Manchester City take on rivals Manchester United in a replay of their FA Cup final encounter, this time in the Community Shield, as France take aim at Olympic gold.
MANCHESTER DERBY SAYS NEW SEASON IS HERE
If it feels like a long time it’s because it has been three months – 95 days to be exact – from the last ball kicked in the 2023/24 English Premier League and the start of the 2024/25 new season. Well, almost the start. This weekend the two Manchester clubs, City and United, go head-to-head for the annual Community Shield, always the sign the league season is about to kick off.
United are there because they won the FA Cup, while City booked their spot owing to their title success. United have won a record 17 times out of 21 appearances, while City are appearing in their seventh Community Shield. The clubs in the Manchester sandwich are Arenal (17 times), Liverpool (16), Everton (9) and Tottenham (7).
SIMPSON DUCKS THROUGH BOXING ROPES
Professional footballers often engage in a bit of pushing and handbags throwing, but now a former English Premier League player wants to see if he has a future in the actual boxing ring.
The chances of Danny Simpson resembling a pro boxer might be stretching things too far, but the 37-year-old steps into the ring against a YouTuber in Dublin at the end of August. Simpson played a handful of games for Man United before joining Newcastle, QPR and Leicester, where he won an EPL medal after their famous 2015/16 title-winning campaign.
KSI tops HUGE night in Dublin Aug 31 🇮🇪
— Misfits Boxing (@MisfitsBoxing) August 7, 2024
HS TikkyTokky takes on George Fensom, Danny Aarons takes on EPL winner Danny Simpson and KSI performs an exclusive music set when Misfits Boxing comes to Ireland ☘️@PrimeHydrate | @KickStreaming pic.twitter.com/CcjLbIKLfz
… WHILE YOUNG MILLS IS ALSO A FIERY CHARACTER
Speaking of aggressive streaks in professional footballers, the son of a former recognisable EPL player known for his short fuse has shown he has inherited his dad’s fighting streak. George Mills is good enough to represent Great Britain at the Olympics, and he found himself in a rough 5000m heat at the Stade de France. He collided with a rival and was one of four athletes to hit the floor. Afterwards, he angrily confronted the athlete who had caused the collision – but later apologised for the outburst. Like father, like son then.
Furious George Mills CONFRONTS French rival after mass collision 🚨😡 pic.twitter.com/fIkHn2qkMb
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) August 7, 2024
CHELSEA CONTINUE THEIR SPENDING SPREE
There still seems to be a scattergun approach to Chelsea’s transfer policy. See it, buy it, perhaps? It’s like playing Monopoly with someone who buys everything they land on. This latest transfer window has seen Todd Boehly write out cheques for seven more players, taking the total number on Chelsea’s books to 44. They have seven goalkeepers. Conor Gallagher is a rare departure, costing Atletico Madrid £ 33.7 million for the first-team regular who is from the Chelsea academy.
NOW FRANCE GET SHOT AT OLYMPIC GOLD
The French crowds have been amazing at the 2024 Paris Olympics and have felt like an extra team player across many sports. The men’s rugby sevens benefitted when winning gold and the men’s footballers get the opportunity to do the same.
They have been the best team in the men’s tournament so far and face Spain in the final. The Olympic format is for under-23s with three older players allowed. Interestingly, Egypt beat Morocco are in the playoff for the bronze medal, which highlights their emergence as Africa’s leading lights going forward. France must be favourites for gold. They’ve conceded one goal in five games (against Egypt) while scoring 11. It will be a popular scoreline prediction, but 2-1 to France anyone?
Spain & France will compete for the Olympic Gold medal this time. The last time a European country won an Olympic Gold in Men's Football was in 1992. LOOOOOOOL! pic.twitter.com/T4pesYPbgG
— Revenant (@HereHeIsAgain) August 8, 2024
FODEN’S SON (5) BURNS MIDNIGHT CANDLE
I had to rub my eyes and read this again: “Phil Foden has been pictured posing with his son Ronnie in a post on the five-year-old’s Instagram just days after neighbours complained about a late-night kids’ party at the England star’s £3m Cheshire mansion.
The post, which racked up 400,000 likes, features a number of different poses from the pair. Ronnie boasts 4m followers on Instagram. The caption reads: ‘When life gives you lemons’.” Wait, what? Man City star Phil Foden, 24, has three kids, one of which is a five-year-old with an Instagram account and 400,000 followers. And stages a kids party that goes on until after midnight? Can the season just begin already.
Phil Foden with his son Ronnie Foden ⭐️🩵 pic.twitter.com/aVm8124urd
— Man City Kippax🏆 (@ManKippax) August 8, 2024
