“The headline attraction for a section of fans when England meet Uruguay at Wembley on Friday will not be the players on the pitch, but the head coach in the away dugout. Because this international friendly marks the return to British shores for Marcelo Bielsa. Leeds United supporters who idolised the Argentinian during his 44 months in charge at Elland Road are taking this long-awaited opportunity to acknowledge the impact he had on their lives before his sacking in February 2022. While there will be 90,000 in attendance at England’s national stadium in north London, the pockets of Leeds fans in every corner of the place will hope to use the time to properly say goodbye to an icon of their club. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)
Guardian: Bielsa back in England seeking end to boom-bust pattern after Luis Suárez attack – Jonathan Wilson
W – Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa returns to England, a nation where he found love
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“The day before Spain played the European Championship final against England in Berlin, Germany, in July 2024, manager Luis de la Fuente announced the team would be welcoming a special guest. It was Spain’s most important match in a decade, and Gavi had to be there — De la Fuente called him ‘the 27th player of this squad’. Gavi was not called up to the tournament in Germany because he was injured. The previous November, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Spain’s final Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia. Back then, he was essentially the face of the team, its most recognisable and popular star. …”
“Kees Smit made a winning start to his international career as the Netherlands impressed in the latest game of their World Cup preparations by triumphing 2-1 at home to a Norway team who were missing Erling Haaland. The Dutch, who face Japan, Tunisia and either Sweden or Poland in Group F at the finals in June and July, fell behind in Friday’s friendly in Amsterdam to a fine curling strike from 21-year-old Benfica attacker Andreas Schjelderup on 24 minutes. They responded with a header from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk 11 minutes later, then took the lead early in the second half when Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders finished off a fine, flowing team move. …”
Scissors Kick 