Hot football news noon 2/6: Liverpool legend chooses 'new Klopp'

Surprising "revival" of futsal Golden Ball holder Nguyen Minh Tri, tough test ahead for U19 Vietnam at regional event; sizzling updates concerning Liverpool, 2026 World Cup, and Carlo Ancelotti’s son receiving his debut professional assignment.

Vietnam Golden Ball winner makes unexpected "comeback"

After declaring retirement more than two months ago, Nguyen Minh Tri has suddenly returned to the futsal scene wearing the colors of Thai Son Nam Ho Chi Minh City, creating one of the most notable stories in Vietnamese futsal recently. The return of the 2020 Vietnam Futsal Golden Ball winner comes at a time when the defending champions are struggling with strength due to injuries to key players and have slipped to third place in the standings.

With his experience competing in two World Cups and the field prowess of one of the finest strikers in Vietnamese futsal history, Minh Tri is expected to help Thai Son Nam accelerate in the championship race. The surprising "U-turn" of the star from Long An is drawing special attention from fans.

U19 Vietnam faces a major challenge

Though expected to make an impact at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship, U19 Vietnam will have to confront a group deemed very difficult, featuring hosts U19 Indonesia, U19 Myanmar, and U19 Timor Leste. According to VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu,U19 Indonesia is the top contender for the title thanks to having many players who participated in the U17 World Cup and trained abroad. Nevertheless, U19 Vietnam still enjoys great confidence after a month of preparation and a quality training camp in Japan.

VFF leaders emphasized that this tournament is not only about results but also serves as an important stepping stone for the 2027 AFC U20 qualifiers, and further ahead for the national team, within the strategy of developing the next generation of Vietnamese football.

Liverpool soon to have "Klopp 2.0"

Liverpool's future is drawing significant attention after manager Arne Slot departed. In this context, legend Robbie Fowler has sparked interest by rating Andoni Iraola as a suitable successor who shares many similarities with Jurgen Klopp.

According to Fowler, Liverpool last season lacked the energy and pressing intensity that defined their identity under Klopp, while Iraola's Bournemouth excelled in that regard. Although the pressure at Anfield is much greater than at Bournemouth, the former English striker believes that if Iraola can revive Klopp's energetic and emotional style of play, he will quickly gain the support of Liverpool fans.

Mexico "goes big" ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Even before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, Mexico has drawn attention with a proposal to let workers in the capital have a day off on June 11, the date of the opening ceremony and the national team's first match. However, the goal of Mexico City officials is not limited to making it easier for people to watch football; they also want to turn the opening day into an even bigger festival with a series of cultural activities, entertainment, and community cheering.

With hundreds of fans and tourists flocking to the Azteca Stadium area, the authorities hope the entire city will immerse itself in the World Cup atmosphere. If approved, this could become one of the most unique decisions ever made ahead of the world's biggest football event.

Ancelotti's son takes on "big mission"

After many years as an assistant to his legendary father, Davide Ancelotti officially steps into the spotlight as head coach of Lille (France). The Italian tactician was chosen to replace Bruno Genesio and will lead "les Dogues" in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign.

Previously, Davide worked alongside Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, Real Madrid, and the Brazil national team, accumulating experience in the highest football environments. This is seen as a major opportunity for the 36-year-old coach to step out of his famous father's shadow and prove his own ability, as Lille places high expectations on a young, ambitious manager in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Domestic and international football has many "hot spots"

The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 could change significantly if China withdraws, leaving only seven teams in the top seed group. Meanwhile, U19 Vietnam had a dream start at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship with a 3-0 victory over Timor Leste thanks to Cong Hau's hat-trick.

In another development, FIFA's new substitution rule directly influenced a match result for the first time when Japan scored a decisive goal against Iceland while their opponents were a man down. For Portugal's national team, coach Roberto Martinez revealed that the energy keeping Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of playing in the 2030 World Cup alive is his relentless desire to conquer. In England, legend Teddy Sheringham said Arsenal should sign Trent Alexander-Arnold to boost creativity on the right flank.