Football's equivalent of the Hobbits' return to the Shire
Like The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, just when you think the football season has finally been wrapped up and you're waiting for the closing credits to roll, along comes another clatter of matches to leave you in serious doubt that this hamster wheel of ours will ever stop turning. In recent weeks the climactic (and often anticlimactic) battles have been fought, the subsequent coronations have been staged and now in what seems like the perfect time for a nice refreshing break in which to recuperate, recalibrate and prepare for the nonsense that is the Club World Cup, Football Daily finds itself forced to contend with the football equivalent of the Hobbits' return to the Shire that is the latest international break. Oh to be Frodo, sailing off into the unknown of the Undying Lands.
Advertisement
While Football Daily likes to think it has its finger firmly placed on the football pulse, it behoves us to admit that we'd completely forgotten that England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are all due to play this weekend. And it is a good thing the respective governing bodies of all five teams were not similarly absent-minded for fear they might have been forced to spend the coming days scouring the bars and beaches of Ibiza trying to find players willing to represent their national sides in their imminent double-headers. Truth be told, a quick trawl of any random beach in the UK would probably yield enough decent English players to see off Andorra in Saturday's World Cup qualifier but that hasn't stopped Thomas Tuchel's latest squad selection for that game and a subsequent friendly against Senegal being taken very seriously indeed. Predictably overwrought has been some of the wailing and handwringing over various inclusions and omissions from a 26-man group that is ostensibly in Barcelona to take on a ski resort.
In Liechtenstein, Wales host similarly exalted opposition in the first game of their qualifying double-header that concludes with a trip to Belgium, but you can be sure Craig Bellamy will not be taking the minnows lightly. Famously intolerant of international teammates who didn't pull their weight during his time as a player repeatedly failing to qualify for major tournaments – or simply colleagues refusing to sing – Bellamy has brought the intensity of 10,000 TV dramas starring Stephen Graham to his role as head coach. 'From his first meeting you could tell how much he wanted to achieve here – big things – and straight away he wanted to drill things into us,' trembled Swansea's Ben Cabango of his gaffer, who has yet to taste defeat as Wales boss. 'I feel like he's not laid off that one bit. We're not here for a large amount of time so it's quite intense when we are here.'
Proceedings are likely to be considerably less intense in the other camps, with only friendlies looming in the short-term for all three nations. The big news from an Ireland camp preparing for summer kickabouts with Senegal and Luxembourg has been the tardy arrival of Caoimhin Kelleher due to him having to cough for the doctor at Brentford, while Northern Ireland have recalled Kelleher's former teammate Conor Bradley for their games against Denmark and Iceland, after he missed the last international break through knack. And finally, having just checked to see if Steve Clarke is still the manager of Scotland, we can reveal that he very much is and will be hoping his side can avoid the potential embarrassment that comes hand in hand with friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein, before an eminently winnable qualifying campaign that kicks off in September. Now you know as much as we do, so make like Frodo and go away.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join a mystery guest from 8pm BST for hot Nations League semi-final updates from Germany 2-1 Portugal.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
'We had a backpack with snacks and we played around on our phones to kill time. The lights were on all the time and the sitting position was uncomfortable, so sleeping was almost impossible. That made it physically and mentally difficult' – Neal Remmerie explains how he, along with fellow Belgian TikToker Senne Haverbeke, spent 27 hours in an Allianz Arena bog before watching the Bigger Cup final for free. 'We looked carefully at which security guard was paying the least attention,' whooped Remmerie. 'While on the phone and with food in our hands, we just walked on, and suddenly we were inside.'
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
I've just read your recent article regarding the York City owner's push for three promotion places from the National League to League Two (yesterday's Football Daily). I wanted to write in full support of her position – and to thank you for highlighting this vital issue. As a supporter of Dorking Wanderers, a club that finished sixth this past season and fell short in the playoffs, I can say with confidence that many clubs and fans across the National League share her view. The idea that a team finishing sixth or seventh – often 15 to 20 points behind second or third place – can leapfrog into the Football League while stronger teams miss out is increasingly hard to justify. You questioned whether York's owner would feel the same if her club finished seventh. I genuinely believe she would, as would many other club owners, including the management at Dorking. This isn't just about individual clubs – it's about fairness, progress, and ensuring that ambition is matched by opportunity. The National League has become increasingly professional and competitive, and its clubs deserve a pathway that reflects that. I hope the EFL takes note of this growing movement. Thank you again for covering this important topic – and please keep the conversation going' – Stephen Parrott.
It's probably worth pointing out that the 3UP campaign is supported by all 72 clubs in the National League, including the North and South leagues, of which my team, South Shields, is part, although we certainly weren't troubling the playoff contenders this season just gone' – Phil Gibson.
I'm sure I will be one of 1,057 pedants to point out that in the 2021-22 National League North season, Brackley Town finished second on 87 points, seven points ahead of the side that finished third and a whole 21 points ahead of the team that actually ended up being promoted through the playoffs. The name of the side in question … York City' – Andy Riddell (and others).
Forget 3UP (yesterday's Football Daily), I've long thought 8UP to be the answer. A straight eight up and down across all divisions. It would take real commitment to spend 10 years in the same tier. Loads of different teams to play each year and different grounds to visit. You'd have an interest in matches through to the end of the season. And it would level the financial playing field nicely with so many teams yo-yoing. What's not to like?' – Dave Lambley.
Advertisement
If you do have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Dave Lambley. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here.
RECOMMENDED LOOKING
Daniel Melamud has curated a collection of lovely images taken by some of the most respected snappers in the game. Do check out this selection.
THE RIVER-SIGHS
Michael Carrick has been hailed as part of a new breed of astute young manager almost as long as his tenure as Middlesbrough manager, which has ended after the best part of three years in the job (a lengthy spell by Championship standards). Boro announced Carrick's passage through the door marked Do One after a poor run-in that resulted in a 10th-placed finish. Carrick took Boro to fourth place and the playoffs in 2023, where they were beaten in the semis by Coventry, but they dropped back to eighth a year later. Failure to improve on that in the past 12 months means Carrick joins a number of Noughties England luminaries facing tricky times in management. He is followed out of the Riverside by his assistants Jonathan Woodgate (another Noughties England mainstay) and Graeme Carrick. 'We'd like to thank Michael, Jonathan, and Graeme for all their hard work and unwavering commitment. We wish them all the very best for the future,' blah-blahed a club statement as Boro seek a Premier League place for the first time since 2017.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Millie Bright will not play for the Lionesses at Euro 2025. The defender has withdrawn from possible selection as 'it is the right thing for my health and my future'. Bright's withdrawal follows the international retirements of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby, the latter of whom confirmed her news after England's 2-1 Nations League defeat in Spain. Boss Sarina Wiegman is at least confident that Lauren James will be fit for the tournament.
Advertisement
Elsewhere in the WNL, Scotland drew 1-1 in the Netherlands, but Wales got a 4-1 hiding at home against Italy. 'The first half felt like a punch in the face,' sighed manager Rhian Wilkinson. 'Let's be clear, that was not a performance that I expect from this team.'
Lucas Paquetá's spot-fixing trial has ended but West Ham have been left unhappy at having to wait up to eight weeks for a verdict.
Stop us if you think that you've heard this one before … Manchester City are going on a spending jag. The first man in? Tijjani Reijnders of Milan, the Dutch attacking midfielder costing an agreed fee of €55m. Meanwhile, following Kevin De Bruyne's departure comes news that Scott Carson, the reserve goalie who has played 108 minutes and won 11 trophies, could also be doing one.
Andrée Jeglertz, the Swede who will lead Denmark at Euro 2025, is in line for the Manchester City Women's top job.
Advertisement
Sheffield United are to be the lucky losers after Blackburn's withdrawal and remain in WSL 2 next season.
Liverpool want Milos Kerkez. Bournemouth want £45m.
Will Crystal Palace escape the bind that might deny the Eagles a first proper European tilt next season? John Textor, largest shareholder but also owner of Lyon, is trying to flog his shares in Palace to ease passage into Bigger Vase. 'All of the UK knows that I don't have decisive influence over Palace,' he roared.
Liam Manning has done one from Bristol City to take over at Norwich.
And Rio Ferdinand thinks that Manchester United's failings have made him a laughing stock. 'It's sad, man. I'm on TV, I've got to talk about this stuff. Everyone can take the mick out of me,' he wailed. 'I'm a meme sometimes on social media [disgraces] because of my team. So it's hard, man, I'm doing punditry in the worst possible time in Manchester through this terrible moment.'
STILL WANT MORE?
Thomas Müller, Patrik Schick, Vincent Kompany and Leipzig's 'scumbag football': all part of Andy Brassell's review of the German season.
Advertisement
Jacob Steinberg picks over why Jadon Sancho is back at Manchester United, after the end of his sale and return move to Chelsea. What next?
Ben McAleer looks at the Premier League players who could possibly to with moves to reboot their careers.
Get these bookmarked if you haven't already: our men's and women's summer transfer interactives.
And this week's Knowledge investigates British players conquering Europe's top five leagues, late-career goalscoring centurions and huge gaps between league titles, among much else.
MEMORY LANE
Winding the clock back to 4 June 1997: Paul Scholes, 22, beams after scoring his first England goal, in only his second senior international, as Italy are beaten in Nantes. Scholes also laid on the other for his strike partner that evening, Ian Wright, as England ended up winning Le Tournoi, the warm-up event for the 1998 World Cup. Scholes has described his England career as an overall disappointment, but their performances in France that summer got everyone back home excited. Wright, knacked that following season, missed the World Cup. Only Mick Channon played more times for England without being selected for a World Cup or European Championships squad. These days, Scholes and Wright occasionally find themselves still paired up, reminiscing across Gary Neville's kitchen island on that show you see all over social media disgraces.
JACKSON RETURNS!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
More decisive substitutions and another second half surge help England reach another final
By the end, even the most ardent England supporter had to have some sympathy with Italy. 'We were one minute away from the final,' said manager Andrea Soncin after the game. 'Our players deserved a different end. Unfortunately, sometimes you don't get what you deserve.' But this is becoming England's template — denying opponents what they feel they deserved. Sweden were the better side in the quarter-final in Zurich last week. Both Colombia and Nigeria could have beaten England at the World Cup two years ago. Even at Euro 2022, Spain led the quarter-final 1-0 before collapsing and losing 2-1, and Sweden started the semi-final the stronger before somehow losing 4-0. So often, Sarina Wiegman's England could have been eliminated before the final. Somehow, they never are. Defeat to Italy here in Geneva would have been, in all honesty, a spectacular failure. The pressure always ramps up as you progress through a tournament, of course, but elimination to this Italy side would arguably have been a bigger embarrassment than going out in an extremely tough group, or losing to an impressive Sweden side in the quarter-final. Italy are inexperienced on this stage. They would arguably not get a single player into England's starting XI. To be frank, they didn't play particularly well in this game, scoring against the run of play with a well-taken Barbara Bonansea goal — until then, her first touch had been sorely lacking — and defending their own box well, but otherwise hardly looking like they belonged in a European Championship final. But when you lead the majority of a game, you inevitably feel like you should have won. The question is quite why England made such heavy weather of what should have been a relatively simple task. England repeatedly start matches slowly, in a very literal sense; unable to set the tempo of the game with quick passing. They demonstrated, even at the start of the second half, that they're capable of playing at a higher speed, and their ability to force late spells of pressure is unmatched. But England are tentative and timid in the first half of matches. They got away with it at the World Cup two years ago, before finding that Spain were too good to allow England their second half dominance. The same fate might await them in the final, if Spain defeat Germany in Zurich tonight. 'The first half we didn't play well — we didn't have the energy in the game,' said Wiegman. 'We did have the ball more and we were playing a little more in their half but we didn't create. And the second half we did better, but of course they defended really well too. So when we were in the final third there wasn't much space… they were really aggressive and winning lots of duels. The good news, of course, is that England are a different side in the second half of matches. That's partly because, in the era of five substitutes, they literally are a different side — up to 50% different. It's often said that Sarina Wiegman only makes changes around the hour mark, but here she went both earlier and later. Beth Mead was summoned in place of Lauren James at half-time, and offered more width and drive — James had been guilty of taking too many touches, and slowing England down. Chloe Kelly, who changed the game against Sweden, was only summoned after 77 minutes. But the big surprise was that Wiegman waited even longer before introducing both Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones, a brand new strike partnership with five minutes — plus stoppage time — remaining. Agyemang replicated her rescue act from the Sweden game, to send the match into extra time. Decisive substitutes have become Wiegman's trademark. Ella Toone and Alessia Russo provided crucial contributions when England won the last European Championship, with Toone netting an equaliser in the quarter-final against Spain, and then the opener in the final. What is somewhat unclear is how much this is pure Wiegman genius, and how much England simply have back-ups of greater quality than their opponents'. Neither Sweden nor Italy were capable of matching the calibre of England's replacements. Mead, Kelly, Beever-Jones and Agyemang is an extremely strong quartet to have in reserve. Another peculiarity is Wiegman's approach in extra time. Having loaded up on attackers in a desperate attempt to equalise, Wiegman then prefers to keep the same players and system on the pitch, even though the situation in the game has changed dramatically. In the quarter-final, England were second-best, and here against a demoralised Italy they allowed the game to drift, even if they eventually found a winner when Kelly followed up her own penalty. It feels like returning to something approaching a 'standard' system, with some kind of midfield control, would have served England better. 'We had to bring on so many attacking players that we didn't have so many options to bring on defenders,' said Wiegman — although it's worth pointing out that she did have two changes left. 'We had to solve that in the team (on the pitch), and taking account of the fact some players will get fatigued,' she said. She also emphasised the important of 'giving the players clarity when we change the shape,' and said that Lauren Hemp, who played as an emergency left-back in extra time, has the tactical discipline to play there on a full-time basis. 'The girls did an incredible job playing positions we're not used to,' said Kelly after the game, still on a high having tapped home the winner. 'You can never write off the English.' That expression used to be said by the English — about the Germans. But the more England pull off great escapes, the more they can claim that label for themselves. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. England, Italy, International Football, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool in ‘direct talks' to sign Real Madrid star
Rodrygo to Liverpool? Real Madrid Star Linked with Anfield Switch Direct discussions show Liverpool's intent In the blur of transfer season speculation, there are moments when rumour starts to flirt with reality. This feels like one of them. According to Foot Mercato's Santi Aouna, Liverpool have entered 'direct talks' with the representatives of Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, in a move that could signal the most audacious signing of Arne Slot's tenure. 'Liverpool advance for Rodrygo,' Aouna reports, adding: 'There are direct talks with the LFC and Rodrygo's camp… Discussions between the English club and the Brazilian's entourage have begun.' Notably, there is still 'no talk between the clubs', but 'the interest is growing.' That detail matters — it implies groundwork being laid, a deliberate courting of a player long admired. And with Luis Díaz reportedly edging closer to Bayern Munich, Liverpool may soon have both the funds and the squad space to act decisively. Rodrygo: A proven winner in limbo Rodrygo's career to date reads like a precocious prodigy living up to the billing. Since his arrival in 2019, he's made 270 appearances, winning three La Liga titles and two Champions League medals. His Champions League performances alone have hinted at the kind of player who thrives under pressure, delivering when it matters most. And yet, as L'Équipe and others have noted, the 24-year-old is no longer a guaranteed starter. Under Xabi Alonso, Rodrygo has found himself increasingly peripheral. He didn't start a single match during Madrid's Club World Cup campaign this summer — a telling signal in a club where the line between valued and expendable is razor-thin. For Liverpool, that presents opportunity. Photo: IMAGO Liverpool's ambition, Madrid's dilemma If Bayern Munich meet the reported €75 million valuation for Díaz, it would hand Liverpool the financial leverage required to test Madrid's resolve. As Fabrizio Romano notes, any Rodrygo deal would begin at €100m (£86m) — a steep figure, but arguably reflective of both his pedigree and potential. Rodrygo is not simply a winger — he is a multi-functional attacker, equally comfortable in wide roles or central spaces. His arrival could future-proof Liverpool's front line, offering depth, versatility and Champions League experience in one. For Madrid, the decision will hinge on how much they value Rodrygo's long-term role. With Endrick, Vinicius Jr., and others jostling for wide attacking spots, the Brazilian may feel it is time to find a new stage. Timing could be everything While there is no formal negotiation between the clubs yet, the trajectory of this story feels familiar. Player contact. Growing interest. A possible outgoing sale. It's a transfer with all the elements of modern football drama — high-value figures, elite institutions, and strategic timing. And should Liverpool pull it off, it may prove more than just a statement of ambition. It may be the moment their new era properly begins. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis If this is truly on the table, Liverpool fans should be buzzing. Rodrygo isn't just a flashy name — he's a top-tier European forward, and more importantly, one with a winning pedigree. He knows how to deliver on the biggest nights. That's not something you can easily teach. Yes, €100 million is steep. But with Díaz possibly heading out, that outlay becomes far more manageable — and frankly, Rodrygo looks like an upgrade in terms of consistency and tactical flexibility. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool will likely place more emphasis on possession and fluid movement, and Rodrygo fits that model better than Díaz ever did. Of course, Madrid won't let him go easily. But if there's even a sliver of willingness to talk, Liverpool must push. Rodrygo could be the cornerstone of a new Anfield front three. He's got the talent. He's got the pedigree. Now let's hope we've got the pull.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Nicolas Jackson's transfer to Man United gains new momentum
Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign a striker from their direct rivals. Striker search ongoing After the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United aim to complete their attacking revolution with a number nine. The Red Devils have missed out on top targets Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres and are now currently assessing other options. Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Red Bull Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko are seen as potential options on the list. Another player who is allegedly on the club's radar is Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson. Jackson keen on a move It has already been reported that the Senegal international has rejected SSC Napoli and AC Milan this summer as he prefers to stay in the Premier League. Nonetheless, United do face massive complications for a deal as it has been reported that Chelsea have placed the eye-watering valuation of £80m and £100m on the player, a price United cannot and will not pay this summer. Way around price Despite the huge valuation, Fabrizio Romano reports that there could be the opportunity for Ruben Amorim's side to strike a deal for the striker. It is reported that, 'sources reveal that in recent days, Manchester United have been approached with the opportunity to proceed and start talks for Nicolas Jackson.' The Italian journalist adds that, 'according to sources close to the negotiations, Chelsea still maintain an interest in Alejandro Garnacho as an option in case Manchester United want to open a proper negotiation for Nicolas Jackson.' Consequently, 'United are aware of Chelsea's potential interest in Garnacho and they are open to discussing conditions of a swap deal involving Nicolas Jackson.' At this moment in time, the Red Devils are still weighing up their options and have not started the process of any sort of official bid. It has also been highlighted that Jackson would be open to a move to United, even without Champions League football, which could certainly speed up any potential deal. Featured image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
