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      in Soccer

      Saudi Arabia ‘considering teaming up with Italy to host 2030 World Cup’ in blow to England’s bid

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      SAUDI ARABIA are considering joining forces with a European country in a bid to host the 2030 World Cup, according to reports. And The Athletic claims the Middle Eastern nation is eyeing Italy as a possible partner in a move that could see both countries rivalling a bid from Britain and the Republic of Ireland. 
      Italy are reportedly being eyed as potential World Cup 2030 bid partners by Saudi ArabiaCredit: AP
      Should the oil-rich state succeed in creating an official team-up with the Euro 2020 champs, it will come as a further knock to Britain and Ireland’s dream of hosting the tournament in nine years’ time. 
      SunSport reports the joint bid for the two nations has already been marred by the chaotic and violent scenes that preceded the Three Lions Euros final duel with the Azzurri.
      Ticketless thugs were seen pushing through barriers and shoving spectators and stadium staff at Wembley ahead of England’s historic clash with Italy.
      And 1966 World Cup winner Geoff Hurst is among the influential football figures who fear the incident could harm England’s and the Republic of Ireland’s hosting chances. 
      Although joint bids have previously been off-putting to football’s authorities, it is reported they are now seen as a useful option given the increase in World Cup entrants. 
      From 2026 the number of countries competing in the contest will rise to 48 teams with tournament fixtures increasing to 80. 
      The Athletic claims US firm Boston Consultancy Group is providing guidance to Saudi Arabia on its bid and is reportedly advising them to consider broadening their alliances. 

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      Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s nation are working with US company Boston Consultancy Group on World Cup bid plansCredit: AFP
      And it is reported that one option for consideration is for Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s state to join up with Egypt and Morocco to host the contest. 
      However, it is thought that such a partnership would be a massive challenge in terms of logistics and security. 
      And a European partner such as Italy –  who have already hosted four large-scale international football tournaments in the past 90 years – is thought to be a safer option. 
      The Athletic adds that the potential of the Saudis investing in the revamp of Italy’s stadiums could be a bonus. 
      The two nations are reported to enjoy a warm sporting relationship with Saudi set to host the Italian Super Cup in January 2022. 
      And the country has hosted the contest – which is a match between the Serie A champions and Italy’s cup winners – twice in the past. 
      However, Saudi Arabia’s human rights records could see a joint bid overshadowed by controversy. 
      There are fears chaos caused by ticketless fans at the Euros 2020 final at Wembley could harm a bid from BritainCredit: AP

      The country made headlines worldwide following the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. 
      And it has faced criticism for its involvement in a catastrophic civil war in Yemen. 
      The nation is also thought to hold considerable diplomatic sway as the largest exporter of oil in the world. 
      Ministers hope chaos at Wembley will not harm Britain’s and the Republic of Ireland’s 2030 World Cup bidCredit: James Curley
      TikToker J2hundred films himself ‘sneaking’ into Wembley to watch Euros final after finding ‘gap’ in exit door More

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      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua hits back at Jesse Lingard as pair set up FIFA showdown to ‘see who the real heavyweight champ is’

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      HEAVYWEIGHT champ Anthony Joshua has called out his next opponent… Manchester United star Jesse Lingard.Thankfully AJ doesn’t want to meet the winger in the boxing ring, with the two agreeing to do battle on video game FIFA.
      Anthony Joshua, 31, is the king of the ring – but is he the king of FIFA?Credit: PA
      Jesse Lingard, 28, doesn’t think so – and reckons he’ll beat the heavyweight champ on June 21Credit: Getty
      Lingard, 28, was the first to pipe up by tweeting: “So Anthony Joshua thinks he’s king of the ring and FIFA!
      “Well I’m gonna show him June 21 at 11.30am UK time as part of the world’s biggest charity eSports festival Gamers Without Borders
      “Lets see who’s the real heavyweight champ.”
      Gamers Without Borders is a charity aiming to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine to underdeveloped countries.
      Several celebrities have agreed to get involved in the scheme, including Joshua and Lingard.
      AJ couldn’t believe the audacity of Lingard’s tweet, responding: “No chance, Jesse Lingard [followed by a laughing emoji]. See you there.”

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      Joshua’s next opponent in the boxing ring is likely to be Oleksandr Usyk, defending his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.
      The 31-year-old needs to beat the undefeated Ukrainian if he wants to keep the dream of a unification fight with Tyson Fury alive.
      The Gypsy King faces Deontay Wilder in their trilogy fight on July 24 and is also under pressure to keep his WBC crown.
      If both British heavyweights can win their respective bouts, one of the biggest fights in British boxing history may finally take place later this year.
      There’s still a chance AJ’s fight with Usyk may collapse, with Andy Ruiz Jr – the only man to defeat Joshua professionally – believed to be waiting on standby.
      Anthony Joshua and son JJ, 5, look dapper as boxer posts cute Father’s Day picture More

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      in Soccer

      Fifa President Gianni Infantino is planning a Women’s Club World Cup in bid to ‘revolutionise’ female game

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      FIFA President Gianni Infantino has claimed that a new Women’s Club World Cup is being planned in order to shake up the sport.Infantino revealed that it’s his dream to see a female version of the tournament come to fruition following the creation of the men’s one.
      Infantino has claimed that a Women’s Club World Cup is in the processCredit: Reuters
      Speaking to L’Equipe, he said: “My dream is also to see the birth of the very first Women’s Club World Cup.
      “It’s coming very soon. And it will really revolutionize women’s football.”
      The Fifa supremo’s dream will see the top women teams in Europe battle it out with their US counterparts.
      The US national team are current World Champions and their domestic sides are also of high quality but rarely go toe to toe with Europe’s top clubs.
      And the men’s version of the competition, which Liverpool won in 2019, is also getting a revamp.
      It is held every year and usually consists of seven teams, which includes just one from Europe.
      But the new format will be made up of 24 teams and seven will be European.
      The new-look format was meant to unveiled this year but had to be pushed back 12 months due to Covid.
      The FIFA boss reckons it will revolutionise the women’s gameCredit: Getty

      And Infantino is adamant it will become the best club competiton in the world.
      He said: “What I’m sure is that this new competition will eventually become the best club event in the world, and help develop football on all continents.
      “It will offer a real possibility for clubs from all regions to reach the highest level while giving the big clubs, especially European ones, a unique playing field in which to compete.”
      Liverpool won the men’s version of the competition in 2019Credit: EPA
      Qatari royal REFUSES to fist bump female officials at Fifa Club World Cup final awards ceremony More

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      What is the European Super League, which clubs have signed up, how will it work & will Champions League still exist?

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      THE Premier League has been rocked after members of its ‘Big Six’ declared their intent to join a European Super League.Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all involved in the plot, which has been blasted by Gary Neville as “criminal”.

      Fans will be keen to know what is being laid out, how it would work and the impact any breakaway would have.
      SunSport explains the plans, as they stand – and the hurdles that have to be overcome:
      What is the European Super League?
      A 20-team breakaway league with matches to be played midweek and an end of season play-off to determine the winners, with a provisional kick-off from the start of the 2022-23 season.
      In addition to the 15 founding clubs, who cannot be relegated from the closed-shop elite, five clubs will be entitled to qualify each season.
      All matches will be played in midweek slots, with the clubs insistent they will be able to continue to play in their domestic leagues and “preserve the traditional domestic match calendar which remains at the heart of the club game”.
      The 20 clubs will be split into two groups of 10, playing 18 games – nine home and nine away – with the top three in each group qualifying automatically for the last eight knock-out stage.
      Teams finishing fourth and fifth in each group will then play off to fill the final two knock-out slots, with the ties played over two legs apart from a one-off final “which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue”.
      Which clubs would play in it?
      England will have the largest contingent, with Liverpool and United joined by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs.
      Among the remaining 12 ‘founder members’, Spain would supply Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona as well as Juventus, Inter and AC Milan from Italy.
      It is unclear how the five additional teams will be selected each year.
      What would be the format of the league?
      It is envisaged that the teams will play each other home and away in a midweek league, with four from each group involved in the end of season play-offs.
      Will they play in their domestic leagues?
      That’s the plan. At least, for now.
      How does it all fit in to a standard football season?
      That is the big question.
      The Premier League’s 38-game season is already squeezed into a 34-week window and there would now be an EXTRA 34 games for each of the five selected Prem teams to fit in.
      Reducing the Prem to 18 clubs, as envisaged in Project Big Picture – an element backed by all the Big Six – would create some wriggle room, as would scrapping the League Cup.
      But Prem sides are mandated to play in the FA Cup.
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      Is there room for any other games?
      Other than an early start and a late finish, no.
      Until 2024-25, when the new international match calendar – still being worked on by Fifa – comes into operation.
      One plan that gained support was for three four-game international windows – in November, March and June – each year, opening up the entire autumn part of the season for extra club matches.
      How much would clubs be paid?
      A huge £3.1billion fund was being formulated by the competition’s organisers, which was to be split between the 15 founder clubs.
      The payment, ranging from £89m to £310m, was reportedly described as an ‘infrastructure grant’ to spend on stadiums, training facilities and account for lost pandemic revenue.
      The Glazers own Man Utd, one of the teams touted as potential members
      What would a European Super League mean for the Champions League?
      Curtains – which is why Uefa will fight tooth and nail to kill the plot stone dead.
      If Europe’s biggest 18 clubs go it alone, the Champions League – let alone the Europa League – will plummet in commercial value, devastating European football’s economic model.
      Will the Champions League still exist?
      This was the unknown when the plans were announced, but what was clear is that the 12 rebel clubs – and any others who joined the Super League – would not be playing in it.
      It is also not known whether the Champions League or domestic leagues would be used to decide the five qualifiers for the European Super League.
      What would be the impact on the Premier League?
      Not so much in the immediate term – but significant in the longer term.
      The “top four” race will be rendered redundant if there is a closed shop Super League, which will have an impact on future TV rights sales, although there will still be the appeal of the Big Six playing their domestic matches.
      But the financial disparity between the elite and the rest will become a gaping chasm that will make the Prem utterly uncompetitive – unless the big boys prioritise the new European Premier League and play shadow sides at home, which, of course, will make the Prem even less appealing to the broadcasters.
      This is arguably the best XI of players who as it stands would play in the European Super League

      Will it really go ahead?
      On Sunday, Uefa, the English Football Association, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A released a joint statement condemning the plans.
      Should the domestic associations not give their blessing for clubs to join the league, they could be booted out of all domestic competitions.
      Clubs have also been warned that their players could be ineligible for international football if they join a breakaway league.
      Uefa are expected to confirm the details of the new-look Champions League to take effect from the 2024-25 season in the next few months.
      On Monday, Uefa approved their new 36-team Champions League format which starts in 2024.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

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      in Soccer

      European Super League explained: Which clubs involved, how many matches will be played and what about Champions League?

      by

      THE Premier League has been rocked after members of its ‘Big Six’ signalled their intent to join a European Super League.Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all involved in the plot, which has been blasted by Gary Neville as “criminal”.

      Fans will be keen to know what is being laid out, how it would work and the impact any breakaway would have.
      SunSport explains the plans, as they stand – and the hurdles that have to be overcome:
      What is the European Super League?
      A 20-team breakaway league with matches to be played midweek and an end of season play-off to determine the winners, with a provisional kick-off from the start of the 2022-23 season.
      In addition to the 15 founding clubs, who cannot be relegated from the closed-shop elite, five clubs will be entitled to qualify each season.
      All matches will be played in midweek slots, with the clubs insistent they will be able to continue to play in their domestic leagues and “preserve the traditional domestic match calendar which remains at the heart of the club game”.
      The 20 clubs will be split into two groups of 10, playing 18 games – nine home and nine away – with the top three in each group qualifying automatically for the last eight knock-out stage.
      Teams finishing fourth and fifth in each group will then play off to fill the final two knock-out slots, with the ties played over two legs apart from a one-off final “which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue”.
      Which clubs would play in it?
      England will have the largest contingent, with Liverpool and United joined by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs.
      Among the remaining 12 ‘founder members’, Spain would supply Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona as well as Juventus, Inter and AC Milan from Italy.
      It is unclear how the five additional teams will be selected each year.
      What would be the format of the league?
      It is envisaged that the teams will play each other home and away in a midweek league, with four from each group involved in the end of season play-offs.
      Will they play in their domestic leagues?
      That’s the plan. At least, for now.

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      How does it all fit in to a standard football season?
      That is the big question.
      The Premier League’s 38-game season is already squeezed into a 34-week window and there would now be an EXTRA 34 games for each of the five selected Prem teams to fit in.
      Reducing the Prem to 18 clubs, as envisaged in Project Big Picture – an element backed by all the Big Six – would create some wriggle room, as would scrapping the League Cup.
      But Prem sides are mandated to play in the FA Cup.
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      Is there room for any other games?
      Other than an early start and a late finish, no.
      Until 2024-25, when the new international match calendar – still being worked on by Fifa – comes into operation.
      One plan that gained support was for three four-game international windows – in November, March and June – each year, opening up the entire autumn part of the season for extra club matches.
      How much would clubs be paid?
      A huge £3.1billion fund was being formulated by the competition’s organisers, which was to be split between the 15 founder clubs.
      The payment, ranging from £89m to £310m, was reportedly described as an ‘infrastructure grant’ to spend on stadiums, training facilities and account for lost pandemic revenue.
      The Glazers own Man Utd, one of the teams touted as potential members
      What would a European Super League mean for the Champions League?
      Curtains – which is why Uefa will fight tooth and nail to kill the plot stone dead.
      If Europe’s biggest 18 clubs go it alone, the Champions League – let alone the Europa League – will plummet in commercial value, devastating European football’s economic model.
      What would be the impact on the Premier League?
      Not so much in the immediate term – but significant in the longer term.
      The “top four” race will be rendered redundant if there is a closed shop Super League, which will have an impact on future TV rights sales, although there will still be the appeal of the Big Six playing their domestic matches.
      But the financial disparity between the elite and the rest will become a gaping chasm that will make the Prem utterly uncompetitive – unless the big boys prioritise the new European Premier League and play shadow sides at home, which, of course, will make the Prem even less appealing to the broadcasters.
      This is arguably the best XI of players who as it stands would play in the European Super League

      Will it really go ahead?
      On Sunday, Uefa, the English Football Association, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A released a joint statement condemning the plans.
      Should the domestic associations not give their blessing for clubs to join the league, they could be booted out of all domestic competitions.
      Clubs have also been warned that their players could be ineligible for international football if they join a breakaway league.
      Uefa are expected to confirm the details of the new-look Champions League to take effect from the 2024-25 season in the next few months.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

    • 225 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      European Super League explained: Which clubs involved, how many matches would be played and what about Champions League?

      by

      THE Premier League has been rocked after members of its ‘Big Six’ signalled their intent to join a European Super League.Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all involved in the plot, which has been blasted by Gary Neville as “criminal”.
      Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez had publicly backed the plans
      Fans will be keen to know what is being laid out, how it would work and the impact any breakaway would have.
      SunSport explains the plans, as they stand – and the hurdles that have to be overcome:
      What is the European Super League?
      A 20-team breakaway league with matches to be played midweek and an end of season play-off to determine the winners, with a provisional kick-off from the start of the 2022-23 season.
      In addition to the 15 founding clubs, who cannot be relegated from the closed-shop elite, five clubs will be entitled to qualify each season.
      All matches will be played in midweek slots, with the clubs insistent they will be able to continue to play in their domestic leagues and “preserve the traditional domestic match calendar which remains at the heart of the club game”.
      The 20 clubs will be split into two groups of 10, playing 18 games – nine home and nine away – with the top three in each group qualifying automatically for the last eight knock-out stage.
      Teams finishing fourth and fifth in each group will then play off to fill the final two knock-out slots, with the ties played over two legs apart from a one-off final “which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue”.
      Which clubs would play in it?
      England will have the largest contingent, with Liverpool and United joined by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs.
      Among the remaining 12 ‘founder members’, Spain would supply Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona as well as Juventus, Inter and AC Milan from Italy.
      It is expected Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain will complete the 15-strong closed shop.
      It is then unclear how the five additional teams will be selected each year.
      What would be the format of the league?
      It is envisaged that the teams will play each other home and away in a midweek league, with four from each group involved in the end of season play-offs.
      Will they play in their domestic leagues?
      That’s the plan. At least, for now.
      How does it all fit in to a standard football season?
      That is the big question.
      The Premier League’s 38-game season is already squeezed into a 34-week window and there would now be an EXTRA 34 games for each of the five selected Prem teams to fit in.
      Reducing the Prem to 18 clubs, as envisaged in Project Big Picture – an element backed by all the Big Six – would create some wriggle room, as would scrapping the League Cup.
      But Prem sides are mandated to play in the FA Cup.
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      Is there room for any other games?
      Other than an early start and a late finish, no.
      Until 2024-25, when the new international match calendar – still being worked on by Fifa – comes into operation.
      One plan that gained support was for three four-game international windows – in November, March and June – each year, opening up the entire autumn part of the season for extra club matches.
      How much would clubs be paid?
      A huge £3.1billion fund was being formulated by the competition’s organisers, which was to be split between the 15 founder clubs.
      The payment, ranging from £89m to £310m, was reportedly described as an ‘infrastructure grant’ to spend on stadiums, training facilities and account for lost pandemic revenue.
      The Glazers own Man Utd, one of the teams touted as potential members
      What would a European Super League mean for the Champions League?
      Curtains – which is why Uefa will fight tooth and nail to kill the plot stone dead.
      If Europe’s biggest 18 clubs go it alone, the Champions League – let alone the Europa League – will plummet in commercial value, devastating European football’s economic model.
      What would be the impact on the Premier League?
      Not so much in the immediate term – but significant in the longer term.
      The “top four” race will be rendered redundant if there is a closed shop Super League, which will have an impact on future TV rights sales, although there will still be the appeal of the Big Six playing their domestic matches.
      But the financial disparity between the elite and the rest will become a gaping chasm that will make the Prem utterly uncompetitive – unless the big boys prioritise the new European Premier League and play shadow sides at home, which, of course, will make the Prem even less appealing to the broadcasters.

      Will it really go ahead?
      On Sunday, Uefa, the English Football Association, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A released a joint statement condemning the plans.
      Should the domestic associations not give their blessing for clubs to join the league, they could be booted out of all domestic competitions.
      Clubs have also been warned that their players could be ineligible for international football if they join a breakaway league.
      Uefa are expected to confirm the details of the new-look Champions League to take effect from the 2024-25 season in the next few months.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo risks Fifa sanction after Portugal captain threw armband to ground and stormed off pitch vs Serbia

      by

      CRISTIANO RONALDO could face a Fifa sanction for his furious reaction to the denial of Portugal’s winning goal against Serbia on Saturday night.Ronaldo poked the ball over the line in added time to seemingly give his side a 3-2 victory, only for the officials and absence of goalline technology to let the Juventus star down.
      Ronaldo’s effort clearly went over the line before Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic hooked it clear
      Ronaldo threw his captain’s armband on the floor after the controversial decisionCredit: AFP
      He then proceeded to storm off the pitch in a fit of rageCredit: Rex
      The goal was not given, leading to Ronaldo losing the plot, screaming at the assistant referee before throwing his captain’s armband to the floor and storming off the pitch.
      And Corriere dello Sport have now revealed that the Euro 2016 winner could receive a sanction from Fifa if they deem his reaction to be ‘offensive or violent conduct’.
      Article 11 in the Disciplinary Code reads: “Offensive conduct or violation of the principles of fair play” before going into more detail about what that entails.
      It says: “Associations and clubs, as well as their players, officials or any other member or person performing a function on their behalf, must comply with the Laws of the Game, the FIFA Statutes and the regulations, directives, guidelines, circulars and the decisions of FIFA; likewise, they must comply with the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity.”
      It has not yet been confirmed whether or not Ronaldo has breached the rules of Article 11.
      If he is deemed guilty, Explica report that Article 12 then details the punishment, saying the ban could be ‘at least one match or an appropriate period of time for unsportsmanlike conduct towards an opponent or anyone other than a match official’.
      Former Portugal international Fernando Meira blasted Ronaldo after the match for his ‘unacceptable behaviour’ which ‘set a bad example’ for others.
      Following the decision, Portugal boss Fernando Santos revealed that the referee had apologised for the mistake.

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      He told RTP: “We scored a goal that was not given when the ball went in. In a match of this level, that isn’t possible.
      “The referee apologised to me in the booth and told me he was embarrassed. I was in the dressing room with him and apologised to me.
      “He had told me on the pitch that he was going to see the images and that if it was the case he was calling me to apologise – and so it was.
      “I told him on the pitch that there was no VAR or goal-line technology – one of the things he told me was that the goal line was important – but I told him that the ball was half a metre inside the goal.
      “There was no obstacle between the goalkeeper and the goal line. [It is a] problem because we drew. We have to rethink.
      “The referees are human and make mistakes, but that’s why there is the VAR and the goal-line technology to avoid this.”

      Cristiano Ronaldo makes his thoughts very clear after being denied a late winner against Serbia More

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      in Soccer

      Dutch legend Marco van Basten reveals radical plans to SCRAP offsides and would make football ‘more interesting’

      by

      HOLLAND legend Marco van Basten wants to scrap the offside rule from football.The iconic former striker wants to do away with the rule as it will make the sport ‘more interesting’.
      Marco van Basten wants to bin the offside ruleCredit: Getty
      Van Basten, 56, was Fifa’s technical director between 2016 and 2018 and rule improvements were part of his remit.
      Legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is Fifa’s head of global development and launched his own offside overhaul to end VAR controversy last month.
      It would see a player being deemed ONSIDE if any part of the body which can legitimately score a goal is level or behind the last defender — even if other parts are in front.
      But Van Basten wants to go one step further and get rid of offsides altogether.
      The Dutchman told Sky Sports: “I am still very curious about the offside rule because I am convinced that it is not a good rule.
      “At least I would like to trial it to show that football is also possible without the offside rule. I am convinced that football would be better without it.
      “Football is a fantastic game but I still think that we have to do much more to make it better, more spectacular, more interesting, more exciting. We have to work on that.”
      Van Basten’s ideas would drastically change the way the sport is played but the former AC Milan star has thought it all through.
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      Arsene Wenger also wants to change the offside rule

      He added: “If you do away with the offside line then the defence will drop deeper. They will say that you cannot get behind us because they will be afraid of the opponents getting in behind.
      “But if you go too far back then the 18-yard box is going to become a melee and the goalkeeper will not be able to see anything, so teams will know it is not the solution.
      “As a result, the goalkeeper will want everybody out and that is exactly the point at which it would become so interesting.
      “If the attackers can move behind the defenders there are much more possibilities for goals. It will make the defending more difficult.
      ‘WE TALK ABOUT OFFSIDE DECISIONS A LOT’
      “On the other hand, when you are defending, if there is no offside, you can always have one or two players far away so that when you get the ball you can put it to your forwards in the other half.
      “The attacking team will have to be much more aware than they are now because the field is being made bigger.
      “When the field is made bigger there are much more options for the players in possession and for the trainers to come up with the best way to exploit that.
      “The problem now is that we do have offside and how often are we talking about the offside decisions? A lot.
      “If you do not have offside you have a lot less problems and the teams will still find other solutions to have a good game that will be just as spectacular as it is now but without this bad rule.
      “I am still very interested in it. It would just be nice to test it. I am sure football would find a way to become even more interesting.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Haaland and Odegaard lead Norway stars in powerful human rights message before Gibraltar clash More