Chelsea champions of the world while England send Wales packing at Euros
On the podcast today; Chelsea stun PSG in the Club World Cup final. A 3-0 win courtesy of a relentless press and high-quality finishing from Cole Palmer and João Pedro. The panel try to work out if the last month has been at all worthwhile.
Elsewhere, England stroll past Wales in Switzerland. A very comfortable 6-1 win and what feels like real momentum behind Sarina Wiegman's side.
Plus, Crystal Palace's demotion, Morgan Gibbs-White's secret contract clauses and your questions answered.
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Scottish Sun
8 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
It's easy to forget just how good Dele Alli was – unfortunately other talented stars could soon follow his sad decline
Alli is another name in a list of similar career trajectories in modern football DELE-CATE SITUATION It's easy to forget just how good Dele Alli was – unfortunately other talented stars could soon follow his sad decline Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEWS that Dele Alli's career as an elite footballer may be over comes as no great surprise but with genuine sadness. And ever since Dele revealed the full extent of his traumatic childhood, in an interview with Gary Neville, there should only ever be empathy and understanding about the way his career has nosedived. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Dele Alli has experienced a difficult career since breaking through with Tottenham Hotspur as a youngster in 2015 Credit: Getty 5 Alli was just a teenager when he took his first steps in the Premier League Credit: Getty - Contributor Yet Dele's career trajectory — five outstanding seasons, followed by a long descent — is not unusual and will become more commonplace. Because elite modern football is no country for either free spirits or troubled souls. Dele is adamant he wants to continue his career having been banished from the squad at Italian club Como after one Serie A appearance — a nine-minute cameo as a sub in March which ended in a red card. But at the age of 29 — and six years after the last of his 37 England caps — Dele is surely finished at the top level. An increasing number of players burn brightly for a short period of time before they either implode or suffer serious downturns. From Dele's generation of England players alone, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard, Ross Barkley, Jadon Sancho and Harry Winks were all regular internationals who, for various reasons, have struggled to last the course. The intensity of the modern game, with its demand for extreme athleticism and utter mental dedication, means that those like Harry Kane, who play at the top for ten or 15 years, are going to become the exception rather than the rule. Add in the increasingly congested fixture list for leading players — the nonsense of the Club World Cup only adding to it — and many will break down physically as well as psychologically. 5 Alli was red-carded almost immediately in his one Serie A appearance for Como Credit: Getty It is easy to forget quite how good a player Dele was. Not many players score 18 goals in a Premier League season from midfield, reach a World Cup semi-final and a Champions League final by the age of 23, win the PFA Young Player of the Year award as well as Match of the Day's Goal of the Season. Dele Alli hailed for opening up on mental health battles as Everton star joins Monday Night Football panel In that Neville interview, in 2023, Dele revealed he had been sexually abused as a six-year-old and was dealing drugs by the age of eight. He is estranged from both of his birth parents and was adopted by a school friend's family as a teenager and has more recently been in rehab to tackle addictions. During his early years at Tottenham, Dele was well looked-after by a supportive and tight-knit dressing room under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino. Those Spurs team-mates were hugely fond of Dele — regarded as a likeable but wayward kid rather than a bad egg. They knew many of his issues and there were many positive influences on him, especially Eric Dier. Dele's career trajectory — five outstanding seasons, followed by a long descent — is not unusual and will become more commonplace. Elite modern football is no country for either free spirits or troubled souls. Yet since Pochettino's sacking in November 2019, Dele's career has been in a downward spiral from Jose Mourinho to Everton to Besiktas to Como — and a serious renaissance now seems highly unlikely. Other elite players who have crashed and burned may also have suffered extreme personal circumstances. Others are simply not built with the one-track mind now essential to a lasting career at the top. Up until the 1990s, it was perfectly possible for elite footballers to enjoy sex and drugs and rock-and-roll lifestyles and still enjoy sustained success. Now that levels of athleticism have increased, players' lifestyles are monitored so stringently by their clubs and their chances of a sly night out are wrecked by the advent of camera phones and social media, free-spirited players like Grealish will struggle. 5 Alli spent an ill-fated stint with Everton in an attempt to revive his Premier League career Credit: PA 5 Alli managed 37 senior international caps for England, but there is little hope of him adding to that tally now Credit: Getty Nothing can be done about this trend. The internet won't be uninvented and ultra-professionalism will never go into reverse. In an ideal world, every top footballer would have the mindset and stable background of Kane. In theory, they should all be able to live like monks for 15 years and enjoy their multi-million-pound rewards once they hang up their boots. Which is all well and good until you factor in the fact they are fallible human beings, often from tough backgrounds, who are subjected to huge temptations. Being a professional footballer in the 21st century is far more lucrative, but far less fun, than it was in the 20th. Addictions suffered by elite footballers are now less likely to be booze and recreational drugs but online gambling, gaming, porn as well as sleeping pills — secretive, lonely ways to alleviate pressures and problems. Nobody is playing violins for these young multi-millionaires. But, in its move towards extreme professionalism and 365-days-a-year seasons, football will lose more wonderful players like Dele.
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Will Wright, 17, almost caps dream Liverpool debut with an Anfield goal - just after Reds beat Arsenal to sign the forward from Salford City
New Liverpool signing Will Wright came close to making an instant impression on fans just days after signing for the club. The Premier League champions had officially announced Wright's signing from League Two side Salford City earlier on Tuesday. The Reds had confirmed the forward had already linked up with their U21s squad last week and made his debut for the team on the weekend. Wright was given a 16-minute cameo in the second of Liverpool's pre-season double header against Athletic Club on Monday, with the teenager coming on for Florian Wirtz. The forward nearly marked his first Anfield appearance with a goal just 10 minutes later. Wright skipped past a challenge inside Liverpool's half, before feeding the ball to Federico Chiesa. After sprinting forward to offer Chiesa and option to his left, Wright received the Italian's pass and attempted to bend the ball into the net. The forward was ultimately denied by the Athletic Club goalkeeper's foot, with the ball rebounding to safety. Liverpool had beaten Premier League rivals to the signing of Wright, who made four senior appearances for Salford City last season. Arsenal had agreed a £200,000 fee with Salford two weeks ago with a further £50,000 to follow across the season in achievable add-ons. Talks had been progressing well with his representatives but Liverpool, who had led the initial race for the 17-year-old, came back in at the weekend and matched Arsenal's offer. Leeds United and Rangers also made late enquiries, as did Nottingham Forest, while City, though big admirers, have already committed sizeable funds to other youth signings. Wright ultimately agreed terms on a three-year contract with Liverpool. FA Cup defeat by Manchester City in January.
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Why Liverpool don't need Alexander Isak, 16-year-old is ready for first-team NOW - and young star must leave: THINGS WE LEARNED from Liverpool's double-header with Athletic Bilbao
Liverpool rounded off pre-season in style with a 7-3 aggregate win across two games against Athletic Club at Anfield. Arne Slot got to take a closer look at players from his Premier League regulars to rising stars in the academy and left with a smile on his face after a 4-1 win was followed up by a 3-2 victory.
