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Chelsea's new signing Estevao Willian has revealed his nervousness at signing for the Blues at the start of next month.

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• Estevao admits Chelsea anxiety
• Set to join the Blues
• Seals €34m move from Palmeiras

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Palmeiras starlet signed a €34m deal at Stamford Bridge in May 2024 and finally makes the move this summer but has revealed his anxiety at representing a big Premier League club.

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  WHAT ESTEVAO SAID

  Estevao told said: "It's very difficult, it's a dream that I'm going to make come true, knowing that I have to focus here and work. It's not easy, you have to keep your head here. The closer it gets, the more anxiety sets in, the butterflies in your stomach. I'm trying to focus as much as possible here to leave well, with my head held high and through the front door and knowing that I gave my best. Sometimes it's difficult, you imagine yourself in Europe, playing with several other players, with everything that Europe represents, a dream of mine."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Estevao made his Palmeiras debut aged 16 and has been capped five times by Brazil prior to his move to the Premier League.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ESTEVAO?

  Estevao will join a forward department that is stocked with young talent at Chelsea, including Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Liam Delap.

The 2022 winners would be the first holders in European Championship history to crash out in the group stage if they lose to the Dutch on Wednesday

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Home Kit

• Inspired by retro sportswear and Lioness kits of the past
• Features classic English colours in a modern and energetic execution
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

From

£84.99

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Away

Away Kit

• Celebrates the squad's impact on future generations of female athletes
• Features bursts of bright colours accenting a fearless black
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

From

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Goalkeeper

Goalkeeper Kit

• Comes in the traditional green colourway
• Logos centralised for a retro look
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

From

£84.99

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Home

Home Kit

• Inspired by retro sportswear and Lioness kits of the past
• Features classic English colours in a modern and energetic execution
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

From

£84.99

Buy

Away

Away Kit

• Celebrates the squad's impact on future generations of female athletes
• Features bursts of bright colours accenting a fearless black
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

From

£84.99

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Goalkeeper

Goalkeeper Kit

• Comes in the traditional green colourway
• Logos centralised for a retro look
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

From

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England have it all to do at the European Championship after suffering a shocking defeat to France in their opening game. The Lionesses were lucky to only lose 2-1 to Les Bleues, having been incredibly poor defensively throughout the game, and now they need to beat the Netherlands on Wednesday in order to keep their destiny in their own hands. A draw would see Sarina Wiegman's side avoid elimination for now, though it would leave them relying on a result to go their way when France meet the Dutch on matchday three.

So, how should Sarina Wiegman approach this crucial meeting with her home country? The England boss must be thinking a lot about what to do in the left-back position in particular, as that continues to be a serious weakness in her XI. The Lionesses do not have any natural options to play the role, with centre-back Jess Carter exposed badly by an in-form Delphine Cascarino on Saturday.

That's not the only decision Wiegman will be pondering, though, as GOAL takes a look at how the European champions line up in Zurich…

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  GK: Hannah Hampton

  Whatever changes Wiegman makes, there will not be one in between the sticks. Hampton remains England's only capped goalkeeper and she did little wrong on Saturday to shake the faith in her.

  Yes, there was a heart-in-mouth moment when the Chelsea shot-stopper spilled an effort from Grace Geyoro and it nearly trickled in, but she was otherwise blameless in a poor team performance.

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  CB: Jess Carter

  Despite the formation helping England to reach the 2023 Women's World Cup final, Wiegman has only deployed her team in a 3-5-2 set-up once since September of that year, in a friendly against Switzerland at the end of 2024. It was a very experimental line-up that night in Sheffield, with debuts handed out to Ruby Mace and Laura Blindkilde Brown, but it still felt significant that Wiegman chose to change to a shape she seemed to have completely discarded as an option.

  Given what England endured on Saturday, could Wiegman be tempted to bring that system back? For several reasons, it would certainly make sense to throw in such a curveball, though one of the biggest is because it would improve the situation at left-back. Carter has been playing well there in recent games, but was exposed dramatically on Saturday, and she's much better in her natural centre-back role. Her performances at the World Cup showed how much the back three suits her, too.

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  CB: Leah Williamson

  As one of the best ball-playing defenders in this England team, Williamson would make sense as the central figure in a back three.

  It does stop the captain from being able to drive out and break lines with her passes as she is so good at, which is perhaps a reason to argue for her to play on the right instead, but she has ability to adapt and still be influential in possession here, while also being a reliable last line of defence.

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  CB: Alex Greenwood

  Like Carter, Greenwood thrived in a back three at the World Cup two years ago, and can do so again if Wiegman switches to that shape in Switzerland.

  She'd be able to step forward more to influence the attack with her excellent passing and even get up the pitch to support the wing-back regularly, something she's particularly good at given her history as an orthodox full-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of Real Madrid's Club World Cup semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

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• Madrid face PSG in semis
• Trent missing from squad
• Suffered setback in training

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to transfer guru , Alexander-Arnold has missed out on the game "due to [a] setback in training", with Fede Valverde starting at right-back in his place. The exact nature of the injury is unknown at this time.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The former Liverpool star had a difficult debut for Madrid earlier in the competition, failing to make a huge impact during a 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal in the scorching Miami sun. He later helped steer his team into the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup with an assist against Juventus, but it's since been rumoured that he is still not a "favourite" to start for the club. This injury is just the latest in a string of small setbacks.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Alexander-Arnold caused a splash last month when it was revealed he had been secretly learning the Spanish language in preparation for his long-awaited move to Los Blancos, telling reporters: "For me, it was important to be able to do that and it shows that the intent I have got is to come here and have a good start, to get off on the right foot and to achieve something." The 26-year-old has thrown himself into life in Madrid and is committed to making the move work, even if he has to initially fight for his place in the team.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?

  The exact details of Alexander-Arnold's training ground setback remain shrouded in mystery, but it's been suggested that the England international is suffering from muscle discomfort in his right leg. If it's only a minor knock, and should Madrid find a way past PSG, there's still a chance he could feature in the final against Chelsea.

Cristiano Ronaldo did not take kindly to being shouted at by Sir Alex Ferguson, according to a former Manchester United team-mate.

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• Superstar forward did not like Sir Alex shouting at him
• Fiery Scot changed his approach as a result
• Former captain was not close with manager

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former United captain Nemanja Vidić was speaking on , brought to you by Sky Bet, about Ferguson's famous confrontational style. And he revealed that the man whose explosive rants were nicknamed 'the hairdryer' was forced to soften his approach due to Ronaldo's reaction to being on the end of one of his tirades.

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• WHAT VIDIC SAID

  Vidic said: "What he realised – it’s not that he didn’t shout at me because he was scared of anyone, but he realised that with certain players, it would not help if he’s shouting. I think he changed that after he shouted at Cristiano Ronaldo. I don’t think Ronaldo took it well – maybe good for the English and British players, but he was careful with the foreign players."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vidic was named captain by Ferguson in 2011 after Gary Neville retired but the Serbian explained that he did not have an especially close relationship with the legendary manager. He said: "With the manager I never had a close relationship. If he asked me something I would tell him, but I never had that [relationship]. Rio [Ferdinand] or Fletch [Darren Fletcher] would talk more."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Vidic left United one year after Ferguson retired in 2013. And he criticised successor David Moyes for not imposing his character on the team. "I felt like he was insecure with what he was going to do – was he going to play his football or was he going to let us play the football we were playing before. It was difficult coming to Manchester United, having a team which had just won the Premier League and having players who had won so many trophies for the club, for him to say that he was going to play his type of football. We thought that he was going to be more precise with his ideas, but he was more like, 'do whatever you think is right, do what you did before'. That’s something I think that we could have done better, or David could have had more character to state that this was the way we were going to play."

Joan Laporta says there is "nothing to criticise" when it comes to Lamine Yamal's birthday party, with the Barcelona president wishing he was there.

• Wonderkid reached notable birthday
• Questions asked of certain behaviour
• Blaugrana have no issues to address

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Blaugrana wonderkid Yamal has courted controversy on the back of a lavish celebration that was attended by friends, family and celebrity guests. Some of the entertainment on offer at said soiree has attracted unwelcome attention.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Laporta insists that Yamal did nothing wrong and was merely having a good time. Barcelona have no plans to discuss off-field behaviour with another product of their famed academy system, with it important for players to relax and unwind away from the field.

• WHAT LAPORTA SAID

  Laporta told : "It was a private party, and Lamine knows that from now on, everything he does will be under the spotlight and subject to scrutiny. In my view, he simply threw an 18th birthday party – and honestly, what I regret is not being there! It was an extraordinary event, everyone had a great time, and they all looked very sharp. Why did he celebrate it like that? Because they’re 18 years old!"

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Barca supremo Laporta added: "They picked a fun, youthful theme, and he celebrated with friends, entertainers, influencers, YouTubers, TikTokers, and singers. From that perspective, I’m glad he had a great time. It was a private event, and afterward, he showed up to training and worked as hard as anyone. So there’s nothing to criticise – quite the opposite, I congratulate him. I’m happy they enjoyed a great birthday celebration."

Ex-Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has been permanently banned from the Boca Juniors dressing room, with his contract set to be ripped up.

• Veteran defender argued with boss
• One of three players banned from training
• Must discuss termination of his deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The veteran centre-half is said to be paying the price for a blazing row that erupted with head coach Miguel Angel Russo behind the scenes. Cristian Lema and Marcelo Saracchi have also been banished from the training ground.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to , said trio have been informed that they are not even allowed to use the lockers at Boca’s base. They will be forced to work away from the rest of the group if they want to keep their fitness up.

• WHAT BOCA SAID

  It is claimed that a big call “will not be reversed”, with Rojo being informed that he will have to discuss the termination of his contract if he wants to find another team at 35 years of age. He supposedly informed Boca of his desire to move on before the Club World Cup.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  A disastrous run of form is seeing plenty of uncomfortable questions asked of Boca, with unwanted records being broken. Rojo will play no part in efforts to turn fortunes around, with his last appearance coming on May 10.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger and two of his treble-winning team-mates have been inexplicably left off the shortlist for the men's prize

The Ballon d'Or never fails to create controversy. Rather amusingly, Real Madrid even refused to turn up for last year's ceremony after being upset by the just decision to give the prize to Rodri over Vinicius Jr. 

The award is, by its very nature, contradictory, in that it champions individualism in a team sport, while the inherently subjective nature of the voting is always bound to provoke a backlash. Ballon d'Or recognition has become a very important marketing tool in the modern game, though, so whenever a player is the victim of a perceived snub, it generates a lot of headlines.

So, which stars will be reeling after being left off the list of nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or – and its plethora of other prizes? GOAL runs through the most notable oversights below…

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  Bradley Barcola (Ballon d'Or)

  Spare a thought for Bradley Barcola right now. The France international was one of the key players in Paris Saint-Germain's treble triumph – yet everyone seems to have forgotten that fact.

  There's no denying that the winger had a slight dip in form towards the tail end of the season – but he hardly went AWOL for months on end like Cole Palmer. Nor did he miss a significant chunk of the campaign through injury, like Erling Haaland.

  Barcola actually continued to contribute to PSG's success, scoring twice in the Coupe de France final win over Reims to take his overall tally to 21 goals in all competitions. It's also well worth remembering that the winger finished with more assists (18) than any other PSG player.

  However, after missing out on inclusion in Luis Enrique's starting line-up for the Champions League final, Barcola has also missed out on a Ballon d'Or nomination – despite being directly involved in as many goals as Lamine Yamal last season (39 apiece).

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  PSG's centre-backs (Ballon d'Or)

  Nine players from PSG's starting line-up for the Champions League final annihilation of Inter have been nominated for the men's Ballon d'Or – and that's perfectly fair. The only question, in fact, is why were Willian Pacho and Marquinhos overlooked?

  Pacho was absolutely sensational during his first season at Parc des Princes – at the back, in the air and on the ball. It's bizarre, then, to see players like Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham nominated ahead of the Ecuadorian colossus – despite winning nothing of note and having poor seasons by their high standards.

  Marquinhos' omission is even more ludicrous. Few PSG players were more deserving of a Champions League medal than the Brazilian centre-back, who arrived at Parc des Princes in 2013 and thus endured the Parisians' most spectacular capitulations. The lessons he learned during those devastating defeats played a pivotal part in Marquinhos finally leading PSG to the promised land – along with his disciplined defending and excellent distribution (no defender completed more passes in last season's Champions League).

  It's, therefore, astounding that the classy captain of a history-making, treble-winning team has not got the recognition his contribution not only deserved – but demanded.

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  Alexander Isak (Ballon d'Or)

  Alexander Isak has clearly been punished for not playing any Champions League football last season – because there's no other possible reason for his exclusion from the Ballon d'Or shortlist.

  The Sweden striker scored more Premier League goals than Haaland, who has been nominated, while he also fired Newcastle to a first domestic trophy for 70 years with crucial goals in the Carabao Cup against Chelsea, Arsenal and, most importantly of all, Liverpool – who are now desperately trying to sign Isak for a British-record fee.

  The 25-year-old's exact worth is a current topic of much debate, but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to dispute the 25-year-old's status as one of the best centre-forwards in the world right now, making his Ballon d'Or snub genuinely mystifying.

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  Omar Marmoush (Ballon d'Or)

  Eight male players were directly involved in 40 or more goals in all competitions across Europe's 'Big Five' leagues last season. Only one of them didn't earn a Ballon d'Or nod: Omar Marmoush.

  The multi-talented Egyptian attacker tore up the Bundesliga during the first half of the 2024-25 season, netting 15 times in just 17 outings for Eintracht Frankfurt, while also weighing in with seven assists. His sensational form earned him a big-money move to the Etihad Stadium, where he netted a hat-trick in just his third Premier League appearance.

  Marmoush was the only signing Manchester City made during January to make an instant impact on Pep Guardiola's squad and, in truth, one of the few positives of an otherwise negative campaign. So, why on earth has Haaland been nominated for the Ballon d'Or after a stop-start season, while Marmoush has been left off the list despite producing the season of his career?!

Son came on as a late substitute and helped LAFC earn a point after trailing

• Son makes debut in Bridgeview, Illinois
• Comes on as 61st minute and draws penalty 
• LAFC rally for a draw with Chicago

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Son Heung-Min era at Los Angeles Football Club began Saturday as the Tottenham legend made his debut against the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Illinois, just three days after being officially unveiled as the club’s newest signing.

  With the match tied 1-1, Son replaced David Martinez in the 61st minute. The 33-year-old eased into the match but quickly made an impact after Chicago went ahead in the 70th minute. On a counterattack, Son faced Carlos Terán one-on-one, beating the Colombian defender before being brought down in the box as he elbowed the Korean star in the back.

  Initially, no penalty was given, but following a video review, the decision was overturned and LAFC were awarded a spot kick. Denis Bouanga calmly converted to level the score.

  Son nearly delivered the winner in stoppage time, splitting two defenders in the 93rd minute for a clear look at goal, only to see his shot blocked by a sliding challenge. That proved to be LAFC’s final chance in a 2-2 draw.

  The result leaves LAFC on 37 points from 23 matches, while Chicago cling to the ninth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 36 points.

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• WHAT SON SAID

  Son said that LAFC could have walked away with three points, but was content that he earned the spot kick in his first match. 

  "It was a great pass from Nathan [Ordaz], and it was a great. There was definitely contact, and it was definitely a penalty. No doubt about it," Son told Apple TV after the match. "We tied this game, but as I said before, we should have won this game. I'm a little bit disappointed."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Son had three shots, one on target, and connected on eight passes in his debut. Chicago used their previous venue, the SeatGeek Stadium, as Soldier Field was being utilized by the NFL's Bears on Sunday. 

  While the game was not sold out, there was a solid contingent of Korea and Tottenham fans in the stands 

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  This is the first club debut for Son in almost 10 years. His last came on Sept. 13, 2015 as a member of Tottenham – a 1-0 win. He would go on to score 127 league goals for Spurs. 

Barcelona are awaiting a key report before they can register Marcus Rashford, but the club have another plan to get the new signings in the squad.

• Rashford yet to be registered by Barca
• Catalans waiting on key report
• Laporta has Plan B in place in case of hiccups

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona are finally ready to register goalkeeper Joan Garcia following La Liga’s certification of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s long-term injury. However, there is still uncertainty over the registrations of Rashford, Wojciech Szczesny and Gerard Martin. To encounter the issue, president Laporta has conjured a Plan B, according to a report from .

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Per the report, the Catalans hope to resolve this by re-entering the 1:1 financial rule, which would allow them to register multiple players at once. That decision hinges on La Liga approving the sale of VIP boxes at the Spotify Camp Nou, pending an updated auditor’s report. Initially expected by May, the process has dragged into August, raising concerns within the club. If approval doesn’t arrive before the transfer window closes, Laporta has a backup plan: a €7 million guarantee from board members to unlock the necessary salary cap space, which has already been granted. 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Meanwhile, sales of young players and the departures of Clement Lenglet, Ansu Fati and Inigo Martinez have already freed up funds, with more exits, such as Oriol Romeu, Inaki Pena and Hector Fort, expected to ease financial pressure.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Hansi Flick will be hoping for all squad-related issues to be resolved in time, as they prepare to begin their La Liga title defence away at Mallorca on Saturday, August 16.

The Korean star impressed in his first two MLS appearances, yet LAFC will have to retool at the end of the campaign

Son Heung-Min explained it in the simplest terms he could: he was loving every second of his time in Los Angeles. And it's clear to see why. The Korean has taken to the Southern California metropolis far more effectively than anyone could have hoped.

It's not just the jersey sales, which are breaking records. It's not the international attention, the relentless media push, the willingness to do every single interview or the adoration of the L.A. Korean community.

For Son, the real benefit is the one that was admittedly slightly unknown – he has made MLS look very, very easy. In 120 minutes, he has grabbed himself an assist and looked a constant threat through the middle of the pitch. LAFC, after struggling at the start of the season, have hit a fine vein of form, grinding out a tough draw against Chicago and coming away from New England with three points. 

More broadly, this team looks like a well-oiled machine, with Son at the center of it all, setting up others, stretching the play, and putting in the kind of legwork that few other attacking DPs have been willing to show over the years. It's early days, but Son has been the perfect signing for Los Angeles, slotting into a system that he might have been a slightly awkward fit for.

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  The theoretical fit

  The first thing that must be established here is that making vast tactical assumptions based on 120 minutes of work is a pretty rash thing to do. There are too many variables, things that can go wrong. Everything, numerically, must be taken with a grain of salt. But let's extrapolate.

  It is a good thing that the early statistics make for compelling reading and are consistent with the way that LAFC like to play soccer. MLS is an athletic league, and Los Angeles have made no bones in leaning into that. They are, in effect, built around Denis Bouanga, an immensely skilled, very quick left winger, who effectively paces the whole thing.

  They like to hit on the break, and rely on exploiting open spaces in transition. That is why, in fact, Olivier Giroud was such an imperfect fit. Son would seem to be the opposite. He runs a lot. He tackles a lot. He dribbles a lot – but at the right times. In theory, this is the perfect player for this style.

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  The attacking numbers

  And so far, the data supports that idea. Son has played a game and a third for LAFC, and everything aligns with what most expected: he is the perfect versatile attacking forward for this side. His first appearance, a leg-stretching cameo in a 2-2 draw with Chicago, showed some promise – but was effectively a write off. 

  Son came on, ran around a bit, didn't see loads of the ball, but with a decisive burst into the box won a penalty that saw LAFC snag a tough draw. There's not much to be learned from that. That was, effectively, a trial run. 

  But his second showing offered a far clearer picture. Son started through the middle in a 4-3-3, with Bouanga on the left and teenager David Martinez on the right. And Son mostly stuck there, operating slightly left of center but, broadly, playing like a traditional No. 9. 

  WhoScored

  The resulting numbers made for fine reading. Going forward, Son was nothing short of magnificent. He created the most chances in the match, completed 100 percent of his dribbles, and forced two good saves out of Revolution and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner. 

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  The defensive numbers

  But perhaps more important for LAFC was the stuff he did when his side didn't have the ball. The Black and Gold are a ball-dominant side, with the seventh-highest average possession numbers in the league. When it comes to winning it back, though, the numbers are mixed. They are middle of the road in tackles, interceptions and clearances.

  Coach Steve Cherundolo has made all of the right noises about wanting to win the ball back – but his side are bang average at it. Part of the issue is a lack of defensive pressure from the front line. Bouanga is a wonderful attacking player, but his defensive effort is lacking. He is 375th among all MLS players in tackles plus interceptions, with just 20 on the season. He has completed just eight tackles all year. 

  And that's fine. In MLS, you are allowed to have passengers (see Lionel Messi for more). But having two is difficult, and there was a real fear that Son could further disrupt the balance. 

  The reality, to date, is far from that. Against New England, Son was arguably the most effective defensive player on the pitch – despite playing as a center forward. He won the second most duels, was fouled more than everyone else, and won possession in the final-third three times.

  And that doesn't even account for the less tangible stuff: sprints, constant movement, the symbolism associated with the continuous effort of a player making so much more money than everyone else.

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  Some worries for LAFC

  There are, admittedly, some caveats. The asterisk to Son's excellence is the fact that he was playing against a markedly poor New England side. The Revolution are a bit of a mess, lacking in ideas going forward and middling when it comes to their defensive stats.

  Under Caleb Porter, they are a team caught in stasis, and, as things stand, far out of the playoff picture. It's a tough game to take any major conclusions about the effectiveness of a footballer. 

  The other is that LAFC, as a whole, managed to win without being particularly good. There were some fears when Son signed that he would find it difficult to play alongside Bouanga. That worry still makes sense. Bouanga, like Son, is a natural left winger who likes to cut onto his right foot. He doesn't hold up play, link with his teammates, or create space for others.

  Bouanga might be the best inside forward in MLS, but he really doesn't do anything else. He can't.

  That means Son will have to adapt to him. And against New England, he did. Son, in a remarkable act of self sacrifice, stopped doing some of the things he is elite at in order to make space for another footballer. Whether that was an idealistic one-off remains to be seen.