1 ARSENAL’S LAST 16 CURSE
The Gunners are back in the knockout phase of the Champions League for the first time in ages (2016-17 to be precise), which usually means one thing: humiliation over two legs.
In their most recent showing seven years ago, Arsene Wenger’s men were blitzed 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich – the latest in a run of seven straight last 16 eliminations to Bayern, Barcelona, Milan and even Monaco in 2014-15, with the Bavarians responsible for three separate strudelings. Grim stat: the Gunners lost those seven ties at a combined scoreline of 32-16.
But there’s hope: unlike five of those seven campaigns, Mikel Arteta’s side won their group this season to set up a meeting with (the slightly less scary) Porto. Moreover, unlike the late-era Wenger outfits, this crop doesn’t wilt like a biscuit in hot tea at the slightest sign of danger. They’re the bookmakers’ fourth favourites to lift the trophy for the very first time – breaking their last 16 hoodoo could be the catalyst for glory at Wembley.
2 BELLINGHAM AND KANE'S QUEST TO RULE EUROPE
Brits abroad haven't historically done the national reputation many favours, so it's just as well that Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane - arguably England's two standout players are doing their best to reverse old prejudices. For Real Madrid and Bayern respectively, the duo have been the driving forces behind their teams' trophy ambitions, injecting goals and leadership into squads already jam-packed with international superstars.
Denne historien er fra March 2024-utgaven av FourFourTwo UK.
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Denne historien er fra March 2024-utgaven av FourFourTwo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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NINE REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR COPA AMERICA
Family feuds, Bielsa's return and an Icelandic dentist - it's all been going on ahead of South America's biggest tournament hosted by, er, the USA. Oh, and Messi's going to be there as well...
30 GREATEST PUNDITS EVER
FFT rates the finest opinion offerers in the history of UK television, via Del Boy, Space Jam and Donald Trump...
"TERRY VENABLES PUT HIS FAITH IN ME AT EURO 96 - I COULDN'T LET HIM DOWN"
Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Michel Platini have more goals at the Euros than Alan Shearer's seven - the forward hit five on home soil to secure the Golden Boot in 1996, and tells FFT why he found form at the perfect moment
HOW DID I FEEL AFTER SCORING NINE GOALS IN FIVE GAMES AT EURO 84? TIRED!
Forty years ago, Michel Platini's Euros-record tally propelled France to glory on home soil... and he wasn't even a forward. No player has ever had a finer European Championship - now, in his own words, he recalls it to FFT
WHY ENGLAND COULD TAKE THE HANDBRAKE OFF AT THE EUROS
Gareth Southgate has been labelled a cautious coach in recent major tournament near-misses - in Germany he might just be more adventurous, which brings risks but also potential reward
GEORGIA ON THEIR MIND
A Frenchman, an Englishman and a local genius walk into a Caucasus country to qualify for a first major tournament - is this a joke? Not for Georgia, who are dreaming big
SYIVINHO KING OF ALBANIA
The former Arsenal defender was an unexpected appointment last year, but he guided the Balkan nation to Euro 2024 - and now he tells FFT that he wants to spring another surprise...
CAPITAINE LEADER LEGENDE
Kylian Mbappe wrote his name into history at successive World Cups. Now France's captain and desperate to break his Euros goal drought, can he make it to the Berlin final and succeed where Zinedine Zidane failed 18 years ago?
JUDE AWAKENING
Three years ago, Jude Bellingham briefly became the European Championship's youngest ever player - now, after a superb debut season at Real Madrid, he's ready to make a greater impact
VIVA RONALDO
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal career was as good as over when he was dropped at the last World Cup - instead, CR7 goes to Euro 2024 as their main man once more, aged 39. Will this be the end, and can he make one last pitch to be considered the greatest?