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    Nations League draw LIVE: Stream FREE, TV channel as England, Wales, Scotland learn their fate – latest updates

    THE NATIONS League draw is here – and Gareth Southgate’s England will find out their opponents.France are looking to retain their title after becoming champions earlier this year with comeback wins over Belgium and Spain.
    In the coming competition, England may even find themselves playing Wales in a Battle of Britain.
    The Welsh finished top of a group containing Finland, Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria to earn promotion to League A, and the opportunity to reach the finals.

    Start time: 5pm GMT
    TV/ live stream: Uefa.com

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    Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
    NATIONS LEAGUE DRAW
    Hello, and welcome to TONIGHT’S Uefa Nations League draw!
    But how does it work?
    The Nations League will be divided into four different leagues, based on performance in the previous competition.
    League A, B and C will comprise four groups of four teams, while League D will comprise a group of four and a group of three.
    England will be in Pot 3 of League A, following their disappointing third placed finish in the group stage of the previous tournament.
    As a newly promoted side, Wales will be in Pot 4.
    Load more entries… More

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    Uefa Nations League draw: UK start time TODAY, TV channel and live stream – England could face Wales in League A

    ENGLAND are ready to have another crack at winning the Uefa Nations League after coming close in 2019.The Three Lions were beaten by the Netherlands in the semi-final that year, before a horror campaign in 2020-21.
    Harry Kane will look to lead England to a first official trophy since 1966Credit: Reuters
    Gareth Bale is set to pit his wits against the best in EuropeCredit: PA
    France are looking to retain their title after becoming champions earlier this year with comeback wins over Belgium and Spain.
    In the coming competition, England may even find themselves playing Wales in a Battle of Britain.
    The Welsh finished top of a group containing Finland, Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria to earn promotion to League A, and the opportunity to reach the finals.
    What time is the Uefa Nations League draw?

    The Uefa Nations League draw takes place on Thursday, December 16 – TODAY.
    It commences at 5pm UK time at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

    What TV channel is the Uefa Nations League draw on and can I live stream it free?

    The Uefa Nations League draw is not on UK television.
    However, you can watch the full draw as it happens for FREE on the Uefa website.

    How does the Uefa Nations League draw work?
    The Uefa Nations League will be divided into four different leagues, based on performance in the previous competition.
    League A, B and C will comprise four groups of four teams, while League D will comprise a group of four and a group of three.
    England will be in Pot 3 of League A, following their disappointing third placed finish in the group stage of the previous tournament.
    As a newly promoted side, Wales will be in Pot 4.
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    What are the seedings?
    League A
    Pot 1

    France
    Spain
    Italy
    Belgium

    Pot 2

    Portugal
    Netherlands
    Denmark
    Germany

    Pot 3

    ENGLAND
    Poland
    Switzerland
    Croatia

    Pot 4

    WALES
    Austria
    Czech Republic
    Hungary

    League B
    Pot 1

    Ukraine
    Sweden
    Bosnia & Herzegovina
    Iceland

    Pot 2

    Finland
    Norway
    SCOTLAND
    Russia

    Pot 3

    Israel
    Romania
    Serbia
    Republic of Ireland

    Pot 4

    Slovenia
    Montenegro
    Albania
    Armenia

    League C
    Pot 1

    Turkey
    Slovakia
    Bulgaria
    NORTHERN IRELAND

    Pot 2

    Greece
    Belarus
    Luxembourg
    North Macedonia

    Pot 3

    Lithuania
    Georgia
    Azerbaijan
    Kosovo

    Pot 4

    Kazakhstan or Moldova*
    Cyprus or Estonia*
    Gibraltar
    Faroe Islands

    *To play two-legged play-offs in March, losing team to be relegated to League D
    League D
    Pot 1

    Kazakhstan or Moldova*
    Cyprus or Estonia*
    Liechtenstein
    Malta

    Pot 2

    Latvia
    San Marino
    Andorra More

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    Van der Vaart tells Courtois to stop ‘silly’ moaning about schedule and goalkeeper is just ‘standing there a bit’

    THIBAUT COURTOIS has been told to stop ‘whining’ about the number of games on the calendar for top-level football. Former Holland ace Rafael van der Vaart gave the Belgium goalkeeper a ticking off after he slated the need for a Nations League third-place play-off. 
    Thibaut Courtois reckons players are competing for ‘nothing’ in Uefa Nations League third-place play-offsCredit: Rex
    The Real Madrid stopper, 29, accused Europe’s top football authority of putting profit before players’ wellbeing. 
    However, Van der Vaart, who has 109 Holland caps, dismissed the former Chelsea star’s argument.
    Appearing on Dutch sports show Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, the former Tottenham playmaker, 38, said: “I think it’s silly. 
    “You have six months of vacation. You only play football, a club pays you a lot of money, of course, the match schedule is very busy, but we have all been through that. 
    “Competitions are the most fun there is. They are whining.”
    Courtois refused to back down in the lead-up to the clash for the Nations League’s third spot in which Belgium were beaten 2-1 by Italy. 

    And the Bernabeu star, who played 14 international games from 2020 to 2021, said players were being treated like ‘robots’ within the current set-up. 
    Courtois, who 61 times last season, told Sky Sports: “Next year we have a World Cup in November, we have to play until the latter stages of June again. 
    “We will get injured. Nobody cares about the players anymore. If we never say anything it will be always the same.
    “In the end, top players will get injured and injured and injured. We are not robots.
    “It’s just more and more games and less rest for us. 
    “This game is just a money game and we have to be honest about it. We just play it because for Uefa it’s extra money.”
    And the Madrid keeper told Belgian publication Nieuwsblad: “We are playing for nothing. 
    “To arrive third or fourth in the Nations League is not interesting for anyone.”
    Courtois is among the sports figures who have criticised new Uefa contests such as the Nations League and Europa Conference and Fifa’s unpopular proposals for two-yearly World Cup and Euros tournaments. 
    Rafael van der Vaart believes it is ‘silly’ to criticise competing in Uefa National League play-off gamesCredit: Getty
    And his views on the necessity of a Nations League third-place play-off have been echoed by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher who describe the match as ‘an absolute waste of time’. 
    However, Van der Vaart gave Courtois’ comments concern the risk of player injury and fatigue short shrift. 
    And the former Spurs forward claimed goalkeepers have little reason to highlight tiredness with the Dutchman suggesting their performance involves ‘just standing there a bit’. 

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    Thibaut Courtois shows off his expertise in goal at Real Madrid training More

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    Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi in line for France debut at Nations League finals with ex-Chelsea ace Olivier Giroud OUT

    ARSENAL loanee Matteo Guendouzi looks set to make his France debut after being picked for their Nations League final four squad.But former Gunner Olivier Giroud has been axed by Didier Deschamps.
    Matteo Guendouzi is in line for his first ever France capCredit: Getty – Contributor
    But there’s no room in the squad for AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud who has been left outCredit: Sportphoto24/Marco Canoniero
    Les Bleus head to Italy next week along with the hosts, Spain and Belgium.
    But they will travel without AC Milan striker Giroud, 35, who is his country’s all-time top scorer.
    It’s the second time the former Arsenal and Chelsea man has been overlooked having been left out for France’s World Cup qualifiers last month.
    France face Belgium in Thursday’s semi-final at Juventus’ stadium.
    Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard are back in the squad along with their Bayern Munich team-mate Dayot Upamecano.
    Guendouzi has been called up as Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante is out after testing positive for Covid.
    France’s full squadThis is the 23-man squad France boss Didier Deschamps has picked for this month’s Nations League final four tournament in Italy…

    Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Benoit Costil (Girondins de Bordeaux).
    Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Leo Dubois (Olympique Lyonnais), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St Germain), Jules Kounde (Sevilla), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Manchester United).
    Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Olympique de Marseille), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco), Jordan Veretout (Roma).
    Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain).

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    Deschamps said: “There’s a 10-day isolation period so he would not have been able to train and he was also just out of an injury layoff.
    “It’s best for him that he uses that period to recover his physical freshness.”
    Guendouzi joined Marseille on loan from Arsenal this summer but the bad boy is reportedly already falling out with his new team-mates.
    The 22-year-old is reported to have clashed with a number of players in the squad, according to L’Equipe.
    He made a bright start for his new side, scoring once and providing an assist in his first three games.
    But now Marseille have won just one out of their last four, much to the annoyance of the Arsenal loanee.
    In the 3-2 home defeat to Lens at the weekend, L’Equipe claim Guendouzi asked team-mate Gerson ‘when he was going to start running,’ which didn’t go down well.

    ‘FALLS TO HIS KNEES AND SHOUTS TO THE SKY’
    Gerson had to be held back by team-mates as Guendouzi walked away, with captain Dimitri Payet stepping in to try and calm him down.
    The incident came after Lens’ second goal, with Guendouzi running up to the Brazilian before confronting him and allegedly accusing him of not running.
    And French talk show Le Phoceen also report disharmony in the Marseille camp.
    They claim Guendouzi has been highly critical of his team-mates, and also incredibly dramatic.
    He’s even alleged to fall to his knees and shout at the sky when somebody takes a bad first touch.
    The Frenchman is also reported to moan at and blame others when things don’t go according to plan.
    Guendouzi played 82 times during his time at Arsenal, but had a reputation at the club as being someone who was difficult to manage.
    There was a bust-up with club manager Mikel Arteta, and he was frozen out of the club after taunting Brighton players about earning more money then them in 2020.
    ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
    The midfielder was also filmed in the same game grabbing Brighton match-winner Neal Maupay around the throat and hurling him to the ground.
    Guendouzi was subsequently sent out on loan to Hertha Berlin last season, and then moved on to Marseille for this campaign.
    The Ligue 1 side have the obligation to make the loan move permanent for £9.4million at the end of the season.

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    Why do England fans sing ‘it’s coming home’, what does it mean, what are the lyrics?

    ENGLAND fans are truly beginning to believe that football is coming home after their Euro 2020 semi-final win vs Denmark.Those three words are constantly sung aloud every time the Three Lions close in on lifting a trophy – but what does it mean and where does the phrase come from? Here’s the lowdown…
    The song is favourite of England supporters in stadiums around the worldCredit: PA: Press Association
    What does ‘Football’s coming home’ mean?
    Football’s coming home, or simply it’s coming home, refers to the chorus of iconic England song Three Lions by rock band The Lightning Seeds and comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner.
    The legendary chorus originally referred to the fact that when the song was released, England was hosting its first major football tournament for thirty years.
    However, since then the phrase has evolved to refer to football’s most famous trophy, The World Cup, returning to England, where football was invented.
    As tentative hope steadily built for Gareth Southgate’s Young Lions, the phrase football’s coming home has also now become a very popular internet meme.
    The song was originally released ahead of England’s 1996 Euro campaign but has recently made a comebackCredit: REUTERS
    When was Three Lions released by Baddiel and Skinner and The Lightning Seeds?
    In 1996 The Football Association commissioned The Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie to write an England song for the upcoming Euro ’96 football tournament.
    The singer agreed on the condition that comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, who at the time presented the late-night television show Fantasy Football League, took part.
    Three Lions went on to become a legendary football song and hit the No. 1 spot in the UK Singles Chart in May 1996.
    Although the song returned to top the iTunes music chart, co-writer David Baddiel ruled out any plans to re-make the resurgent football anthem.

    What’s the song about?
    The anthem is now seen as representing England fans defiant sense of optimism against the painful reality of the Three Lions’s past failures at major tournaments.
    However, as England edge ever closer to glory, the song is also sung to show fans believe that this side can, in fact, win the World Cup.
    Although the anthem has been echoing around the country for weeks, some fans have been caught chanting the wrong words.
    What are the lyrics?
    It’s coming homeIt’s coming homeIt’s comingFootball’s coming home  (x3)

    Everyone seems to know the scoreThey’ve seen it all beforeThey just knowThey’re so sureThat England’s gonna throw it awayGonna blow it awayBut I know they can play’Cause I rememberThree Lions on a shirtJules Rimet still gleamingThirty years of hurtNever stopped me dreamingSo many jokes, so many sneersBut all those oh-so-nearsWear you downThrough the yearsBut I still see that tackle by MooreAnd when Linekar scoredBobby belting the ballAnd Nobby Dancing…

    Three Lions on a shirtJules Rimet still gleamingThirty years of hurtNever stopped me dreaming(What a save, Gordon Banks!(Good old England, England that couldn’t play football)(England have got it in the bag)I know that was then but it could be again
    It’s coming homeIt’s comingFootball’s coming home (x3)

    Three Lions on a shirt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)Jules Rimet still gleaming (football’s coming home, it’s coming home)Thirty years of hurt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)Never stopped me dreaming (football’s coming home)Three Lions on a shirt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)Jules Rimet still gleaming (football’s coming home, it’s coming home)Thirty years of hurt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)Never stopped me dreaming (football’s coming home)Three Lions on a shirt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)Jules Rimet still gleaming (football’s coming home, it’s coming home)Thirty years of hurt (it’s coming home, it’s coming)Never stopped me dreaming (football’s coming home)Three Lions on a shirt More

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    Wales defender Tom Lockyer in race to be fit for Euro 2020 finals after ankle operation

    TOM LOCKYER faces a major race against time to be fit for Wales at Euro 2020 after an ankle operation.The Luton centre-back, 26, has been ruled out for the rest of the Championship season following the long-standing ankle ligament problem.
    Tom Lockyer may not be fit for Wales at this summer’s Euros after undergoing an ankle operationCredit: Getty
    Lockyer helped Wales reach Euro 2020 by starting the last four qualification games including the crucial 2-0 triumph over HungaryCredit: Getty
    Lockyer was named in Wales’ squad to face Belgium, Mexico and the Czech Republic last month. But the injury forced the 13-cap defender to pull out during the international break.
    Although he was on the bench for Luton at Preston on March 20, he has been battling with the injury since mid-February and has now gone under the knife to solve the issue.
    Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “Tom will miss the rest of the season. Tom’s had to have an operation.
    “It’s a real strange one, but he’s had to go in which is a bit frustrating for me, because he’s going to be out for two months, which only affects a month of the season but he’s had two months out prior to that.”
    Wales are scheduled to open their Euro 2020 campaign against Switzerland in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku on June 12.
    Lockyer started the final four Euro 2020 qualification games under Ryan Giggs as Wales booked their place at this summer’s finals.
    He was first-choice again last September for the first internationals in ten months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    But Lockyer missed the October triple-header with an ankle injury and, while he returned to the Wales fold in November, he only made one appearance against the USA in a friendly.
    Luton’s Lockyer competes for the ball in the Nations League win over Finland last SeptemberCredit: Getty
    Lockyer will be sweating on his place to make the Wales squad after injuryCredit: Getty

    Caretaker boss Robert Page, who is still standing in for the absent Giggs following his arrest on suspicion of assaulting his on-off girlfriend, was in charge then.
    And Page opted for the partnership of Joe Rodon and Chris Mepham against Ireland three days later.
    Then when Wales switched to a back three for the final of three matches in November against Finland, Page drafted in left-footed James Lawrence to provide balance.
    Lockyer hoped to stake his claim for the Euros in March but his latest withdrawal due to injury and the resulting operation leaves him in a major race to be selected for the summer.
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    Cristiano Ronaldo closes in on Ali Daei at the top of international goal scoring charts as latest top 10 revealed

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is just six goals shy of the all-time international scoring record.The Portugal superstar sits on 103 goals for his nation – with only Iran’s Ali Daei ahead of him.

    And the 36-year-old Juventus forward needs just eight more to become the highest international goalscorer of all time.
    Iranian forward Daei bagged 109 in 149 games his country while Ronaldo has taken 173 games to reach his milestone.
    And here SunSport reveals the top ten international goalscorers of all time.
    ALI DAEI – IRAN
    Goals: 109. Caps: 149.
    The striker was most successful on the international stage but also played for Bayern Munich.
    Scored his goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006.
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    Ali Daei is the highest international goalscorer of all time
    CRISTIANO RONALDO – PORTUGAL
    Goals: 103. Caps: 173.
    One of the greatest players of all time and looks set to surpass Daei’s record with ease.
    If he does, the record is likely to stand for years given the lack of modern day stars anywhere near him in the list.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
    Cristiano Ronaldo is just six shy of the all-time recordCredit: AFP
    FERENC PUSKAS – HUNGARY & SPAIN
    Goals: 84. Caps: 89.
    Real Madrid icon was unstoppable for Hungary in the 1950s scoring 84 goals in 85 games.
    He went on to play four times for Spain after gaining Spanish citizenship but failed to score.
    KUNISHIGE KAMAMOTO – JAPAN
    Goals: 80. Caps: 84.
    Kamamoto played for Samurai Blue for 13 years between 1964 and 1977 and scored a staggering 80 goals in 84 games for his country in that time.
    GODFREY CHITALU – ZAMBIA
    Goals: 79. Caps: 108.
    Chitalu is the most prolific African of all time scoring 79 from 108 games.
    He tragically died along with his international team-mates during the 1993 Zambia air disaster.
    HUSSEIN SAEED – IRAQ
    Goals: 78. Caps: 137.
    Nobody has scored more goals for Iraq than Saeed.
    The one club man only turned out for Al-Talaba but featured for his country at the Mexico ’86 World Cup as well as the 1980, 84, and 88 Olympics.
    PELE – BRAZIL
    Goals: 77. Caps: 92.
    Perhaps the best player ever to play football.
    But although impressive, his 77 goals from 92 Brazil caps seems low.
    However, far less internationals were played in Pele’s day which explains it.
    Pele is widely considered the greatest player of all time
    SANDOR KOCSIS – HUNGARY
    Goals: 75. Caps: 68.
    Only player on the list with more goals than caps.
    The ex-Barcelona man played alongside Puskas for Hungary in the 50s and scored his 75 goals in just eight years.

    BASHAR ABDULLAH – KUWAIT
    Goals: 75. Caps: 133.
    The star striker burst onto the scene in the late 90s.
    Spent his entire club career in the middle east and featured at three Asia Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics for his country.
    SUNIL CHHETRI – INDIA
    Goals: 72. Caps: 115.
    No player has scored or played more for India in their football history.
    Chhetri, 36, still plays for the Indian Super League side Bengaluru.
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    Cristiano Ronaldo closes in on Ali Daei at top of international goal scoring charts as latest top 10 revealed

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is just seven goals shy of the all-time international scoring record.The Portugal superstar sits on 102 goals for his nation – with only Iran’s Ali Daei ahead of him.

    And the 36-year-old Juventus forward needs just eight more to become the highest international goalscorer of all time.
    Iranian forward Daei bagged 109 in 149 games his country while Ronaldo has taken 172 games to reach his milestone.
    And here SunSport reveals the top ten international goalscorers of all time.
    ALI DAEI – IRAN
    Goals: 109. Caps: 149.
    The striker was most successful on the international stage but also played for Bayern Munich.
    Scored his goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006.
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    Ali Daei is the highest international goalscorer of all time
    CRISTIANO RONALDO – PORTUGAL
    Goals: 102. Caps: 172.
    One of the greatest players of all time and looks set to surpass Daei’s record with ease.
    If he does, the record is likely to stand for years given the lack of modern day stars anywhere near him in the list.
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    Cristiano Ronaldo is just seven shy of the all-time recordCredit: AFP
    FERENC PUSKAS – HUNGARY & SPAIN
    Goals: 84. Caps: 89.
    Real Madrid icon was unstoppable for Hungary in the 1950s scoring 84 goals in 85 games.
    He went on to play four times for Spain after gaining Spanish citizenship but failed to score.
    KUNISHIGE KAMAMOTO – JAPAN
    Goals: 80. Caps: 84.
    Kamamoto played for Samurai Blue for 13 years between 1964 and 1977 and scored a staggering 80 goals in 84 games for his country in that time.
    GODFREY CHITALU – ZAMBIA
    Goals: 79. Caps: 108.
    Chitalu is the most prolific African of all time scoring 79 from 108 games.
    He tragically died along with his international team-mates during the 1993 Zambia air disaster.
    HUSSEIN SAEED – IRAQ
    Goals: 78. Caps: 137.
    Nobody has scored more goals for Iraq than Saeed.
    The one club man only turned out for Al-Talaba but featured for his country at the Mexico ’86 World Cup as well as the 1980, 84, and 88 Olympics.
    PELE – BRAZIL
    Goals: 77. Caps: 92.
    Perhaps the best player ever to play football.
    But although impressive, his 77 goals from 92 Brazil caps seems low.
    However, far less internationals were played in Pele’s day which explains it.
    Pele is widely considered the greatest player of all time
    SANDOR KOCSIS – HUNGARY
    Goals: 75. Caps: 68.
    Only player on the list with more goals than caps.
    The ex-Barcelona man played alongside Puskas for Hungary in the 50s and scored his 75 goals in just eight years.

    BASHAR ABDULLAH – KUWAIT
    Goals: 75. Caps: 133.
    The star striker burst onto the scene in the late 90s.
    Spent his entire club career in the middle east and featured at three Asia Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics for his country.
    SUNIL CHHETRI – INDIA
    Goals: 72. Caps: 115.
    No player has scored or played more for India in their football history.
    Chhetri, 36, still plays for the Indian Super League side Bengaluru.
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