EFC Brief

The headline EFC storyline here is on the touchline: Roberto Martínez, who steered Everton from 2013 to 2016, now marshals Portugal against the country of his birth. A Spaniard leading Portugal into a clash with Spain is the kind of subplot Goodison old-timers will savour, and with confirmed lineups in hand, his selection calls carry real weight. The pitch is stacked with names long tied to Everton's rumour mill. Rúben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes give Portugal a Toffee-tinted spine, while the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo needs no introduction. Spain counter with Aymeric Laporte, the metronomic Rodri and Marc Cucurella, a trio that would slot neatly into any Blues wishlist. Kick-off is 3:00 PM ET, and for neutrals wearing blue-tinted glasses, this is essentially an EFC-linked All-Star exhibition. Martínez versus his homeland is the thread we'll be tracking closest.