Portuguese coaching icon Ruben Amorim is set to return to management at AC Milan, less than six months after his tumultuous dismissal from Manchester United, marking a significant milestone for Portuguese tactical influence in Europe's elite leagues.
Amorim Secures Milan Return After Manchester United Collapse
In a development closely watched by Portuguese football fans and Manchester United supporters alike, Ruben Amorim has agreed to take the reins at AC Milan, replacing the dismissed Massimiliano Allegri. The appointment comes less than a year after Amorim's ill-fated tenure at Old Trafford ended in January 2026, a dismissal that left the Portuguese tactician temporarily sidelined from elite management.
AC Milan, owned by American investment firm RedBird Capital under Gerry Cardinale, are awaiting final board approval for the deal. Amorim will sign an initial two-year contract running until June 2028, with the option to extend for a third season. His compensation package includes a base salary of €3.5M to €4M per season, supplemented by performance bonuses tied to Champions League qualification and silverware.
The move is also financially advantageous for Manchester United, as Amorim's new employment at Milan significantly reduces the compensation package the English club owed following his premature dismissal. United had been obligated to pay out the remainder of his contract, a liability now substantially diminished.
Amorim's task is formidable: Milan finished fifth in Serie A during the 2025-2026 season, missing out on Champions League qualification—a failure that cost Allegri his job. The Portuguese coach, who built his reputation with Sporting CP before his United move, will need to quickly restore the Rossoneri to Italy's elite and European competition.
For Portuguese expatriates and football followers in Portugal, Amorim's appointment represents a significant milestone. His presence in Serie A adds another high-profile Portuguese coach to Italy's top flight and ensures continued international visibility for Portuguese tactical thinking in one of Europe's most demanding leagues.
Cape Verde Stuns Spain in Historic World Cup Debut
The Spanish national team opened their Group H campaign with a remarkable 0-0 stalemate against Cape Verde on June 15, a result that sent shockwaves through the football world and left Madrid's sports press in collective despair. The draw—secured by a defensive masterclass from the Atlantic island nation making its first-ever World Cup appearance—ranks among the biggest upsets in tournament history.
Spanish daily Marca called it "a disaster to begin with," describing the team as "unrecognizable, without football, ideas, or resources." The paper drew unfavorable comparisons to Spain's 2022 loss to Morocco in Qatar, noting this was "possibly worse, because it was against Cape Verde, arguably the most limited squad at the World Cup."
AS deployed the term "Petardazo"—a Spanish colloquialism meaning both "explosion" and "humiliating failure"—while El País lamented the inability to break down a "humble" opponent despite dominating possession. The common thread across coverage: Spain's slow ball circulation and lack of cutting edge left them toothless against a side organized in a compact defensive block.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha emerged as the hero, earning international acclaim for a series of crucial saves. British newspaper The Guardian declared Cape Verde "the happiest place on earth right now," while the BBC labeled the result "the biggest story of the World Cup so far," emphasizing that the nation "deserved every second of that point."
Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport praised the "defensive concentration" of the Cape Verdeans, adding weight to the narrative that this was no fluke but rather a tactical triumph executed by a well-drilled underdog.
Spain now face mounting pressure ahead of their next fixture in Group H, with qualification no longer a foregone conclusion.
England Gambles on Injured Saka for Croatia Opener
England national team manager Thomas Tuchel faces a delicate balancing act as he prepares to deploy Bukayo Saka in the opening match against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium, despite the Arsenal winger carrying a persistent Achilles tendon injury since March.
Tuchel confirmed in early June that Saka is "not 100%" and "very unlikely to be at maximum capacity" when the tournament kicks off. The 24-year-old has been unable to train on consecutive days, a clear indicator of the injury's severity. Despite this, Saka has declared himself "ready to play" and views his participation as a calculated "gamble."
The winger played through pain during Arsenal's triumphant 2025-2026 Premier League title campaign and their run to the Champions League final, raising questions about the long-term wisdom of rushing him into World Cup action. England's medical staff have adopted a management strategy focused on "building" Saka's fitness gradually rather than seeking full recovery before the tournament.
For Arsenal supporters in Portugal and English expatriates following the national team, Saka's situation epitomizes the tension between club commitments and international duty. His injury history—including ankle, groin, and calf problems in recent seasons—suggests this is not an isolated concern but part of a broader pattern of physical strain.
England's reliance on Saka, one of their most creative attacking outlets, makes his availability crucial against a Croatian side that reached the 2018 World Cup final and remains a technically accomplished opponent. The match kicks off at 21:00 Lisbon time on Wednesday.
France Face Senegal in Group I Heavyweight Clash
The French national team, ranked 3rd in the FIFA World Rankings and among the tournament favorites, open their campaign against Senegal tonight at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey at 20:00 Lisbon time. The fixture carries historical weight: Senegal produced one of the greatest World Cup shocks in 2002 when they defeated France 1-0 in the tournament opener.
Manager Didier Deschamps, coaching his final World Cup before stepping down, commands a squad brimming with talent, led by Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. Analysts give France a 76.1% probability of topping Group I and a 53.1% chance of reaching the semifinals, making them genuine contenders for a third World Cup title.
Senegal, ranked 14th globally and coached by Pape Thiaw, enter as African football's standard-bearers, aiming to surpass their 2002 quarter-final appearance. The team's defensive solidity—anchored by Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and veteran center-back Kalidou Koulibaly—combined with attacking threats like Sadio Mané and Nicolas Jackson, make them a dangerous proposition.
Group I, which also includes Norway (featuring Erling Haaland) and Iraq, has been labeled a "group of death" by football pundits. For Portugal-based fans with French or Senegalese connections, tonight's match offers the tournament's first genuine blockbuster—a clash between European aristocracy and African ambition that could set the tone for both nations' campaigns.
