England vs Switzerland is the next international friendly match taking place at the Wembley Stadium, London.
England vs Switzerland: Match Preview:
England begin life in 2022 with a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
With Qatar just around the corner now, Gareth Southgate has but a few games in which to prepare his team for the tournament, with the next break coming during the UEFA Nations League schedule in June.
Rather unhelpfully, Southgate has to had to deal with a number of dropouts for this camp, which also includes a friendly against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Still, having finished 2021 so strongly, excitement is in the air. After the run to the Euro 2020 final, the mood inside Wembley has been revamped and even reasonably low-key friendlies have taken on a different kind of atmosphere.
With the World Cup so close, players are fighting for their places in the squad, which should make for an interesting few games.
Team News:
England:
England boss Southgate has already lost Tammy Abraham, Aaron Ramsdale, Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold to injury ahead of Saturday's game, while Sam Johnstone is another late withdrawal due to illness and Bukayo Saka has pulled out of the squad with COVID-19.
With a lack of out-and-out right-backs in the ranks - somewhat of a surprise given England's track record in that position - the uncapped Kyle Walker-Peters could be in line for his Three Lions debut in a back four this weekend.
Crystal Palace duo Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell will also be out to earn their first minutes for the senior team, as Harry Kane seeks to move level with or surpass second-placed Bobby Charlton in the Three Lions' scoring charts, with the skipper boasting 48 strikes compared to Charlton's 49.
Southgate has also revealed that Emile Smith Rowe is a doubt for the contest, but the Arsenal man would have been unlikely to start in any case.
Switzerland:
Switzerland hardly have all of their first-choice XI available either, as veteran goalkeeper Yann Sommer and fellow shot-stopper Philipp Kohn are both unavailable due to injury, so Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel could get the nod at Wembley.
Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria and 24-goal striker Haris Seferovic also miss out as they continue their spells in the treatment room, with Mario Gavranovic preparing to shoulder the goalscoring burden here. Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar has also pulled out with an adductor issue.
Captain Granit Xhaka needs just two more caps to reach the 100-mark for his country, and a man who has already reached that milestone in Xherdan Shaqiri should occupy the number 10 role on his return to English turf.
England vs Switzerland: Head to Head:
After their heartbreaking defeat to Italy in the final of last year’s delayed Euro 2020 tournament, England wasted no time in getting back to business in their FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the end of 2021.
Gareth Southgate’s men won five of seven games that followed their loss to Italy, beating Hungary, Andorra, Albania and San Marino and drawing with Poland and Hungary. More importantly, they scored a ludicrous 30 goals across those games, with captain Harry Kane being responsible for ten of them.
Recent performances in all competitions:
England:
1-1 draw against Poland
5-0 win over Andorra
1-1 draw against Hungary
5-0 win over Albania
10-0 win over San Marino
Switzerland:
0-0 draw against Northern Ireland
2-0 win over Northern Ireland
4-0 win over Lithuania
1-1 draw against Italy
4-0 win over Bulgaria
England vs Switzerland: Predicted Line-ups:
England (4-3-3): Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker-Peters, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Phil Foden, Harry Kane, Jack Grealish.
Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Gregor Kobel, Silvan Widmer, Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez, Djibril Sow, Remo Freuler, Ruben Vargas, Xherdan Shaqiri, Steven Zuber, Breel Embolo.
Bellingham started in Thomas Tuchel's first starting XI as England's boss. It was the 41st appearance of the 21-year-old. The English midfielder overtook Wayne Rooney for the most senior appearance for the England national football team at 21 or younger. The former Manchester United legend made 40 appearances.
41 - Jude Bellingham is making his 41st appearance for England, overtaking Wayne Rooney's record (40) for most games for the senior side while aged 21 or younger. Baton. pic.twitter.com/wBVzvIiFlL
Jude Bellingham made his senior debut for the National side being a 17-year-old in November 2020 on his debut England triumphed with a 3-0 victory over Ireland in a friendly match. He has since made 41 appearances and scored 6 goals and provided 10 assists.
Jude Bellingham continued his good form against Albania on Friday as well. He got the ball in midfield and went past a couple of players before putting a cross for the debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly and the debutant scored the goal and put his side a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.
Harry Kane scored the second goal in the 77th minute and helped the Three Lions clinch a 2-0 victory over Albania. England is now at the top of the group k of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The group also has Latvia, Serbia, and Andorra along with England and Albania.
While England beat Albania 2-0, Jude Bellingham spoke about things the Tuchel's managed side need to improve. Assessing his side's performance Jude said: (Via England Football)
I think we had clear ideas on what we wanted to do and how we wanted to play. We tried that as much as possible. I know it is difficult when you play against a team that sits so low and is so compact.
At times the game takes you a different direction. You want to go on the ball and move around but generally, we stuck to the plan really well. We had a really good week of training, and it was a good way to start the new era.
Five best footballers of 2024 (men's): Vini, Yamal and who?
2024 was a fantastic year for football worldwide, with international tournaments like Copa America and Euro 2024, along with the best leagues. Here are the best five footballers of 2024.
2024 has been a sensational year for football as the world witnessed many memorable performances that will go down in history. Many footballers have emerged as breakout stars while renowned players have continued to grace the pitch with exceptional performances.
However, some footballers have consistently performed well in 2024 with their club or country and continued to stand out among others. In this article, Sportz Point explores the five best footballers of 2024.
Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)
(Image Credit | Forbes)
Vinicius Jr. has been one of the most instrumental assets for Real Madrid's success in recent years. The 24-year-old Brazilian racked up loads of goals and assists for Los Blancos to enlist himself as one of the best players in 2024.
Vinicius Jr. led Madrid's attack along with Jude Bellingham to clinch the 2023-24 La Liga title, having scored 15 goals while providing 6 assists in 26 appearances. He became a walking nightmare for every defensive line-up in Europe with his sublime ball control, acceleration, and footballing skills.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 3, 2024
However, Vinicius unleashed his ultimate best in Real Madrid's UCL-winning campaign in the 2023-24 season. He earned the UCL Player of the Season award with 11 goal contributions by his name. Vini performed well in the group games as well as in crucial knockout games; the semi-final and final, against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
Lamine Yamal is certainly the most promising young talent in football discussions worldwide. Making his debut for FC Barcelona's senior team in 2023, the 17-year-old winger completed his 50th appearance for Barcelona in April 2024, becoming the youngest footballer to achieve the feat.
However, Lamine's breakout performance for Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 is the definite highlight of his year. The Spanish teenager, who only turned 17 in July 2024, lifted the 2024 Euro as the youngest winner of the tournament. Lamine won the Young Player of the Tournament award as well, having bagged 1 goal and 4 assists in the competition.
Lamine Yamal has played in the 2023 U17 European Championship and Euro 2024 over the last 14 months.
U17 Euros: ⚽️ 4 goals 🤝 2 assists 🏆 Team of the Tournament
Euros: ⚽️ 1 goal 🤝 4 assists 🏆 Young Player of the Tournament
Lamine has added some more glory to his list of personal accolades in 2024 by winning the 2024 Golden Boy Award and the Kopa Trophy.
The youngster continued his record-breaking stint also for his club, as he became the youngest footballer to score in a Clasico game during Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in October 2024. He has been instrumental for Barcelona since the start of the 2024-25 season as well.It seems that the talented winger will continue to showcase his jaw-dropping capabilities with a football at his feet.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
(Image Credit | BBC)
Mohamed Salah has been one of the most consistent footballers for Liverpool in recent years, and now he is paving the way to enter the globe of all-time Premier League greats.
Since Arne Slot arrived in Anfield as Jurgen Klopp's successor, Salah has been a cheat code for the Reds across all competitions.Although he had a distressing start to 2024, now he has transitioned into an even more complete version of a traditional winger.
The 'Egyptian King' has been responsible for almost 64% of the goals Liverpool scored this season in the league and UCL. It clearly shows his impeccable ability to orchestrate the attack while leading from the front. He has 20 goals and 17 assists by his name in 26 appearances in all competitions so far this season.
The 32-year-old forward has also hit the headlines for breaking Premier League legend Wayne Rooney's record for 36 games with a goal and an assist in a single game.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
(Image Credit | Eurosport)
In a world where the forwards steal all the limelight, it is simply exceptional for others to ensure themselves in consideration of the top performers without a doubt. Jude Bellingham is the kind of footballer who not only plays well but also ensures his dominance everywhere on the pitch.
Bellingham left Dortmund in 2023 and signed for Real Madrid, where he continued to elevate his footballing prowess. The Englishman finished 4th on Laliga's list of most goal contributions with 19 goals and 6 assists. Nevertheless, he was named the 2023-24 La Liga Player of the Season for his dynamic performances.
However, Bellingham could not play in his natural position in the 2024 Euros. This positional shift restricted his goalscoring proficiency but he continued to offer his physical ability, defensive quality, and accurate passing skills to help England reach the Euro final. He also came out on top to assist Cole Palmer who scored the only goal for England in the final.
The 21-year-old youngster also received the prestigious Lareaus World Breakthrough of the Year Award for 2024 to brighten his list of individual honours. Despite finishing third in the 2024 Ballon d'Or ranking, he was certainly one of the best footballers in 2024.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
(Image Credit | The Irish Fan)
Harry Kane left Tottenham Hotspur in 2023 to join Bayern Munich, but he did not forget to bring his goalscoring boots to Germany. The 31-year-old striker has comfortably enlisted himself as one of the best footballers of 2024.
The England captain not only possesses lethal finishing skills but also has brilliant positioning sense which helps him to be a very natural number nine. However, Kane found his best version in Bayern and concluded the 2023-24 Bundesliga season with his personal best tally of 36 goalswhich led him to win his maiden European Golden Boot trophy in 2024.
Kane has already scored 20 goals and provided 9 assists in 20 matches in all competitions this season and continued to be one of the best footballers in 2024.
All eyes will be on Wembley as England take on Ireland in a highly anticipated UEFA Nations League clash. As the two footballing nations collide, fans can expect a great contest today.
The Boys in Green arrive at Wembley as underdogs but with no shortage of fighting spirit. Ireland will rely on their team’s work ethic and tactical discipline to frustrate England and create opportunities on the break. Players like Evan Ferguson and Matt Doherty will be crucial in providing defensive solidity and a cutting-edge in attack.
England delivered a dominant display on Thursday, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over former group leaders Greece in Athens.
Ollie Watkins, preferred over Harry Kane, struck early to open the scoring within seven minutes, followed by an own goal from Odysseas Vlachodimos that doubled England's advantage. Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones capped off the performance with a stunning backheeled goal on his debut.
This marks England’s fourth win in five games under interim manager Lee Carsley, who will step down after Sunday’s match.
Historically, England remain unbeaten against the Republic of Ireland since their 1988 European Championship loss, though six of their last eight encounters have ended in draws
England still has some key players out as a result of injury but Lee Carsely still boasts of a formidable side that can compete against Ireland to secure all 3 points while Ireland is not without any significant absentees a tough test still awaits them at Wembley.
Greece vs England UEFA Nations League: Preview, Head to Head Stats, Permutations and State of Play
Dive into all the details ahead of tonight's football match between England and Greece in the UEFA Nations League where the three lions are expected to exert dominance over their opponents.
England is set to face Greece in their UEFA Nations League group game scheduled to kick off at 1.15 AM IST on 15 November 2024. This match will take place at Spiros Louis Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece.
Greece has won all four of their games, continuing their outstanding run of play. The team leads the group with 12 points and an 8-goal edge.
Despite losing one game, the Englishmen have not played poorly either, sitting second in the standings with nine points out of a possible twelve.
Fans should anticipate a very difficult match as a result of the coaching change for the English men's national team, which will bring a mix of new ideas and playing styles.
The three lions of England have always had the better of the Greek national team the UEFA Nations League matches between these sides comes after an 18 year stint of not playing against each other.
Greece got their first ever win against England last month with a narrow 2-1 result. It remains to be seen if they can repeat the same feat in this reverse fixture. With 7 wins from 10 England are the sure favourities in this game.
The absence of several important players, such as Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, has delivered Lee Carsely a severe blow. Additionally, Grealish, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander Arnold, and John Stones will not be playing.
His team's setup will undoubtedly be impacted by these injuries since he will need to adjust formations and employ new tactics to guarantee his team's victory.
Luckily enough for the home team there would not be much to worry about as they are only dealing with the absence of Kourbelis and this is due to suspension and not any other reason. It is expected that they will field their strongest side.
Players with most assists in international football
From Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, Sportzpoint brings you names of the top 10 footballers who have provided the most assists in international football history.
Both in international and club football, goals often steal the limelight but in most cases, the orchestration that creates the pathway of a goal is an assist from a teammate. Every player plays very less international matches compared to club games and that is why it is tougher to accumulate a huge number of goals and assists in international football.
There are some players whose longevity, creativity, and passion for the game let them enter the chart of the players with most assists in international football. Let's look at the list consisting of the top 10 players.
10. David Beckham - 36 Assists
David Beckham (Image Courtsey | RTE)
The British football sensation,David Beckham made his debut with the England national team in 1996 and made 115 appearances before retiring from international football in May 2013.
Beckham was the Ballon d'Or Runner-up in 1999 and he was named English Player of the Year in 2003. In 2008, the FA enlisted him in the English Football Hall of Fame.
Along with 17 international goals, Beckham also made 36 assists which makes him 10th in the list.
9. Mesut Ozil - 40 Assists
Mesut Ozil (Image Courtesy | Sporting News)
One of the greatest playmakers the game has ever witnessed, Mesut Ozil debuted in 2009 for the Germany national team. Ozil played in three world cups with Germany and won the coveted trophy in 2014.
Ozil retired from international football as a form of protest after Germany crashed out of the group stage in the 2018 World Cup and the DFB President Grindel accused him of racism. However, Ozil won the German Player of the Year Award 5 times in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016.
Before retiring, Ozil already made 92 appearances for Germany and had 40 assists by his name.
8. Pele - 47 Assists*
Pele (Image Courtesy | FIFPro)
Arguably one of the greatest footballers of all time, Pele debuted for the Brazil national team at the age of 16 in 1957 in a friendly against Argentina. He lifted three World Cups (formerly known as the Jules Rimet Trophy) for Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970 which is a Guinness record for the most World Cup wins by a single player.
The TIME named him as the greatest footballer of the 20th century and Reuters named him as the Greatest athlete of the century in 1999.
According to some estimated data, Pele made 92 appearances for Brazil and he provided 47 assists before retiring from international football in 1977.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo - 47 Assists
Cristiano Ronaldo (Image Courtesy | Eurosport)
One of the most influential athletes of the 21st century and considered one of the greatest footballers ever, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted in the Portugal national team in 2003 and made a significant effect in Portuguese football for almost 22 years.
Winning the EURO 2016 and UEFA Nations League 2018-19 for Portugal, the five-time Ballon winner established himself as the greatest Portuguese footballer of all-time.
Cristiano is now the captain of the national team and he has made 216 appearances for Portugal so far. He is the highest goalscorer ever in the history of international football as well with 133 goals by his name. Besides his brilliant goalscoring prowess, Ronaldo has also made 47 assists in international matches so far.
6. Kevin De Bruyne - 49 Assists
Kevin De Bruyne (Image Courtesy | Goal.com)
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the finest midfielders of this generation for his exquisite playmaking ability and skillful display on the pitch. He is considered one of the greatest Belgian footballers ever and he was a very crucial part of the famous Golden Generation of Belgium.
He was a memorable part of the Belgium squad that finished third in the 2018 World Cup and was included in the official 2018 WC Dream Team.
The 33-year-old midfielder made his Belgium senior team debut in 2010 and has made 107 appearances so far. During this journey, De Bruyne has provided 49 assists as of now.
5. Sandor Kocsis - 50 Assists*
Sandor Kocsis (Image Courtesy | Goal.com)
The Hungarian forward Sandor Peter Kocsis stands fifth on the list. Kocsis debuted for the Hungary national team in 1948 at the age of 18 and played almost 70 matches before retiring in 1966.
Kocsis was the highest goalscorer in the 1954 World Cup with 11 goals including two hat-tricks. He also scored 6 goals for the Hungary national team in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and led them to win the Gold medal.
According to estimated data sources, Sandor Kocsis scored 75 goals for the national team and he also made 50 assists in international football.
4. Ferenc Puskás - 53 Assists*
Ferenc Puskas (Image Courtesy | Facts.net)
Another Hungarian, and probably the greatest Hungarian footballer ever, Ferenc Puskás made his debut for the Hungary national team in 1945. He played 85 games for the national team and scored 84 goals.
Puskás was another crucial part of the Hungary team that won the Gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as he scored 4 goals in that tournament. Puskás also scored 4 goals in the 1954 World Cup including the opening goal in the final but Hungary lost to West Germany by 2-3.
Puskás also played for the Spain national team for 4 times. He was named European Player of the 20th Century by L'Equipe.
Before retiring from football in 1966, Puskás had 53 assists by his name.
3. Lionel Messi - 57 Assists
Lionel Messi (Image Courtesy | Agencia EFE)
Arguably considered the greatest footballer ever, Lionel Messi is both one of the best goalscorers and playmakers to ever grace the game. Debuting in 2005, Lionel Messi has made 189 appearances for the Argentina national team so far.
Messi's greatest honour with the national team came in 2022 when he led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, and he was named the Best Player of the Tournament. Messi is the only player to win two Golden Ball awards in 2014 and 2022.
The record 8-time Ballon winner also won two Copa Americas with Argentina, consecutively in 2021 and 2024.
With 112 goals for the national team, he also made 57 assists in international games and he will surely surpass the toppers of the list in his remaining appearances for Argentina.
2. Neymar Jr. - 58 Assists
Neymar Jr. (Image Courtesy | CNN)
The greatest Brazilian footballer of this generation, Neymar Jr. is another forward whose display is not only exquisite in goalscoring but also in playmaking.
Neymar Jr. made his debut with the Brazilian national team in 2010 and won the Golden Ball for being selected as the best player of the tournament in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph in 2013. He scored 4 goals and made 2 assists in 5 matches in that tournament.
However, after suffering a horrendous injury in the 2014 World Cup, Neymar led the Brazil team to win the Olympics Gold on home soil in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Neymar is also the all-time highest goalscorer of Brazil's national football team with 79 goals by his name. Neymar is tied with the leader on this list with his 58 assists in 129 international appearances but he will surely clinch the top spot in his remaining career.
1. Landon Donovan - 58 Assists
Landon Donovan (Image Source| X)
The USMNT footballing legend is the leader in this list which may shock some but does not demean his excellence. Landon Donovan is considered the greatest footballer the USMNT has ever had. Making his debut in 2000 for the USMNT, he made 157 appearances before retiring from international football in 2014.
Landon Donovan appeared in 3 editions of the World Cup and scored 5 goals in 12 World Cup appearances. He also won 4 CONCACAF Gold Cups with USMNT in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2013. After his retirement, Donovan was named as the greatest-ever USMNT player by The Guardian.
Landon Donovan is still atop the list with 58 international assists by his name.
NB:In case of starred (*) players, there are no authentic records, and their stats are mostly estimated by various sources.
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