Thomas Hein
For fans of both club and international football, the 2023/24 season is shaping up rather nicely.
Manchester United are expected to challenge for a top-two finish in the Premier League, while the ladies’ team will be hoping to go one better after finishing as runner-up behind Chelsea in the Women’s Super League.
The campaign will be sandwiched in between two major international tournaments. First, there’s the Women’s World Cup in July/August, before next summer sees Euro 2024 held in Germany.
Unsurprisingly, a handful of Manchester United stars are tipped to get their hands on a major international trophy in the next year or so….
Lionesses to Roar
In the odds for who will win Women’s World Cup, England’s Lionesses sit second at 4/1 behind tournament favourites USA (5/2) and ahead of Spain (5/1).
It’s a testament to the depth of their squad that they are still amongst the favourites given that injuries have decimated Sarina Wiegman’s squad – Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby are just three of those to have suffered knee complaints that will keep them out of the tournament.
Mearps 🧤 pic.twitter.com/imejPvCrGg
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 11, 2023
But the show must go on, with Wiegman’s revised squad featuring a handful of Manchester United stars, including shot-stopper Mary Earps and midfield ace Katie Zelem. Both the former, who helped the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory, and the latter – a two-time WSL champion – bring a wealth of big game experience to the party.
England Expects
Having been installed as the second favourites behind France for Euro 2024, England will once again be dreaming of a major tournament victory.
Gareth Southgate’s squad will surely be made up of a strong Manchester United contingent, with Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford almost certain to travel pending injury and form.
The 2023/24 season is an interesting one for Harry Maguire, too. His status as a must-pick for club and country was rather tarnished last term, so the powerful defender will be looking to make up for lost time at Old Trafford this time around.
He remains club captain for now, although Erik ten Hag has intimated that the armband may be taken off Maguire after rejecting the idea of a squad vote.
England aren’t blessed with expert central defenders, so if Maguire can recapture his best form it’s likely that he will form a key part of Southgate’s plans for the tournament in Germany.
Official. Raphaël Varane announces his retirement from international football, he won’t play for French national team anymore. 🚨🇫🇷 #France #MUFC pic.twitter.com/ZsMrEm5VhF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 2, 2023
The French will go into Euro 2024 as the most likely winner, although in a rare twist, they won’t have a representative from United in their squad. Raphael Varane retired from international football earlier this year at the age of 30, while Anthony Martial’s lack of form and first-team starts are likely to preclude him from selection for Les Bleus.
Portugal are considered 11/1 dark horses to lift the trophy, a tournament that may represent Cristiano Ronaldo’s last on the international stage. Key to their hopes will be the form of Bruno Fernandes, who was a key figure in the Portuguese’s run to the quarter-finals of World Cup 2022.
Hopefully United will pick up a trophy or two during the 2023/24 season. And that could be supplemented by a handful of Red Devils hoisting silverware on the international stage this term, too.
