Football

England's resurgence under interim manager Lee Carsley culminated in a resounding 5-0 victory over Ireland on Sunday, securing promotion back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League.Harry Kane's 69th international goal, a record-extending strike, ignited a second-half scoring spree that propelled England to a dominant win at Wembley. The Three Lions needed to match Greece's result to top Group B2, and they did so with aplomb.Kane's penalty in the 53rd minute, awarded after Liam Scales brought down Jude Bellingham, opened the floodgates. Within five minutes, England had doubled their lead through Anthony Gordon's close-range finish. Conor Gallagher added a third just three minutes later, capitalizing on a defensive lapse.Substitute Jarrod Bowen made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch in the 75th minute. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, making his debut, headed in another four minutes later to complete the rout."A really important win for us," said Kane. "It was a tough first half, but we came out second half with a lot more energy and we finished it off."England's victory was a testament to Carsley's impact during his brief tenure. The former under-21s coach instilled a sense of attacking flair and belief in the team, which was evident in their performance against Ireland."I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and attacking," said Carsley. "I see them do it day in, day out on the training ground. And now we've seen it (on the field)."England's promotion to the top tier of the Nations League means they will be among Europe's leading nations in the next edition of the competition. They will also be looking to build on their momentum under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, who takes over in January.Tuchel will have plenty of options when he selects his first squad, as Carsley handed debuts to eight players during his short reign. In his final game, Gordon, Gallagher, Bowen, and Harwood-Bellis all scored their first senior goals for England."Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn: securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League," said English Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham. "The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team – they have made a real impact in their interim roles."

India, still seeking their first victory of the year under head coach Manolo Marquez, will face familiar rivals Malaysia in an international friendly football match in Hyderabad on Monday. The match holds significance as it could be India's last before the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers in March next year.India will be bolstered by the return of experienced central defender Sandesh Jhingan, who has recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The team has played 10 matches so far in 2023, losing six and drawing four. Under Marquez, who took over in July, they have played three games, losing one and drawing twice.The India-Malaysia football rivalry dates back to 1957, with the two sides having faced each other 32 times. India and Malaysia have won 12 matches each, while eight have ended in draws. The current FIFA rankings show little difference between the two teams, with India placed 125th and Malaysia 133rd.Malaysia are coming into the match on the back of a 3-1 friendly win over Laos on November 14. Both teams know each other well, with India having nine players from the Merdeka tournament semifinal clash last month in their current squad. Malaysia, on the other hand, have 14 members from last year's squad, including two goal-scorers.Like India, Malaysia have also undergone changes in the coaching staff since last year. Manolo and his counterpart Pau Martí, both from Spain, know each other from their time in Barcelona. Martí took charge in July after Malaysia failed to qualify for Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers."They (Malaysia) have been playing good football and it will be a tough game for both sides," said Manolo.

In a thrilling Nations League encounter, the Netherlands secured their place in the quarter-finals with a dominant 4-0 victory over Hungary. The match was marred by a medical emergency involving Hungary's assistant coach, Adam Szalai, who received treatment on the sidelines before being stretchered off.The Oranje took the lead in the 17th minute when Wout Weghorst converted a penalty after a handball by Tamas Nikitscher. Cody Gakpo doubled their advantage in the 11th minute of added time, dispatching another spot-kick after Zsolt Nagy fouled Donyell Malen.After the break, Denzel Dumfries sealed the Netherlands' victory with a well-taken volley in the 65th minute. Teun Koopmeiners added a fourth in the 86th minute, nodding in a cross from Malen.Meanwhile, Germany continued their impressive form with a resounding 7-0 win over Bosnia and Hercegovina. Jamal Musiala opened the scoring after just two minutes, followed by goals from Tim Kleindienst and Kai Havertz. Florian Wirtz netted a brace, including a stunning free-kick, while Leroy Sane and Kleindienst completed the rout.The emphatic result leaves Germany five points clear at the top of Group A3, while the Netherlands are second with one match remaining. In Group B1, Georgia and Ukraine played out a 1-1 draw, while the Czech Republic drew 0-0 in Albania. Turkey remain top of Group B4 after a 0-0 draw with Wales, while Iceland beat Montenegro 2-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo's brace propelled Portugal to a resounding 5-1 victory over Poland in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, securing their place in the quarter-finals.Portugal dominated the second half, scoring four goals in the final 20 minutes. Rafael Leao opened the scoring with a powerful header, followed by a penalty from Ronaldo. Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto added to the tally, while Ronaldo completed his brace with an acrobatic volley.Poland had the better chances in the first half but failed to capitalize. Dominik Marczuk's brilliant save denied Ronaldo from close range, and the hosts made them pay dearly.Roberto Martinez's Portugal wrapped up the top spot in Group A1 with a game to spare, joining France, Germany, and Italy in the last eight. Poland, meanwhile, were relegated and will face a relegation playoff if they lose to Scotland next week.In the other Group A1 match, Scotland boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with a late winner from John McGinn. Croatia, who needed a point to qualify with Portugal, were left disappointed as McGinn struck in the 86th minute.Meanwhile, European champions Spain remained unbeaten in Group A4 with a 2-1 win over Denmark in Copenhagen. Ayoze Perez and Mikel Oyarzabal scored for Spain, while Gustav Isaksen pulled one back for Denmark.In Group C2, Romania's match against Kosovo was abandoned in injury time due to chants of "Serbia" from the home fans. The game was goalless at the time of abandonment.In League D, San Marino kept their hopes of promotion alive with a 1-1 draw against Gibraltar thanks to Nicola Nanni's injury-time penalty.

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Vinicius Júnior endured frustrating nights in South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Messi's Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat at Paraguay, while Vinicius Júnior missed a second-half penalty as Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at Venezuela.Argentina remains atop the 10-team round-robin competition with 22 points from 11 matches, while Brazil is provisionally in third place with 17 points. Ecuador also played on Thursday, beating Bolivia 4-0 to stay in fifth place with 16 points.In Asuncion, Paraguay, Messi had few opportunities to touch the ball in the first half. However, Argentina took the lead in the 11th minute through Lautaro Martínez's crossed shot. Paraguay equalized with a bicycle kick by Antonio Sanabria in the 19th minute, and Omar Alderete scored the winner with a header in the 47th minute.Messi was visibly frustrated with the officiating, particularly after Alderete was not sent off for his aggressive tackles. "We came to a hard place where the national team always struggled," said Martínez. "We have to correct a lot of things we did wrong in this match, but generally speaking we are playing well. We are still in the lead, and we have to look forward."In Maturin, Venezuela, Vinicius Júnior is still without a goal in six matches of World Cup qualifying. He had the chance to score a potential winner after earning a penalty in the 67th minute, but his low spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Rafael Romo.Brazil had the best chances in the first half, with Vinicius hitting the post once after dribbling past three Venezuelans. Raphinha opened the scoring from a free kick in the 43rd minute, but Venezuela equalized through Telasco Segovia in the 46th minute.Venezuela was reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute after Alexander Gonzalez was sent off for hitting both Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Júnior in the face. The irrigation system then came on two minutes before the final whistle at the Monumental Stadium, angering Brazil players."When we don't win I leave the pitch a bit disappointed, we deserved to win this one," said Raphinha. "But it is an important point playing away, we are working hard to win the next one at home."

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.

Nigeria and Tunisia have secured their spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after crucial matches on Thursday. Nigeria's qualification was sealed by a late equalizer from Victor Osimhen, while Tunisia's victory came in a thrilling 3-2 win over Madagascar.Despite not playing on Thursday, South Africa, Gabon, and Uganda also qualified for the 24-nation tournament, which will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025. Sudan's hopes of qualification were dashed by a surprising 4-0 loss to Niger, giving Ghana a glimmer of hope ahead of their must-win match in Angola on Friday.In Group D, Nigeria faced a tough challenge against Benin. Despite trailing for much of the match, Osimhen's equalizer nine minutes from time secured a 1-1 draw and qualification for Nigeria. Benin, Rwanda, and Libya will now battle for the second qualification spot.Tunisia's qualification from Group A was secured by a dramatic 3-2 victory over Madagascar. Ali al Abdi scored in the third minute of added time to give Tunisia the win, despite being reduced to 10 men. Comoros will qualify from the group if they defeat the Gambia on Friday.South Sudan's 3-2 victory over Congo Brazzaville ensured Uganda and South Africa's qualification from Group K. Congo's hopes were dashed when Bryan Passi was sent off, giving South Sudan the advantage to snatch victory.In Group F, Sudan's qualification hopes were shattered by a 4-0 loss to Niger. Ghana must now defeat Angola and Niger and hope Angola beats Sudan to qualify.Burkina Faso's unbeaten run in Group L ended with a 1-0 loss to Senegal. Habib Diarra scored the lone goal for Senegal.With 10 qualifiers scheduled for Friday, Botswana, Comoros, Mali, Mozambique, Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe could secure their berths. Guinea could also qualify on Saturday if they beat the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania fails to win against Ethiopia.

Rajasthan Royals CEO's Great-Great Grandfather Invented the Penalty Kick in FootballA fascinating connection between cricket and football has emerged on social media, revealing that the great-great grandfather of Rajasthan Royals (RR) CEO Jake Lush McCrum invented the penalty kick in football.William McCrum, an Irish businessman and goalkeeper, is widely credited with introducing the concept of the penalty kick in 1890. In response to a query on Twitter, Jake Lush McCrum confirmed the veracity of this claim, stating that he had recently visited the spot where the penalty kick was first conceived.In 1890, William McCrum suggested the idea of a penalty kick to the Irish Football Association, and the first-ever penalty kick was taken under his direction. Fast forward to today, his great-great grandson Jake has become a prominent figure in another sporting phenomenon: the Indian Premier League (IPL).Jake Lush McCrum has been associated with the Rajasthan Royals since 2017 and has served as their CEO since 2021. The Royals have been making headlines ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, having appointed former India coach Rahul Dravid as their head coach.Despite having the lowest auction purse of Rs 41 crore, RR has retained five capped players and one uncapped player. Captain Sanju Samson and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal were retained for Rs 18 crore each, while all-rounder Riyan Parag and wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel were retained for Rs 14 crore each. West Indian powerhitter Shimron Hetmyer was retained for Rs 11 crore.However, RR surprisingly released franchise stalwarts Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, as well as Ravichandran Ashwin. The Royals will enter the auction with a depleted squad but will hope to bolster their ranks with strategic acquisitions.

Harry Kane, England's captain, has expressed his disappointment over the high number of withdrawals from the national team squad this week, emphasizing that the team's interests should take precedence. England faces a crucial Nations League match against Greece on Thursday, followed by a home game against Ireland on Sunday. However, interim manager Lee Carsley's final camp before the arrival of Thomas Tuchel as the new manager has been marred by eight withdrawals.Kane, who will lead the team in Athens, expressed his frustration, stating that key players' absence in a must-win match is a setback. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing England over club commitments, emphasizing the joy and excitement that players should feel when representing their country.The Bayern Munich forward criticized the withdrawals, suggesting that the busy schedule may have been exploited. He believes that England's interests should come first, regardless of club situations.Carsley, who will return to his role as England Under-21s coach after the Nations League games, acknowledged the withdrawals but emphasized his focus on the players available. He stated that the situation provides opportunities for others to prove themselves.Despite Kane's comments, Carsley downplayed the significance of the withdrawals, stating that it is not uncommon during this time of year. He expressed his confidence in the players who have joined the squad and their readiness for the upcoming matches.