Former England striker Gary Lineker says the Three Lions are on the "brink of history" after reaching the Euro 2024 final.
England produced arguably their best performance of the tournament so far as they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday.
It has been 58 years since England's men won a major tournament, the 1966 World Cup, though that and their Euro 2020 final appearance both came on home soil.
Gareth Southgate's side are now looking to make history against Spain on Sunday by winning the European Championships for the first time.
"I think it's hugely significant for English football," said Lineker, who represented England at four major tournaments.
"They were in a final, they were in the last final of the Euros, of course, and that was at Wembley, and that ended up in huge disappointment [losing to Italy on penalties].
"This is going to be tough; it's going to be difficult, but they're on the brink of history. No English team in football has ever won a major tournament abroad."
At times during Euro 2024, England have been criticised for their performances after edging to a first-place finish in Group C before having to come from behind in each of their three knockout matches.
Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands the lead on Wednesday before Harry Kane cancelled out his goal from the penalty spot.
Ollie Watkins then came off the bench to score the winner in the 90th minute, with his goal the fourth England have scored after the 80th minute in the tournament so far, including extra time.
In their final Euro 2024 test, they come up against a Spain side who have won all their games at the tournament, but Lineker is confident they will find a way past La Roja in Berlin.
"They have got that kind of never-say-die attitude, which is something that is hugely important," Lineker added.
"Even when they weren't playing great, they were grinding out results. And it's an old football cliche that if you can win when you play badly, then things are not that bad.
"I don't really think I'm surprised at how we have done it, because we've got the individuals, world-class footballers right across the pitch.
"Yes, they started slowly, and something wasn't quite right about things, but they've worked it out, and they've got gradually better as the tournament progressed. It's much better that way round."
Declan Rice says England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy will "haunt him forever" and has urged the team to use it as motivation against Spain on Sunday.
England booked their place in the Euro 2024 showpiece with a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday.
In their last such final, they were beaten 3-2 on penalties at Wembley after playing out a 1-1 draw with Italy over 120 minutes.
Rice was one of those in the team that lost three years ago, and he is keen to put that result behind them by going one better this time around.
"Seeing Italy lift that trophy will haunt me forever," said Rice.
"We are now presented with another opportunity where we can write our own history, but we are up against another top side who we have to massively respect.
"Hopefully, now we can do it. Not only for each other but also for the manager. I think he deserves it."
Under Gareth Southgate, England have now reached at least the semi-final stage three times, and Sunday's match in Berlin is their first-ever major tournament final on foreign soil.
This time, they will come up against three-time winners Spain, and the Three Lions manager says there is no room for error if they want to come out on top.
"They would be rightly favourites for what they have done this tournament. They have been the best team," said Southgate.
“They have got a day longer and in the past three finals, maybe more, it has been quite significant, so we have got to get our recovery spot on.
“Tactically we will have to be perfect as they are such a good side. But, you know, we are here."
Harry Kane is England's greatest ever player and a certainty to start Sunday's Euro 2024 final versus Spain, says former Three Lions defender Gary Neville.
Kane has scored three goals to help England to a second straight Euros final, including an equaliser from the penalty spot in Wednesday's semi-final win over the Netherlands.
However, the Bayern Munich star's performance levels have been criticised throughout the tournament and it was his replacement from the bench, Ollie Watkins, who steered England into the final with a last-minute winner versus the Oranje.
Ivan Toney also replaced Kane to good effect against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, converting a no-look penalty as England triumphed on spot-kicks, and some have suggested Gareth Southgate should drop his captain for Sunday's Berlin showpiece.
Neville disagrees, pointing to the fact his nine knockout-stage goals at World Cups or European Championships are the most of any European player in history.
"I spoke to Wayne Rooney four or five weeks ago before the tournament started and he said Harry Kane is the greatest England player ever," Neville told Sky Sports News. "I wouldn't fight to disagree with him.
"Harry Kane has been absolutely sensational. I always called him gold when he was at Tottenham, you just know full well that he's going to deliver for you. He's a solid character.
"I think he's obviously below his best in this tournament, it does look like he is carrying something and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it emerged in a week or two that he's had issues during the tournament with something that he's trying to bandage up.
"You look at that record now and some of the greatest goalscorers of all time are on that list. Harry Kane is someone who will not be dropped by Gareth Southgate.
"I know there is a sense that people think we are better without him, but it wouldn't send a great message to the squad internally. He's very clearly their leader and Southgate has full, total faith in him.
"I also think if you're the opposition team, he is England's talisman. He's the man who has gone over to Germany this year and has ripped it up from a goalscoring perspective."
As well becoming the first England captain to lift a major trophy on foreign soil, Kane could add the Golden Boot to the one he won at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Dani Olmo is currently ahead of him in the running by virtue of recording two assists, with both players level on three goals.
Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja is hopeful his side can continue their play-off journey ahead of facing New England Revolution this weekend.
The Lions recorded consecutive victories with an emphatic display against D.C. United last time out as they put on a five-star showing at the Inter&Co Stadium.
Their latest result leaves them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind Charlotte FC.
Pareja insists his side must continue to improve as they aim to climb the league table, believing his players have found confidence and connection at an important stage of the season.
“First we will try to keep and then improve the level, like always,” Pareja said. “The results obviously just give us more confidence to continue winning games and adding important points.
“I think the functionality of the team is much better and the cohesiveness that we have found in the last two games has given us optimism.
“We will keep working. The journey is still in front of us, and we have to keep improving and see if we can maintain this level of not just playing well but having that confidence in front of goal."
New England, meanwhile, enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Seattle Sounders, their first defeat on the road in two games having recorded impressive victories over CF Cincinnati and Nashville SC.
The Revs remain among a cluster of teams separated by just four points at the bottom end of the Eastern Conference table, currently sitting 12th in the division.
However, Caleb Porter’s side have impressed at home in recent weeks, and the New England head coach stressed the importance of claiming successes in their next two games at the Gillette Stadium ahead of the Leagues Cup break.
“It’s really important. You have to take care of business at home, and we didn’t do that earlier in the year but we have been able to do that a bit more recently,” Porter said.
“The guys have gained confidence at home, and this will be another tough game.
“We have three games now until a kind of break. This is our 21st game so it’s going to happen fast, but we want to get as many points as possible before the break and that sets up a kind of a stretch run.
“We will have only 11 games to go so the next two home games before this break, we need to push really hard to take care of business.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New England Revolution – Carles Gil
Some players find a side that they just cannot stop scoring against, and Carles Gil has proved to be Orlando City’s kryptonite in previous meetings.
Gil has recorded 11 goal contributions against the Lions (five goals, six assists. Only Sebastian Giovinco (15) has achieved more than the Spaniard.
Orlando City – Facundo Torres
Facundo Torres is already a firm fan favourite for his dynamic attacking displays, and his statistics have him among some of the best players to play for Orlando.
Since arriving at the club in 2022, Torres has notched 47 regular-season goal contributions, ranking him fourth for the most in club history. He is two behind Cyle Larin and Mauricio Pereyra (49 each) for joint-second in the Lions’ MLS history.
MATCH PREDICTION: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION WIN
New England will be hopeful of maintaining their impressive recent form at the Gillette Stadium, having three of their last four home matches (L1). Prior to this run, they had recorded just one victory in their previous seven games in front of their own supporters (D1, L5).
The Revs also hold an impressive record over their opponents on home turf and have never lost to Orlando at the Gillette Stadium (W6 D2). New England have also outscored their opponents 21-6 over their eight meetings in Foxborough.
However, the Lions will be confident of ending their losing streak away to New England. Their 5-0 win over D.C. United equalled the largest margin of victory in the club’s history. It was the third five-goal triumph, with the first of those coming against the Revs in a 6-1 win back in 2017.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New England Revolution – 40.7%
Draw – 26.7%
Orlando City – 32.7%
Ollie Watkins revealed that his celebration in England's semi-final victory over the Netherlands was dedicated to both Lewis Dunk and Dean Henderson.
Watkins scored late to book England's place in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday as the Three Lions came back from Xavi Simons' opener.
The Aston Villa striker netted only the second ever 90th-minute winning goal in a European Championship knockout tie, sparking wild scenes in Dortmund.
Watkins raced away after squeezing the ball beyond Bart Verbruggen, running towards the England bench to celebrate his fourth and most important international goal.
Both Dunk and Henderson, who have yet to play a single minute in Germany, were among the first to embrace Watkins.
"I did make a promise to Deano and Dunky that, if I scored, I would run over and celebrate with them," Watkins said on the latest episode of the Lions' Den.
"Sometimes you can feel a little bit left out because you're not on the pitch making that impact.
"So me celebrating with them, obviously I've been on sitting on the bench experiencing that and I just wanted to make it special for everyone.
"It was nice that they all jumped on the pitch and could be a part of it."
Watkins' strike saw him become England's newly crowned hero on the international stage, but fellow substitute Cole Palmer also played an important part in the winner.
The pair were introduced in the 80th minute and made an almost instant impact.
Palmer's assist for Watkins was the first time two substitutes have combined for a goal for England in the knockout stages of a major tournament.
The 28-year-old said that he predicted the impact he and the Chelsea midfielder would have on proceedings having worked closely together in training.
"You've got to have that belief when you're going on the pitch to that you're going to bring something to the team, bring some energy, and for me, when I've got the ball there, I knew I had to be selfish and shoot because I may not get another opportunity," Watkins said.
Greg Vanney is anticipating another draining week for his LA Galaxy players as they head to Texas to tackle FC Dallas.
The Galaxy played two home games in quick succession, losing to rivals Los Angeles FC and beating Minnesota United, before a break ahead of this match.
But the July heat means Vanney sees this next task being little easier for his side, with another home double-header quickly following as the Colorado Rapids and the Portland Timbers visit LA.
"We have a couple of days from a busy and emotional week, just to reset physically and mentally, and then you start to prepare for what's going to be another busy week after," he said.
"We start off in Dallas. Dallas is always tough, especially this time of year. It's a special kind of tough with the weather.
"Then we come back for two more at home. We'll road map out how we want to approach next week and prepare the group."
After the setback of the LAFC defeat, a win over Minnesota at least lifted spirits ahead of this stretch.
Vanney continued: "It's nice doing that coming off a win. It feels a lot better as you go into this week and everybody can kind of relax and enjoy a couple of days, and then we get right back to work."
The Galaxy have also had time to get back on the training pitch before playing Dallas, with Vanney acknowledging he was focusing solely on the result against Minnesota given the quick turnaround.
"I think sometimes in the third games you put away some of the stuff that you normally are really, really picky on," he said.
"You've just got to suffer through it a little bit, and we did enough to get the three points [against Minnesota].
"We'll take it, and we'll talk about how we want to keep improving and get better and attack the next week, so just I'm glad we managed to get the three points."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Dallas – Petar Musa
Musa missed out on Croatia's squad for Euro 2024, but while his international team-mates were exiting at the group stage, he has been tearing it up in MLS.
The forward has scored in four of his past five matches for six total goals across that span.
He is only the eighth Dallas player to score six or more goals across a run of five matches in MLS history.
LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec
The Galaxy have their own in-form star in Pec, who scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Minnesota.
He is not just a goalscorer, however, adding seven assists to his nine MLS goals this season.
Indeed, Pec has either scored, assisted or provided a secondary assist in six straight games, the longest such streak from a Galaxy player since Javier Hernandez's eight across 2021 and 2022.
MATCH PREDICTION: DALLAS WIN
It is little wonder Vanney was not exactly relishing this trip, as Dallas have won seven in a row at home against the Galaxy. An eighth would make this the outright longest winning run for any team at home to the Galaxy in the MLS regular season.
And Dallas' home form is imperious right now, too. They have won six of their past eight at home.
The Galaxy are at least themselves in good shape, winning seven of nine for the first time in a single regular season since 2019, but only league leaders FC Cincinnati have won at Dallas since the start of April.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Dallas – 38.8%
LA Galaxy – 34.7%
Draw – 26.5%
Two of the form teams in MLS's Western Conference will go head to head on Saturday when the Portland Timbers host Real Salt Lake.
The Timbers have won four of their past five matches to climb to fifth, showing signs they have got to grips with Phil Neville's system in his first season with the club.
But Portland are still some 10 points behind RSL, one of the league's standout teams this year.
Without defeat at home in two months, the Timbers are at least in confident mood heading into this next tough test.
"I think now the team is very confident in the system we are playing," said captain Diego Chara.
"From my point of view, we have to just continue, getting more games, more wins and get to the playoffs."
Neville will have to find a way for Portland to handle Diego Luna, who missed out on a place in the United States' squad for the Olympics but responded in stunning fashion.
Luna scored one and assisted three more in a 5-2 win over Atlanta United, taking the 20-year-old to five goals and eight assists for the season.
Two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips told This is MLS: "To me, [Luna not making the US squad] is wild.
"How he's not in the squad, I don't understand. It may be something personal, because who's playing better than him right now in this country at his age in that position? There's no one."
Luna will be looking for a repeat performance against the Timbers, keeping his focus on RSL's fine form.
"Decisions are made in soccer. There are different teams with different coaches," he said. "There's nothing you can do about that, and I'm grateful to be here and to be able to stay here with RSL in this great run of form.
"I'm happy, focused, here with RSL and will continue to work hard."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Jonathan Rodriguez
It is difficult to pick out Portland's star man as, right now, they have three.
Rodriguez (11 goals), Felipe Mora (10) and Evander (10) are the first trio of team-mates in MLS history to each have 10 or more goals for the season before the beginning of August.
However, Rodriguez is the man in form, having netted twice in last week's 4-1 win over Nashville.
Real Salt Lake – Andres Gomez
Although he did not net against Atlanta, Luna's outstanding form is good news for Gomez. Three of his 11 goals this season have been created by Luna.
Indeed, Gomez is himself at the centre of much of RSL's best work, providing three assists for top scorer Chicho Arango and receiving a further three in return.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
RSL might be one of the league's best this year, but they are winless in seven straight games at Providence Park.
In fact, RSL have only two away wins against Portland in the MLS regular season, with those coming back in 2012 and 2017.
However, seven of their other 14 meetings in Oregon have been drawn, and that might be a result both sides would settle for.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 37.1 per cent
Real Salt Lake – 36.6 per cent
Draw – 26.3 per cent
Gareth Southgate believes England have every chance of upsetting Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final, although he warned the Three Lions will have to be at their best with and without the ball.
England are through to their second successive European Championship final after Ollie Watkins came off the bench to net a 90th-minute winner in Wednesday's semi-final against the Netherlands.
They have now reached more major tournament finals in four attempts under Southgate (two), than they did in 23 campaigns before his 2016 appointment (one).
But if England are to end a 58-year wait to follow up their 1966 World Cup win, they will have to get past the only team to win all six of their matches at the tournament.
Since the group stage was introduced in 1980, only France in 1984 (5/5) have won the Euros while maintaining a 100 per cent record.
While Southgate has full faith in England's ability to hurt La Roja, he says their first challenge will be to get hold of the ball.
"We will have to get the ball off them first," Southgate said of Spain. "It is not as simple as us having the ball and making them run.
"We have to be exceptional with the ball and without it. They have been the best team.
"We are starting to show a better version of ourselves, but we are in there with what we have shown to this point.
"We have as good a chance as they do. We have come here to win it. It is a huge task, but we are still here and fighting."
Luis de la Fuente's side reached the final by overcoming France 2-1 on Tuesday, and their 13 goals at this edition of the Euros have only ever been bettered by France in 1984 (14).
The Spain squad watched Wednesday's second semi-final together, before De la Fuente began preparing for Sunday's showpiece game.
He told Spanish outlet La 1: "Both teams were very tough opponents.
"We are going to have played all the great teams in this competition, and it couldn't be any other way. The two best teams made it to the final.
"We had dinner and were watching the match, and then we were in our office, analysing it in a more relaxed way.
"Now our work begins to analyse England in more detail."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Spain – Lamine Yamal
Yamal made history in the last four, his stunning equaliser making him the youngest player to ever score at a World Cup or Euros.
Aged 17 years and one day, he could be the youngest ever player to feature in a World Cup or European Championship final, surpassing Pele's record from the 1958 World Cup (17 years, 249 days).
He has three assists so far at Euro 2024, with no Spaniard ever providing more at a single edition of the tournament.
He has had 13 shot involvements following a ball carry at Euro 2024 (six shots, seven chances created), at least three more than any other player.
England – Phil Foden
Foden produced his best display of the tournament in the semi-finals, recording a game-high three shots, hitting the post with one long-range strike and seeing another effort cleared off the goal line.
He also completed all 40 of his attempted passes before being withdrawn for Cole Palmer, who teed up the Three Lions' winner.
England's switch to a back three has benefitted Foden, allowing him to play from the right-hand side and cut onto his favoured left foot.
Might he silence his doubters on the biggest stage of all?
MATCH PREDICTION: SPAIN WIN
This will be the third meeting between Spain and England at the Euros, and the Three Lions have fond memories of the previous two, winning 2-1 in the group stage in 1980 and progressing on penalties after a quarter-final draw in 1996.
However, La Roja have only lost four of their last 14 meetings with England overall, having lost the previous seven in a row.
Spain have also won their last three major tournament finals and could become the first European nation to triumph in four straight World Cup/Euros title matches.
The Opta supercomputer gives them a 60.4 per cent chance of lifting the trophy to England's 39.6 per cent.
England will play their first major tournament final on foreign soil after playing the showpiece games at the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020 at Wembley.
They have never lost a match in Berlin in six attempts (four wins, two draws), only playing more often in Helsinki (eight times), Amsterdam and Sunderland (seven each) without ever losing.
Can they upset the tournament's outstanding team to bring it home?
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Spain – 40.5 per cent
England – 29.0 per cent
Draw – 30.5 per cent
Prime Minister Mia Mottley says the inaugural Prime Minister’s Cup football tournament is the Barbados Government’s way of providing opportunities and creating a platform for the country’s players to not only develop their talent, but also to excel.
The new semi-professional tournament, which has a total investment of US$75,000 (BDS $150,000) is scheduled to kick off in August with 24 teams –10 from the Barbados Football Association Premier League, the top six from Division One, and the top four from Division 2 and Division three, based on 2023 standings –to take part.
With well over 600 players set to parade their skills, Mottley pointed out that it forms part of an objective to establish a more compact football structure.
“If we are serious about the clear determination that we must be global citizens with Bajan roots, then we have to build the platform in which that can happen,” Mottley said during the tournament’s launch at the Barbados Football Association (BFA) headquarters, on Wednesday.
“The reality is whether it is boys or girls playing football, this country needs greater structure and greater opportunities in football if we are to rise to the next level. Some will be able to go on and find lucrative contracts. Some will be able to work in the ecosystem of football. We have a duty therefore to start to lift our game up. If we want to have a developmental role it means that Government must now step in to play that role,” she added.
Mottley stressed that taking on a tournament of this nature when no private sector company would, is a no brainer for her administration, especially given the fact that young people are becoming more and more interested in football.
“There are not a lot of companies who would step up to the plate, and they are also looking at many other national activities from cultural activities right back through. So the bottom line is that one of the limitations of being small is that the state sometimes must take the lead in terms of entrepreneurship. When Barbados became an independent country, Errol Barrow understood that, and that is why the Hilton hotel was built at a time when no Barbadian private sector entity would have taken that scale of risk to build that scale of hotel in a country this size,” the Prime Minister reasoned.
“If we are to change our fortunes in Barbados, we need to be able to ensure that we have the administrative structure and the opportunities in tournaments such as this. I hope that at some point there will be a regional professional league,” she noted.
Another significant aspect of the tournament is the fact that all players will be expected to take part in self-confidence and self-esteem building, conflict resolution, and entrepreneurship workshops.
“The fundamental difference with this tournament must be a clear understanding of the profiles and the opportunities for every player, so that we work collectively between the public and the private sector to ensure that we put these persons on a sustainable path for a livelihood,” Mottley declared.
Meanwhile, Omari Eastmond, chairman of the organising committee echoed the prime minister’s sentiments.
“It is a way to tap into our talent on the island and give them purpose, allowing them to strive in structured settings giving them a chance to have a financial reward,” Eastmond said.
Rodri is being told to leave Manchester City "every day" by Dani Carvajal as the Real Madrid defender believes his Spain team-mate is "perfect" for the LaLiga giants.
The pair are playing together at Euro 2024, where Spain will meet England in Sunday's final in Berlin.
While the Three Lions were widely considered the pre-tournament favourites, La Roja have been the standout team at the finals, led by Rodri.
The 28-year-old midfielder has established himself as one of the best in world football since joining City from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
And despite his Atleti past, Rodri can be in no doubt about the sort of welcome he would receive if he returned to Madrid, his home city, with Los Blancos.
Carvajal has made it clear how Rodri would fit in at the Santiago Bernabeu, revealing their conversations to El Partidazo de COPE.
"Without a doubt, I tell him this every day," Carvajal said when asked if he would sign Rodri. "[I tell him] to leave Manchester, that there is no sun, 'you are from Madrid and we need you'.
"But he drags it out. He would fit in perfectly."
Rodri scored eight goals and provided nine assists in the Premier League in 2023-24, setting career highs in both categories while also shielding the second-best defence in the division.
Meanwhile, Toni Kroos was Madrid's leading creator in LaLiga, with eight assists, but has since retired.
Interim Atlanta United head coach is hoping to see improvements from his side following their shock US Open cup exit ahead of returning to league action against CF Montreal this weekend.
The Five Stripes exited the competition at the quarter-final stage to USL side Indy Eleven, as Nick Firmino’s late strike proved only to be a consolation.
Atlanta come into the game off the back of consecutive defeats in the MLS, the latest of which came against Real Salt Lake at America First Field.
Just a point separates the two sides in the Eastern Conference table, with Atlanta sitting in 10th place, a point ahead of their opponents.
Valentino is hoping to see an improvement in the attacking areas from his players as they aim to return to winning ways in the MLS.
"When we have a team within their own box, we have to move very quickly and have some quality with it," said Valentino. "We’ve talked about different areas where we can attack, yeah sure, but from there we have to have a little bit more quality in how we execute in the final third"
"But even tonight, at the very end when we get an own goal at the very end, and I said to them just try to get one. If you can get one goal, it means you are still pushing and still trying to be in the game, and they did.
"They had two chances, and they ended up getting one. You have to keep going, no one is going to feel sorry for us, and I think that is sort of the message to me."
Montreal, meanwhile, snatched a late point in their last league fixture against Vancouver Whitecaps as Matias Coccaro struck late for the hosts.
Laurent Courtois’ side have endured an indifferent run of results of late, winning two of their last eight matches, four of which have ended in a draw.
Montreal sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, and know a victory will see them leapfrog their opponents while also bridging the gap between the sides at the bottom of the table.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
CF Montreal – Sunusi Ibrahim
Sunusi Ibrahim is Montreal’s top scorer this season with six goals from 21 league appearances and will be hopeful of ending his dry spell in front of his home supporters.
Ibrahim has failed to find the back of the net in his last four outings, having recorded six goal contributions (five goals, one assist) in seven appearances beforehand.
Atlanta United – Daniel Rios
Rios has been in fine form for Atlanta of late, and he will be keen to influence proceedings once again at the Stade Saputo.
The Mexican has been involved in six of the Five Stripes’ last nine MLS goals (four goals, two assists), recording at least one goal contribution in each of his last four MLS appearances.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Both sides come into the encounter searching for a much-needed victory in an attempt to get their respective seasons back on track.
Atlanta have won only three of its last 17 league matches (D6 L8), including losing the last two in a row. The Five Stripes have managed only two clean sheets in that time.
Montreal are enduring a similar run to their opponents in the MLS. They have won only two of their last 17 matches in all competitions (D8 L7). Montreal, however, are unbeaten in six games at home (W2 D4).
The Five Stripes do edge the head-to-head meetings, having won seven of their previous 13 all-time meetings (D3 L3), though they have struggled at the Stade Saputo. Only two of their victories have come in Montreal.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
CF Montreal – 39.7%
Draw – 26.6%
Atlanta United – 33.7%
Manchester United have confirmed the arrivals of Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy as assistant managers to Erik ten Hag.
The pair join the Red Devils ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season, replacing the departing Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy.
Van Nistlerooy returns to the club he spent five years with as a player, scoring 95 times in 150 Premier League appearances.
The Dutchman previously managed PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, leading them to the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff shield during the 2022-23 season.
Hake also brings a wealth of managerial experience, having previously managed Go Ahead Eagles and Utrecht, leading the former to a ninth place finish in the Dutch top flight - the club's best finish for more than 15 years.
“Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first-team operations, and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that," new sporting director Dan Ashworth told the club's official website.
“It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player, and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.”
Manchester United kickstart their pre-season preparations against Norwegian side Rosenborg next Monday at the Lerkendal Stadion.
Ten Hag's first competitive game of the new season takes place on August 10 against rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield, a repeat fixture of their FA Cup triumph in May.
Manchester United have confirmed the arrivals of Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy as assistant managers to Erik ten Hag.
The pair join the Red Devils ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season, replacing the departing Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy.
Van Nistlerooy returns to the club he spent five years with as a player, scoring 95 times in 150 Premier League appearances.
The Dutchman previously managed PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, leading them to the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff shield during the 2022-23 season.
Hake also brings a wealth of managerial experience, having previously managed Go Ahead Eagles and Utrecht, leading the former to a ninth place finish in the Dutch top flight - the club's best finish for more than 15 years.
“Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first-team operations, and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that," new sporting director Dan Ashworth told the club's official website.
“It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player, and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.”
Manchester United kickstart their pre-season preparations against Norwegian side Rosenborg next Monday at the Lerkendal Stadion.
Ten Hag's first competitive game of the new season takes place on August 10 against rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield, a repeat fixture of their FA Cup triumph in May.
D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne insisted his players must be "ready to fight" to halt their winless streak ahead of their meeting with Nashville SC this weekend.
The Black-and-Red were beaten 5-0 by Orlando City last time out, extending their losing run to 11 MLS matches, which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.
D.C.’s last triumph came back in May against Atlanta United courtesy of Christian Benteke’s hat-trick.
Lesesne said his players will regroup once again, going on to explain that no one will feel sorry for his side during their baron spell of results.
“We’re in a tough spot right now, there is no doubt about it,” Lesesne said. “I think the last eight matches, there’s got to be more from us to get us out of this spot and be able to get us into a winning position.
“We have a lot of work to do and there are many things that we have to address.
“Nashville are a team that are going to be another challenge and we have to, right now, regroup in a big way.
“We have to understand that no one is going to feel sorry for us and we have got to get ready to fight.”
Nashville also find themselves enduring a losing streak of their own.
The Coyotes are without a win in their last three MLS fixtures as they were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Portland Timbers in their most recent league encounter.
The Timbers found themselves four goals to the good in just 29 minutes at Providence Park, marking the fifth time that they had conceded four goals in a match this season.
Nashville’s defeat leaves them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. In a battle between two of the division’s out of form sides, a win for either will be crucial to get their respective campaigns back on track.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
D.C. United – Christian Benteke
With D.C. experiencing a difficult spell, the goals and experience of Christian Benteke will be pivotal in achieving a long-awaited victory.
Benteke is the Black-and-Reds’ top scorer with 14 goals in 19 appearances this season, equalling his best tally for the club (14 goals in 2023) in 22 fewer outings.
Nashville are one of only eight teams the Belgian is yet to score against since his move to the MLS in 2022, and he will be keen to add to his tally this weekend.
Nashville SC – Sam Surridge
Sam Surridge scored Nashville’s only goal against Portland Timbers last time out, ending a run of two games without a goal following his brace against Toronto FC.
Surridge is the club’s top scorer this season with 10 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions, and without the attacking threat of Jacob Shaffelburg, he will be key in the attacking areas for Nashville.
MATCH PREDICITION: NASHVILLE WIN
Nashville come into the contest with D.C. United unbeaten in their previous six encounters (W4 D2). But they will be hopeful of ending their winless run at Audi Field, with both of those draws coming at the home of the Black-and-Red.
The Coyotes, however, are enduring a winless streak of their own. They have lost three consecutive league matches, allowing eight goals in those games. Nashville had lost only two of its previous 11 league games (W5 D4), conceding just seven total times in that span.
D.C. United’s winless run reached 11 matches (D3 L8) following their defeat at Orlando City on Saturday. This is the longest winless run in MLS this season and D.C.’s third-longest in a single regular season (12 and straight, both in 2013).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
D.C. United – 32.7%
Draw – 25.5%
Nashville SC – 41.8%
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez slammed Colombia for their "ugly" celebrations following Wednesday's Copa America semi-final, which saw players' families caught up in crowd violence.
Colombia advanced to their third Copa America final with a 1-0 victory in North Carolina, with Jefferson Lerma heading home the only goal in the first half.
However, the game was marred by ugly scenes as the families of some Uruguay players were caught up in violence involving Colombia supporters.
Colombia forward Miguel Borja also celebrated in front of Uruguay's players after the full-time whistle, prompting Suarez to lash out at Los Cafeteros' attitude.
"There are always squabbles, jokes or whatever, but what is annoying is the way they celebrated," Suarez told reporters after the game.
"It makes no sense to celebrate like that. We eliminated Brazil the other day and none of us passed in front of any Brazil player.
"It was the opposite. We went to them afterwards because we are colleagues on the pitch and we know what it is like to be knocked out.
"To celebrate in front of a professional colleague like that is ugly. But what goes around comes around."
Some players – including Liverpool's Darwin Nunez and Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez – climbed into the stands after the game to reach their family members as punches were by fans in Colombia shirts.
Asked about the incident, Suarez said: "You see your partner, kids, parents, elderly people in the stands and you want to know how they are.
"Things had started to fall on them. No one wants to see those images, but obviously if you see that a family member is being attacked, you try and defend them.
"It does not justify what happened, but you have to realise they were trying to protect their families and their children."
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