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      Premier League cult hero looks unrecognisable hosting Uefa Nations League draw as fans hail ‘blast from the past’

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      FANS were in for a surprise when they saw an unlikely Premier League cult hero appear on stage at the Nations League draw.But some fans would have been forgiven for not recognising the striker initially as he was looking quite different from his playing days in the ’90s.
      The former Premier League striker pulled names out of the hat during the Nations League drawCredit: Getty
      The mystery man played for Southampton between 1999 and 2006 – becoming a cult hero for Saints fans.
      The diminuitive forward had a baby face during his time on the south coast, but now spots a greying quiff and salt and pepper beard.
      At the peak of his powers, he was even known as the Latvian Michael Owen.
      The striker hit 45 goals in 155 games for the Saints, playing in both he Premier League and the Championship for the south coast club.
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      The player in question is, of course, none other than Marian Pahars.
      Fans delighted in seeing Pahars at the Nations League ceremony on X (formerly known as Twitter).
      One wrote: “Marian Pahars at the Nations League draw! Blast from the past.”
      Another added: “Marian Pahars… that’s a blast from the Premiership past.”
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      A third wrote: “#SaintsFC legend Marian Pahars part of the UEFA Nations League draw ceremony,” alongside a prayer hands emoji.
      After leaving the Saints in 2006, Pahars signed for Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta.
      I was crushed after losing 6-1 at Liverpool… then I woke up drunk off my head on a hotel floor and signed for them
      He then returned to Latvian side Skonto, the club where he began his career, before retiring at Riga side Jurmala – who are now extinct.
      Pahars would go on to have a management career – managing Latvia for four years between 2013 and 2017.

      Marian Pahars is a Saints cult legendCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Bizarre Uefa rule that meant England couldn’t draw Kazakhstan in the Nations League as fans say ‘we’ve been robbed’

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      ENGLAND have been “robbed” of drawing Kazakhstan in their Uefa Nations League group, due to a little-known rule.England had already been drawn with Finland and Ireland in group 2, with Kazakhstan the next name to come out of the hat.
      Kazakhstan were the next team out of the hat for Group TwoCredit: UEFA
      But they were drawn in Group Three insteadCredit: UEFA
      But a rule that limits the distance Kazakhstan have to travel in Uefa competitions means they could not be put in a group with England and Ireland.
      Prior to the draw, it was agreed that Kazakhstan could only be drawn in a group with only one of England, Ireland and Wales.
      England were given Greece instead as the third team in B2.
      That saw Kazakhstan put into Group three instead, alongside Austria, Norway and Slovenia.
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      Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) spoke of how they’d been robbed of the opportunity to travel to Kazakhstan.
      One fan wrote: “We’ve been robbed of getting Kazakhstan away. I’m in hysterics.”
      Another fan wrote: “Kazakhstan… The one that got away.”
      A third wrote: “3 new country ticks but its not the Kazakhstan draw I wanted..”
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      While a fourth travelling England fan said: “Sadly no Kazakhstan away for us.”
      As replacements go, Greece isn’t a bad replacement, however.
      How does Gareth Southgate solve Phil Foden dilemma, with Jack Grealish possibly missing out on Euro 2024
      Fans will be travelling to Athens, where the team play in the Olympic Stadium.
      England have played Kazakhstan twice before in their history after being drawn in the same qualification group as them for the 2010 World Cup.
      England won the fixture at Wembley 5-1 in 2008 before thrashing them 4-0 in the away tie. More

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      England set for tasty grudge clash against Ireland as draw made for Uefa Nations League B

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      ENGLAND will face Finland, the Republic of Ireland, and Greece in the Uefa Nations League.The Three Lions were relegated to League B after failing to win a single match in a group containing Germany, Italy and Hungary.
      England will play Finland, the Republic of Ireland and Greece
      England will compete in League B for the first time
      Wales have been drawn against Iceland, Montenegro, and Turkey
      Gareth Southgate will be aiming for promotion back to the top tier – League A – should he remain as manager beyond Euro 2024.
      And he will fancy his chances after the draw, although a grudge clash with Ireland could prove difficult.
      The Three Lions have only beaten Ireland once in their previous seven encounters, though six of those matches ended in a draw.
      While England have not faced Finland since a World Cup qualifier at Anfield in 2001, which Sven Goran Eriksson’s side won thanks to goals from Michael Owen and David Beckham.
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      England played Greece in the same campaign and will come up against Gus Poyet’s team again, with the Nations League kicking off in September.
      But that is only because Kazakstan, who were initially drawn out of the hat to play England, cannot face the Three Lions due to a rule that limits the distance Kazakhstan have to travel in Uefa competitions.
      England were in Pot 1 for League B along with Wales, Austria and the Czech Republic.
      England have mixed success in the Nations League having experienced relegation last time out.
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      However they did reach the semi-final in the first edition of the tournament in 2019, losing to the Netherlands.
      The Nations League kicks off in September
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      Scotland will compete in League A – the top tier – for the first time
      Gareth Southgate could quit as England manager before the Nations League gets underwayCredit: AP
      Scotland take England’s place in League A after winning promotion from a group containing Ukraine, Armenia and the Republic of Ireland.
      They are the highest-ranked home nation in the competition and have been drawn against Croatia, Portugal and Poland.
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      Uefa Nations League draw LIVE: Latest updates as England await League B fate – FREE stream, start time

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      ENGLAND are back in Nations League action later this year – and today they’ll find out their League B opponents. The Three Lions were relegated from League A last time out and won’t be able to win this year’s tournament.
      Gareth Southgate’s side, however, did win promotion back to the top league, and may even face a match-up against Erling Haaland’s Norway.

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      Follow all the latest from Paris with our live blog below…
      Nations League draw
      Welcome to SunSport’s live blog coverage of the Nations League draw.
      Tonight we find out who England will face in the upcoming competition ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
      The Three Lions were relegated to League B after a hapless campaign in the latest edition of the competition.
      Gareth Southgate’s side will be hoping to put together a stronger performance to guarantee at least a play-off space ahead of the next World Cup.

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      Nations League draw simulated with England landing group with one of world’s best players

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      THURSDAY’s Nations League draw has been simulated by SunSport.And England’s defence will be on high alert after potentially landing a date with Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland.
      SunSport simulated England’s Nations League drawCredit: AP
      The simulation paired Erling Haaland’s Norway with Man City pal John StonesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions will compete in League B after being relegated from League A.
      England find themselves in Pot 1 along with Austria, Wales and the Czech Republic.
      And fans are braced to discover which teams from Pot 2, Pot 3 and Pot 4 they will be put alongside.
      But SunSport has simulated the draw a day in advance to discover what England’s group could end up looking like.
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      And it’s bad news for Kyle Walker and John Stones, who were paired with lethal Man City team-mate Haaland.
      Norway were the team that came out of Pot 2 in the simulation, leaving Finland, Ukraine and Iceland behind.
      The Scandinavian side will look to Haaland for inspiration in the Nations League, with the hitman netting 27 goals in just 29 appearances for his country.
      Norway also boast other stars like Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer and coveted Benfica midfielder Fredrik Aursnes.
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      And England will be desperately hoping to avoid Norway when push comes to shove in tomorrow’s official draw.
      Elsewhere in SunSport’s simulation, Albania came out of Pot 3 to join England and Norway.
      Does Gareth Southgate have to win EURO 2024 to be a GREAT England manager?

      Their star player is Chelsea striker Armando Broja, currently on loan at Fulham.
      But like Norway, they also boast some good names in Lazio defender Elseid Hysaj, Inter Milan midfielder Kristjan Allsani and Brentford goalkeeper Tomas Strakosha.
      And Albania’s entry left Slovenia, Montenegro and the Republic of Ireland in Pot 3.
      As for the final Pot 4, our simulation saw Greece emerge ahead of Turkey, Georgia and Kazakhstan.
      Should England actually land them in tomorrow’s draw, Greece will certainly be no walkovers.
      Nottingham Forest goalie Odysseas Vlachodimos, Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas and West Ham defender Dinos Mavropanos are all key players.
      And England fans will be hoping for a more forgiving group when tomorrow’s official draw takes place in Paris from 5pm.
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      Elsewhere, Wales’ simulated draw saw them land Ukraine, Montenegro and Turkey.
      As for the Republic of Ireland, they got Czechia, Finland and Georgia.
      All you need to know about Thursday’s drawEngland are in League B, and will be drawn against three other teams from each Pot.

      Pot 1: Austria, Czechia, England, Wales
      Pot 2: Finland, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway
      Pot 3: Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro
      Pot 4: Georgia, Greece, Türkiye, Kazakhstan

      When is the draw?

      The Uefa Nations League draw takes place on Thursday February 8 2024.
      The draw will be held in Paris, France.
      It will get underway from 5pm UK time.

      When is the Nations League?

      Matchday 1: 5-7 September 2024
      Matchday 2: 8-10 September 2024
      Matchday 3: 10-12 October 2024
      Matchday 4: 13-15 October 2024
      Matchday 5: 14-16 November 2024
      Matchday 6: 17-19 November 2024

      Knockout round play-off draw: November 2024
      Knockout round play-offs: 20-25 March 2025
      League A quarter-finals: 20-25 March 2025
      Final tournament: 4-8 June 2025

      What channel is the Nations League?

      England games at the Uefa Nations League will be shown live on Channel 4 in the UK.
      You can live stream the action for FREE from the All 4 app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      The rest of the games are available to watch on Viaplay in the UK. More

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      When is Uefa Nations League 2024/25? Draw, schedule, TV channel, kick-off times for international tournament

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      ENGLAND have yet to win a Uefa Nations League tournament, and they won’t be able to do it this time around either. The Three Lions were unceremoniously dumped out at the group stage last time out after a 4-0 thrashing at home to Hungary.
      Gareth Southgate will want to see more from his side should he remain manager beyond Euro 2024Credit: Getty
      England ended their campaign with a 3-3 draw against Germany.
      Gareth Southgate’s side have yet to reach further than the semi-final stage, which they reached in the 2019, losing 3-1 to Holland.
      Now they’ll be hoping they can advance from League B, where they could come up against Erling Haaland’s Norway.
      When is the draw?

      The Uefa Nations League draw takes place on Thursday February 8 2024.
      The draw will be held in Paris, France.
      It will get underway from 5pm UK time.

      Who could England play?
      England are in League B, and will be drawn against three other teams from each Pot.

      Pot 1: Austria, Czechia, England, Wales
      Pot 2: Finland, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway
      Pot 3: Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro
      Pot 4: Georgia, Greece, Türkiye, Kazakhstan

      When is the Uefa Nations League?

      Matchday 1: 5-7 September 2024
      Matchday 2: 8-10 September 2024
      Matchday 3: 10-12 October 2024
      Matchday 4: 13-15 October 2024
      Matchday 5: 14-16 November 2024
      Matchday 6: 17-19 November 2024

      Knockout round play-off draw: November 2024
      Knockout round play-offs: 20-25 March 2025
      League A quarter-finals: 20-25 March 2025
      Final tournament: 4-8 June 2025

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      What channel is the UEFA Nations League?

      England games at the Uefa Nations League will be shown live on Channel 4 in the UK.
      You can live stream the action for FREE from the All 4 app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      The rest of the games are available to watch on Viaplay in the UK. More

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      Next England manager could start with clash against Haaland and huge derby as Three Lions learn Nations League fate

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      ENGLAND’S status as Nations League also-rans will become clear when the draw for the next version of the competition takes place in Paris on Thursday.Gareth Southgate’s side were embarrassingly relegated to League B after failing to win a single game in their 2022 group with Germany, Italy and Hungary.
      Gareth Southgate may not be England manager after the EurosCredit: AP
      The Three Lions could face Norway after the Nations League drawCredit: Reuters
      Southgate and his side looked drained at the end of a long campaign as they were battered 4-0 by the Hungarians at Molineux.
      Even a 3-3 Wembley draw with Germany in September, in their final game before the Qatar World Cup, could not improve a dire situation.
      And it means England WILL pay a 2026 World Cup seeding price even if they romp through their campaign in the autumn.
      Despite going down, England – and Wales – are top seeds in the B section of the draw.
      READ MORE ENGLAND NEWS
      Their hardest potential opponents would be Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard’s Norway, although other possible rivals from that section are Finland, Ukraine and Iceland.
      The Three Lions will also take on one of Euro 2024 group opponents Slovenia, Republic of Ireland – which would be an interesting experience for Declan Rice and Jack Grealish – Albania or Montenegro.
      And the group opponents will be completed by one from Georgia, Greece, Turkey or Kazakhstan – which would mean a seven-hour flight to one of Europe’s most easterly outposts.
      England will be firm favourites to win the group and gain promotion back to the top tier – which next season will include Scotland.
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      But it means Southgate’s side cannot be one of the 12 top seeds for the 2026 qualifying campaign – and risk facing the likes of France, Germany, Spain or Italy to earn a direct berth without the nervousness of a play-off.
      Europe has 16 places at the expanded World Cup, with the 12 group winners qualifying by right and the runners up joining the four remaining best Nations League performers in a series of one-off shoot-outs for the last four places in March 2026.
      Does Gareth Southgate have to win EURO 2024 to be a GREAT England manager?
      Those seeding slots for the draw, due to take place in December, will be directly given to the top three teams in each of the four A League divisions.
      Meanwhile, Southgate will be preparing for England’s final games before Euro 2024.
      The Three Lions will face Bosnia at St James’ Park on June 3 before playing against Iceland on June 7.
      England face Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener in Gelsenkirchen before clashes against Denmark and Slovenia.
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      England face possible 2026 World Cup nightmare scenario after Nations League debacle comes back to haunt Three Lions

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      ENGLAND’S Nations League debacle in 2022 could prove a major hurdle on the road to the next World Cup.The expansion to 48 teams for the finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada means 16 European places will be available, up from 13 in Qatar.
      England could be in for a tough World Cup qualifying campaignCredit: Getty
      But England’s relegation to League B of the Nations League after a campaign which saw them winless in six matches — including a 4-0 loss to Hungary at Molineux — will have repercussions.
      Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions will discover their opponents when the Nations League draw takes place next month.
      Uefa, though, has already determined that World Cup group rankings will be on the basis of Nations League performances only.
      This means the 12 top seeds will come from League A.
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      So England, who will be in one of the five-team qualifying groups if they win their League B division, cannot be seeded even if they win every match.
      With only the group winners certain of a finals place, potential opponents include Italy, France, Spain, Holland, Portugal or Belgium.
      Finishing second would pitch England into a sudden death play-off series in March 2026, with 16 teams competing for four slots.
      Maybe that will persuade the England players to take the Nations League more seriously when it kicks off in September.
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      BECKS’ APPEAL
      DAVID BECKHAM has snaffled Andy Murray’s long-term manager — in what seems a further signal the three-time Grand Slam champion might be ready to wind down his career.
      Matt Gentry, who worked with Murray since 2008, is joining Authentic Brands Group to cover Beckham’s commercial business.
      Murray, 36, remains on the books of sports management giant IMG.
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      THE drawn-out 13-month process that finally led to Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking control at Manchester United does not appear to have shaken the confidence in the Old Trafford dealmakers.
      US-based Raine Group conducted the sale process on behalf of the Glazer family after taking the same role when Russian Roman Abramovich was forced to relinquish control of Chelsea in 2022.
      Despite considerable criticism from bidders and United fans, Raine have now been appointed by Monaco owner, Russian billionaire oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, to “work on a total or partial sale project” for the Ligue 1 club he has run since 2011.
      Another big slice of a football deal heading to Raine chief Joe Ravitch, then.
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