The World Cup is motoring along nicely, each of the 48 nations have shown a glimpse of what they are all about. Some glimpses have been stronger than others but there is still plenty of time for everyone to shine. That and the Premier League fixtures are out. Issue 108. Go.

If you cannot handle England at their worst, then you do not deserve England at their best. Not quite the famous quote from Marilyn Monroe but the sentiment should not be far off after their win over Croatia on Wednesday night.

A performance that although chaotic, was also just as refreshing as Thomas Tuchel’s side served up what can only be described as a Jekyll and Hyde performance in Dallas, Texas. The fact that there were imperfections, almost made it perfect in a sense.

Now that sentence may not make a great deal of sense on its own but when you consider the pragmatism that came under predecessor Gareth Southgate - albeit a method that nearly delivered two European Championships, it was a breath of fresh air.

Players making mistakes but also being allowed to make mistakes, no fear albeit no thinking at times in the first half against Croatia.

At times it looked reckless. At times it looked brilliant. More importantly, it looked human.

For so long England have appeared programmed, every pass calculated, every movement rehearsed, every risk assessed before it was taken. Effective? Usually. Exciting? Not always.

Against Croatia there was a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Defenders stepping into midfield, attackers taking on opponents when the safer option was available and players attempting passes that had every chance of failing. Some did.

That was the point.

Football is supposed to contain an element of jeopardy. Remove all of it and you end up with a game that is efficient but forgettable. Allow a little of it back in and suddenly the spectacle improves.

There will undoubtedly be sterner tests ahead and there will almost certainly be moments where England's adventurous approach is punished and the same "go with the flow” vibe would not be on show had Croatia managed to get something from the game.

Especially as they created enough opportunities to remind everyone that attacking freedom often comes with defensive consequences but with the embarrassment of riches that were in England colours, you never felt as if this was going to be an embarrassing night.

Yet if this is the direction Thomas Tuchel wants to take England, supporters are likely to accept the occasional setback. The fact that he even told his players that if we are to lose, let’s lose in our own way would surely have removed any half-time shackles.

It was a night where England properly arrived at the World Cup. A night where Harry Kane scored his ninth and tenth goals in the competition and became a scorer across three successive editions of the tournament.

More importantly, it was a night that suggested England may finally be comfortable embracing their attacking talent rather than trying to contain it.

Two for him, two more added by his cohorts. A performance that also suggests that this England team is far from a one-man band, even if some of the notes they play are sometimes out of tune.

Everyone has to play everyone eventually but there is something about the opening weekend fixtures being released. Here is a look at what is on offer in the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season:

Friday, 21 August

Arsenal v Coventry (20:00)

Saturday, 22 August

Hull City v Manchester United (12:30)

Everton v Crystal Palace (15:00)

Ipswich v Sunderland (15:00)

Nottingham Forest v Leeds (15:00)

Brentford v Tottenham (17:30)

Sunday, 23 August

Brighton v Aston Villa (14:00)

Manchester City v Bournemouth (14:00)

Newcastle v Liverpool (16:30)

Monday, 24 August

Fulham v Chelsea (20:00)

The big headline from the opening 10 fixtures will be the visit of Liverpool to Newcastle. Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge of the Merseyside men, the potential for Alexander Isak to face his former club at his former home.

Not only that, but there is the neat subplot of Liverpool snaring Victor Munoz from the grasp of Newcastle. The Spaniard was believed to be arriving at St James’ Park for a fee of roughly £35m but there was too much talk and not enough action.

Newcastle pipped to the post for not the first time when it comes to signing players. James Trafford’s move to Manchester City last summer another example and another reason to add supporter frustration on Tyneside.

I referenced in the previous issue that off the field movements have added to the frustration that comes on top of not securing any form of European football for the upcoming season, missing out on Munoz will not have helped reduce that.

In what seems to be something of a tradition, the defending champions get the new season underway and this means that Arsenal will welcome newly promoted Coventry to the Emirates on the first Friday of the campaign.

A fixture that should be a textbook win for the Gunners but Frank Lampard’s men will no doubt relish the fact that they are playing a part in getting the season underway and on the opening weekend, you should be able to play with far less fear than later in the season.

Nothing to lose for Coventry in their first foray, everything to gain. The fixture computer has done a good job in picking this one out for starters.

Will a handful of Premier League teams regret that Tottenham weren’t relegated on the final day of the season? They may well do if you look at the transfer business that Roberto De Zerbi has already completed.

Defensively this Spurs side should be a whole lot better at the start of next season. Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi already drafted in, Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke now moving to North London for £52m.

Three signings that suggest that the overhaul is far from complete and this trio of new faces and who knows who else will start the 2026/27 edition of the Premier League with a short trip to Brentford.

The Bees running out of sting in the final few weeks of the season and subsequently missing out on a place in Europe, they will be keen to put that disappointment behind them as soon as possible.

Hull’s return to the Premier League starts with the visit of Manchester United, as the two sides are given the Saturday lunchtime slot on the opening weekend. The Tigers’ celebrations after earning promotion from the play-offs already cut short.

After winning a ticket to the top tier, they now have reportedly fallen foul of PSR regulations. There is an overspend of £6m and if this is not resolved, they could face a points deduction. A busy summer of balancing the books awaits on Humberside.

While the opening round of fixtures ends on Monday night as Fulham play host to Chelsea. Xabi Alonso’s first taste of Premier League management will see his Blues make the short trip to Craven Cottage.

Opponents Fulham are currently in a managerless state as Marco Silva has left West London for Lisbon. Former Real Madrid Alvaro Arbeloa is rumoured to be the man to take his place.

Which if it does prove to be the case, will lead to a weird triangulation of managerial moves.

Jose Mourinho leaves Benfica to become Real Madrid manager - replacing Alvaro Arbeloa who in turn replaced Xabi Alonso halfway through last season

Marco Silva leaves Fulham for Benfica

Alvaro Arbeloa exited out of the Bernabeu due to Mourinho’s arrival and could then complete the triangle by going to Fulham.

Football never ceases to amaze me.

After completing a stint in the top tier of French women’s football, Mary Earps has decided it is time to come home. The former England goalkeeper swapping life in Paris for an upcoming stint in London.

Not Arsenal or Chelsea that have acquired her services but London City Lionesses instead and after already signing Spanish international Alexis Putellas after her contract expired at Barcelona, it is another statement of intent from the WSL outfit.

Not only that but it is a statement of intent from an independent WSL outfit. This is not a club that is linked with a men’s professional outfit, it is one that stands on its own two financial feet,

A task that is far from easy within the landscape of the women’s game in the UK and although they are flying the flag when it comes to trying to gatecrash the elite, you only have to look at Durham in the division below to see how difficult it is.

Durham operate in WSL2 and like the London City Lionesses are also an independent club. However, the glitz and glamour does not make its way to the North East as reflected by the club’s reported financial woes.

More than woes, a plea for financial assistance to keep them operating next season and this is where a lack of link to a men’s club serves as a hindrance and not a help - even though Durham are highly proud of their independence.

For every Mary Earps style capture, there is a rattling of the spare-change bucket elsewhere. There is no doubt that growth in the women’s game is great but has it been too quick for some to catch up? The plight of Durham suggests it has.

That’s the end of Issue 108 as the World Cup moves into its second week.

If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly in early. So if you know someone who’d enjoy football viewed a bit differently, send it their way. That’s what keeps this growing.

This isn’t a newsletter that follows the crowd. It filters the game through a different lens and more than 220 subscribers are already reading it that way.

Issue 109 lands Tuesday. Another round of distortions as football does what it always does: speeds up and makes less sense.

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