Laura Woods: Tuchel Needs Nations League, Kane for Ballon d'Or & Lay Off Littler
THERE’S JEOPARDY IN ENGLAND WITHDRAWAL
I wouldn't like to say it's a case of club over country for any of the players withdrawing from the England squad, because you just don't know what's happening behind closed doors.
But Cole Palmer is the interesting one, because he played 90 minutes in Chelsea's last game, he missed the World Cup and he's been given a second chance by Thomas Tuchel, but they are saying he's got a minor injury.
I think with any of these things, there's going to be a bit of jeopardy attached, because Tuchel has said he will assess people who are in the camps, so it's important to him that they join up.
It isn't fair to question some of those who have dropped out but I understand why people do. I remember the last camp, last season, when loads of Arsenal players pulled out and everyone was having a go at them.
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Comparisons were made to Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams back in the day, when loads of their players used to do the same.
It does make it difficult when you've got a three-week international break, because it puts a significant pause in the training of Premier League clubs – especially the ones in dire straits even though we're only a few weeks in.
It is disruptive but I do think there's a little bit of jeopardy in pulling out the squad.
If you miss your chance, it also opens the door for somebody else to come in and impress. Your position is never safe… for someone like Palmer that's especially poignant.
England to win the 2028 Euros is 9/2 with BetMGM
ENGLAND MUST TAKE NATIONS LEAGUE SERIOUSLY
The Nations League campaign is now super important for Tuchel.
I think there were just so many question marks over the way that he decided to approach the World Cup when we got knocked out, that it’s a chance for him to say ‘right, this is what I’ve learned from this England side and also what I’ve learned in defeat’.
He still stands by what he did and there are a few people who also agree with him, who think that actually he did make the right choices in the tournament.
But, yeah, this is a good chance for him to show what he’s learned. I think what you learn in defeat is quite important for managers and players – what they learn in defeat is almost more important than what they learn when they win things. They’re proper lessons.
It’s also a big opportunity to win back some of the England crowd, who he probably lost a bit of trust from due to what happened at the World Cup.
He was brought in to win and has that reputation so he’ll have his own personal pride at stake here too – he’s not going anywhere, the FA is backing him at least until the next Euros, so if he got some goodwill with a good performance in the Nations League it’d go a long way.
And for this first game to be against Spain is massive. Euros champions, World Cup champions… it’s a huge, huge test.
They’re not going to want to mess it up or put out a subpar or experimental team.
Everything that Thomas has learned now has to be put in place to create a really good England performance.
England to win the Nations League is 9/2 with BetMGM
ARSENAL DEFEAT NOT END OF WORLD
That Brighton defeat was obviously pretty embarrassing.
It was really, really disappointing to watch and the scoreline probably flattered Arsenal a little bit.
They had two shots on target, which is pretty pathetic, but in a way there are pros and cons to the break being when it is and how long it is.
You get the psychological break of being able to go again and actually analyse everything that's happened properly – Mikel Arteta can go through it all.
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The people who are responsible for that probably aren't there, because they've got so many players away on international duty, so Arteta's going to have to sit there and ponder it really hard. Then he's going to have to wait a long time to properly put those things in place and turn the result around.
However, I don't think it's the end of the world. Arsenal have had a really good start, with four wins in the league and two in other competitions before a slip-up like this.
It just always seems to be Brighton! No matter when it is or who the manager and players are. But, look, I'm not massively worried.
I actually think a defeat like this is quite good grounding for them, just to remind them how difficult the Premier League is and that, despite being champions, no game is a gimme and you can slip up at any time and get absolutely hammered.
Arsenal to win the Premier League is 11/10 with BetMGM
INTERNATIONAL BREAK SUITS SPURS
The team that is going to benefit the most from this break is Tottenham.
The break is a pause in momentum for a lot of teams – but Spurs don't have any momentum, so that doesn't matter! The only momentum they have is that they've just scored their first couple of Premier League goals.
James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Destiny Udogie will probably benefit from the break, too, in terms of their fitness and coming back from injury. Sometimes, you've got to think of it like that and take those kinds of positives.
Roberto De Zerbi may also need to sit in a dark room for a while and think about everything that's happened over the last couple of months, because it's been pretty brutal for him.
So, yeah, Spurs will probably benefit most from the break whereas a team like Brighton probably won't because they want to ride their own momentum after a fantastic start to the season but now can't because of this massive gap in the schedule.
Spurs are 7/1 to be relegated with BetMGM
WHY KANE DESERVES BALLON D’OR
For me, and not just because I'm English, I would love Harry Kane to win the Ballon d'Or.
We haven't had an English winner since Michael Owen in 2001. To not have a winner for that long… it just feels right that it would be Kane, who’s been absolutely exceptional since joining Bayern Munich.
Last season, he won three domestic trophies and the European Golden Boot and played in the World Cup semi-finals, with England finishing third in the end.
His numbers are just ridiculous. The goals he's been scoring since going over there, and especially last year, put him right up there amongst Europe's elite.
He had so many people taking away from his achievements because he hadn't actually won anything at Spurs. It never took away from how exceptional a player he is, but we know how important trophies are for the nominees.
So there would be something really sweet in the fact that he's taken the plunge, gone to Bayern, done it in Germany and put himself in this really strong position to win the Ballon d'Or.
I know Lamine Yamal has been incredible but, for me, it's Kane. To say it would be amazing for him would be an understatement.
And for English sport, not just English football, that would be just such a monumental achievement in a landscape that’s been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the years.
Harry Kane to win the Ballon d’Or is 3/5 with BetMGM
CROWDS NEED TO LEAVE LITTLER ALONE
I saw Luke Littler’s interview suggesting he might not return to certain locations after the World Series of Darts Finals and what happened with him and the crowd over there in Amsterdam.
Darts is such a funny sport sometimes.
In one way you’re thinking ‘look, don’t incite the crowd’ because, if you do that, you’re not going to win… it’s your voice versus theirs and you’re the one who’s got to pay attention and play.
I remember seeing Mervyn King put earplugs in, Gerwyn Price as well. Loads of them do it. These are just not battles you’re going to win.
But I do think it raises the question of what exactly we’re doing in darts. There are people who enjoy darts and love darts who will say ‘this is the sport, this is what happens sometimes’.
But it’s also a tight arena a lot of the time, with the audience right there. You can’t ignore them. You can’t block them out.
We’ve also got to remember Luke is still a youngster and still learning his way.
When you get so hyped up from a young age by the crowd, the media and basically everyone that works in darts, you’re almost given a false sense of security.
I’ve said this before but there is an inevitable crash that comes when the crowd decide to bring you down or decides they don’t like something you’ve said.
There is a huge place – and always should be a huge place – for personalities in sport. If we start punishing them for everything they say, we’re not going to get them anymore.
Littler needs to be protected at all costs. I don’t like the crowds doing it – it’s unfair, unsportsmanlike and very awkward to watch as well.
They’re there to entertain you. Let them play darts.
Luke Littler to win the World Grand Prix is 8/13 with BetMGM
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
