My article for @BBCSport on the rise of inverted full-backs. With the help of a special guest: Philipp Lahm. It was an honour to tap into the mind of the greatest full-back I’ve seen play the sport 🐐 Read here 👉 bbc.co.uk/sport/football/677…

Reading the tea leaves on Gabriel’s form in 2026… a lot of things are being done with less control than before

Casemiro was producing those performances at the 2022 World Cup too. He’s not been good enough to play in an expansive system for 4 years now. Fit with Guimarães is not good either.

Have Morocco got an alternative for this El Aynaoui dude in midfield, he has been their weakest link so far

Bouaddi’s size and touch combo looks cracked… he’s regaining the loose/bouncing balls and turning them into controlled possessions.

Liverpool have to be very careful. Ngumoha pathway can’t be blocked or he’ll be gone. Personally would go for a cheaper runner type LW like Abde to rotate with Nguomha. And go huge on the RW (Diomande). Ekitike is another consideration as he can defo play LW well, with Isak 9.

6 substitutes - that’s a nasty chasing the game setup that has every attacking threat you need. Ferran Merino Grimaldo Gavi Yamal Porro Zubi Rodri Laporte Cubarsi

Grimaldo LB-Olmo LW with Oyarzabal 9 & Ruiz covering behind them will be a great sub option for Spain. It would leverage Pedri’s deep build-up play more. I also like the Merino attacking 8 option if you want to load the box vs a deep defence. I also like the Gavi and Zubi midfield sub options for intensity or more control. I even like the Muñoz explosive dribbles vs tiring legs and Ferran sub 9 options.

🚨 A friend of mine has had expensive DJ equipment (x2 technics, x2 CDJ 900s, DJM 750 mixer), a collection of > 1000 records, laptop, speakers, hard drives, everything down to the cables, stolen from his house in the Solihull area. Also a lot of unreleased songs and mixes that he has poured his soul into producing in the last decade, all the files, hard drives of back ups. All gone. If anyone sees this equipment being sold anywhere then please get in touch.

Mate we’re getting transported back in time to Spurs 2015-2019. The central build-up and counter-press has been unbelievable.

This is the gold standard camera angle for a footy match. Can see the whole USA team shape.

x.com/MadaraOff_White/status… x.com/MadaraOff_White/status…

LCM version of Eze >>> look how good he is at dribbling and threading passes from there

First Martinez howler is not including Matty Fernandes as an option to move to a 4 man midfield. Would’ve been a great option to have him and João Neves flanking Vitinha as 8s and Bruno at 10 in a diamond midfield.

Bookies overrating Portugal & underrating Argentina imo. My bracket has an Argentina vs Portugal quarter-final and I expect Argentina to win that. Their 4 man midfield can compete with Portugal’s greatest strength. And Alvarez-Messi clears their attack. Arg defensive nous also >

Inacio and Dias what are you doing lads… along with their attack and Martinez’s track record of doing silly things. I don’t think Portugal do anything significant despite their elite midfield.

Best bracket simulator website that you can then get a screenshot of your knockout brackets ?

Remember when he threaded that pass in between VVD and Aké thru a tiny gap vs Netherlands. His pass for the penalty reminded me of that. His eye of the needle passing is insane.

Lovely lovely pass release timing from Doué. This is exactly what an attack with a left leaning Mbappé at 9, needs.