{"id":18888,"date":"2025-12-31T10:35:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T10:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/31\/arsenal-doubts-englands-world-cup-plans-and-lionel-messis-farewell-looking-ahead-to-2026\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T10:35:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T10:35:01","slug":"arsenal-doubts-englands-world-cup-plans-and-lionel-messis-farewell-looking-ahead-to-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/31\/arsenal-doubts-englands-world-cup-plans-and-lionel-messis-farewell-looking-ahead-to-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal doubts, England’s World Cup plans and Lionel Messi’s farewell – looking ahead to 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 2025, Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions and PSG claimed European glory, but the next 12 months look set to be the stage for another epic title race and the North American World Cup.<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Lionel Messi to play in final World Cup this summer<\/span>(Image: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n
With less than 24 hours left in 2025, the past 12 months have seen some iconic moments. Many storylines are already being built for next year.<\/p>\n
Liverpool have been up and down under Arne Slott and appear to have already given up any chance of retaining their Premier League title. Once again, it looks like the battle between Arsenal and Manchester City and Aston Villa could be a thorn in the side.<\/p>\n
PSG won the Champions League and finally climbed the mountain they had been aiming for for more than a decade. They relentlessly pursued European glory, setting the record straight with a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich.<\/p>\n
The club season will be played, followed by the World Cup in North America, and expectations continue to rise. Each group is portrayed as England enjoying a perfect 2025 tournament, with England becoming increasingly cohesive under manager Thomas Tuchel.<\/p>\n
The winner of the World Cup will likely have a big impact on the Ballon d’Or, which Ousmane Dembele won this year. He narrowly defeated Lamine Yamal, but could have a better chance if Spain wins this summer. Erling Haaland is also in the hunt for another Golden Boot and is set to play in his first World Cup with Norway, but he may have a say.<\/p>\n
read more: Appointed key staff member of Liverpool AX following complaints about Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slott’s aerial duel<\/span><\/span>read more: Ruben Amorim signs preferential contract with Manchester United after private chat in tunnel<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
We take a look at some of the key talking points that are likely to be debated over the next 12 months, across the Premier League, Championship and World Cup.<\/p>\n
Questions about Arsenal’s mentality<\/h3>\n
They must be tired of people questioning their spirit and their limits when they try to cross the line. Arsenal have been one of the most impressive teams in the last three or four years, but they have yet to win any trophies to back it up.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Arsenal are back in contention<\/span>(Image: Stuart McFarlane\/Arsenal FC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The biggest hurdle to defeating them is failure in the title fight. This is the fourth year they have achieved good results. The last two times they were in control, they reached the end of the season, but lost to Guardiola and City.<\/p>\n
Last season they couldn’t get close enough to put pressure on Liverpool, but this season they look like the best team in the country. Still, the city is so close that it feels like deja vu. It will be up to Mikel Arteta and his squad to prove they have what it takes to get over the line.<\/p>\n
Can Aston Villa survive this course?<\/h3>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Morgan Rodgers spearheads Aston Villa’s sudden rise<\/span>(Image: James Gill – Danehouse\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
They were winless in their first five games and it looked like Unai Emery might have to reassess his ambitions this year. How has that changed? Villa Park celebrated after Emi Buendia’s 94th-minute goal beat Arsenal earlier this month, closing the gap at the top of the table.<\/p>\n
Villa beat Chelsea in west London to record their 12th win in their last 13 games. We’ve been here before – going back two years, Villa was among them and number one among them.<\/p>\n
Well then, I’ll be back. Emery will have to juggle playing in the league with Thursday night’s Europa League appearance, but that doesn’t seem to be an issue at the moment. Few expect them to remain in contention in April and May, but if Morgan Rodgers continues his career-best form, who knows where that will take them.<\/p>\n
Will Tuchel choose system over name?<\/h3>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Thomas Tuchel aims to continue England’s recent impressive run in major tournaments<\/span>(Image: Michael Regan – FA, FA, Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Speaking of Rodgers, he is a favorite of manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of the World Cup. England performed admirably, completing a perfect qualifying campaign with Germany’s manager showing little regard for the headline names, which was not the case under the previous setup.<\/p>\n
Tuchel appears determined to prioritize the style and functionality of his squad over simply a desire to have the best players on the pitch. That means the likes of Rodgers, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze could compete for one of the two starting XI spots.<\/p>\n
And despite playing for less fashionable teams, players like Adam Wharton and Elliott Anderson have proven to be big favorites. Tuchel may only be in charge of one major tournament, but he seems intent on doing it his way.<\/p>\n
Messi and Ronaldo’s swan song<\/h3>\n
This World Cup in North America will undoubtedly be the last for two of the game’s greats. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo played in the World Cup for the first time in 2006. Twenty years later, they’re still here.<\/p>\n
Messi is even more determined to win a second World Cup with favorites Argentina. They have achieved impressive wins and the players have always shown an even greater desire to win for Messi, furthering Messi’s own achievements.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ronaldo may be responding to the opinions of those who doubt him. At the last World Cup in Qatar, he was famously dropped in one of the finals. It’s no secret that he’s only reached the semi-finals once, and he’ll be looking to add to that record. No matter what happens, the two legends will part ways this summer.<\/p>\n
Coventry expected to wait 25 years<\/h3>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Coventry City are 10 points clear of third place in the Championship as they aim to return to the Premier League under manager Frank Lampard.<\/span>(Image: Nick Potts\/PA Wire)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
They were relegated from the Premier League in 2001 and have not returned since. Their demise saw them rise up the pyramid after languishing in League Two in 2018. A club of their size should never have been in the fourth tier, but now they have a huge buffer at the top of the Championship.<\/p>\n
It’s too early to start cashing in your bets, but Coventry couldn’t be set up better. They have responded well to last year’s play-off heartbreak, with Frank Lampard proving himself in the dugout.<\/p>\n
He suffered a near miss at Derby in 2019, but has finally managed to earn promotion on his resume in impressive style. Coventry has already set a goalscoring record and is sure to be a great addition to the top flight.<\/p>\n
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![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36332415.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Argentina-v-France-Final-FIFA-World-Cup-Qatar-2022.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Arsenal](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36462944.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2253709337.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Morgan](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36457713.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_GettyImages-2253129847.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Thomas](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36274782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_England-v-Serbia-FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Qualifier.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Coventry](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36459702.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_JS391567546.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"content](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33374947.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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