Football will eventually return following the coronavirus pandemic, but it could look a little different.
The sport s leading competitions have been suspended amid the global crisis, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino this week suggested the pause represented an opportunity to reform football .
Perhaps we can reform football by taking a step backwards, Infantino told Gazzetta dello Sport. [There would be] fewer but more interesting competitions, maybe fewer teams but for a better balance, fewer but more competitive matches to preserve players health.
But what could post-coronavirus football look like? What must remain? What should disappear?
Five Stats Perform writers have put forward their suggestions for how the sport can move forward.
NO MORE …
Cristiano Ronaldo achieved another milestone in his illustrious career by scoring his 500th career club goal in Real Madrid s 2-0 Club World Cup semi-final win over Club America.
The Portugal international had endured a frustrating outing in Yokohama for much of the game, hitting the post with one header and then somehow missing a gaping goal when unmarked inside the six-yard box.
He was not to be denied, however, and with the last meaningful touch of the game he received a pass from James Rodriguez and slotted home.
There appeared to be some confusion over whether the goal would stand, with the official checking the Video Assistant Referee system for a potential offside, but replays showed Ronaldo had timed his run perfectly.
Ronaldo had been stuck on …
Alvaro Morata must improve his condition to be ready for the new Premier League season, believes Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
Club-record signing Morata made his first start for Chelsea in a 2-1 International Champions Cup defeat to Inter in Singapore on Saturday, with Stevan Jovetic and Ivan Perisic on target for the Serie A side before Geoffrey Kondogbia s comical own goal.
The striker, who joined from Real Madrid for a reported £70million fee, started on the left of a front three with Michy Batshuayi playing down the middle, but the Spain international struggled to make an impression.
And Conte accepted Morata has work to do on his fitness, with the Community Shield against Arsenal set to get Chelsea s campaign under way on August 6.
Morata is just s…
Paul Pogba says it is a joy to play with Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United.
The World Cup winner has made an impressive return from injury in the past five weeks, scoring in the win over Milan and registering assists against Brighton and Hove Albion, Tottenham and Granada.
Playing alongside Fernandes for United has been a particular thrill for Pogba since the Portugal international joined him at Old Trafford last year.
Pogba says Fernandes can do everything and is delighted with how their understanding has developed on the pitch.
I enjoy playing with Bruno, Pogba said to MUTV. He is someone who understands the game and understands the movement that can give you a beautiful pass.
He can finish too. He is all over the place, he can do everythin…
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has no plans to alter his personality in the wake of Pep Guardiola s suggestion that he is shy and shows him too much respect .
Talented teenager Foden has continued to remain on the periphery of City s first team this season, with Guardiola having an enviable battery of attacking midfielders that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and David Silva.
Last month Guardiola said Foden who has made just three Premier League starts in his career to date and played only 10 minutes this term needs to be more assertive and start acting like an established member of City s first-team squad given he has been around the group since making his senior debut in 2017.
However, the 19-year-old disagrees with Guardiol…
Prediction: France win
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We re into the nitty gritty of the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the semi-final stage is now upon us. After starting with 32, we re down to just four nations who all believe they have a realistic chance of going all the way and winning the big one. Today, we ll be looking at the second of the two semis as France aim for a second straight WC final when they lock horns with underdogs Morocco.
France
The reigning champions of world football have made their way back to the top or, at least, they almost have. Very few national teams have been able to successfully retain this title but Les Bleus are on their way to doing just that, despite hitting a few roadblocks along the way. They re the favourites, but they need …
It s June 25, 2020. Thousands of Liverpool fans have ignored government advice as they gather at Anfield for a very special occasion – the celebration of a first league title in 30 years.
Despite it looking a certainty for months, many Reds fans hadn t allowed themselves to be drawn in by the hysteria too early for fear of more heartache, but Chelsea s 2-1 win over Manchester City in London meant they had to wait no longer.
In the period between their two most recent top-flight titles – the last one coming even before the establishment of the Premier League – bitter rivals Manchester United lifted the trophy no fewer than 13 times.
But the title win was made even more significant by the manner of it, their dominance leaving everyone else well behind in the …
Joelinton s close-range finish gave Newcastle United a 1-0 aggregate lead in their EFL Cup semi-final tie against Southampton.
The Brazilian s 73rd-minute goal settled Tuesday s first leg at St Mary s Stadium in Newcastle s favour though Southampton, who had Duje Caleta-Car sent off late on, had an equaliser disallowed.
Joelinton had a goal contentiously ruled out for handball in the first half and then missed a glorious chance shortly after the restart, but atoned when he converted Alexander Isak s cross.
VAR denied former Newcastle striker Adam Armstrong a leveller less than four minutes later, with Southampton s hopes further dented when Caleta-Car picked up a second booking.
Joe Willock wasted two good opportunities early on, hitting a wild effort ove…
Denzel Dumfries scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner as Inter began their Serie A campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Lecce, with Romelu Lukaku also scoring on his Nerazzurri return.
Lukaku required just 82 seconds to head home the opener on his second Inter debut, but Simone Inzaghi s side looked set to make a stuttering start when Assan Ceesay levelled three minutes after the break.
But substitute Dumfries was on hand to convert from a corner deep into stoppage time as Inter made a winning start to the new campaign.
Having watched champions Milan beat Udinese in their own season-opener early on Saturday, Inter ensured they matched their rivals exploits at the outset of what is likely to be another thrilling title race.
1:22 Romelu Lukaku s goal …
data-mm-id=”_2nam5vwnj”>Zach Wilson was not dealt an easy hand this season. To say the least. He had to fill in for Aaron Rodgers after the future Hall of Famer tore his Achilles mere minutes into the New York Jets' home opener and had to battle against a very good Buffalo Bills defense. The Jets won because Wilson didn't screw up majorly outside of one interception. Week 2 did not hold any easier a matchup as Wilson traveled to Dallas to take on a Cowboys defense that straight-up embarrassed the New York Giants the previous week. And it went exactly as you'd predict. A subpar Jets offensive line could barely get a finger on Micah Parsons, who finished with three sacks. Wilson threw three interceptions, in part because his decision-making hasn't improved dramaticall…