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Here, we’ll break down the big story of the day and bring you the latest news, analysis and features — all in a brief daily read.
Hello! England are facing scrutiny, and nobody’s safe. Not even Harry Kane.
🏴 Is Harry Kane set for the chop?
🇦🇷 Messi flicks Argentina’s switch
🇪🇸 Lump on Spain’s Nico Williams
🇳🇱 Johan Cruyff’s wallpaper plan
Euros Zone: Is Kane able?
(Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)
There must be days when Harry Kane asks himself: is it me?
It’s harsh to cast him as a bad omen but you’d forgive him for developing a complex when, as a player renowned for winning nothing, his £82m ($104m) transfer to Bayern Munich coincides with their first trophy-less season since the dawn of time.
Coincidence, or bad timing? Essentially yes. But England have a genuine Kane concern, brought to the fore by yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Denmark. He’s England’s captain. He’s their record goalscorer. He’s been Gareth Southgate’s boy since day one. He scored yesterday. But the case for dropping him is growing.
Southgate’s England aren’t functioning smoothly. Kane is part of the issue rather than the issue itself but in two group games, the 30-year-old has been lethargic, unable to stretch defences with runs in behind and struggling to influence play in deeper areas. Yesterday, he was substituted with 20 minutes left.
Southgate has other options up front: notably Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who has the pace to keep defenders turning. England should get out of their group either way — but before long, the biggest call of Southgate’s reign might be upon him.
Shooooooooooooot!
England were pegged back by Denmark’s Morten Hjulmand banging one in off a post from 25 yards (above).
We’re at the stage where everybody at Euro 2024 should be shooting on sight. Long-range goals are all the rage, and The Athletic’s Michael Cox has tried to explain why.
His verdict? Clean technique on the part of the players, and a ball that is tailor-made to be struck from distance.
Spain swagger
Italy’s defence of their European Championship crown is looking shaky. They lost 1-0 to Spain in a defeat far wider than the score suggests. Another one in the bank for the tournament’s top scorer, Own Goal.
As for Spain, quite the opposite. They’ve got swagger. And while all the talk is about 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams on the opposite wing should have Europe’s scouts pressing the buzzer.
There’s lots to like about his game, and all of it was on show against Italy. A £47million release clause can get the 21-year-old out of Atletico Bilbao this summer. Bargain.
Mbappe mask update
(Jens Schlueter – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
We’ve got our answer on Kylian Mbappe — a broken nose is unlikely to stop him from playing some part against the Netherlands today.
He donned a mask branded with French tricolore in training yesterday (you knew he wouldn’t be dull) but he won’t be wearing that in-game. UEFA is dull — and it insists on medical equipment being ‘free of team and manufacturer identification.’ No fun.
Catch a match
(ET/UK times): Group E: Slovakia vs Ukraine (9am/2pm) — Fubo, BBC One, live blog. Group D: Poland vs Austria (12pm/5pm) — FS1, Fubo, ITV1. Netherlands vs France (3pm/8pm) — FOX, Fubo, BBC1, live blog.
Saturday — Group F: Georgia vs Czechia (9am/2pm) — Fubo, BBC One; Turkey vs Portugal (12pm/5pm) — FOX, Fubo, ITV1; Group E: Belgium vs Romania (3pm/8pm) — FOX, Fubo, ITV1.
Sunday — Group A: Scotland vs Hungary (3pm/8pm) — FOX, Fubo, BBC One; Switzerland vs Germany, (3pm/8pm) — FS1, Fubo, BBC Two.
News Round-Up 🗞️
Copa Corner: Messi and two magic passes
He’s no closer to pinching the Copa America’s all-time goalscoring record but an assist from Lionel Messi helped start Argentina’s engine on day one of the 2024 edition.
It was a secondary assist, though, that made the crowd sit up: this sumptuously weighted pass, forcing the opening goal from Julian Alvarez. It’s like having the ball on a string.
The defending champions were made to work for a 2-0 win over Canada, and they weren’t at full tilt. But as starts go, it was just the ticket.
Marsch: ‘Argentina should be fined’
Canada’s performance should encourage them to think they can squeeze out of Group A. Jesse Marsch, their never-shy-in-speaking boss, took umbrage with Argentina taking an age to reappear after half-time, accusing them of gamesmanship.
The match was goalless at that point, and it’s a tried-and-tested routine on the part of Messi and co. “Argentina should be fined,” Marsch said afterwards. “OK? Fined. Write that. Ole. La Nacion.”
It won’t happen. But a nice soundbite, all the same.
McKennie moving on
The USMNT’s tilt begins against Bolivia on Sunday. Adam Crafton’s picked up a heck of an interview with one of the men expected to drive that tilt, Weston McKennie.
Their chat went everywhere: from McKennie’s miserable time at Leeds United (I was there when the crowd chanted, ‘You fat b*****d’, at him) to his Juventusrenaissance and the task of making the USMNT’s midfield punch its weight.
Adam has dug deep, finding demoralising details of McKennie being racially abused during his time in England. He’s had a better year since then, and this was his take on the Copa: “Athletes don’t play competitions to get second place, or third.”
From a U.S. perspective, it’s what they want to hear.
Catch a Copa match
(ET/UK times): Group A: Peru vs Chile (8pm/1am) — FS1, Fubo, Premier Sports 1.
Saturday — Group B: Ecuador vs Venezuela (6pm/11pm) — FS1, Fubo, Premier Sports 1; Mexico vs Jamaica (9pm/2am) — FS1, Fubo, Premier Sports 1.
Sunday — Group C: USMNT vs Bolivia, (6pm/11pm) — FOX, Fubo, Premier Sports 1; Uruguay vs Panama (9pm/2am) — FOX, Fubo, Premier Sports 1.
Around The Athletic FC 🌎
Peter Robinson/EMPICS via Getty Images; design Eamonn Dalton
Quiz Question❓
Alessio Dimaria got in touch to ask for the return of our weekly quiz. Here it is:
The draw with Denmark was England’s first tournament game since 1996 not to feature a Manchester United player — but can you name the last ones not to feature any players from…
We’re looking for four matches, one for each specific club — check back here for the answer later today. We’ll have it in Monday’s TAFC too.
Look here for the answer later today. We’ll have it in Monday’s TAFC too.
Got a question/feedback? Email us: theathleticfc@theathletic.com
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