Chelsea: The EPL's biggest losers of the international break

  1. Salah farewell tour will fall flat if he can't rediscover old magic

    There was always a chance that Liverpool would announce a high-profile departure during the international break and, just three days after their latest Premier League setback at Brighton, the Reds confirmed that Mohamed Salah would be leaving at the end of the current campaign. The timing of the announcement surprised some, but Salah had successfully pushed for the news to be made public more than two months before the end of the season in what felt like an obvious attempt to control the narrative surrounding his painful and unexpectedly early exit.

  2. Six England questions Tuchel STILL needs to answer

    England's final two games on home soil before the 2026 World Cup were supposed to give Thomas Tuchel's men the perfect send-off for North America. However, instead of being waved off with flowers, the Three Lions left the Wembley pitch to the sound of boos following their 1-0 defeat to Japan on Tuesday, which followed their uninspiring draw against Uruguay four days earlier.

  3. Job done! Wubben-Moy & Van Domselaar stand tall for Arsenal

    Arsenal's Women's Champions League title defence remains well and truly on track after the Gunners withstood Chelsea's attempts at a comeback on Wednesday, falling to a narrow and late 1-0 defeat to win 3-2 on aggregate. It felt like the Blues had to start fast and score early to stand any chance of overcoming the deficit, and so once Arsenal had prevented them from doing exactly that, progression to the semi-finals rarely looked in doubt.

  4. ICONS: How teenage Mbappe twice emulated Pele in 2018

    Kylian Mbappe was only 19 when he turned the 2018 World Cup into his personal announcement to the world - breaking French records and matching feats last seen in Pele’s era, all while powering Les Bleus to a title that felt like the beginning of something historic. For the latest edition of Icons, GOAL's podcast and feature series that revisits the last 10 World Cups through the moments, characters, and controversies that defined them, bringing the spirit of each tournament vividly back to life, we look back on how Mbappe ran the show in Russia for France...

  5. Trent & Watkins in, Foden out: GOAL's ideal England squad

    The road to the 2026 World Cup is almost over for England. The next time the Three Lions convene, they will do so for two pre-tournament friendlies in the United States, against Costa Rica and New Zealand, before kicking-off their tournament against Croatia on June 17. They will do so as one of the favourites to go all the way, with the pressure on Thomas Tuchel and his players to finally end 60 years of hurt.

  6. WC26 Power Rankings: France flex as England & U.S. falter

    There really is nothing like the World Cup. Even just qualifying generates a level of nationwide excitement that the club game simply cannot match, which is why we witnessed truly joyous scenes all across the globe during the March international break, as the final six qualifiers were confirmed for this summer's festival of football in North America.

  7. Biggest stars who failed to qualify for World Cup 2026

    We are now just over two months out from the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with all 48 teams now locked in following the culmination of the various play-offs during the March international break. All of the pre-tournament favourites made it safely through qualifying, including Spain, Brazil, England, France and defending champions Argentina.

  8. Brave United undone by Bayern as defensive tactics fall short

    Manchester United's Women's Champions League adventure came to a dramatic end on Wednesday, as Bayern Munich staged a late comeback to beat the Red Devils 2-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. Marc Skinner's side started well in Germany and took a deserved early lead through Melvine Malard, but a defensive approach to the second half proved extremely costly as United succumbed to two late goals that sent the German champions through to the semi-finals, where they will likely face Barcelona.

  9. Jude must start for England - but Kane is the key to WC26 glory

    It's never easy with the England men's national team. On paper, they should have enough quality, experience and firepower to blow most sides on this planet to smithereens. Then you sit down, watch them and wonder whether they are actually a team of total strangers assembled purely out of spite to mildly annoy the fans who had hoped so much of them. On the basis of their March friendlies, it would be a fair assumption to make.

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Transfer news and done deals 🤝

  1. Chelsea players turn on Fernandez amid Real Madrid transfer hints

    Enzo Fernandez has seen his popularity at Stamford Bridge plummet as the Argentine midfielder flirts with a move away from west London and is vocal in his frustrations with team-mates during a difficult run of results.. The World Cup winner's public comments regarding a move to Madrid have reportedly sparked friction in the Chelsea dressing room during a difficult period for the club.

  2. Why Liverpool are happy to give up £20m Salah fee! Icon explains

    After nine memorable years at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah will be bidding farewell to Anfield over the summer. He is being released as a free agent, with John Barnes telling GOAL why the Reds are happy to pass on a potential £20 million ($26m) transfer fee. Premier League and Champions League title winner Salah is seeing the final year of his contract on Merseyside terminated.

  3. How Lingard snubbed MLS to reunite with Depay

    Jesse Lingard completed a stunning move to Corinthians early last month after turning down an offer from MLS. The former Manchester United midfielder was convinced to move to Brazil following a recommendation from his former team-mate Memphis Depay and a pitch from agent Fernando Martins.

Video

  1. 'Not here to give advice to Arteta!' - Guardiola snaps back at reporter

    A nonplussed Pep Guardiola dismissed a question from a reporter that related to Mikel Arteta chasing his first Premier League title as a manager, insisting that he had not attended his pre-match press conference to offer advice to the Arsenal boss. Manchester City face Leeds on Saturday evening as they look to close the gap at the top of the table to two points, with the Gunners not in action until Sunday, when they host Chelsea.

  2. 🎥 | Are these the transfers that would SAVE football?!

    From Marcus Rashford rocking up at Chelsea to Enzo Fernandez making the switch to Liverpool - watch as GOAL's Front Three debate some highly controversial transfer moves and whether the players involved would be good enough to break into the starting XIs of their new teams.

This is the Premier League

Queens of football 👑

  1. Wilson is back as Hayes calls in USWNT squad for April friendlies

    Two shots of espresso are back on the menu for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Emma Hayes named a 26-player roster for April friendlies against Japan, headlined by the returns of Olympic gold medalists Sophia Wilson and Tierna Davidson, while veteran goalkeeper Jane Campbell also re-enters the fold. It's Wilson's first involvement with the national team since 2024.

  2. Why Parkinson has been given first Lionesses call-up aged 17

    England's squad announcement on Tuesday morning brought with it a real surprise, as Erica Parkinson received her first senior call-up at the age of 17 ahead of World Cup qualifiers with Iceland and, crucially, world champions Spain. Parkinson will be a new name to many Lionesses fans and Sarina Wiegman has now explained why she chose to hand the teenager an invite that left her "speechless".

  3. How Russo has put herself back in Ballon d'Or contention

    Talk of Alessia Russo's goal-scoring has dominated conversation around the England international for most of her senior career to date. It's become especially prominent since her move from Manchester United to Arsenal three years ago, with the scrutiny increased because of the switch and also the fact she's become the Lionesses' starting centre-forward. But in this past week in particular, Russo has shown what remarkable steps she has made towards that talk becoming obsolete.

  4. Lionesses World Cup squad: Who will make the cut in 2027?

    England's qualifying campaign for the 2027 Women's World Cup is officially underway. The Lionesses started it with a 6-1 win over Ukraine on Tuesday and will continue their quest to secure a place in Brazil when hosting Iceland on Saturday. As runners-up in 2023, few would not expect Sarina Wiegman's side to achieve as much, but who the manager will choose to represent the European champions in South America is a little less certain.

  5. Relief for Lionesses as Williamson named in squad to face Spain

    Leah Williamson has been named in the latest Lionesses squad despite missing all of Arsenal's last three games, with Sarina Wiegman clearly hopeful that the England captain will be fit to face world champions Spain in a crucial World Cup qualifier next month. Williamson has been dealing with a hamstring issue but it will be a major boost for the Lionesses if she is able to recover for the April international break.

Superstars of the future

  1. Yamal & the NXGN wonderkids to watch at the World Cup

    The World Cup is now just two-and-a-half months away, with teams currently making their final preparations for the finals, while others look to book the final few spots in North America during the March international break. Once the tournament does eventually get under way, the stage will be set for a whole host of players to make themselves national heroes, including some of the most exciting youngsters in the game today.

  2. Youssoufa Moukoko: The fall of Dortmund's teen goal machine

    "[There’s] a young player who plays for [Borussia] Dortmund called Youssoufa Moukoko," Samuel Eto’o told GOAL when asked who he’d love to see as Barcelona’s next big signing back in October 2020. "[He’s] 15 years of age, and he’s the next top player, for me, after [Lionel] Messi. As Messi gets older, we could prepare the future of Barcelona very well."

  3. NXGN 2026: Top 10 English wonderkids in women's football

    Two England prospects have made the Women's NXGN 2026 list, but that is just scratching the surface when it comes to the talent coming through in one of the best and most successful nations in women's football. Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses have won back-to-back European Championship trophies and reached the final of the most recent World Cup, and it looks like they are set up for future success with the quality coming through the pipeline.

  4. NXGN 2026: Top 20 wonderkids England fans NEED to know

    England will head to the World Cup this summer as one of the favourites to lift the trophy after a run of strong tournament showings by a still relatively young core group of players. Football, though, moves fast, and soon there will be new stars who come along and usurp those established names. Fortunately for the Three Lions, the production line is showing few signs of slowing down.

The Chaaaaaampions 🎶

  1. Prestianni slams 'unproven' Vinicius racism ban

    Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni has vehemently denied using a racial slur against Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior during their heated Champions League encounter. The Argentine was handed a provisional UEFA suspension, which he claims lacked any concrete proof, causing immense emotional distress to his family as his club suffered European elimination.

Hall of Fame

  1. Shevchenko social

    Hall of Fame: How Shevchenko became a Milan legend

    For a particular generation of AC Milan fans, those who grew up in the early 2000s, one name stands out above any other. Andriy Shevchenko combined technical skill with a ruthlessness in front of goal that made him one of the best strikers the game has ever seen, a Ballon d'Or winner and a worthy entrant into GOAL's Hall of Fame...

  2. Hall of Fame: How Platini became 'The King'

    Michel Platini is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all time. Playmaker, assister, goal-scorer: Platini was a complete player, capable of leaving an indelible mark on world football between the late 1970s and mid-1980s. He was the perfect No.10, embodying the true essence of the shirt number both then and now.

  3. Hall of fame Roberto Carlos

    Hall of Fame: Roberto Carlos - the greatest full-back in history

    Modernising the role of a full-back 30 years ago, Roberto Carlos undoubtedly set the benchmark. A tactical genius and a physical specimen, the Real Madrid and Brazil legend won countless trophies at club and international level, contributing bucket loads of goals and assists. No one in the past, present or future can ever claim to be his equal - he was that good.

  4. Hall of Fame: Why Beckham is such an underrated player

    One of the best midfielders of his era, perhaps the greatest crosser of a football ever and a free-kick taker to rival the best the game has ever produced, David Beckham was a special player to say the least. And yet due to his off-field impact, one of the sport's great champions of the past 30 years is generally forgotten when it comes to referencing the true legends of the game.

Rebel United

  1. Mario Basler

    Rebel United: Bayern icon who got drunk before the UCL final

    Teddy Sheringham. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. "Football, bloody hell!" The 1999 Champions League final is one of the greatest dramas in the history of Bayern Munich. The German giants led for a long time in Barcelona before Manchester United snatched the trophy they thought was theirs in stoppage time. But according to one member of the Bayern team, he actually won that final. "Actually, I'm a Champions League winner," claims the latest member of GOAL's Rebel United, Mario Basler.

  2. George Best

    Rebel United: George Best - Man Utd's 'fifth Beatle'

    In 1969, at the age of 23, George Best wanted to focus solely on the essentials. Just football, just his job. So he turned his back on his two other great passions, alcohol and women. His sobering conclusion: "It was the worst 20 minutes of my life." A Manchester United legend, that quote sums up Bet's rebellious attitude towards football, and life in general.

Hidden Gems FC

  1. Hidden Gems FC: How Orban's goals lifted him from poverty

    Gift Orban may only be 23 years of age, but he has already spent time in five different European countries while scoring at a rate of a goal every other game. A move to an elite club likely awaits for a player who went through plenty of hardship as a child, with Orban easily one of the continent's biggest Hidden Gems...

  2. Hidden Gems FC: Roefs' rise to Premier League star

    Robin Roefs' story reads like a fairy tale. The 22-year-old goalkeeper is only in his second season as a first-choice shot-stopper, and yet he is already considered one of the better No.1s in the Premier League. A place in the Netherlands' starting line-up at the World Cup is now not out of the question for the latest of GOAL's Hidden Gems.

  3. Hidden Gems FC: The rise of N'Golo Kante

    On September 15, 2018, N'Golo Kante walked off the Stamford Bridge pitch, satisfied. As was often the case, the Frenchman had just covered every blade of grass over the course of the 90 minutes. And, as was so often the case, he was not one of the major speaking points at full-time. Not right away, at least.