Eight European football powerhouses prepare to collide

Almost anything can be classified as nostalgia these days. If you squint hard enough down, even the most mundane or objectionable things can be rebranded in sepia-tinted. Why does Football Daily yearn for Andy Townsend on co-commentary (when Ally McCoist is such an obvious upgrade) and still get a kick out of seeing the Continental Tyres logo every time it walks past a parked car? Perhaps because football, and life, was better back in the day: free-to-air Big Cup, referees making honest and understandable mistakes in a fast-paced game, Darren Bent scoring against Liverpool via a Liverpool-branded beach ball. None of these things would be possible in 2024. And football now is poorer for it.

Modern Big Cup, now behind a considerable paywall or showing in pubs selling £7 Tin, has never been more predictable, dominated by elite superclubs with the GDP of a small country. This season’s groups went as expected (yes, including Manchester United finishing last), as did the first knockout round: Copenhagen and Real Sociedad were sunk by the elite squads of UAE and Qatar, an exciting Leipzig side got Real Madrid-ed at the Bernabéu and even the best draw of the round between the champions of Spain and Italy – Barcelona and Napoli – felt like a tie between two spent teams that have long since gone off the boil.

That’s not to say there weren’t any nice snippets. Jadon Sancho continued to rediscover his mojo at Dortmund, Arsenal v Porto was a delight and Diego Simeone went on such a rollercoaster during Atlético’s shootout thriller with Inter that the only surprise is that he didn’t leave the Metropolitano with a large teddy, candy floss and vomit all over his all-black suit ensemble. But ultimately there were no shocks, despite Lazio and Porto threatening to send Bayern and Arsenal packing down the Big Cup-branded tunnel marked Do One!

But if a general lack of jeopardy was the bad news, the good news is that now we have eight powerhouses left in the quarter-finals. Minnows they are not and just like the bread you used to eat, Friday’s quarter-final draw is unseeded, meaning anyone can face anyone. Real Madrid and Manchester City are inevitably the teams to avoid and Dortmund are probably the weakest team, but every tie should be a cracker. So, that’s something to cling on to as we approach next season’s 36-team Big Cup that is so complex that the bright minds at Uefa are needing to bring in our robotic overlords to do the draw. Hurrah!

Join Michael Butler and Rob Smyth from 5.45pm GMT for all the evening’s Big Vase last-16, second-leg action, including … Rangers 1-2 Benfica (aet, agg: 3-4), West Ham 2-1 Freiburg (aet, agg: 2-2, 5-4 on pens), Brighton 2-1 Roma (agg: 2-5) and Liverpool 3-1 Sparta Prague (agg: 8-2).

“Seeing Tom speaking to the paramedics, the people who saved his life was a bit emotional. He’s able to hold his new-born baby because of them. Sometimes it’s important to have a bit of realism and that maybe brings home a little bit of what’s important” – Luton boss Rob Edwards reflects on Tom Lockyer’s emotional return to Bournemouth, where the player met with and thanked the medics who saved his life 89 days ago, before their restaged Premier League game. The lowly Hatters then roared into a 3-0 half-time lead before Andoni Iraola’s side staged a wild comeback to win 4-3.

Perhaps there was a time, pre-Premier League, when football for so many was ‘the greatest thing in the world’ (yesterday’s Football Daily). These days at the elite level it falls well short as we witness obscene wage levels, VAR, increasing foreign ownership creating strife for many supporters, TV ruling all and ignoring supporters, plus more unnecessary kits. Why? Simply to gouge even more money from fans. When, some weeks, you can witness an obscenely-paid player not caring too much about their performance on the pitch, you can probably say it is no longer the greatest thing in the world” – Russell Pulford.’

Re: yesterday’s Memory Lane photo of Jimmy Nail and Alan Shearer (full email edition). See yesterday’s cryptic crossword on Big Website, and 4 down: ‘Oz actor’s prepared for punch (4,3)’ = Nail set. Spooky, huh?” – Michael Bland.

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Michael Bland.

There has been a touch of desperation to Belgium’s efforts at major tournaments across the last decade, for a golden generation of players to make it count where it matters. Alas, it hasn’t gone their way, the best efforts of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and co a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. So perhaps a light touch is required before another big summer, one that involves a nod to a skilful redhead protagonist – no, not KDB. Yes, Belgium’s away kit for Euro 2024, a tidy blue number, has been inspired by the Adventures of Tintin, paying tribute to the works of cartoonist Hergé. “As a big Tintin fan, I am delighted our Red Devils will be conquering Europe in a jersey based on one of Belgium’s greatest heroes,” trilled Piet Vandendriessche, chief suit of the country’s FA.

Spartak Moscow forward Quincy Promes has been arrested in Dubai at the request of the Netherlands, where he was sentenced last month to six years in prison in absentia for drug trafficking, and now faces possible extradition.

Aston Villa manager Carla Ward has called player-coach relationships in women’s football “unacceptable” following the news that Willie Kirk has been suspended and is being investigated by Leicester. “It makes me very angry because we’re here to set an environment, a comfortable place that people come to work in, where they feel safe, where they feel backed, where they feel looked after,” she said. “I just don’t understand anyone who crosses that line.”

The answer to beleaguered Reading owner Dai Yongge’s cashflow crisis? Selling their state-of-the-art training base to rivals Wycombe in a cut-price deal. “They’re intent on only one thing – killing Reading FC – a club with a proud 152-year history,” said Caroline Parker, a spokesperson for the Sell Before We Dai fan group. “This club is now firmly on life support.”

A supporters group have hit out at Manchester United after the club cited youth players’ development among the reasons for moving their regular seats at Old Trafford from next season. “The loyal legion of fans, those who’ve weathered storms and basked in glory, are the ones getting the boot, or rather, being ‘repositioned’ for this visionary masterstroke,” fumed South Stand United.

There’s no room for Kalvin Phillips in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, but there is for Ivan Toney, Joe Gomez, Jarrad Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon. Another name missing is Ben White, who – having also signed a new four-year Arsenal contract – has made himself unavailable for selection. “For me that is a great shame,” sighed Southgate. “I want that door wide open.”

Manchester City will be De Bruyne-less for their FA Cup quarter-final with Newcastle due to a minor twang with his groin.

And Josh Cavallo, who in 2021 became the only known openly gay top-flight player in the world at the time, has got engaged to his partner, Leighton Morrell, after proposing on the pitch of Adelaide United’s home ground.

The latest edition of our sister email is out now: here’s an extract, focusing on the kick-off to the new NWSL season this weekend.

Is Pepe in danger of becoming loved? John Brewin has the Portuguese old boy in his Big Cup team o’ the week.

Chelsea’s Jess Carter talks to Xaymaca Awoyungbo about her relationship with Emma Hayes and the big one coming up against Arsenal.

And Steven Pye rides his DeLorean to 1985, when Bryan Robson scored the best goal of his career to bring Manchester United FA Cup joy against Liverpool.

Bournemouth manager Freddie Cox is seen, it says here, “in a council of war with his players” to plan tactics for their FA Cup fifth-round date with Spurs in February 1957. Whatever he did with that board paid off as the Third Division side won 3-1, before narrowly going out to Manchester United in the last eight.