Netherlands looked to be cruising into the knockout stage thanks to Cody Gakpo but they have been made to wait by the World Cup's top scorer.
Group A of the 2022 World Cup is going down to the wire after Ecuador produced a spirited fightback to earn a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in Doha.
Enner Valencia's second-half strike, his third goal of the tournament, secured his side a deserved share of the spoils after Cody Gakpo, for the second game running, had opened the scoring for Louis van Gaal's men.
The Dutch had looked well set to all-but-clinch qualification when Gakpo struck after just five minutes, but they were unable to build on that early advantage, and Ecuador were full value for their point.
They may have even have clinched all three, only for Gonzalo Plata's strike to rebound to safety off the crossbar.
The stalemate means both teams need a point from their final game on Tuesday to seal qualification for the last 16.
The Netherlands take on Qatar, while Ecuador face Senegal, who got their first win of the tournament earlier on Friday.
Below, GOAL runs through the winners and losers of another tight contest…
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The Winners
Cody Gakpo:
Two games, two goals, and a few more European suitors sitting up and taking notice, one would presume. Having struck late against Senegal on Monday, Gakpo was lightning-fast out of the blocks this time around. His goal, timed at five minutes and four seconds, was the quickest of the World Cup so far. It was a hell of a strike, too, arrowed inside Hernan Galindez's near post with his left foot, after Davy Klaassen had seized upon a loose ball and fed the PSV Eindhoven man. That should have been the springboard for the Netherlands to secure qualification for the last 16, but they were second best for long periods thereafter, mustering only one more effort at goal in the remainder of the contest. Gakpo departed late on, replaced by the Burnley striker Wout Weghorst, and he will have been frustrated at his lack of impact after such an explosive start. Without him, though, his side would be in a far less promising place.
Enner Valencia:
The record-breaker is at it again. Having written his name into the history-books with his opening-game brace against Qatar, Valencia secured himself another record with his equaliser here. The 33-year-old has now scored each of Ecuador's last six World Cup goals, a feat only achieved three times previously, by Eusebio for Portugal in 1966, Paolo Rossi for Italy in 1982 and Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994. He may not have set the Premier League alight in spells with West Ham and Everton, but put a yellow shirt on him and Valencia is transformed. He scores at better than a goal every two games at international level, and he has given Ecuador a real chance of qualification for the last 16 here. The only question now is whether he'll be around to help them finish the job.
Brighton:
The Ecuadorian connection with Brighton is a strong one, and on this evidence Roberto de Zerbi is going to have a lot of fun down at the Amex Stadium. Two of his players – Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan – started here, while another – Jeremy Sarmiento – came off the bench in the second half. And Caicedo and Estupinan, in particular, were integral as Gustavo Alfaro's side hit back strongly after the shock of Gakpo's early opener. The Brighton boys combined for the leveller, Caicedo robbing Jurrien Timber in midfield and feeding Estupinan, whose low shot was well saved by Andries Noppert, with Valencia gobbling up the rebound. Caicedo has already been linked with a host of top clubs, Liverpool among them, and he displayed why here. He was energetic, he pressed superbly and he can play too. Estupinan, meanwhile, looked a class act down the left-hand side. His summer signing from Villarreal, whom he helped to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, already looks a coup for the Seagulls.
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The Losers
Enner Valencia
The highs and lows of football, encapsulated in the space of 45 minutes. Valencia, again, was the hero for Ecuador, his goal securing a priceless, and richly-deserved, draw against famous opposition. But he left the field on a stretcher, and his tournament must surely now be in jeopardy. The Fenerbahce man has been carrying a knee problem, and when he collapsed to the ground late on with nobody near him, you could see the panic on the faces of his teammates and coach. Hopefully, the diagnosis is a positive one, but it didn't look good on first viewing.
Nathan Ake:
One moment, one switch off, and look how costly it is. Ake, the Manchester City defender, performed well for 99 percent of this game, but he was found wanting as Ecuador grabbed their equaliser. First, he dropped too deep, playing Valencia onside in the process. Then, as Noppert reacted superbly to keep out Estupinan's strike, he stood still, appealing for a flag which never came while Valencia, who was on his toes, gleefully tucked away the rebound. He was not solely culpable. Timber, the right-sided centre-back, was the one who gifted the Ecuadorians possession in the first place, while Virgil van Dijk, the captain, could certainly have closed down Estupinan with more aggression. All in all, a sequence which cost the Dutch dear.
Steven Bergwijn:
Two games, and very little to suggest that he should be in the starting line-up. If Bergwijn was quiet against Senegal, he was anonymous here. No shots, one touch in the opposition penalty area and a complete lack of presence throughout. He only lasted 45 minutes, and it was no surprise. Memphis Depay, the second-highest goalscorer in Dutch history, was summoned from the bench, and while the Barcelona man did not do too much more than Bergwijn, his pedigree alone surely means he will start against Qatar next week.
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Netherlands Ratings: Defence
Andries Noppert (7/10):
Good save from Valencia in the first half, and unlucky with the equaliser after a fine stop to deny Estupinan. Not to blame.
Denzel Dumfries (6/10):
Very advanced for the most part, which gave Estupinan plenty of space to exploit. Didn't deliver enough quality.
Jurrien Timber (5/10):
Unsurprisingly replaced De Ligt in the side, but was dispossessed for Ecuador's equaliser and did not look particularly comfortable throughout.
Virgil van Dijk (6/10):
Two big penalty-box interventions in the first half, and a big block to deny Valencia in the second. Too casual for the equaliser though.
Nathan Ake (5/10):
Poor for the equaliser, playing Valencia onside and then appealing rather than going for the loose ball. Otherwise he did well.
Daley Blind (6/10):
Offered precious little going forward and looked leggy as the game wore on.
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Midfield
Frenkie de Jong (6/10):
Looked classy when carrying the ball and got through plenty of work, though found it hard to really get control against the physicality and energy of the Ecuador midfield.
Teun Koopmeiners (5/10):
Bullied at times, though he was nothing if not hard-working.
Davy Klaassen (6/10):
Created the opener for Gakpo with good reading of the game, and was tidy enough without being outstanding.
Manchester City fought back from two goals down to clinch a potentially vital 4-2 win over Tottenham in the Premier League on Thursday.
Heading into the game with heads down, off the back of a perhaps unjust Manchester derby defeat and in the knowledge that Tottenham had beaten them three times in their last five meetings, the pressure was on Manchester City.
You could sense it, too. While Spurs have become notorious for their poor starts to games under Antonio Conte, there was something different about the opening exchanges at the Etihad Stadium. City, for all their possession, lacked conviction and were kept at arm's length.
That nervousness came to a boil at the end of the half, erupting into two quickfire goals borne out of City's own defensive mishaps. All the possession, all the chances, and suddenly Pep Guardiola's side headed town the tunnel having conceded goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal.
Was it happening again? Were Spurs going to find another huge performance against City? It's not often a Conte side lets a two-goal lead slip in the second half of a game. But as Giorgio Chiellini infamously once said: "It's the history of Tottenham."
It took City – who looked absolutely rampant after the break – just eight minutes to claw back the game to 2-2. Riyad Mahrez in particular smelled blood and dragged City back onto the front foot against a Tottenham outfit that completely capitulated.
The Algerian then cemented his Man of the Match worthy performance by firing in a brace to give City a huge three points that just about keep them in reach of Premier League leaders Arsenal. On a rather absurd night at the Etihad Stadium, here are the winners and losers…
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The Winners
Riyad Mahrez:
Touchline wingers who get chalk on their boots, run at players and have no regard for their critics. Yeah, City need more of those.
Say what you want about Spurs' lack of bottle – it's bad – Mahrez was the one to force the issue. Without him in the XI, City lack so much creativity and intent. There are few wingers who can do what he does so consistently at the highest level and, crucially, turn games around like he did against Tottenham.
Endlessly skilful and always looking towards goal, he's a defender's worst nightmare.
Rico Lewis:
Being careful not to reduce Lewis to a passion player and nothing more, having a local boy like him break into the first team and provide some bite beyond the usual, robotic technical excellence is invaluable for City.
The best part about Lewis, though, is that he brings both aspects and he has adapted to the pressure of being a first team player at City seamlessly, which speaks volumes about his talent.
When he's not bursting forward and picking out brilliant passes or knitting together play, he's doing the dirty work defensively. His block in the second half to deny Ivan Perisic a certain goal embodies that.
In a time where City might need to think about quietly refreshing their squad, Lewis has to be a part of the next iteration. A sublime talent.
Premier League fans:
A win for City is a reminder to fans of English football that they are far from out of the title race. In fact, the way in which they came from behind to squash Spurs was a statement of intent.
City still have to play Arsenal twice, too. At the halfway point of the season, to write off Guardiola's side would be perilous.
We could be on for a potentially brilliant and perhaps wild title race between City and Arsenal in the second half of the campaign. And who knows, perhaps Manchester United might still join in and make it a three-way tussle.
Whatever it is, have the popcorn at the ready.
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The Losers
Ederson:
You win some, you lose some. But it feels like with Ederson, he's losing a lot more than he wins these days.
There was a point where his risky approach to football suited City, but there's a fine balance between being ultra cool and simply lacking concentration. His error to gift Tottenham the lead was wholly unavoidable and came at a seriously damaging time, after City had been on the front foot for 45 minutes.
Ironically, it's the Brazilian's range of passing that sets him apart. Instead of playing his defenders into danger, his laser accurate punts down the field could be a secret weapon with Haaland so keen to get in behind defenders.
More long passes, less hospital balls, Ederson. It's becoming a serious problem now that City aren't beating everybody in front of them.
Hugo Lloris:
Not a great night to be a member of the goalkeepers' union.
The concern with Lloris isn't the mistakes he makes, it's more the fact you know he's destined to make at least one, and has been that way for several years now. Spurs are yet to address that, though, and instead let him stay between the sticks donning the captain's armband. What does this say about the mentality running through the club?
He's not been good enough for a number of years and it's rearing it's ugly head once again. There's no excuse for being beaten the way he was for City's third goal, and yet he knows he won't be dropped for his consistently shaky performances.
Something has got to give. If Spurs are serious about winning, they'll address their goalkeeping situation as soon as possible.
Manchester United:
If their draw at Crystal Palace didn't already feel like a loss, it certainly does now.
The Red Devils had the chance to momentarily jump above City in the Premier League table by beating the Eagles on Wednesday night, but were undone by a stunning Michael Olise free-kick in a timid performance. City, meanwhile, didn't panic after another shoddy first half and burst past Spurs to claim a win that could be crucial to their season's fortunes.
Should United have won, the pressure really would've been on City. But they didn't, and suddenly any faint hopes of clawing their way into a title race have been decimated. It's not their time – yet.
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Manchester City Ratings: Defence
Ederson (3/10):
The Brazilian stopper has made a career from taking risks and having sublime technical ability, but his decision making again let him down here and landed his team in very hot water. Played a hospital pass into Rodri which helped gift Spurs the lead, which you could argue unsettled City and resulted in them conceding a second moments later.
Rico Lewis (7/10):
Continues to impress despite his age and experience. Provides punch and technical ability and goes about his business with confidence.
Manuel Akanji (4/10):
A really poor showing off the back of a rather commanding display at Old Trafford. All at sea and completely crumbled when Spurs quickly ramped up the pressure.
John Stones (6/10):
Important on his return from injury, particularly after the break as City took the game to their opponents.
Nathan Ake (5/10):
Not his best showing, but not quite has bad as some of his defensive colleagues.
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Midfield
Rodri (5/10):
Nothing he could do about the poor pass he received from Ederson, but could've done better for Tottenham's second. Not his usual, dominant self.
Ilkay Gundogan (6/10):
Doesn't provide the same game-changing quality as Kevin De Bruyne, but still important – particularly after the break once City had gained control and needed to dictate the flow of the game.
Jack Grealish (7/10):
Give him the licence to run at players, take risks and be more direct and you'll reap the rewards. In an era where City need to be less robotic, Grealish can thrive. He did after the break against Spurs, proving key to the comeback.
Find out how Arsenal are shaping up ahead of their huge Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday
Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Sunday looking to take another major step towards their first Premier League title since 2004.
Victory at Anfield, a ground they haven’t won at in the league since 2012, would see them end the weekend at least eight points clear of Manchester City with just eight matches remaining, although Pep Guardiola’s will have a game in hand.
So it’s another massive weekend for Mikel Arteta’s league leaders, who have won their last seven league games in a row.
But how are things shaping up for Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash? Below, GOAL takes a look.
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Arsenal team news
There is a major doubt over William Saliba, who has missed Arsenal’s last two games with a back problem. Mikel Arteta hinted that one of his injured players had a chance of returning at Anfield, but it’s unclear if he was talking about the France international. He could have been referring to Eddie Nketiah, who is closing in on a return after an ankle injury. Bukayo Saka is fully fit after illness, but Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny will not play again this season due to knee injuries.
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Talking point
Who Mikel Arteta starts up front is the big talking point ahead of Sunday’s game. With Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all available, the Arsenal manager has a big decision to make. Jesus scored twice on his first league start since November last weekend and it would be a huge surprise if he does not get the nod again at Anfield. So Arteta must decide between Martinelli and Saka, Arsenal’s two top scorers this season, and the in-form Trossard, who has just been voted the club’s player of the month for March.
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Key man – Thomas Partey
Whoever wins the midfield battle on Sunday will go a long way to coming out on top at Anfield. Liverpool have struggled in midfield this season, so if Partey can dominate that area then Arsenal will have a great chance of finally ending their 11-year wait for a league win at Anfield. Liverpool do leaves spaces at the back, we've seen that all season, so if Partey can get on the ball and move it quickly to Arteta's front three they could cause the hosts a lot of problems.
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What has Arteta said?
Speaking about Arsenal's 11-year run without a league win at Anfield, Arteta said: "We've been to a few grounds this season where we haven't won in 17, 18 and 22 years and we have managed to do that. So we are capable of [winning at Anfield], that's for sure. We really need to embrace the moment and go for it. The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity and we know that we have a big challenge, but I see a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something that we haven't done for many years. That's what is driving the team in the last few days."
As he approaches the end of his short-term loan at Stamford Bridge, the forward finds himself in limbo, and a permanent transfer is highly unlikely
Joao Felix's January loan move to Chelsea was supposed to be a game-changer for both the attacker and the Blues, but with the season drawing to a close, the former prodigy finds himself in limbo. While he has demonstrated his exceptional talent in flashes, Felix – along with the vast majority of the Chelsea squad – has struggled for form and consistency, and is yet to shake the tag of being a 'luxury player'.
Indeed, he has drifted out of favour since Frank Lampard's return to the dugout, falling victim to the interim manager's desperate search for a solution to Chelsea's goalscoring woes. As a result, a permanent switch to Stamford Bridge now seems highly unlikely – especially given Atletico Madrid are still holding out for their exorbitant €100 million (£87m/$110m) valuation.
However, there is talk of a fresh loan to Chelsea for a player who may well find himself priced out of a move anywhere else in the summer, with Mauricio Pochettino preparing to take the reins at Stamford Bridge. Opinion among the fanbase is seemingly divided on the best course of action, with the Blues' bloated squad having been problematic throughout a nightmare campaign.
There is a big decision to be made that could well define a vital upcoming period for both club and player, and another spell at Chelsea could be the best option for all parties…
A bright spark despite Chelsea's struggles
Felix has perhaps fallen foul of his very fast start in a Chelsea shirt; the first 58 minutes of his debut were dazzling as he demonstrated the kind of technical ability that supporters haven't seen since the days of Eden Hazard.
Of course, that is a game that now lives in infamy after Felix was shown a straight red card for an overzealous challenge and Chelsea went on to lose the west London derby at Fulham. Who knows what would have happened had he stayed on the pitch and avoided a three-game suspension.
Almost inevitably, Felix scored upon his return against West Ham and was regularly Chelsea's best player in the subsequent games. However, following a dip in form that coincided with the Blues' six-game losing streak in all competitions, many supporters were quick to pass judgement and label his loan spell a failure.
Though he is guilty of overplaying at times and drifting out of games, Felix – who is still just 23 years old – has demonstrated his world-class potential in flashes, while his technical ability is second to none in Chelsea's squad. Given more time to adapt there is no doubt that he has the ability to become a 15-goal-per-season player in the Premier League.
His six-minute cameo off the bench against Bournemouth, in what was Lampard's first win since returning to Chelsea, was a timely demonstration of the impact he is capable of. Popping up in midfield, Felix started and finished a sweeping move as the Blues suddenly remembered how to play football, exchanging neat passes with Ruben Loftus-Cheek before making his way into the penalty area and slotting a classy first-time finish beyond the goalkeeper from Raheem Sterling's pass.
It's also worth noting that he has scored almost a quarter of Chelsea's Premier League goals since his arrival and is already their joint-third top goalscorer for the entire campaign. While that is an indictment of their attacking output, in the context of their overall struggles in front of goal, he has actually been fairly productive.
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A bloated squad, but others will leave
One significant argument against keeping Felix is the fact that the Chelsea squad is in dire need of trimming down, and given that he isn't even a permanent employee, he would be easy to cut loose.
However, in the attacking ranks alone there are plenty of other names that should be coming under more scrutiny than Felix's; Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Sterling have all underperformed to a greater extent across the season, and the majority of them don't match the age profile that co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali want for the squad.
If at least three of them leave as expected, then there will be sufficient space in the squad for Felix, whose versatility should be considered a significant asset. With a new striker, Christopher Nkunku's expected arrival and existing talents Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke, Chelsea would possess a formidable attack with plenty of strength in depth. All that is required is someone to make it gel…
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The Poch effect
Having escaped the clutches of Diego Simeone's defensive tactics in Madrid only to find a muddled mess at Chelsea, Felix must be relishing the prospect of working under a highly-regarded manager whose philosophy is based around an attacking, front-footed style of play.
Mauricio Pochettino is set to be appointed as Chelsea's permanent head coach following an exhaustive process, and in theory he should be the ideal candidate to get the very best out of Felix; he puts an emphasis on high-intensity attacking football, knows the league, there is no language barrier and he has a proven track record of improving young players.
Felix has stated publicly in the past that he is happy at Chelsea, and although that feeling may have faded somewhat since Lampard's return and his subsequent lack of minutes, he will surely be licking his lips at the prospect of playing under an astute man-manager with an attacking philosophy.
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Felix wants to be there
Not long before Chelsea's downturn in form in March, Felix spoke in glowing terms about the club and went as far as to say he was loving life at Stamford Bridge. “The club is so big is amazing, everyone behind the club is so good so I am happy to be here," he said. "I think I needed it (the loan). When I left Atletico, I thought it was good for me and for them. So I think it was the perfect deal to try something different. I always tried to do my best and sometimes it didn’t work. So I had to change to see if things go different. I think this loan is important for me and I am very happy to play here.
“It’s a different kind of football, the league is different. The way the teams play in La Liga or Premier League is totally different. Chelsea is a team that likes to attack, has the ball, dominate the game. So that is the game I like to play. I feel very free to play here. I love it.”
Granted, that stance may have changed in the weeks since, but the fact that Felix has so clearly stated that he actually to be at Chelsea should not be taken for granted. One of the contributing factors to their current malaise is undoubtedly the burden of players who have no intention of being at the club beyond the summer, and their output on the pitch reflects that. Felix doesn't seem to be one of them.
The Bavarians sensationally decided to change manager during the March international break – but that bold gamble has not paid off
Less than a month after suddenly replacing Julien Nagelsmann as Bayern Munich boss, Thomas Tuchel was fielding questions about a club in crisis. "I can absolutely understand that three years without a semi-final in the DFB-Pokal is not enough," he told reporters on April 21. "But the quarter-finals of the Champions League three years in a row is not a crisis.
"We don't have to question everything. There's always a sense of being realistic. Many big clubs didn't even make it to the quarter-finals. Although we remain ambitious and we always want more, we're still first in the Bundesliga. I wouldn't say we're in a crisis."
They definitely are now, though. On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund will end Bayern Munich's run of 10 consecutive German titles if they beat Mainz at home. It would be a stunning achievement by BVB, but an utter embarrassment for Bayern, who are operating on a whole other financial plane to everyone else in the league.
Heads would almost certainly roll at the Allianz Arena, with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and CEO Oliver Kahn already under intense pressure over what is now looking like one of the most catastrophic calls in German football history.
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'Are you kidding me?!'
Bayern's decision to sack Nagelsmann came as a massive shock, not least to the man himself. The 35-year-old was on a skiing holiday when his agent, Volker Struth, broke the news to him. Nagelsmann replied, "Are you kidding me?!"
The manager's shock was understandable. Bayern had gone into the March international break on the back of a desperately disappointing 2-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen that had allowed Dortmund to move one point clear of them at the top of the Bundesliga table. Salihamidzic had publicly berated the players for playing with "so little drive, so little mentality, so little fight and so little assertiveness" but there was no inclination that a change of manager was on the cards.
Not with a monumental meeting with Manchester City on the horizon. There was concern at board level over Nagelsmann's apparent struggles to motivate his players for domestic fixtures, but his record in the Champions League, Bayern's primary target, was literally flawless. The Bavarians had won all eight of their fixtures on their way to the quarters, outclassing Barcelona, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain along the way.
As Struth told the Phrasenmaher podcast, "I would have bet my fortune after that Leverkusen game that nothing would happen at all. I would have thought that they would still wait for the games against Manchester City."
Instead, Bayern dropped a bomb on the football world on March 23.
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'I thought it was a joke'
Kahn's argument was that Nagelsmann just wasn't getting the most out of the stellar squad at his disposal. "After the World Cup we played less and less successfully and attractively," the former goalkeeper said in a statement. "The strong fluctuations in performance called our goals into question this season, but also beyond this season."
There were rumours that Nagelsmann had lost the support of several influential players, including Manuel Neuer. However, Bayern legend Lothar Matthaus felt there was more to it; that it wasn't just a classic case of player power pushing a manager out the door as Nagelsmann hadn't completely lost the dressing room.
"I thought [the news] was a joke at first but it wasn't April 1st," the World Cup winner told GOAL. "It's the club's decision after all. The players aren't all with the coach usually in the dressing room, but a lot were happy with him and talked positively about him when he left – [Leon] Goretzka and [Joshua] Kimmich, for example.
"Something happened that we don't know about. The fans were happy with him, too, so we don't know what happened that made Bayern take this decision. I personally don't."
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'Bayern were nervous'
However, as even Matthaus conceded, the availability of – and widespread interest in – Tuchel played a pivotal role in Bayern's thinking. The former Dortmund boss had been a long-time target, but the timing had never been right. It still wasn't in March.
But in their desperation to belatedly land their man, Bayern were willing to offload a coach that they had paid €25 million (£21.7m/$26.8m) to prise away from RB Leipzig in 2021. Why? Because Tuchel was a free agent and considered by a number of top clubs, including PSG, Real Madrid and Juventus. Tottenham were also looking for someone to take over on a full-time basis from Antonio Conte – and still are.
So, "Bayern were nervous" as Matthaus put it. "Tuchel was free and Bayen didn't believe 100 percent in Nagelsmann. They couldn't [sack him] if he'd won three titles, as you couldn't explain it then. So, they decided to change him now, after just one."
It was a massive gamble, though, the kind of risk more associated with the days of FC Hollywood than the current incarnation of Bayern Munich, which is, on the surface at least, all about prudence and sensibility. And it's yet to pay off. An in-season change is never ideal, but Kahn felt compelled to act. He felt that inaction might result in Bayern losing their league crown. However, the switch hasn't improved Bayern; on the contrary, it's made them worse.
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'We look drained'
Despite losing 3-0 at the Etihad in his fourth game in charge, Tuchel claimed that he was quite taken with the way in which his players had performed for 70 minutes in Manchester. "Of course, the result is bitter for us," he told . "But I fell in love with my team a little today."
It's fair to say he is no longer quite as besotted. Love has quickly given away to frustration, as underlined by a visibly enraged Tuchel snapping a slalom pole in two during a training session at the tail end of April.
By that stage, Bayern's season was unravelling. Tuchel had lifted the spirits at the Allianz Arena by beating former club Dortmund to put the team back on top of the table. However, the Bavarians only won one of their next six games in all competitions, which saw them knocked out of both the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal, and slip to second in the Bundesliga.
As well as blaming both the pitch and the referee for Bayern's worryingly meek European exit against Man City in Munich, Tuchel also questioned his players' fitness after a demoralising defeat at Mainz. "We look drained," he said. "We look like a team that has already played 80 games this season. We are not able to play flawless football, so the games and the points are running through our hands like sand."
The Reds have plenty of firepower up front, but they're once again conceding far too many goals, meaning a Premier League title tilt is unlikely
Liverpool's need for defensive reinforcements was made painfully clear in Wednesday's 4-3 friendly loss to Bayern Munich in Singapore. The Reds once again impressed going forward, with Cody Gakpo opening the scoring just two minutes in before Virgil van Dijk doubled their advantage.
However, Bayern were level by the break as Serge Gnabry scored one goal and created another for Leroy Sane, by taking advantage of the wide open space in between Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool went back in front through second-half substitute Luis Diaz, who had been teed up by Mohamed Salah, but conceded twice in the final two minutes, with Josip Stanisic making it 3-3 before Frans Kratzig won it for Bayern with a thumping finish.
GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash at the Singapore National Stadium, as Jurgen Klopp's team conceded four goals for the second time in three pre-season outings…
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Liverpool's awesome attacking options
Liverpool shouldn't struggle to score goals this season. In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise if they rival Manchester City for most goals in the Premier League. Their array of attacking options is truly awesome, as underlined by the fact that, as it stands, there is only one guaranteed starter against Chelsea on Sunday week: Salah.
Gakpo is probably the best bet to play through the middle after another accomplished pre-season performance here, with the Dutchman showing what he is all about by linking with Diogo Jota for the game's opening goal before finishing emphatically with his left foot. The latter, of course, could also play through the middle or out wide, such is his mix of quality and versatility. Then again, Diaz, who took his goal wonderfully well, is the more natural winger and would be most fans' favourite to play on the left flank.
Let's also not forget, though, that Darwin Nunez had been one of Liverpool's sharpest players in their friendly fixtures until this point. Given his height and physical presence, he would probably be the more orthodox choice to lead the line, but he's also an attractive option out wide given his blistering pace.
All things considered, with all of his forwards fit and firing during pre-season, Klopp will have the best kind of selection headache at Stamford Bridge.
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Jones an option but not the solution at No.6
With both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson having departed for Saudi Arabia, Liverpool are obviously in dire need of a new No.6. The hope is that an agreement can be reached with Southampton for Romeo Lavia, with the Saints having already rejected two bids for the Belgian, but it was also heartening to learn that an alternative is being lined up, namely Fluminense's Andre, because a specialist defensive midfielder is clearly required.
Klopp argued before the game that Curtis Jones could have "a massive impact in that position" – and the England Under-21 international certainly has the confidence to play the part. Several times in Singapore he took the ball under intense pressure, and navigated his way out of trouble with smart, sharp turns. But we're talking about a role that requires some time to master and Liverpool can't really afford to have Jones learning on the job.
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Van Dijk will relish new role
There were no shortage of contenders to succeed Henderson as Liverpool captain. But Klopp's decision to hand the armband to Van Dijk wasn't wholly unexpected. Truth be told, the Dutchman was the obvious choice. The leader of the defence is also the most influential character in the team.
It's a role he clearly relishes, so it was no surprise to see him mark his first outing as the club's new captain with a goal. Van Dijk quite literally rose to the occasion, towering above the Bayern back-line to power home a header from an Andy Robertson corner.
Liverpool will be hoping it will be the first of many this season, with Van Dijk looking a serious threat every time he ventured forward for a set-piece. Even more encouragingly, he also made several vital interventions at a time when those around him were looking a little lost, which only underlined his suitability to his new role.
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Reds still have a major problem in defence
Liverpool's defensive problems haven't magically disappeared. Klopp and his coaching team still haven't figured out the Alexander-Arnold conundrum. The versatile England international adds so much from an offensive perspective when he steps into midfield, but this inverted right-back role is still creating issues on the right-hand side of backline, particularly when Joel Matip is playing.
The Cameroonian has many qualities, but he simply does not have the requisite pace or agility to cover for Alexander-Arnold when he is occupying more advanced positions – as both Bayern goals underlined.
In the first instance, Alexander-Arnold was poorly positioned and, thus, unable to react in time to the most straightforward inward run from Gnabry, who collected a pass from Kim Min-jae before cutting far too easily inside Matip and firing home.
The second goal was eerily similar, only this time Alexander-Arnold wasn't to blame for finding himself high up the pitch – it's what he's instructed to do, after all. Liverpool just lost the ball at the most inopportune time for him – and his team, as Gnabry was once again allowed a free run at Matip before leaving Sane with a simple finish.
Liverpool know there's an inherent gamble involved in allowing Alexander-Arnold, but the question once again has to be asked: is the risk worth the reward?
The centre-back was all over the place as Ukraine went on to take the lead before Kyle Walker pulled England level
England's perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifying came to an end on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ukraine.
It was the underdogs who took the lead through Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko as the Three Lions struggled to get going. The goal was a particularly frustrating one as England's poor marking was on display and well summed up by Harry Maguire colliding with team-mate Marc Guehi while Zinchenko slotted home.
England fought back, however, and managed to pull level through Kyle Walker, who got onto a wonderful pass from Harry Kane, slipped in behind the Ukraine defence and scored.
Gareth Southgate will feel his side should have grabbed a winner later in the half but will have to take a hard look at some of his own choices to explain why they slipped up for the first time in the campaign.
GOAL rates England's players from Tarczynski Arena…
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Goalkeeper & Defence
Jordan Pickford (6/10):
Did not have much to do as Ukraine's only shot on target made it beyond him and in.
Kyle Walker (7/10):
A great run into the Ukraine box to take on a lofted pass and a lovely finish for his first senior England goal.
Marc Guehi (6/10):
Comfortable display at centre-back and made some steady passes as they built from the back.
Harry Maguire (4/10):
Completely lost on Ukraine's opening goal in a display that, despite some strong interventions in the second half, will not have won over any fans as his selection remains controversial, as he has not played for Manchester United this season.
Ben Chilwell (5/10):
Not his best game on the left flank as he failed to impact England's attacks.
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Midfield
James Maddison (4/10):
Rather silent throughout the game and offered nothing before he went off midway through the second half.
Declan Rice (6/10):
Comfortable in the middle of the park and kept his passing tidy, but did not have a huge impact.
Jordan Henderson (5/10):
A sloppy performance from the Al-Ettifaq player and he probably should have been substituted off.
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Attack
Bukayo Saka (8/10):
Was lively and dangerous for the Three Lions with some good runs and shots – was unfortunate to see an effort tipped onto the crossbar.
Harry Kane (7/10):
His gorgeous lofted ball set up Walker to tie things up late in the first half.
Jude Bellingham (6/10):
Lobbed in a dangerous cross and saw an effort saved by the goalkeeper in a positive performance.
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Subs & Manager
Marcus Rashford (5/10):
Replaced Bellingham and sent a cross into the Ukraine box but could not inspire the winner.
Phil Foden (5/10):
Came on midway through the second half but barely influenced the game, giving away a free-kick.
Gareth Southgate (5/10):
Made some questionable choices in his starting XI and with his substitutions as the Three Lions' perfect record in qualifying was dashed.
The GOAL guide on how to score a bargain in the world of sports streaming
Editors' pick
ESPN+
Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: No
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$9.99
Get ESPN+
Cheapest choice
Paramount+
Sports available: NFL, NCAA, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF, Serie A and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: Yes
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$4.99
Get Paramount+
Good value
Hulu
Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: No
DVR capabilities: Unlimited w/ Live TV package
Monthly from
$12.99
Get Hulu
Editors' pick
ESPN+
Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: No
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$9.99
Get ESPN+
Cheapest choice
Paramount+
Sports available: NFL, NCAA, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF, Serie A and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: Yes
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$4.99
Get Paramount+
Good value
Hulu
Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: No
DVR capabilities: Unlimited w/ Live TV package
Monthly from
$12.99
Get Hulu
Editors' pick
ESPN+
Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: No
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$9.99
Get ESPN+
Cheapest choice
Paramount+
Sports available: NFL, NCAA, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF, Serie A and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: Yes
DVR capabilities: No
Monthly from
$4.99
Get Paramount+
Good value
Hulu
Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.
Offline downloads: Yes
Entertainment: No
DVR capabilities: Unlimited w/ Live TV package
Monthly from
$12.99
Get Hulu
Delving into the world of online video streaming services, it's typical to encounter a minefield of information. Increased competition can lead to increased confusion for the customer.
With so many plans, price points, add-ons, bolt-ons, and you name it, you need a digestible guide and luckily GOAL is on hand to help you out!
Through the lens of a sports-specific focus, this list will take you through the major players on the streaming scene. Ordered by cheapest first, we go through where the best value for money is for you and your particular preferences. So, without further adieu…
RELATED: The best streaming services for sports fans
#1. Paramount+ – $5.99 per month
Shop Paramount+ plans
At $5.99, Paramount+ offers the cheapest sports subscription service currently on the market. As you might imagine at such a price point, coverage is limited and Paramount+ have so far only dabbled into the sports world via football and soccer.
Paramount+'s American football offering includes the latest from both the NFL as well as the NCAA.
When it comes to soccer, Paramount+ is the home of the UEFA Champions League and several other high profile tournaments across Europe. You can also watch Team USA in action in the CONCACAF Nations League.
RELATED: How to watch live sports on Paramount+: plans, cost, coverage and more
Start a Paramount+ subscription todayFind a plan
#3. ESPN+ – $10.99 per month
Find a plan
Priced at $10.99 per month, you can’t argue with ESPN+ when it comes to value for money. If you’re a fan of one particular sport, there is a good chance that ESPN+ will cover it in one guise or another.
Basketball, baseball, football soccer, UFC, boxing. The list goes on and on. But fair word of warning: some specific events within ESPN+’s sporting coverage is behind a PPV paywall that a standard plan won’t grant you access to.
ESPN+ Annual Plan Discounts
ESPN+ is available for $109.99 for the year. This would give you around a $20 saving if chosen instead of the monthly option – a worthwhile commitment for sports fans who are sure to get more than their money’s worth across 12 months.
RELATED:How to watch live sports on ESPN+: stream live soccer and more
Start an ESPN+ subscription todayFind a plan
#2. Fanatiz -$9.99 per month
Getty Images / GOALFind a plan
Fanatiz do actually have two options cheaper per month but their most popular Front Row Monthly plan is a fairer reflection of their typical price point.
Cheaper plans at Fanatiz – like the Liga1 Play, Brasileirao Play and AFA Play plans only give customers access to one specific soccer league. If, of course, you are a fan of either Peruvian, Brazilian or Argentinian football, then by all means take advantage of their cheapest price offering! A $5.99 per month option – the HandballSCA Plan – is also available
Fanatiz Annual Plan Discounts
All plans at Fanatiz come with a 33% discount when purchased annually. This means the most popular Front Row Annual plan will set you back $79.99 for a 12 month commitment (equivalent to $6.67 per month).
Start a Fanatiz subscription todayFind a plan
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#4. Hulu – $12.99 per month
Getty Images / GOALFind a plan
Hulu offer perhaps the biggest of price points on the live streaming market. Their Disney Bundle Trio at $12.99, however, is the fairest reflection for this particular list.
While their cheapest price starts at $7.99 per month, it isn’t until you get the bundle that includes ESPN+ as standard where you get value for your money as a sports fan.
At the higher end of their pricing is Hulu + Live TV, and it is here where you get into the territory of some real comprehensive coverage. Among their access to 85 live channels, customers can find live sports on ESPN, FS1, SEC, BTN and ACCN.
Hulu Premium and Live TV Add-ons
Along with everything mentioned above, further add-ons are available to various Hulu plans.
Premium add-ons – which can be tacked on to Hulu plan – include Max ($15.99 per month), Cinemax ($9.99 per month), SHOWTIME ($10.99 per month), STARZ ($9.99 per month).
Soccer fans will be interested to know that Max, the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max, has exclusive coverage to both men’s and women’s Team USA matches.
SHOWTIME, meanwhile, is a word and network that has always gone hand-in-hand with the world of boxing.
The Sports Add-on is priced at an additional $9.99 per month. It is one of four Live TV Add-ons that you can add to any Live TV plan. The Sports Add-on has six on-demand and live streaming services: NFL Redzone.
RELATED:How to watch live sports on Hulu + Live TV
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has asked a legacy question of Cristiano Ronaldo and Co, saying: “You have to be remembered for talent, not for what you earned.”
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Portuguese icon started transfer trend
Joined by many more stars in the Middle East
Swedish legend snubbed similar offers
WHAT HAPPENED?
Portuguese icon Ronaldo started the trend of superstar performers swapping elite European football for the riches on offer in the Middle East when moving to Al-Nassr on the back of seeing his contract cancelled at Manchester United.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
He has since been joined by the likes of Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante and Marco Verratti, with ex-United, PSG, Juventus and AC Milan striker Ibrahimovic telling of why he would never tread that career path: "I had an offer also from China. I had an offer also from Saudi, but the situation is, what do you want? What objectives do you have? I said before we started, like certain players need to finish their career on the big stage because that is the high end of your career.
"You have to be remembered for your talent, not for what you earned. Because if you were remembered in the opposite way, what we are training every day for, what we are being recognised for, is our talent and that's what you want to be remembered for. So I think certain players that reach a certain level, they have to stop at a certain stage, and that's the big stage. You cannot go in a lower stage and finish your career in a different way. But some players needed the situations where you can earn a lot of money because they didn't earn enough."
WHAT THEY SAID
While questioning why household names have deserted the European game, Ibrahimovic can understand the appeal of heading to a region that has invested heavily in top-level sport – from golf to Formula One via boxing and football. The enigmatic Swede added: "You have the golf situation now. They came together and they made it one, so I am just sorry for the players that didn't go before because they didn't get the money that the [other] players got. Listen, wherever you play football, it's football. Football connects people. It's a dream we share, both of us.
"You [Morgan] are a fan, you are not a professional. You are an Arsenal fan, and I feel sorry for you a little bit, but as a professional football player, as long as you play football, and Saudi is growing, MLS is growing. China had a peak, and then I don't know, the situation changed there. But a moral thing, no, we do things for ourselves and our family. Who would judge you in five or 10 years when you have a wealthy, healthy life and have a good life? Because I don't think anything is for free. You don't work for free. I don't work for free. I don't need money but I am very expensive, that's the difference."
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Ibrahimovic has now headed into retirement, but Ronaldo is still going strong at 38 years of age – with the evergreen forward finding the target on 17 occasions through 16 appearances for Al-Nassr this season, while moving on to 201 caps and 123 goals for Portugal.
Yunus Musah has reached 30 caps for the United States, becoming just the fourth player to reach that figure before his 21st birthday.
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Article continues below
Article continues below
Musah started friendly against Germany
Earned his 30th cap at just 20 years old
Fourth player to reach milestone before 21
WHAT HAPPENED?
The AC Milan player was named in the starting XI for the international friendly, guaranteeing his 30th appearance for the USMNT.
At just 20 years and 319 days old, he is the third youngest player to have reached that milestone in the history of the national team, and only the fourth to do so by the age of 21.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
It has taken less than three years for Musah to reach 30 matches for the national team. He made his debut in November 2020 when he started a friendly against Wales. Since then, he has grown into a regular for Gregg Berhalter's team, having played in all four of their World Cup matches last year.
DID YOU KNOW?
The midfielder has overtaken Landon Donovan as the third youngest USA player to reach 30 senior appearances. Incredibly, Donovan was just a day older than Musah is when he initially set the record.
The only players to have reached 30 caps at a younger age were Christian Pulisic, who did so at 20 years and 288 days old and record holder Jozy Altidore, who was 20 years and 277 days old.
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Musah will hope to rack up more appearances for the USMNT by impressing Berhalter in the clash against Germany.