GM football fans. It’s Tuesday, July. 1 – The Women’s Euro 2025 favourites, Uefa delays the decision on Crystal Palace’s Europa League qualification, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
Club World Cup, Last 16: Real Madrid vs. Juventus, 20:00 / 15:00. These sides have met on 21 occasions, with Real Madrid leading the head-to-head 10 wins to nine. Across the group stage, Juventus had the biggest differential between their goals scored and expected goals, suggesting they’re efficient in front of goal. Meanwhile, Madrid remain undefeated in the tournament, having drawn one and won two. Borussia Dortmund vs. Monterrey, 02:00 / 21:00. Off the back of winning their final five matches in the Bundesliga, Dortmund are yet to lose in this year’s Club World Cup. They head into the knockout phase riding a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Meanwhile, Monterrey have conceded one goal in the Club World Cup so far, the joint-fewest in the competition alongside Paris Saint-Germain. See the Club World Cup bracket here.
TV Channels: DAZN (UK) | DAZN (US) | DAZN (Canada)
Results…
Club World Cup: Inter Milan 0-2 Fluminense (Report) | Manchester City vs. Al Hilal to conclude shortly after publication (See Result)
TOP TALKING POINTS
Women’s Euro Projections
Spain are favourites to win the Women’s Euro 2025, according to Opta’s prediction model. The reigning world champions are projected a 24.8% chance of clinching their first European Championship title. See all the upcoming Women’s Euro fixtures here.
England, who triumphed on home soil in 2022, are second-favourites with a 16.1% chance. Manager Sarina Wiegman became the first coach to win the competition with two different nations, and she boasts a 100% record at the Euros, having won all 12 matches. They face third-favourites France (15.3%) in their group opener, and both sides are expected to advance to the quarter-finals.
Fourth-favourites Germany, with a 14.8% chance, are the only other team given more than a 7% chance of winning. They are the most successful side in the tournament’s history, with eight titles, including six consecutive wins from 1995 to 2013.
Uefa Delay Palace Decision
Uefa has delayed its decision on whether Crystal Palace can compete in next season’s Europa League following ongoing concerns about breaching multi-club ownership rules. The delay comes as Lyon, who are also co-owned by John Textor and have qualified for the Europa League, have been relegated to the second division of French football for breaching financial rules.
The French side are appealing the decision, but have agreed to relinquish their Europa League spot if their appeal fails. Uefa have opted to wait until the decision on Lyon’s appeal is made before deciding on Palace’s European status. Additionally, Textor is in the process of selling his Palace shares, but it’s unclear how that would impact Uefa’s ruling.
Some reports (paywalled) suggest that if Lyon win their appeal, Palace could be demoted to the Conference League, with Nottingham Forest moving up to the Europa League.
Villa Sell Women’s Team
Aston Villa are set to sell their women’s team to their parent company in a move aimed at complying with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules (PSR). The club plans to sell 90% of the team to itself, with the remaining 10% sold to a U.S.-based investor.
The value of the deal is undisclosed, though Chelsea sold their women’s team to themselves for £198.7m. Villa have recorded £195m in losses over the past two years, significantly exceeding PSR’s limit of a maximum loss of £105m over a rolling three-year period.
The Premier League permits the sale of “fixed tangible assets” to associated entities to count as profit under PSR. However, Uefa does not allow such sales, and both Villa and Chelsea are set to receive fines this week for breaching the governing body’s financial rules.
POLL
Guardiola believes the Club World Cup could derail City’s season. Do you think the tournament will cause problems for clubs next year?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Jonny Evans has retired at age 37 and will become head of loans and pathways at Manchester United (More)
> Michele Kang, who is heavily investing in women’s sports, has taken over as president of French club Lyon as John Textor resigns following the club’s forced relegation (More); read more about Kang’s contribution to women’s football (More)
> Former Manchester United and Liverpool forward Paul Ince has been charged with drink driving (More)
Americas
> Canada have been eliminated from the Gold Cup after losing the quarter-final to Guatemala in a penalty shootout (More) | The United States men’s national team have advanced to the semi-finals after beating Costa Rica on penalties (More)
> Olivier Giroud has admitted that his time at Los Angeles FC has been disappointing, as he is joining French club Lille (More)
> Botafogo have sacked their manager Renato Paiva after the defeat against Palmeiras in the Club World Cup (More)
Rest of the World
> Nine's Stan Sport streaming service will begin streaming Premier League and FA Cup matches in Australia (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Do you want to hear from players mid-game after they’ve been subbed?
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🎤 Yes... (22%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅♂️ Nope... (77%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other… (1%)
Your punditry takes:
🎤 A.P.J: “That could be a blast—if they are allowed to express their earnest opinion in the spur of the moment, without being punished by clubs or leagues for being too frank. Polished schoolboy interviews, we see in plenty.”
🎤 K.S: “Hearing from players about in-game situations while it's fresh in their minds and maybe a little unfiltered would be fantastic.”
🙅♂️ C.H: “Mid-match substitute interviews will likely occur when the networks want to create controversy or distract viewers from the game. They will neither benefit the game nor the viewer. At best, it's a waste of everyone's time. At worst, it sets a player up for criticism when they talk, and the networks will use what is said to incite controversy. They are in the business of making a story exciting or controversial.”
🙅♂️ G.M: “Players are so media savvy these days, they'll just come out with the same old boring 'newspeak'. The post-match interviews are dull, mid-game ones will be no different.”
EXTRA TIME
Every transfer from Europe’s top five leagues. (live tracker)
Tom Brady unveils Birmingham City’s 150th anniversary kit.
Why some Club World Cup pitches ‘aren’t great’.
The problem PSG face with moving from the Parc. (op-ed)
Non-league manager receives six-game ban for sexist comment.
How commentators prepare for matches.
The first-ever MLS penalty shootout was interesting.
Why Liverpool spent £116m on Florian Wirtz. (video)
GAME FACE ON
What are the missing nations from the sequence?
Germany, France, Netherlands, –––––– , Croatia, ––––––
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
Club World Cup
Real Madrid vs. Juventus (20:00)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Argentina & France. The sequence was the losing finalists of the Fifa World Cup from 2002 to 2022.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
Messi is playing with statues, not teammates. He’s surrounded by players who run as if they’re carrying bags of cement.
