Overview of The Totally Football Show on The Athletic
This episode centered on two huge football stories: England’s entertaining but concerning 3-2 home defeat to Spain at Wembley, and Manchester City being found guilty of 114 of 115 Premier League charges related to financial rule breaches. The panel also rounded up a busy international break, with notable results for France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Scotland.
England 2-3 Spain: excitement, but serious defensive questions
What happened
- Spain beat England 3-2 at Wembley in a lively, high-quality game.
- England showed real attacking threat and scored a standout goal, but their defensive structure was repeatedly exposed.
- The panel agreed it was an entertaining match, but one that left major doubts about England’s balance under Thomas Tuchel.
Key talking points
- England were dangerous on the break and created enough chances to win it.
- Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham stood out for England.
- Harry Kane missed a penalty and came in for criticism for a relatively quiet performance.
- James Trafford started in goal instead of Jordan Pickford; his distribution was praised, but the panel questioned why Tuchel changed keepers for such a high-profile match.
- The back line and midfield protection were repeatedly described as too fragile against elite opposition.
- Tuchel’s selection and substitutions were heavily debated, with the panel feeling some choices were overly cautious or simply odd.
Main takeaway
England’s attack looks promising, but their defensive setup still looks nowhere near tournament-ready against top-tier teams like Spain.
Thomas Tuchel’s England: progress or confusion?
The panel’s view
- There was some optimism that England are at least experimenting before the next major tournament.
- But the overall feeling was that Tuchel is still searching for a coherent identity.
- The show questioned whether he is overthinking the role of England manager by trying to force a “style” rather than simply maximizing the talent available.
Biggest concern
- England’s defensive depth looks thin, especially at center-back and full-back.
- The panel suggested the team could become too open if they continue to play this aggressively without better defensive control.
Other international results and storylines
France and Belgium
- France beat Turkey 1-0, with Kylian Mbappé scoring before leaving with an injury.
- Belgium beat Italy 2-0 in Rome in a poor night for Roberto Mancini’s return to the Italy setup.
- The panel praised standout performances from several Manchester City players across different teams, including Gianluigi Donnarumma and others.
Netherlands-Germany and other Nations League results
- Netherlands 1-1 Germany was one of the most entertaining games of the break.
- Norway beat Denmark 3-2, with Erling Haaland scoring twice.
- Portugal beat Wales 1-0.
- Scotland drew 0-0 with Slovenia, which the panel found underwhelming despite some chances.
Players to watch
- The show also highlighted injuries to players such as Benjamin Šeško? No—more broadly, it noted the potential impact of international injuries on club seasons, especially for Premier League sides.
Manchester City found guilty on 114 charges: what the panel said
The headline
- The Athletic’s David Ornstein broke the news that Manchester City were found guilty on 114 of 115 charges relating to alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Core discussion points
- The panel emphasized that this is only the beginning of a long process:
- City are expected to appeal.
- The eventual sanctions have not yet been announced.
- The case could drag on for a very long time.
Debate over punishment
The panel discussed whether:
- titles should be stripped retroactively, or
- the more meaningful punishment would be future sporting sanctions such as points deductions or relegation.
Their shared view leaned toward:
- future penalties matter more than rewriting the past.
- Stripping old titles would likely create more confusion than satisfaction.
- A heavy future points deduction would be a more concrete sporting consequence.
Wider implications
- The decision could trigger further legal claims from other clubs who believe they were harmed by City’s alleged rule breaches.
- The panel noted that this verdict may taint the reputation of the Premier League regardless of the final punishment.
- They also stressed that City supporters and football fans more broadly will now have to live with a period of uncertainty while the appeal runs its course.
Big-picture takeaways
- England: entertaining going forward, but still vulnerable defensively.
- Spain: still look like one of the strongest international sides in the world.
- Manchester City: finally have a verdict, but the story is far from over.
- International football: this break produced several high-quality matches and a number of significant managerial and player storylines.
Final thought
The episode balanced two very different kinds of football drama: a thrilling England-Spain contest that exposed England’s flaws, and a seismic off-field verdict that could reshape how the game remembers Manchester City’s era of dominance.