For a generation of younger football fans, Chris Kamara is known as one of the country’s most beloved broadcasters from his time during Soccer Saturday’s Golden Age, when the show redefined the experience of consuming Saturday afternoon football.

But this, in effect, is the third phase in Kamara’s career, which began as a player for Portsmouth in the 1970s and after more than 600 appearances, continued in the dugout when he was given the job at Bradford City in November 1995.

By the end of that season, Kamara was able to guide the Bantams to promotion back to the second tier via the playoffs, the high point in his two-year stint in charge of the West Yorkshire side.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Why Chris Kamara packed in coaching

“An amazing day and what a memory to give those fans,” Kamara recalls to FourFourTwo on Bradford’s play-off victory.

But just two years after this play-off success, Kamara would find himself at a career crossroads, having endured a difficult ten-week spell at Stoke City.

Ever since his promotion with the Bantams, the former Leeds United midfielder found himself increasingly in demand as a television pundit.

“It was during that season that I was on television a lot more, for interviews, punditry and all the rest of it,” he continues. “It was something I loved doing.”

This failed stint at Stoke would then act as a catalyst for his future media career.

“I later went to manage Stoke and I regret that,” he admits. “I’d been popular there as a player, but it didn’t work out as a manager.”

Kamara’s ease in front of the TV cameras and his infectious personality had seen him make a considerable impact on television, with next move coming after a conversation at home.

“Once I left in 1998, I had lots of offers to return to the game,” he continues.

“But my wife Anne said, ‘You’re loving the TV work and you’re good at it, why don’t you keep going?’”

This would prove to be sage advice, changing the course of Kamara’s career and handing the viewing public one of their most beloved characters.

Watch Germany vs Greece in the Nations League as Jürgen Klopp goes in search of his first win as national team boss.

FourFourTwo brings you all the details regarding FREE streams, so you can tune in and watch the game from wherever you are in the world.

After a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands, Die Mannschaft have the chance to hit back against Greece and pick up all three points.

That won't be easy against Ivan Jovanovic's side though, who started their Nations League campaign with a 2-1 win against Serbia.

Read on for all the details on how to watch Germany vs Greece in the Nations League on TV and from anywhere.

How to watch Germany vs Greece from anywhere

Out of the country? That doesn't mean you have to miss the game. A VPN - or Virtual Private Network - means you can set your IP address to make your device appear to be in any country in the world, bypassing streaming geo-restrictions.

FourFourTwo’s colleagues at TechRadar are experts in this field, and they reckon NordVPN is the best VPN provider on the market.

How to watch Germany vs Greece in the UK

Germany vs Greece is available on Prime Video in the UK.

It is a pay-per-view game meaning you will have to pay £2.49 for the privilege of watching the game.

How to watch Germany vs Greece in the US

Fans in the USA will be able to watch the Germany vs Greece on Fox Sports 2.

FS2 is available on the in-house streaming service Fox One (3-day free trial) or via a cord-cutting service such as YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream or Sling.

How to watch Germany vs Greece in Australia

Australian viewers can watch Germany vs Greece on beIN Sports.

Subscriptions start at $16.99/month or $169.99/year with a 7-day free trial also available to new users.

Germany vs Greece: Match preview

It perhaps wasn't the performance Jürgen Klopp was looking for in his first game in charge of Germany, but a 1-1 draw away to the Netherlands can't be sniffed at.

His side were largely dominated by the Dutch and would have lost comfortably had it not been for some poor finishing from Xavi Simons' side. However, they came away with a draw and, back on home soil, will be keen to put some of those wrongs right on Sunday evening.

Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala won't feature after picking up injuries in the game and warm-up respectively on Thursday. That will make room for a first Germany start for Younes Ebnoutalib, who already has four Bundesliga goals to his name for Eintracht Frankfurt this season.

Karim Adeyemi will likely start on the right-hand side again, while Serge Gnabry and Kevin Schade are fighting for the left-wing position. Florian Wirtz has also been moved into the squad following Musiala's injury.

For Greece, a repeat of Thursday's away victory over Serbia would be more than welcome. Christos Tzolis and Anastasios Douvikas netted two late goals to complete a turnaround and pick up three crucial points.

This will, of course, be a much tougher contest, but they look like a country on the up in footballing terms, with Arsenal's Tzolis their main man to keep an eye on.

Prediction

Germany 1-0 Greece

Germany will edge to their first win under Klopp.

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Watch Norway vs Portugal as Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo face off in the Nations League. FourFourTwo brings you a comprehensive guide to free live streams and TV coverage wherever you are in the world.

Both sides kicked off their Nations League campaigns with a win, but there is already plenty of pressure on this game, with top spot in the group at stake.

The main narrative surrounding this one, though, will be Erling Haaland vs Cristiano Ronaldo. Haaland netted twice in Norway’s win over Denmark, while Ronaldo missed a sitter and had a goal ruled out for offside on Thursday.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Norway vs Portugal online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Norway vs Portugal for free

You can watch Norway vs Portugal for free in Ireland on Virgin Media Three and Virgin Media Play, while in France you can stream it free on L'Equipe Live Foot.

Abroad? Unlock your free stream with NordVPN — more on that below.

Watch Norway vs Portugal from anywhere

Out of the country for Norway vs Portugal? That doesn't mean you have to miss the game. A VPN - or Virtual Private Network - means you can set your IP address to make your device appear to be in any country in the world, bypassing streaming geo-restrictions.

FourFourTwo’s colleagues at TechRadar are experts in this field, and they reckon NordVPN is the best VPN provider on the market.

How to watch Norway vs Portugal on TV in the UK

Prime Video will show Norway vs Portugal in the UK on a pay-per-view basis.

It will set you back £2.49 for access with no Amazon account required.

Visiting the UK from Ireland? Use NordVPN and unblock your free Virgin Media Play coverage of Norway vs Portugal.

How to watch Norway vs Portugal in the US

Norway vs Portugal will be broadcast on Fubo in the US.

You'll need the Pro Plan to watch this Nations League fixture, which costs $88.99 per month and comes with a 5-day free trial.

How to watch Norway vs Portugal in Australia

Norway vs Portugal is available to watch in Australia if you're a beIN Sports subscriber.

Monthly subscriptions are currently priced at AU$16.99/month and you'll be looking for the beIN Sports 3 channel.

See also ► Erling Haaland adds four Guinness World Records to trophy collection

Norway vs Portugal: Preview

Norway have become the dark horses of world football in recent times. After a superb World Cup campaign in which they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by England, they now sit top of their Nations League table after Matchday 1.

An entertaining 3-2 victory over Denmark took them there, with Erling Haaland netting his 63rd and 64th goals in just his 56th appearance for his country. That goals-per-game record far exceeds what Cristiano Ronaldo has even managed, but the 41-year-old will be looking to set things straight today.

His performance against Wales on Thursday was once again underwhelming, and it feels like he is now becoming more of a hindrance to the team rather than helping them.

Gonçalo Ramos, in particular, will be feeling that way and will be desperate for a chance to lead the line for his country. Will he get his chance today?

FourFourTwo's prediction

Norway 4-2 Portugal

Portugal looked shaky against Wales and Erling Haaland and Co. will fancy running riot against their backline.

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Former Brentford and Brighton striker Neal Maupay has never been the type to shy away from a bit of football banter.

Among the Marseille forward’s greatest hits is his 2024 barb aimed at James Maddison, when the then-Brentford man mimicked the Tottenham playmaker’s darts celebration following his first-half goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The pair had no previous history, but the incident sparked a mini war of words between the pair following Spurs’ eventual 3-2 victory, and while Maupay insists there was no malice in it, he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

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Maupay on his Maddison darts wind-up

Maupay insists that even his most memorable celebrations are not pre-meditated, with the player instead preferring to let the emotion of the game guide him.

“I don't usually plan celebrations because I like to react to my emotions,” he tells FourFourTwo. “I just go with the flow of the game and how I feel at the time.”

On this occasion in January 2024, it was Maddison who was caught in his crosshairs.

“That’s what happened during that game, because I have no problem with James Maddison,” he continues. The pair had faced off nine times before that fateful match, and there was no bad blood between them.

“When I faced him while he was at Leicester, we were always friendly with each other,” Maupay adds.

“But in this game, with the atmosphere and seeing the fans in the front row, I just wanted to do his celebration.”

Both players had their say immediately following the game, with Maddison telling TNT Sports that: “He probably hasn't scored enough goals in the last couple of years for his own celebration, so he probably had to copy mine!”, while Maupay used Instagram to remind the masses that he had ‘more goals and less relegations’ in his career.

But despite this, Maupay appears to carry no beef, even going as far as to say he would do it again.

“I actually haven't spoken to him about it since,” he says. “From what I heard, he wasn't too happy about it.

“From my point of view, I think it was a good celebration and if I had to do it again, I would.”

The interview with Neal was arranged by YRDS

Watch the controversial match between Israel and Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League today, with FourFourTwo bringing you a comprehensive guide to free TV coverage, from wherever you are in the world.

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first competitive match in charge of the Republic of Ireland couldn’t have gone much worse, as they were thoroughly outplayed in a 1-0 loss to Kosovo.

Now they will look to bounce back against Israel, although all the talk heading into this one has been about matters off the pitch.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Israel vs Republic of Ireland online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Israel vs Republic of Ireland for FREE

Israel vs Republic of Ireland is free to watch in Ireland thanks to RTÉ Player.

❗Coverage is geo-restricted, but you can use a VPN to get your usual access if you're away from Ireland right now – more on that below.

Watch Israel vs Republic of Ireland from anywhere

Away for the game? Use a VPN to access your usual streaming service abroad, subject to your broadcasters terms and conditions.

FourFourTwo’s colleagues at TechRadar have tested hundreds of VPNs, and they say NordVPN is the best VPN you can get.

How to watch Israel vs Republic of Ireland in the UK

Prime Video will show Israel vs Republic of Ireland in the UK on a pay-per-view basis.

It will set you back £2.49 for access with no Amazon account required.

Irish resident visiting the UK? Unlock your free stream of this Nations League opener with NordVPN.

How to watch Israel vs Republic of Ireland in the US

US-based football fans can watch Israel vs the Republic of Ireland on Fox Soccer Plus.

How to watch Israel vs Republic of Ireland in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch Israel vs Republic of Ireland on beIN Sports 1.

See also ► 442GOALS: Can you build a team that has scored 442 times in the Premier League?

Israel vs Republic of Ireland: Preview

Israel vs Republic of Ireland has become more controversial for what is happening off the pitch than what will happen on it.

The game will take place at a neutral stadium with no away fans, and at one point it looked like the fixture might not even go ahead, with a vote having to take place over its validity.

This is, of course, all connected to Israel’s military action in Gaza, and while the two fixtures are now confirmed to be taking place, it feels like football will have very little to do with these games.

In particular, RTÉ, who are showing coverage of the match, are airing a stripped-back version of the game. There will be no commentators, pundits or analysis, while no advertising or sponsorship income will be generated from the match.

▶︎ Read More: Ireland shouldn't be playing Israel: opinion

On the pitch, the Republic of Ireland really need to bounce back from their opening Nations League game. They were woeful against Kosovo, and Israel will likely pose a similar threat on Sunday evening.

West Ham United’s Manor Solomon is their biggest danger, with James Abankwah and Jake O’Brien likely to be tasked with keeping him quiet.

For Ireland, Troy Parrott and Finn Azaz’s involvement will be most important, with the pair likely to have the biggest influence against an Israel side who struggled to stop conceding goals in last year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Team News

Israel XI: Da.Peretz; Mizrahi, Stoinov, Shlomo, Revivo; Peretz, Kanichowsky; Khalaili, Gloukh, Solomon; Turgeman

Ireland XI: Kelleher; O'Brien, Abankwah, Moylan, O'Shea, Manning; Molumby, Kitching, Coventry, Idah; Parrott.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Israel 0-0 Republic of Ireland

Matters of the pitch will overshadow this one.

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Watch Denmark vs Wales for FREE today as the Nations League continues.

FourFourTwo has all the details on how you can watch Denmark vs Wales online from anywhere in the world.

Denmark gave Norway a good game in Oslo but ultimately fell just short, losing 3-2. This match against Wales though could be the perfect tonic with no defeat to the Dragons since 2008.

For Wales, another difficult away trip is on the cards. If they are to avoid relegation from the top tier of the Nations League though they might need to get something in Copenhagen.

Here are all the details you need on live streams to watch Denmark vs Wales online, on TV, and from anywhere.

How to watch Denmark vs Wales for FREE in the UK

Denmark vs Wales will be broadcast for free on BBC One in the UK. Meanwhile, S4C has Welsh-language coverage.

It will also be available to stream at no cost on BBC iPlayer.

‼️ Away from home right now? A good VPN such as NordVPN will unblock your usual streaming services even while you're abroad – more on that below.

Watch Denmark vs Wales from anywhere

If you’re outside your home country for Denmark vs Wales, you'll probably find your streaming services are geo-restricted and therefore don't work, but fortunately assistance is on hand. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a handy piece of software that can change your IP address to make your device appear as if it's back home.

Our expert colleagues at TechRadar test hundreds of VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN on the market right now.

How to watch Denmark vs Wales in the US for FREE

Denmark vs Wales will be broadcast on Fubo in the US with free coverage available on Fubo Sports Network which is carried by Tubi.

How to watch Denmark vs Wales in Australia

Australian viewers can watch Denmark vs Wales on beIN Sports 1 in Australia, which is available via the beIN Sports Connect streaming service.

Denmark vs Wales: Preview

Denmark's Nations League campaign may not have got off to the perfect start, but there were plenty of promising signs in a 3-2 defeat to World Cup quarter-finalists Norway.

Mikkel Damsgaard and Rasmus Hojlund both got on the scoresheet for the Danes, but a late Erling Haaland goal meant they wouldn't pick up any points from their trip to Oslo.

Back at home, they will be keen to make the most of a "supposedly" easier fixture against the Welsh. The last three meetings between these sides have seen Denmark run out 4-0, 2-1 and 2-0 winners, and a repeat today wouldn't be a surprise.

Expect Hojlund to lead the line, while young Thomas Jorgensen of Toulouse may get a chance in the starting XI after making his debut from the bench on Thursday evening.

MORE 442Goals: Play FourFourTwo's viral quiz

For Wales, their defeat in Portugal could have been so much more had Lewis Koumas taken their big chance in the second half. Nevertheless, it was a promising display from Craig Bellamy's side and one that they can take encouragement from heading into today's game.

Admittedly, Bellamy will still be without plenty of his usual first-choice XI, with Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and Karl Darlow all still out injured. In their absence, Danny Ward will continue in goal while Ben Davies and Ben Cabango will likely fill in at centre-half again. Expect David Brooks to be Wilson's replacement.

But the former Liverpool winger would surely have been eyeing up this trip to Denmark as the potential chance to pick up points from their opening two games, so expect the Welsh to be more on the front foot.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Denmark 3-1 Wales

FourFourTwo thinks Denmark will have too much for a Welsh side who haven't beaten them since 2008.

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Watch Serbia vs Netherlands for free in today's Nations League clash, with all the information on TV and streaming wherever you are in the world right here in this guide.

Serbia and the Netherlands both got their UEFA Nations League campaigns underway on Thursday, with the hosts losing narrowly to Greece.

Xavi's side drew 1-1 with Germany in Amsterdam, with Cody Gakpo rescuing a point with a 92nd-minute equaliser.

Read on for all the details on how to watch Serbia vs Netherlands online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Serbia vs Netherlands for free?

You can watch Serbia vs Netherlands for free in Holland on NPO.

Abroad? Use NordVPN to access your free stream — find out more below.

How to watch Serbia vs Netherlands from anywhere

If you’re outside your home country, you'll probably find your streaming services are geo-restricted and therefore don't work, but fortunately assistance is on hand.A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a handy piece of software that can change your IP address to make your device appear as if it's back home.

Our expert colleagues at TechRadar test hundreds of VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN on the market right now.

How to watch Serbia vs Netherlands in the UK

Prime Video will show Serbia vs Netherlands in the UK on a pay-per-view basis.

It will set you back £2.49 for access, with no Amazon account required.

Unlock your Prime Video stream of this Nations League opener with NordVPN if you're outside the UK today.

How to watch Serbia vs Netherlands in the US

Fans in the USA will need Fox Sports 2 to watch Serbia vs Netherlands in the USA.

The best way to access the stream is through Fox One (3-day free trial) or a cord-cutting solution like Sling TV or YouTube TV.

How to watch Serbia vs Netherlands in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch Serbia vs Netherlands on beIN Sport Connect and beIN Sports 3.

All Nations League football is shown on beIN Sports Connect in Australia.

Prices start at AU$16.99/month after a 7-day free trial for new users.

Serbia vs Netherlands: Preview

Serbia and the Netherlands meet in Belgrade on Sunday, with both sides looking for a first victory in League A Group 2, after failing to take three points in their opening fixture.

Serbia began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Greece on Thursday, leaving Veljko Paunović’s side needing a response at the Rajko Mitić Stadium.

The hosts have also been hit by several notable absences. Dusan Vlahovic, Aleksandar Mitrović, Nikola Milenković and goalkeeper Predrag Rajković are all unavailable because of injury, while Paunović has brought Dušan Tadić back into the squad after a two-year international absence.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, arrive having opened their campaign with an encouraging 1-1 draw against Germany. Xavi's first competitive match in charge looked set to end in defeat after Felix Nmecha put Germany ahead, but Gakpo struck in stoppage time to rescue a deserved point.

The new Dutch boss is attempting to introduce a more proactive style, with Xavi stressing before the tournament that he wants his team to play with intensity, take the initiative and maintain a high tempo. Virgil van Dijk remains captain after deciding to continue his international career following discussions with Xavi.

However, the Netherlands are also without some significant names. Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt missed the squad through injury, while Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst were not selected. There are opportunities for several younger players, including first-time call-ups Ruben van Bommel and Gjivai Zechiël.

Historically, the Netherlands have the edge in this fixture, winning six of the ten previous meetings, although Serbia have won three. With both teams already having points to make up after Thursday's results, Sunday's encounter promises another important early test in Group 2.

Squads

Serbia

Goalkeepers: Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Napoli), Djordje Petrovic (Bournemouth), Filip Stankovic (Venezia)

Defenders: Strahinja Pavlovic (AC Milan), Strahinja Erakovic (Samsunspor), Srdjan Babic (Spartak Moscow), Nikola Simic (Partizan), Kosta Nedeljkovic (Rangers), Aleksa Terzic (Frosinone), Petar Sukacev (Vojvodina), Lazar Nikolic (Vojvodina)

Midfielders: Aleksandar Stankovic (Inter Milan), Nemanja Maksimovic (Shabab Al-Ahli), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al-Hilal), Sasa Lukic (Ipswich Town), Nemanja Gudelj (Getafe), Vanja Dragojevic (Rangers), Lazar Samardzic (Atalanta), Andrija Zivkovic (PAOK), Filip Kostic (PSV Eindhoven), Stefan Dzodic (Almeria), Vasilije Kostov (Red Star Belgrade), Dusan Tadic (NEC Nijmegen)

Forwards: Dusan Vlahovic (Besiktas), Luka Jovic (AEK Athens), Dejan Joveljic (Seattle Sounders), Mihajlo Cvetkovic (Anderlecht), Jovan Milosevic (Braga)

Netherlands

Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen)

Defenders: Denzel Dumfries (Real Madrid), Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool), Lutsharel Geertruida (PSV), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathan Aké (Fenerbahçe), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Tijjani Reijnders (Al-Qadsiah), Joey Veerman (Borussia Dortmund), Quinten Timber (Crystal Palace), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Kenneth Taylor (Lazio), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Gjivai Zechiël (Feyenoord)

Forwards: Crysencio Summerville (Al-Hilal), Donyell Malen (AS Roma), Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (Napoli), Ruben van Bommel (PSV)

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Pep Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City in the summer of 2016 heralded the beginning of the club’s most successful period in their history.

While the Catalan was instrumental in evolving City into the all-conquering behemoth they would become in the first half of the 2020s, he was able to inherit a star-packed squad, including one of the Premier League’s most prolific-ever strikers.

By 2016, Sergio Aguero had been in Manchester for five years and was instrumental in the club’s Premier League title victories in 2012 and 2014. And while this combination of an era-defining manager and world-class striker was a tantalising proposition, it did not come without challenges.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Aguero on adapting to Guardiola

While Aguero would ultimately flourish under Guardiola, he initially faced a transitional period owing to what Guardiola demanded from his front-man when City were without the ball.

“Pep Guardiola arrived as manager in 2016, and at first that was a little complicated for me,” Aguero admits to FourFourTwo.

Guardiola’s interpretation of the forward’s role differed from what Aguero was used to at City under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, with the former Barcelona boss introducing his trademark pressing game to the club.

“I wasn’t used to having to maintain the press he was looking for from a striker. But actually, it worked out very well,” he adds.

City would finish third in the table at the end of Guardiola’s first season in charge, but the title was duly delivered 12 months later, with Aguero as prolific as ever.

“Over time, we adapted and ended up helping each other,” he continues. “He demanded so much of me that, well, I scored a lot of goals with him, and won titles.

Aguero would spend five years at City under Guardiola, during which time the forward added three Premier League title, an FA Cup and four League Cups to his medal collection, scoring 124 goals in the process.

It’s a period of his career which Aguero, who left the club in 2021, looks back at fondly.

“The truth is, we ended up having a very nice history at the club together, so I only have words to thank him for everything he did to help me continue scoring goals and making history.

“For me, Pep is the best coach I ever had – he’s the best coach in the world.”

Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal in the WSL, with all the broadcast details right here in this guide.

After rescuing a point against Manchester United last weeked, Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge desperate for a victory after back-to-back draws.

Chelsea dropped points on the opening day, but have since bounced back with two wins on the spin.

This London derby between two WSL heavyweights is always a treat, and there is plenty at stake as these sides meet again this weekend.

FourFourTwo has all the information on live streams and TV channels so you can watch Chelsea vs Arsenal in the WSL online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal for free

US viewers can watch Chelsea vs Arsenal in the WSL at no cost on CBS Sports Golazo Network, which will show selected WSL fixtures throughout the campaign.

Outside the UK or US? Use a VPN to access your free stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Chelsea vs Arsenal

The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

How to watch Chelsea vs Arsenal in the UK

Chelsea vs Arsenal is live on Sky Sports in the UK, with kick-off at 4:30pm BST.

Outside the UK? Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal via NordVPN.

How to watch Chelsea vs Arsenal in the US

As mentioned above, US viewers can watch Chelsea vs Arsenal for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Kick-off is at 11:30am ET.

Paramount+ also has live coverage of the WSL clash.

How to watch Chelsea vs Arsenal in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream Chelsea vs Arsenal on Stan Sport.

Travelling outside Australia? NordVPN is your ticket to watch the game.

Chelsea vs Arsenal: Women's Super League preview

Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday for one of the most eagerly anticipated match-ups of the WSL season.

The Gunners finished second last season, one place above Chelsea, and also got the better of their London rivals in the Champions League, knocking them out at the quarter-final stage.

Following a draw with Aston Villa on the opening day, Chelsea responded by thrashing Manchester United 5-0 before beating newly promoted Birmingham City 2-0.

Arsenal, meanwhile, come into this tie on the back of two draws. A stoppage-time equaliser from Smilla Holmberg rescued a point against Manchester United last weekend, while they were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace the week before. They opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Brighton.

They also needed a late intervention in midweek to secure victory in the Champions League, with a stoppage-time penalty earning them a 1-0 win.

Both sides were back in European action this week, with Chelsea beating Austria Wien and Arsenal overcoming HB Køge by the same 1-0 scoreline. Neither performance was particularly convincing, and both sets of fans will be hoping for more at Stamford Bridge.

Both Sonia Bompastor and Renée Slegers have faced early scrutiny at times this season, and Sunday's fixture will be both teams' biggest test of the season so far.

With Chelsea and Arsenal so closely matched in recent seasons, there is more than just three points at stake as the London rivals battle for local bragging rights.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal

Arsenal have struggled in front of goal this season, whereas Chelsea proved against Manchester United that they can be ruthless when needed

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The Champions League has produced some extraordinary club sides since the competition was rebranded in 1992.

From all-conquering dynasties to one-season wonders, a real mix of teams have lifted the famous trophy over the past three-and-a-half decades.

But which team stands alone as the greatest? FourFourTwo have taken on the task of ranking the best sides of the modern era...

20. Porto 2004

During the past 30 seasons, no club from outside the current top five leagues has won the Champions League… except Porto in 2004.

The Portuguese side’s journey to glory remains the Champions League era’s greatest underdog story, bar none. Led by a suave, impudent former translator named Jose Mourinho (you may well have heard of him), the Primeira Liga minnows stunned the European elite by winning the Champions League, merely a year after defeating Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville.

The soon-to-be Special One arrived at the club halfway through the 2001-02 season, at the age of just 38, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. By the time that contract expired, he had claimed every trophy available to him.

He did it by demanding complete and utter conformity to his vision and his values. Off the ball, his team would sit deep and soak pressure; in possession, they would counter-attack in ruthless fashion. But it was about so much more than just the tactics. Mourinho gave his players an unshakeable belief that they could triumph if they stuck together, as well as a complete lack of respect for the traditional big guns.

His side was perfectly balanced. In the centre of defence, Ricardo Carvalho formed a rock-solid partnership with captain Jorge Costa, who passed away tragically this August, at the age of just 53. The pair were shielded in midfield by the tireless Costinha, while Deco was the creative heartbeat, linking with the likes of Maniche and Pedro Mendes. In front of goal, South African ace Benni McCarthy provided the cutting edge.

Surprisingly, Porto’s pathway to glory actually appeared to get increasingly less taxing as the tournament went on. In the group stage, they took only one point from their first two games, losing at home to Real Madrid, but responded with wins over a handy Marseille side starring Didier Drogba to finish second.

Moving from their old Estadio das Antas home to the newly built Estadio do Dragao amid-season, they won 2-1 at home to Manchester United in their first European game at the venue, before a late Costinha goal decided the tie in the second leg at Old Trafford – cue the rain-soaked Mourinho’s iconic run down the touchline to celebrate. Lyon and Deportivo La Coruna were defeated to book a place in the final against Monaco in Gelsenkirchen, which they dominated 3-0 thanks to goals from Carlos Alberto, Deco and Dmitri Alenichev.

It launched Mourinho into the stratosphere and ensured Porto’s status as one of the finest cult teams in European history.

19. Inter 2010

Six years after triumphing with Porto, Jose Mourinho was at it again. Using Samuel Eto’o as an auxiliary right-back at times, Inter let opponents have the ball: Bayern Munich had 68 per cent possession in the final, but were still soundly beaten 2-0 thanks to a Diego Milito brace. Inter didn’t have a single Italian in their starting XI that night.

HIGHLIGHT The remarkable rearguard action in the semi-final second leg at Barcelona, having lost Thiago Motta to a red card during the first half.

18. Manchester United 2008

The Red Devils were less exciting than their 1999 vintage, scoring seven goals in as many knockout matches, although they did have Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez going forward, while Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic helped to keep eight clean sheets. Then came John Terry’s slip in the shootout in Moscow…

HIGHLIGHT Paul Scholes’ stunning goal against Barcelona at Old Trafford – the only goal across two legs of that tense semi-final.

17. Juventus 1996

During the mid-90s, Marcello Lippi’s Juventus overtook Fabio Capello’s Milan as Italy’s most dominant team, and the ultimate proof was their Champions League triumph – even if victory in the final was on penalties over Ajax. It was a typically well-oiled Serie A machine with Didier Deschamps, Paulo Sousa and Antonio Conte in midfield.

STAR MAN Alessandro Del Piero was the key to a quarter-final win over Real Madrid, overturning a first-leg deficit.

16. Milan 2007

Some feared that Carlo Ancelotti’s side could run out of steam after Andriy Shevchenko was sold to Chelsea, but they became more efficient. After a 2-0 victory at Bayern Munich, they thrashed Manchester United 3-0 at San Siro in the semi-final, before Pippo Inzaghi (left) bagged a brace that secured revenge over Liverpool in the final in Athens.

STAR MAN Kaka took Manchester United apart in the semis, then bagged the Ballon d’Or that year.

15. Liverpool 2019

Were it not for some last-gasp heroics from Alisson Becker in the final minute of Liverpool’s last group game against Napoli, the kings of 2019 would not have made it through, but they grew stronger from there. Bayern Munich, Porto and Spurs were dispatched on the way to the trophy, after one distinctly more dramatic evening at Anfield…

HIGHLIGHT Defeated 3-0 in the first leg of the semi at Barcelona, Jurgen Klopp’s side won the second leg 4-0 – one of the most remarkable matches ever.

14. Barcelona 2006

Frank Rijkaard built his side around the genius of Ronaldinho, and the Brazilian led Barça to their first European success since 1992. Ronnie scored seven goals in the Champions League that term, while Lionel Messi started to emerge, too – Chelsea’s Asier del Horno was sent off for fouling him in the last 16.

HIGHLIGHT Arsenal led the final 1-0 despite Jens Lehmann’s red card, then sub Henrik Larsson provided late assists for Samuel Eto’o and unlikely scorer Juliano Belletti.

13. Bayern Munich 2001

Bayern were traumatised by defeat to Manchester United in 1999, but boss Ottmar Hitzfeld made his team even stronger. Bayern beat both previous winners home and away, overcoming the Red Devils in the last eight, then Real Madrid in the semis, aided by goals from Giovane Elber, before the most German thing possible – a victory on penalties in the final against Valencia.

STAR MAN World’s angriest man Oliver Kahn saved three times in the shootout.

12. Real Madrid 2022

Karim Benzema turned 34, Luka Modric was 36, but the old guard were able to navigate maybe the toughest ever run to the final – coming from two goals down to defeat PSG in the last 16, narrowly edging a quarter-final with Chelsea, rescuing the semi against Manchester City with two late goals, then beating Liverpool in Paris thanks to Thibaut Courtois.

STAR MAN Benzema won the Ballon d’Or after two hat-tricks, against PSG and Chelsea.

11. Milan 1994

The 1994 final at Athens’ Olympic Stadium was billed by some as a clash between an irresistible force and an immovable object.

Fabio Capello’s Milan were known for their defensive prowess, conceding just twice in 11 games leading up to the final, in the only season that featured Champions League semi-finals played over just one leg. After winning their group, they earned home advantage to beat Arsene Wenger’s Monaco 3-0.

Milan’s opponents – Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona, dubbed the ‘Dream Team’ thanks to their free-scoring flair – had been the best attacking team in the competition, hitting 26 goals.

The Catalan giants boasted Romario, Hristo Stoichkov, Ronald Koeman and Pep Guardiola among their ranks, thus were considered favourites, having also been kings of Europe in 1992, in the last campaign before the Champions League rebrand. “Milan are nothing out of this world,” declared a rather confident Cruyff prior to the final. “They base their game on defence, we base ours on attack.”

Milan had lost the previous year’s final to Marseille, increasing the pressure on them, while several key players would be missing this time. Marco van Basten was injured, with both Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta suspended.

Their best chance of triumphing, it had seemed, would be to shut up shop and try to take a tight showpiece all the way to a decisive penalty shootout.

Capello reshuffled his pack, moving Paolo Maldini to centre-back – with Marcel Desailly and Demetrio Albertini both sat in front of the defence, he felt his side could frustrate Barcelona.

What he may not have expected was an attacking masterclass, as his side hunted in packs, forcing Barcelona into errors before pouncing. Daniele Massaro found the net twice before the interval, with a Dejan Savicevic wonder goal and a fourth from Desailly leaving Cruyff’s previously confident side winded.

The victory would go down as one of the all-time great European displays – until this year, it was the biggest margin of victory in a Champions League final.

Maldini’s individual performance was particularly lauded, and even Cruyff had to admit that his entertainers had been well and truly beaten. “It was not that we played badly,” he sighed. “It was that we did not play at all.”

10. Ajax 1995

Like a television show that launched the careers of a number of A-list actors, Ajax’s all-conquering 1995 team almost doesn’t feel plausible, when you look at it with hindsight.

Featuring the homegrown talents of Edwin van der Sar, De Boer twins Frank and Ronald, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids and 18-year-old Patrick Kluivert – plus Marc Overmars, Nwankwo Kanu, Jari Litmanen and Frank Rijkaard, back at the club after five years with Milan – Louis van Gaal’s side blew away the competition to secure the Champions League with an average age of just 23.

What’s more, they did it without losing a single game throughout the entire campaign. This was the first season in which the top clubs started in the group stage, rather than needing to play any knockout fixtures beforehand. In their opening group game, Ajax set their stall out by beating reigning champs Milan 2-0 in front of a crowd of 35,000 at their old Olympisch Stadium in Amsterdam.

A couple of months later, they beat the Rossoneri 2-0 once more, this time in Trieste, in a game that was moved following crowd trouble in Milan’s prior home game against Casino Salzburg.

Further home and away wins over AEK Athens ensured that Ajax topped the group, giving them a somewhat gentler last-eight tie against Croatians Hajduk Split, which they cruised through 3-0.

Bayern Munich looked a tougher test in the semis – drawing 0-0 in Germany though, Ajax triumphed 5-2 at home to reach their first final since 1973.

Again facing Milan in the final, many fancied the Rossoneri to hit back and defend their crown, but again they were flummoxed by Ajax’s fluid movement, high press and patient possession, with the Dutch outfit’s players weaned on Johan Cruyff’s Total Football philosophy.

Van Gaal set up with a 3-4-3, asking his midfield to recycle possession to tease openings in Fabio Capello’s rigid 4-4-2. Seedorf and Litmanen looked to receive in the half spaces, while Rijkaard – the wise old general at the base of midfield – pulled the strings.

They had to be patient – a 1-0 victory in Vienna came courtesy of a late swivel and finish from Kluivert, who remains the youngest scorer in a Champions League final at 18 years, 327 days.

Ajax reached the final again a year later, but many of the team soon got big transfers elsewhere. A stunning run to the semi-finals in 2019 aside, they’ve never come close to winning it since.

9. Bayern Munich 2013

Jupp Heynckes wasn’t the luckiest of coaches throughout his career – fired after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 1998, he departed after Bayern’s 2013 triumph too, with Pep Guardiola lined up to replace him. Heynckes’ Bayern side were terrific, with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery causing mayhem on both wings – the former scored the winner in the final against compatriots Borussia Dortmund.

HIGHLIGHT Dismantling Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-final.

8. Real Madrid 2002

At the start of the 2001-02 campaign, Zinedine Zidane arrived to join Raul, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo – it was little wonder that Los Blancos then scored 27 goals in two group stages. Vicente del Bosque’s side possessed character too: coming from behind to beat Bayern Munich in the last eight, then winning at Barcelona in the semis.

HIGHLIGHT That Zizou volley against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park – the greatest goal ever scored in a Champions League final.

7. Barcelona 2015

When Luis Suarez left Liverpool for Barça in 2014, MSN was born, and good luck to any defences attempting to stop them. Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar formed one of the best strike trios ever, netting 27 Champions League goals between them that season – Barcelona beat Juventus 3-1 in the final in Berlin, as boss Luis Enrique claimed the Treble.

HIGHLIGHT Messi scoring after putting Jerome Boateng on his backside, when Barcelona beat Bayern 3-0 in the semis.

6. Manchester United 1999

Football, bloody hell. Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were thrilling, not only for the way that they played, but for the dramatic way they secured the trophy. The Red Devils were two goals down in the semi against Juventus, before a superb comeback in Turin – the final wasn’t boring, either...

HIGHLIGHT The injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, both from David Beckham corners, which defeated Bayern in the final. Legendary.

5. Manchester City 2023

The second team from Manchester to complete a Treble, the club’s very first Champions League triumph came in a season when they demolished the opposition. Erling Haaland scored 12 goals – a joint record for a player at an English club, tying Ruud van Nistelrooy’s tally 20 years earlier – with John Stones inverting into midfield in Pep Guardiola’s latest innovation. Manchester City obliterated sides at home in the knockout stage – beating RB Leipzig 7-0, Bayern Munich 3-0 and Real Madrid 4-0.

STAR MAN Scorer of the winner against Inter in the final, Rodri quietly made his side completely unbeatable.

4. Bayern Munich 2020

COVID ensured that there was no crowd present to see their triumph over PSG in the final in Lisbon, but Hansi Flick’s side were formidable – Manuel Neuer was as good as he had ever been, David Alaba and Jerome Boateng were rock solid in central defence, while Alphonso Davies was electric at full-back. Add in Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Thiago Alcantara, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich – oh, as well as 15-goal Robert Lewandowski – and you can see why they won the trophy. A 7-2 win at Spurs in the group stage preceded an even better victory in the quarters…

HIGHLIGHT The 8-2 thumping of Barça had real Germany vs Brazil 2014 ‘stop, they’re already dead’ vibes. Just brutal.

3. Paris Saint-Germain 2025

In the end, it needed the Parisians to drop their policy of signing ready-made superstars for massive fees for them to become the best side in world football. Boss Luis Enrique (right) eschewed the previous largesses with a hard-pressing and tactically disciplined line-up that stormed to a historic Treble, ending their long wait for European supremacy. Ousmane Dembele’s sniper instincts were key, but plenty more played their part too, from the invention of Vitinha to the princely panache of a teenage Desire Doue.

HIGHLIGHT The 5-0 demolition of Inter in Munich, breaking the record for the biggest victory in a Champions League final, which had stood for 31 years.

2. Real Madrid 2014-18

During the first 24 editions of the Champions League, no club were ever able to defend their crown. Then Real Madrid won three in succession between 2016 and 2018 – their earlier 2014 triumph making it four victories across an astonishing five-year spell.

Italian Carlo Ancelotti oversaw the first of those glory days, before Zinedine Zidane masterminded the latter run – becoming the first and only gaffer to date to win three consecutive titles, even including the 37 years when the competition was the European Cup.

It would be all too easy to point to Cristiano Ronaldo’s gun-slinging genius as the reason for those successes – the Portuguese icon scored a ludicrous 70 Champions League goals across that five-year span, including 17 in 2013-14 (a single-season record) – but, in truth, it was a team effort by superstars more than willing to roll up their sleeves and play dirty.

Key to that was defender and leader Sergio Ramos, who scored in two finals, both against city rivals Atletico Madrid, including the 93rd-minute equaliser in 2014 that kept their 10th European crown, La Decima, alive. The Spaniard left his mark in other ways as well, such as the unpunished wrestling move that ended Mo Salah’s participation in the 2018 triumph over Liverpool in Kyiv.

There was some evolution within the squad between Ancelotti and Zidane’s reigns, but many players remained the same – Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo at the back, with Luka Modric making the UEFA squad of the season for each of the four years during that run when Real Madrid were European champions.

Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo combined up top – or ‘BBC’, as the trio were dubbed by fans. OK, technically it should have been BBR, which works less well, but we’ll allow it.

Ronaldo was always the big dog – he netted in the 2014 and 2017 finals, and also struck the winning penalty in the 2016 shootout – but each forward had his moment in the limelight. Benzema netted key goals in semi-finals, including a brace against Bayern Munich in 2018, while Bale’s bicycle kick in Kyiv is maybe only second to Zidane’s volley in 2002 for Champions League final goals. Some might argue it was even better.

During that era, Real Madrid weren’t always easy on the eye, but they were a team who never knew when they were beaten. Indeed, they rarely were.

1. Barcelona 2009-11

Unplayable. That was the word Alex Ferguson used to describe the Barcelona team that defeated his Manchester United side 3-1 in the 2011 Champions League Final.

It was impossible to disagree with the usually bullish Scot, given how utterly his team were dominated at Wembley by a brilliant Barça side busy securing their second Champions League in three years under boss Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola’s tiki-taka disciples enjoyed 69 per cent possession and racked up 777 passes in that 2011 final – more than twice the number the Red Devils managed – as Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa took their combined goal tally for the season to 98 across all competitions (Messi alone scored 53). Rio Ferdinand said that he “felt like a Conference player” as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets & Co toyed with them in a mesmeric display of passing. Manchester United had been Barça’s victims in the 2009 final, too, when the Catalans started with six of the same players – Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Victor Valdes and Gerard Pique. Only 21 years old for the first final, Messi scored a rare header en route to the first of his seven Ballon d’Or awards.

Not only did Barcelona win a Treble in 2009, they then added the Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup to make it an incredible six trophies in the same calendar year. Eight more trinkets were won during the reign of Guardiola, who built what’s widely regarded as the greatest club side in history.

His now-familiar tactical blueprint – creating space in possession, while also suffocating the field when the ball is lost – was key in making Barcelona such a force. Early on, so too were the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, who were part of the 2009 side.

Yet Messi’s genius was crucial to it all. The playmaker started from the right at first, but was often used as a false nine as time went on, allowing him to scurry deep into midfield to orchestrate play. Highlights included a brilliant solo effort against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the 2011 semi-final, as part of a brace that defeated Jose Mourinho’s men and sent Barça to Wembley. In between the club’s two Champions League triumphs, Messi also scored four in one match in a 2010 quarter-final against Arsenal. With Messi on the field, opposition teams knew their painstaking tactical gameplan could be thrown out of the window at any moment; any mistake pounced upon and punished in ice-cold fashion. Without Messi, Barça would have been a fantastic team anyway. With him, they became the best ever. Ferguson always took great pride in the fact that his own 1999 Champions League Final-winning team included four players who came from the youth team – David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt, with Paul Scholes absent through suspension. Guardiola’s 2009 and 2011 winners each had seven: the six players who started both finals, plus Carles Puyol in Rome and Pedro at Wembley.

Inter’s dramatic rearguard at the Camp Nou prevented Barcelona from triumphing in 2010, and Guardiola’s last season would culminate in a shock semi loss to Chelsea in 2012, but the ruthless beauty seen in both 2009 and 2011 will forever remain in football history. Forget unplayable. It was perfect.

Can you tell us the answer to this quiz question?

What have Ademola Lookman, Alphonso Davies, Eusebio and (if we’re being picky) Sam Kerr all achieved that no South American player ever has?

We'll reveal the answer this time next week when we reach the next edition of The Pre-Match Poser – for now, here's the answer to last week's poser…

Q. Erling Haaland, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Diego Forlan, Romelu Lukaku, Neymar, Wayne Rooney. How are these players ordered?

A. They’re placed according to how long their country’s international goalscoring record had stood before they broke it. Erling Haaland’s 34th goal for Norway in 2024 broke an 87-year record, previously set by Jorgen Juve; Sven Rydell set Sweden's record in 1932, which survived until Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke it with his 50th goal in September 2014, 82 years later. Set during Uruguay's golden era of 1920s Olympic gold medals and the inaugural 1930 World Cup, Hector Scarone’s 31-goal tally stood for 81 years, until Diego Forlan surpassed it in October 2011. Bernard Voorhoof set Belgium's record in 1940 (later equalled by Paul Van Himst in 1974), with the 30-goal benchmark standing for 77 years, before Romelu Lukaku smashed it in November 2017. In 2023, Neymar took Brazil’s record, beating Pele’s long-standing 77 goals after 52 years. Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s 49-goal record after 45 years in 2015.

More football quizzes we know you'll love

While you're racking your brains over that one, we have loads more to enjoy so why not take on these quizzes, courtesy of Kwizly?

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This year’s Ballon d’Or promises to be the most fiercely contested in almost 50 years.

Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal are all vying to be crowned the world’s best player next month with the contest set to make history no matter what happens. The award last saw such a close run-off in 1977, when Allan Simonsen, Kevin Keegan and Michel Platini fought it out for the accolade where just four points separated the final podium. Campaigning has rarely played any part in the process. Even at the height of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s seesaw battle that lasted a full decade, on-field form continued to dictate which of the pair finished in the top and runner-up spots.

But Mbappe has changed all that in the build-up to the ceremony taking place outside Paris for the first time since its 2016 return with a relentless PR drive in a desperate attempt to convince those tasked with voting for the winner that he rightfully deserves the Ballon d'Or more than Kane, Yamal or reigning holder Dembele.

Kylian Mbappe’s PR offensive threatens to reshape Ballon d’Or

According to the Real Madrid forward, no one enjoyed a better 2025/26 than him despite finishing empty-handed for club and country. He wouldn’t be the first Ballon d’Or winner in recent history, let alone of all time, to win it from that position. Ronaldo himself claimed the 2013 honour after enduring his own trophyless season at the Bernabeu. But Mbappe’s insistence on pushing the envelope by filling every possible space in the news cycle with various justifications has veered into bizarre territories.

The fact he would vote for himself if he could, in a contest chosen entirely by journalists, is apparently considered a ringing endorsement. So, too, was a latest bout of electioneering that cited an upbringing ‘steeped in African culture’ and a recent visit to Cameroon as further reasons why the continent's eligible correspondents should be backing him. Such is the shambolic nature of Mbappe's press tour that AI-generated screenshots depicting him being interviewed in a bathtub by a French YouTuber recently went viral despite nothing of the sort actually taking place.

Mbappe’s supreme self-confidence in his powers of persuasion is understandable if somewhat misguided.

He finished as the World Cup's Golden Boot winner as well as the tournament’s all-time top scorer, pipping Messi despite reaching a third final in the past four editions, but missed out on a bronze medal to Kane and England in a chaotic third place play-off. His combined goal involvements for France and Madrid clocked in at 57 from 52 appearances – but it still paled in comparison to Kane’s haul of 75 goals and assists in 58 matches for Bayern Munich and the Three Lions. The fastest-ever player to rack up 100 Bundesliga strikes also won a German league and cup double while eliminating Mbappe's Real Madrid from the Champions League knockout stage.

Despite injury issues limiting his impact at the World Cup this summer, Yamal also has taken aim at Kane. The teenager managed to produced 44 goal involvements in 53 games and play a key part in two trophy-winning teams with Barcelona and Spain. He believes the Ballon d'Or should not simply go to trophy winners or 'a player who has scored 80 goals'.

But Mbappe has already made clear that he is not pushing to win for personal gain, rather out of a sense of duty as ‘the award belongs back at the Bernabeu’. Los Blancos and Barca players have won the award 12 times apiece in their own right - more than any other club - but that has not stopped the former from proudly displaying 17 iterations of the trophy, including those won by players prior to their moves, including Kaka and Michael Owen, also showcased in reflected glory.

Already reigning supreme with the most Champions League titles, Madrid now want to become the outright leaders in Ballon d'Or successes. A sense of unfinished business also hangs over Mbappe's never-ending propaganda push. Scars from the 2024 award, when Rodri gazumped Vinicius Jr after driving Spain's European Championship triumph, remain raw over two years on. The Brazil international and his teammates boycotted the ceremony in disgust at the perceived theft despite the final vote confirming he had finished 41 points behind the then Manchester City playmaker.

Vinicius responded to the disappointment by defiantly claiming he would win it “10 times if I have to”, hinting that it represented a greater personal achievement than his man-of-the-match display at the pinnacle of European club football and potentially anything he would achieve on the international stage. It's an obsession which has become so all-consuming that it has become detrimental to his on-field exploits, which has a knock-on effect of dissuading those who previously voted for him.

Kane's reluctance to talk up the prospect of a hometown coronation at the London Palladium, hosting the award's 70th anniversary away from its spiritual home, only strengthens his case alongside the tangible evidence left out on the pitch. Now 33 and still at the peak of his powers, it is difficult to root against the Bayern marksman.

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has even gone against his creed by tipping his ex-Tottenham lieutenant over Messi, who retains support from his Argentina teammates and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham to claim the award for a record-extending ninth time.

The 33-year-old knows how cheap talk can be, having extinguished laughable talk of him being a 'one-season wonder' to become the Premier League's all-time leading scorer prior to his move to Germany, and is not defined by whether or not he wins the Ballon d'Or this year or in any other of his remaining career. Kane is merely another pawn in the latest instalment of what has become football's annual popularity contest.

Whoever is crowned as the game's new crème de la crème in the English capital will still be fiercely disputed by various factions. It has been the case ever since the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly shifted the dynamic of what the award is supposed to represent.

Mbappe prevailing would not confirm anything other than the best way to win a Ballon d'Or moving forward is to just do all your talking away from the pitch.

Sixty-nine days after they lifted the World Cup trophy in New Jersey, Spain faced England last night. It was only one of several mouthwatering fixtures in this fortnight-long international break, which also brings us the Netherlands vs Germany, Belgium vs France and Norway vs Portugal.

The UEFA Nations League is back for a fifth edition, and while there have been the usual grumblings about an untimely disruption to the Premier League season (although not from Tottenham fans, who are glad of the break), you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would prefer to see meaningless friendlies over the next two weeks.

Anyone in Europe, that is. For while the Nations League has been a success for the old continent, it is not viewed quite so favourably outside it. Brazil and Argentina, for instance, must curse the day it was introduced to the calendar.

"There is a danger that international football is going the way of the club game"

For who are those two giants, with eight World Cups between them, facing in this extended international break?

Such is the paucity of available opponents, Brazil are taking on Australia not once but twice, before a trip to Kolkata to face India, the side ranked 138th in the world, sandwiched between Latvia and the Central African Republic. Argentina have fixed up friendlies with Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin, a trio of challengers which might please alliteration aficionados but will do little to set pulses racing in Buenos Aires (aside from Lionel Messi playing his final international fixture for the Albiceleste).

None of this is ideal for the wider international game. By the time the Nations League and tournament qualifiers are taken care of, there are very few opportunities for non-European powers to pit their wits against the nations that have dominated the World Cup over the last two decades.

And dominate they have. Five of the last six world champions have been European. This summer, Argentina and Morocco were the only quarter-finalists from other continents. Since their last triumph in 2002, Brazil have been eliminated from the World Cup by the first European team they have met in the knockout stage. First, that was France, the Netherlands and Germany. Then it was Belgium, Croatia and Norway. There is a danger that international football is going the way of the club game, with Europe pulling further ahead of the rest of the world.

That might seem overblown when you consider the quality of players that Brazil and Argentina continue to produce. Besides, Argentina have not exactly done badly in recent years, reaching three of the last four World Cup finals.

Other nations have benefited from Europe’s development programmes. Morocco’s World Cup squad contained 19 players born overseas, mostly in France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Japanese players, now a common sight in the Premier League, the Bundesliga and LaLiga, are leaving home at an increasingly young age.

Yet all those countries would welcome the chance to butt heads with the likes of Spain, France, Germany and England more often. Unfortunately, few roads lead to Rome. Since the launch of the Nations League in 2018, Brazil have played just five games against European sides outside of tournaments. In the eight years before that, they played 25.

It is a similar situation for Argentina. In the last seven years, the only European sides they have faced in a non-competitive environment are Estonia and Iceland. Some of their friendly slots last season were filled by such gruelling assignments as Puerto Rico, Angola and Mauritania. It is a far cry from 2014, when they played Germany, Croatia and Portugal in the space of a few months.

European nations take for granted the sort of regular, competitive, well-matched games the Nations League affords them. Familiarity breeds not contempt but raised standards.

The problem is, there is no easy solution. Amid the latest FIFA debacle, there was tentative talk of Brazil and Argentina joining the Nations League. A UEFA official claimed back in 2021 that their admission was imminent. Yet FIFA and CONMEBOL would be bitterly opposed to such interconfederation crossover, and Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay - not to mention Japan, Morocco, Senegal et al. - would surely demand tickets to the party.

In fact, things could get worse before they get better. The ludicrously structured 2030 World Cup will begin in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay before continuing in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with all six hosts qualifying automatically. The expansion to a 48-team tournament had already made CONMEBOL qualification a doddle for the major powers. With three out of 10 teams already through, the upcoming edition will be even less exacting.

You could argue that none of this is Europe’s problem - and you would have a point. Every confederation is out to look after its own. But for fans of the global game, the Nations League is a double-edged sword.

When Jonjo Shelvey was coming up through the ranks at Charlton Athletic, he was touted as a potential England regular.

A move to Liverpool as an 18-year-old would follow in 2010, with a full England debut arriving two years later, but he would fail to establish himself as a regular in the Three Lions midfield at that time.

Shelvey was knocking on the door again during his time at Newcastle United, going on to play some of the best football of his career during the 2017/18 season, but a call-up for that summer’s World Cup never came.

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Shelvey on his England career

Shelvey would end up winning just six Three Lions caps, with his 2018 World Cup omission particularly galling for him as he looks back at his international career.

“Yes, 100 per cent I should have won more caps,” he told FourFourTwo. “Sometimes I didn’t deserve them, but other times I did and was overlooked.”

After helping guide Newcastle to promotion from the Championship in 2016/17, he enjoyed a fruitful first season back in the top flight, but believes his absence from the Three Lions squad that went to Russia that summer stemmed from an incident during his time in the under-21s.

“I should have been taken to the 2018 World Cup, because that season I had the most assists of any English midfielder when I was at Newcastle,” he continues.

“I was playing the best football of my career but didn’t get a call-up. I think it all stemmed from something that happened with Gareth Southgate a few years earlier. When he got the under 21 job, I’d already played for the seniors, but I was still eligible for them.

“I’d just joined Swansea when Southgate gave me a call and said: 'I’m not going to bring you because you’ve just moved clubs and you’ve got the Europa League qualifiers, so I’m going to look at some other players, and I also expect you to be with the senior team.'

“I was fine with that, but told him if anything changed I’d be there for him, because I loved playing for England.”

Shelvey believes the mixed messages that followed impacted his international future.

“Then I think he said I’d refused to play,” he continues. “When Roy Hodgson called me up to the senior squad, I remember Stuart Pearce saying on Sky Sports News that I shouldn’t have been selected as I’d refused to play for the under 21s.

“When I was at St George’s Park, I went to find Southgate and asked him why he’d said that, because I’d said I would come. He just said: 'No, no, I didn’t say that.' I knew from that moment I wasn’t going to play for him.”

Watch Czechia vs Croatia as both team's face-off in this UEFA Nations League contest.

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Croatia and the Czech Republic meet in Prague after contrasting World Cup campaigns.

Croatia reached the knockout stages before losing to Portugal, whilst Czechia exited in the group stages.

Their two most recent meetings saw a 5-1 Croatia win and a 0-0 draw in 2025, adding intrigue to Saturday’s Nations League tie.

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Can I watch Czechia vs Croatia for FREE?

Czechia vs Croatia will be shown live and for free on CT Sport in the Czech Republic and on Nova TV in Croatia.

You can also watch the game for free in the US on Fubo Sports Network which is available on the free Tubi streaming platform.

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READ 'It doesn't look good' for Benjamin Sesko injury, with Manchester United star sidelined with 'chronic' problem: report

Czechia vs Croatia: Preview

Czechia begin their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign at home to Croatia on Saturday, with both sides bidding for success in the highly competitive Group A3. The group also contains England and Spain, meaning points will be particularly valuable from the opening round of fixtures.

The hosts will be looking to put their recent meetings with Croatia behind them. The two nations met in World Cup qualifying in 2025, with Croatia running out 5-1 winners in Osijek in June. Czechia had taken the lead through Tomáš Souček, but Croatia responded with five unanswered goals, including two from Andrej Kramarić.

That result followed a goalless draw between the sides in Prague earlier in the qualifying campaign, meaning the recent head-to-head record has produced contrasting encounters.

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Croatia know a thing or two about the Nations League, having previously reached the 2023 final, losing to Spain on penalties, while their place in League A once again puts them among Europe's leading sides.

For Czechia, the challenge is particularly demanding. They face England just three days after Croatia before travelling to Spain, giving them three tricky opponents in the opening stages of the competition. Croatia's schedule is similarly relentless, with Spain following on Tuesday before England's visit in October.

Squads

Czechia

Goalkeepers: Lukas Hornicek (Newcastle United), Antonin Kinsky (Tottenham Hotspur), Matej Kovar (PSV Eindhoven)

Defenders: Vladimir Coufal, Robin Hranac (both Hoffenheim), Stepan Chaloupek, David Jurasek, Tomas Vlcek, David Zima (all Slavia Praha), Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton), Matej Rynes (Sparta Praha), Michal Sacak (Gornik Zabrze).

Midfielders: Lukas Ambros (Anderlecht), Pavel Bucha (FC Cincinnati), Denis Visinsky, Lukas Cerv (both Plzen), Adam Karabec, Roman Macek (both Sparta Praha), Alex Kral (FC Copenhagen), Ondrej Lingr (Korona Kielce), Lukas Provod, Michal Sadíilek (both Slavia Praha), Matej Radosta (Teplice)

Forwards: Adam Hlozek (Hoffenheim), Tomas Chory (Slavia Praha), Pavel Sulc (Lyon).

Croatia

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković (Barcelona), Dominik Kotarski (Dinamo), Ivor Pandur (Rangers)

Defenders: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), Josip Juranović (Union Berlin), Josip Šutalo (Lazio), Josip Stanišić (Bayern), Martin Erlić (Midtjylland), Luka Vušković (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ivan Smolčić (Como)

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Milan), Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (Torino), Martin Baturina (Como), Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad), Petar Sučić (Inter), Josip Mišić (Dinamo)

Forwards: Ivan Perišić (PSV), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pašalić (Orlando City), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanović (Freiburg), Franjo Ivanović (Lens), Dion Drena Beljo (Dinamo)

Prediction

Czechia 1-3 Croatia

FourFourTwo predicts a win for Slaven Bilic's men in Prague.

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England face 2026 World Cup winners Spain in their next Nations League match this evening, kicking off at 7:45pm BST.

The match will be broadcast by ITV, with a selection of pundits, commentators and presenters set to lead the Group C coverage.

The two sides last faced off in the 2024 European Championship final, which Spain won by a 2-1 scoreline in added time. Now, can Thomas Tuchel’s men get their revenge?

Who are the pundits, commentators and presenters for England vs Spain?

England will host the event, which is to be played at Wembley Stadium. The match-up’s return fixture will be played on November 15 in Madrid.

Presenting the ITV coverage is Mark Pougatch, who was a mainstay during the 2026 World Cup and boasts a multi-decade broadcasting career.

Joining him as pundits are Roy Keane and Ian Wright, who often featured alongside Pougatch during ITV’s broadcasts in North America.

Representing Spain is former Chelsea and Manchester United man Juan Mata, who will also offer his services as pundit on the ITV panel.

Collectively, the three have won 141 caps for England, Republic of Ireland and Spain, having all represented their nations on the World Cup stage.

Gabriel Clarke is ITV’s roving reporter, while Sam Matterface is to serve as main commentator for the England vs Spain broadcast.

Joining him is Lee Dixon, who won 21 caps for England and has enjoyed a prolonged post-playing career as both pundit and commentator.

Watch England vs Spain for FREE as the Three Lions take on newly crowned world champions Spain in the first of four upcoming Nations League games.

Thomas Tuchel's side are still reeling following defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals, but have a chance to quickly prove themselves against the World champions Spain.

Thomas Tuchel has opted for James Trafford in goal instead of Jordan Pickford, while Jarell Quansah starts at full-back for England ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

As for Spain, it is a familiar tale, with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the wings, while Ferran Torres leads the line after netting off the bench in the World Cup final.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch England vs Spain online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch England vs Spain for FREE in the UK

England vs Spain will be shown live in the UK on ITV1 and ITVX.

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See also ► Emile Heskey explains why Real Madrid star WILL inspire Three Lions to glory

England vs Spain: Preview

England and Spain meet at Wembley on Saturday in one of the standout fixtures of the opening Nations League round, with the two European heavyweights renewing a rivalry that has produced some memorable encounters in recent years.

Just over two months after the 2026 World Cup, Spain arrive in London as world champions, having beaten Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final. England, meanwhile, return to competitive action after claiming bronze in North America.

England do have some notable absences. Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento have withdrawn from the squad, leading to opportunities for players including Morgan Gibbs-White and Alex Scott.

Spain have plenty of familiar faces of their own. Rodri and Pedri remain important to their control of midfield, while Lamine Yamal continues to build from where he left off with Barcelona this term.

The fixture also carries the memory of the Euro 2024 final, when Spain beat England 2-1 in Berlin. Spain have won six of the nations' ten meetings since the turn of the millennium, compared with just three England victories.

Squads

England

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton)*, Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)* Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

*Called up after Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice withdrew on Monday 21 September

Spain

Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Josep Martínez (Inter Milan)

Defenders: Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Eric García (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Atletico Madrid), Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Rodri Hernández (Barcelona), Pedri González (Barcelona), Fermín López (Barcelona), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Álex Baena (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Paris Saint-Germain), Yéremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Víctor Muñoz (Liverpool), Roberto Fernández (Espanyol)

FourFourTwo's prediction

England 1-2 Spain

Spain are on a different level and we feel they will just edge this one.

England vs Spain: Team News

England XI: Trafford, O’Reilly, Konsa, Guehi, Quansah, Lewis-Skelly, Anderson, Bellingham, Gordon, Saka, Kane

Spain XI: Simon, Cubarsi, Garcia, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Williams, Ferran Torres

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Going into this summer’s World Cup, Thomas Tuchel’s management of Jude Bellingham was one of the biggest pre-tournament talking points.

With Tuchel having dropped the Real Madrid man from his October 2025 squad, many believed that the Three Lions boss was challenging one of his star players in an effort to get a reaction, while also sending across a message that he prioritised the collective over star names.

This is an opinion held by former England forward Stan Collymore, who believes that any tension between coach and player may ultimately end up benefiting the team, while also comparing their relationship to that of Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane.

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Collymore on Tuchel and Bellingham

“Going to major tournaments before, I remember seeing Jude often being the first player out on to the pitch, with fans chanting his name – it felt a bit centered around his personal brand,” Collymore tells FourFourTwo.

“Tuchel preaches collective unit and brotherhood. Jordan Henderson, for example, was embraced as a senior figure to foster culture.”

For Collymore, Tuchel’s willingness to challenge the hierarchy was likely a deliberate piece of man management.

“Tuchel dropping or threatening to leave Bellingham out beforehand likely rattled him – it was effective psychology,” he continues. “Jude’s internal reaction was ‘How dare they leave me out? Watch what I do in Mexico City and across this World Cup’.”

Bellingham would go on to score seven goals in North America over the summer and was a key part of England’s passage to the semi-finals, but Collymore admits there is a fine balance when it comes to man management of this manner.

“That type of psychological edge works as long as the tension remains constructive,” he adds, as he looks ahead to the kind of role Bellingham should be playing in the future.

“With Harry Kane gradually stepping aside, Bellingham could be England’s most vital player for the next five years, so Tuchel needs Bellingham just as much as Bellingham needs Tuchel.

“Tuchel needs to reach a major final on home soil at the next Euros to secure his long-term tenure. As long as that healthy tension exists – similar to Sir Alex Ferguson with Roy Keane – it pushes high standards.”

“He [Tuchel] demands total buy-in from the squad. Tuchel inherited Gareth Southgate’s foundation and is pushing it further by provoking players to raise the bar.

“If everyone involved shares that level of ambition, England can win silverware.”

From making his professional debut as a 16-year-old to becoming a £100million Real Madrid signing while still a teenager, Jude Bellingham has never appeared to be short of confidence.

The former Birmingham City midfielder was at his irresistible best during this summer’s World Cup, scoring seven goals as England went on to finish third following the semi-final defeat to Argentina.

But going into the tournament, it had not been plain sailing, with Thomas Tuchel leaving Bellingham out of his October 2025 England squad, amid criticism from certain sections of the tabloid media.

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Crouch on how Bellingham answered his critics

According to former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch, this criticism - and the white-hot pressure of being central to the Three Lions’ hopes of ending a six-decade wait for a trophy – brought out the best in Bellingham.

And this was underlined by his match-winning turn in the epic last-16 win over Mexico, when Bellingham got on the scoresheet twice.

“I was there – just being in the Azteca was magical for me, and if we’d lost 5-0 I would still have been amazed by the whole thing,” Crouch tells FourFourTwo.

“But for him to score those two goals when he burst into the box – that people were even questioning him before the tournament looks ridiculous now.”

Crouch netted 22 goals in 42 appearances for England and knows exactly what confidence and momentum can bring to a player.

“There’s no better feeling,” he adds. “There was a period for England when I just felt like I was going to score in every game. You feel kind of superhuman and I think Jude was feeling that. You feel like you can walk on water, that whatever you do will turn to gold. Whatever Jude did, it seemed to go that way.”

These performances further strengthened Crouch’s belief that Bellingham has that ability to raise his level just when his teammates need it most.

“Certain players raise their game in pressure environments,” he continues. “Some shrink but some just thrive off it. He thrives in the limelight, in that white hot atmosphere, that cauldron of pressure. You’re either one of those people or you’re not. He’s one of those people.

“I played with Steven Gerrard, who kind of won games on his own, like the FA Cup final against West Ham where he put the team on his back. He’d done the same in Istanbul, and against Olympiacos.

“England have had a reliance on Harry Kane, but Jude stepped up and helped him, and won games we probably should have lost.”

Peter Crouch was speaking in association with Paddy Power

Watch Slovenia vs Scotland as the Tartan Army enters into a new era with a new boss at the helm, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Sebastien Pocognoli is in as Steve Clarke is replaced, with Scotland taking on Slovenia in their opening Nations League game of the 2026/27 campaign.

Slovenia come into this game in solid form, having posted just one loss in seven so far in 2026.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Slovenia vs Scotland online, on TV, and from anywhere.

How to watch Slovenia vs Scotland for free in the UK

Yes! Slovenia vs Scotland is being broadcast free-to-air in the UK on Saturday. It will be shown live on BBC One and can be streamed on BBC iPlayer, with kick-off at 2:00pm BST.

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How to watch Slovenia vs Scotland in the US

Viewers in the United States can stream Slovenia vs Scotland on Fox Sports 2.

Slovenia vs Scotland: Preview

Scotland begin a new chapter on Saturday when they travel to Ljubljana to face Slovenia in their opening UEFA Nations League Group B1 fixture.

The match will mark the competitive debut of Pocognoli as Scotland head coach, with the 39-year-old taking charge following Clarke's departure. The former Belgium international was appointed in August and has spent his first weeks in the job preparing for a demanding four-match Nations League window.

Pocognoli has wasted little time putting his own stamp on the squad, naming seven players who were uncapped when his first selection was announced. The Belgian has also recalled a number of players who were absent from Scotland's 2026 World Cup squad, including Hull City striker Oli McBurnie and the injured duo of Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour and Brentford defender Aaron Hickey.

There have, however, been some setbacks ahead of Saturday's trip.

Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean have withdrawn through injury, with Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery subsequently promoted from the Under-21 squad. Scott McTominay is absent as he continues his recovery following a recent heart procedure. Striker Lawrence Shankland is also unavailable with a hamstring injury.

Pocognoli still has plenty of experience at his disposal. Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Jack Hendry and Ryan Christie all remain important figures, while Gilmour's return provides another midfield option.

SEE ALSO “100 per cent true” How FourFourTwo magazine helped a Premier League goalkeeper earn a call-up for the Scotland international team in the 90s

For Slovenia, the opening fixture provides an opportunity to start their own Nations League campaign on home soil. The hosts have been drawn alongside Scotland, Switzerland and North Macedonia in League B's Group B1, with Saturday's fixture the first of two meetings between the sides during the campaign.

One major question surrounding the Slovenian squad is the availability of Benjamin Šeško. The Manchester United striker has been dealing with a recurring shin problem, and his club has prevented him from joining Slovenia for the current international window. That removes a significant attacking option from the hosts ahead of the meeting with Scotland. In his absence, the threat will come from Zan Vipotnik, who netted 23 goals in the Championship last season for Swansea City.

The two nations have met several times in recent years, with Scotland holding the historical advantage in their competitive meetings. Saturday's fixture, though, carries a different significance as Pocognoli begins his tenure with a new-look Scotland side.

Squads

Slovenia

Goalkeepers: Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid), Matevz Vidovsek (Olimpija Ljubljana), Igor Vekic (Rijeka)

Defenders: Jaka Bijol (Leeds United), Jost Urbancic (Olimpija Ljubljana), Vanja Drkusic (Espanyol), David Brekalo (Orlando City), David Zek (Holstein Kiel), Zan Karnicnik (Maribor), Srdan Kuzmic (Lorient), Erik Janza (Górnik Zabrze), Jure Balkovac (Alanyaspor)

Midfielders: Timi Max Elsnik (Red Star Belgrade), Benjamin Verbic (NK Celje), Adam Gnezda Cerin (Al-Wahda), Sandi Lovric (Udinese), Tomi Horvat (Bristol City), Tamar Svetlin (Saint-Étienne), Mark Zabukovnik (Celje), Tjas Begic (Sampdoria)

Forwards: Andraz Sporar (Slovan Bratislava), Zan Vipotnik (Swansea City), Danijel Sturm (Slavia Prague), Aljosa Matko (Újpest), Zan Celar (Slovan Bratislava)

Scotland

Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City)

Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City).

Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese).

Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts)

FourFourTwo's prediction

Slovenia 0-2 Scotland

Scotland get off to a winning start in Ljubljana, with a goal in each half.

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The evening of January 18, 1977, Rome carried the sort of winter bite that makes the Eternal City's cobblestones glisten under the street lamps. The Lazio midfielder Luciano Re Cecconi, known throughout Italian football as l'Angelo Biondo (the Blond Angel) was walking along Via Flaminia Vecchia with team-mate Pietro Ghedin and their friend, the perfumer Giorgio Fraticcioli. They were on familiar ground, a short stroll from the jewellery shop of an acquaintance, Bruno Tabocchini, a man they'd visited many times.

That's where everything went wrong. Fraticcioli slipped into the shop first, to deliver bottles of perfume to the owner. Waiting outside, Re Cecconi and Ghedin exchanged a mischievous glance before pulling their jackets up over their faces. Hands thrust into their pockets as if they were gripping pistols, the pair burst into the jewellers and shouted, “Mani in alto! Questa e una rapina!” (“Hands up! This is a robbery!”)

What they didn't know was that Tabocchini's store had been robbed previously. Traumatised, suspicious and determined not to be a victim again, he had started keeping a pistol under the counter and immediately reached for it. Ghedin's hands went skyward, but Re Cecconi kept up the prank. Tabocchini, trembling, did not hesitate. He pulled the trigger.

The shot slammed into Re Cecconi's chest at point-blank range. As he collapsed onto the tiled floor, he gasped: “Era uno scherzo… solo uno scherzo.” It was a joke… only a joke.

Luciano Re Cecconi died 30 minutes later at Rome's San Giacomo hospital. He was 28 years old.

The death of Re Cecconi stunned Italy. An energetic box-to-box midfielder, he'd been an integral part of a Lazio side that emerged from years in the doldrums and, under the tutelage of inspirational coach Tommaso Maestrelli, claimed the club's first ever Scudetto in 1973-74.

Amid the carnival of egos in that Lazio team, Re Cecconi stood apart. He was the calm in the madness, the humour in the gloom, the heartbeat of a fractured dressing room that somehow, through talent and turmoil, managed to conquer Italian football. But Re Cecconi was never the star. To Lazio he was something far rarer. He was the soul.

Re Cecconi was born in December 1948 in Nerviano, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it town 10 miles north west of Milan. Its only real brush with national history came when King Victor Emmanuel II stopped there in 1859 after the Battle of Magenta, during the Second Italian War of Independence. As a gesture of gratitude to the town, he permitted residents to incorporate ‘Re', or ‘King', into their surnames.

Nearly 90 years later, that's how little Luciano inherited his name, although nothing about his early life was remotely royal. He grew up in a working-class family and worked wherever he could: in a grocer's shop, a shoemaker's and a metal-beating workshop.

Football came only after work was done, but he was good. Very good. After starring in local leagues, he signed for Serie C side Pro Patria in 1967, making his debut the next spring. His tireless running, robust tackling and indomitable energy quickly caught the attention of his future Lazio boss Maestrelli, then the manager of Foggia. Within months, Re Cecconi was on his way to the club, playing Serie B football under the man who would transform his life.

He helped them ascend to Serie A, and although they went straight back down, Maestrelli's reputation soared. Within a season, he was head coach of Lazio. Before long, he summoned Re Cecconi to join him.

When Re Cecconi arrived at Lazio in 1972, he stepped into one of the most chaotic dressing rooms in football history – a team so wild Wimbledon's Crazy Gang looked like altar boys by comparison.

The squad was infamously split into two bitterly opposed factions. On one side were the flashy, combustible personalities led by forward Giorgio Chinaglia – a man who adored fast cars, loud suits, political provocation and being at the centre of every storm. He'd later play alongside Pele at New York Cosmos.

Chinaglia's group leaned hard into right-wing politics, and their love of firearms was legendary, with many carrying pistols like others carried wallets. When Lazio were away and bored at their hotels, they used to hang out of their windows and use birds as target practice. Former Roma full-back Sergio Petrelli used his gun to scare off angry fans of his old club, who had gathered outside the team's rural hotel before a derby game. Supposedly, he also once shot the light bulb out in his room because he couldn't be bothered to get up and use the switch. On another occasion, the pilot of the team plane flying them to an away fixture refused to take off unless those players with guns left them behind.

Chinaglia, a man you wouldn't want to meet in a well-lit, heavily policed alley, let alone a dark one, took to carrying a gun because, as a self-confessed fascist, he decided it was the best course of action, in case anyone actually decided to follow through on one of the many death threats he routinely received.

Ironically, Re Cecconi never carried a gun. Instead, ‘Cecco' was one of the quieter ‘northerners', alongside his closest friend Luigi Martini – they were known as ‘the twins' for their inseparable bond. Despite Re Cecconi's insistence that he “knew nothing about politics”, he was often painted as a fascist by association – more a reflection of Italy's toxic political climate at the time than anything he ever said or did.

The factions refused to speak. They changed in separate dressing rooms. Training games resembled cage fights. Some players wore shin pads only for training, not for league matches, due to the level of brutality.

And then there was the manager, Maestrelli – the peacemaker, a man of immense humanity trapped inside a pressure cooker. Somehow, impossibly, he forged them into Serie A champions. “Maestrelli put together players who were virtually unknown or had a limited football pedigree and gave them an idea of football that, at that time, nobody else had in Italy,” explains Simon Basten of the Lazio Stories blog. “Lazio played like the Dutch had been playing in the early 1970s. It was a joy to watch.”

Lazio's 1973-74 Scudetto remains one of the most extraordinary titles in the history of Italian football.

The squad was dysfunctional and the atmosphere often poisonous, but Maestrelli was the steady hand on the tiller. Having fought in the anti-fascist resistance during the Second World War, he knew how to manage conflict. He treated players as sons, not soldiers. “He always said the right thing at the right time,” Basten says. “Those players would have gone to war for him.”

On the pitch, Chinaglia hit 24 league goals, including the penalty against Foggia that clinched the title. Goalkeeper Felice Pulici produced career-defining performances. Skipper Giuseppe Wilson, born in Darlington to an English father and Italian mother, marshalled the defence. In midfield, binding everything together, was the tireless Blond Angel.

Re Cecconi was the glue; equilibrium in a Lazio team built on imbalance. He covered absurd distances, won tackles, initiated attacks and stitched together a side that could easily have torn itself apart. He wasn't flamboyant and rarely scored, but he was indispensable.

The fans loved him all the more for it.

Save for a couple of players, none of the Lazio team hailed from Rome. Drawn from all corners of the country, they arrived in the Italian capital as supporters of provincial clubs, but everything changed when they played for Lazio, and when they played for Maestrelli. They became fans.

Like so many before and after him, Re Cecconi was soon entranced by Lazio, despite, or maybe because of, the chaos that surrounded him. During their title-winning season, Lazio were beaten 6-4 by Ipswich in the second round of the UEFA Cup, but only after giving the Tractor Boys an almighty scare, nearly levelling the tie despite losing the first leg 4-0 at Portman Road. Ipswich felt Lazio's tactics in the second leg were intimidatory, and home fans then rioted, causing the Biancocelesti to be banned from the next season's European Cup.

Tragically, the greatest despair was still to come. Maestrelli was diagnosed with cancer in 1975 – in December 1976, he died aged 54. Utterly devastated, Re Cecconi helped to carry his coffin, as did Chinaglia, who flew back from his new life in the US with the New York Cosmos.

Just 47 days later, though, Re Cecconi too would be dead. For a team always seemingly on the brink of collapse, it was a blow few could comprehend.

For all his importance to the Lazio side, Re Cecconi's international career amounted to just two caps – scant reward for his quality. He had made Italy's squad for the 1974 World Cup, but didn't play a single minute.

That tournament was a catastrophe as Italy failed to escape the group stage. Chinaglia famously swore at manager Ferruccio Valcareggi on live television after being substituted against Haiti. When Valcareggi was replaced by Fulvio Bernardini, and later Enzo Bearzot, the competition for midfield places was overwhelming – Marco Tardelli, Giancarlo Antognoni and Romeo Benetti were all vying for spots – and Re Cecconi slipped out of the Azzurri picture.

Lazio fans didn't mind. For them, he was the embodiment of everything that they admired: humility, honesty, dedication and humanity.

In the weeks after the shooting, Italy was a nation consumed by shock. The newspapers were blunt. The following morning, Tuttosport screamed: “RE CECCONI UCCISO” (“Re Cecconi Killed”).

The case went to trial quickly. Presiding over it was judge Severino Santiapichi, who would later oversee the trial of Mehmet Ali Agca, the hitman who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in the Vatican in 1981.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Santiapichi ruled that the shooting was an “unfortunate accident”, absolving Tabocchini of any criminal responsibility. It remains one of the most debated sporting tragedies in Italian history. Many fans have never forgiven the jeweller; others argue he acted in fear, shaped by the violent times in which he lived, during Italy's tumultuous ‘years of lead'.

Certainly, Re Cecconi's son Stefano has long questioned the official version of the tragic events. He even published a book on the topic in 2008, called Lui Era Mia Papa (‘He Was My Dad') in which he tried to address some inconsistencies and, ultimately, reshape the public's perception of his father as a prankster, rather than a serious, passionate man dedicated to his family and profession. But the truth died with Cecco.

Re Cecconi left behind a wife and two young children. Stefano, only two years old at the time his father died, grew up embraced by Lazio's supporters, who treated him as family. He later played for his local team Nervianese, at a stadium named after his father.

Today, a street in a Rome park also carries Re Cecconi's name, and in the Stadio Olimpico's Curva Nord, a giant flag with his face appears at every Lazio home match. His grave in the Cimitero di Nerviano is modest but still moving. The inscription reads simply: “Luciano Re Cecconi: Footballer, 1948-1977.” To Lazio fans – indeed, to anyone who knows his story – he was so much more.

Missing club football already? We get it. Here's a new Weekend Crossword to help take the edge off.

There are 24 clues in this week's FourFourTwo Weekend Crossword. You know how it works. The more you solve, the more help you'll get with the others. Keep on going until you resolve the whole grid. Easy peasy.

Don't forget to let us know how you got on in the comments.

Love football crosswords? Here are some handpicked football quizzes we know you'll enjoy

To keep your football trivia muscles in sharp working order, we've got a ton of quizzes to crack on with. They'll test your knowledge of every team, player and manager in the game and it's all powered by Kwizly.

We have quizzes with both haste and heft, from this quiz focused on football's most legendary one-club men to this monster of a challenge to name as many Champions League teams between 1992 and 2026 as you can.

Next, we want you to complete these 15 legendary career paths by filling in the last club for each, and to list every title sponsor the Football League Cup has ever had.

Just for fun, we've messed about with the design of some famous club badges. Can you unravel our mysterious edits (we've taken the names off and changed some colours, it's no big deal) in our Twisted Badge Quiz?

Let's not forget that it's international football season, though. This one combines international allegiances with club connections. Can you guess the team from the line-ups' nationalities using their flags and geographical footprints?

For all the matchday knowledge you need, subscribe to our newsletters for regular briefings and hand-picked trivia. And, to complete your transfer to terrace legend status, lock in your spot in The Club, our free membership hub where you can unlock secret hints for our toughest quizzes, climb global leaderboards, and debate the latest topics directly in the comments.

Watch Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina for free from anywhere in the world as League B of the Nations League begins. Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the live stream details and TV channels wherever you are in the world.

Yes, he’s still there. At 40, Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Džeko remains a key figure for Sergej Barbarez and the national team. The veteran striker, who has amassed a record 151 caps, has once again been called up for this extended international window.

It is something of a battle of the old guard, with Džeko joined by another of European football’s most experienced frontmen in Robert Lewandowski. The Poland captain is set to bring his international appearance tally to 170 over the break, while the Chicago Fire man will be hoping to edge ever closer to the 100-goal mark for his country.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina from anywhere

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Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nations League preview

Poland and Bosnia were both involved in the play-off finals for World Cup spots in March. Bosnia beat Italy on penalties after doing the same to Wales, but Poland missed out after a dramatic loss to Sweden.

Sweden will cross paths with them again. They complete this Nations League group along with Romania, who will be expected to finish bottom of B4 but are by no means a pushover for any of their opponents.

Despite speculation that failing to qualify would mark the end for their own veteran striker, Robert Lewandowski is still the leading man for Poland.

The 38-year-old is now playing for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer and is in line for senior international cap number 168 in Warsaw.

This is just the fourth meeting of these nations. They first slugged it out in a friendly draw in 2010, before Poland came out on top when they were drawn together in a previous Nations League campaign.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Poland 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Home advantage could be a factor but Bosnia's World Cup suggested they have a bit about them.

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Watch Hungary vs Ukraine for free from anywhere in the world as Group B2 kicks off in the Nations League. Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the live stream details and TV channels wherever you are in the world.

Hungary and Ukraine kick off their League B campaign at Puskas Arena as the likely favourites for promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.

With matches against George and Northern Ireland to come, their opening game against one another could be just the start one of them needs to take hold of the group from the off.

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Watch Hungary vs Ukraine from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss the game. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). You can use a VPN to unblock your usual streaming services while abroad.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

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UK viewers can watch Hungary vs Ukraine live on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage available on a pay-per-view basis. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm BST.

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Fans in Australia can watch Hungary vs Ukraine live on beIN SPORTS. The game will be shown on beIN SPORTS Connect.

Hungary vs Ukraine: Nations League preview

The last time either of these nations qualified for a men's World Cup was in 2006, when Ukraine went as far as the quarter-finals in Germany. Hungary, whose World Cup history is richer than most, haven't made the grade since 1986.

As such, both of teams arrive at the start of the Nations League on the back of a summer spent on the outside looking in. If you have any doubts over how much the Nations League means to players, don't expect to see them backed up in Budapest.

Ukraine, whose three home matches will be played in Slovakia, are under the leadership of their first foreign head coach. Andrea Maldera, the former assistant of Andriy Shevchenko with Ukraine and later at two clubs with Roberto De Zerbi, is in his first head coach role.

Maldera took charge of two friendlies before the World Cup, beating Poland but losing to Denmark, and faces his first competitive outing in the top job tonight.

There will be an Italian boss in the Hungary dugout, too. Marco Rossi has been in the job for eight years, having previously had two spells in Budapest as the manager of Honved.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Hungary 2-1 Ukraine

We expect a cagey start in one of the most important games in the group, but when you have Dominik Szoboszlai, there's often a goal to be found when you need one.

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Watch Italy vs Belgium for free from anywhere in the world as two new managers meet. Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the live stream details and TV channels wherever you are in the world.

Italy and Belgium both have new managers as they enter the newest edition of the Nations League.

The Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup yet again, turning to Roberto Mancini in an attempt to get them back on track. Belgium have replaced Rudi Garcia with former Dutch international Mark van Bommel.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Italy vs Belgium online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Italy vs Belgium from anywhere

What if you're away from home when Italy vs Belgium is on, and find access to your usual streaming service geo-blocked? The solution is a VPN, a piece of software that can unblock streaming services from wherever you're in the world.

FourFourTwo’s colleagues TechRadar are experts in this field, and they reckon NordVPN is the best VPN provider on the market.

Watch Italy vs Belgium in the UK

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Italy vs Belgium: Nations League preview

Van Bommel has inherited one of the tougher briefs in European international football. Belgium have already been unable to live up to the expectations set by their array of talent. Now, they carry the weight of that failure too.

Having managed in Belgium as well as the Netherlands and Germany, Van Bommel has some managerial pedigree. He was a success with Antwerp but has been out of the management game for more than two years.

Mancini is a known quantity in Italy and around the globe. The 61-year-old has returned for a second stint in charge of the national team after leading them to European Championship glory in 2021.

This is one of the opening fixtures in Group A1, which looks very promising in terms of potential entertainment value. The other game sees France take on Turkey in one of the most top-heavy groups – in theory – anywhere in the Nations League.

Belgium haven't beaten Italy in a competitive fixture since 1972. Last time they met was also in the Nations League and ended in a 1-0 win for the Azzurri in Brussels two years ago.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Italy 2-0 Belgium

The Mancini factor should see Italy past a Belgium team in transition.

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Enjoying 442GOALS? Good to hear!

We're loving seeing your XIs – but just in case you're not noticed in the game itself, there's far more to just trying to hit the target.

There are plenty of badges for you to unlock… so which ones have you found? Here's the full list!

General and team stats

🎸 Heavy Metal Football: 4-2-4 Gegenpress activated

🏆 Serial Winners: 12+ Premier League titles combined

🪾 Goal drought: Under 100 goals combined

💧 Raining Goals: 700+ goals combined

☔️ Pouring Goals: 800+ goals combined

🌧️ Showering Goals: 900+ goals combined

🌀 Goal hurricane: 1,000+ goals combined

👴 Veteran Army: 2,500+ appearances combined

👔 On-field Manager: 3+ players have managed in the Premier League

🏡 Family Affair: Team has related players

⚖️ Perfect Harmony: Attack and Defence scores within 20 points

🧱 Brick Wall: 500+ score for defence combined

🔥 The Entertainers: 500+ score for attack combined

🧤 Hero Keeper: Goalkeeper has scored

⚔️ All Out Attack: 4+ players can play up front

🚌 Park The Bus: 6+ players can play in defence

💯 Super Centurions: 3+ players have 100+ goals

🦆 Duck Duck Duck: 3+ players with no goals

Player Achievements & Milestones

🪄 Three and Easy: 5+ Prem hat-tricks scored

💪 League leader: 1+ Prem-winning captains

👌 Puskas Perfection: 1+ Puskas Award winners

🐐 GOAT Pick: 1+ players from FFT's Greatest Players Ever list

🔴 Premier Pick: 1+ players from FFT's Greatest Prem Players Ever list

🤩 All-Timers: 2+ players are a club's all-time Prem scorer

🔮 Ballon Ballers: Team contains a Ballon d'Or winner

⚡️ Creative Sparks: 3+ players have 60+ Prem assists

🥇 Golden Boys: 2+ players have a Golden Boot

🙌 Safe As Houses: Goalkeeper has won the Golden Glove

🎯 Set Piece Specialists: 2+ players have 10+ direct free-kick goals in the Prem

🌎 Top Of The World: 2+ players have won the World Cup

🍼 Kids are Alright: 2+ players scored 10+ Prem goals as a teenager

💰 Worth A Ton: 2+ £100m players

Nationality Badges

🇬🇧 Homegrown Heroes: 8+ British players

☘️ Luck of the Irish: 2+ Irishmen

❄️ Seriously Scandi: 2+ players from Scandinavian nations

🌴 Caribbean Kings: 2+ players from Caribbean nations

🥐 French Connection: 2+ Frenchmen

🌷 Dutch of Class: 2+ Dutchmen

🤌 Belissimo: 2+ Italians

🥨 Wunderbar!: 2+ Germans

🍷 Portugeezers: 2+ Portuguese

🌟 Land of the Free: 2+ Americans

🦘 Down Under: 2+ Australians

🪩 Samba Superstars: 2+ Brazilians

🥩 Argie Bargie: 2+ Argentines

🦅 Fly Like An Eagle: 2+ Nigerians

⭐ Black Star Excellence: 2+ Ghanaians

🦁 Sen Again: 2+ Senegalese

🇪🇸 Viva España: 2+ Spaniards

And every player with a chemistry partner…

Argentina Carlos Tevez + Javier Mascherano, Cristian Romero + Lisandro Martinez

Arsenal Thierry Henry + Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie + Cesc Fabregas, Ian Wright + Dennis Bergkamp, Bukayo Saka + Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka + Emile Smith Rowe, Alexandre Lacazette + Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil + Alexis Sanchez, Robert Pires + Thierry Henry, Robert Pires + Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell + Kolo Toure, Kai Havertz + Martin Odegaard, Patrick Vieira + Gilberto Silva, Laurent Koscielny + Per Mertesacker, William Saliba + Gabriel Magalhaes, Tony Adams + Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn + Lee Dixon, Edu + Gilberto Silva, Martin Zubimendi + Declan Rice, Hector Bellerin + Nacho Monreal, Sol Campbell + Ian Wright, Theo Walcott + Bacary Sagna, Santi Cazorla + Mikel Arteta

Aston Villa Ollie Watkins + John McGinn

Australia Mark Viduka + Harry Kewell

Belgium Romelu Lukaku + Eden Hazard + Kevin De Bruyne

Blackburn Rovers Alan Shearer + Chris Sutton

Bolton Wanderers Kevin Nolan + Kevin Davies, Jay-Jay Okocha + Youri Djorkaeff, Fernando Hierro + Ivan Campo

Bournemouth Callum Wilson + Josh King, Evanilson + Justin Kluivert, Rayan + Eli Junior Kroupi

Brentford Yoane Wissa + Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney + Bryan Mbeumo, Said Benrahma + Bryan Mbeumo + Ollie Watkins

Brighton & Hove Albion Alexis Mac Allister + Moises Caicedo, Shane Duffy + Lewis Dunk, Kaoru Mitoma + Yankuba Minteh

Burnley Ashley Barnes + Chris Wood

Chelsea Frank Lampard + Didier Drogba, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink + Eidur Gudjohnsen, John Terry + Ricardo Carvalho, Eden Hazard + Diego Costa, Victor Moses + Marcos Alonso, Ashley Cole + Paulo Ferreira, Ashley Cole + Joe Cole, Enzo Fernandez + Moises Caicedo, N'Golo Kante + Jorginho, Gary Cahill + John Terry, Michael Ballack + Frank Lampard, Gianfranco Zola + Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Willian + Eden Hazard, David Luiz + Gary Cahill + Cesar Azpilicueta

Crystal Palace Michael Olise + Eberechi Eze, Yannick Bolasie + Wilfried Zaha, Daichi Kamada + Adam Wharton, Daniel Munoz + Tyrick Mitchell, Jean-Philippe Mateta + Michael Olise + Eberechi Eze

England Harry Kane + Raheem Sterling, John Stones + Harry Maguire, Alan Shearer + Teddy Sheringham, Kyle Walker + Luke Shaw

Everton Seamus Coleman + Leighton Baines, Michael Keane + James Tarkowski, Richarlison + Dominic Calvert-Lewin, David Unsworth + Duncan Ferguson, Romelu Lukaku + Ross Barkley, Tim Cahill + Mikel Arteta

France N'Golo Kante + Paul Pogba, Thierry Henry + Nicolas Anelka, Claude Makelele + Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit + Patrick Vieira, Laurent Blanc + Fabien Barthez

Fulham Brede Hangeland + Aaron Hughes, Louis Saha + Steed Malbranque

Ivory Coast Didier Drogba + Yaya Toure

Leeds United Gary Speed + Gary McAllister

Leicester Jamie Vardy + Riyad Mahrez, Shinji Okazaki + Jamie Vardy, Danny Simpson + Christian Fuchs

Liverpool Mohamed Salah + Sadio Mane, Robbie Fowler + Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard + Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard + Fernando Torres, Michael Owen + Emile Heskey, Daniel Sturridge + Luis Suarez, Virgil van Dijk + Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold + Andy Robertson, Steve Finnan + John Arne Riise, Dietmar Hamann + Steven Gerrard, Joel Matip + Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate + Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch + Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah + Sadio Mane + Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge + Luis Suarez + Raheem Sterling

Manchester City Sergio Aguero + David Silva, Erling Haaland + Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane + Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne + David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne + Bernardo Silva, Yaya Toure + Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure + David Silva, John Stones + Ruben Dias, Vincent Kompany + Joleon Lescott, Vincent Kompany + Aymeric Laporte, Aleksandar Kolarov + Edin Dzeko, Ilkay Gundogan + Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden + Kyle Walker

Manchester United Wayne Rooney + Cristiano Ronaldo, Andy Cole + Dwight Yorke, Ryan Giggs + David Beckham, Gary Neville + David Beckham, Paul Scholes + Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy + David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand + Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo + Nani, Denis Irwin + Gary Neville, Angel Di Maria + Radamel Falcao, Scott McTominay + Fred, Owen Hargreaves + Michael Carrick, Marcus Rashford + Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney + Cristiano Ronaldo + Carlos Tevez

Netherlands Robin van Persie + Arjen Robben

Newcastle United Alan Shearer + Les Ferdinand, Alexander Isak + Anthony Gordon, Papiss Cisse + Demba Ba, Sven Botman + Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes + Joelinton, Laurent Robert + Nolberto Solano, Jacob Murphy + Anthony Gordon + Alexander Isak

Nigeria Yakubu + Joseph Yobo, Jay-Jay Okocha + Nwankwo Kanu

Norway Erling Haaland + Martin Odegaard

Portsmouth Peter Crouch + Jermain Defoe

Portugal Bruno Fernandes + Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva + Bruno Fernandes

Republic of Ireland Damien Duff + Robbie Keane

Southampton James Beattie + Kevin Phillips

Sweden Viktor Gyokeres + Alexander Isak

Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane + Son Heung-min, Robbie Keane + Dimitar Berbatov, Christian Eriksen + Harry Kane, Dele Alli + Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele + Victor Wanyama, Kyle Walker + Danny Rose, Micky van de Ven + Cristian Romero, Toby Alderweireld + Jan Vertonghen

Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko + Serhiy Rebrov

Uruguay Edinson Cavani + Luis Suarez

Wales Gareth Bale + Aaron Ramsey

Watford Troy Deeney + Odion Ighalo

West Ham United Jarrod Bowen + Michail Antonio, Mark Noble + Declan Rice, Lucas Paqueta + Jarrod Bowen

Wolves Raul Jimenez + Adama Traore, Ruben Neves + Joao Moutinho

Watch Turkey vs France for free from anywhere in the world as the Nations League gets underway. Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the live stream details and TV channels wherever you are in the world.

Turkey and World Cup semi-finalists France get the Zinedine Zidane era of Les Bleus rolling with their first meeting for seven years.

France's last win over Turkey came a decade before that, in a 2009 friendly that they won courtesy of a Karim Benzema goal.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Turkey vs France online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Turkey vs France from anywhere

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The tech experts at Tom's Guide review a lot of VPNs and right now they reckon NordVPN is the best VPN you can buy. And the good news is that NordVPN are currently offering an amazing deal on the service...

Watch Turkey vs France in the UK

UK viewers can watch Turkey vs France live on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage available on a pay-per-view basis. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm BST.

Watch Turkey vs France in the US

In the US, Fubo TV is an official broadcast partner of the UEFA Nations League and will show Turkey vs France.

Watch Turkey vs France in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch Turkey vs France live on beIN SPORTS. The game will be shown on beIN SPORTS 2.

Turkey vs France: Nations League preview

Despite falling short at the World Cup and navigating the difficult experience of losing long-time manager Didier Deschamps, France have been taken over at a relatively positive time.

There's no disputing the level or depth of talent available to Zidane any more than there is reason to question his managerial record at Real Madrid. Indeed, the big doubt is how he'll get on elsewhere.

Zidane is in his comfort zone, of course, but a succession of France bosses prior to Deschamps will testify that it's anything but an easy job.

The same can be true of Turkey. Vincenzo Montella could only muster a dead-rubber win over the United States at the World Cup, losing to both Paraguay and Australia in a less than impressive campaign.

He now leads them in their first campaign in League A after their promotion via the play-offs in the 2024/25 Nations League.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Turkey 1-2 France

FourFourTwo predicts a tricky but ultimately successful return for Zidane.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Liverpool are monitoring the availability of Atletico Madrid star Marcos Llorente, whose Anfield goalscoring exploits have terrorised the Reds on many Champions League occasions.

His latest strike arrived in the 17th minute during Liverpool’s league phase match-up with the La Liga side in early September, sending Atletico Madrid 1-0 ahead.

Last term, Llorente bagged two in a 3-2 defeat at Anfield; now, the Reds are exploring the possibility of bringing Atletico Madrid’s man to Merseyside, with two other Premier League clubs also interested.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea explore move for Anfield nightmare Marcos Llorente

According to TEAMtalk, the Spaniard is attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, as he enters the final months of his Atletico Madrid contract.

Llorente has made over 300 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side, and his ability to operate in both midfield and at right-back has attracted potential Premier League suitors.

Liverpool and Chelsea are two such clubs assessing their options in both areas of the pitch, with Llorente’s versatility appealing to both English top-flight sides.

Elsewhere, Manchester City are looking to expand their veteran core under Enzo Maresca. In this case, the Spaniard’s age, 31, is attractive to the Cityzens.

Similarly, neither Andoni Iraola’s side or the Blues are put off by Llorente’s birthday, who turns 31 in January, with it being described as “not significant” to their Premier League transfer pursuits.

Beyond the Premier League, both La Liga and Bundesliga champions Barcelona and Bayern Munich are believed to be keeping close eyes on the Spaniard.

The now 31-year-old, who stepped away from World Cup winners Spain this summer, joined from Real Madrid in 2019 for a fee of €30 million.

A transfer for Llorente will likely be difficult to pull off, with Atletico Madrid being determined to secure his future in Spain.

There is belief internally that he will sign a new contract, however, the 31-year-old’s camp are aware of growing interest in Llorente across Europe.

Whether Simeone’s side can tie the 31-year-old down remains to be seen, however, the club has entered fresh talks with the Spaniard.

He has scored ten Champions League goals across his career, five of which have arrived against Liverpool, and four at Anfield.

Manchester City are expected to appeal the decision, after a verdict was reached deeming them guilty of all but one of the 115 Premier League charges they faced.

According to The Athletic, the Cityzens could potentially be stripped of multiple Premier League titles, with sanctions yet to be decided.

The news arrived through anonymous club sources, who have not yet been authorised to speak publicly about Manchester City’s verdict.

Manchester City found guilty of 114 charges, face stripping of Premier League titles

One City spokesperson said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.

“As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023,” they continued, referring to the Cityzens’ surprise at the charges, and the club welcoming a review.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence,” continued the City spokesperson.

The breaches in question, which Manchester City have almost unanimously been found guilty of, occurred between the years of 2009 and 2018.

In that period, the Cityzens won three Premier League titles: two with Manchester United finishing as runners-up, and once ahead of Liverpool.

The club was accused by the Premier League of failing to provide accurate information in regard to financials, including details of payments to players and coaches.

Manchester City have consistently denied the allegations, which include breaching financial fair play (FFP) and profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

How the Premier League landscape changes if runner-up teams are awarded the crowns

🏆 2011/12: Sir Alex Ferguson gets his 14th Premier League title. The "AGÜEROOOOO" moment vanishes from the trophy archives, ending Fergie's legendary career with back-to-back league titles.

🏆 2013/14: Steven Gerrard FINALLY gets his Premier League winners' medal. Liverpool claim the title six years earlier than 2020, and Brendan Rodgers becomes a Premier League-winning manager.

🏆 2017/18: Jose Mourinho’s 81-point United side take the crown over Pep’s 100-point "Centurions." Jose gets his 4th Premier League trophy—and his crowning glory at Old Trafford.

The Domestic Cup Chaos

2011 FA Cup: Stoke City win their first-ever major trophy.

2014 League Cup: Sunderland end a 41-year major silverware drought.

2016 League Cup: Jürgen Klopp wins a trophy in his first 5 months at Anfield.

2018 League Cup: Arsène Wenger gets a final piece of silverware on his Arsenal farewell tour.

Since the charges were brought, City have won further English top-flight titles, including a Premier League four-peat from 2020 to 2024.

The club, which was acquired by Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, currently possess the second-most Premier League titles of any club in the competition’s history.

According to The Athletic, Manchester City face multiple sanctions, including being stripped of English top-flight titles, and possibly expulsion from the Premier League.

The report said: “Sanctions range from a reprimand and fines to points deductions — and even expulsion from the Premier League,”

“Any points deduction could be applied when the decision is made or retrospectively, raising the prospect of City being stripped of titles.”

Should Manchester City receive the latter sanction, their title count would drop from eight to five. As a result, Chelsea would have as many Premier League titles as the Cityzens.

Virgil van Dijk has provided his perspective on claims that he sabotaged former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman’s tactics at the 2026 World Cup.

Van Dijk’s side crashed out on penalties to eventual quarter-finalists Morocco in the round of 32, prompting the Dutchman to consider international retirement.

New boss Xavi Hernandez convinced the Liverpool captain to continue with the national team; now, van Dijk has slammed comments made by Dutch media during the North American tournament as “utter nonsense.”

Virgil van Dijk slams Dutch reporting in Nations League presser

Ahead of the Netherlands’ clash with Jurgen Klopp’s Germany, which ended on Thursday evening in a 1-1 stalemate, the Liverpool skipper’s interaction with Dutch media quickly turned sour.

"One of your colleagues also said, of course, that it was my idea to switch to playing with a back five,” claimed van Dijk.

“That is utter nonsense. The fact is we simply failed at the World Cup. Those are the hard facts,” he continued.

“We didn't play a good World Cup. It's not about me. You perform together. You're a team. Your claim that I destroyed Dutch football after the World Cup, that sort of thing is completely baseless.”

Van Dijk’s men collected seven points from three Group F games at the 2026 World Cup. They conceded an equaliser in the 91st-minute versus Morocco, after leading through Cody Gakpo in the 72nd.

"The plan is devised by the staff. Nonsense is being spread so that I look even worse. That happens far too often,” said the Liverpool skipper.

"I was told that it was my fault we played with five, that Ronald Koeman and I have destroyed Dutch football. The plan worked for 89 minutes, even though it was a bad match.

“We almost broke through. The idea that I destroyed Dutch football makes absolutely no sense. I didn't decide that,” continued van Dijk.

His Netherlands side fell short in all major statistics against Morocco, taking fewer shots, drawing more fouls, winning less set pieces, and recording just 371 passes to their opposition’s 879.

Koeman’s men created merely 0.24 xG to the Africa Cup of Nations champions’ 1.38, and missed three of their penalties against Morocco’s keeper Bono.

"Sometimes things need to be said, right? Otherwise you're just listening to all the whining. With most of the media, I have zero issues. Never have.

“When nonsense gets put out into the world, how else am I supposed to deal with that?" quizzed the 35-year-old, who confessed that he needed a holiday after the North American tournament.

“After 10 seconds [of meeting with Xavi] it was already clear that I would continue. What did he say? That I am Virgil van Dijk.

“It is about trust, appreciation, [and] how important you are for the team. Physically there is, and was no doubt, but you also want to feel appreciation and pleasure."

The Netherlands will return to Nations League action against Serbia on Sunday, without Brian Brobbey and with a currently unknown Dutch call-up.

Humphrey Ker, the man who brought Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to Wrexham AFC, is set to step down from the Championship club’s board.

His departure, now confirmed by Wrexham, will end a five-year association with the North Wales club. He is also set to step down as a trustee of the Wrexham AFC Foundation.

Ker, one of the main voices in Disney+ documentary series Welcome to Wrexham, has made efforts in recent years to re-focus on his comedy-writing career, stepping away from day-to-day involvement at Wrexham AFC shortly before the 2024-25 League One season.

Humphrey Ker departs from Wrexham: the man who brought them Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

“Working for and representing Wrexham AFC and the wider town has been the greatest honour of my life,” said the 43-year-old, who brought his friends, and fellow actors, Reynolds and McElhenney to Wrexham.

“I am proud of the part I have played in the club’s remarkable journey, both on and off the field. [But] the way the club has evolved and is now structured has made it progressively harder for me to make a positive contribution.

“[As] sad as I am to be leaving, I now feel watching from a distance is the right thing for me. I will always be a fan and wish the club, the community and supporters, every success,” Ker concluded.

The 43-year-old initially described the appeal of British football to McElhenney while on set for Mythic Quest, an Apple TV+ comedy co-created by the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star, and Ker's wife.

Ker suggested that McElhenney watch the Netflix documentary Sunderland ‘Til I Die, which helped plant the early seed for him to purchase Wrexham AFC with Reynolds.

The 43-year-old, standing at 6ft 7in, became the North Wales club’s executive director after its 2021 Hollywood takeover, before stepping away from the role in 2024.

Since then, Ker has helped to relaunch Saturday Night Live UK, and co-wrote the stage production Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas with long-time friend David Reed.

In a joint statement with the club, Reynolds and McElhenney added: “Humphrey has been a key piece of the Wrexham story from day one.

“His kindness, humour and height will be missed, but never forgotten,” they concluded. Since their takeover, Wrexham AFC have risen from National League beginnings to the Championship.

In 2025-26, the club narrowly missed out on play-off football, behind Hull City in sixth position. The Tigers won promotion at Wembley, and are now placed eighth in the Premier League standings.

Watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland today in the Nations League for free, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

72nd-placed in the FIFA rankings Georgia take on 70th-placed Northern Ireland in Tbilisi, as both nations get their Nations League campaigns started.

Most of the eyes will be on Georgia’s star man, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who will be keen to lead his side into the League A/B play-offs and towards a potential route to Euro 2028 qualification.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland online and from anywhere in the world.

Can I watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland for free?

Yes! You can watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland for free in the UK on BBC iPlayer.

Remember, you will need a TV license and a UK postcode (SE1 7PB) to watch iPlayer.

Abroad for Georgia vs Northern Ireland? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland from anywhere

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How to watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland in the UK

Viewers in the UK can watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland on BBC Two and via the BBC iPlayer.

Kick-off is at 5:00pm BST on Friday 25 September.

Watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland in the US

Fans in the US can watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland on FOX Soccer Plus.

Watch Georgia vs Northern Ireland in Australia

beIN Sport Connect is broadcasting live coverage of Georgia vs Northern Ireland in Australia.

Georgia vs Northern Ireland: Preview

Georgia and Northern Ireland begin their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaigns on Friday when they meet at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi.

The Group B2 encounter sees both sides aiming to build momentum after contrasting recent experiences, with Georgia looking to recover from a difficult World Cup qualifying campaign and Northern Ireland returning to League B following their promotion.

Georgia head coach Willy Sagnol will be hoping his side can carry their improved form into the new Nations League campaign. The hosts are unbeaten in their four matches in 2026, recording victories over Lithuania and Bahrain alongside draws against Israel and Romania.

Much of the attention will naturally fall on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Paris Saint-Germain star is expected to captain Georgia and provide the creative spark behind striker Georges Mikautadze. Sagnol also has several other attacking options, including Giorgi Chakvetadze.

SEE ALSO Find out why you should use a VPN to stream football

Northern Ireland, meanwhile, arrive in Tbilisi under Michael O'Neill after earning promotion to League B during the previous Nations League campaign.

O'Neill has selected a youthful 28-man squad for the opening four matches, with an average age of just 24. The group includes experienced internationals such as Paddy McNair and Daniel Ballard alongside emerging players including Isaac Price, Jamie Donley and Arsenal forward Ceadach O'Neill.

Northern Ireland will have to cope without several players through injury, including Liverpool defender Conor Bradley and Preston midfielder Alistair McCann.

The visitors also face an unusual atmosphere in Tbilisi, with the fixture being played behind closed doors following UEFA sanctions against the Georgian Football Federation.

Squads

Georgia

Goalkeepers: Giorgi Mamardashvili (Liverpool, England), Luka Gugeshashvili (Göztepe, Türkiye), Davit Kereselidze (Dila Gori, Georgia)

Defenders: Luka Lochoshvili (1. FC Köln, Germany), Lasha Dvali (CSKA 1948, Bulgaria), Saba Goglichidze (Monza, Italy), Ilia Beriashvili (MTK Budapest, Hungary), Saba Sazonov (Getafe, Spain), Jemal Tabidze (Kayserispor, Türkiye), Otar Kakabadze (Cracovia, Poland), Irakli Azarovi (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine)

Midfielders / Forwards: Otar Kiteishvili (Sturm Graz, Austria), Giorgi Kochorashvili (Sevilla, Spain), Gizi Mamageishvili (Sturm Graz, Austria), Giorgi Tsitaishvili (Rayo Vallecano, Spain), Anzor Mekvabishvili (Chicago Fire, USA), Otar Mamageishvili (Wolfsberger AC, Austria), Nodar Lominadze (Torpedo Kutaisi, Georgia), Irakli Egoyan (Excelsior, Netherlands), Giorgi Chakvetadze (Udinese, Italy), Zuriko Davitashvili (Saint-Étienne, France), Giorgi Kvernadze (Frosinone, Italy), Giorgi Abuashvili (Metz, France), Giorgi Gagua (DAC Dunajská Streda, Slovakia), Budu Zivzivadze (1. FC Heidenheim, Germany), Giorgi Mikautadze (Villarreal, Spain), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, France)

Northern Ireland

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool), Conor Hazard (Wycombe Wanderers), Pierce Charles (Queens Park Rangers, on loan from Manchester City).

Defenders: Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume (both Sunderland), Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Paddy McNair (Hull City), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Tom Atcheson (Blackburn Rovers), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Michael Forbes (Dundee United).

Midfielders: Ethan Galbraith and Justin Devenny (both Stoke City), Shea Charles (Fulham), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Jordan Thompson (Preston North End), Jamie McDonnell (Oxford United), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Liverpool),

Forwards: Josh Magennis (Stevenage), Dion Charles (Blackpool, on loan from Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (Luton Town), Jamie Donley (Luton Town, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Braiden Graham (Everton), Ceadach O’Neill (Arsenal).

FourFourTwo's prediction

Georgia 0-0 Northern Ireland

A stalemate is predicted as O'Neill's side gets off to a slow start.

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The Sunderland bagsman was withdrawn after just 35 minutes during Xavi’s first game at the Netherlands helm, during a 1-1 Nations League stalemate versus Germany.

The 24-year-old will soon return to an anxious Sunderland, while the Netherlands look to call up for a replacement for Brobbey ahead of their next clash against Serbia.

The Dutchman, whose injury appeared to be hamstring-related, was able to leave the pitch himself, but limped down the tunnel with assistance from Netherlands medical staff.

Is Sunderland and Netherlands star Brian Brobbey injured?

Five minutes prior, opposition player Kai Havertz also went down injured, and was revealed post-game by Germany boss Jurgen Klopp to be out for their upcoming Nations League matches.

Brobbey’s injury was non-contact, and he signalled quickly to the Netherlands dugout for substitution after dropping to the floor versus Germany.

Sunderland posted on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after: "Brian Brobbey was forced off in the first half as the Netherlands secured a late point against Germany. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Brian."

The Netherlands’ new boss, Barcelona legend Xavi, confirmed to reporters that Brobbey will be replaced by another Dutch call-up.

"Someone is joining, but we don't know who yet,” revealed the 46-year-old, whose side will next face Serbia on Sunday at 5pm BST. On October 1 and 4, the Netherlands will clash with Greece and, again, Serbia.

The Black Cats bagsman, who recently scored an Etihad hat-trick during Sunderland’s 5-3 defeat at Manchester City, has started in all five Premier League matches this term, for a total 424 minutes.

His internationally-sustained injury led to another dark twist for the Netherlands, with their opposition resorting to controversial tactics in the Nations League.

After Brobbey went down, Klopp’s men refused to put the ball out of play, and soon scored through Felix Nmecha to take a 1-0 lead.

Cody Gakpo levelled proceedings for Xavi’s men with a 92-minute equaliser, but neither side was able to secure all three points in Group 2.

Sunderland’s next match arrives on October 10 in the English top-flight, as Brighton visit the Stadium of Light.

Former England midfield man Dele Alli has been a free agent for the last year but has been aiming to keep himself fit in an effort to revive his career.

Alli left Serie A upstarts Como last autumn after making a single appearance under Cesc Fabregas, the latest in a string of abortive moves since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in 2022.

The 30-year-old spent seven years at Spurs after joining from Milton Keynes Dons in 2018 as one of the most exciting young prospects in English football.

Dele Alli is training at Barnet

He recently shared a video of himself training alone at the facilities of League Two outfit Barnet, where manager Dean Brennan has unexpectedly raised the possibility of the unsigned star taking his programme a step further.

Speaking to Alan Brazil and Gabby Agbonlahor on talkSPORT, Brennan extended an offer to Alli that he might very well be interested in taking up.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

"Our facilities are available to rent," explained the Bees boss when asked about Alli training at The Hive.

"We don’t live in Disneyland down at our level so our lads have to pay their bills, pay their mortgage and we don’t get 10,000, 20,000 [on the gate] a game. So renting our facilities out was part of the business process at our place and it looks like Dele’s done just that.

"I’ll take him all day long. You would be mad not to take him. He’s a serious footballer and look, he’s going through a real tough time. There’s obviously some kind of issue why people haven’t taken him on. Everyone deserves a second chance in life.

"At our football club we have lots of lads that train with us that are out of contract and if Dele wants to come train with us the doors are open. He can use us to get fit and train with the group."

Barnet are the unbeaten leaders of the fourth tier after seven matches. Their games against Crawley Town and York City over the next two Saturdays have both been postponed due to international call-ups.

Alli hasn't played competitively since he was sent off on his single, brief appearance for Como against AC Milan in March 2025.

The former Everton midfielder, who has 37 senior caps for England, had signed for Fabregas' side two months earlier on what was originally an 18-month contract.

He was released and left the Italian team last September, and has yet to secure a new club.

Havertz exited the pitch inside 30 minutes during Jurgen Klopp’s first game at the Germany helm, during a 1-1 draw versus the Netherlands.

The German international was caught in a heavy challenge from Quinten Timber, the brother of his Gunners team-mate, Jurrien, and was replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib.

Havertz stayed on the pitch while receiving treatment from Germany’s medical team; the 27-year-old has played 438 Premier League minutes this term for Arsenal, scoring twice.

Is Arsenal and Germany star Kai Havertz injured?

Elsewhere, Jamal Musiala picked up a thigh injury pre-match, after being named in the Nations League starting XI.

Speaking after the match, Klopp said: “Both will undergo scans tonight. They’re probably out for us, but I hope they’ll be back soon [for Arsenal and Bayern Munich].”

Havertz’s injury appeared to be a muscle issue, and will, as his German boss admitted, likely miss Sunday’s clash versus Greece.

On October 1 and 4, Germany will face off against Serbia and, again, Greece. It appears that Havertz will also miss those Nations League bouts.

His injury is likely to provoke worry from Arsenal fans, having been sidelined from mid August 2024 to early January 2025 last term.

This season, he has cemented himself as Mikel Arteta’s starting striker, and produced top-level performances to match.

Against Chelsea in early September, his goal and neat dummy for Martin Odegaard helped Arteta’s men to a 2-0 victory, while his 15th-minute strike versus Coventry helped Arsenal to kick off their Premier League season with a 3-0 win.

The Gunners sit second in the English top-flight standings, having lost 3-0 in their latest match away at Brighton.

Manchester City, meanwhile, have tallied five wins in five to surmount the reigning Champions, who edged out Pep Guardiola’s men for the first time in 2025-26.

It is unclear how long Havertz will be sidelined for, but it appears that Klopp has ruled him out of Germany’s remaining Nations League match-ups.

England captain Harry Kane has provided further information on Declan Rice's injury status after the Arsenal midfielder pulled out of the England squad.

The Three Lions will begin their Nations League campaign against Spain at Wembley on Saturday before facing Czech Republic, Croatia and Czech Republic again to complete the extended international window.

Thomas Tuchel will have to find a new solution in midfield in the absence of Rice, who withdrew after Arsenal's Premier League loss at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

'Struggling' Declan Rice discussed England squad withdrawal with Harry Kane

Rice now has the better part of three weeks to return to fitness for the Gunners, and his international skipper has revealed a conversation he had with the Premier League champion.

"Everyone has their own situation. I know how tough the summer was and I know especially in the Premier League how gruelling that schedule is," Harry Kane told the media at St George's Park in advance of the Nations League opener.

"I'm in a different situation now where I have the winter break [in Germany] and I have moments to recharge and refresh. Some of the players don't get that.

"I spoke to Dec, and I know Dec goes far and beyond for the club and country, so I know how much he gives and I know he's been struggling for a while with his issues.

"So someone like Dec has to get himself sorted and get himself fresh, and he has big games for club, big games for country, coming up."

Rice pulled out of the squad along with Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Marcus Rashford. He has been managing a hamstring issue and a long-standing lower back problem, which he revealed during a World Cup campaign in which he featured heavily.

The 27-year-old played 55 times in all competitions for Arsenal last term and has started all six of their matches in the Premier League and Champions League this season.

Tuchel will oversee England in the Nations League for the first time. Interim boss Lee Carsley was in charge for their last campaign, which saw them promoted from League B back to League A at the first time of asking.

England will play four of their six matches before the players go back to their clubs next month. They include James Garner of Everton and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, who have been called up as a result of the injury withdrawals.

Kane will chase international goal number 86 when England face the world champions this weekend. Spain and England met in the inaugural Nations League in 2018/19, each beating the other away from home.

Alan Pardew admits that things got off to a rocky start at West Ham United - but ultimately left the club with few regrets by the time he was done there.

The former Hammers boss took the reins in October 2003 following Glenn Roeder's dismissal a couple of months earlier.

Pardew's departure from Reading proved to be lengthy and acrimonious before he got to East London, however, with the Royals unwilling to allow their manager to leave to take the West Ham job.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

"We went to Cardiff three times during my time there"

Pardew told FourFourTwo: "I was put on bloody gardening leave for three months. The Reading owner, John Madjeski, wouldn’t strike a deal with West Ham even though they were willing to pay up the remaining time on my contract.

"Football-wise, I actually went from a team who were doing better than West Ham at the time.

And the problems on continued from there: "I inherited quite a few problems at Upton Park with the likes of David James and Jermain Defoe making it clear they wanted a move following relegation.

"I had to change things around and tried to do what I’d done at Reading by recruiting hungry young players such as Marlon Harewood and Nigel Reo-Coker."

Pardew's Hammers lost in the play-off final to his former club Crystal Palace at the end of his first season in 2004/05.

But West Ham went one better the following year, earning promotion after returning to the Millennium Stadium for another play-off final. This time, they prevailed over Preston North End.

A solid 9th-place finish and a FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool in 2006 after that late Steven Gerrard equaliser was the pinnacle for Pardew. A dreadful start to the following campaign despite the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano saw him dismissed shortly before Christmas.

Pardrew reflects happily on his time at Upton Park on the whole, though, saying: "We had some great moments there.

"We went to Cardiff three times during my time there because Wembley was closed – two play-off finals and the FA Cup final vs Liverpool.

"The supporters loved those trips to Wales!"

Thursday nights in Europe are going to be the highlight of the season for the English clubs in the Europa and Conference Leagues.

Bournemouth have made European football for the first time in their history, Sunderland are back in continental action for the first time since 1973, Brighton feature for just the second time ever, and Crystal Palace’s Conference League win from last season means they’re playing in Europe for a second year in a row.

The rarity of this season’s four qualifiers being in this position makes it so special. Competing for a trophy against some of Europe’s other top sides, while making trips to countries around the continent, is something fans of these clubs have scarcely, if ever, experienced – what a journey they will go on.

As a Brighton fan, the memories of the club’s first European run in 2023-24 are some of the best I’ve had. I remember sitting in the stands at the Johan Cruyff Arena after Brighton beat Ajax 2-0 in the Europa League group stage and having to pinch myself that the moment was real – good old Sussex by the Sea beating former European Cup winners on their own turf. It’s what dreams are made of.

This time Brighton are in the Conference League, with league phase opponents including Monaco, Panathinaikos and Getafe. With three of the five previous winners of this competition coming from England, Brighton are considered favourites to win it.

However, with Atalanta, Monaco, Freiburg, Braga and Ajax all in the mix, it looks like the most competitive it’s been since the tournament began. The club are still chasing their first major trophy and this season it feels like they’re closer than ever.

Bournemouth supporters are experiencing what I and thousands of others did three years ago – following their team into Europe for the first time. It has been a remarkable rise for Bournemouth, who were in League Two as recently as 2010, but registered their best ever top-flight finish in sixth last season. They’re visiting some incredible places in the league phase: after their opener at Real Sociedad, they’ve still got trips to Sparta Prague, Celta Vigo and Lillestrom, while welcoming former European champions Milan to Dorset.

They also have new manager Marco Rose in charge, who took his former team Red Bull Salzburg to the Europa League semi-finals in 2018 and has managed in the Champions League – he knows how to go far in Europe and balance the workload of playing three games a week.

Sunderland joined the Cherries in the Europa League as another unexpected qualifier after an incredible first season back in the top flight, surprising everyone by finishing seventh. They were one of the favourites to be relegated after promotion, but had such an impressive campaign under Regis Le Bris and fully deserve their shot at glory.

After being mocked by rivals Newcastle who sang, “You’ll never see a Mackem in Milan”, the football gods ensured they were handed the trip of a lifetime to San Siro, plus journeys to Poland, Portugal and Belgium to look forward to.

For Crystal Palace, their trophy-laden era has taken them to a second successive European campaign, which is an unbelievable achievement.Under their previous manager Oliver Glasner, they lifted the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League, all in the space of a year. Considering the FA Cup was their first ever piece of silverware, it has been the most joyous time for Palace fans, who have been in dreamland. After going on a run of European trips last season that led them all the way to the trophy, they’ll be hoping for a repeat under new boss Pierre Sage.

None of the four English teams playing in Europe on Thursdays this season are continental regulars, so it means so much more to everyone involved. Players and managers have been making debuts, with fans experiencing new cultures and the atmosphere of stadiums abroad for the first time. Each team will be hoping their name is etched into silverware at the end of their journey, but it’s the lifelong memories and the history made along the way that will make their seasons extra special.

Friday Football Quiz time.

Congratulations, you're one week of three down with this international break – and this might just be the hardest one, given that there's not been much football yet – so to celebrate, we've got a new Friday Football Quiz.

You know how this one works by now: 20 questions ready whenever you are, spanning all of football, as we check just how good your ball knowledge truly is. Are you ready?

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Moving from matchday trivia of past and present to the deep-seated heritage of global giants and domestic title races demands elite mental conditioning: so with more quizzes courtesy of Kwizly, we've drawn up a fresh selection designed to test whether your memory can span from Spanish transfer blockbusters to the historic archives of English silverware.

Whether you're recalling classic 2000s Barclays moments or modern tactical revolutions, we've got more to keep you going over the weekend – courtesy of Kwizly.

We’re launching straight into a decade-spanning retrospective of English top-flight drama. First, step back two decades into the classic era and see if you can answer 15 questions about the Premier League in 2006-07, revisiting iconic goals, blockbuster transfers, and historic title battles. Once you’ve conquered mid-2000s trivia, fast-forward ten years to test your modern recall on the 2016-17 Premier League season, an era defined by tactical masterclasses, record-breaking win streaks, and star-studded dugouts.

If your scouting network excels at clinical goalscoring records or macro-level trophy counts, we have a stacked double-header waiting in the tunnel. Put your penalty-box memory to the ultimate test by attempting to name every player ever to have scored a Premier League hat-trick, celebrating every lethal marksman to take home a match ball since 1992. After auditing top-flight firepower, scale up your historical knowledge and see if you can sort these teams by their league titles, ranking domestic and continental giants by their historic trophy haul.

Finally, pull up a seat in the dugout for FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 71, with clues on derbies, dancers and Dutch delights,. To ensure you stay top of the table every single day, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To complete your transfer to terrace legend status, lock in your spot in The Club—our free membership hub where you can unlock secret hints for our hardest quizzes, climb global leaderboards, and debate the latest topics directly in the comments section.

The London Stadium was just 12 miles down the road as Dagenham & Redbridge netted their third past second-placed Wrexham in May 2022, but for those travelling Red Dragons, it will have felt like a lifetime away.

Phil Parkinson’s side pitched up at The Chigwell Construction Stadium that day with a dream, and a reachable one at that.

They were three points behind Stockport County in the National League – the fifth tier of English football, which holds only one automatic promotion spot to the Football League – but with a superior goal difference. Dagenham were eighth in the league, with the Hatters up against fourth-placed Halifax Town.

Phil Parkinson has already proved he's a mood-turning master

Dave Challinor’s table-topping side were prone to a wobble; in the last game, they’d let the Welsh side right back in, losing 3-0 against Parkinson’s men, in what felt like a potential title decider, just weeks after being dumped out of the FA Trophy at the same venue. Stockport were bruised, and Wrexham were on the up.

Plenty fancied Wrexham’s chances that day, despite not starting in the driving seat. Dagenham had to release a statement leading up to it, offering 300 extra tickets to away fans while pleading with them not to attempt to get in the home end. Excitement was bubbling over. It was certainly going to be a close run-in, wasn’t it?

Er, no.

The Red Dragons were battered off the park, losing 3-0 as Stockport banked a history-making 2-0 win against Halifax. The deflation for Wrexham carried through to the FA Trophy final at Wembley (a 1-0 loss to Bromley) and the play-offs, coming off second-best in a 5-4 game of hot potato with Grimsby Town.

Just like that, their season was over, with nothing to show for the incredible fight they’d shown through the latter part of the season and the hefty investment supplied by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.

So why are we talking about this over four years after the fact? Partly because we all know what happens next in Wrexham’s story, and it shows just how quickly things can change for the better.

Of the group that travelled down to Dagenham that day, only Max Cleworth and Parkinson himself remain at the club.

The Wrexham boss has found himself in one of the tougher moments of his five-year reign at the beginning of this season. The lowest ebb came as they realised what would have one day been a dream: instead of travelling to the capital for the likes of The Chigwell Construction Stadium, it was the London Stadium for a league game. Well, it was a dream at kick-off, which quickly descended into a nightmare as Jarrod Bowen netted the Hammers’ first, followed by five of his mates also sticking one each past summer signing Anthony Patterson.

“We can do better, and I can do better,” a forlorn Parkinson said in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “I think the word accountability is important for myself and all individuals as well.”

He cut a figure that you have no doubt seen before: looking down at the floor, blaming himself and admitting his side simply weren’t good enough on the night. A reluctant, withdrawn acceptance that maybe, after such an incredible journey, his spell was running out of steam.

The season prior, they’d been in the play-off places with one game left to play, heading into that final day level on points with Hull City. The Red Dragons drew with Middlesbrough, as the Tigers beat Norwich City, pipping them to the last play-off spot and then going on to win the end-of-season contest. As Wrexham were mulling over this West Ham defeat, a day later, Hull were holding Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Fine margins expand quickly in football.

Looking at it through that lens, there has been an understandable deflation around the Racecourse for much of the beginning of this term, and fans travelling home from West Ham that evening were no doubt feeling it. Faith in Parkinson is high, and perhaps restoring with their most recent win against Southampton, but it’s nights like West Ham when doubts creep in and can take hold.

Those with slightly longer memories will understand the immense rallying power Parkinson possesses, though.

After that crushing miss in the National League in 2022, he picked his squad up, dusted them off and blitzed the competition the following season, racking up a record-smashing 111 points.

That season for Wrexham was the catalyst. Second place in League Two (enough to go up automatically here) followed, and they repeated the trick in League One, famously marking back-to-back-to-back promotions. Yes, Parkinson has been backed financially, but so have others with much less to show for it. It still took some doing, especially from such a dispiriting 2021/22 season.

Thankfully, the two movie stars with their hands on the purse strings appear to be among those with long-term memories, and have not been afraid to double down on their support.

“Phil has shown over and over again that he can win at every level so far,” Rob Mac told The Wrexham Podcast earlier this month, “so I don’t see why he doesn’t have as much room as he can possibly have over the next few years to continue to prove it.

“Phil has earned a lot of wiggle room.

“When I look at how quickly managers are fired, not just in English football, in the sport, all of the world, every league, managers are fired so quickly.”

Firing Parkinson would by far be the biggest and most emotional call the Wrexham hierarchy have had to make since they took over, and Mac confirmed in that same podcast that he wouldn’t be afraid to do it, if the situation called for it.

It may yet come. They may feel they need a bit of Premier League experience in the dugout to take that next step, but Mac noted that situation has not been reached yet. And he’s right.

Following that loss to West Ham, the Red Dragons were just one point off where they found themselves at the same stage last season, getting back to winning ways a week later with that home win against the Saints. Yet more evidence of the manager’s bouncebackability, and a sign that things are not as bad as they’ve felt at certain stages.

Outsiders may ask how you recover a squad’s mood after that huge miss last season, and how you erase the memory of a 6-0 drubbing on what should have been a special night. Anyone who’s followed Parkinson’s career for any length of time will simply point to his record.

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