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Republic of Ireland reach World Cup play-offs in dramatic fashion.

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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 ArĂ©na 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...

Scotland suffer defeat but retain hopes of World Cup qualification

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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...

Wales get nervy win over Liechtenstein

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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 maintain perfect run in World Cup qualifying

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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 stun Portugal

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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...

Luis Figo |The player who moved from Barcelona to Real Madrid

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A football legend that completed a controversial transfer Figo's journey to becoming a football icon was remarkable.  Author |  Chris Thomas With his immense skill, versatility, and unmatched determination, Figo etched his name in football history and left an indelible mark on the sport. In this article, we will delve into the career of this legendary footballer, also exploring one of the most controversial transfers of all time. Shining at Sporting  Figo's passion for football was evident from a young age. He joined the youth team of Sporting Lisbon, one of the renowned Portuguese clubs. His exceptional performances in the youth setup quickly caught the attention of scouts, and at just 16 years old, he made his debut for the senior team. The Sporting Lisbon days helped Figo hone his skills and build a strong foundation. His technique, dribbling ability, vision, and speed made him a prominent attacking midfielder. His breakthrough season in 1994-95, where he playe...

Marc Skinner's side prove they belong in the Champions League

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Manchester United 2 - 1 PSG United extended their winning run in the Women’s Champions League with a hard-fought victory over Paris St-Germain on Mary Earps’ return to Manchester. Author | Olivia T Stadium | Old Trafford There was surprise before kick-off as Ella Toone was left out of the starting XI alongside striker Elisabeth Terland. With Phallon Tullis-Joyce unavailable, 20-year-old Safia Middleton-Patel made just her second senior appearance for United, her first at Old Trafford and in European competition, leaving some fans understandably nervous. The young goalkeeper was immediately tested when Jennifer Echegini’s fierce drive struck the inside of the post inside two minutes. On the left, United’s Sandberg endured a difficult evening as Rasheedat Ajibade repeatedly stretched the defence, with PSG enjoying the majority of possession. But in Melvine Malard, United always had a threat.  The French forward seized her moment midway through the first half, outmusclin...