Here’s a thoroughly enjoyable Saturday morning read from Barney Ronay. He dissects the infamous Chelsea huddle before turning to a rather bigger issue: the Premier League’s verdict in its investigation into payments made by the previous Chelsea regime.
We have live football about to begin! And, not only that, there’s a minute-by-minute blog via Jonathan Howcroft. Follow the Women’s Asian Cup final between Japan and Australia in Sydney here.
It kicks off in five minutes and, as Jonathan says: “It is the most significant fixture involving an Australian national team since Ange Postecoglou led the Socceroos to continental glory in 2015. The hosts will have the majority of a 60,000+ crowd behind them but they will enter the decider as underdogs. Japan have reached at least the semi-finals of every Asian Cup since 1986, winning two out of the past three titles.”
So, what did we make of Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man England squad? Fair or not fair that there was no place for Trent Alexander-Arnold for those March international window friendlies against Uruguay and Japan?
There’s a battle going on for Champions League spots in Germany too. And there was a striking result in Friday night’s game when RB Leipzig hammered Hoffenheim 5-0 to jump above their rivals on goal difference and move into third. Leipzig were 4-0 up at half-time in a match which saw Brajan Gruda and Christoph Baumgartner both score twice.
