Three months on from Argentina’s dramatic World Cup remaining victory over France, worldwide soccer returns this week as Euro 2024 qualifying will get underway.
Germany, as hosts, are exempt from the qualifying course of however the remainder of Europe’s heavyweights start the course of this week.
Italy again
Italy had been the highest-profile nation to overlook out on the World Cup in Qatar. They now start their defence of the European Championship trophy with a mouthwatering showdown in opposition to England in a repeat of the Euro 2020 remaining which the Azzurri gained on penalties at Wembley.
Roberto Mancini stays in cost regardless of the failed World Cup qualifying marketing campaign, however there are some new faces in his squad.
One man to look out for will likely be Mateo Retegui, a 23-year-old Argentina-born ahead who was the prime scorer in the Argentinian league with Tigre final 12 months.
“Years in the past they used to say that to play for the nationwide workforce you wanted to be born in Italy. But the world has modified and all nationwide groups have gamers who’re naturalised or come from different nations,” Mancini mentioned.
Italy will be expected to advance from qualifying Group C along with England given the top two teams in each section go through. However, Ukraine may cause those sides some problems — they play England away on Sunday.
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Mbappe takes the armband
France coach Didier Deschamps needed a new captain after long-serving skipper Hugo Lloris retired following the World Cup.
He has opted to give the armband to Kylian Mbappe, deciding that the superstar Paris Saint-Germain forward is ready for the role at the age of 24.
“Kylian ticked all the boxes to have that extra responsibility,” mentioned Deschamps of the participant who scored that breathtaking hat-trick in the World Cup remaining.
With centre-back Raphael Varane additionally standing down, there’s a new look to France as they put together to start qualifying at dwelling to the Netherlands on Friday earlier than a visit to the Republic of Ireland.
Mike Maignan of AC Milan will likely be the new first-choice goalkeeper, whereas Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram acquired a primary call-up — the son of Lilian Thuram joins his elder brother Marcus in the squad.
New period for Spain
Spain responded to their disappointing World Cup displaying by sacking coach Luis Enrique, with Luis De La Fuente named as his alternative.
The 61-year-old De La Fuente had beforehand coached Spain’s youth groups since 2013, most not too long ago the Under-23 aspect.
De La Fuente has overseen sweeping modifications to the squad, together with the notable determination to recall Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Chelsea goalkeeper.
With Sergio Busquets retiring and his Barcelona colleague Jordi Alba not that includes, there are actually no survivors from the workforce that gained Euro 2012.
Spain are in qualifying Group A the place they kick off at dwelling in Malaga in opposition to a Norway aspect lacking the injured Erling Haaland after which face Scotland in Glasgow subsequent Tuesday.
Ronaldo nonetheless there for Portugal
Those who thought Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Saudi Arabia following the World Cup signalled the finish of his worldwide carer had been stunned as the 38-year-old was named in new Portugal coach Roberto Martinez’s first squad.
“I don’t look at the age,” said Martinez when asked about his decision to include the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man.
Ronaldo holds the world record for men’s international goals with 118. He holds the European men’s record of 196 caps, a tally that also equals the world landmark with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
Ronaldo will expect to claim that record outright, and add to his goal tally, when Portugal face Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
The 2016 European champions also play Iceland, Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group J.
New faces on the touchline
Spain and Portugal are far from the only European nations going into qualifying with a new coach.
Ronald Koeman returned as coach of the Netherlands after Louis van Gaal departed following the World Cup.
After eight years in charge of Portugal, Fernando Santos is the new man in charge of Poland.
Italy-born German Domenico Tedesco has replaced Martinez as coach of Belgium.
Michael O’Neill has returned for a second spell as coach of Northern Ireland. He took them to the last 16 of Euro 2016.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
