Football

England's emphatic 5-0 victory over 10-man Republic of Ireland secured their promotion to the Nations League top flight, with four players marking their international debuts with goals. Interim manager Lee Carsley's final game in charge saw England dominate from the start, but it was a second-half penalty from Harry Kane that broke the deadlock.Tino Livramento's deflected cross found Anthony Gordon, who volleyed home his first international goal. Conor Gallagher and Jarrod Bowen also netted their maiden England goals, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed in Jude Bellingham's cross to complete the rout.France also secured top spot in Group A2 with a 3-1 victory over Italy at the San Siro. Adrien Rabiot scored twice, including a brilliant header from a Lucas Digne set-piece. Italy's Andrea Cambiaso pulled one back, but Rabiot's second goal sealed the win for Les Bleus.Erling Haaland continued his impressive form for Norway, scoring a hat-trick in their 5-0 win over Kazakhstan. The Manchester City star broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute and added two more goals before Antonio Nusa completed the scoring. Norway's victory saw them finish top of Group B3 ahead of Austria, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Slovenia.

Italy secured their place in the Nations League quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Belgium in Brussels. The visitors dominated the early stages and took the lead after 11 minutes when Sandro Tonali tapped in a deflected cross from Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Belgium pressed for an equalizer but could only manage a second-half header from Wout Faes that hit the post.Meanwhile, France's qualification was confirmed despite a lackluster 0-0 draw with Israel in Paris. The hosts struggled to create chances against a resolute Israeli defense, managing only 25 attempts on goal. Israel's goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz, made two diving saves in the second half to deny Warren Zaire-Emery and Christopher Nkunku.In Athens, England's interim coach Lee Carsley enjoyed an emphatic 3-0 victory over Greece. Ollie Watkins replaced Harry Kane and justified his selection with a goal after seven minutes. Jude Bellingham forced the second goal after 78 minutes, with Curtis Jones adding a third five minutes later. England and Greece are level on points but England's superior goal difference puts them top of the group.Austria and Norway also secured wins in Group B3. Austria defeated Kazakhstan 2-0, while Norway beat Slovenia 4-1. Erling Haaland scored once for Norway, who are now level on points with Austria but trail on goal difference.

France, Italy, and Portugal are poised to secure their spots in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, while England's hopes of promotion have been dampened by a string of withdrawals.Italy and Portugal need only a point to advance, while France is well-positioned ahead of their match against Israel on Thursday. However, the fixture has been overshadowed by security concerns following clashes in Amsterdam during a match between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch team Ajax.Israel has urged fans to avoid the Nations League tie due to fears of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim abuse amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. France defender Dayot Upamecano expressed understanding for the fans' decision but emphasized his focus on the game.Kylian Mbappe is once again absent from the France squad, with coach Didier Deschamps stating that the decision is "for the best." Mbappe has been under investigation for an alleged rape, which he has denied.After the Israel match, France will face Group A leaders Italy in Milan on Sunday. Italy needs only to avoid defeat against Belgium to secure a quarter-final berth.Portugal will host Poland and then travel to Croatia in Group A1, where Scotland is struggling at the bottom of the table. The Netherlands and Hungary will meet in a crucial A3 showdown, while Germany can wrap up top spot by beating Bosnia and Herzegovina.Denmark and Serbia will battle it out for the other qualifying spot in Group A4 alongside Spain. The Danes host Spain and Serbia go to Switzerland before a potentially decisive clash in Leskovac on November 18.England must beat Greece in Athens to stay in contention for promotion back to the top tier. Greece has a perfect record in League B and won 2-1 at Wembley last month. Interim England boss Lee Carsley will be without several key players for the match.Georgia can become the first team to climb from League D to League A since the Nations League began in 2018 if they beat Ukraine and Czech Republic in Group B1. San Marino, who earned their first-ever competitive win in September, could make the leap to League C by defeating Gibraltar on Friday.Teams finishing third in League A and second in League B will face off in relegation/promotion play-offs, with identical play-offs between Leagues B and C. The Nations League also has an impact on World Cup qualifying, with the 12 group winners in European qualifying going to the World Cup and another four places going to winners of play-offs.

France and Germany secured crucial victories in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, thanks to the contributions of stand-in forwards.In Brussels, France overcame fierce rivals Belgium 2-1, with Randal Kolo Muani scoring both goals for the visitors. Kolo Muani, who has started only two games for Paris Saint-Germain this season, has now scored in all three of his appearances for France against Belgium.Belgium, who have lost their last three matches against France, took the lead through Loïs Openda's header in the 38th minute. However, Kolo Muani equalized just before halftime, heading in Lucas Digne's cross.The Paris Saint-Germain striker then grabbed the winner in the 62nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to slot home from close range. France held on to their lead despite being reduced to 10 men after Aurélien Tchouaméni was sent off for a second yellow card in the 76th minute.In Munich, Germany defeated the Netherlands 1-0, with Jamie Leweling scoring the only goal of the game in the 64th minute. Leweling, who was making his debut for Germany, fired a powerful drive into the bottom corner from outside the box.The victory was a welcome boost for Germany, who have been struggling for form in recent months. It was also a fitting farewell for four players who recently retired from international duty: Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, and Ilkay Gundogan.Italy and Hungary also recorded victories in the Nations League on Monday. Italy defeated Israel 4-1 in Udine, with Mateo Retegui, Giovanni Di Lorenzo (2), and Davide Frattesi getting on the scoresheet. Hungary, meanwhile, beat Bosnia 2-0 in Sarajevo, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Martin Adam scoring the goals.With two group games remaining in November, France, Italy, and Germany are all on the verge of clinching a top-two finish and spots in the quarterfinals.

France's star forward Kylian Mbappe has been omitted from the squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium. The decision was made by coach Didier Deschamps to allow Mbappe to rest and recover from a minor thigh injury.Mbappe recently returned to action for Real Madrid after a brief spell on the sidelines. He made a substitute appearance in the Champions League match against Lille, but the team suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat.Deschamps explained his decision to leave Mbappe out of the squad, stating that he had spoken to the player and determined that it was not a serious injury. However, he emphasized that he would not take any risks with Mbappe's fitness."I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad," Deschamps said.France will face Israel in an away fixture on October 10, which has been moved to Budapest due to security concerns in the Middle East. They will then travel to Brussels to take on Belgium on October 14.The absence of Mbappe is a significant blow to France's hopes of success in the Nations League. The team has three points after their first two outings in Group A2, which is topped by Italy with six points.Deschamps also announced the retirement of vice-captain Antoine Griezmann from international football earlier this week. Griezmann, who has won 137 caps for France, made the decision at the age of 33."He had such an impact that we can't play in the same way," Deschamps said of losing Griezmann. "I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player."Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku, who has not played for France since June last year, has been recalled to the squad. However, midfielder N'Golo Kante has also been left out.

The stage is set for an enthralling clash between France and Spain in the Men's Football Final of the Paris Olympics 2024. The match, scheduled for Friday, August 9, will witness the crowning of a new Olympic champion.France, the host nation, will be eager to seize the opportunity to add football gold to their medal tally. Led by Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has netted four goals in the tournament, the French team will be determined to make history on home soil.Spain, on the other hand, will be aiming to improve upon their silver medal performance in Tokyo 2020. Barcelona's Fermin Lopez, with four goals to his name, will be a key player for the Spanish side.The match will take place at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 PM IST. The encounter promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with both teams boasting talented players and a rich footballing tradition.The France vs Spain Olympics 2024 Men's Football Final will be a must-watch event for football enthusiasts worldwide. The match will be live telecast on the Sports18 network and live streamed on the JioCinema app.

The upcoming quarter-final clash between France and Argentina in the men's Olympic football tournament promises to be a fiery encounter, fueled by recent tensions between the two nations. The last-eight showdown will be the first meeting since Argentina players were recorded singing racist chants about their French counterparts after winning the Copa America. FIFA is investigating the incident, which has sparked diplomatic tensions.The match will also be the first between the sides since the epic 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won on penalties. However, the Olympic tournament is an under-23 competition, with only two members of Argentina's squad (Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez) having played in the World Cup final.Despite the absence of some key players, the match is expected to be a fascinating contest. Argentina, chasing a third Olympic gold, will be led by Manchester City's Alvarez, while France, aiming for gold on home soil, will be captained by Alexandre Lacazette and feature Bayern Munich's Michael Olise.Both teams boast legendary coaches: France's Thierry Henry, a 1998 World Cup winner, and Argentina's Javier Mascherano, an Olympic gold medalist as a player. The winner will face either Egypt or Paraguay in the semi-finals.The quarter-finals will also feature Morocco vs. the United States in Paris and Spain vs. Japan in Lyon. Spain, fresh from winning Euro 2024, will be aiming for their second Olympic gold after 1992. Japan, despite fielding a young squad, has impressed by winning all three group games.

Olivier Giroud, France's all-time leading goalscorer, has bid farewell to international football after a remarkable career spanning 13 years. The 37-year-old striker announced his retirement on Monday, leaving behind a legacy of 57 goals in 137 appearances for Les Bleus.Giroud's journey with the French national team began in 2011, and he quickly established himself as a reliable goalscorer. He netted his first international goal in a friendly against Germany and went on to become the team's all-time top scorer, surpassing Thierry Henry's record of 51 goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.Over the course of his international career, Giroud played a pivotal role in France's success. He was part of the squad that won the World Cup in 2018 and was also a runner-up in the 2016 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup.Giroud's international retirement marks the end of an era for French football. He was a beloved figure among fans and teammates alike, known for his unwavering determination and ability to score crucial goals. His legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of French footballers.

Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spanish prodigy, etched his name into the history books of the Euro 2024 tournament on Tuesday. In a thrilling semifinal clash against France, Yamal became the youngest-ever goalscorer in the competition, inspiring Spain to a 2-1 comeback victory and a berth in the final.Trailing to a ninth-minute header from Randal Kolo Muani, Spain's hopes seemed to be fading. However, Yamal's moment of brilliance ignited a four-minute turnaround that turned the tide of the match. Collecting the ball outside the box, the teenage sensation cut inside and unleashed a curling strike that nestled into the top corner, leaving French goalkeeper Mike Maignan helpless.Just four minutes later, Dani Olmo doubled Spain's lead with a deflected shot that found its way past Jules Kounde. The goal was a testament to Spain's dominance in midfield, as they controlled possession and dictated the tempo of the game.Despite boasting an array of attacking talent, France struggled to find their rhythm in the final third. Antoine Griezmann was benched in favor of Ousmane Dembele, but the change failed to spark the French attack.Yamal's goal not only leveled the scores but also set a new record for the youngest scorer in Euro history. The previous record was held by Renato Sanches, who scored for Portugal at the age of 18 in 2016.Spain's victory marks a significant milestone in their illustrious footballing history. They became the first team to win six games at a Euros and are now just one game away from a record-breaking fourth crown.For France, the defeat raises questions about their attacking prowess. Despite possessing world-class players like Kylian Mbappe, they have struggled to score goals consistently throughout the tournament.As Spain prepares to face either the Netherlands or England in Sunday's final, they will be buoyed by the performance of their young star, Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old has already made a significant impact on the tournament and will be looking to continue his impressive form in the grandest stage of European football.