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How to watch France vs Netherlands in the Euro 2024 qualification stage from the US as well as kick-off time and team news

France will take on the Netherlands in their EURO 2024 qualificationopener at the Stade de France on Friday.

💻 Watch France vs Netherlands live on Fubo in the U.S.

Both France and Netherlands' last international appearances were against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. While France lost in the final, the Netherlands were knocked out of the tournament by La Albiceleste in the quarter-final.

Kylian Mbappe has been appointed as captain of the national side after long-standing skipper Hugo Lloris announced his retirement from international football after the World Cup.

The Netherlands side has also witnessed a change in personnel as Ronaldo Koeman has replaced Louis van Gaal at the helm.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the Euro 2024 qualifier fixture France vs Netherlands, plus team news, recent form and more.

Getty ImagesKick-off time

Date:

March 24, 2023

Kick-off time:

3.45pm ET

Venue:

Stade de France

The game is scheduled for March 24, 2023 at Stade de France. It will kick off at 3.45pm ET in the US.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesHow to watch France vs Netherlands online – TV channels & live streamsTV channels & streaming options

Country TV channel Live stream

U.S.Fox SportsFubo

In the U.S., the match can be watched on Fox Sports and can be streamed on Fubo.

Getty Images/GOALTeam news & squadsFrance team news

France coach Didier Deschamps will miss the services of Wesley Fofana and William Saliba, who have pulled out of the team due to injuries.

Position Players

Goalkeepers:Mike Maignan, Alphonse Areola, Brice SambaDefenders:Theo Hernandez, Jules Kounde, Benjamin Pavard, Wesley Fofana, Dayot Upamecano, Eduardo Camavinga, William Saliba, Ibrahima KonateMidfielders:Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Youssouf Fofana, Khephren Thuram, Jordan VeretoutForwards:Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Moussa Diaby, Randal Kolo Muani, Kingsley Coman, Marcus ThuramNetherlands team news

Frenkie de Jong and Steven Bergwijn have pulled out of the 25-man Netherlands squad due to injuries as Donyell Malen and Joey Veerman have replaced them in the group.

Position Players

Goalkeepers:Jasper Cillessen, Mark Flekken, Bart VerbruggenDefenders:Nathan Ake, Daley Blind, Sven Botman, Matthijs de Ligt, Denzel Dumfries, Lutsharel Geertruida, Tyrell Malacia, Jurrien Timber, Virgil van DijkMidfielders:Steven Berghuis, Frenkie de Jong, Marten de Roon, Davy Klaassen, Kenneth Taylor, Mats Wieffer, Georginio WijnaldumForwards:Steven Bergwijn, Brian Brobbey, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons, Wout WeghorstHead-to-head record

Date Result Competition

17 Nov, 2018Netherlands 2-0 FranceUEFA Nations League10 Sep, 2018France 2-1 NetherlandsUEFA Nations League1 Sep, 2017France 4-0 Netherlands2018 World Cup Qualifiers11 Oct, 2016Netherlands 0-1 France2018 World Cup Qualifiers26 Mar, 2016Netherlands 2-3 FranceFriendly

Netherlands have defeated the former world champions just once in their last five meetings. Their only win came on November 18, 2018 during a group game of the UEFA Nations League.

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Getty ImagesUseful links

France team page

Netherlands team page

Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

Koeman claims Jeremie Frimpong can't defend

Mbappe CONFIRMED as new France captain

The Ligue 1 champions have been busy revamping their squad over the summer, and Luis Enrique now has a much more balanced line up to slot Mbappe into

Kylian Mbappe has never really been specific about what, exactly, he wants to achieve at Paris Saint-Germain. There have been vague platitudes about Champions League success, and generally winning for his hometown club. But when it comes to European silverware, bringing home that coveted trophy, Mbappe hasn't really offered much insight.

He has, in fact, dodged questions on the subject, most recently claiming that: "I don’t know what PSG need to do to win the Champions League, it’s not a question for me. You have to talk to the people who make the team, who organise the squad, who build this club. I just try to do my job the best I can.”

It's ironic, then, that the latest U-turn in what has become a two-year saga regarding Mbappe's future may have left the French champions in the strongest position they have been in the Champions League for some time. PSG have spent 10 years failing in the competition, suffering from poorly-constructed squads, weight of expectation, and, at times, bad luck, to crash out of Europe.

This time, though, there is reason to believe that things might be different, that PSG could force their way to the top of the continental game. The competition's field appears to be weaker than in recent years, and perhaps more importantly, this is a PSG team that appears to be better constructed, defined by a coherent system that just happens to have one of the best goalscorers in football history playing off the left.

(C)Getty imagesAn imperfect player

PSG's Champions League failures aren't entirely Mbappe's fault. It, of course, depends on how you view the game. If you are of the mind, however, that goals ultimately win games, then Mbappe has done his part. Here is a player who, at just 24, has scored 40 goals in 61 Champions League games. If he continues to score at this rate — or improves — he might just end up the competition's all-time top scorer, usurping Cristiano Ronaldo. That 15 of those goals have come in the knockout stages should quell any suggestion that he is unable to perform under pressure (his World Cup final hat-trick should also do away with that notion).

But this sport is played on both sides of the ball, and that's where PSG's problems start. It is far too simplistic to claim that all of the Parisians' Champions League failures come from their attacking players' reluctance to run and press off the ball. Indeed, there are different ways of doing these things, and PSG have never been a furious counter-pressing side in the mould of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Still, for almost two years, the Parisians have had to make up for the apparent disinterest in the concept of defending from three players. While Lionel Messi had an excuse due to his age and Neymar was perhaps a write-off when it came to coaching, Mbappe never really had an excuse for his lack of legwork.

There is history here with Mbappe, too. France were forced to move him to central role in the latter stages of the World Cup due to his lack of defensive work on the left. PSG shifted to a back three under Christophe Galtier, partially to offer extra centre-back cover when their wing-backs were outnumbered.

For long stretches of the last two years, PSG have effectively found themselves playing 7 vs 10 with the ball in play, and Mbappe has to shoulder some of the blame for that. He is still a net benefit — we are talking about one of the best in the world here. But there are undoubtedly imperfections to his game.

AdvertisementGettyBenefits of a Neymar-less team

This is a radically different PSG squad to the one that crashed out of the Champions League in the round of 16 last season, though. Messi is gone, so too is Sergio Ramos, while Marco Verratti could soon follow them.

Meanwhile, it is a rather handsome coincidence that Mbappe's return to the fold came right around the same time that Neymar's move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal started to gain momentum. The pair's conflicts have perhaps been overblown, but there is little to suggest that PSG's star duo have ever been the best of friends.

There is, in some senses, a good reason why. Neymar signed for PSG thinking that he would have sole stardom in the side. Mbappe was brought in just weeks later — ruining Neymar's crusade before it really began. Since then, the two have feuded on and off the pitch, culminating in Mbappe sending sly messages through the press directed at his team-mate.

Neymar, too, is a divisive character. Like Mbappe, he is an immensely talented footballer on the ball. But he has always been disinterested without it, often found peering inquisitively towards the other end of the pitch, watching exasperated team-mates defend. Meanwhile, there are certainly parallels in the sense that they are both significant distractions off the field. In short, PSG wasn't big enough for both of them. And with Neymar gone, Mbappe has the limelight to himself.

Football has always been something of a vanity project for the France captain, more a sport he happens to be very good at than an overwhelming point of passion. Without Neymar around, the onus is on Mbappe alone to make things happen. That can only be a good thing for a player who has never shied away from the big moments.

GettyA rejuvenated squad

But that doesn't mean it'll be easy for the suddenly committed star. Mbappe's paradoxes will not simply go away. Luis Enrique is a good manager, who has a history of clashing with big names. That does not mean Mbappe will remarkably elect to start running off the ball, although that would be a dream scenario. Instead, he likely needs to function in a balanced system, one tactically fine-tuned enough so that any player — not just Mbappe — could slot into a left-wing role with ease.

It's a good thing, then, that PSG appear to have assembled their 2023-24 squad with at least something of an assumption that they would have to make do without their star man. The Parisians exiled him, in one of football's least convincing and shortest shows of strength. But they did enough during his month-long banishment to suggest their new-look side wouldn't need him, at least to continue winning domestically.

The signings look like those of a club looking to revamp and fine tune, not rebuild in the absence of their star man. In attack, they have added Marco Asensio, Ousmane Dembele, Lee Kang-In and Goncalo Ramos. In midfield, they have brought in Manuel Ugarte. At the back, Milan Skriniar has come into the fold — a contender for the transfer window's best value for money signing if he recaptures his old form. Add long-term target Randal Kolo Muani, and perhaps another centre-midfielder to the fold, and PSG will have enjoyed an interesting, perhaps even vaguely exciting summer.

There might not be an obvious tactical thread or archetype running through their signings, but PSG have targeted a mix of young players for big money and older heads on friendlier deals. This should be a hungry group, overseen by a manager who has won in Europe before. Even without Mbappe, there was reason for excitement here. Throw him into the XI, and this goes from a promising team to an excellent one — a good side with a razor-sharp edge up front to provide the goals.

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Getty ImagesHow it can work

PSG have been here before, though. There have been summers with smart signings, hirings of tactically-adept managers, and unbridled optimism ahead of the season. The right names have supposedly been brought in, with good vibes abound. Throw in a fancy new kit, massive shirt sales, a big-money pre-season tour, and the Parisians are perennially dubbed contenders once more.

And it all ends in the same way. PSG usually win Ligue 1, breeze through the Champions League group stages, and then fail in embarrassing fashion in the European knockouts. There are, of course, different degrees of disappointment here. PSG lost in the 2020 Champions League final and fell in the semis the year after. Quarter-final exits, although far from ideal, are nothing to be sniffed at either.

The issue is, once spending skyrockets into the hundreds of millions, knockout stage exits shouldn't be accepted. Yes, other teams around Europe spend big — and invariably win the Champions League because of it. Still, PSG have more money than almost all of them combined. There is a difference between having money and knowing how to spend it. But the Parisians should have won the thing by now.

And this year, as with any, hopes will once again be high. In the past, though, the Parisians have thrown their cash at a collective of stars, with space fillers serving as connective tissue. As it turns out, there is only so much Danilo Pereira can do to make up for the shortcomings of those around him.

Now, though, there's something of a team here, with a superstar to give them an edge. And with some of the usual actors having not qualified for the competition or looking comparably weaker than last season, this could be the campaign where it all comes together.

Mbappe will almost-certainly be playing for another team in in 12 months' time. This is his best chance to win the trophy PSG truly want before he goes.

The Al-Nassr superstar made some bold claims about the Saudi Pro League, and it was no coincidence they came after the Argentine's arrival in the U.S.

Cristiano Ronaldo is, without question, one of the greatest footballers of all time. He's won everything there is to win at club level across spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, along with a European Championship in Portugal colours, while breaking almost every scoring record in the books.

After earning his fifth and now almost certainly last Ballon d'Or in 2017, Ronaldo told : "I'm the best player in history, in the good moments and the bad ones. I respect everyone's preferences, but I've never seen anyone better than me. I have always thought that. No footballer can do the things I can. There's no player more complete than me."

But that wasn't the statement of a man who feels secure regarding his status in the game. If Ronaldo was truly the No.1, he wouldn't have the compulsion to remind everyone whenever he's in front of a camera.

Lionel Messi has never had the same impulse, because he's always let his feet do the talking. The Barcelona legend has two more Ballons d'Or than Ronaldo, and is a shoo-in for a record-extending eighth award at the 2023 ceremony after inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.

Ronaldo and Portugal came up woefully short at the tournament, which likely pushed him into completing a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. Accepting a contract at Al-Nassr to become the highest-paid player ever was the only way for him to steal the spotlight back from Messi.

But the shock element of the transfer didn't last for long. Ronaldo was unable to lead Al-Nassr to the Saudi Pro League title last season, and his performances did little to convince anyone that he is still capable of delivering at the very highest level.

And now, Messi has taken centre stage once again. After bringing the curtain down on a disappointing two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, the diminutive forward took the decision to take on a new challenge in MLS with Inter Miami.

Predictably, Ronaldo has weighed in. But the 38-year-old's latest comments only confirm his standing as a has-been desperately trying to stay relevant.

Getty'Smoking too much Hookah'

Ronaldo made sure to keep himself in top physical condition during his summer holidays, and reported for pre-season duty at Al-Nassr with a spring in his step. But the former United striker came crashing back down to earth after a friendly clash against Celta Vigo on Monday.

Al-Nassr were battered 5-0 by Celta, who finished 13th in La Liga last season – albeit with Ronaldo not on the pitch for any of the goals after coming off at half-time. After the match, the veteran striker attempted to play down the defeat with a staunch defence of Saudi football.

Having seen the likes of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly follow him to the Middle East in recent weeks, Ronaldo told reporters: "I opened the way to the Saudi League, and now all the players are coming here. In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi. In a year, the Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and Dutch league."

Ronaldo was then baited into a swipe at Messi, and he couldn't resist. It was put to him whether he would ever consider a switch to MLS, to which he replied: "No, the Saudi championship is much better than the USA."

It was a bold statement designed to generate headlines, and even Ronaldo will know deep down just how absurd it was. Former Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati midfielder Mike Lahoud described the Al-Nassr star's remarks as "ludicrous" in an appearance on , after jokingly accusing him of "smoking way too much hookah".

And Ronaldo's former United team-mate Wayne Rooney, who is currently in charge at D.C. United, perfectly summed up the general consensus on the matter in an interview with . "This league [MLS] has all the capabilities of becoming one of the biggest leagues," he said. "You can see how Saudi are trying to get certain players, so for MLS to get Messi was huge. How better to show it can compete with the Saudi riches than by getting Messi?"

AdvertisementGetty Images'Continuing to defy everyone’s expectations'

MLS has seen a whole host of legendary players grace the pitch down the years, from David Beckham and Thierry Henry to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rooney himself. The competition has enjoyed rapid growth since its inception back in 1993, and Messi's arrival in the U.S. is the latest step in its natural progression.

The Saudi Pro League is also now attracting some of the biggest names, but it will still be some time before it can be considered as an elite club-football stage. "I’m not threatened by that at all," MLS commissioner Don Garber said of how quickly football in the Middle East is developing at a roundtable last weekend. "I’ve seen it happen with China, and I wasn’t concerned about that any more than I’m concerned about what’s happening in Saudi Arabia, it’s quite the opposite."

Garber went on to explain why Messi's transfer to Inter Miami is so ground-breaking while revealing how high MLS' stock has risen since his appointment in 1999. “The league has significance, it’s got 30 teams, and it’s got a valuation of $15 billion,” he said. “Think about that, $15 billion, that’s the collective value of all of our teams. When I came in it was $250 million. So I don’t think that there’s any look back. It now is ‘What’s the future going to look like?’

“You have heard us say that we want MLS to be a league of choice, a league of choice for players, for fans, for partners, and ultimately for investors. When you have the best player of all time making Major League Soccer his league of choice, I think it’s a real testament as to where MLS is and where it’s going in the years ahead.”

Garber added: “It’s just continuing to defy everyone’s expectations. And at some point, five years from now or 10 years from now, there will be some player who is thinking about Major League Soccer because he saw the success and experience of Lionel Messi with Inter Miami.”

GettyMessi isn't finished yet

It's fair to say that Messi is now winding his illustrious career down, having celebrated his 36th birthday on June 24. But MLS is not a retirement league, and the Argentina international has a huge task on his hands to transform Inter Miami's fortunes.

Miami are sitting rock bottom of the Eastern Conference after 22 matches, and it will take a miracle for them to bounce back and reach the MLS playoffs. But Messi has been joined at DRV PNK Stadium by former Barcelona team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and he's linking up with a manager he knows very well.

Tata Martino coached Messi at Camp Nou in 2013-14 before a two-year spell in charge of the Argentina national team. And after signing a contract with Inter Miami last month, he will have another opportunity to work with three modern Barca icons.

“When we spoke with Leo, I spoke with Sergio, we talked about arriving to have success, to compete and compete well," Martino said after seeing Messi and Busquets unveiled in Florida. "This happens to us even on a personal level. Sometimes we associate the United States, Miami, holidays — this isn’t that. We want to compete… They are not footballers who are going to come here to not compete."

Indeed, Messi had already confirmed as much in his first appearance in front of his adoring new fanbase. “I can’t wait to start training and competing," he said. "I’m here with the desire I’ve always had to compete, to want to win, and to help the club continue to grow."

The World Cup winner may have turned his back on European football, but he hasn't taken the easy option by joining Inter Miami. Messi will have to perform at his best to lift Martino's team, and it appears he will relish the unique challenge.

Messi also had an offer on the table from Saudi Arabia, as GOAL confirmed that Al-Hilal were ready to hand him a €500m-per-year (£435m/$541m) contract earlier this summer. But unlike Ronaldo, Messi remains one of the best players in the world, and he still has another important chapter to add to his legacy.

"If it had been a matter of money I would have gone to Arabia or elsewhere," Messi told when explaining his choice to sign for Inter Miami. "It seemed like a lot of money to me and the truth is that my decision went another way and not for money."

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GettyThe Pro League reality

This is not the first time that Ronaldo has made outrageous claims over the quality and potential of the Saudi Pro League. "I'm not going to say that the league is a Premier League, that would be a lie," he said in March. "I'm surprised by the strength. It has good teams, it is balanced, the Arab players are good, the foreigners give quality.

"Possibly it will be, in five to six years' time, if they continue this plan, the fourth or fifth-most competitive league in the world." Ronaldo reiterated that stance towards the end of his first season in the Middle East, but the chances of his prediction coming true that quickly are slim to none.

According to , the Saudi Pro League is ranked 68th in the world right now, just seven places above League One in England, while MLS currently sits in the 54th slot. The statistics show that Ronaldo is in Messi's shadow once again, whether he wants to admit it or not. The Pro League is not going to suddenly become a top competition with the addition of a few more ageing superstars. But MLS is genuinely now in a strong position to rise dramatically.

After Inter Miami confirmed Messi's impending free transfer last month, the club's managing owner Jorge Mas said: "I think there will always be a before and after Messi when we talk about the sport in the United States. I have a very, very strong-held belief that we can create in North America and the United States if not the greatest league, one of the top two leagues in the world. I cannot overemphasise the magnitude of this announcement.

"Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States… Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win cups and make a difference. I think it’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in the league, the other owners, to seize the moment."

That may also seem like a huge stretch, but it's not as far-fetched as Ronaldo's pitch for the Pro League. MLS already has the history, infrastructure and global profile behind it to advance to new heights, and the addition of Messi will certainly fast-track that process.

Malik Tillman missed out on PSV's routine Eredivisie win over Almere after being punished by head coach Peter Bosz

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USA international joined PSV from Bayern Munich on loan at the start of the seasonTillman has struggled somewhat to make an early impact at the Eredivisie giantsDropped for latest league game after oversleeping(C)Getty ImagesWhat happened?

USMNT starlet Malik Tillman missed PSV's 4-0 Eredivisie win over Almere City on Saturday after being dropped by head coach Peter Bosz for failing to show up on time.

The attacking midfielder was hopeful Bosz would forgive him for the incident, but the PSV boss was having none of it.

"Tillman overslept, so I decided to leave him at home," Bosz told reporters.

"I think there's not a single coach out there where you get away with that.

"He was keen to join the team regardless, but I told him there was no need for it. He will be back in training on Sunday."

AdvertisementThe bigger picture

Tillman joined PSV from Bayern Munich on a one-year loan deal at the start of the season, but he has found it hard to make an impact so far due to the stiff competition for places.

He scored on his Eredivisie debut on September 2, finding the net in a 4-0 win over RKC, but has featured for just 18 minutes in the Dutch top flight so far.

Bosz has so far preferred the likes of Ismael Saibari and Guus Til over the 21-year-old in the No.10 role.GettyAnd what's more

Fellow USMNT star Ricardo Pepi enjoyed a far more successful evening as he netted his second Eredivisie goal of the 2023-24 campaign, firing home his side's fourth late on.

Pepi has now scored three times in eight appearances in all competitions for PSV after joining them from Augsburg in July.

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Did you know?

PSV have three USMNT internationals on their books this season.

Pepi and Tillman are being accompanied by Barcelona loanee Sergino Dest, with the full-back returning to the Eredivisie after coming through the ranks at Ajax.

GOAL looks at how various talents from the continent performed in their club’s engagements just after the international break

Getty.Review of Africans in Europe

Whereas Kelechi Iheanacho helped Leicester City pick up a point at Old Trafford against Manchester United, his counterpart Alex Iwobi’s lack of concentration denied Everton a point against West Ham.

AdvertisementGettyToo Good: Kelechi Iheanacho

The Nigerian was on the scoresheet as Leicester City drew 1-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Iheanacho scored the first goal of the game in the 63rd minute before it was cancelled out by Fred's strike three minutes later.

This was his 36th Premier League goal, with only four other Nigerian players managing more (Yakubu 95, Nwankwo Kanu 54, Efan Ekoku 52, and Shola Ameobi 43).

GettyToo Bad: Edouard Mendy

Mendy was in goal as Chelsea suffered a 4-1 defeat to Brentford at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have now conceded four or more goals in the Premier League at home to a newly-promoted side for just the second time – also 2-5 against West Brom in April 2021 – both occasions under Thomas Tuchel.

It was also the second time that Chelsea have lost by three or more goals in a Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge, after a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal in April 1997.

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Getty ImagesToo Good: Sebastien Haller

The Ivorian forward was involved as Ajax defeated Groningen 3-1 to maintain a four-point gap at the top of the Eredivisie table.

However, Haller was substituted in the 71st minute for Adjei Brobbey as his side won by a comfortable margin.

Sarina Wiegman has hinted at how she entertains herself when not on England duty, after a reporter asked the Lionesses boss about her Spotify Wrapped.

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Wiegman asked about her most played songSurprised reporter by responding with Burna BoyPress conference precedes big Nations League clashWHAT HAPPENED?

It wasn't the type of question the Dutch manager is used to fielding in press conferences, and she seemed thrown by the digression into musical tastes. And Wiegman's answer revealed another side of her character that may have surprised some fans.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT WEIGMAN SAID

"I didn't expect this so I don't know the name of the song," said a surprised Wiegman when asked which song topped her Spotify Wrapped playlist, after the release of the popular music streaming feature yesterday. "But it is the song with Burna Boy and Ed Sheeran. I definitely played that song the most." Who would have thought the Lionesses boss was a big Burna fan?

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Wiegman's comments come as she prepares her team for a crunch match in the UEFA Nations League against her home country, the Netherlands. The Lionesses will be desperate to right the wrongs of the team's previous clash with the Oranje in September, when they were beaten 2-1 after a late winner from Renate Jansen.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WIEGMAN?

There's been plenty of speculation about Wiegman's future recently, with widespread talk about the Euros-winning boss succeeding Gareth Southgate as England Men's manager. According to the Lionesses coach, it is a "matter of time" before a female coach takes charge of a top men's team in England, although she refused to be drawn on the potentially vacant Three Lions role.

Christian Pulisic made his mark with a goal and an assist off the bench, but it wasn't enough to save Milan in a 4-2 loss to Monza.

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Pulisic scores equalizing goalUSMNT star sets up Giroud as wellMilan throw it away lateWHAT HAPPENED?

With both Pulisic and Yunus Musah left out the XI, Milan dug themselves quite a hole, conceding twice in the first half against midtable Monza.

Both goals came just before halftime, with Matteo Pessina opening the scoring in the 45th minute from the spot. Dany Mota doubled that lead in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, giving Monza a 2-0 advantage heading into the break.

It got no better for Milan in the opening moments of the second half. Luka Jovic was dismissed with a straight red card in the 52nd minute, leaving Milan with it all to do and down a man.

Milan, though, did fight back. Having subbed in several stars at halftime, Milan broke through with a goal from Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman was thrown into the fray alongside Pulisic and Rafael Leao, and it was the American's flicked-on assist that teed up the Frenchman to make it 2-1.

Pulisic, then, leveled the match late on, scoring a stunning goal in the 88th minute. His fantastic finish to the back post seemingly earned Milan a split of the points. It wasn't to be, though.

Monza struck back to reclaim all three points, netting the game-winner in the 90th minute. Warren Bondo provided the finish to reclaim the lead before on-loan striker Lorenzo Colombo added another to add insult to injury as Monza stunned Milan in a 4-2 win.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

With the loss, Milan joins Juventus in dropping points this weekend. As a result, the title has been all but handed to Inter, who have opened up a massive lead atop Serie A. As things stand, Inter have a nine-point lead on second-place Juve and an 11-point lead on their local rivals Milan. And, to make matters worse, Inter have a game in hand on both of them as we head into the final third of the Serie A season.

Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT

Pulisic more than made his mark off the bench, but Milan were unable to coast in a match that saw Stefano Pioli rotate the team. That was done, no doubt, due to the club's Europa League schedule, as Milan topped Rennes 3-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their tie with another match in France set for Thursday.

As a result, there's no need to read into Pulisic's benching, as he was sat alongside fellow starters Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao. Pulisic's goal and assist, though, will be a huge positive for a player whose form has taken a slight dip in recent weeks. The left-foot finish to make it 2-2, in particular, was fantastic, as Pulisic placed his shot to the far post to score what should have been the final goal of the game.

Pulisic had largely been held quiet in recent weeks as a resurgent Leao led the charge in attack. This performance will give the American a bit of a lift, even if it didn't lead to the three points Milan desperately needed in this title race.

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Getty ImagesGOAL'S RATINGS

Christian Pulisic (9/10):

Came on in the second half and made a big impact, starting with his flicked-on header to Giroud. That was just the start, though, as Pulisic went on to score a superb goal to single-handedly drag Milan back into it.

Yunus Musah (6/10):

Went all 90 minutes against Rennes on Thursday, so no need to worry about him not getting thrown into this one until very, very late. Once on, he didn't get to do too much.

Luis Enrique apparently “doesn’t like Kylian Mbappe”, with the PSG boss accused of displaying an “oversized ego” when it comes to the star forward.

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World Cup winner subbed in last Ligue 1 appearanceQuestions asked of manager's approachSummer move to Spain labelled a "win-win"Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

Paris Saint-Germain are having to come to terms with the fact that World Cup winner Mbappe may not be on their books for much longer, with the France international seemingly poised to link up with Real Madrid when hitting free agency this summer.

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With that in mind, Enrique took to substituting Mbappe in the 65th minute of PSG’s latest Ligue 1 fixture – despite his side trailing 1-0 to Rennes at the time. That decision has been questioned by many, and Mbappe has now been told that a switch to Spain is quickly becoming “a win-win”.

GettyWHAT DUGARRY SAID ABOUT MBAPPE

That is the opinion of 1998 World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry, who has told : “I think Luis Enrique doesn’t like Kylian Mbappe. He doesn’t like the way he plays and his attitude. Is it because Luis Enrique has an oversized ego and wants to be the star, or because he has a certain Spanish vision of football? I don’t know anything about it. But I think he doesn’t like Kylian Mbappe. Did he hide it well? He has no choice. One time, he put him on the right, one time on the left, a shot in front. There have always been little sentences…Afterwards, Kylian Mbappe can tell him: ‘You take me out, but I’m going to show you that I’m the strongest and that I’m going to make you win because I want to finish well’, and Luis Enrique also has the right to shake him up a little because Kylian Mbappe’s performances are largely insufficient. So, I think it can be a win-win.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

Mbappe, who is PSG’s all-time leading scorer, has 32 goals to his name through as many appearances this season. He is helping to keep his current employers in the hunt for another Ligue 1 title and potential shot at Champions League glory.

Tempers threatened to boil over at the end of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, with Kyle Walker and Erling Haaland confronting Nicolas Jover.

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Gunners prevail in heavyweight encounterEmotions running high in north LondonPlayers & coaches clash after final whistleWHAT HAPPENED?

A solitary effort from Gabriel Martinelli, which deflected in off the unfortunate Nathan Ake, was enough to settle the heavyweight Premier League contest at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners were always going to revel in that success, having missed out on title glory to City last season, and celebrations appeared to go a little too far at the final whistle.

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As City’s players made their way from the field and towards the tunnel, experienced defender Walker turned back to confront Arsenal set-piece coach Jover – who previously worked at the Etihad Stadium between 2019 and 2021. Angry words were exchanged, with prolific striker Haaland also getting involved before members of staff from both sides stepped in and Bukayo Saka tried to act as peacemaker.

WHAT THEY SAID

Pep Guardiola was not involved in the post-game spat, but claims to know what went on and why. He told reporters afterwards: “I know what happened but I won't say anything. They [Arsenal] know it.” Gary Neville, who was on punditry duty for Sky Sports, said of the incident: “Football players don’t like set-pieces on the training pitch, let alone the opposition set-piece coach having a go.”

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Ex-Arsenal winger Theo Walcott added on the potential reasons for Walker and City losing their cool: “We always look at Man City as being very professional and not reacting in situations and that’s where I feel like a nerve has been hit here. He’s caught it there definitely.” Guardiola’s side have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League for the first time since December 2018, while unbeaten Arsenal sit level on points with Tottenham at the top of the table.

Alisha Lehmann hilariously attempted to hit the same pose as she did in the photoshoot for Aston Villa's latest matchday programme.

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Lehmann asked to pose by Dali Poses next to Aston Villa programme Aston Villa play Spurs next WHAT HAPPENED?

The Swiss star reposted a story from her Aston Villa team-mate Kenza Dali, who asked her to recreate her programme pose as she held the booklet next to her to compare looks.

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As she shared the photo of Lehmann alongside the programme, Dali captioned the photo: "Just checking if it's you, @alishalehmann7"

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Lehmann and Aston Villa currently sit eighth in the Women's Super League. However, they have performed much better in the League Cup as they have already booked their spot in the semi-finals of the competition.

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The Swiss star will next be in action alongside Dali when Aston Villa take on Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, February 18. Villa are currently eighth in the WSL table, six points behind their north London opponents.