Key events
Some more detail on Konate, via PA Media: “A month ago the centre-back confidently announced after the Merseyside derby win at Everton that a resolution was imminent.
“However, the Press Association understands the club were unable to come to terms on the financial aspects and as a result the defender will leave Anfield next month after a five-year stay.”
It’s the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday, and here’s Tom Garry’s preview from the Manchester City end. They take on Brighton.
Persuading Khadija “Bunny” Shaw to perform a remarkable U-turn and stay for another four years was vital.
The Jamaica striker, who scored 21 times in 22 league games this season, had signalled firmly to the club she had decided to leave, because other teams were offering more lucrative contracts and talks with City had broken down.
Memories of 1986 for co-hosts Mexico, and their legendary coach.
In 1985, Bora Milutinović took the players away from their clubs for a full year. They toured the world, playing more than 20 friendlies in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.
Decades later, Milutinović still believes the decision was correct.
“In my time, the only way we could accomplish anything was to be together,” the 81-year-old says over the phone from China, where he is travelling. “Thanks to that time spent together, we created a suitable environment where we were mentally prepared, and it was so effective that we played a very, very successful World Cup in ’86.”
On Ibrahima Konate, the briefing appears to be that he will be leaving Liverpool, as no deal could be agreed.
Good story from our Guardian US colleagues.
Speaking to reporters, US Soccer CEO JT Batson said Pochettino and the organization are focused on the World Cup, declining to confirm specifically that Pochettino and Milan had held talks. However, he added that Pochettino and his staff “have been transparent about club interest for the last couple of years”, adding that “there’s been a longer list of outreach than what has even been reported.”
Batson also declined to say whether US Soccer was engaged in extension discussions with Pochettino, and similarly deferred comment when asked if another big-name manager such as Jürgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola could be next, saying the organization is “focused on this summer”.
Josh Kroenke, Arsenal co-owner, has been speaking to all and sundry this week.
“[In] our experience of winning things in the States, when you win something, the sun’s still going to come up the next day. You’ve got to get back to work and there are many teams trying to gain on you, including some historically great ones around the Premier League. We’re going to look to strengthen because we know teams around us are going to get better. If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still.”
Transfer news: There’s talk the Tottenham reboot will begin with two free transfers in Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. Both would seem highly sensible buys, Robertson perhaps in the leadership role Jordan Henderson has at Brentford, and with England.
Krishna, a regular correspondent, gets in touch: “Hello, John. Budapest will see 21st century’s vindication of the famous Aesop’s fable of The Tortoise and the hare. Get ready for a root canal treatment like 1-0 victory after extra time.”
The aforementioned Qatar played Ireland last night in Dublin, and lost 1-0.
The game was played against the backdrop of mounting controversy over Ireland’s forthcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel, with the game scheduled for October 4 in Dublin a particular focus, and protesters hurled tennis balls bearing the message “stop the game” onto the pitch on several occasions during the first half.
Veteran defender Seamus Coleman had expressed concern that Ireland’s coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson and his players have been left in the firing line by those above them, and McGrath admitted the situation is difficult.
Hallgrimsson said: “Seamus spoke really well about it the other day. We all don’t agree with what’s going on. Ideally it’s not in our hands. It’s not a nice situation to be put into. Like I said, personally, none of us agree with what’s going on.”
Late decision for the Sassuolo player, an actual Italian at the World Cup.
The 22-year will make a shock switch of allegiance from Italy to Australia four years after turning down the opportunity to represent the country of his birth at the tournament in Qatar.
Football Australia is still awaiting confirmation from Fifa that the formalities surrounding Volpato’s change of heart can be completed before Socceroos coach Tony Popovic names his 26-player World Cup squad by 1 June.
A couple of World Cup team guides.
Pochettino setting the bar low for Pulisic? Just one goal?
“I was disappointed with him [for missing the Gold Cup],” Pochettino reflected in a discussion with the Guardian and other reporters on Thursday. “I am transparent about that. He was disappointed with our decision not to include him in the two friendly games [against Switzerland and Turkey].”
Pulisic is 27, feels like he’s been the coming man for a long time now.
Ed Aarons spoke to the player who may hold the key for Arsenal, Kai Havertz.
Havertz is looking ahead to Arsenal’s final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, when not many give them a chance of winning. It was the same when Chelsea, managed by Thomas Tuchel, took on a formidable City assembled by Pep Guardiola that had won the Premier League by 12 points. Chelsea had finished fourth, a further seven points adrift.
“We were the underdogs on that day, for sure,” Havertz says. “We hadn’t had the best season. But now it is completely different.”
An overnight transfer line.
If Konaté walks away from Liverpool out of contract, it will be the second consecutive year – after Trent Alexander-Arnold ran down his deal before a £10m move to Real Madrid – that the club will have lost one of their first-choice defenders without receiving a significant fee.
Konaté has had a disappointing season but losing an established centre-back will come as a blow for the sporting director Richard Hughes, with new defensive recruits Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni both working their way back to fitness after significant injuries and transfer speculation swirling over the future of Joe Gomez.
The World Cup is less than a fortnight away though doubts begin to swirl.
Ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, there has been uncertainty surrounding this World Cup fixture in Los Angeles.
There were conflicting signals whether the Islamic Republic of Iran would allow the national football team to travel to the home of its attacker, and whether the US would welcome Team Melli. With kick-off now weeks away, it appears the game will go ahead as planned. Still, there is the possibility of protests by the large local Iranian population in “Tehrangeles”, many of whom fled the 1979 revolution, and acts of defiance by players. It’s more than a football story.
Jonathan Wilson, true to form, used Agincourt in his tactical preview of the final.
Although PSG have scored more goals from non-penalty set plays than Arsenal in the Champions League this season (eight to five), it probably is reasonable to assume that corners and free-kicks offer Arsenal’s best chance of a goal. But the biggest danger to Arsenal is probably a counterattack. Most opponents sit deep against PSG, especially in Ligue 1, but the evidence of PSG’s wins over Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich is that they are lethal in transition.
Arsenal cannot let Desiré Doué or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia get a run on whoever they have at full-back. Both are rapid, supreme dribblers and terrifyingly direct. And full-back is an issue for Arsenal, especially on the right. Ben White is out with a knee injury and Jurriën Timber is doubtful with a groin problem sustained against Everton in mid-March.
Let’s start with an Opta Analyst preview of the Champions League final.
Luis Enrique has regularly rested his players from Ligue 1 games. So, even though PSG have played a lot of matches, their most important players have been rotated heavily and should go into this weekend’s final relatively fresh.
Many of PSG’s best players have played very little domestic football this season. Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé started just 11 of their 34 Ligue 1 games; Neves, Mendes and Fabián Ruiz made 13 starts each; Kvaratskhelia 18, Doué and Hakimi 16, and Marquinhos 11. And it’s not like they come off the bench all that much, either. Not one of them has played even half their team’s minutes in Ligue 1 this season.
Preamble
Good morning, football. It’s all on Saturday, Budapest and the Champions League final. The capital cities of England and France decamped to the capital of Hungary. Plenty of buildup to that to come, and further news as the transfer market begins to key into action, plus World Cup news.
Join us.
