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    Thomas Tuchel’s first England game confirmed with new boss handed Wembley World Cup double-header in March

    THOMAS TUCHEL’S first game as England manager has been revealed.The Three Lions’ 2026 World Cup qualifying group sees them come up against Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.Thomas Tuchel’s first game as England boss has been revealedCredit: GettyTuchel was at today’s draw but does not officially start as England boss until January.A date has been set for his first game in charge, with the German’s reign kicking-off on Friday night at Wembley against Albania on March 21.Three days later, there is another home clash for him versus Latvia.Tuchel’s third match in charge on June 7 is away to Andorra.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThey will then play a friendly afterwards in the same international window against an unnamed opponent.Three Lions chiefs then have a venue headache to deal with as Andorra come to England for the return fixture on September 6.Wembley Stadium is seemingly out of action that night due to Coldplay concerts on the days either side, meaning the match will have to be played elsewhere.England then take on Serbia on September 9.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEngland’s World Cup qualifying datesAlbania (H) – March 21Latvia (H) – March 24Andorra (A) – June 7 Andorra (H) – September 6Serbia (A) – September 9Latvia (A) – October 14Serbia (H) – November 13Albania (A) – November 16Another friendly follows before Lavia away on October 14.Then the qualification campaign finally comes to an end with a double-header against Serbia at home on November 13 and Albania away on November 16.England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts to Three Lions’ World Cup 2026 qualifying drawTuchel’s squad could be very different to the ones picked by Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley as the ex-Chelsea boss has promised a fresh start to all players, including the self-exiled Ben White.The new manager said today: “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative. It starts from January. “I will be in the stadiums from January. The players should just know, ‘okay, the boss is there from January’.“Then I will of course try to speak to them, but also be respectful to the schedule that they have, because the schedule is busy in January, especially in the Premier League.”Asked about White, Tuchel said: “Yes. I will reach out to him.”World Cup qualifying draw in fullGroup A: Winner GER/ITA, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, LuxembourgGroup B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, KosovoGroup C: Loser POR/DEN, Greece, Scotland, BelarusGroup D: Winner FRA/CRO, Ukraine, Iceland, AzerbaijanGroup E: Winner SPA/NED, Turkey, Georgia, BulgariaGroup F: Winner POR/DEN, Hungary, Ireland, ArmeniaGroup G: Loser SPA/NED, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, MaltaGroup H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San MarinoGroup I: Loser GER/ITA, Norway, Israel, Estonia, MoldovaGroup J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, LiechensteinGroup K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, AndorraGroup L: Loser FRA/CRO, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar More

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    Inside the mind of Pep Guardiola as he suffers sleepless nights and lives on soup during horror Man City run

    PEP GUARDIOLA is really finding Manchester City’s current slump difficult to swallow.The Catalan admitted a run like this can affect everything — from the amount of sleep he gets to his diet.Pep Guardiola has struggled amid Man City’s poor run of formCredit: APThe Spaniard appeared to scratch his head several times during Man City’s match against Feyenoord last monthRecently, he has just been having soup for his evening meal as he is struggling to digest much else due to the nerves.With his kids grown up and his wife Cristina back in Barcelona, Pep admits it can be a lonely business being a coach during a bad run.He said this week: “You have people by your side but the pain of defeat only happens to one.“It’s true your friends are there but when you go to sleep and you turn off the light, there’s no consolation possible.Read More in Football“You have to swallow on it, spend a day or two and then come back.”But by and large Guardiola says his frame of mind is not much different to how it was in the spring, when his team were crowned champions for a fourth straight year.That is despite a run of seven defeats in the last ten matches — the same number as City suffered in the previous 105 games up until the end of April.The decline in his all-conquering team has been sudden and alarming and left many people scratching their head.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSCity have managed just one win in the last 10 gamesCredit: GettyThat includes Pep himself, who showed up for his press conference after the draw with Feyenoord last month with marks on his head and a cut on his nose.At the time he put it down to his nails getting too long — although he explained this week there was another factor.Man City manager Pep Guardiola sings song for Barcelona’s 125th birthdayPep Guardiola’s horror Man City runPEP GUARDIOLA admitted he is having sleepless nights as he endures his worst-ever spell as a manager.Here are the three-time defending Premier League champions’ nightmare last 10 games…Oct 30: Tottenham 2 Man City 1 – DEFEATNov 2: Bournemouth 2 Man City 1 – DEFEATNov 5: Sporting Lisbon 4 Man City 1 – DEFEATNov 9: Brighton 2 Man City 1 – DEFEATNov 23 – Man City 0 Tottenham 4 – DEFEATNov 26: Man City 3 Feyenoord 3 – DRAWDec 1: Liverpool 2 Man City 0 – DEFEATDec 4: Man City 3 Nottingham Forest – WINDec 7: Crystal Palace 2 Man City 2 – DRAWDec 11: Juventus 2 Man City 0 – DEFEATTOTAL – WINS 1, DRAWS 2, DEFEATS 7He said: “I have a skin problem. I have to take antihistamine for the last two or three years. The nails, yes, I did them on my nose. But the rest was that.”Guardiola turns 54 next month and said in a recent interview he does not have the energy to take another club job after he leaves the Etihad.The question some have been asking since is whether he has enough within him for the rebuilding job needed at City.Some of the older players who have achieved so much for him — the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan — are reaching the end of the road.And having achieved pretty much everything he set out to — and even more — with City, some wonder if he has the drive to go again.Yet is easy to forget amid the chaos of the last seven weeks, that he signed a new two-year contract at the Etihad in the middle of it all.It was Pep who indicated he was ready to talk — despite a run of four straight losses before then — and the deal was concluded in a couple of hours.Given what has happened since and the problems he is facing, he may be asking himself whether he did the right thing.Those around him say he has no regrets and is more determined than ever to turn the season around.He accepted the challenge of staying on less than four weeks ago and there is no way he has changed his mind already.I have a skin problem. I have to take antihistamine for the last two or three years. The nails, yes, I did them on my nose. But the rest was that.Pep GuardiolaHis feeling all season has been that this was not the right time for him to hand over the keys to his successor and three months in, he was sure of it.The imminent verdict on the 130 charges of financial wrong-doing was a factor, as he has previously said he would not desert the club he loves in their hour of need.But the Club World Cup in the USA in the summer was also a consideration, as it will make the start of next season extremely difficult to navigate.Guardiola felt he wanted to navigate City through this tricky period and he remains determined to do that.In any case, Pep had predicted this would be a tough start to the season — partly due to strain of their recent success and the summer of international duty at Euro 2024 for most of his stars.He did not quite expect it to be this tough, though, as the injuries have made the early months of the season even more challenging.But he remains convinced that once his trusted players are back, he will be able to turn them back into a force.Nothing that has happened since things started to unravel at the end of October has changed his mind.He said: “I have learned with football, not to go against feelings, what you feel at that moment.READ MORE SUN STORIES“If I am sad, I am sad but I know it will pass. That’s how I see it.”A derby win over United on Sunday would help it to pass very quickly. More

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    Troy Deeney: Marcus Rashford’s application STINKS and it’s Man Utd’s fault… now they’re too scared of fans to sell him

    I WANT Marcus Rashford to succeed, to be the player we know he can be.But we are now on a slippery slope of performances dropping at Manchester United — and nothing is changing from new manager to new manager.Marcus Rashford is in his peak years and needs to up itCredit: GettyTroy Deeney wants to see the best of Rashford but is worried he lacks the desireCredit: APSo, I have to ask him: Do you even want to do this? Do you want to play football?It’s not an easy game, or an easy life. People think it is because of the amount of money and all that but there is a lot of nonsense that goes on in the background, a lot of stresses.And I don’t see a scenario in the next few months, or years, where he flips it on his head and all of a sudden comes good.Or he turns around and says: ‘I’m gonna prove you all wrong’.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat makes me genuinely sad, especially because I know this will be weighing on him mentally long-term.Can you still get something out of him? I’m not sure. He needs a strict hand on him, but even that doesn’t seem to work sometimes.He’s 27 — his peak years. He’s got all the attributes you’d want for a modern-day winger or a striker, but he’s currently got the appetite of a 35-year-old.Compare it to the attitude and desire of Jamie Vardy at 37. It is chalk and cheese.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSRashford looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.Everything is always everybody else’s fault and his application stinks.Who is TikTok star Mat Armstrong-? Meet the car enthusiast who restored Marcus Rashford’s wrecked Rolls-Royce He is still capable of moments. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes and scores the winner against Manchester City this weekend and then goes missing for the next few weeks.He knows he can live off these ‘moments’ and nothing more, and that isn’t good enough.But United have bought this problem on themselves.They have created this person by continuing to reward rubbish behaviour and performances with massive, unwarranted contracts.He has been brought through as the academy favourite, the golden boy, yet when adversity hits, he thinks everyone is against him, instead of facing up and focusing on himself.So, I have to ask him: Do you even want to do this? Do you want to play football?Troy DeeneyAnd it is the same old cycle. A new manager comes in and for three of four games you see a ‘new Rashford’ and then he slips back into his old ways and old form.He then begins to get dropped. We saw it on Thursday night, subbed off against Viktoria Plzen and already United boss Ruben Amorim looks fed up with him.Look, I’ve been there. It’s not nice when that is happening.As a striker you want to be left on to build some momentum, but I was at the Emirates when he came on against Arsenal last week. He was a disgrace.Amorim summed it up best when he joined, telling Rashford he will get full support but it is up to him as a player, a person.Marcus Rashford must take his chance under Ruben AmorimCredit: GettyThat’s where the problem lies. Nobody wants Rashford to fail, but if he keeps delivering these substandard performances then we will all keep on saying the same things.Some people say it is the environment at United that is a negative impact, but that’s a poor excuse.You don’t see Harry Maguire or Bruno Fernandes acting out or not giving everything, do you?Another academy graduate like Kobbie Mainoo isn’t acting up because he has good role models around him in his position. He is hungry to improve.So, at what point do you take responsibility for your own actions and say: It’s on me.You can only fake it for so long if you are not a hard worker, you’re not sticking to a professional regime and you’re heart isn’t in it any more.At the moment Rashford is nothing more than an academy symbol of the past, a local lad that United are too scared to move on because of what the reaction from the fan base might be.Man Utd have created this person by continuing to reward rubbish behaviour and performances with massive, unwarranted contracts.Troy DeeneyBut why would anyone in England want to take Rashford on?Why would boss Mikel Arteta risk ruining all his hard work at Arsenal of building a culture of elite professionals and high standards for him?Chelsea have a young, energetic squad that could revitalise him, but I reckon most of those players would look at him now and think: Well you’re a waste of time.And no one is going to pay his current wages — he is rewarded like he is one of the best three players in the Prem yet he wouldn’t get into any of the top SIX starting XIs right now.If I was advising him, I’d tell him to go abroad but even then I’m not sure how that would go.I do feel sorry for Marcus, but he has had enough bad examples of players around him, or in his age bracket, who have gone down a similar path.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt should be enough to motivate you not to become one of them, someone like Jesse Lingard.But Rashford is not seeing the warning signs all around him.Inside Man Utd chaos amid Ashworth departureTHE blame game has another victim as things go from bad to worse at Old Trafford.Manchester United’s first sporting director, Dan Ashworth, arrived in the summer and is gone before Christmas.SunSport exclusively revealed last month that there was trouble at mill.That the new senior management team were already blaming each other for the mess the club were in.Chief executive Omar Berrada and Ashworth were trying to wash their hands of it all, claiming they had arrived too late after serving their gardening leave.New part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said making decisions was all down to them. Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox thought it was all a mess under previous boss Erik ten Hag but was part of the team that encouraged him to stay after every other candidate ran for cover.There is word Ashworth did not favour appointing his successor and new head coach Ruben Amorim, preferring an English manager with more experience in our game. Perhaps that was why ex-England gaffer Gareth Southgate’s name was always mentioned after they worked together at the FA.Either way, Saturday’s showing against Nottingham Forest, after their second-half capitulation at Arsenal a few days previously, proved too much. More

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    Crystal Palace star’s rubbish was fly tipped outside my flat – I was furious & reported him to club

    A PREMIER League star’s domestic rubbish was dumped illegally outside an apartment block.Furious residents contacted Crystal Palace to report Jefferson Lerma for fly-tipping.Crystal Palace’s Jefferson Lerma has been reported for fly-tippingCredit: GettyThe garbage included broken toys, full carrier bags and dozens of opened parcels and boxes bearing Lerma’s addressThe club investigated and discovered that the Colombian midfielder, 30, had paid for a “legitimate waste disposal service” to dispose of the trash “in good faith”.The rubbish was strewn across the front of garages behind flats in Streatham, South London — nine miles from Lerma’s home.Grainy CCTV images show men arriving in cars with fake number plates to dump the trash.The garbage included broken toys, full carrier bags and dozens of opened parcels and boxes bearing Lerma’s address.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSRecent windy weather spread the rubbish further.Heidi Vella, who lives in the flats, said: “Fly-tipping is illegal and a social blight and so it was a real shock to the residents here to see a Premier League footballer’s rubbish dumped on our property.“A quick look showed it was Jefferson Lerma’s domestic rubbish. Now we want to pursue the ‘man with a van’ so he is dealt with by law.”Lerma signed for Bournemouth for £25million in 2018 and joined Palace on a free transfer last year.Most read in FootballThe club said: “When this matter was drawn to our attention, we immediately arranged for the rubbish to be collected and disposed of correctly.“We apologise for any inconvenience.”Bournemouth target Jefferson Lerma is an absolute beast of a defensive midfielderHeidi Vella, who lives in the flats, said: ‘Fly-tipping is illegal and a social blight and so it was a real shock to the residents here to see a Premier League footballer’s rubbish dumped on our property’Credit: Louis Wood More

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    ‘I’m getting emotional’ – England manager Thomas Tuchel’s comments on Cole Palmer leave Chelsea fans close to tears

    ENGLAND manager Thomas Tuchel heaped praise on red-hot Chelsea ace Cole Palmer today, leaving fans thrilled.The 51-year-old was in Zurich this morning for the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw.Thomas Tuchel heaped praise on Cole PalmerCredit: AFPPalmer has continued his incredible form this seasonCredit: GettyWhile at the event he was asked about several members of his new squad, including fan-favourite Palmer.Asked by Sky Sports how “arguably the best player in the world right now” will fit into his team, Tuchel responded with a smile: “That’s a bit too far, going into individual players!”But he is definitely on form everyone would agree on that hopefully he can still grow and keep the level up and then everything will be fine.”Everyone enjoys watching him. He is cool, he is composed, he is very clinical in finishing and assisting.”Read More on ChelseaPalmer has managed 11 goals and six assists in 17 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions this season.Fans loved Tuchel’s comments about the midfielder, with one person taking to X to write: “See the way Tuchel was smiling throughout talking about Cole Palmer…”Another said: “He couldn’t wait to talk about him.”A third commented: “Together these two will take England to the promised land.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSEngland’s World Cup qualifying drawWhile another wrote: “I’m getting emotional… that first pic of tuchel and Palmer together #special.”Tuchel was also asked about Harry Kane, who received heavy criticism throughout England’s Euro 2024 campaign.Cole Palmer reveals he failed PE in hilarious interview as fans tell Chelsea star to consider going into comedyHaving worked with the striker at Bayern Munich last season, he insisted Kane will keep the captain’s armband.”There is at the moment no need to think about change. Harry was always a top captain for England. So why do you even think about it at the moment?”England drew Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in Group K.World Cup qualifying is due to begin in March. More

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    Bundesliga’s youngest-ever scorer in age scandal as Dortmund star’s father admits he ‘lied about date of birth’

    GERMANY star Youssoufa Moukoko is at the centre of an age scandal after his father claimed to have lied about his date of birth.The Borussia Dortmund wonderkid, who is currently on loan at French side Nice, is seen as one of the best young players in the world.A man claiming to be Youssoufa Moukoko’s father claims he is 24-years-old not 20Credit: GettyMoukoko starred for Germany at the 2022 World CupCredit: GettyMoukoko is 20-years-old – but a man claiming to be his registered dad has shockingly alleged the player is actually 24 years of age.He also says the striker is NOT his biological son and is using a fake name.The incredible claims are due to be aired on German TV channel ProSieben on Sunday night, in a documentary named “Tricks, Cheats, Deception – The Million Dollar Business with Football Talents”.Dortmund have responded to the accusations, insisting they are unaware of any wrongdoing.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe club said in a statement: “In the case of Youssoufa Moukoko, the biological parents and the date of birth are derived from official identification documents and birth certificates issued by a German authority.”These documents are still valid today and are the basis for playing authorisations and permits for clubs, regardless of whether they are domestic or foreign, and of course also for association teams such as the German U21 national team. “Please also note that both the player and the biological parents identified in the above-mentioned documents have declared to us and, in the case of the parents, even to third parties through affidavits in the context of legal proceedings that the information contained in the aforementioned official documents is correct. “This factual status is of course decisive for us, the DFB, and the player’s current club.”Most read in BundesligaIn the show, the man claiming to be the player’s registered father, Joseph Moukoko, confesses to falsifying documents about his age and identity.He says: “Youssoufa Moukoko is not the biological son of me and my wife Marie Moukoko. Nor was he born on November 20, 2004 in Yaounde, Cameroon.Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers”He was actually born on July 19, 2000. We made him four years younger.”He later admits: “We did it so he could have better opportunities in European football.”Moukoko has two senior caps for Germany and became the nation’s youngest ever player aged 17 years and 361 days and the youngest to feature at a World Cup, aged 18 years and 3 days.He burst onto the scene as the Bundesliga’s youngest ever player, with his debut coming at the age of 16 years and 1 day.The starlet then broke the record as the league’s youngest ever goalscorer, hitting the back of the net 27 days after his debut.Moukoko, who has previously been linked with a move to Chelsea, shone in youth-team football for Dortmund and Germany.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe lifted the Under-21 Euros two years ago and clinched the Fritz Walter Medal for best young prospect in Germany twice.Back during his days in Dortmund’s Under-17s and Under-19s team, he scored 141 goals in just 88 games.Moukoko scored for Dortmund at the age of 16 years and 1 dayCredit: Getty More

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    Sir Alex Ferguson’s chauffeur adopts dog of Man Utd receptionist Kath Phipps after she passes away at 85

    SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S chauffeur has adopted the dog of legendary Manchester United receptionist Kath Phipps.Kath, a hugely popular figure at the club, passed away aged 85 last week.Sir Alex Ferguson’s chauffeur has adopted the dog of Kath PhippsCredit: GettySir Alex would regularly visit Kath before she passed away last weekUnited paid a touching tribute to the much-loved receptionist ahead of their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.Club icons also shared fond memories of her, with David Beckham particularly emotional.The United legend was one of several people to visit Kath before she passed.Ferguson also saw her on a number of occasions.Read More on Man UtdHis chauffeur, Steve Webb, would visit alongside Sir Alex with her dog, Maisie.And Webb has since adopted Maisie following Kath’s death, the Daily Mail reports.A member of staff said: “Even in her last days she kept the United family together.”Kath’s nearest and dearest also set up a WhatsApp group to monitor the flow of visitors, with staff members and ex-players all desperate to see her.Most read in FootballFerguson would phone on the days he couldn’t visit.While Juan Mata made video calls from Sydney and Mary Earps from Paris.David Beckham’s Heartfelt Farewell to Kath PhippsKath had worked at the club since the 1960s in a variety of roles including a receptionist and telephone switchboard operator.United expressed their “sadness” and “heartbreak” at Kath’s passing, and tributes poured in from fans. More

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    Golf’s Highs and Lows in 2024

    There were a lot of exciting tournaments, but LIV still looms over the sport.Winning streaks — illustrious and quirky — defined professional golf for the best male and female players in 2024. They came amid pressure on the business models of both the men’s and women’s professional tours.The PGA Tour continues to struggle with how it’s going to make its tournaments more attractive to sponsors (who are asked to pay more in prize money) and fans who have been tuning out the weekly tournaments. It’s been over two years since its first star players joined LIV Golf and a year since the PGA Tour and its commissioner, Jay Monahan, announced a tentative agreement with LIV to coexist, and the PGA Tour still hasn’t worked out a way to unify the men’s game.For the L.P.G.A. Tour, prize money has continued to rise, but the tour itself continues to struggle to get attention for its roster of top-flight players.Nelly Korda lining up a putt at the CME Group Tour Championship last month in Naples, Fla. She began the year by winning five straight tournaments, tying the L.P.G.A. record.Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesNelly Korda, the No. 1 ranked women’s golfer, began the year by winning five straight tournaments. She tied the L.P.G.A. record, held by Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez.“If I’m being honest, I have not thought about it at all,” Korda said in a press conference after the fifth consecutive victory.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More