Football

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that the team has had to adapt its tactics in the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Odegaard has missed Arsenal's last six games, forcing Arteta to change his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.In Odegaard's absence, Leandro Trossard has taken his place in the starting lineup, while Kai Havertz has played alongside him in a two-man strike partnership. This tweak has allowed Arsenal to maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League, with the Gunners sitting in third place just one point behind leaders Liverpool."We had to be different," said Arteta. "The impact Martin has in everything that we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player. We've tried to do it in a different way, adapting a few things, using players' qualities, players that can play in different positions and with the right chemistry around them."Arteta praised the team's ability to adapt, but admitted that they still miss Odegaard's presence. "We found a way, but we still miss him," he said. "We don't have Martin, there are all the things that we cannot do. But as well we have a big threat in other areas and we have to make the most of them."Odegaard is working hard to return to action, but Arteta could not provide a specific timeline for his comeback. "He's working so hard," said Arteta. "He's doing everything he can to get back as quickly as possible, but we don't want to rush him. We want to make sure he's fully fit and ready to go when he comes back."

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)

The Indian senior men's football team will face Vietnam in a one-off friendly match on October 12 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. The match will count towards the FIFA Rankings.The friendly was originally scheduled to be a tri-nation tournament, with India also facing Lebanon on October 12. However, Lebanon withdrew from the tournament, prompting the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) to request the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to reschedule the Vietnam-India match to October 12, which was accepted by the VFF.India will assemble in Kolkata on October 5 and have a training session on October 6. Manolo Marquez and his squad will travel to Vietnam on October 7, where they will continue training.Marquez announced a list of 26 probables on Monday. The final squad of 23 players will be announced before the team's travel to Vietnam.This will be the second event that the Indian senior national football team will be played under Manolo Marquez, who was appointed to the post succeeding Igor Stimac on July 20, 2024. The Intercontinental Cup was the 56-year-old Marquex's first assignment as India coach.India will be looking to build on their recent good form, which has seen them win the SAFF Championship and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. Vietnam, meanwhile, are ranked 97th in the FIFA Rankings, 10 places below India.The match will be a good test for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup. India will be hoping to continue their good form and Vietnam will be looking to improve their FIFA Ranking.

Erik ten Hag's Manchester United endured a rollercoaster ride in their Europa League clash with Porto, salvaging a 3-3 draw thanks to a late Harry Maguire equalizer. The result came amidst mounting pressure on Ten Hag, whose team has struggled in the Premier League this season.Ten Hag's plea for patience until the end of the season highlights the challenges he faces. Despite winning the League Cup and FA Cup in his first two seasons, United's poor start to the current campaign has raised concerns. The Red Devils languish in 13th place in the Premier League and have drawn their opening two Europa League games.The match in Porto started brightly for United, with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund giving them a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes. However, Porto fought back with goals from Pepe and Samu Omorodion before halftime. Omorodion put the home side ahead early in the second half, and United's woes were compounded by Bruno Fernandes' red card.Maguire's header from a corner rescued a point for Ten Hag, but the performance raised questions about United's defensive solidity. The English giants have failed to win any of their last four away European games despite scoring three times in each of them.Ten Hag acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "We will get there, don't judge us in this moment. Judge us in the end of the season. We will improve, we have two seasons where we achieved finals. Just wait, we will develop and progress this team."Maguire, who has lost his starting spot to Matthijs de Ligt, defended his manager, saying, "When you go on a bad spell players come under pressure and also the manager does. He's experienced enough and been at this club long enough so I'm sure he knows how to deal with it."The upcoming international break could provide a crucial opportunity for Ten Hag to reassess his team's performance and prepare for the challenges ahead. United's next match is against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

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.

AC Milan's star signing Alvaro Morata has been forced to relocate after the mayor of his chosen residence, Corbetta, publicly announced his arrival on social media. The incident has sparked a heated exchange between the footballer and the mayor, highlighting concerns over privacy and the responsible use of social media.Morata, who recently joined AC Milan from Atletico Madrid, had chosen Corbetta as his family's new home. However, his privacy was compromised when Mayor Marco Ballarini posted a welcoming message on Instagram, revealing his arrival to the town's 17,000 residents.The 31-year-old striker expressed his anger on social media, accusing the mayor of violating his privacy and endangering his children's safety. He emphasized that he had hoped for privacy in Corbetta but was now forced to move due to the mayor's actions.The mayor responded with a dismissive "Ciao, ciao" message, accompanied by the badge and colors of Inter Milan, AC Milan's arch-rivals. This further fueled Morata's frustration, who has since been forced to find a new residence.The incident has raised questions about the appropriate use of social media by public officials and the importance of respecting individuals' privacy. Morata's concerns are particularly relevant given his high profile and the potential risks to his family's safety.On the pitch, Morata has made a solid start to his AC Milan career, scoring two goals in four league matches. However, he is yet to secure a starting spot under coach Paulo Fonseca. AC Milan currently sit third in Serie A, level on points with fourth-placed Inter Milan.

Reigning Spanish and European champions Real Madrid have endured a sluggish start to the season, culminating in their first defeat since January. Carlo Ancelotti's side succumbed to a setback at Lille in the Champions League and trail Barcelona by three points in La Liga.Madrid host Villarreal on Saturday, aiming to level points with their Catalan rivals at the summit of the table for the first time this season. Los Blancos commenced the campaign with a draw at Mallorca and have been playing catch-up ever since.Barcelona's seven-match winning streak was halted at Osasuna last weekend. Madrid failed to capitalize fully, drawing 1-1 with Atletico Madrid. However, they can apply pressure on Barca, who visit Alaves on Sunday, with a victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.To achieve that against a formidable Villarreal side, just a point behind Madrid in third, they will need to elevate their performance significantly. Madrid's loss in France marked their first defeat in 37 matches across all competitions."When we lost the derby (against Atletico) last year, it was a fantastic wake-up call, and hopefully, this defeat can also be a fantastic wake-up call," said Ancelotti. "We did everything wrong -- with the ball, transitions, the intensity, we lost the duels... we have to look at things with a cool head and not throw everything away, but we have to improve."Madrid welcomed Kylian Mbappe against Lille after a thigh injury, and the French striker could start against Villarreal. Despite Villarreal's strength, led by Spain international Ayoze Perez, they have conceded in every match this season.Madrid continue to struggle without midfield maestro Toni Kroos, who retired after helping the team to a La Liga and Champions League double. Los Blancos will also field Ukrainian goalkeeper Andre Lunin between the sticks with Thibaut Courtois out injured."We have to analyze and improve in the next game because there is no time -- there are many games, and we have to win," said Lunin after the Lille defeat.Villarreal may be without Perez, who missed Monday's win over Las Palmas with muscular discomfort, and Gerard Moreno is also sidelined. However, striker Thierno Barry is finding form for Marcelino Garcia Toral's side. The French striker scored and got an assist as Villarreal moved up to third with the 3-1 win.Girona and Atletico Madrid also suffered Champions League defeats on Wednesday and both are in action on Sunday, against tricky Basque sides Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad respectively.

Manchester United's struggles continued as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Despite taking an early 2-0 lead, Erik ten Hag's team conceded three goals and saw Bruno Fernandes sent off for the second consecutive game.United started brightly, with Christian Eriksen setting up Marcus Rashford for the opening goal in the seventh minute. Eriksen was also involved in the second goal, finding Rashford who assisted Rasmus Højlund for a powerful strike.However, Porto responded with two goals in quick succession from Pepê and Samu to level the score before halftime. After the break, Samu scored again to give Porto the lead, but United fought back with a late equalizer from substitute Harry Maguire in the first minute of injury time.Fernandes' red card in the 81st minute for a high boot on Nehuen Perez compounded United's misery. The Portuguese midfielder had also been sent off in a 3-0 loss to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.Ten Hag expressed frustration with his team's performance, saying, "We started the game very good, we dominated, we scored two good goals but then we lost control. The middle part was no good and then we finished very good. ... We got the equalizer so it is good for the spirit."The draw leaves United with two draws in the Europa League group stage and without a win in their last four games in all competitions. They will face Omonia Nicosia in their next Europa League match on October 13.

Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS), a renowned grassroots football program in India, has taken a significant step forward by partnering with Southampton Football Club (SFC) as its International academy partner. This collaboration aims to enhance India's grassroots coaching system and nurture young football talent.Having operated for over a decade, BBFS has been instrumental in developing players for the national team and various I-League and ISL clubs. However, to further its growth, BBFS recognized the need for specialized expertise and knowledge. The partnership with SFC, known for its exceptional youth development program, will provide BBFS with access to world-class coaching methodologies and resources."As one of India's largest grassroots football programs, BBFS has been a feeder for the national team and various I-League and ISL teams, but we need more expertise and knowledge to grow further," said Bhaichung Bhutia, founder of BBFS. "That's where Southampton FC comes in with one of the most important aspects being coaches' education. That will benefit not just BBFS but Indian football in a big way."The partnership will focus on developing a comprehensive coaching curriculum for BBFS coaches, covering all aspects of player development from the under-6 to under-16 levels. SFC's Performance Plan, which includes tactics, strategy, and curricula, will be shared with BBFS. Additionally, there will be exchange and training programs for both players and coaches in India and England."The tie-up will enable BBFS to get full access to SFC Academy's Performance Plan including tactics, strategy, and curricula from the under-6 to -16 levels," said Andy Martino, SFC Football Development Manager. "There will also be exchange and training programs for both players and coaches both in India and England with players benchmarked at the same level as the trainees back in SFC."Currently, BBFS trains 2000 coaches annually free of cost. With the support of SFC, BBFS aims to increase this number significantly. The partnership's primary objective is to create a steady pipeline of world-class coaches who can nurture young talent and contribute to the overall development of Indian football.