Welcome to the Thunder Football Newsletter. #2
I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, please forward this email to a friend.

What today’s email is all about:

• Messi wins it for Inter Miami

• Top European clubs playing preseason matches in the US

• Updates from the Women’s World Cup

• Transfer Talk: Min-jae, Onana, Henderson, Mahrez and more

• Standing Ovation: Jürgen Klinsmann

A Dream Debut for Messi

He starts on the bench.

Subs in on the 54th minute and immediately gets handed the Captains Armband ©️

Wins a free-kick in the dying stages of the match.

Messi takes the free-kick and curls one into the top corner with the last kick of the match.

Top European Clubs coming to America for preseason matches

A few of world football’s biggest and most successful clubs currently find themselves in the United States for their preseason-friendly matches.

We’ve listed some of the biggest matches.

A few headlines from the ongoing
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The hosts (both New Zealand 🇳🇿 and Australia 🇦🇺) got their tournament underway with victories and Tournament Favourites, USA 🇺🇸, triumphed over Vietnam 🇻🇳.

1 penalty scored proved to be the only difference between 53rd-ranked Haiti 🇭🇹and 4th-ranked England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿.

Zambia 🇿🇲 might be the worst-ranked (77th) team at the World Cup, but kudos to Japan 🇯🇵 for putting 5 past them. Could Japan be a dark horse in this tournament and go all the way? (Again).

In Focus: Banyana Banyana 🇿🇦

Banyana Banyana (The Girls) is the nickname of the South African National Women’s Football team.

They are the current African Champions and this is their 2nd appearance at the World Cup.

Banyana Banyana faced 3rd-ranked Sweden 🇸🇪 in their opener on Sunday and took the lead through a Hildah Magaia goal. Sweden equalised and scored again in the 90th minute to secure a 2-1 win.

Banyana Banyana’s remaining group stage matches:

• vs Argentina 🇦🇷 - 28 July, 02:00

• vs Italy 🇮🇹 - 2 August, 09:00

It’s been a busy couple of days in the Transfer Market. Here is a recap of some of the transfers that took place this past week.

The Bundesliga champions add a strong addition to their backline 🇰🇷

Kim Min-jae (€50M): Napoli to Bayern Munich

Manchester United has a new Keeper 🇨🇲

Andre Onana (£48M): Inter to Manchester United

Other confirmed deals:
(as reported by the world’s most trusted football journalist: Fabrizio Romano)

• Jordan Henderson signs for Al-Ettifaq FC.

  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joins Olympique Marseille on free deal from Chelsea.

• Al Ahli acquire the skilful services of Riyad Mahrez

• Jordi Alba joins Leo Messi and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami

• AC Milan confirmed the signing of Christian Pulisic from Chelsea

Our Standing Ovation this week goes to German football legend: Jürgen Klinsmann

Klinsmann achieved tremendous success as both a player and manager. Here are a few of his accomplishments:

• World Cup Winner with Germany in 1990

• 11 World Cup Goals (8th overall on the all-time list)

• Ballon d’Or Runner-up in 1995

• Footballer of the Year Germany 1988 & 1994

  and many more…

It is fitting that our Standing Ovation goes to Klinsmann this week since he also ‘came to America’ and was the Head Coach of the US Men’s National Team from 2011 to 2016. It’s also his 59th birthday this coming Sunday, 30 July.

Not a meme, but a brilliant video advert featuring the French Football team 🇫🇷

Do yourself a favour and watch this. Till the end.

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