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Results

Sunday 23/06
Swizerland	1-1	Germany
Hungary	1-0	Scotland

Euro 2024: Wins For João & Timo


Portugal secured top spot in Group F with victory over Turkey in Dortmund on Saturday afternoon.

After being named as a substitute for their opening victory over Czechia, João Palhinha was in from the off this time around, acting as part of a midfield three alongside Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha.

After Turkey – managed by former Fulham loanee Vincenzo Montella – squandered a glorious chance to go in front, Portugal broke the deadlock through Bernardo Silva, before a calamitous own goal doubled their advantage.

Palhinha then picked up a booking at the end of the half, and was substituted at the break, watching on as Fernandes added some gloss to the scoreline.

Belgium's Euro campaign is off and running with a 2-0 win over Romania in Cologne that evening.

Timothy Castagne played the full 90, with his side taking the lead inside two minutes through Youri Tielemans' fine finish.

Romelu Lukaku thought he'd made it two just after the hour mark but VAR ruled that he was marginally offside, though Kevin De Bruyne did wrap things up late on when he poked home after getting onto the end of a long ball from goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

Romania almost pulled one back when substitute Denis Alibec managed to divert a shot beyond Casteels, but Castagne was well positioned to get back and clear the ball before it could cross the line.

That result leaves Group E finely poised, with all four teams on three points heading into their final games.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/june/23/euro-2024-wins-for-joao-and-timo/

Copa América: Captain Bobby Suffers Narrow Defeat


Bobby De Cordova-Reid was named Captain for Jamaica's Copa América opener against Mexico on Saturday night.

The Reggae Boyz slipped to a hard fought 1-0 defeat in Texas, but it would have been a proud moment for the Fulham man, nonetheless.

Jamaica responded well to a bright Mexico start and almost went in front when Shamar Nicholson rose highest to meet a sublime De Cordova-Reid free-kick, only to nod wide.

They started the second half brilliantly and thought they had their first ever Copa América goal when Michail Antonio headed in, but their joyous celebrations were cut short when VAR deemed the West Ham man to have been in an offside position.

That decision appeared to buoy the Mexicans, who fashioned a few decent chances before taking the lead when left-back Gerardo Arteaga absolutely leathered one in from the edge of the box.

De Cordova-Reid was substituted with 10 minutes to play but Jamaica were unable to fashion an equaliser, despite their spirited display.

They are next in action against Ecuador on Wednesday.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/june/23/copa-america-captain-bobby-suffers-narrow-defeat/

USMNT player ratings: Pulisic, Robinson star in adequate win over Bolivia
The U.S. men's national team kicked off its 2024 Copa América with a 2-0 win over Bolivia that was professional, straightforward, and yet also sloppy and inconsistent.

Facing an opponent that realistically didn't field any players that seemed on the level of the USMNT, an electric start gave way to an uneven final 75 minutes. The USMNT gave Bolivia next to nothing going forward, which is great, but also managed to leave some goals on the table amid some lackadaisical build-up play.

On the plus side, the U.S. didn't let Bolivia ever feel like it was in the game. Christian Pulisic's early strike saw to that, and other than one first-half shoving match, this game was low on drama in a way that favored the USMNT.

On the other hand, other than Pulisic and Antonee Robinson, few players truly stood out against an opponent that was overmatched for 90 minutes. A few USMNT players will have to admit that this was not their best or most consistent effort, and that kept the team from posting a more impressive showing.

As a reminder, here's our scale for these ratings:

    1: Abysmal. Literally any member of Pro Soccer Wire's staff would have been been able to play at this level.
    6: Adequate. This is our base score.
    10: Transcendent, era-defining performance. This is Maradona vs. England in 1986.


GK: Matt Turner – 6.5
Turner was at times in "No Rating" territory, as Bolivia couldn't get anywhere near the U.S. goal.

However, in the end he made three very routine saves with no fuss, and there weren't any issues dealing with crosses or long balls either.

Turner's use of the ball remains an issue (he completed just 60% of his passes in a game where he wasn't really pressed) though, and that becomes a factor when your team sees so much of the ball.

RB: Joe Scally – 6.5
Scally saw less of the game as the U.S. was intentional about getting the ball to Pulisic and Robinson, so his rating is restricted to some degree due to the team's approach.

Still, this was a completely fine game from the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender. He offered something going forward (a shot, a successful dribble, and a key pass), though he may have been a bit more clean in terms of possession.

Against a better opponent, this showing might have earned a higher rating, but Bolivia offered little, so it's fair to want to see more out of Scally on the ball to get above a 6.5.

CB: Chris Richards – 6.5
Richards saw more of the ball than Ream, which was partially by design as Bolivia tried to make it harder to play through Ream.

The numbers resulting from that (89% passing accuracy, 76 touches, 3/6 on accurate long balls) look fine, but in context it was a bit of an issue. The missed passes from Richards were concerning including some passes going essentially right to someone in a red shirt.

Bolivia gave Richards almost no defending to do, and he won most of his aerial duels, but his reads and vision in possession will have to improve once this tournament's difficulty ramps up.

CB: Tim Ream – 6.5
Ream didn't have much to do in the opening stages, which were one-way traffic, but made two smart interceptions as Bolivia tried to work their way back into the game.

Much like Richards, Ream's numbers don't catch the eye as particularly good or bad. As the game wore on, he got more accurate on his long balls (8 of 13), and he got through his defensive duties with a minimum of fuss.

However, when Ream gave the ball away, it was under less than withering pressure, and a few were passes more or less right to an opponent.

LB: Antonee Robinson – 8
Robinson was excellent, routinely beating anyone that Bolivia posted up on its right flank and serving in dangerous balls.

Five key passes (more than the entire Bolivia team on the day) speak to how effective the Fulham defender was going forward, and the only reason he didn't get multiple assists was some wayward finishing from his teammates.

Robinson also was by far the most active U.S. player in terms of defensive actions, posting four interceptions and three successful tackles.

Overall, there's not much negative to say here, as Robinson simply owned his side of the pitch.

RCM: Weston McKennie – 5.5
McKennie's first half was, by his standards, pretty disappointing. His movement was fine, the defensive effort was there, but on the ball? Not so much.

He worked wonders on what became a goal nullified by an offside flag early in the second half, but overall never truly got going. It's rare to see McKennie win just one duel and offer just two defensive actions, but it was that kind of night for the Texan.

One wonders if the early knock he seemed to pick up may have contributed to a sub-par performance.

DM: Tyler Adams – 6
Adams' last USMNT start was one in which he somehow showed no rust, scored one of the best goals in team history, and celebrated a big win at the end of the night.

This wasn't quite the same thing, as Adams was guilty of some avoidable giveaways and a couple of misguided decisions to step high when the counter-press wasn't actually on. Adams improved later in the half, but still had seven turnovers per Sofascore, and generally seemed slightly off the pace in the game's opening stages.

Ultimately for the USMNT, it wasn't that important that Adams have his best game today, and the fact that he seemed to come through his 45 minutes without any knocks is as important as anything about his actual performance.

LCM: Gio Reyna – 7
Reyna was largely stuck acting as a facilitator early on, before being hacked down by an ugly Leonel Justiniano tackle. Still, Reyna can do that quiet role well, drawing multiple yellow cards and misplacing just four of 34 passes against a physical opponent.

Reyna drove the team forward at a key moment as the USMNT made it 2-0, and brought some needed fluency to a midfield that was otherwise a little lackluster on the ball.

Is this the role USMNT fans want to see him in? It doesn't seem so, but the fact is that this gets him on the field, and Berhalter isn't interested in a 4-2-3-1. Performances like this need to be the baseline, and recent showings point to Reyna being able to provide them.

RF: Tim Weah – 7
Weah was among the players leading the U.S. to start the match at 100mph with a charging run down the right, and he had the assist as Pulisic scored the opener (not that it required much out of the Juventus man).

In the eighth minute he nearly teed Folarin Balogun up for a point-blank chance, and when that didn't work he almost fired his blocked pass under the beleaguered Guillermo Viscarra.

Only one player had more than Weah's three key passes, and in general he handled his business on both sides of the ball with energy and intensity.

ST: Folarin Balogun – 7
Balogun got into some promising positions multiple times in the first half, but a combination of some hard luck (balls taking odd hops, etc.) and a need to take an extra touch to square himself to goal, none of those opportunities paid off.

However, just before halftime he turned an ostensibly more difficult look into a goal, freezing Jesús Sagredo with a feint before using a quickly-taken shot to make it 2-0.

The Monaco striker thought he had a second goal after fighting through a defender's grab, but Weah was correctly caught offside in the build-up.

Still, with the USMNT being a bit nervous about Balogun's ability to actually produce tangible results, it's a big step in the right direction to see him getting into dangerous spots and beating goalkeepers with shots.

LF: Christian Pulisic – 8
Pulisic wasted no time putting the USMNT into the lead, capping off an electric opening couple of minutes with a glorious strike to give them a third-minute lead.

Pulisic later tacked on an assist of his own, dishing the ball to Balogun in the 44th minute after making a smart run inside to turn a promising move into true danger.

Overall, Pulisic more or less ran the show, and was busy in all phases of play. The pressure on the AC Milan star is that he's probably going to have to play like this four more times for the USMNT to go on a run to the final.

Coach: Gregg Berhalter – 7
Full credit to the coaching staff for making sure the USMNT started this tournament off in the right place in terms of channeling its emotions. The U.S. was extremely charged-up from kickoff, and capitalized with a very early goal. That's about as good as it gets when it comes to making sure your overmatched foe never gets a foothold in a match.

Things fell off from there, though much of that seems to fall on the players for some shrug-worthy execution. Bolivia worked hard and brought lots of physicality, but the USMNT was only sporadically interested in mashing the gas pedal in the manner that we saw at the start.

Still, when a team is this dominant — Bolivia produced 0.18 expected goals, and didn't have a single shot inside the box — the tactics play a part. Bolivia is possibly the worst team in this Copa América, and the USMNT made sure Turner basically had the day off.

Sub: Yunus Musah – 7
Musah replaced Adams in what Fox referred to as a planned substitution at halftime, taking over as the USMNT's No. 6.

The AC Milan midfielder was quietly effective, misplacing just two passes while consistently being an outlet for teammates. Musah added three successful tackles, making sure that the USMNT's physicality was superior to Bolivia's, which helped keep La Verde from finding any way back into the match.

Overall, this was good stuff from Musah, who made sure the spaces between the lines simply weren't there, even as Bolivia switched formations at halftime in a way that required him and the U.S. to adjust.

Sub: Johnny Cardoso – 7
The Real Betis midfielder replaced Reyna in the 65th minute, taking up residence at the base of the midfield while Musah moved into more of a No. 8 role.

Johnny was, like Musah, a solid addition on both sides of the ball. He won all five of his duels, including three tackles, and he chipped in a key pass and a successful dribble.

Frankly, if the starters had matched Johnny's level throughout the first half, this game probably ends with a wider margin of victory. The USMNT isn't exactly at a point where its midfield starters are in question, but you want to see Johnny consistently pushing the first-choice group like this.

Sub: Ricardo Pepi – 5.5
Pepi stepped in for Balogun after 66 minutes, and immediately should have scored from eight yards out after Robinson's cross picked him out on the doorstep.

The PSV forward was then denied on two different powerful shots later in the match, as Viscarra made arguably his best saves of the match.

It seemed like Pepi was going to walk the ball in after an inch-perfect cross from Robinson in the 89th minute, but the target man was a bit casual with his shot. That gave Viscarra a chance to deny him yet again, and then claw the rebound (which pinged into Pepi's leg) off the line as well.

It's great that Pepi got into so many dangerous spots, but at some point one of these had to be a goal.

Sub: Luca de la Torre – 6.5
De la Torre entered the match for McKennie after 78 minutes, and was influential. He offered a successful tackle, won an aerial duel, and completed seven of eight passes. His minutes were limited and the game was effectively decided when he entered, but the Celta Vigo midfielder made sure the levels didn't drop.

Given more time he was on track for a better rating, and if McKennie's knock requires a game of rest, this kind of showing makes Berhalter's choice clear.

Sub: Brenden Aaronson – NR
Aaronson came on for Weah in the 86th minute, which is just not long enough of a shift to rate.



https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/lists/usmnt-vs-bolivia-player-ratings-pulisic-copa-america/

"A dream scenario" - Hull City urged to swoop for double Man City, Fulham transfer deal

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

A new era is underway at Hull City following the appointment of Tim Walter as the club's new head coach.

The Tigers made the shock decision to part company with Liam Rosenior last month, despite finishing seventh in the Championship table this season, and Walter has been announced as his replacement.

 Walter had been out of work since being sacked by Hamburg in February, but he did a decent job during his two-and-a-half year spell in charge of the German club, and he will be hoping to lead Hull to promotion next season.

It could be a busy summer as Walter looks to rebuild his squad, and strengthening the forward line will be one of his main priorities over the coming months.

Striker Liam Delap spent this season on loan at the MKM Stadium from Manchester City, and he scored eight goals in 32 appearances.

Hull are keen to re-sign Delap, but he is said to be on the radar of newly-promoted Premier League side Southampton, and his £10 million price tag would take up a lot of the club's budget, with owner Acun Ilicali revealing he is only able to invest around £14 million this summer due to the EFL's financial regulations.

That means that the Tigers may need to turn their attention elsewhere, and according to Hull Live, the club are interested in Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, who scored 13 goals in 47 appearances during his loan spell at Birmingham City this season.

Hull City should look to sign both Jay Stansfield and Liam Delap this summer
 FLW's Hull City fan pundit Ant Northgraves does not believe that the potential signing of Stansfield would end the club's pursuit of Delap, and he admitted he would love to see the Tigers sign both players this summer.

"I'm very pleased that we're being linked with Jay Stansfield, and I'm hoping that it's a true rumour," Ant told Football League World.

"He was one of the best players at Birmingham last season, and he's a striker that's got a really bright future in the game.

I don't think that moving in for him would make the Liam Delap deal any less likely because realistically we've just got no strikers at the club, so being in a position to maybe bring Delap in on a permanent basis and Stansfield on loan would give us two really good options almost instantly.

"Delap has got versatility, he can play along the front three, so you've got good options and depth, which is something that we perhaps lacked last season.

 "Having two strikers that are bright, burgeoning English prospects at the same club and being able to rotate them and have those options for injuries is just a really good prospect.

"I'm hoping we can bring in one or the other, both would obviously be a dream scenario, but I'm glad we're being linked to these kinds of players."

Hull City must sign one of Liam Delap or Jay Stansfield this summer
 As Ant says, it would be a dream for Hull to sign both Delap and Stansfield this summer, but that seems unlikely.

The Tigers are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements after loanees including Delap, Anass Zaroury, Fabio Carvalho and Noah Ohio returned to their parent clubs, while Billy Sharp and Aaron Connolly have left the club at the end of their contracts.

Delap enjoyed an excellent stint on loan at Hull this season, and Walter will be hoping he can secure his return, while Stansfield was one of Birmingham's standout performers in an incredibly disappointing campaign as they were relegated to League One.

Both Delap and Stansfield would be capable of scoring the goals to fire the Tigers to promotion, and the club must look to get a deal over the line for at least one of them.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/a-dream-scenario-hull-city-urged-to-complete-man-city-and-fulham-transfer-deals/

Antwerp closing in on a deal to sign former Fulham defender form Club Brugge on a free
David Van den Broeck is reporting that Antwerp are working on a deal to sign Denis Odoi from Club Brugge. The former Fulham defender is out of contract with the Belgian champions this summer and will be able to sign for Antwerp on a free. Now 36, it is a sign that Antwerp are having to change their approach after increased spending in recent years. However, Odoi showed that he is still a valuable player and can contribute at this level.

The Ghanaian international played 39 games for Club Brugge and scored three goals as they claimed their 19th Belgian league title during the 2023/2024 campaign. Odoi joined the side from Fulham for around €700k back in the winter transfer window of the 2021/2022 season. Previously he had played for OH Leuven, Sint-Truiden, Anderlecht and Lokeren in Belgium. Once a Belgian international, Odoi changed his international allegiances to Ghana a few seasons ago.

Odoi will leave Club Brugge having made 93 appearances and scoring four goals. He also won two league titles with the side, giving him four in total after the other two were won with Anderlecht.



https://getfootballnewsbene.com/antwerp-closing-in-on-a-deal-to-sign-former-fulham-defender-form-club-brugge-on-a-free/?utm_content=cmp-true