European Super Football

Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 -1 Italy (Bosnia-Herzegovina won 4-1 on penalties) Four-time world champions Italy have failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup after a crushing penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina. Author | Josh T Stadium | Stadion Bilino Polje No previous winner of the competition has missed three straight tournaments, with Italy also absent from Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Pio Esposito, who blazed over, and Bryan Cristante, whose effort struck the underside of the crossbar, missed from the spot after Gennaro Gattuso’s 10-man side had clung on under sustained Bosnian pressure to force penalties. Bosnia-Herzegovina, led by 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, have now reached just the second World Cup in their history and will face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B this summer. It had started so well for Italy Before the match, a lot of Italian fans and pundits had spoken about their nerves. This was clearly a huge game and a huge moment for the present and...

Kosovo 0 - 1 Turkey Turkey reached their first World Cup in 24 years as Kerem Akturkoglu’s goal secured a narrow play-off victory over Kosovo. Author | Jack L Stadium | Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri They had not qualified since finishing third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but will now take their place in Group C this summer alongside Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts the United States. In a tense encounter in Pristina, Kenan Yildiz cut the ball back for Orkun Kokcu, whose mis-hit effort was turned in at the back post by the Fenerbahce forward Akturkoglu in the 53rd minute. Kosovo, seeking a first major tournament since joining FIFA and UEFA in 2016, went close before the break when Ugurcan Cakir tipped Fisnik Asllani’s strike onto the crossbar. Turkey, who managed only one other shot on target, held on to secure their third World Cup appearance and end a run of five successive failed qualification campaigns. pic.twitter.com/Y2oIAMVcaE — Türkiye #BizimÇocuklar 🇹🇷 (@MilliTakimlar) March 3...

Scotland 0 - 1 Japan Scotland opened their World Cup preparations with a narrow friendly defeat by Japan. Author | Sean M Stadium | Hampden Park Playing for the first time since November’s memorable win over Denmark, which sealed a return to the World Cup after 28 years, Scotland national football team were unable to reproduce that level in the first of their March fixtures. Both sides struck the woodwork in an even first half and continued to create chances after the interval. It was Japan, however, who made the breakthrough when Ito scored in the 84th minute. The forward, who plays for KRC Genk, drove into the Scotland penalty area following neat interplay down the left, before guiding a low finish into the corner beyond Angus Gunn. Watch | Post match reaction from McClean. Video uploaded by Scotland's YouTube account  Steve Clarke’s side return to action on Tuesday against Ivory Coast national football team at Hill Dickinson Stadium, while Japan face England national football te...

Wales 1 - 1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Bosnia won 4-2 on penalties) Wales were left with familiar heartbreak in Cardiff, their hopes of reaching a second successive World Cup ending in defeat on penalties Author | Stephen Chad Stadium | Cardiff City Stadium Craig Bellamy’s side appeared set to move within one game of the finals, leading deep into the second half, only for a late equaliser to force extra time and, ultimately, another shootout loss.  All of this simply echoed the pain of their defeat to Poland in the Euro 2024 play-off final two years ago. Watch | Video of passionate rendition of the Welsh National Anthem. Video uploaded by BlueBirdLegend A tense first half was largely controlled by Wales, who monopolised possession and came closest to a breakthrough when Harry Wilson’s curling effort struck the post. The breakthrough arrived six minutes after the interval  Daniel James seized on a loose backpass and drove a fierce, swerving strike from 25 yards into the roof of the ne...

Italy 2 - 0 Northern Ireland Italy moved a step closer to a first World Cup appearance since 2014 with a composed victory that ended Northern Ireland’s play-off hopes Author | Mark Lee Stadium | New Balance Arena Sandro Tonali, the Newcastle United midfielder, broke the visitors’ resistance and eased the tension inside the New Balance Arena with a powerful strike from the edge of the area in the 56th minute. As Northern Ireland pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Moise Kean made the result safe, guiding a finish in off the post with 10 minutes remaining. It had been a positive start for Northern Ireland Until then, Michael O'Neill’s side, featuring their second youngest average age since the Second World War at 22.5, had frustrated Italy and carried a threat going forward. Their lack of cutting edge in the final third, however, proved costly. In pursuit of a first World Cup in 40 years and only a fourth in their history, Northern Ireland were unable to test Gianluigi Donnarum...

Wales 7 - 1 North Macedonia  A Harry Wilson hat-trick propelled Wales to a resounding win over North Macedonia, capping their World Cup qualifying group with a display as fluent as it was ruthless. Author |  Stephen Chad Stadium |  Cardiff City Stadium Automatic qualification had already slipped from their grasp, but a more inviting play-off draw remained on offer. Craig Bellamy’s side rose to the occasion with their most complete performance under the head coach. Wilson, wearing the armband for the evening, opened the scoring from the spot after David Brooks was brought down. Moments later, Brooks added a composed first-time finish from Brennan Johnson’s cross. Wales briefly wavered when a defensive lapse allowed Bojan Miovski to pounce for the visitors, but Johnson quickly reasserted control with a fierce 20-yard strike that glanced off a defender on its way into the top corner. In just 19 first-half minutes, North Macedonia conceded as many goals as they had across...

Scotland 4 - 2 Denmark A remarkable night in Glasgow.  Author |  Sean M Stadium |  Hampden Park A pair of injury time goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean handed Scotland a dramatic victory over Denmark and sealed their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Scott McTominay set the tone at Hampden Park with a superb bicycle kick after only three minutes, although Rasmus Hojlund soon pulled Denmark level to stall the early surge of optimism. Scotland needed all three points to finish top of Group C and claim an automatic place at the finals. Lawrence Shankland and Patrick Dorgu exchanged goals after the break, but Tierney and McLean produced two remarkable late strikes that sent the home support into raptures as Scott Clarke’s side held their nerve.  A closer analysis of what happened   Inside three minutes, Scott McTominay rose astonishingly high to steer the ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel with an audacious overhead finish. Hampden e...

Northern Ireland 1 - 0 Luxembourg Jamie Donley’s first international goal proved decisive as Northern Ireland closed their World Cup qualifying campaign with a narrow victory over Luxembourg in Belfast. Author |  Mark Lee Stadium |  Windsor Park The Tottenham forward, who previously featured for England at youth level, was making only his second senior start. In a match with little riding on it, he settled the contest from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time. A closer analysis of what happened Michael O’Neill’s side had already secured a place in next summer’s play-off semi-finals through their Nations League performance and were unable to finish above third in Group A. The manager responded by making six changes from the side beaten 1-0 by Slovakia in Kosice, a result that had ended any faint hopes of a top-two finish. Donley was among those recalled and thought he had broken the deadlock inside 20 minutes with a tidy finish into the bottom corner, only for t...

Albania 0 - 2 England Harry Kane struck twice after the interval as England rounded off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a perfect record of eight wins from eight. Author | Lauren W Stadium | Arena Kombëtare With top spot in the group already secured, Thomas Tuchel rotated heavily, making seven changes from the side that beat Serbia at Wembley on Thursday. He also adjusted the shape, asking John Stones to step into midfield when England had the ball, but despite the scoreline this was far from a commanding display. Kane, who has now scored 78 goals for his country, broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, forcing the ball over the line from close range after Bukayo Saka’s corner caused problems in the Albania box. He added a second eight minutes later with a deft header from Marcus Rashford’s fine delivery. England had created openings before Kane’s late intervention, with Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen and Saka all threatening the breakthrough. Albania, unbeaten in their...

Hungary 2 - 3 Republic of Ireland Troy Parrott completed his hat-trick with virtually the final kick of the match as the Republic of Ireland staged a remarkable comeback to reach the World Cup play-offs. Author | Lee Francis Stadium | Puskás Aréna After reviving their hopes of a first finals appearance since 2002 with a superb 2-0 victory over Portugal on Thursday, Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team arrived in Budapest knowing only a win would be enough to secure their place. Hungary struck early through Daniel Lukacs, whose header after four minutes gave the hosts the perfect start. Parrott levelled from the penalty spot, but Barnabas Varga restored Hungary’s advantage before half-time with a fierce effort. The second half unfolded with mounting tension. Parrott’s delicate finish 10 minutes from the end breathed life back into Ireland’s challenge. READ MORE |  World Cup 2026 Qualifying news and stories Substitute Johnny Kenny was then frustrated by goalkeeper Denes Dibusz, yet I...

Greece 3 - 2 Scotland Scotland find themselves within a single match of their first World Cup appearance since 1998, after Denmark’s draw with Belarus kept an unlikely route open on a breathless night Author | Sean M Stadium | Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki Just after the hour in Piraeus, Scotland trailed 3-0 to a Greece side already out of contention, while Denmark were edging ahead against Belarus in Copenhagen. Goals gifted far too cheaply to Tasos Bakasetas, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis appeared to end any realistic hope of automatic qualification, leaving March’s play-offs looming. Then the script tilted. Belarus equalised, and within three minutes Ben Gannon-Doak rifled in his first goal for Scotland at the very moment Nikita Demchenko put the group’s bottom side into a scarcely believable lead in Copenhagen. As word filtered through to the Scotland bench, Ryan Christie headed in to reduce the deficit, on a night littered with narrow escapes, missed sitters and no sh...

Liechtenstein 0 - 1 Wales Wales laboured to an unconvincing victory in Liechtenstein, doing just enough to keep themselves on track for a second-place finish in their World Cup qualifying group. Author | Stephen Chad Stadium | Rheinpark Stadion The hosts, ranked 206th in the world and largely made up of part-time players, were organised enough to hold Wales at bay until the break. Nathan Broadhead had a first half strike ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check, while Benjamin Buchel was kept busy in the Liechtenstein goal, as he so often is, without Wales ever finding much rhythm. There was little spark from Craig Bellamy’s side and their sense of frustration only deepened when Daniel James struck a post early in the second half. The breakthrough eventually arrived on the hour when a neat exchange between Neco Williams and Daniel James created the opening for Jordan James to turn in from close range. It was at least something for the 3,000 Welsh supporters, who filled most ...

England 2 - 0 Serbia England maintained their perfect run in World Cup qualifying with a seventh straight win as they eased past Serbia. Author |  Lauren W Stadium |  Wembley Stadium With qualification already secured last month and two matches still remaining, head coach Thomas Tuchel was able to focus on refining his plans. The match itself unfolded at a gentle pace on a rain-soaked night that never quite rose above routine. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze sealed the win here.  This is an England side looking confident It was always likely that this contest would feel short on jeopardy with England already assured of their place at the World Cup, yet the performance offered Tuchel further encouragement as the tournament draws closer. The introduction of Bellingham and Foden after 65 minutes, as well as a sharp cameo from the goalscoring substitute Eze, underlined the depth of options available to the head coach as he refines his final plans. R...

Republic of Ireland 2 - 0 Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo was dismissed for the first time in his international career as Portugal squandered the chance to seal World Cup qualification in defeat to the Republic of Ireland. Author |  Lee Francis Stadium |  Aviva Stadium Troy Parrott struck twice before the break to give the hosts control, and the night unravelled further for Portugal when Ronaldo received a yellow card for catching Dara O'Shea with an elbow just after the hour. The caution was upgraded to a red after referee Glenn Nyberg consulted the pitch-side monitor on the advice of the VAR. It marked a bleak conclusion to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's evening, the first sending off of his 226 appearances for Portugal. A win would have booked Portugal's place at next year's finals with a match to spare, but Parrott's double kept Roberto Martinez's side in check and revived Ireland's hopes of progressing. Portugal remain favourites to top the group...

England player ratings from the 5-0 win over Latvia  There were some very impressive performances from Tuchel’s players Author | William G We'd see our player of the match was Harry Kane. Not only for his goals but for his all-round contribution. Jordan Pickford | 6/10 Another calm performance from a goalkeeper who last conceded for England a year ago and has now kept nine consecutive clean sheets. He again faced minimal action, encountering only one shot on target in the qualifying campaign so far. Djed Spence | 7/10 An impressive first competitive start for England, showing he can perform effectively at right-back as well as on the left. He was active in both halves and contributed to the fourth goal, albeit aided by Tonisev’s error. Ezri Konsa | 7/10 Composed and authoritative in the heart of defence, ensuring England barely missed Guehi, who was rested. Produced a moment of drama when he raced back to slide in and deny Gutkovskis a near-certain goal. Highlights courtesy of ...

Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Armenia Republic of Ireland revived their World Cup qualifying hopes with a vital win over 10-man Armenia. Author | Lee Francis Stadium | Aviva Stadium A red card for Armenia captain Tigran Barseghyan, sent off early in the second half for aiming a headbutt at Finn Azaz, proved decisive as the hosts shook off a laboured opening and claimed victory through Evan Ferguson’s second-half header. A flat first half offered little for the home crowd, with Armenia’s Eduard Spertsyan coming closest to breaking the deadlock when he volleyed narrowly wide. The match turned seven minutes after the restart when Barseghyan was dismissed for thrusting his head into Azaz’s face, leaving Armenia to play the remainder with ten men. From there, Ireland pressed forward. Armenia goalkeeper Henri Avagyan produced several fine saves, tipping Nathan Collins’ header on to the bar and clawing away Dara O’Shea’s effort. He also denied Ferguson from close range before the striker fina...

Latvia 0 - 5 England A comfortable night for Tuchel's side as they seal a place in the 2026 World Cup. Author | Lauren W Stadium | Daugavas Stadionā Thomas Tuchel's side secured victory to confirm their place in the showpiece, with the result never in doubt as England comfortably outplayed a Latvian team ranked 137th in the world. On a broader scale, England qualified with two games to spare, completing a flawless first campaign under Tuchel, who took over from Sir Gareth Southgate in January. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring after 26 minutes with a low, curling finish, and captain Harry Kane added two more before half-time, first with a strike from the edge of the area and then from the penalty spot after his shirt was pulled. READ MORE |  Live commentary recap | Latvia v England England’s fourth came just before the hour when Latvia’s Andrejs Ciganiks turned Djed Spence’s cross into his own net. Substitute Eberechi Eze rounded off the scoring with a composed dribble and l...

Wales 2 - 4 Belgium  Wales’ hopes of automatic qualification for the World Cup were all but extinguished after a home defeat to Belgium. Author | Stephen Chad Stadium | Cardiff City Stadium The defeat leaves the play-offs as their only realistic path to next summer’s finals. Craig Bellamy’s side made a superb start, taking the lead in the seventh minute when Joe Rodon rose highest to head in from a corner. Their early momentum was halted when Kevin De Bruyne equalised from the penalty spot after a harsh handball decision against Ethan Ampadu, confirmed following a lengthy VAR check. Wales fought to get back in the game From that point, Belgium’s superiority began to show. Jeremy Doku, who has been in outstanding form for Manchester City this season, tormented Wales on the counterattack and set up Thomas Meunier to put the visitors in front. De Bruyne, Doku and Leandro Trossard all missed chances to extend the lead before another De Bruyne penalty, this time for a clear ha...

Wales v Belgium preview Wales’ World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday was always likely to feel significant. Now, it has the potential to be decisive. Author | Stephen Chad Stadium | Cardiff City Stadium Their fate is once again in their own hands after Belgium were held to a goalless draw by North Macedonia on Friday. If Craig Bellamy’s side win their final three matches, they will secure a place at next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. That remains a sizeable challenge. The most daunting obstacle comes next. This may not be the same Belgium that finished third at the 2018 World Cup or topped the world rankings three years ago, but they still possess a wealth of talent, with Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku among their array of attacking options. Not that Wales are likely to be overawed, particularly under a head coach as determined and optimistic as Bellamy. The current state of the play in the group North Macedonia lead the group on 12 points, o...

Scotland 2 - 1 Belarus With supporters expecting goals against a beleaguered Belarus side who had already conceded 13 times in Group C, Scotland managed only two. Author |  Sean M Stadium |  Hampden Park It might have been a far more uncomfortable evening for Steve Clarke, who was taking charge of his record 72nd match as men’s head coach. Evgeni Malashevich’s composed finish for what would have been a Belarus equaliser was ruled out following a VAR review, and Hleb Kuchko’s injury-time effort reduced the deficit with just minutes remaining. There were moments in the second half, with the score still 1-0, when unease spread around Hampden Park. Belarus were moving the ball confidently while Scotland sat deep, prompting boos from the stands. Those jeers returned at full time, mingling with scattered applause. It was a reaction born of frustration that had simmered from the start as Belarus played with more intent than many expected. Scotland’s smash-and-grab win over Greece...