Posts

Showing posts from October 5, 2025

Heartbreak for Ireland in Portugal

Image
Portugal 1 - 0 Republic of Ireland Rúben Neves' stoppage-time header shattered Republic of Ireland’s resistance and sealed a dramatic World Cup qualifying victory for Portugal. Author | Lee Francis Stadium | Estádio José Alvalade View from the stands Neves climbed superbly to meet Francisco Trincão’s cross and glance it beyond Caoimhín Kelleher, rescuing Portugal and sparing Ronaldo’s embarrassment following his missed spot-kick. Ronaldo had seen his penalty saved by Kelleher 15 minutes from time after Dara O’Shea was penalised for handball when blocking Trincão’s goalbound effort. Before that and for much of the evening, it appeared that Ireland would hold firm and leave the Estádio da Luz with a hard-earned point, but Neves’ late intervention condemned them to a second successive defeat, following last month’s surprise loss to Armenia in Yerevan. Ronaldo has penalty saved A 2-0 victory for Hungary over Armenia in Group F’s other match leaves them five points behind leaders Portu...

Northern Ireland boost hopes of achieving at least a play-off place

Image
Northern Ireland 2 - 0 Slovakia Northern Ireland moved level at the top of their World Cup qualifying group after a thoroughly deserved win over Slovakia. Author | Mark Lee Stadium | Windsor Park An own goal from Patrik Hrehovsky put them ahead in the first half, before Trai Hume sealed the result with his first international goal late in the second half. Ultimately, Slovakia didn't deserve anything; Northern Ireland were streets ahead of them. Closer analysis of what happened The hosts began brightly, though clear chances were at a premium until Conor Bradley and Ethan Galbraith combined neatly down the right. Galbraith’s low cross was diverted into his own net by Hrosovsky, giving Northern Ireland a deserved lead. Jamie Reid should have doubled it shortly before half-time but blazed over from close range on his weaker foot. Slovakia were largely subdued and had to wait until the 52nd minute for a real sight of goal, with Bailey Peacock-Farrell reacting sharply to push away Ma...

Straightforward win for England Under 21s

Image
Moldova Under 21s 0 - 4 England Under 21s Divin Mubama struck twice as England Under-21s made it two wins from two at the start of their qualification campaign for the 2027 European Championship. Author | Benjamin Hampson Stadium | Stadionul Zimbru Moldova launched the first attack of the match, but England’s defence dealt with it comfortably, conceding only a corner. From the resulting delivery, James Beadle was called into action to deny Matteo Obleac’s header. Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens opened the scoring, cutting inside from the left and beating Moldova goalkeeper Victor Dodon at his near post with a fierce strike. Mubama, currently on loan at Stoke City from Man City, extended England’s lead after racing on to Ethan Nwaneri’s through ball and finishing confidently past Dodon. The 20-year-old added his second just four minutes later, sending a composed penalty into the bottom corner after Fulham midfielder Josh King was brought down inside the area.  READ MORE |  Eng...

How England's starting eleven performed against Wales

Image
It was a comfortable victory for England over Wales in their international friendly. The match was a great opportunity for Tuchel to see how his side cope without Harry Kane Author | Josh T Stadium |  Wembley Stadium How the match was won Morgan Rogers extended his fine form from the Serbia game by converting Marc Guehi’s cross after just four minutes. Club team-mate Ollie Watkins doubled England’s advantage from close range seven minutes later. Bukayo Saka then curled a left-foot shot high past Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow to register his 13th international goal. How the players rated Jordan Pickford | A history-making night for the keeper as he broke the record he shared with Gordon Banks for consecutive clean sheets, now standing at eight. Made a smart save to deny David Brooks but was otherwise rarely troubled | 6.5 Ezri Konsa | The Aston Villa defender was moved to right-back as John Stones came into the centre, covering for the injured Reece James. Konsa looked solid as ...

Man United prepared to give manager three years to turn the reds around

Image
Manchester United are prepared to give their manager three years to turn things around This is despite their inconsiderate start to the season Author | Olivia T Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists he will not take a “kneejerk” decision to sack Ruben Amorim and has indicated he will afford the head coach three years to demonstrate his capabilities at the club.  Amorim has been under pressure, having struggled to turn the club around. The 40-year-old has been in charge for 11 months but is yet to win back-to-back league games and the team sit 10th. READ MORE | Visit GM Super News for the latest Man United match reports United have picked up 37 points from his 34 league games, finished 15th last season, and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby in August. Amorim has faced questions over his 3-4-3 formation, which is yet to pay dividends despite a summer net spend of about £170m. Ratcliffe is regarded as a key supporter of Amorim but the head coach has admitted that if results do ...

A vital win for Scotland in qualifying campaign

Image
Scotland 3 -  1 Greece Scotland moved closer to a World Cup play-off place as Lewis Ferguson scored his first international goal to inspire a dramatic comeback against a dominant Greece at Hampden. Author | Sean M Stadium | Hampden Park In his record-equalling 71st game in charge, head coach Steve Clarke’s side sought revenge for their Nations League relegation at the hands of Greece at the same stadium in March. For more than an hour, Scotland struggled against the visitors, who looked certain to be ahead by at least three goals before Roma left-back Kostas Tsimikas converted a rebound just after the hour. The Tartan Army voiced their frustration loudly, but Ryan Christie quickly restored parity from a corner, with his effort surviving a lengthy VAR review, setting the stage for a remarkable turnaround. Ferguson then struck from close range following a scrappy free-kick with 10 minutes remaining, turning tension into euphoria as Clarke’s side seized a priceless lead. The victo...

England ease to comfortable friendly win over Wales

Image
England 3 - 0 Wales A fairly straightforward evening for England as they prepared for their upcoming qualifier against Latvia. Author | Lauren W Stadium | Wembley Stadium Head coach Thomas Tuchel kept faith with the squad that delivered his most emphatic victory, a 5-0 win over Serbia in Belgrade, and they produced another commanding performance. England overwhelmed Wales in the opening stages, taking a three-goal lead within 20 minutes. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers extended his fine form from the Serbia game by converting Marc Guehi’s cross after just four minutes. Club team-mate Ollie Watkins, deputising for the injured captain Harry Kane, doubled England’s advantage from close range seven minutes later. Bukayo Saka then became Arsenal’s highest England goalscorer with a brilliant strike, curling his left-foot shot high past Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow to register his 13th international goal. Rogers also struck the woodwork after the break. Although Wales improved as England’s t...

England explore back-up options for Harry Kane

Image
The England manager considers Harry Kane alternatives Thomas Tuchel is assessing options ahead of the friendly against Wales after Kane suffered an injury, though with World Cup qualification likely, the absence is not seen as critical. Author |  William G Kane's influence on the team is clear. The captain has scored a record 74 goals in 109 appearances, while the rest of the squad has combined for 53. Since his debut in 2015, Kane has contributed 26.4% of England’s goals, with Raheem Sterling, last capped at the 2022 World Cup, the only other player to reach 20 goals. Ollie Watkins In Tuchel’s squad, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins is the most likely candidate to step in. Watkins frequently replaced Kane from the bench during last summer’s Euros, including scoring the winner against the Netherlands in the semi-finals. He has five goals in 19 caps but has managed only one goal for Villa this season. A memorable moment for Ollie Watkins and England... pic.twitter.com/ueEePB0R1F —...

Mixed fortunes for the English sides in the Women's Champions League

Image
The league phase of the Women's Champions League has begun... There were mixed fortunes for the English sides, including a defeat for last year's winner. Author | Josh T The action started at Meadow Park as Arsenal hosted Lyon.. A bad start for Arsenal in the defence of their crown Melchie Dumornay punished Arsenal’s defensive errors with two quick goals as Lyon overcame the reigning Champions League holders in the opening round of the league phase. Renee Slegers made five changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Manchester City in the Women’s Super League, but the alterations failed to have the intended impact. Arsenal had started brightly and were rewarded when Alessia Russo put them ahead. However, their attempts to play out from the back repeatedly invited pressure, allowing Lyon, eight-time winners of the competition, to seize control. Once in front, the French champions dominated possession, leaving Arsenal to rely on long balls towards Russo in a frustrated search for ...

Is the Scotland national team on the verge of history?

Image
Scotland v Greece Preview A win here would be a huge statement of intent from Scotland as they look to secure a place in next summer’s World Cup. Author | Alan White Stadium | Hampden Park Let's explore where Scotland's game against Greece might be won and if they have to what it takes to reach their first World Cup since 1998. Fortress Hampden? Hampden Park has history, but it is not always easy to say it has heart and soul when Scotland play there. There have been thunderous exceptions, of course. The 2-0 victory over Spain in March 2023 , complete with Rodri’s tears, remains unforgettable, as does the storm-lashed triumph over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s Georgia a few months later, inspired by Scott McTominay. Scotland v Spain | Euro 2024 Qualifying An arena unloved by many, Hampden still has the capacity to shake on its best nights. Scotland will need one of those on Thursday, when Greece arrive in Glasgow desperate to revive their own World Cup hopes while denting those of the...

Henrik Larsson | Celtic legend

Image
It's time to explore another football icon. Henrik Larsson is a Swedish professional football coach and former player. Author | Sean M The start of a wonderful career. Playing as a striker, Larsson began his career with Högaborgs BK. In 1992, he moved to Helsingborg IF where in his first season his partnership up front with Mats Magnusson helped the club win promotion  after over 20 seasons in the lower tiers.  He moved to Feyenoord in November 1993, staying for four years before leaving in 1997. During his time in the Dutch Eredivisie, he won two KNVB Cups with Feyenoord. Trevor Stolk told us: "He should have stayed with us for much longer. Look at what he did for Celtic. He could have achieved that with us if he'd stayed longer." Larsson also broke into the Swedish national football team and helped them finish in third place at the 1994 World Cup. He was gaining a lot of fans but where would he end up next? It was going to find a place where he would be id...

England looking to build momentum in Wales friendly

Image
England v Wales Preview Thomas Tuchel’s England side will pause their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday to face Wales in a home friendly. Author | Josh T Stadium |  Wembley Stadium When England met Wales at 2022 World Cup The Three Lions have been flawless under their German head coach, winning all five matches in Group K without conceding a goal. Their most emphatic performance so far came last month, when they dismantled Serbia 5-0. Tuchel has largely stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation during qualifying, with Anthony Gordon providing a lively outlet on the left flank. Who’s in the England squad? Bukayo Saka has been recalled for the friendly and the qualifier against Latvia, while Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish have been left out. Saka missed last month’s wins over Andorra and Serbia due to a hamstring problem but returned to action for Arsenal, scoring in their 2-0 victory over Olympiacos on Wednesday. He replaces his club teammate Noni Madueke in the squ...

Five managers in four years | Why do Rangers keep getting it wrong?

Image
Another season. Another sacking of a Rangers manager. Why do they keep getting it wrong and how can they avoid making same mistakes again? Author | Mark Lee With champagne dripping from his hair and a 2020-21 Scottish Premiership winner's medal around his neck, then manager Steven Gerrard urged Rangers to "fix the roof while the sun is shining". Four years on, the roof remains in disrepair and the sunshine has long faded. Since that title triumph, Rangers have gone through four managers: Gerrard, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and Philippe Clement, before reaching Martin. Under Van Bronckhorst, the club came agonisingly close to European glory, losing the Europa League final on penalties before lifting the Scottish Cup days later. He departed with Rangers nine points adrift of Celtic the following season. Beale and Clement both started brightly but their tenures quickly unravelled. Beale was dismissed with Rangers seven points behind Celtic; Clement’s side we...

La Liga and Serie A matches to be played abroad

Image
Controversial news from UEFA  European league matches will be played abroad for the first time Author | Olivia T UEFA given approval for La Liga and Serie A to each host a match overseas this winter, marking the first time European league fixtures will be played on different continents in what could prove a highly contentious move. La Liga sides Villarreal and Barcelona will now meet in Miami in December in what would be the first European league fixture held outside Europe. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami hosted games in the Club World Cup In February, AC Milan’s Serie A match against Como is set to take place in Perth, Australia. As expected, this announcement has caused a lot of reaction and analysis from football fans across Europe and the rest of the world. One Barcelona fan from the United States told us: "I don't want this. If you want to watch your team play, you should go the city they're based in. They shouldn't come to you as it's a massive slap in the ...

Sevilla stun Barcelona with fantastic performance

Image
Sevilla 4 - 1 Barcelona Barcelona squandered the chance to return to the top of La Liga after being comprehensively beaten by Sevilla. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Sunny scenes from the stands in Sevilla Needing a win to overtake Real Madrid , the defending champions endured their heaviest defeat to Sevilla since a 4-0 loss in 1951. Robert Lewandowski missed a second-half penalty after Marcus Rashford had pulled one back with a left-footed volley in first-half stoppage time, briefly giving the visitors hope of overturning a two-goal deficit. Hansi Flick’s side were second best for much of the contest and deservedly fell to their first league defeat of the season against opponents who had not beaten them in La Liga for more than a decade. Source | FC Barcelona's YouTube channel Former Barcelona winger Alexis Sánchez opened the scoring from the penalty spot after captain Ronald Araújo fouled Isaac Romero near the byline. Romero added a second from a...

Vinicius Junior scores twice in Real Madrid win

Image
Real Madrid 3 - 1 Villareal Vinicius Junior scored twice as Real Madrid continued their recovery from last weekend’s heavy defeat to Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid v Villarreal highlights youtu.be/jsz6qAwlCEg?... [image or embed] — Super News Affiliate ( @eurosuperfootball.bsky.social ) 5 October 2025 at 17:54 Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu After a frustrating first half, which saw the Real players booed off at the break, Vinicius opened the scoring just 90 seconds into the second period. The Brazilian collected a flick-on from Kylian Mbappe , cut inside from the left and struck a shot that took a significant deflection off Santi Comesana , deceiving Villarreal goalkeeper Arnau Tenas at the near post. Vinicius remained Real’s main threat, adding a penalty in the 69th minute after being bundled over in the box by Rafa Marin. He calmly slotted the ball under Tenas to extend the lead. READ MORE | Real Madrid's midweek Champions League win Villarreal continued to offer...

Storm Amy didn't disrupt the Premier League

Image
There were wins for Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea Horrendous weather conditions across the country didn't disrupt any of the action. Author |  Josh D Pictures from around the grounds The main talking points A rare home defeat for Leeds United Mohammed Kudus scored one and created another as Tottenham ended Leeds United’s year-long unbeaten home run in the league. Daniel Farke’s side had not lost on their own turf since early September 2024, when Burnley won there in the Championship. But Kudus was the difference on a sodden afternoon in Yorkshire, guiding Spurs back to winning ways after two draws in four days. Mathys Tel opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, latching on to Kudus’s through ball before unleashing a superb 20-yard strike that took a slight deflection off Pascal Struijk to wrongfoot goalkeeper Karl Darlow. As the rain began to fall heavily, Kudus restored Tottenham’s lead with a fine finish from the edge of the box, his low...