Might this week end up being seen as a watershed in the game? Not for England's defeat to Senegal, but the potential long-term effects of the new Club World Cup. A lot of clubs are already irritated they aren't involved, even though their managers and players would rather the summer off. They are just sides of a tournament with a lot of strands to it...

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Written by Miguel Delaney

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The two sides of the new tournament

The Club World Cup has caused a lot of intense political intrigue, not least about how it came to be, and what it might mean for the future. More tournaments like this? More of the Club World Cup. You can read about that side here. There's also the pure football side, given that even the tournament's critics say the competition is a good idea. While it would usually be dictated by how the 12 European clubs are so much wealthier than the rest, there are numerous factors that might cover the gap this summer. You can read about them here. 

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The poignant mystique of Messi, and a modern Madrid

The Club World Cup also has a lot of storylines to it, not least how Lionel Messi remains the face. While that has brought a lot of focus on the business side and his impact, I have done a piece here on what he is really about, which is football in a way that no one else has played the game.  I actually find it quite sad now to watch the many, many highlights as it's already almost gone - and that after 20 years. Very much in the present and the future, Florentino Perez has finally acknowledged the need for modern coaching at Real Madrid. But can club legend Xabi Alonso really impose that at a club notoriously resistant to such managers... and can he do it in three days before the Club World Cup. That is discussed here.

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Miguel's insights

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Tuchel takes stock as Martinez stakes his claim

England's first ever defeat to an African side through that 3-1 loss to Senegal has brought new weight on Thomas Tuchel, but those close to the camp aren't too concerned about any of that. They compare it to the 4-0 defeat to Hungary in June 2022, and how the players were by that point just exhausted. The feeling was that everyone just needs a break. As such, it's almost seen as inevitable that a friendly and a qualifying game against Andorra will bring a performance like this. If England still look someway short of Nations League winners Portugal, Roberto Martinez possibly got a well-timed win. There are increasing murmurs that Jose Mourinho is being lined up for the 2026 World Cup, once the next federation election has taken place. If that doesn't happen for Mourinho, Italy has been mooted as a possibility. As regards other managerial changes, Daniel Levy finally took a decision on Ange Postecoglou, which many consider harsh following the Europa League win. The word is that the Tottenham Hotspur chairman had actually been considering this as early as September.

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United face competition as Arsenal face a stand-off

Manchester United have been looking at Emiliano Martinez, but they would only move for a goalkeeper once a lot of other positions have been sorted first. The club do feel in a better direction, as there looks set to be considerable movement on sales. They have just found more competition for main targets. Tottenham's hiring of Thomas Frank now means they feel they have a good chance of Bryan Mbeumo given the Brentford connection, while Chelsea are now considering Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres again. That would be quite a blow to United given they already lost Delap to Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea want an array of attackers at different stages. Arsenal are now more focused on Benjamin Sesko but a stand-off has developed with Leipzig over the price. The German club missed out on the Champions League so want maximum value, and at least the equivalent of the release clause. Arsenal are aware that Leipzig are under a certain pressure in that regard, so holding firm to try and get a lower price. Sesko himself does want to go to Arsenal. It does mean that could run a bit.

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Miguel's dispatches

There will be no main newsletter next week as I'm off. My last game of the official season actually ended up being Andorra-England, which was quite a way to close it. There are a lot of caveats to the performance, as discussed above, but it was still striking how far England seemed off the Nations League final four right now. With the year countdown to the World Cup now having officially begun, Tuchel has so much work to do.

Player of the week

MIGUEL'S BIG WEEKLY CALL

Paris Saint-Germain to win the Club World Cup. Unlike all of the other European sides, who have this huge financial advantage over the rest of the field, they look so fresh.

Every week I'll make one prediction or talking point for the week. Feel free to email in with thoughts.

Since 1992, 51 clubs have featured in the Premier League, but 14 have never supplied a player to any England tournament squad. Name the 14. Note: this actually isn't as difficult as it sounds, even though the squads obviously don't have to just apply to tournaments after 1992. As one giveaway, Norwich City aren't one of the answers - just about - as they had Chris Woods in 1986 World Cup squad, even though he went to Rangers that summer.

(You can find out the answers here. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too)

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