LONDON: The return of the Premier League this weekend cannot come quickly enough for English fans still lamenting their national team’s worst-ever World Cup showing. With the league’s riches, global reach and non-stop drama, it remains England’s projection of footballing power.
But as the waning impact of English sides in Europe last season demonstrated, the Premier League’s allure remains under threat from Spain. Gareth Bale left Tottenham for Real Madrid last year, and the new season begins with Luis Suarez at Barcelona rather than Liverpool.