red Devils.

United had looked good in their first three matches of the season, but there was a feeling that Ronaldo would add some much-needed firepower to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team.

He appeared to prove that notion spot on when he struck in first-half stoppage time to give United a 1-0 lead against Newcastle in his first game back.

It may have been a tap-in but there was much more to come from the attacker, who came to his team's rescue just six minutes after Newcastle pulled level by restoring United's lead.

United went on to win 4-1 at Old Trafford, giving their fans belief that something magical could happen that season.

GettyA bittersweet Champions League return

Ronaldo also opened the scoring just a few days later as United began their Champions League campaign.

They were supposed to make easy work of a trip to Switzerland to take on Young Boys, and that seemed to be the case when Ronaldo broke the deadlock just 13 minutes in.

The home team fought back, though, and pulled level just before Ronaldo was substituted in the second half.

The former Real Madrid star could only watch on from the sidelines as Young Boys scored a late winner to upset his side and prove that there was still much to be done to get the Premier League side back on top of domestic and continental football.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyRonaldo stings Villarreal and Atalanta… TWICE

United recovered from their underwhelming start to the Champions League campaign and Ronaldo was at the heart of it.

Their second match in the tournament came against Villarreal and Solskjaer's team were shaky again as they fell behind.

Alex Telles pulled United level, though, and just as it seemed like the game was heading for a draw, Ronaldo popped up with a winner deep into injury time.

That was no one-off, though, as United found themselves 2-0 down at half-time in their following Champions League match – against Atalanta at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire brought them back on even terms before Ronaldo headed in another late goal to secure a 3-2 win.

That's not all!

They took on Atalanta again a couple of weeks later and yet another thriller ended with Ronaldo nipping in with a decisive goal in stoppage time to equalise for his side and earn a 2-2 draw.

And in the next game?

You guessed it! Ronaldo struck once more in the 78th minute to put United 1-0 up against Villarreal before Jadon Sancho added another in the dying minutes of the match to seal their qualification for the knockout stages.

The young striker is lighting up CONCACAF and, despite his critics, seems poised for a move across the Atlantic in the near future.

Say what you want about the levels of crazy in American soccer, but you have to acknowledge that United States men's national team fans have a sense of humor. Their most recent moment of hysteria centers around Jesus Ferreira, the young USMNT striker that has been blessed with a tongue-in-cheek nickname that has social media in hysterics.

'The Pirate of the Caribbean' is a nickname born as a response to Ferreira's goalscoring record. He has been scoring for fun with the USMNT, especially at the ongoing Gold Cup, but not everyone is impressed.

Ferreira's goals, by and large, have come against CONCACAF's smaller teams, hence the nickname. When given the chance to face some of the weaker teams in the region, Ferreira has always made sure to pour it on, having now scored 14 goals in just 21 USMNT appearances. That puts him just three goals away from cracking the USMNT's top 10 goalscorers, and he's only 22.

That accomplishment, though, is viewed through two lenses. The pessimist points to the fact that those goals are coming against overmatched opponents in largely one-sided games. The optimist, meanwhile, sees goals, regardless of where they're coming from or who against, and, for a USMNT program that lacked goals for so long, how could that be a bad thing?

As the summer goes on, though, several opinions will begin to show themselves, and they're the most important ones. No, we're not talking about USMNT's rabid Twitter fanbase; we're talking about those in charge at European clubs, many of whom will be taking a close look at Ferreira after this summer's goal explosion.

Some already have been looking and, at some point, Ferreira will almost certainly make his big move. He's certainly earned the chance to go from pillaging the North American region to one of Europe's top leagues.

Getty ImagesFerreira's career so far

The 22-year-old USMNT star's road to the No.9 race is an interesting one, mostly because he wasn't always a No.9. Originally an attacking midfielder for FC Dallas, Ferreira transitioned to the position after Ricardo Pepi's big move to Europe following his MLS breakout. Pepi is, of course, now one of the players Ferreira is competing with for a spot in the USMNT striker pool.

After scoring 18 goals across his first 81 appearances, Ferreira's transition to playing as FC Dallas' No.9 was seamless, as he scored 18 goals in 2022 alone. He has followed that up with 10 more in his first 18 games of the 2023 MLS season.

Internationally, Ferreira became a regular for the U.S. in 2022, earning a spot at the World Cup. He started just once in Qatar, a disappointing runout against the Netherlands, but looks set to have a say as the 2026 cycle gets underway.

AdvertisementGettyA Pirate's Life

Through just 21 appearances, Ferreira has 14 goals, an impressive total. There are some caveats, though, when it comes to the competition those goals have been scored against.

Of those 14, five have come against Trinidad & Tobago, four came against Grenada, while three came against Saint Kitts and Nevis. One, meanwhile, was scored in a World Cup qualifier against Panama while another was scored in a friendly draw against Mexico. It's not an impressive list, for sure.

Meanwhile, just that one goal against Mexico has come in a game that wasn't a total blowout. Every other match that Ferreira has scored in has ended in at least a four-goal USMNT win. That record, of course, has led to the new nickname, which pokes fun at Ferreira's tendency to crush CONCACAF's minnows. Ferreira, though, isn't worried about those criticizing his goal record.

"For me, as a forward, it's always my job to score goals, to come in and try to score goals against whoever's in front of us," he said before putting three past Trinidad & Tobago in the USMNT's Gold Cup group stage finale. "Yeah, I've scored a lot of goals against Caribbean teams, but, like I said, my job is to score goals and I'm gonna do that no matter who's in front of us."

His interim coach, B.J. Callaghan, has also been impressed, as the former No.10 has done a little of everything for a USMNT side that is among the favorites to win the trophy this summer.

“All forwards are going to be judged by the goals that they score, first and foremost. When I see his movement and his confidence in the penalty box, you can tell that the game has slowed down for him,” Callaghan said. “All of the work that he’s doing, leading our line defensively, dropping back, helping build-up play, for me he’s having a really complete tournament.”

Getty ImagesMaking history

Just 21 games into his USMNT career, Ferreira is already making history. With his hat-trick against St. Kitts & Nevis, he became the fastest player to hit double-digit goals in a USMNT shirt. With his treble against Trinidad & Tobago, he became the first American to score three goals in back-to-back games, while equalling Landon Donovan for most USMNT hat-tricks, with three.

Say what you want about caveats or levels of opposition, but those numbers do mean something. Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Christian Pulisic… all have played against similar teams, but it's Ferreira that, at the moment, is lighting them up.

And it's not just the finishes themselves, but also the quality. Look at Ferreira's first goal against T&T as an example. It was a fantastic striker's finish, as Ferreira took one touch, set himself up and fired into the back of the net. It was quality, no matter who it came against.

Still, perspective and nuance is difficult in this day and age, and Ferreira is perhaps the best example of that fact.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesA bit of perspective

Alexi Lalas isn't always known for giving the most measured takes, but his analysis of Ferreira's play is spot on. "You can look at Jesus Ferreira with perspective and recognize that he's doing this against inferior opposition," Lalas said on his podcast. "You can also look at it as an incredible moment in this player's life where everything he's touching is turning to gold, or goal as this case may be. An American is scoring goals for America at a historical pace, and that is fun, it is worth praise, and is worth celebrating.

"Does it mean he's going to become Messi or the U.S. is going to win the World Cup? No! But at this time, at this moment with this group at this Gold Cup, this is fun to see and if you crap on it, then you have bigger problems."

Two things can be true at once. Ferreira can be playing fantastic soccer, showing why there are plenty of reasons to be excited about his development. He could also be doing so against teams he should be lighting up on a regular basis.

Ferreira, though, finds himself in an impossible situation. If he fails to score, it's because he isn't good enough. If he scores too many, it's because the opponent isn't good enough. There's no winning. For many, the narrative around him has been written, largely based on one game at the World Cup. He didn't score against Virgil van Dijk in his first World Cup game, and that'll be enough for some to move on.

Ferreira, too, has moved on by scoring goal after goal for club and country ever since. And that is good news, no matter which way you look at it.