UEFA Nations League

ENGLAND could face Kazakhstan, Montenegro and Albania in the next edition of the Nations League.The Three Lions were RELEGATED from the top tier on Friday night as they were downed 1-0 at the hands of Italy in Milan.
England could face Kazakhstan, Montenegro and Albania in Nations League BCredit: Getty
Iceland – who famously knocked the Three Lions out of Euro 2016 – could also be a potential opponent in next season’s tournamentCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Gareth Southgate’s side are without a win or a goal in open play in five matches.
And there is only one game – Germany at Wembley on Monday – before this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
The demotion to Nations League B in 2024/25 will see our nation’s sweethearts face a host of lesser teams.
As things stand, England are in the same pot as Wales, Czech Republic and Austria.
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And could face a selection of lower-seeded Montenegro, Finland, Albania, Kazakhstan or Georgia.
Waiting in Pot 2 would also be rivals Iceland – the guilty party in one of the lowest moments in Three Lions history.
A reunion of the humiliating Euro 2016 defeat in the Nations League could be a potential clash.
As things stand, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia, Ireland, Serbia, Ukraine would be in the mix as well.
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Southgate’s boys stank out the San Siro and were beaten by Giacomo Raspadori’s curled second-half finish. 
On the basis of this campaign, nobody should be complacent about England progressing from a World Cup group which features Iran, USA and Wales.
Harry Kane will lead the team out in the side’s opener against Iran on November 21.
Captain Kane says that a morale-boosting win in front of a packed home crowd on Monday night against Germany will send the Three Lions off to Qatar with their confidence sky high.
He said: “We’re not panicking. Of course, I understand the frustration of the fans.
“I was an England fan and still am an England fan whether I’m playing or not. I understand it.
“But ultimately we are going to be judged on what happens come November.
“If we have a successful tournament I’m not sure people will be worried about the spell we had over the summer — and that’s the bottom line.
“We know results haven’t been what we wanted.
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“As a group, we know what we’re about and we will fight through this tough period.
“A full house at Wembley against Germany will be great World Cup preparation.” More

FANS have joked Cristiano Ronaldo gave away a penalty for handball in Portugal’s 4-0 win against Czech Republic to “protect his nose” following his sickening collision.The Manchester United striker was left a bloody mess after being clattered by goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik during the Nations League clash on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave away a penalty for handball in Portugal’s 4-0 win over Czech RepublicCredit: Getty
Ronaldo suffered a sickening collision with goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik to leave him a bloody mess

Ronaldo went up to challenge for the ball in the 12th minute at the Sinobo Stadium in Prague as Vaclik went to claim it.
It resulted in Vaclik’s arms smashing into the 37-year-old’s face, which left him sprawled across the floor as medics rushed to his aid.
He was eventually able to return to the pitch after Portugal’s physios managed to stem the flow of blood.
With Portugal leading 2-0, Ronaldo then gifted Czech Republic the perfect chance to get back into the match after he conceded a penalty for a handball when he looked as though he was going to head it clear.
Ronaldo failed to get on the score sheet in the Nations League victory in PragueCredit: Getty
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But Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick blazed his spot-kick high over the bar in first half added time.
His miss proved costly as Portugal scored twice in the second period to go top of Group A2.
Social media was quick to comment on Ronaldo’s handball, as they stated he was simply protecting himself from any further facial injuries.
One Twitter user said: “Honestly can’t blame Ronaldo for that handball. Man was just protecting his nose.”
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Another commented: “Ronaldo was just protecting his busted nose.”
A third added: “They think a man playing after this would head the ball clear instead of protecting his nose as a reflex action.”
This fan then quipped: “Its not a pen. He’s protecting his Nose.”
Meanwhile this user messaged: “Understandable handball from Ronaldo, he was protecting his face.”
Another stated: “I get Ronaldo’s thinking cuz (sic) of the injury but that’s handball.”
Red Devils forward Ronaldo has struggled for form this season, having scored just once in eight games in all competitions for United. More

A DOWNCAST Gareth Southgate took England training on Sunday as the Three Lions prepare to take on Germany.England welcome the Germans to Wembley on Monday for their final Nations League match after suffering relegation following defeat to Italy.
Gareth Southgate looked downbeat as he took England trainingCredit: Reuters
Harry Kane was all smiles as he stretched with John Stones and Kyle WalkerCredit: Reuters
Bukayo Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold looked glum following England’s relegationCredit: Reuters
Southgate is confident he is the man to turn around the Three Lions’ fortunesCredit: Reuters
And Southgate will be desperate to get things back on track with the Qatar World Cup looming.
England are on their worst run of form since 2014 – five games without win – and have not scored a goal from open play in 450 minutes.
Harry Kane was the last player to score for England, a penalty against Germany in June, and the skipper appeared to be in good spirits in training despite his side’s goal trouble.
The striker was spotted sharing a joke with Manchester City pair Kyle Walker and John Stones as the trio went through their stretches.
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Bukayo Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold looked a little more glum however despite the Arsenal star winning England’s player of the year.
The winger could be crucial to ending the Three Lions open play goal drought which dates back to November 2021.
Germany is the last team England face before the World Cup and they will be desperate to avoid a run of six games without a win.
The last time they managed that was June 1993 – on that occasion they also lost to Germany to stretch the run to seven games.
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Southgate knows the pressure is on but he is confident he will find the answers.
He said: “I think I’m the right person to take the team into the tournament.
“I think it’s more stable that way, without a doubt.”
But some England fans disagree, with a SunSport poll finding 83 per cent of fans want Southgate out before the World Cup.
Some fans have also called for Thomas Tuchel to be appointed as his replacement following his sacking by Chelsea earlier this month.
But it is actually his replacement at Stamford Bridge Graham Potter who is the bookies’ favourite to take over from Southgate.
Eddie Howe, Mauricio Pochettino and Steve Cooper are also amongst the front runners to succeed Southgate should he be fired.
But Kane has faith the team will come good and called on the supporters to back England once again ahead of the World Cup.
He said: “We’re not panicking. Of course, I understand the frustration of the fans.
“But ultimately we are going to be judged on what happens come November.
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“If we have a successful tournament I’m not sure people will be worried about the spell we had over the summer — and that’s the bottom line.
“As a group, we know what we’re about and we will fight through this tough period. More

ENGLAND only have three problems ahead of the World Cup: the defence, the midfield, and the attack.It’s an old joke borrowed from another sport, but Gareth Southgate isn’t laughing as he surveys a side unrecognisable from the Three Lions that achieved so much at the last two major tournaments.
England suffered defeat in their Nations League clash with Italy on Friday nightCredit: Reuters
Giacomo Raspadori put the Three Lions to th sword with a incisive finishCredit: Getty
Gareth Southgate has major headaches ahead of the World CupCredit: Reuters
England have gone from being one of the most prolific teams in Europe to failing to score from open play in five consecutive games.
One goal always looked likely to be enough to beat an England team short on ideas and intensity.
And so it proved as Giacomo Raspadori gave Italy a deserved win on Friday night in Milan.
Southgate said: “We’ve got to be decisive in the final third and we’re not managing that at the moment.
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“That’s a bit of a head scratcher given the quality of the players and the positions they got themselves into.”
But scratching that itch successfully is what Southgate is paid to do.
Why does Raheem Sterling, to take the most high-profile example, look like a pale imitation of the player he is at club level and has long been for England?
Captain Harry Kane seemed set to beat Wayne Rooney’s 53-goal all-time scoring record in time for the World Cup.
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Now you have to wonder whether England will play enough games in Qatar for him to score the four Kane needs to surpass that personal milestone, let alone lead the team to a historic triumph.
Kane said: “When you get to major tournaments, it’s about being clinical, taking one chance when you get it.
“These last four or five games we haven’t done that.
“We’re just not quite, especially from an attacking front, doing the business at the moment.
“It’s disappointing, for sure, but I’m a confident guy. I know the strikers and attacking players here are confident players.”
The problem is, England don’t look confident.
And they have just one more game to sort that out — a Nations League dead rubber against Germany at Wembley tomorrow.
It feels like a lot of the intensity and belief has gone out of Southgate’s England, particularly up front.
And as ever with the Three Lions boss, there is debate about how to balance defensive strength with attacking threat.
Tournament success was built on a strong defence which has crumbled as players like Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell lose their places at club level, while others struggle for fitness or form.
Bukayo Saka found himself playing left wing-back in Milan on Friday night, but Southgate doesn’t seem to have many other solutions beyond the trusty back-three comes good again, rather than finding a way to make a back four work.
The England boss said: “I think the defenders that are playing well are playing in back threes.
Gareth Southgate has kept the faith with the underperforming Harry MaguireCredit: GETTY
“Of course if you don’t win matches people will look at everything and we’re always open minded.
“But I think it [three at the back] gives us the best chance, over the next few months, of depth in those positions where, if we get injuries, we’re not changing the system again and starting from scratch.”
The return of Eric Dier was one positive thing to cling to from Friday. The performance of Jude Bellingham was another.
Relying on a teenager with limited big tournament experience is a risk, but Southgate has little choice.
His options in central midfield were already limited before Kalvin Phillips, fans’ player of the year in the season England reached the Euros final, had surgery on a shoulder that makes him no better than 50/50 to go to Qatar.
Southgate said: “We have a slight lack of depth in the middle of midfield, which is a concern – but I think Jude had an excellent game, which is encouraging.”
It is, but not enough to override all the other issues.
Even England’s set-pieces, such a potent weapon at the 2018 World Cup, aren’t working anymore.
So it feels a lot like Southgate’s side have become the football version of the nation’s cricket team in 1986.
It was famously written: They can’t bat, can’t bowl, and can’t field.
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What happened? Mike Gatting’s side went on to win the Ashes in Australia.
So maybe, just maybe, it will be alright on the night in Qatar.
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IT WAS strange that Gareth Southgate even felt the need to say it.But in the aftermath of a miserable defeat in Italy which confirmed his side’s Nations League relegation, the England boss volunteered the opinion that he is the right man to lead the Three Lions into the World Cup in Qatar.
Gareth Southgate is adamant he remains the right man to lead EnglandCredit: Getty
The Three Lions boss was booed by fans after the dismal defeat in ItalyCredit: Rex
Nobody had even suggested Southgate might quit or be sacked less than two months before the World Cup.
Even the thousands of England supporters who booed him in Milan, and after that 4-0 thumping by Hungary at Molineux in June, aren’t seriously demanding a change of management this close to the tournament – especially when there are no obvious English successors.
But Southgate said: “I think I’m the right person to take the team into the tournament.
“I think it’s more stable that way, without  a doubt.”
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It now feels as though Southgate is at the beginning of the end of his six-year reign. He will head to Frankfurt in a fortnight to attend the draw for the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
But despite his £6million-a-year contract running until that tournament in Germany, it is difficult to imagine him remaining in charge when that qualifying campaign kicks off in March.
After England completed a sequence of five matches without a win — nor a single goal from open play — Southgate sounded like a man in denial.
His claim that his team’s performance in Friday’s 1-0 defeat was ‘a step in the right direction’ was an insult to the intelligence of anyone who watched it — especially the 4,300 paying punters up in the Gods at the San Siro.
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Southgate has made plenty of mentions of how previous England managers have suffered widespread criticism from supporters and the media. But in truth, he hasn’t received nearly as much stick as most predecessors.
He is England’s most successful boss since Sir Alf Ramsey, having led the side to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of last year’s Euros.
And despite long-term criticism of his over-cautious approach, supporters have only truly turned on him since the debacle against Hungary — which was England’s heaviest home defeat for nearly a century.
When you consider that Bobby Robson was on the receiving end of ‘In the Name of God, Go!’ headlines, that Graham Taylor was consigned to the vegetable patch and caricatured as a turnip, and that Kevin Keegan quit in a Wembley toilet, Southgate has not had it so bad.
Yet it seems the nation has grown bored of him and that Southgate may be growing tired of the job.
The 52-year-old has not managed a club for 13 years now and is keen to do so.
Walter Winterbottom is the only England manager to have ever taken the side to four major  tournament finals and this will be Southgate’s third. This job, which was never quite the ‘impossible job’, does carry a shelf-life, and the current boss is reaching his.
Not that the FA have any obvious successor to call on now that Graham Potter has hitched up with Chelsea.
Southgate became a national treasure and a style icon in Russia four years ago, a status which he always felt embarrassed about.
And he is adamant that he is not bothered by either personal popularity or antipathy.

Southgate said: “I’ve seen every other England manager have it (unpopularity). So I wasn’t and never have been carried away by praise. I know how the game is and it turns so quickly and you’re judged by results.
“Nobody is going to enjoy being booed by the supporters but I understand the job.
“Football management, whenever you have a difficult run of results, it’s always going to be the manager who deals with that. I’ve got to get on with it.”
Southgate is a results-driven manager who is no longer getting results.
His side have always been over-reliant on the goals of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, while their potency from set-pieces has evaporated. But suggestions that the manager is wasting a new ‘golden generation’ are wide of the mark.
England are short of talent in central defence, central midfield and at left-back.
The manager believes, correctly, that England are not good enough to be successful by playing gung-ho football and he is going back to a 3-4-3 formation, which is always met with accusations of over-caution.
Yet we can only hope that his delusional talk of promising performances are not repeated in the dressing room, where some home truths need to be told if England are to avoid an early exit in Qatar.
Southgate claimed: “I don’t think the performance against Italy was far off.
“I know that’s going to get derision because we’re on the back of a run of defeats but the players know in the main the performance was good.
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“I’ll ultimately be judged on the tournament and how we do in the tournaments.
“Would we have preferred a different run of results? Without a doubt. We’d like to be scoring goals freely, we’d like to be winning, but this is a different test and we’ve got to show we’re resilient enough to deal with that.” More