A statement on Manchester City\u2019s website<\/a>, meanwhile, states:<\/p>\n \u201cManchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Club\u2019s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.58 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n No \u201cwinning formula\u201d for World Cup success, concludes Fifa technical report<\/p>\n Fifa\u2019s technical report on the 2026 World Cup has highlighted an increased number of tactical strategies at the tournament but concluded there was not necessarily a \u2018winning formula\u2019.<\/p>\n The world governing body\u2019s Technical Study Group (TSG) and Football Performance Insights Department (FPI) published a 500-page report on Friday, offering \u2018unprecedented insights into how the best national teams and players on the planet are reshaping the modern game\u2019.<\/p>\n All 104 tournament matches were observed using advanced data and video analyses and 11 \u2018key tactical and technical\u2019 trends were identified.<\/p>\n FPI lead Tom Gardner said: \u201cThe big change between 2022 and 2026 is the variety of different tactical styles that we saw, and how teams were able to execute those different strategies successfully.<\/p>\n \u201cThe build-up in a back three was something that we observed as very important, but it wasn\u2019t something that Spain did.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we\u2019re not here saying if you want to be a successful team, you have to build up in a back three.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about saying this is what we\u2019ve observed. This is where we see more and more teams headed, and this is where teams have been able to do it and do it well.\u201d<\/p>\n The key tactical innovations that were identified included building with a back three, wide player rotations, changing the point of attack, attacking transitions, structured high press, defensive blocks and counter pressing.<\/p>\n The report said there were \u2018contrasting routes to success\u2019, adding: \u2018From aggressive high presses to disciplined low blocks and rapid transitions, the analysis shows that there was no single winning formula.<\/p>\n \u2018Cabo Verde exemplified how compact defending, collective organisation and proactive goalkeeper involvement can enable teams to compete against technically superior opponents.\u2019 Press Association<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘More vulnerable than at any point’: Pinto to appeal decision to end special protection<\/p>\n Ed Aarons and Miguel Dantas<\/p>\n Rui Pinto (L) arrives to Lisbon Criminal Court in March 2019. Photograph: Rodrigo Antunes\/EPA-EFE<\/p>\n Rui Pinto is to appeal a decision to end the special protection programme that has safeguarded him since August 2020.<\/p>\n Lawyers for the whistleblower say that he remains at risk and that ending his protection would leave him \u201cmore vulnerable than at any point since 2020\u201d. They say the decision was taken without giving him an opportunity to be heard and have described the circumstances surrounding it as a \u201cfailure to respect the rule of law\u201d.<\/p>\n Pinto was notified on Wednesday that his protection is due to end on 10 October. His lawyers say they will lodge an administrative appeal with suspensive effect, meaning the decision will be suspended while it is challenged.<\/p>\n In a request to Portugal\u2019s Ministry of Justice, the lawyers asked the government to reconsider the decision, disclose the material on which the latest risk assessment was based, hear Pinto and ensure that his protection continues.<\/p>\n \u201cHis situation is now critical,\u201d said his lawyers in a statement. \u201cThe threats against him are not merely theoretical: last April, he was assaulted in Lisbon. His revelations implicated powerful individuals with substantial resources, and many of the resulting legal proceedings are still ongoing, as demonstrated by the decision issued just a few days ago by the Premier League\u2019s independent commission concerning Manchester City<\/a>. Abruptly deprived of his protected residence and placed in a situation of extreme precariousness, Rui Pinto will now be more vulnerable than at any point since 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n Pinto entered Portugal\u2019s protection programme after cooperating with the country\u2019s justice authorities. His revelations have subsequently been used by judicial, tax and sporting authorities across Europe, including the Premier League\u2019s investigation into City\u2019s alleged financial irregularities.<\/p>\n Pinto\u2019s lawyers argue that the authorities should take into account both his cooperation with the justice system and the continuing risks associated with his disclosures before ending his protection.<\/p>\n \u201cThis decision, and the manner in which it was taken, regrettably fail to respect the rule of law and constitute an act of state terrorism. We cannot accept this,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.02 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cI, for one, can\u2019t understand how all the other teams can play against Man City over the coming season with this hanging over proceedings,\u201d writes Simon Staffans. \u201cIt\u2019ll be so weird \u2013 will the points and goals count in the end? What if Isak plays against them at Anfield and comes off with a torn ACL, derailing Liverpool\u2019s season in a match that perhaps should never have been played and definitely not been played with those players playing for Man City? It\u2019s a kind of alternate reality almost. Bizarre, to say the least.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a great point. City have a knockout cup game this month, how do you respect the result of that if you lose?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hello, here for the next hour, as Luke said, keep your emails coming in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019ll be back at 1.30 for Thomas Tuchel\u2019s media conference \u2013 Tom Bassam is stepping into the breach until then.<\/p>\n Thanks for all the emails. You can vent to Tom here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.33 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cProbably wishful thinking,\u201d emails Nick, \u201cbut would the frivolity of an unsuccessful appeal factor into any decisions about sanctions, as per a red card? I\u2019ll admit to being biased, but it\u2019s hard to see how City are anything other than bang to rights here.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In similar vein, Bob chips in with a beautifully precise one-word email, entitled \u2018Man City appeal\u2019:<\/p>\n \u201cFarcical.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf Manchester City really do have a \u201ccomprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions\u201d, why didn\u2019t they disclose these during the investigation and why did they spend so much time and money on lawyers fighting something that they could have, apparently, so easily dismissed?\u201d emails Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cUtterly farcical. Hopefully a swift appeal process and then the punishments can be meted out, and we can all move on with securing compensation for having to put up with this nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t help comparing the 10 years of this Man City saga with those periods of play where a VAR check is going on in the background,\u201d emails Oliver.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018They\u2019re appealing for some financial irregularities in the box, Steve. Play is continuing for the time being, but we\u2019re hearing that VAR are having a look at this one\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cAs poor Mostafa Ziko discovered this summer<\/a>, it doesn\u2019t matter how glorious the following sequence of events \u2013 if you broke the rules in the buildup then it\u2019s null and void, as all of City\u2019s achievements during that period should now be.\u201d<\/p>\n The Premier League is having another look at the monitor, and we all know what that means. Photograph: Lee Keuneke\/Every Second Media\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Panic over: the sports quiz of the week, from Paul Campbell, is here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is going to rumble on for years,\u201d comments Wayne, over on a well-known sports news channel. \u201cThe new Brexit<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Steady on, Wayne.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.15 EDT<\/p>\n Manchester City\u2019s approach, then, can be neatly summed up as: \u201cDon\u2019t back down \u2013 double down.\u201d<\/p>\n What do you think of all this? Email me<\/a>. (Before I go for lunch at 12.30.)<\/p>\n Fortress Etihad. Photograph: Dave Thompson\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.06 EDT<\/p>\n Some players have had more enjoyable international breaks than others and Ben Cabango taming Erling Haaland in Cardiff <\/a>on Thursday was another big tick for the Wales defender. Last week Cabango, of Championship pacesetters Swansea, marked Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon<\/a> and kept Haaland quiet in the Norway striker\u2019s first game since Manchester City were found guilty of breaching Premier League rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n Did Cabango nab Haaland\u2019s shirt after the 2-1 win for Wales? \u201cI did grab it after the game \u2026 but he didn\u2019t take mine,\u201d the 26-year-old said. \u201cIt is surreal to play against Ronaldo and Haaland in the same camp. But it\u2019s definitely where you want to be, you want to stay around that for as long as possible. You learn a lot playing against these players. You\u2019ve got to be concentrated throughout the game and you can\u2019t switch off at any moment. That probably brings out the best side of me and it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Cabango of Wales during Thursday\u2019s win against Norway. Photograph: Kian Abdullah\/Huw Evans\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.00 EDT<\/p>\n Manchester City appeal confirmed by Premier League<\/p>\n Manchester City have lodged an appeal against the findings of an independent commission regarding breaches of Premier League financial rules, it has been confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe club lodged the appeal to the Chair of the Judicial Panel,\u2019 said a Premier League statement<\/a>. \u201cThe independent Appeal Board hearing will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted.\u201d<\/p>\n A statement on Manchester City\u2019s website<\/a>, meanwhile, states:<\/p>\n \u201cManchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Club\u2019s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.58 EDT<\/p>\n Pascal Gross of Brighton has only gone and won player of the month in His Majesty\u2019s Premier League.<\/p>\n At 35, he is the sixth-oldest player to win the gong, it says here<\/a>, having mustered five goal involvements in the month of September.<\/p>\n Pascal Gross of Brighton. Photograph: Allstar Picture Library Ltd\/Nigel French\/Apl\/SportsphotoShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.54 EDT<\/p>\n The Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said his side respect Saturday\u2019s hosts India before the first international friendly between the teams.<\/p>\n The five-time world champions will field a star-studded squad featuring Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior for the match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.<\/p>\n India, ranked 138th, will face Brazil\u2019s senior men, ranked fifth, for the first time after a 1-1 draw with 44th-ranked Panama.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have respect for the quality of the Indian team,\u201d Ancelotti said. \u201cThey played a good draw against Panama. We have full respect for our opponents.<\/p>\n \u201cCricket is part of their culture; football is not the most important game. But that doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t love football. We are happy to be here and show our quality to all who have the possibility to watch the game. It will be a fantastic night.\u201d AFP<\/p>\n Carlo Ancelotti (right) with India\u2019s head coach Khalid Jamil. Photograph: Piyal Adhikary\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.36 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe in comebacks.\u201d Slaven Bilic<\/a> sat in the lobby of a hotel in Canary Wharf wearing a black Soundgarden T-shirt and dark denim, confidently discussing a wide variety of topics ranging from Sir Alex Ferguson\u2019s autobiography to historical epics of Yugoslav cinematography and Nikola Tesla\u2019s celibacy. He was living the good life in London, just before his third Premier League season as West Ham\u2019s manager, and a rare interview for Croatian media was a chance for him to catch up with domestic intrigues.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m now distanced by default, geographically,\u201d he said, breathing a sigh of relief, before continuing to jump from subject to subject; a bit about a Metallica concert, then a bit about steaks at an Argentinian restaurant, followed by some off-record anecdotes. He was clearly enjoying himself and didn\u2019t hesitate to show it; his time as Croatia\u2019s manager seemed long gone, although he always left a bitter-sweet aftertaste when talking about them.<\/p>\n Slaven Bilic on the touchline during this week\u2019s 4-1 defeat by Spain in Seville. Photograph: Marcelo del Pozo\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.29 EDT<\/p>\n Up next, a piece by Aleksandar Holiga on Slaven Bilic, who is back in charge of Croatia\u2019s national team, and preparing for tomorrow\u2019s meeting with England and Thomas Tuchel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Over on Sky Sports News, Scotland are pictured training at Hampden Park before tomorrow\u2019s Nations League meeting with North Macedonia. They\u2019ll be off to the airport soon, it being an away game in Skopje, and all that.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s Ewan Murray\u2019s report of Scotland\u2019s 3-0 home defeat against Switzerland on Tuesday, when Jack Hendry was sent off early doors:<\/p>\n And here is Barry Glendenning, who wrote about Scotland and their new-ish manager S\u00e9bastien Pocognoli, in Football Daily on Wednesday:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.21 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cThe former City striker, Edin Dzeko, plays his last international for Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight,\u201d writes J Hopkin.<\/p>\n \u201cTo honour him, the usual Bosnian Cevapi takeaway of 10 beef sausages is being served with 11 today, across Bosnia, to honour the striker\u2019s No 11 international shirt. Delicious!<\/p>\n A large replica jersey dedicated to Edin Dzeko in Sarajevo yesterday. Photograph: Armin Durgut\/APThe 40-year-old Edin Dzeko talks to the media on Thursday. Photograph: Jonas Ekstr\u00f6mer\/TT\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.10 EDT<\/p>\n Bury, Brighton, Sheffield United, Fenerbahce, Toulouse (loan), Galatasaray, Olympiacos (loan), Blackburn Rovers (loan), Bursaspor, Feyenoord (loan), Feyenoord, Celtic, Coritiba, Corinthians, Lobos BUAP (loan), Veracruz, Pachuca, Derby, Fatih Karagumruk.<\/p>\n Whose career path? The answer, of course, is Colin Kazim-Richards, now managing Crawley Town in League Two.<\/p>\n Tusdiq Din spoke to him and his assistant, Julian Gray:<\/p>\n Colin Kazim-Richards (left) and Julian Gray (right) at Crawley\u2019s training ground. Photograph: Martin Godwin\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.03 EDT<\/p>\n We\u2019ve updated our \u201cNext Generation\u201d piece from 2023. How is Almugera Kabar getting on at Dortmund, for instance? (Answer: He\u2019s currently on loan at NEC Nijmegen).<\/p>\n Dive in here:<\/p>\n Almugera Kabar (right) tackles Weston McKennie of Juventus in a Europa League encounter in Turin this month. Photograph: Marco Alpozzi\/LaPresse\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.53 EDT<\/p>\n Tuchel\u2019s England media conference has been moved to 1.30pm today BST, I am told, in case you want to update your calendar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here is a line from Reuters, on the looming appeal from City:<\/p>\n Manchester City are expected to press ahead with \u2060an appeal against findings that they breached Premier League financial rules by today\u2019s deadline, opening a fresh chapter in a \u2060case that has become \u200bone of the most significant in English football.<\/p>\n The Premier League\u2019s new fast-track rules state that an appeal hearing must \u200cbe held within 12 weeks of an appeal being lodged, with a decision due within 30 days of the hearing concluding. City, however, \u200bare expected to argue the rules were not in place when they were originally charged in February 2023. The breadth of the fallout facing Manchester City extends well beyond football sanctions.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the chair of the Treasury Committee asked Britain\u2019s tax authority HMRC what action \u2060it was taking in response to the Premier League\u2019s findings. Meg Hillier \u200bsaid she had written \u200bto HMRC Permanent Secretary JP \u200bMarks following the publication on Tuesday of the independent commission ruling \u200bthat the club had \u200ccommitted \u201cwell over 100 \u200bindividual breaches of \u200bthe Premier League Rules across the course of many seasons\u201d.<\/p>\n Sports lawyers have predicted years of further litigation as rival clubs, players and agents assess whether they may have grounds to pursue compensation claims connected to the case.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.35 EDT<\/p>\n Upcoming Nations League fixtures (all times BST)<\/p>\n Friday 2 October Saturday 3 October Sunday 4 October Monday 5 October Tuesday 6 October Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.01 EDT<\/p>\n If you missed any of it, here\u2019s a little roundup of hot content that appeared off the back of England\u2019s line-and length 2-0 win in Czechia on Tuesday<\/a>: on Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, Trent Alexander-Arnold and so much more.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.19 EDT<\/p>\n Thomas Tuchel, manager of the England men\u2019s team, is due to speak at 12.30pm UK time: don\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n If you would like to cast an eye over the weekend\u2019s Nations League fixtures, you can do so here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Croatia v England kicks off at 5pm UK time tomorrow, with North Macedonia v Scotland following later at 7.45pm.<\/p>\n Ukraine v Northern Ireland is tonight \u2013 7.45pm \u2013 with France v Italy kicking off at the same time, at Stade de France. That should be fun.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.15 EDT<\/p>\n Thanks Billy and hello everyone. What is occurring in the wonderful world of association football?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That\u2019s it from me for now. Luke McLaughlin is here to take over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Manchester City: Andy Burnham\u2019s intervention in the Manchester City<\/a> debate has revived tensions between the Premier League and the UK prime minister.<\/p>\n Government officials are understood to be unhappy they were not given notice that the independent commission\u2019s damning judgment of \u00a3900m of financial manipulation and \u201csham contracts\u201d would be published shortly after Burnham\u2019s address at the Labour party conference on Tuesday, and his response has not gone down well with several Premier League clubs concerned by his relationship with City\u2019s owners.<\/p>\n In a series of interviews on Wednesday Burnham said he would be \u201creally concerned\u201d if City\u2019s owners were forced to sell after being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of financial rules.<\/p>\n Such was the reaction that Downing Street felt compelled to clarify Burnham\u2019s position on Thursday, with a No 10 spokesperson saying the prime minister had made clear that \u201cthe initial judgment is serious\u201d and \u201cthere can\u2019t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>FA confirms it has powers to take disciplinary action against City The FA has confirmed it has powers to take disciplinary action against Manchester City<\/a> and key individuals at the club in the governing body\u2019s first comments since City were found guilty of more than 100 breaches related to financial regulations.<\/p>\n The FA statement reads: \u201cThe independent commission\u2019s decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game. We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.<\/p>\n \u201cAs proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.\u201d<\/p>\n Yaya Tour\u00e9 is mobbed by his teammates after he scored the opening goal of the game during the 2011 FA Cup final. Photograph: Anthony Devlin\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.36 EDT<\/p>\n Sport in Focus: If you like sport and you like pictures, then sign up to our newsletter of our editors\u2019 favourite sporting images from the past week. There\u2019s a new edition dropping into inboxes at midday today (BST).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEveryone at Liverpool should be happy today\u201d \u2013 J\u00fcrgen Klopp was full of praise for Florian Wirtz after his goal in Germany\u2019s 2-0 win over Serbia last night.<\/p>\n double quotation markThat was exceptional; he played a fantastic game. Our style of play suits Flo Wirtz. I don\u2019t even know what Flo has to do right to make everyone happy. Everyone in Liverpool should be happy today.<\/p>\n Wirtz didn\u2019t feature in Klopp\u2019s first game in charge, a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands last week, and came off the bench in the 1-0 defeat to Greece that followed. He played the full 90 last night, operating off the frontman Nick Woltemade and scoring on the hour mark to double Germany\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n J\u00fcrgen and Flo. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Manchester City: Ed Aarons and Porto-based Miguel Dantas have taken a deep dive into the situation surrounding Rui Pinto, the former history student whose leaks of private documents in 2018 prompted the investigation into City.<\/p>\n After Pinto turned his attention to Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, Portuguese authorities confirmed that he is no longer a protected witness:<\/p>\n double quotation markThat is understood to have come as a surprise to the 37-year-old, who finds himself without a job, a home or an income. He has been living in a safe house under protection and has never disclosed his location, and it is understood he has received no visitors.<\/p>\n The Guardian understands talks had been initiated to begin the process of reintegrating Pinto back into social and professional life. That initiative will be halted, leaving Pinto to fend for himself. He has been advised not to return home, contact family members or visit crowded places socially or for work.<\/p>\n Yesterday evening, Pinto posted on social media: \u201cI will make a very important announcement tomorrow at 18:00 UTC.\u201d That\u2019s 7pm BST.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.45 EDT<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Champions League: \u201cOf course there is a lot of noise but the players are very calm \u2013 I haven\u2019t seen or noticed anything that will take any percentage out of the players\u2019 performance\u201d \u2013 the words of Andr\u00e9e Jeglertz last night after his Manchester City<\/a> team were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Madrid. Linda Caicedo\u2019s opener was cancelled out by Khadija Shaw in City\u2019s first game since the Premier League\u2019s guilty verdict.<\/p>\n Tom Garry was at Joie Stadium to gauge the mood \u2026<\/p>\n double quotation markSpeaking to supporters on the bridge that connects this venue with the neighbouring Etihad Stadium, some appeared relaxed about the situation and unsure what it had to do with the women\u2019s team, while others were clearly troubled and looking forward to watching some football as a form of escapism.<\/p>\n An elderly City fan, who did not wish to be named, said pre-match: \u201cWe\u2019ve been through rough times before, we\u2019ll come through rough times again,\u201d in a matter-of-fact manner. Another simply demonstrated what appears to be a growing dislike for reporters asking about the 115 charges when they said angrily \u201cyou\u2019re from the media?\u201d before using an expletive and promptly walking away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Nations League: Jorge Jesus guided Portugal to an impressive 4-2 win in Denmark in the first game since Cristiano Ronaldo had walked away from the squad over concerns about his playing time. Ronaldo left camp<\/a> after an apparent rift with Jesus having been left on the bench for last Sunday\u2019s win in Norway. Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix was again on the scoresheet for Portugal as his late strike sealed the points.<\/p>\n J\u00fcrgen Klopp won his first match in charge of Germany at the third attempt as Florian Wirtz\u2019s second-half goal helped secure a 2-0 win over Serbia in Munich. After losing to Greece on Sunday, Klopp had to field frankly ridiculous questions<\/a> about the diversity of Germany\u2019s national team.<\/p>\n Greece almost pulled off another shock win last night but surrendered a two-goal lead to draw with the Netherlands in Thessaloniki. Virgil van Dijk and Tijjani Reijnders rescued things for Xavi, who admitted he was at fault after a poor first half. \u201cMaybe I made things unclear for the players by making too many changes,\u201d said the Netherlands boss.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Nations League: Let\u2019s have a look back at last night\u2019s action, eh? Wales notched their first win of the campaign by coming from behind to beat Norway in Cardiff. With the score level at 1-1 at the break, Torbj\u00f8rn Heggem was sent off 17 seconds into the second half and Neco Williams scored the winner from the resulting free-kick.<\/p>\n A lot of eyes were on Manchester City\u2019s Erling Haaland, who was kept at arm\u2019s length by Wales and serenaded by chants of \u201cYou\u2019re just a shit Kieffer Moore\u201d from home supporters. Martin \u00d8degaard, who captained Norway to the World Cup quarters in the summer, described the result as the \u201cfirst punch in the face for a long time\u201d while Wales manager Craig Bellamy was happy to respond to the criticism he has received of late:<\/p>\n double quotation markLook, I am a strong person, I think we all are, but it\u2019s the people around me I\u2019m conscious of. It\u2019s just society. What are we? Eight prime ministers in the space of 11 years? It\u2019s nuts … We\u2019re such a small country, why can\u2019t we have each other\u2019s backs? Why don\u2019t we look after each other more? The others can go at us. We\u2019re too quick [to criticise].<\/p>\n In Dublin, the Republic of Ireland\u2019s 2-2 draw with Austria was stopped twice in the first half after pro-Palestine protests against their matches with Israel. The Ireland squad were under pressure to boycott last Sunday\u2019s game against Israel in Hungary, which they won 3-0, and face them again in Dublin this Sunday.<\/p>\n With Ireland 1-0 up after Troy Parrott\u2019s fine solo goal, tennis balls with Palestine flags were thrown on to the pitch in the 20th minute before a man appearing to be carrying a Palestine flag invaded the pitch in the 35th minute. Austria came from 2-0 down in the second half to recover a draw.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.51 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben_Fisher.png\")
Ben Fisher<\/p>\n![\"Aleksandar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/unnamed_(1).jpg\")
Aleksandar Holiga<\/p>\n
Kazakhstan v Moldova (3pm)
Cyprus v Armenia (5pm)
Latvia v Montenegro (5pm)
Faroe \u200cIslands v Slovakia (7.45pm)
Belgium v Turkey (7.45pm)
France v Italy (7.45pm)
Hungary v Georgia (7.45pm)
Ukraine v Northern \u200cIreland (7.45pm)
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Sweden (7.45pm)
Poland v Romania (7.45pm)<\/p>\n
Finland v Albania (2pm)
Belarus v San \u200cMarino (5pm)
Estonia v Luxembourg (5pm)
Iceland v Bulgaria (5pm)
Croatia v England (5pm)
Spain v Czechia (7.45pm)
North Macedonia v Scotland (7.45pm)
Switzerland v Slovenia (7.45pm)<\/p>\n
Azerbaijan v Lithuania (2pm)
Malta v Andorra (5pm)
Kosovo v Austria (5pm)
Greece v Germany (7.45pm)
Netherlands v Serbia (7.45pm)
Portugal v Norway (7.45pm)
Wales v Denmark (7.45pm)
Republic \u200bof Ireland v Israel (7.45pm)<\/p>\n
Cyprus v Latvia (4pm)
Montenegro v Armenia (7.45pm)
France v Belgium (7.45pm)
Italy v Turkey (7.45pm)
Northern \u200bIreland v Georgia (7.45pm)
Ukraine v Hungary (7.45pm)
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Poland (7.45pm)
Romania v Sweden (7.45pm)<\/p>\n
Kazakhstan v Faroe \u200bIslands (3pm)
Albania v San Marino (7.45pm)
Belarus v Finland (7.45pm)
Moldova v Slovakia (7.45pm)
Estonia v Iceland (7.45pm)
Luxembourg v Bulgaria (7.45pm)
Croatia v Spain (7.45pm)
England v Czechia (7.45pm)
Scotland v Slovenia (7.45pm)
Switzerland v North \u200cMacedonia (7.45pm)<\/p>\n![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Matt_Hughes.png\")
Matt Hughes<\/p>\nMatt Hughes<\/p>\n