Reece James scores a stunning free kick in England’s dominant win over Latvia.
England overcame a sluggish start to secure a dominant 3-0 victory over Latvia in Monday night’s World Cup qualifier, marking Thomas Tuchel’s second win in charge. The Baltic side nearly stunned the hosts early on when Vladislavs Gutkovskis missed an open goal after a defensive mix-up. England had multiple penalty appeals denied, including one after a lengthy VAR check. The breakthrough came just before halftime, with Reece James curling a stunning free kick into the net. After the break, Harry Kane came close before finally doubling England’s lead, tapping in a precise Declan Rice cross. Substitute Eberechi Eze sealed the win with a deflected strike from the left. Tuchel became the first England manager since Fabio Capello in 2008 to win his first two competitive matches. England now leads the group with six points, ahead of Albania and Latvia, as they aim for automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
https://twiter.com/433/status/1904287944350880194
Raúl Jiménez scores a brace as Mexico wins its first ever Concacaf title.
Fulham striker, Raúl Jiménez led Mexico to their first-ever Concacaf Nations League title with a 2-1 victory over Panama on Sunday in Inglewood, California. The 33-year-old Fulham striker was the star of the tournament, scoring all four of Mexico’s goals across their final two matches. Jiménez opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a header before sealing the win in second-half stoppage time, converting a penalty after José Córdoba’s handball. Panama, who had stunned the U.S. in the semifinals, briefly equalized through Adalberto Carrasquilla’s first-half penalty. The match was briefly paused with 10 minutes remaining due to offensive chants from sections of the 68,212-strong crowd, prompting anti-discrimination messages over the stadium’s speakers and scoreboard. Play resumed without further incident. Jiménez finished as the tournament’s top scorer, surpassing Christian Pulisic, and played a pivotal role in securing Mexico’s first Nations League trophy since the competition’s inception.
MEXICO WIN THE 2025 CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE 🇲🇽🏆 pic.twitter.com/YMWPz55W1C
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 24, 2025
Charly Alcaraz’s £15 million to be activated by Everton this summer.
Everton has shown remarkable progress under David Moyes, going nine games unbeaten in the Premier League and moving clear of relegation fears. With momentum on their side, the club is now focused on climbing higher up the table and finishing the season strong. Looking ahead, Everton plans to make strategic moves in the summer transfer window, with the Friedkin Group prepared to back Moyes financially. The club is expected to offload out-of-contract players while making key decisions on Loan signings. One such player is Charly Alcaraz, who arrived on loan from Flamengo in January and has impressed with his performances. While Flamengo claims the deal includes a mandatory purchase clause, Everton maintains they hold only an option to buy. According to Fabrizio Romano, Everton must pay £15 million to sign Alcaraz permanently, but the clause will only be triggered if he plays five more matches for the club.
🚨🔵 Everton’s obligation to buy clause for Charly Alcaraz will only be activated as soon as he plays 5 more games.
The transfer fee will be €18m. pic.twitter.com/9KD8h1H5F3
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 24, 2025
Barcelona star, Raphinha makes bold Brazil claim ahead of Argentina clash.
Brazil and Argentina are set for a high-stakes clash in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. Brazil enters the match after a 2-1 victory over Copa America runners-up Colombia, with Raphinha and Vinicius Junior finding the net. Ahead of the showdown in Buenos Aires, Raphinha confidently declared his team’s intent to win, even without Lionel Messi leading Argentina. Messi is absent due to a muscular injury, but Argentina remains strong, recently defeating Uruguay 1-0 with a goal from Thiago Almada. The last meeting between these rivals ended in a 1-0 Argentina win, marked by Nicolas Otamendi’s goal and chaotic fan violence. Currently, Brazil sits third in the CONMEBOL standings, seven points behind Argentina. While their qualification is not in jeopardy, a victory would solidify their position and serve as redemption for their previous defeat. A standout performance from Raphinha could also strengthen his Ballon d’Or candidacy.
🔥🇧🇷 Raphinha: “We will beat Argentina, no doubt. On and off the pitch, if we have to”.
Romario: “Are you going to score a goal?”.
Raphinha: “Yes, I’ll go with everything”.
Romário: “F*ck them?”.
Raphinha: “F*ck them”. pic.twitter.com/7K54ur1pO2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 24, 2025
Kluivert shortlisted as one of Man United’s targets ahead of the summer window.
Manchester United’s struggles in front of goal this season have highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements. Both their strikers and wide players, including Rasmus Højlund, Joshua Zirkzee, and Alejandro Garnacho, have failed to make the expected impact. As a result, the Red Devils are prioritizing a new striker in the upcoming transfer window. Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg recently reported that United are tracking multiple centre-forwards across Europe. Meanwhile, Caught Offside sources suggest the club has also been monitoring Justin Kluivert as an option for their attack. The Dutch winger, currently at Bournemouth, has impressed with his performances and is now on United’s transfer shortlist. Bournemouth is reportedly seeking €50-55 million (£42-46 million) for Kluivert, who has been praised for his recent displays. The 24-year-old is open to leaving if a major Premier League club makes an offer, and United consider his price tag reasonable.
Manchester United are targeting Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert as a potential summer signing.
Bournemouth could demand £40–45m for him.
— @caughtoffside pic.twitter.com/pWPVo35ni0
— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) March 25, 2025