Football

England's interim manager Lee Carsley has been forced to make significant changes to his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Greece and Ireland due to a string of withdrawals. Eight players, including key figures from the top four Premier League clubs, have pulled out, leaving Carsley with a depleted squad.Among the absentees are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden. Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has also withdrawn.To bolster his squad, Carsley has called up five new players: Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, Southampton's Tino Livramento, and Manchester United's James Trafford.Rogers, a 22-year-old attacking midfielder, has impressed for Unai Emery's Villa side this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists. He has earned his first senior call-up as a reward for his performances.Carsley will be overseeing his final two fixtures before handing over the reins to Thomas Tuchel in January. Defeat in Athens would end England's chances of automatic promotion from the second tier of the Nations League.

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.

Germany's Nations League hopes received a boost on Friday as Deniz Undav's brace secured a 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The win puts Germany on the cusp of the quarter-finals, while the Netherlands salvaged a 1-1 draw in Hungary despite playing with 10 men.Undav, making his second international start, opened the scoring for Germany in the 30th minute, tapping in a backheel assist from Florian Wirtz. The Stuttgart forward doubled his tally in the second half, converting Maximilian Mittlestaedt's cross. Bosnia responded with 20 minutes remaining through Edin Dzeko's header, but Germany held on for the victory.In Budapest, Hungary took the lead against the Netherlands through Roland Sallai's close-range finish. However, the Dutch equalized in the 83rd minute when Denzel Dumfries headed in a free-kick from Cody Gakpo, despite Virgil van Dijk's red card four minutes earlier.Elsewhere, Wales squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Iceland in Reykjavik. Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson gave Wales a comfortable advantage at the break, but Iceland fought back in the second half with goals from Logi Tomasson and Danny Ward's own goal.Turkey defeated Montenegro 1-0, while Sweden and Slovakia drew 2-2 in Bratislava. The Czech Republic earned a 2-0 home win over Albania, and Ukraine defeated Georgia 1-0.

Spain's Nations League campaign has suffered a setback with the withdrawal of star striker Nico Williams due to injury. The Athletic Bilbao forward, who played a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, picked up an injury during training and has been released from the national team camp.Williams' absence is a significant blow to Spain's hopes of success in the Nations League. The 20-year-old has been in impressive form for Athletic Bilbao this season, scoring 5 goals in 10 appearances. His pace, skill, and eye for goal make him a dangerous threat to any opposition.In Williams' place, Spain coach Luis Enrique has called up Sergio Gomez of Real Sociedad. Gomez, who was part of Spain's Olympic gold medal-winning team in Tokyo, is a versatile defender who can also play in midfield. He has been in good form for Real Sociedad this season, making 10 appearances and scoring 1 goal.Spain will face Denmark in Murcia on September 25 and Serbia in Cordoba on September 28. The team will be looking to build on their impressive performance at Euro 2024, where they defeated England in the final.Despite Williams' injury, Spain remains a formidable team with a wealth of talent. The likes of Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati are all capable of producing moments of brilliance, and they will be determined to make up for Williams' absence.

Alvaro Morata has been recalled to the Spanish national team for their upcoming Nations League matches, as announced by coach Luis de la Fuente on Friday. The AC Milan forward returns to the squad after recovering from a muscular injury that kept him out of Spain's opening two Group A4 encounters.De la Fuente praised Morata's leadership qualities, describing him as "one of the best strikers in the world" and "a great captain who unites the team." He added that Morata's presence on and off the field is invaluable.However, Spain will be without key midfielder Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will miss the rest of the season. De la Fuente acknowledged Rodri's irreplaceable role but expressed confidence in other players stepping up.Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been called up to replace Rodri, while Mikel Merino, who recently recovered from an injury, has also made his return to the squad.Spain will face Denmark in Murcia on October 12 before hosting Serbia in Cordoba three days later. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and rising stars, with a strong emphasis on players from La Liga clubs.De la Fuente's decision to recall Morata and include Zubimendi and Merino signals his intent to maintain a competitive and cohesive team despite the absence of key players. Spain will be aiming to secure positive results in their remaining Nations League matches and build momentum ahead of the 2024 European Championship.

Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala has been ruled out of action for the upcoming Bundesliga clash against Eintracht Frankfurt and Germany's two Nations League matches due to a hip injury. The 21-year-old was initially included in Julian Nagelsmann's squad for the international fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands, but will now miss out.Musiala has been a key player for Bayern this season, scoring three goals in 10 appearances across all competitions. His absence will be a blow to the German champions, who are currently top of the Bundesliga table.The injury is a setback for Musiala, who has been in impressive form for both club and country. He has made 36 appearances for Germany, scoring six goals, and has established himself as one of the most promising young players in Europe.Bayern have confirmed that Musiala will be sidelined for the time being, but have not provided a specific timeframe for his return. The club's medical staff will continue to assess his condition and provide updates as they become available.In Musiala's absence, Bayern will likely turn to Leroy Sané or Kingsley Coman to fill the void in attack. Both players have been in good form this season and will be eager to make an impact in Musiala's absence.Germany have called up Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling to replace Musiala in their squad for the Nations League matches. Leweling has been in impressive form for Stuttgart this season, scoring three goals in 10 appearances.Musiala's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of top-level football. The 21-year-old has played a lot of football in recent months and his body is now paying the price. Bayern will hope that he can recover quickly and return to action soon.

Belgium's national football team coach, Domenico Tedesco, has announced his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Italy and France. Notably, Manchester City's star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will miss the matches due to injury.De Bruyne, 33, had previously hinted at potentially retiring from international football. However, he has since assured Tedesco that he intends to continue playing for Belgium for the next two years, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup."I had a long conversation with Kevin," Tedesco said. "He's injured now, but he's highly motivated to continue with us and play in the World Cup. He asked to be excused from this camp and the November camp to focus on his physical recovery."Another notable absence from the squad is Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku. Tedesco has decided to rest Lukaku, who recently joined the Italian club, to allow him to "work individually" and settle into his new surroundings.Belgium will face Italy in Rome on October 10th and then host France in Brussels on October 14th. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and rising stars, with several players representing top clubs across Europe.Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Al Qadsiah), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)Defenders: Sebastiaan Bornauw (Wolfsburg), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Portugal), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Bruges), Wout Faes (Leicester), Matte Smets (Genk), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Koni De Winter (Genoa)Midfielders: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arne Engels (Celtic), Malick Fofana (Lyon)Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Cyril Ngonge (Napoli), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)

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.

Harry Kane's remarkable career reached a new milestone as he celebrated his 100th England cap with a stunning brace against Finland in the Nations League. The Tottenham Hotspur striker's goals sealed a 2-0 victory for the Three Lions at Wembley Stadium.Kane's first goal came in the 58th minute, as he received a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold and unleashed a blistering strike that cannoned into the net off the underside of the crossbar. His second goal followed in the 76th minute, with Noni Madueke setting up the striker for a clinical finish from close range.The goals marked Kane's 68th and 69th for England, moving him closer to Wayne Rooney's record of 120. Kane is now the third England player to score on their 100th appearance, joining Rooney and Bobby Charlton.England's interim manager, Lee Carsley, praised Kane's performance, saying, "His finishing is very good, even in training. It's not a surprise when he scores goals as his habits are so good."Carsley also oversaw a 2-0 victory against Ireland in his first game in charge on Saturday, making him the first England manager to win his first two competitive games since Fabio Capello in 2008.Carsley's attacking game-plan has been a stark contrast to his predecessor Gareth Southgate's conservative tactics. The former England Under-21 coach gave a first Three Lions start to Lille midfielder Angel Gomes, who made a solid impact, while Chelsea winger Madueke set up Kane's second goal after coming off the bench for his debut.Kane's performance was a reminder of his enduring quality and his ability to inspire his teammates. The striker has shown no signs of slowing down, and he remains one of the most feared forwards in world football.