Prem fixtures announced

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Head Start

Premier League fixtures announced today

Today, the Premier League will announce the 2024/25 fixtures at 09:00 BST.

(Find the full list here at 09:00 BST).

It’s good to make a strong start in Matchweek 1, so fans will be looking at who their first opponent is. But who are the teams to avoid in the opening fixture?

Let’s take a look at the stats.

Historically speaking, Chelsea and Manchester United are the opening weekend specialists… 

• … They both average 2.09 points per opening match…

• … The Blues have only lost five times in 32 opening Premier League fixtures…

• … and United have won the most opening-day matches (21).

Of course, both sides aren’t the force they once were. Man United have only lost seven opening games… and four of those have come in the last four seasons. 

Manchester City, unsurprisingly, are the most feared side in recent years. In fact, Pep’s side has won 12 out of their last 13 opening weekend matches.

What about individuals? Well, Mohamed Salah is the player that enjoys the opening weekend more than any other player currently in the league. 

His eight goals in Matchday 1 are joint top with legends of the English top-flight: Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney…

… so Liverpool’s star man has something to play for from the very first whistle. 

Then there are the newly promoted sides… Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton. 

Combined, the trio have only seven victories from 46 matches, a success rate of just 15.2%... which, by the way, is mostly made up of Leicester’s four wins.

And, if it wasn’t already obvious, there’s never been a time where all three promoted sides win their opening game…

… and we’re not sure next season will be the exception.

Plus…

Graeme Souness says that his former teammate Alan Hansen is recovering well after it was reported he was “seriously ill” in hospital (More)

Everton value their centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite at more than £70 million after rejecting Manchester United’s £35 million plus add-ons bid (More)

Liverpool are on alert to sign Khvicha Kvaratskelia as the winger’s agent and current side Napoli share blows online (More)

Euros Stat Zone

Portugal vs Czech Republic (Today at 20:00 BST)

→ This will be the fourth European Championship meeting between Portugal and the Czech Republic since 1996 - with Portugal winning the last three meetings. Only Italy and Spain have met on more occasions (5) in the same amount of time. 

→ Portugal have won each of their last four matches in all competitions against the Czech Republic, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one. They have kept a clean sheet in the last three. 

Turkey vs Georgia (Today at 17:00 BST)

→ Turkey have won three of their five meetings with Georgia in all competitions (D1 L1), with this their first encounter since a 3-1 friendly victory in May 2012.

→ Of every player to score more than one goal in Europe’s top five leagues in 2023/24, Turkey’s Arder Güler averaged the fewest minutes per goal (62.2).

Austria 0 - 1 France

→ Kylian Mbappé's still not scored a European Championship goal in 479 minutes of action, despite attempting 18 shots.

→ France make a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign thanks to an own goal from Austria's Max Wöber.

→ William Saliba won 100% of his tackles, and 100% of his ground duels, completed 100% of his dribbles and had a 94% pass accuracy (59 passes).

Yesterday’s results

Group D: Austria 0 - 1 France

Group E: Romania 3 - 0 Ukraine | Belgium 0 - 1 Slovakia

Copa America

Argentina the favourite for Copa America glory

All eyes are on the Euros right now… but on Thursday another big tournament will be taking place over June and July.

That’s right—the Copa America… hosted by the United States.

Argentina heads into the tournament as the reigning champions after ending the nation’s 28-year wait for the trophy.

And, well, Opta predicts that Argentina will take home glory again. 

(Side note: reigning champions aren’t always the favourites… Italy are 7th favourites for the Euros).

Argentina are given a 30.8% chance of winning the tournament…

… which is hardly a surprise.

The 15-time Copa America winners are FIFA’s #1 ranked side in the world, they’ve played the most Copa matches (201) and scored the most goals at the tournament (474).

Brazil are runners up with a 23.3% chance of winning.

Despite Ronaldinho’s ‘criticisms’ of his fellow countrymen, don’t be surprised if the Selećão’s cause a stir at the tournament. Their leading man, Vinícius Júnior, is the leading Ballon d’Or contender for a reason… 

• He scored 24 times for Real Madrid, playing a vital role in his side’s dominant season. 

• He’s attempted 286 dribbles - 10 more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. 

• He’s averaged 8.4 take-on attempts per 90, only bettered by City’s Jérémy Doku.

Not. Too. Bad. 

Anyway, there’s plenty of football on the way. And, even more importantly, plenty of legacies to make (and break!). Exciting stuff.

Off The Pitch

🪐 Human missions to Mars in doubt after an astronaut’s kidney shrinks and samples reveal the same happens in other humans and mice (More)

🌎 The language that each city wants to learn the most, mapped (More)

🧑‍🍳 Chef Marco Pierre White’s son has been jailed for robbing a cafe after he was identified by his distinctive tattoos (More)

📺 Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon season 2 faces complaints of being too dark (More)

🦈 Spanish beaches have been closed after sharks were spotted swimming close to the shore (More) 

🏆 Angelina Jolie and Daniel Radcliffe win their first Tony Award (More)

Photo of the Day

Shock result. The first big shock of Euro 2024 occurred in Frankfurt last night as Belgium suffered a defeat to Slovakia thanks to Ivan Schranz’s early goal. Across the last World Cup and this match, Belgium have now failed to score with any of their last 47 shots in tournament football. Kevin De Bruyne was seen consoling his children after the game.

Around The Football World

🇪🇸 Sergio Ramos leaves La Liga side Sevilla amid links with the MLS (More)

🇫🇷 France captain Kylian Mbappé urges young people to vote in the country’s upcoming election in the face of “extremes knocking on the door of power” (More)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Macclesfield FC have appointed Robbie Savage as first team coach with immediate effect (More)

🇧🇪 Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco addresses questions about his side’s “Golden Generation” (More)

🇦🇱 UEFA charges Albania over a provocative message allegedly displayed by its fans, as well as the use of fireworks and an invasion of the pitch (More)

🇺🇾 Darwin Nunez has given up the No. 9 shirt for Luis Suarez’s return to the Urugauan national team (More)

Extra Time

Kylian Mbappé received treatment after potentially breaking his nose due to a collision.

Cesc Fabregas was not entertaining Micah Richards’ defence of Phil Foden.

The best radio caller we’ve heard in a long time shouting about England at the Euros. 

Nike’s market share at the Euros is huge.

Romania’s Nicolae Stanciu’s contender for Euros goal of the tournament. 

Game Face On

Question: Jude Bellingham became just the second player ever to score at both the World Cup and European Championship before turning 21. Who’s the only other player to achieve this?

Hint: He’s a fellow Englishman.

Scroll below for the answer.

On Today

FOOTBALL

Euro 2024: Turkey vs Georgia (17:00 BST)

Euro 2024: Portugal vs Czech Republic (20:00 BST)

*EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer

Michael Owen (World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000).

Hottest Take of the Day

Today’s Hottest Take of the Day is: Foden must be dropped for England’s next game. He’s brilliant in Man City’s system but he doesn’t suit this England team. Thanks to Michael from Somerset for the entry. Submit another Hot Take of the Day here.