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After crashing out of the Champions League, Los Blancos will be surveying their options for a new manager with plenty of candidates available…

Real Madrid's three-year reign as Champions League holders is over after a shock loss to Ajax and that result has cast increasing doubt over the future of coach Santiago Solari. 

The Spanish giants are no stranger to a swift managerial switch and there are plenty of candidates currently available should Solari get sacked – be it now or at the end of the season.

Here are just some of the coaches Real Madrid could be considering…

Getty Images1Jurgen Klopp

Widely considered as one of the best coaches in the world, Jurgen Klopp is exactly the kind of Galactico appointment that would help Real Madrid re-energise the dressing room.

A man motivator as well as a tactical genius, he has turned Liverpool into genuine title contenders for the Premier League following the Reds' impressive journey to the Champions League final last season.

Klopp would be an expensive option for Madrid due to the fact his contract at Anfield runs until 2022. However, Klopp is fully aware that there is likely to be speculation over his future this summer even if he can bring silverware back to Merseyside.

"In the summer, there will be people who say it's the best time for me to go if we win something because we will never win anything again, there will be other people who say I have to go if we don't win anything," he told in December.

AdvertisementGetty2Clarence Seedorf

Among the candidates to replace Lopetegui, Seedorf was ultimately overlooked but clearly still has his eyes set on coaching them one day.

“The fact that I have been among the options is already a great honour for me," Seedorf told Goal in March.

"I feel like a place that is my home, where I wasn't treated good, but more than good. Always. 

“Returning one day would be an honour for me…"

Seedorf was appointed Cameroon's manager in August last year but has won just one of his first five games in charge. 

He began his coaching career with AC Milan in 2014 and despite impressing was replaced by Filippo Inzaghi after just four months. 

Getty Images3Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta very nearly became Arsenal manager last summer and a move back to his home country may be in the works before long. Arteta has spent the last few years learning from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and if he has picked anything up from him he could become an incredible manager one day.

As a student of Guardiola, Arteta would likely promote an attacking possession-based style which would please Madrid's very demanding fans.

One sticking point, though, could be Arteta's history as a player with Barcelona.

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Getty4Claudio Ranieri

From being sacked by Fulham to Real Madrid manager?

It would be an extraordinary turn of fortunes for Ranieri, who was never really given a chance to implement his style at Craven Cottage, but crazier things have happened – Leicester City winning the Premier League for example.

Having previously coached in Spain with Atletico and Valencia, the Italian knows the region well.

Considering he was able to turn the Foxes into Premier League winners, it would be interesting to see what he could do with Real as they currently are. 

Ranieri may be a long shot, but having coached over 1000 games, his experience can't be questioned. 

A number of African stars were in action for their sides who took part in various competitions over the weekend

Getty ImagesReview of Africans in Europe

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah as well as Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech had a remarkable weekend, as they progressed to the FA Cup final, while others had good displays in other leagues.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesToo Good: Sadio Mane

The Senegal star was instrumental for Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final against their Premier League rivals Manchester City.

The forward scored twice – in the 17th and 45th minutes – to ensure the Reds progressed to the final. Mane’s man-of-the-match display saw him praised by Jurgen Klopp and his teammate Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool’s dream of ending the season with a quadruple remains intact.

(C)Getty ImagesToo Good: Yves Bissouma

The Malian was an instrumental figure for Brighton as they secured a slim win against Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder offered some vital protection defensively and was impressive in breaking up the Spurs attacks as well as driving forward when they were attacking.

For his and the collective effort, Brighton managed to win consecutive away league games for the first time since September 2021 and are now unbeaten in three Premier League games overall, winning the last two, after losing each of the six before that.

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GettyToo Bad: Albert-Moyo Lokonga and Nicolas Pepe

Lokonga, a midfielder of Congolese descent, featured all through as Arsenal lost to Southampton.

Pepe, meanwhile, came on in the 70th minute for Nuno Tavares, but his introduction could not alter the scoreline in favour of the Gunners.

The defeat at St Mary's Stadium means Arsenal have lost each of their last three Premier League games, having lost just two of their previous 13 (W11 D1). It’s their third run of three consecutive defeats in their three seasons under Mikel Arteta.

It also complicated their chances of finishing in the top four.

The Premier League's top scorer was shutout for the first time since August as Liverpool ended the champions' unbeaten start to the season

Manchester City suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season against Liverpool as their brilliant start to their title came to a dramatic halt.

Anfield has never been a happy place to go for City, having won there just twice in the past 40 years, so it's perhaps not a surprise that City were beaten by their closest rivals of recent seasons.

The defeat did, though, come in controversial circumstances, with a Phil Foden goal ruled out by VAR in an incident that Pep Guardiola said ignited the home fans.

Mohammed Salah then scored the only goal of the game after an individual error from Joao Cancelo when he misjudged Alisson's clearance.

But who came out of the game with any credit for City? And for whom was it a day to forget? GOAL breaks it down…

The Winners

The title race:

In the build-up to Sunday's game, Jurgen Klopp claimed Liverpool were no longer challenging for the title. Of course, Guardiola dismissed those suggestions as rubbish, knowing exactly how difficult it is to win the Premier League, having done so four times in the last five years. Exciting title races have been one of English football's greatest selling points in recent years and it looks like we're set for another one all over again. Arsenal are four points clear of both City and Tottenham, with Chelsea just a further four points behind with a game in hand. And of course, Liverpool are now firmly back in the shake-up.

Ederson:

So often the focus is on Ederson's brilliant footwork while questions are asked as to whether he is a good shot-stopper. But on Sunday, he made one huge save with Salah bearing down on goal that could have had huge implications on the Premier League season. At first, it looked like the Egyptian had got his angles wrong as his shot rolled just the wrong side of the post and referee Anthony Taylor pointed for a goal kick. Only from the replays was the brilliant save from Ederson perceptible, as his outstretched fingertips diverted the ball inches off target. Unfortunately for City, he couldn't pull off the same trick twice.

City's fixture schedule:

Guardiola was set to take his side to Arsenal in midweek, but that game was postponed with the Gunners facing a rescheduled Europa League game against PSV. Perhaps that will play to City's benefit, as the squad can take a couple of days off before returning to training after a painful defeat. Anfield was electric, and the Emirates Stadium would have been the same with Mikel Arteta's side four points clear and sensing blood. Getting back on the pitch is often the best way to get a response, but a firing Arsenal would have been a major test at this stage of the season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Joao Cancelo:

Cancelo has been outstanding all season, but he made City's key contribution for all the wrong reasons at Anfield. Isolated with Salah following a City corner, Cancelo misjudged Alisson's long clearance, allowing the Liverpool forward a free run at goal that he took full advantage of. The defender looked rattled by the mistake and it affected the rest of his match as City tried to chase an equaliser. He must put it behind him quickly and get back to the brilliant performances which have been so important to Guardiola's side this season, and Phil Foden could be seen reminding him of that shortly after full-time.

Erling Haaland:

Jamie Vardy's record of scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches is safe – for now – after Haaland's blank at Anfield. Only 10 games into his City career, the Norwegian was threatening it already with goals in seven successive matches, but Liverpool shut him down for the second time this season, following the Community Shield curtain-raiser. Haaland had a couple of sights of goal in the first half, clipping a shot wide and sending a header straight into Alisson's arms. Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez were mostly successful in keeping him away from the width of the six-yard box, but when he got one big chance in that position, Alisson denied him again with a smart save.

VAR luck:

It's rare for City to fail to score and they've done it twice in a week, following their goalless draw in Copenhagen. Except they scored goals in both games, only for them to both be chalked off by VAR. Rodri's super strike in Denmark was cancelled after a slight handball in the build-up, and this time Foden's goal was ruled out for a perceived Haaland tug on Fabinho. Guardiola wouldn't be drawn into criticising either decision, but he's probably had enough of seeing referees called over to the monitor for a while.

Man City Ratings: Defence

Ederson (8/10):

Made one huge save but couldn't pull off two when he was twice exposed into facing Salah.

Joao Cancelo (4/10):

Huge error defined his performance and he will want to forget it in a hurry.

Manuel Akanji (6/10):

Biggest game of his early City career and found it tough in the red-hot Anfield atmosphere.

Ruben Dias (6/10):

Strong first-half but a slip in the second let in Salah and it could have been costly.

Nathan Ake (7/10):

Tasked with stopping a reinvigorated Salah after his midweek hat-trick and worked hard to keep him away from goal as much as possible.

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Midfield

Rodri (7/10):

Screened the defence with his expert reading of the game in a congested area of the pitch.

Bernardo Silva (8/10):

Started in a deeper role almost as a second holding midfielder and worked hard as a disruptor before moving further forward.

Ilkay Gundogan (6/10):

Tried to take up dangerous positions in the half-space behind the forwards and forced one good save from Alisson.

Is he worth the money? How have United afforded him? All this and more revealed

Manchester United went to the wire as they made Antony their biggest signing of the summer after re-allocating funds set aside for Frenkie de Jong. The Brazil winger could cost up to £85 million ($98m) – dwarfing the £60m ($70m) spent on Casemiro.

Antony is now the second most expensive player in the club’s history – surpassing Harry Maguire and leaving him behind only Paul Pogba on the list of United’s record buys.

But why is Erik ten Hag so determined to be reunited with the forward, who he worked with at Ajax, and how has he convinced the club to spend so much money to bring him to Old Trafford?

Getty ImagesWhy did United want him?

Quite simply, the 22-year-old is a game-changer – and a player Ten Hag believes is some way from reaching his full potential.

Brazil coach, Tite, has even likened him to Neymar in terms of his skillset – and in two years in the Netherlands he showcased his box of tricks to be a key player in Ajax’s back-to-back titles in his time there.

He is not yet a prolific goal-scorer, with 21 in 74 appearances, but has the ability to unlock defences with his dazzlingly quick feet and direct style.

AdvertisementIs he worth the money?

Only time will tell – but Ten Hag knows him well and is prepared to stake his own reputation on his judgement being proved right.

Gary Neville has called the Dutch market an imprecise one – and United have paid the price for that in the past.

While Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy were huge successes after swapping the Netherlands for England, Memphis Depay struggled after his high-profile move from PSV Eindhoven.

But the major advantage United have is the fact Ten Hag has worked so closely with Antony in the recent past. He has identified the qualities he believes can be transferred to the Premier League – and has no doubts about his temperament and whether he can handle the pressure of such a big move.

But there are no guarantees.

If Ten Hag is right, the belief within Old Trafford is that his value will soar in the coming years.

Was he the top choice?

United’s transfer plans have shifted wildly this summer – particularly in terms of their attacking targets.

Darwin Nunez was the striker they hoped to land during this window, with interest in the Uruguayan pre-dating Ten Hag’s appointment.

But they pulled out of that pursuit in the face of competition from Liverpool, preferring to avoid a bidding war.

While it also quickly became clear the player favoured a move to Anfield, it is fair to say he was not considered a priority by Ten Hag.

It’s notable that attentions almost immediately switched to Antony – and but for Ajax’s determination to drive up his price, a deal would have been reached much sooner.

United have since looked at deals for Benjamin Sesko, Marko Arnautovic and Cody Gakpo – but Antony has long-been Ten Hag’s preferred forward – arguably even ahead of Nunez.

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Getty ImagesWhere is the money coming from?

A consequence of Ten Hag prioritising De Jong meant the bulk of his budget had to be put aside for the Barcelona midfielder. Other big moves had to be put on hold, which is why United broadened their search for forwards, with cheaper options identified in the event of securing a deal for De Jong.

The signing of Casemiro has freed up funds, but United have also looked at other ways to stretch their budget.

While the departures of Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard may have been as free agents, they have massively reduced annual outgoings on wages.

That has given United more room for manoeuvre, as well as loan moves for Dean Henderson, Alex Telles and Eric Bailly, which will see their salaries covered in full.

Andreas Pereira's move to Fulham brought in £10m – and United remain hopeful of clearing out more players before the window closes, with James Garner potentially raising another £14m amid interest from Brighton, Leicester and Everton.

The veteran striker usurped Thierry Henry as Les Bleus' record goalscorer against Poland, but it was his fellow forward who stole the show

Olivier Giroud has his record. The leading goalscorer in French men's national team history. He's surpassed Thierry Henry and put his name in the history books. Good for him.

His name will not be there for long, though. On the night when Giroud sealed his place in history, Kylian Mbappe reminded the world that it won't be long before he breaks that record – and many more.

Mbappe provided Giroud with the assist for his record-breaking goal before scoring two stunners of his own in France's 3-1 win over Poland in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Mbappe actually broke a couple of records himself with his second-half strikes. He's the first Frenchman to score four goals at multiple World Cups, while he's also surpassed Pele for the most World Cup goals before the age of 24.

France will now face England or Senegal in the quarter-finals, and with Mbappe in this form, the defending champions will head into it in confident mood.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from the third knockout game at Qatar 2022…

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Olivier Giroud:

Say what you want, but you can't take this one away from Giroud. No man has scored more goals for France than the AC Milan striker. Not Thierry Henry, not Michel Platini, not David Trezeguet nor Antoine Griezmann. No one. Not even Mbappe, at least not yet. His goal here wasn't a stunner, although he has had a few of those in his day. A good finish, though, from an Mbappe assist as a lacklustre France team escaped the first half with a one-goal lead thanks to Giroud's effort. He now has 52 international goals to his name, one more than Henry. Few would suggest he's the same calibre of player, but the record books don't care about calibre; they care about goals. Giroud has more than any other France player and if things go right, he may be able to add a few more by the time his stay in Qatar is over.

Kylian Mbappe:

What else can you say? It's something new every game. For most of the match, this wasn't Mbappe's best performance. He was quiet for long stretches, and when he did pick up possession, he was a bit too eager to touch the ball into space that wasn't quite there. It was like he was trying to play too fast, simply because he usually can. His big moments came when he slowed the game down. His assist to Giroud was inch-perfect, putting the ball on a platter for one of the game's best finishers. And then his first goal saw Mbappe take his time before absolutely smashing the ball past Wojciech Szczesny, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in the process. The third, though, was somehow the best of all. A horrible angle, in-form Szczesny in goal and Mbappe simply didn't care. He just looked up and placed a shot where no keeper in the world could save it. That's Mbappe, isn't it? A player that can dominate games with his speed, his skill or both. He's just so much better than anyone else out there right now. More records and more history are in his future. Good luck stopping him, whoever's next!

Jules Kounde:

We'll start with the chain because, how couldn't you? World Cup last-16 match, biggest game of his life, and Jules Kounde wanted to show off. Good for him. The chain came off in the 41st minute when the referee finally noticed, but Kounde's performance never slowed down. Playing as a right-back, the Barcelona defender basically stays at home and completes a back three. It's a role that seemingly fits this team perfectly, with Theo Hernandez given the freedom to join the attack on the left when opposition defenders inevitably get toasted by Mbappe. Kounde, who mostly plays centrally at club level, hasn't put a foot wrong. He started their second game, a win over Denmark, and has seemingly now locked down that right-back spot ahead of Benjamin Pavard.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Robert Lewandowski:

The definition of being starved of service. It's been a theme for this Poland team, the inability to get going in the attack, and you saw it again on Sunday. In Lewandowski, they have the best striker of a generation, but have no way to get him into the game. He created virtually nothing from open play, mostly because none of his team-mates could get him the ball anywhere near the box. The Barcelona star dropped deeper and deeper, but it was no use. Poland may have a star striker, but they have no clue how to get the best out of him. He got his goal in the end from the penalty spot, but even that was made difficult after an initial attempt was saved by Hugo Lloris. Overall, Lewandowski will no doubt be frustrated by it all as he didn't have the impact a player of his calibre should at a tournament like this.

Anyone in Mbappe's path

Imagine having to face THAT in a World Cup. What can you even do about Mbappe? Nothing, most likely. When a player is in this sort of form and has this sort of skill, there's nothing to do. England or Senegal are next, good luck to them. Both are good teams, and both should feel great about how they performed in the group stage. Stopping this France team, though, may not be possible. Mbappe is a big part of it, for sure, but it's not just him. They come in waves that don't ever stop. France will face better teams than Poland and, at some point, may just have to sweat one out. It'll take a lot for any team to actually beat them, though. Mbappe and co. are just different. This group has won it once before and, with Mbappe leading the way, they'll feel pretty damn good about their chances of winning it again.

Getty ImagesFrance Ratings: Defence

Hugo Lloris (6/10):

Huge save on Poland's best chance, but was sloppy. Still some concerns that he'll be punished one day.

Jules Kounde (7/10):

Good game at right back. Gets a bonus point for wearing a chain for 41 minutes, but loses that bonus point for getting caught!

Dayot Upamecano (6/10):

Didn't have to deal with much.

Raphael Varane (7/10):

A vital clearance off the line that prevented Poland from a stunning opener. Did well to help keep track of Lewandowski

Theo Hernandez (7/10):

Very good on the left-hand side. Wasn't asked to do too much defensively.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Aurelien Tchouameni (7/10):

Was pretty good up until his yellow card. Subbed off to avoid anything silly.

Adrien Rabiot (7/10):

Rock solid once again. A totally different player this year.

Antoine Greizmann (6/10):

Helped spring Mbappe's first goal, but not dangerous.

Everything you need to know about Real Madrid's wall Thibaut Courtois!

Thibaut Courtois is a Belgian professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the Belgian national team. He was born on May 11, 1992, in Bree, Belgium.

Courtois began his professional career at Genk, a Belgian football club, and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Europe. His performances caught the attention of Chelsea, and he joined the London-based club in 2011.

After spending three seasons on loan at Atlético Madrid, where he won numerous individual awards and helped the club win the Liga title in the 2013-14 season, Courtois returned to Chelsea and became the club's first-choice goalkeeper. During his time at Chelsea, he won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and the League Cup.

In 2018, Courtois signed for Real Madrid, one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in the world. He quickly established himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper and has won numerous individual awards and accolades, including being named the best goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League in the 2021-22 season.

Courtois has also been a key player for the Belgian national team, helping them reach the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they finished third. He has won over 100 caps for Belgium and is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

But what are some of the most interesting fun facts about Real Madrid's unsung hero?

Getty ImagesStarted as a left-back

Born in the city of Bree in Flanders, a northern region of Belgium, Courtois joined local side Bilzen V.V, where he played as a left-back.

However, in 1999, he joined Racing Genk, the club where he would go on to make his professional debut, where he was converted into a goalkeeper.

AdvertisementCourtois could've been a volleyball player

Coming from a family full of volleyball players, Courtois played volleyball until the age of 12, when he decided to focus completely on football.

His sister, Valérie Courtois, represents the Belgium women's national volleyball team, while his parents were volleyball players too.

Youngest goalkeeper to represent Belgium

Courtois received his first international call-up in October 2011, making his debut for the Belgium national team the following month on November 15 against France at the Stade de France.

Aged 19 years and 187 days, the Real Madrid custodian became the youngest goalkeeper to play for the Red Devils, a record that still stands today.

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Getty ImagesThe only goalkeeper to earn 100 caps for Belgium

When Belgium took the field against Croatia in their final group game at the 2022 World Cup, Courtois made his 100th appearance for the national team, becoming the first goalkeeper in Belgium history to reach the landmark.

Casemiro is finally back for Man Utd in the Premier League after a four-match suspension but he needs a proper midfield partner for next season

Manchester United solved a long-running problem when they signed Casemiro last summer.

The team had been crying out for a world-class midfielder and fans were getting increasingly frustrated by the much-derided 'McFred' partnership of Scott McTominay and Fred.

The former Real Madrid man has revitalised the team and United must be relieved to have him back for Sunday's visit to Nottingham Forest after serving a four-game suspension as they often suffer without him.

But their midfield problems are far from being solved and Erik ten Hag must find a suitable partner for Casemiro, 31, who can learn alongside the Brazilian and then take the baton from him as leader in the middle of the park for the future.

Christian Eriksen has been a good value signing but he too is 31 and does not have the physique to go the distance in intense matches.

McTominay and Fred meanwhile are decent squad players but if United want to compete for the Premier League title any time soon, they cannot be regular starters.

Marcel Sabitzer has impressed recently and has got amongst the goals but he is also approaching 30 and is not a long-term option.

GOAL takes a look at the midfielders United should be targeting to give Casemiro the partner he deserves.

GettyAlexis Mac Allister: power and flair

The Argentina international has been one of the stars of Brighton's barnstorming season and would be a brilliant signing for United.

He is excellent at winning and distributing the ball and would also be an asset at free-kicks and corners, areas United have struggled to score from this season.

He has also remarkable fitness and stamina and is deadly in the area, which allows him to balance his defensive and offensive responsibilities perfectly.

United are reportedly keen on snapping up the 24-year-old, who, despite Brighton's recent success, is on the lookout for a bigger club to match his ambitions.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesFrenkie de Jong: the one Ten Hag wants the most

United spent most of last summer pursuing De Jong, who turned into one of the world's most exciting midfielders while playing for Erik ten Hag at Ajax.

Ten Hag felt De Jong's passing and creativity would be key to him being able to play the football he wanted to at United and the club even agreed a £71 million fee with Barcelona, who were keen to cash in on the Dutchman to finance their big-spending summer.

However, the club could not convince the midfielder to swap the sunny climes of Barcelona for the rainy north west of England last year.

One year on, the Dutchman has become even more important in Xavi's side and last month reiterated his desire to stay in Catalonia.

But the 25-year-old is still the ideal player for United and Barca's financial situation remains dire, with La Liga president Javier Tebas warning they cannot sign players in the summer unless they increase their income.

If the price were right, United could still get their man.

GettyDeclan Rice: the key to more possession

The England midfielder has stayed loyal to West Ham despite interest from bigger clubs but his time at the London Stadium is surely coming to an end.

Arsenal are reportedly leading the race to sign the 24-year-old but United should try and give them a run for their money.

Rice is one of the top holding midfielders in the world and could run United's midfield for the next five years.

Ten Hag wants United to have more of the ball and Rice would certainly help them achieve that due to his ability to intercept and hold on to possession.

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GettyMoises Caicedo: an anchor for the next decade

The Ecuadorian could potentially rule United's midfield for the next decade as he is only 21.

He has anchored Brighton from deep over the last 18 months and was seen as so vital to Roberto De Zerbi's side that the Seagulls rejected a £60 million bid from Arsenal for him in January.

He is of a similar profile to Casemiro and there is an argument to make that United should be looking for a more attacking player to complement the Brazilian.

On the other hand, his value is only going to keep on rising and getting him this summer would ensure United are in safe hands when Casemiro begins to get beyond the peak of his powers.

The Angel City sensation is heading to her first major tournament, with team-mate Julie Ertz also in after her shock international return in April

There are always surprises when a nation names its World Cup roster – and that was no different on Wednesday, when Vlatko Andonovski named the 23 players that will represent the U.S. women's national team, the reigning world champion, in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

Sadly, injuries in recent months to several key players meant it was already known that a few big names were not going to be on this list. But, as the old saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens, and several players have been presented with huge opportunities on the biggest stage.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from the USWNT roster announcement…

GettyWINNER: Alyssa Thompson

What an insane 12 months it has been for Alyssa Thompson. Last summer, ahead of the Under-20 Women's World Cup, she told GOAL she had her eye on a call-up to the senior national team. Since then, she's not only done that, she's also made the 2023 Women's World Cup roster.

Still only 18 years old, Thompson has been on the fringes of the squad since making her debut against England at Wembley last October. But then an injury to Mallory Swanson in April saw her called-up as a replacement mid-camp and probably forced Andonovski to take an even closer look at her than he already was.

Thompson is absolutely here on her own merit though. Her coach spoke in March about how she would absolutely "make a case" to be on this roster and she has. The forward might be young and raw but that's not a bad thing. She's already shown in her first few months in the NWSL for Angel City that she is ready to impact games, and she could be the USWNT's joker in the pack this summer.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Tierna Davidson

One of the most surprising omissions on this roster has to be that of Tierna Davidson. When Becky Sauerbrunn announced that she would miss the World Cup through injury last week, it felt like it increased Davidson's chances of making the roster, in order to add depth and experience to the back line.

But despite returning from her own ACL injury back in March, and playing plenty of meaningful minutes since, the Chicago Red Stars defender hasn't made the cut. There is a lot of competition in that area of the squad, but Davidson, who was the USWNT's best player at its underwhelming Olympic Games in 2021, will be massively disappointed to be left out.

WINNER: Rose Lavelle

There has been cause for concern around Rose Lavelle in recent months. She has not featured for club or country since picking up an injury during the April international break, and OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey fears that she won't play in the NWSL again before the World Cup.

That she was included on the roster on Wednesday was a positive sign, then. To be without Lavelle and Catarina Macario, another playmaking midfielder who misses out due to injury, could've seriously limited the creativity in the central areas of this team.

Now, it's about making sure Lavelle is back to full fitness properly – especially for that second group game, against the Netherlands.

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GettyLOSER: Adrianna Franch

Another unexpected omission on this roster is certainly Adrianna Franch, who had been included by Andonovski in each of the last four camps. The 32-year-old was part of the team that lifted the World Cup trophy four years ago, but has recently found herself on the bench for her club, the Kansas City Current.

That appears to have had an impact on her international career as Andonovski has chosen to alter his goalkeeper group for the first time since October by instead selecting Aubrey Kingsbury, the Washington Spirit shot-stopper whose sole appearance for the USWNT came in a 9-0 win over Uzbekistan in April 2022.

You can't go far wrong with an all-white Madrid home kit, but which is the best ever? GOAL decides…

There is, admittedly, little to be done with a Real Madrid home kit. The Spanish giants will always wear white, with some sort of accent occasionally thrown in. But that doesn't mean there haven't been some legendary kits worn by Los Blancos.

From the early days of their adidas partnership in the 1980s to the golden stripes of the early 2010s, the club have released some gorgeous shirts. And with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Raul suiting up for the club, there's plenty of star appeal, too.

And so after their new home kit for 2023-24 was released, GOAL takes a look at Real Madrid's best home shirts from over the years…

Getty102012-13: It falls apart under Jose

Madrid's struggles in 2012-13 have been well-chronicled at this point. It was the year when Jose Mourinho left the club in dramatic fashion, making a conscious effort to burn every bridge possible before he departed by "mutual consent" the following summer.

Still, there were some positives here. Los Blancos beat Barcelona three times, signed Luka Modric, and got 55 goals out of Ronaldo.

AdvertisementGetty Images92004-05: The end of the Galacticos

This should have been a memorable season. Sure, some of the famous Galacticos were past their best, but Ronaldo and Raul remained world-class. That Zidane guy wasn't bad, either. Add a prime Michael Owen, and all the ingredients were there for a La Liga win. It didn't quite go to plan, with Los Blancos falling short of Barcelona by four points.

European success was similarly elusive, as Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 to an excellent Juventus side.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images82015-16: Zizou wins the Champions League (again)

Madrid were enduring a tricky first half to the 2015-16 season when they brought Zidane in to manage the first team. And the club legend took over a top-tier squad with aplomb. Los Blancos battered Europe, with the famous Benzema-Bale-Ronaldo attacking trio leading Madrid to a famous 11th Champions League title.

Any other year, and Madrid would have been celebrating a double. However, a rampant Barcelona side pipped them to the league title by just a single point.

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Getty Images71999-2000: Champions League dominance

The 1998-99 season was something of an underwhelming campaign for Los Blancos, and they tried to amend that with a series of signings for the next year. And they did so with aplomb.

Madrid spent big in the transfer market while Raul came into his own as a goalscorer. It all amounted to a team primed for European glory. And they delivered, winning the 2000 Champions League, battering Valencia in the final.

As Bruno Fernandes is named the Red Devils' new skipper after Harry Maguire was stripped of the armband, GOAL ranks United's best captains

It has been a summer of change at Manchester United. David de Gea, the last surviving member of the squad from the Sir Alex Ferguson era, has left the club after a dramatic U-turn by Erik ten Hag. And Harry Maguire, captain since January 2020, has just been stripped of the armband by the Dutchman, who is discovering his ruthless streak.

There were a number of suitable candidates to replace Maguire as skipper, but on Thursday, what was widely expected was confirmed as Bruno Fernandes, who was captain in the majority of matches last season, has been given the role on a permanent basis.

Fernandes is set to join a select and prestigious group of players to have captained United, and as well as leading the team out of the tunnel at Old Trafford and away from home, he will be expected to represent the club and be its most enthusiastic ambassador.

The Portugal midfielder will have a wealth of distinguished United greats that he can draw inspiration from to help him be the best captain he can be. But who is the Red Devils' greatest captain of all-time? GOAL decides…

Getty15Antonio Valencia

The fact that Valencia was chosen as captain at the start of the 2018-19 season was an indictment of the lack of experience and character within the squad at the time. The Ecuadorian was not comfortable speaking English, and while he had been a loyal and reliable club servant, he was hardly a galvanising figure.

Getting the armband seemed to curse the winger-turned-full-back and he made just six appearances that season due to persistent knee injuries. It proved to be his last campaign with United.

AdvertisementGetty14Ashley Young

Young had one of the shortest spells of any United captain. He was named skipper in August 2019 after Valencia's departure as a reward for his loyal service to the club.

However, despite being a big part of the team and starting the majority of matches, he was sold to Inter in January 2020, meaning he had less than five months as captain. Young's sojourn to Italy was a great success as he won the Serie A title along with former United team-mates Matteo Darmian, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku.

Getty Images13Harry Maguire

Maguire was named United captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer five months after his £80 million ($102m) move from Leicester City following the departure of Young.

He was given unexpected extra responsibility when the UK entered lockdown due to the emergence of the coronavirus and drew admiration for his leadership during that difficult time, including encouraging his team-mates to donate to charity while personally delivering food parcels to the elderly.

Maguire also led the team on the pitch, helping them finish fourth and second in the Premier League as well as reaching the Europa League final, although injury prevented him from playing in the showpiece.

But he badly struggled in the 2021-22 campaign as United registered their worst points total in Premier League history and he only made eight league starts last season under Ten Hag, leading to the Dutch manager to strip him of the captaincy.

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Getty Images12Wayne Rooney

Rooney was on the brink of leaving United after being dropped by Ferguson in 2013, but David Moyes ensured he got a new contract with the club one year later. The following season, after the departure of Vidic, Rooney was named captain by Louis van Gaal.

Rooney's time as captain coincided with his decline as a player, but he still had plenty of highlights while wearing the armband, including becoming the club's all-time top scorer in 2017 when he struck his 250th goal, against Stoke City.

Rooney also lifted the 2016 FA Cup, as well as the League Cup and Europa League the following year before leaving to return to boyhood club Everton.