Everton are reportedly lining up a summer swoop for Catania defender Luka Bogdan.
What’s the story?
According to reports in Italy, Everton are hoping to secure a summer deal for Bogdan, a towering defender who has enjoyed an excellent season in Serie C for Catania.
Everton fans might have their doubts about signing a player from Italy’s third tier, but Bogdan is highly regarded and has been a huge part of lifting Catania to second place, conceding just 24 goals in 28 games along the way.
It is no secret Sam Allardyce is lining up potential summer deals for defenders, and Bogdan is not the first name linked and he won’t be the last. Still, a cut-price deal for the up and coming star could be on the cards for the Toffees this summer.
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Should Everton chase a deal?
Bogdan is only 21, but has enjoyed a fantastic season for Catania, starting 24 games in their quest for promotion. He stands at 6’4”, so could bring a towering presence to the Everton back line.
The young defender is a real threat in the air, and has grabbed a goal this season from the back. He has represented Croatia at U15, U16 and U19 level, but is still waiting for his first senior call-up.
Of course, any move for Bogdan would be a long-term plan. Valued at just £270,000 on Transfermarkt, the 21 year-old could be a bargain deal just waiting to explode in the right environment.
That said, the best option for Everton would surely be to loan the defender back to Catania if they get promoted, as the immediate jump from Serie C to the Premier League could just be too much.
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With Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka reaching the end of their Everton careers, there is certainly a need for a long-term defensive force at Goodison. Still, any move for Bogdan must be accompanied by a more immediate star to partner the likes of Michael Keane and Mason Holgate in the near future.
Everton fans, do you think a move for Bogdan could be a shrewd investment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Everton defender and sometimes stand-in captain Ashley Williams, who is earning around £75,000-a-week according to The Mirror, has been speaking to BBC Sport about a disappointing season for him and the club while on international duty with Wales, and Toffees fans have been quick to react to his comments.
The Merseyside outfit spent the majority of the first-half of the campaign towards the relegation zone despite a big summer of spending, with Sam Allardyce’s arrival in November proving to be a catalyst for a change of form that has seen them gradually climb the table.
It hasn’t been a great campaign personally for Williams though, who has often been criticised by the Goodison Park faithful for his displays, and he was also sent off in the 2-1 defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor earlier this month.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the 33-year-old said: “It’s not been great obviously, it’s been well documented.
“It’s not the first time it has happened in my career where you have a bit of season you don’t enjoy so much and things don’t go well.
“It’s just football, it happens and you just get on with it. We are towards the end of the season now.”
Everton supporters have taken to social media to give their thoughts on the quotes, and while one sarcastically said the words were “spoken like a true leader”, another said “get rid, he’s been terrible since day one”.
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Leeds United will look to end a horrendous run of form and start to build for next season when they host Bolton Wanderers at Elland Road on Good Friday.
The Whites were looking to pick up just their second win in 14 Championship matches when they hosted Sheffield Wednesday in a Yorkshire derby last time out, but despite substitute Jay-Roy Grot levelling in the 86th minute after Atdhe Nuhiu had given the Owls the lead 15 minutes previously, they failed to hold on for a point as the Owls striker scored again in stoppage time.
It was a defeat that all but ended their hopes of ending the season in the play-off positions as they now lie 12 points adrift of the top six with just eight matches remaining, and they would likely need to win every one of those to even give themselves a slight chance of being involved in the promotion race.
Paul Heckingbottom, who is already coming under scrutiny from the fans despite only succeeding Thomas Christiansen last month, and his men will be hoping to pick up just their second triumph since Boxing Day as they look to build for next term, but it certainly won’t be an easy task against a Trotters team that beat high-flying Aston Villa 1-0 last time out and are fighting for survival.
The 40-year-old made two changes to the XI that had drawn 2-2 with Reading previously for the visit of the Owls, and he will be considering making more for the visit of Phil Parkinson’s side given they were beaten once again on their own patch.
Here is how Leeds must line up against Bolton, ahead of Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal…
Centre-back partnership Pontus Jansson and Matthew Pennington were each at fault for one of Nuhiu’s goals last time out, and they need to improve on their respective performances against the Owls if Leeds are to get a positive result against a rejuvenated Bolton.
With captain Liam Cooper a doubt they are likely to line up at the heart of the defence again, while Gaetano Berardi should start at right-back with Tom Pearce keeping his place at left-back after recovering from an understandably nervy start against Sheffield Wednesday to put in a largely accomplished display.
Despite another disappointing display in the 2-2 draw against Reading, midfielder Eunan O’Kane kept his place in the centre of the park alongside Adam Forshaw against Sheffield Wednesday, but another poor performance against the Owls must mean he drops to the substitutes’ bench against Bolton – something the fans are desperate to see happen.
Ronaldo Vieira and Kalvin Phillips will both be pushing to replace him and to partner Forshaw, but Heckingbottom should start the latter for this one – especially as he scored a brace when Leeds beat the Trotters 3-2 at the Macron Stadium on the opening day of the Championship season.
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Ezgjan Alioski is probably Leeds’ most in-form attacking player right now and he and Pablo Hernandez are certain starters right now – especially as Samu Saiz is set to miss out again because of a thigh injury.
Stuart Dallas started on the left against Sheffield Wednesday but considering he didn’t impress, his place could be under threat with Hadi Sacko an unused substitute last time out.
However, the Northern Ireland international should get the nod for this one, and Heckingbottom should bring in Pierre-Michel Lasogga for Caleb Ekuban too considering the latter has struggled to make an impact in two successive starts, and with the former proving to be a handful when he came on for the last 20 minutes against the Owls.
There have been rumours, as per the Sun, linking Manchester United with a summer swoop for Chelsea wideman Willian as Jose Mourinho eyes a reunion with the Brazilian.
The 29-year-old – valued at £28.8m by Transfermarkt – was the only Chelsea player who maintained his level of performance during the 2015/16 aberration that saw Mourinho pay with his job and that indicates that there may some underlying respect between the pair.
During a summer transfer window in which rumours are likely to swirl at will, we’ve decided to take a closer look at what the switches might lead to in terms of further activity down the line.
In this instance, the arrival of Willian may have an impact on the futures of Juan Mata and Richarlison as both United and Chelsea seek to rebalance their squads if the deal goes through…
Willian to Manchester United
This is the switch that needs to happen to set the ball rolling. It looks as if there will be a new man at the helm at Stamford Bridge as Mourinho’s successor Antonio Conte another putrid title defence by the Blues and much will depend on his view of Willian.
The Brazilian has never been an automatic pick at Chelsea and it is arguable that he has never played as well as he did in 2015/16. Both of those factors will encourage Mourinho that he can secure his signature.
The former Blues boss was in pursuit of Ivan Perisic to add pace and delivery down the right in the summer and all of United’s current options in that area look an awkward fit. There is a spot in the team waiting for Willian.
Juan Mata to depart Manchester United
Mourinho was the one who offloaded Mata to United in the first place and for that reason, rumours that the Portuguese wants to ditch the Spaniard have never been far from the surface during his Old Trafford reign.
Willian is a typical Mourinho player – quick, athletic, and full of energy – and plays in the right-sided role that Mata has found himself in yet again for most of his Reds career.
Given that Willian is an experienced campaigner now, Jose may well look to get another older hand off the wage bill if he does sign. There is no obvious Premier League destination – maybe Tottenham? – but Serie A has always felt like a good fit.
Richarlison to Chelsea
Rumours have also swirled that Willian’s countryman Richarlison is on Chelsea’s radar, with views to battling United and Everton for a summer swoop.
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In the 3-4-2-1 preferred by Conte, Richarlison may not have been an ideal wideman but a new manager with new ideas might see the Brazilian as the ideal man to add pace and ability in wide areas at Stamford Bridge.
There are question marks; after all, the youngster has tailed off after an impressive start to life in English football and hasn’t set up or scored a goal since the new year. He has got talent though, and could well be a worthy replacement.
With more assists this season than Cristiano Ronaldo and more goals than Lionel Messi, it’s fair to say that Mohamed Salah is having a pretty good campaign. When Liverpool bought the 25 year-old from Roma, some Reds fans were positive about the move. But many remembered how he struggled in the Premier League before during his previous spell at Chelsea.
It didn’t take the Egyptian forward long to win over those doubting supporters, though. He was up and running instantly. 47 games later he’s scored an incredible and hugely unprecedented 43 goals. He’s the Liverpool Player of the Year. He’s the Premier League Player of the Year. It’s fair to say that he’s the most in-form footballer on the planet at the moment.
It would stand to reason that the former Roma and Fiorentina man would be a red-hot favourite for the Ballon d’Or, then. And he is, along with five-time winner of the prize, Ronaldo. With Messi as the third favourite, the trio stand out as the top three footballers in the world. Salah would be a deserving winner. But that doesn’t necessarily make him better than the two juggernauts of the modern game.
Talk of Salah – who Transfermarkt value at £72million – winning the Ballon d’Or is rife at the moment. Even Liverpool’s number eleven can’t stop his teammates talking up his chances. After a Salah-inspired Liverpool impressed again in their first Champions League semi-final, Reds centre back Dejan Lovren praised his free-scoring colleague.
“He is the one. He is becoming the superstar. It looks easy what he does but it is very difficult. If he continues like that, I don’t know if this is the right time to put pressure on him – but I believe he should be regarded as one of the best three in the world at the end of the year. He deserves to be mentioned for the Ballon d’Or – when people talk about Messi and Ronaldo they should also talk about Salah. He deserves the credit but I think he deserves even more to be honest. Forty-three goals guys.”
Lovren is right to a degree. Salah is on fire right now. He’s not just doing the business in the league, but showcasing his skills and firepower in Europe too. Let’s not forget that he’s a talismanic – and borderline even shamanic – figure for his national side. But a true great needs to perform consistently for years and years. They need to dominate and do so consistently. They need to win trophies.
Liverpool look set to make the Champions League final where they’ll face either Bayern Munich or, more likely, Real Madrid. If that is indeed to be the final of club football’s most elite competition, Salah will go head-to0head with Ronaldo. He’ll see what it takes to be a great. Can he match him? The way this season’s progressed – perhaps. But Salah’s career achievements to date pale into insignificance when compared to the Portuguese’s. And to Messi’s.
Trophy wins are important in setting yourself apart as truly world class. But then so too is consistency. Messi’s Barcelona record is absurd. 378 goals and counting in just over 400 games. Eight league wins, four Champions League wins, six Copa del Reys and various Supercopa and Club World Cup medals. Plus five Ballon D’Ors and seemingly hundreds of Golden Boot awards.
Then there’s Ronaldo. 309 goals so far in 290 appearances for Real. And a list of trophies you probably don’t have time to read. Not only for his clubs, but for his country too.
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Mo Salah is an outstanding player. That’s not up for debate. He just doesn’t deserve to be compared to Ronaldo or Messi. Not yet, at least.
According to reports, West Ham are one of a number of teams interested in a summer swoop for Lyon striker Mariano Diaz.
What’s the story?
Italian outlet CalcioMercato claim Diaz, who won the Champions League with Real Madrid, has grabbed the interest of both West Ham and Everton.
The 24 year-old striker started the season in fantastic form, but has lost his place to Memphis Depay and could be looking for a way out this summer.
According to the report, a bid in the region of €30million (£26.4m) could be enough to tempt Lyon to cash in.
The ex-Real Madrid man certainly deserves a starting spot, which could force him to move to the Premier League with not many teams on the continent up for the asking price.
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Good move for Mariano?
Diaz can definitely consider himself unlucky to be benched, as the young striker was in red hot form for Lyon before Memphis Depay was repositioned more centrally and took his place.
Despite only playing a combined 109 minutes across the last three matches, Mariano has managed two goals, taking his tally for the season to an impressive 21 in all competitions.
Across 43 appearances in all competitions, the 24 year-old is averaging 1.1 successful dribbles and 3.1 shots per game, so it is perhaps no surprise he is putting the ball in the net so often.
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Mariano is good in the air, and his clinical finishing would certainly be an improvement to several Premier League clubs, West Ham included.
Marko Arnautovic has been enjoying life as a central striker, but if the Hammers could find a balance between Mariano, Arnautovic and the returning Manuel Lanzini, there could be some serious goals at the London Stadium next season.
West Ham fans, would you back a £26m summer swoop for Mariano Diaz? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Europa League obligations forced Arsene Wenger to field a weakened lineup upon his final trip to Old Trafford as Arsenal manager, but the Frenchman did his best to turn the situation into a positive – offering Gunners fans a glimpse into the future and what the starting XI could look like in the years to come.
Indeed, the average age of the north London outfit’s starting XI was just 24 and it even included a Premier League debutant at the heart of defence alongside Calum Chambers – who isn’t exactly long in the tooth either.
Earlier this week, we asked Arsenal fans to issue player ratings for each of those involved in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United and perhaps unsurprisingly, it was two youngsters who received the highest average ratings…
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7.8/10
Maitland-Niles’ best position remains a little unclear, having spent periods of his short Arsenal career as a wing-back, an attacking midfielder and a holding player.
But he was utilised as a largely orthodox central midfielder against United and that appeared to get the best out of him, particularly in terms of his economic use of the ball and his willingness to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic, two midfielders who far exceed him in terms of experience and natural power.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 7.9/10
Barring United’s two goals, it was a perfect debut for Arsenal’s promising defensive prospect Konstantinos Mavropanos. The 20-year-old looked calm and composed yet also intimidating at the back, enjoying the physical battle with Romelu Lukaku particularly.
He finished up with the joint-most interceptions and blocks of any Arsenal player, and even overshadowed Chambers alongside him for much of the game. It’s still early days but Mavropanos and Maitland-Niles both look to have bright futures with the Gunners.
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Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Redknapp has urged Mauricio Pochettino’s side to move for Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha this summer.
Zaha missed the early stages of the 2017-18 campaign with a knee problem, but has been in outstanding form for the Eagles since returning to action.
Indeed, the former Manchester United attacker has netted nine goals and registered five assists in 29 appearances for Palace this season.
Following Sunday’s clash with West Bromwich Albion, Zaha insisted that he had ‘no plans’ to leave Selhurst Park in this summer’s transfer window.
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Tottenham and Manchester City are both believed to be preparing bids for the 25-year-old, however, and Redknapp has urged his former club to make a move ahead of the 2018-19 season.
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Redknapp told the Daily Mail:
“Wilfried Zaha is a top-six manager’s dream – a game-changer who on his day is unplayable. This is not the raw talent who could not cut it at Manchester United.
“Zaha has gone up a level and is embracing being Palace’s main man. He is the best player outside the top six and although he said on Sunday that he wants to stay at Selhurst Park, he’s bound to attract interest.
“Tottenham, who have looked at him before, could be the ideal destination for him.”
Zaha, who has enjoyed his best ever season in terms of goals, only made four first-team appearances during his time at Man United between 2013 and 2015 before sealing a return to Palace.
Having both fallen well short of Manchester City in the Premier League’s title race, the FA Cup final gives Chelsea and Manchester United one last chance to end the campaign with silverware. The two top flight juggernauts meet in the Wembley showpiece on Saturday and it’s shaping up to be a tight, cagey and incredibly close encounter.
So, how will the 2018 FA Cup final pan out? This week’s experts, Football FanCast’s very own Sam Preston and Chelsea FanCast’s FBA-nominated wizzkid Llion Carbis, share their thoughts and predictions ahead of Saturday’s 5.15pm kickoff…
For Antonio Conte, Saturday’s clash isn’t only a chance to end this season but also potentially his Chelsea tenure with a trophy. Nothing has been confirmed just yet and there are plenty who believe the Italian will stay, but the feeling of dissatisfaction behind the scenes has grown throughout the season and the Blues’ underwhelming title defence has only added fuel to recent rumours.
Will this be Conte’s last game in charge and who should replace him for next season?
Llion: “Personally, I feel that his position has become untenable and he’ll leave the club at the end of the season. I appreciate his frustrations, and acknowledge the insufficient support from the board. That said, he has continuously undermined the confidence of his players, which has clearly impacted their performance. Leonardo Jardim has displayed his willingness to develop young players, and he has won trophies. He could be an adequate replacement. Likewise, Luis Enrique has enjoyed tremendous success with Barcelona – although it is likely that his resources won’t be as expansive with us.”
In terms of their head-to-head record, Conte currently stands one win ahead of Mourinho from their five encounters in English football. But it was United who came out on top during the most recent meeting, a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford back in February with star striker Romelu Lukaku scoring and assisting against his former club.
What needs to be replicated from that performance to ensure United win again on Saturday?
Sam: “United started incredibly slowly on that occasion and slipped behind but found that Chelsea have a soft centre when actually put under pressure. That afternoon, Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez were granted greater creative freedom and if Mourinho can unlock them in a similar way at Wembley then Chelsea may have problems. The other aspect is keeping Eden Hazard quiet. Every time we face Chelsea, Mourinho is absolutely obsessed with stopping Hazard and how successful he is in doing so tends to decide the match. We managed it last time out and if we do it again, we should win.”
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And what must Chelsea to do to stop Lukaku this time around?
Llion: “Antonio Rudiger’s critical to preventing Lukaku. The German is strong, tenacious and quick, the perfect attributes to negate a player of Lukaku’s ability. We must ensure that we dictate the physical battle, which will limit Lukaku’s impact on the game. Rudiger is our best defender in those physical confrontations.
For how impressive Lukaku has been during his first season at Old Trafford, netting a career-best 26 times including five goals in the FA Cup, his importance to Mourinho has resulted in one underlying frustration – a lack of game-time for Marcus Rashford, especially since Alexis Sanchez’s arrival in January. But the youngster has such a strong record for United in big games, the most recent Northwest Derby providing a key example, and the FA Cup is about as big as it can get.
Would you find a way of getting Rashford into the starting XI on Saturday?
Sam: “I’d start Rashford up front. He rarely lets the side down in big matches, scoring with his only opportunities in the home games against Liverpool and Manchester City this season. Lukaku hasn’t played for three weeks and his touch isn’t great at the best of times so I’d hate to see it when he’s rusty and not fully fit. Rashford netted twice against Chelsea last season as a striker as well, in what was arguably United’s best performance of the Mourinho era. Jose played something approaching a 4-2-2-2 last time out against Chelsea with Anthony Martial up alongside Lukaku so there might be scope for both Rashford and Lukaku to start together.”
United’s other key selection dilemma is at the heart of defence. Who forms United’s strongest centre-back partnership?
Sam: “Phil Jones and Eric Bailly. Mourinho has done everything he can with Chris Smalling to get him into the England squad but now that he’s been left out definitely, it’s time for the former Fulham man to drop to the bench. Bailly has the physicality to match Olivier Giroud but also the speed to deal with passes in behind. I’d be tempted by Victor Lindelof – I want him to become first-choice next season – but that’s too much of a risk on the big occasions, so Jones gets the nod.”
Perhaps the biggest selection issue at Chelsea right now relates to their formation. Conte’s fluctuated between 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 this season with mixed results, and while the latter setup tends to be more popular with Chelsea fans because it creates a space for Willian, the former seems more appropriate for an FA Cup final due to the extra protection it gives in midfield.
Which formation is best suited to Saturday’s game?
Llion: “I’d prefer to play with a 3-5-2 formation as opposed to the 3-4-3 system. The former provides us with greater stability, and better cover for Cesc Fabregas which in turn allows him the freedom to influence the game. Similarly, Giroud and Hazard share an excellent relationship – it’s crucial that their understanding will be present on Saturday.”
Where will this game be lost and won?
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Sam: “I’ve already touched on it but United’s ability to keep Hazard quiet will be the key. Mourinho has tried everything to stop him in the past – man-marking from Ander Herrera, a series of tactical fouls and reformatting his midfield to deal with his threat – with varying levels of success. If he is fielded just behind the striker as a number 10, United might find it easier to stifle him but if he comes from wide, it could be a long afternoon for Antonio Valencia. From an attacking perspective, it’s a case of getting Lukaku, Sanchez and Pogba – and hopefully Rashford – all in close proximity, linking up to see how much stomach this Chelsea defence really has for the fight.”
Llion: “As previously highlighted, the physical battle will be a key aspect of the game. We must ensure that we dominate proceedings at the heart of the pitch, preventing Nemanja Matic from disrupting our rythym, and thus, giving Hazard and Giroud the platform to influence the game from an attacking perspective. It would be quintessential Mourinho to produce a tactical surprise, and as Fabregas emphasised in midweek, we must be prepared for anything that they throw at us. That adaptability and tactical awareness will be key.”
And finally chaps, let’s hear your score predictions…
Llion: “2-1 Chelsea.”
Sam: “2-0 to United. Even if United play well, this isn’t going to be a high-scoring encounter but Mourinho will be looking for his side to start better than they have in other big games lately; the most recent Chelsea league game, the 3-2 against City and the Tottenham semi-final. If United do that and score first, they should see off a Chelsea side managed by a man who knows he’s on his way out.”
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The squad has been selected and discussed, Harry Kane has been named as captain and excitement is beginning to build around the World Cup and maybe even about England’s prospect of relative success.
Gareth Southgate’s men will step up their preparations for the forthcoming summer showpiece in Russia by hosting Nigeria at Wembley to finetune their approach.
It could well be a last-ditch opportunity for some fringe players to force their way into the forefront of Southgate’s plans and it could also represent a chance for you to win big!
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Question 1 – What will the result be?
England are unbeaten in their last eight matches and it is difficult to look past them for this one, especially as Nigeria have only won one of their last four matches.
However, the visitors are finetuning their own approach for Russia and will want to put in a good performance to boost confidence ahead of the tournament.
Nigeria also stunned Argentina 4-2 in November, and if Southgate chooses to experiment as opposed to selecting his first-choice World Cup eleven, this one isn’t a foregone conclusion.
Question 2 – How many goals will be scored?
England haven’t scored more than once in any of their last six games, despite their move towards a more adventurous passing style under Southgate.
Therefore, two goals or fewer, as unappealing as a spectacle as that may be to watch, might be a shout to earn some money here.
Question 3 – Pick a player to score in the game
This market does depend a great deal on whether Southgate picks an experimental eleven, but it would be fair to expect the players who have not played in a post-season final – consequently spending longer training with England – to feature heavily here.
Southgate will also surely be keen to field captain Kane from the off and the Spurs man will be typically keen to bag and show that the armband isn’t weighing heavily.
Looking beyond the obvious, Jesse Lingard – valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt – could well be in competition with Dele Alli for the most advanced central midfield berth and scored the only goal in England’s last victory, the 1-0 win over the Netherlands in March.
Question 4 – How many corners will be taken in the game?
There were 11 corners in England’s last match, the 1-1 home draw against Italy but only seven in the game before that against Holland.
That means that nine or fewer – always a reasonably safe bet in this market – or ten or more look the best shouts on this one.
England’s new patient style does tend to mean that they get in behind less, reducing the prospect of corners, which is also something to bear in mind.
Question 5 – Pick an event to occur in the match
There is a wider variety of choice here but the one that stands out is a substitute to score a goal.
England friendlies tend to contain a number of late changes and while they can disrupt the rhythm of a game, it could lead to a replacement, eager to impress, bagging one in the closing stages.
An own goal, a scored penalty or the Nigeria goalkeeper – Francis Uzoho played the last match, against DR Congo – to make five saves could be on the cards if England click into gear and pile on the pressure.
Question 6 – When will the first card be shown?
The Times report that Gareth Southgate has elected for an Asian referee to oversee proceedings at Wembley, because they are instructed to apply the letter of the law more strictly than their European and African counterparts.
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That may see an early yellow as the man in the middle stamps his authority on proceedings or if Southgate’s men are conscious of their challenges – and it is a friendly after all – a caution may come later.
This is a tough one to call but 61-75 minutes, much later than usual, may be a way to call one right that nobody else will have.
Question 7 – In which minute will the first goal be scored?
As has already been mentioned, England are not the heaviest scorers these days and they prefer a patient approach, so will not be concerned if an early strike doesn’t come their way.
The opener coming in the minutes after half time looks the most likely here, if you want to make this bumper bet achievable.
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