Chelsea and Manchester City will meet this evening in what is the most widely anticipated game of the opening weekend of the new 24/25 Premier League season.
The Blues have a new manager in Enzo Maresca and have heavily invested in the transfer market to strengthen their squad. Pep Guardiola’s side are the reigning champions, and the corresponding fixture between the two sides last season (a 4-4 draw) was one of the best games in the league in 23/24.
The official Euro 2024 team of the tournament has been announced by governing body UEFA, and not surprisingly, is dominated by champions Spain, with six of the eleven players coming from La Furia Roja.
Spain went 7/7 to win the tournament and dominate the attacking part of this TOTM- the midfield troika (Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Rodri) is all Spanish, as are two of the top three upfront (Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal). Olmo was not originally in the Spanish starting XI, but came into it after Pedri suffered a tournament ending injury following a Kroos tackle in their last eight clash against Germany.
Interestingly, the back four of this TOTM all play in the Premier League- left back Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), centre backs William Saliba (Arsenal) & Manuel Akanji (Man City) and right back Kyle Walker (also MCFC).
Akanji and Musiala are the only two non-semifinalists in this TOTM. There is however no Dutch player in this XI.
UEFA Euro 2024 team of the tournament (with club names and nationality)
Goalkeeper– Maignan (FRA/AC Milan/Serie A)
Defenders– Cucurella (ESP/Chelsea), Saliba (FRA/Arsenal), Akanji (SUI/Man City) and Walker (ENG/Man City)- all Premier League
Here is a look at the European newspaper player ratings for England vs Spain in their Euro 2024 final on July 14, 2024. Spain dominated the game on xG and ran out 2-1 winners.
L’Equipe player ratings England v Spain Euro final
The French newspaper, who are notoriously tough to please, didn’t rate a single player on either side above 7. They were particularly harsh on England skipper Harry Kane, giving him a 3/10. L’Equipe also thought Man Utd’s Kobbie Mainoo only merited a 4/10. They gave Spain an average team rating of 6.3/10, as against the 4.9/10 given to the Three Lions here.
Bild player ratings England 1-2 Spain Euro 2024 Final
(German rating system; 1 very good, 6 very bad)
The German paper thought Nico Williams was the best player on the pitch (Williams got MOTM in this Euro 2024 final), giving him a 1 rating.
Nobody on either side got a 6, but Kane and Phil Foden were both given a 5. Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella, who provided the assist for the winning goal got a 2 here, as did Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.