Portugal duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe are showing that age is just a number, while Richards Bay have hung onto the DStv Premiership status. Gary Lemke highlights a few talking points ahead of the weekend’s football.
BUNDESLIGA CLUBS TOP EURO CHART
Last week we touched on how Man City had the highest representation of all English Premier League clubs at Euro 2024. And that Arsenal were second and Liverpool third in terms of players at the tournament. So, that sparked an interest.
What are the top 10 clubs across Europe best represented? Man City at the top? Yes. The next nine though are insightful: Internazionale (Italy), PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen. That’s three Bundesliga teams in the top 10. A good omen for the hosts?
ALBANIA DOMINATE THE LATE (AND EARLY) SHOWS
When Albania’s Klaus Gjausula scored after 94min 22sec to make it 2-2 between Albania and Croatia, it marked the latest equalising goal in Euro Championship history. Although Oli McBurnie might be saying “Hold my beer”, after his equaliser after 102min 07 sec in Sheffield United’s draw with West Ham in January, it is worth watching Albania for the full 90-plus minutes.
They also scored the fastest goal in Euro history, Nedim Bajrami in just 23 seconds against Italy in their opener. Their problem is that they’ve conceded four goals in two games and face Spain next. Gjausula created further history when he became the first sub to score an own goal and a goal in either the Euros or World Cup.
QUESTION: THE EPL/SAUDI CONNECTION
Here’s another question for the true aficionados amongst us, relating to representation at Euro 2024. There are 14 players currently in the Saudi Pro League who are at the tournament. Two of them are Cristiano Ronaldo and N’Golo Kante. How many of the other 12 came directly from the EPL? Answer at the bottom.
PROOF THAT AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
It was Father’s Day last weekend and there would have plenty of celebrations on the Portugal training pitch involving at least two dads. When Portugal beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opener, both Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo played the full match. They became the two oldest outfield players ever at a Euros, ages 41 and 39. Pepe has two daughters and Ronaldo reportedly has five. Their longevity is remarkable. In contrast, England’s new golden talent, Jude Bellingham, is still 20.
🗓 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟮 → 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 🗓
— Vibes Foot (@VibesFoot) June 18, 2024
Pepe (41 ans) et Cristiano Ronaldo (39 ans) sont les joueurs les plus âgés de cet EURO 2024.
𝗟𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲́𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲́ 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁. 🍷 pic.twitter.com/ah6ZqNGwbu
MEANWHILE, OFF THE FIELD …
There are plenty of tabloids, the pre-cursor to clickbait, having their own competition at the Euros. Some of the latest “news” includes the revelation that England fans had to walk through a “Zombie Zone” full of crack addicts and prostitutes on their way to their game against Denmark.
In “news of the WAGS, Kyle Walker’s wife took a £35k private jet from Manchester to Frankfurt, Jude Bellingham’s relationship with a Dutch model might only be a publicity stunt and Serbia threatened to quit the Euros following offensive chants from Croatian and Albanian fans,
England stars were warmly embraced by their wives and girlfriends after an underwhelming performance against Serbia last night... Annie Kilner chatting to Kyle Walker, Conor Gallagher and his partner Aine Kennedy cuddling & Harry Kane kisses his wife Kate Goodland. pic.twitter.com/p4doqFOJX1
— SAM™ (@MCFC_005) June 17, 2024
RICHARDS BAY HOLD ONTO STATUS
While the fixtures for the 2024/25 EPL season were being revealed, the curtain was coming down on South Africa’s own 2023/24 season. Cape Town Spurs had already been automatically relegated after one season in the top flight – they have been replaced by Magesi FC, but Richards Bay retained their top-flight status by winning the three-club promotion/relegation playoffs. Their 4-0 win over Baroka confirmed their survival. Magesi, who were only formed in 2011, are from Limpopo.
ANSWER: SAUDI-BASED BY WAY OF EPL
There are 14 players at Euro 2024 currently plying their trade in the Saudi Pro League who went there directly from the EPL. Ronaldo and Kante are two of them. How many others can you name? Surprisingly, there are only three more: Aymeric Laporte (Spain, ex-Man City), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia, ex-Fulham) and Ruben Neves (Portugal, ex-Wolves).
Official, confirmed. Rúben Neves joins Al Hilal on permanent deal from Wolves for €55m fee, record sale for English club. 🔵🇸🇦🇵🇹 #transfers
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2023
Neves has signed as Wolves player until June 2026. pic.twitter.com/O2nwCRjefX
