Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens enjoyed a dream international debut as Belgium stormed into the 2026 World Cup with a ruthless 7-0 demolition of Liechtenstein. It was a landmark evening for the 23-year-old, who not only kept a flawless clean sheet but also watched his team-mates tear their visitors apart with a clinical, seven-goal masterclass.

• Belgium blitz their way into another World Cup

  Coach Rudi Garcia demanded a rapid start, and his players delivered with ruthless precision. After just two minutes and thirty seconds, Youri Tielemans swung in a measured cross that Hans Vanaken steered into the net with a glancing header. It was the early breakthrough Belgium wanted and Liechtenstein dreaded. Despite holding firm for another half-hour, the visitors eventually cracked under relentless pressure. Alexis Saelemaekers found space on the byline, cutting the ball back perfectly for Jeremy Doku, who finished unmarked from the spot. With confidence flowing, Doku struck again minutes later, this time after pouncing on a loose clearance, dancing past three defenders, and guiding the ball into the corner. By half-time, Belgium were cruising at 3-0. The second half, however, produced an explosion.

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  Seven-minute storm shreds Liechtenstein

  Eight minutes after the restart, Tielemans flicked a corner into a dangerous area, allowing Brandon Mechele to prod home a fourth. Three minutes later, Tielemans’ long-range strike forced a save from Benjamin Buchel, but Saelemaekers reacted quickest to smash in the rebound. Barely sixty seconds passed before Charles De Ketelaere joined the party. Doku turned provider, rolling a pass across the box for De Ketelaere to tuck home Belgium’s sixth. A minute later, Thomas Meunier surged down the flank, squared to De Ketelaere again, and the forward coolly fired in his second. At the other end, Lammens had only one save to make.

• Lammens' meteoric rise continues

  For Lammens, a clean sheet on his international debut marked another milestone in a rapidly ascending career. United signed the Belgian star late in the summer window after cooling interest in Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez. Lammens called his deadline-day move "a dream come true" and "the beginning of something special". Since then, he has featured in five Premier League matches, conceding seven goals but earning widespread praise for his composure, agility and shot-stopping. He played a pivotal role in United’s October revival, helping the side secure consecutive wins over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton. His performances have drawn comparisons to legendary United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. Lammens himself has resisted such talk, insisting he has "a long way to go". But one man who sees the potential is Sir Alex Ferguson.

  In an interview with , the former United manager spoke warmly about the young stopper and said: "There are signs, the manager has had some good signs. Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding, he’s only played three or four games and he’s looking really good. Of course, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha, the new players from Wolves and Brentford, they’ve added to it. I hope the manager gets a bit of success because at United you need to have success – the signs are getting better. I think back-to-back wins is something teams like United should always expect. But having gone through a cycle where the improvement has to come by waiting and being patient, they’ll enjoy it now."

  Lammens is not worried about the pressure at United and said: "There's been a lot of commotion about the goalkeepers in recent years. They've received a lot of negative comments. I wasn't worried about that. I want to be someone people look up to. My dream is to play here for the next ten years, be important to the club, and build a legacy. That's a long-term goal."

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  Lammens' United look to restart momentum after mixed results

  Amorim’s side followed their three-game winning run with two successive 2-2 draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. United return to action on November 24 with a home clash against Everton.

It doesn’t often occur in the Premier League, but Manchester City – even with Erling Haaland leading the line – drew a blank away at Aston Villa on Sunday.

In the end, a fiercely hit effort by Matty Cash in the first half would be the difference between the two sides, as the Citizens fell to their first league defeat since coming unstuck away at Brighton and Hove Albion at the close of August.

Tijjani Reijnders, in particular, struggled at Villa Park, with the number four’s early fall from grace at City a concerning tale to keep tabs on.

Why Reijnders was disappointing against Aston Villa

When the Dutchman has been given the freedom to express himself further up the pitch, he has been a joy to watch; however, with a goal confidently put away on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, even seeing statistician Statman Dave herald him as being “De Bruyne’s heir.”

However, the ex-AC Milan man wasn’t played in a De Bruyne-style position against Unai Emery’s hosts, with Reijnders not looking so comfortable as an anchor figure for Guardiola’s side on their travels, who are still presumably reeling that Rodri remains in and out of the Etihad treatment room.

Reijnder’s defensive numbers

Stat

Reijnders

Tackles won

0

Interceptions

0

Clearances

1

Blocked shots

0

Ball recoveries

2

Total duels

0/7

Stats by Sofascore

While Reijnders did trudge off at the end of the 1-0 loss with just two passes not reaching their intended target, the 27-year-old did noticeably find it tricky to battle away for his losing side, with an alarming zero duels won from seven attempted.

Moreover, the £46.5m summer purchase also failed to win a single tackle, with Amadou Onana for the hosts – in stark contrast – winning a combined tally of two tackles and six duels, as Reijnders routinely lost every 50/50 and scuffle that came his way.

With Nico Gonzalez also out injured, it remains to be seen what option Guardiola will go with in the games to come in the defensive midfield spot on the pitch, with Reijnders clearly not cut out for the demands of the position long-term.

He isn’t alone, though, in being worried about his first-team spot moving forward, with this “wasteful” attacker – as he was branded by journalist Amos Murphy – also in some bother about his immediate future in the Spaniard’s main XI.

The 5/10 City star who must be dropped

Watching back over the highlights from Villa Park, it’s clear that City could have nicked at least a point on another day if they had packed their shooting boots and weren’t so “toothless”, as they were branded by journalist David Mooney at the full-time whistle.

Indeed, Haaland uncharacteristically fluffed a one-on-one opportunity directly after Cash’s sweetly struck opener, with Savinho also falling victim to some poor finishing himself, when two chances in quick succession in the second 45 minutes passed him by.

Savinho’s performance in numbers

Stat

Savinho

Minutes played

84

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

50

Shots

2

Accurate passes

22/31 (71%)

Accurate passes in the opposition half

15/28 (54%)

Accurate crosses

0/5

Possession lost

18x

Successful dribbles

1/4

Total duels won

3/9

Stats by Sofascore

His overall play in attacking positions, away from spurning some big chances, also makes for some pretty grim reading, with Savinho only managing to make 15 accurate passes when in the opposition’s half of the pitch, leading to him giving away possession a mammoth 18 times.

On top of that, the lacklustre Brazilian could only muster up one successful dribble from his 84-minute stint in the West Midlands, alongside further failing to complete a single accurate cross to try and pick out the likes of Haaland, who can strike fear into any defenders he’s coming up against at a moment’s notice.

Savinho will surely now sense that his starting spot is on thin ice, with only one assist next to his name from his four Premier League starts this season, not exactly the most glowing track record.

Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski would hand out a low 5/10 rating to the 21-year-old, subsequently, who stated that Savinho was ‘largely poor’ when attempting to unlock Villa, away from a promising effort here and there on Emiliano Martinez’s well-guarded net.

Cutting a forlorn figure at the close of the slim 1-0 defeat, Guardiola will have many a selection issue to address ahead of City facing off against AFC Bournemouth at the beginning of November, with both Reijnders and Savinho potentially removed from his starting lineup for the test of the Cherries.

Related Man City "interested" in title-winning 39 y/o manager to succeed Guardiola

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Posts ByHenry Jackson Oct 25, 2025

He is understood to have hurt his hand during a first-division club game in Chennai last Sunday

Deivarayan Muthu15-Aug-2025Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore will miss the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament with injury but is hopeful of recovering in time for the Duleep Trophy, which is set to begin in Bengaluru on August 28.It’s understood that Sai Kishore had hurt his hand while intercepting a drive from M Shahrukh Khan in his follow-through during a first-division club game at the Guru Nanak college ground in Chennai last Sunday.Related

Prithvi Shaw set for Maharashtra debut in Buchi Babu Tournament

Tilak Varma to lead South Zone in Duleep Trophy

Sai Kishore, 28, is part of the South Zone squad that will start its campaign on September 4 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.In the absence of Sai Kishore, Pradosh Ranjan Paul will take over as captain of the TNCA President’s XI in the Buchi Babu tournament, with C Andre Siddarth as his deputy. Paul had initially been named captain of the TNCA XI, but Shahrukh will now take charge of that side after the reshuffle.Sai Kishore’s injury has depleted Tamil Nadu’s spin stocks in the build-up to their domestic season. Fellow left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram, who was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Ranji season, is also injured while M Siddarth has been moved from the TNCA President’s XI to the TNCA XI due to personal commitments.Sai Kishore had tuned up for the red-ball domestic season by playing county cricket for Surrey and one match for his club team upon returning to Chennai. Last month, he took 11 wickets across two matches for Surrey, including a five-wicket haul against Durham, which helped his side take a key step towards their retention of the Rothesay County Championship.Seam-bowling allrounder RS Ambrish and fast bowler D Deepesh, who had played for India Under-19s in England, have also been named in the two Tamil Nadu Buchi Babu squads.The TNCA XI will face a Mumbai side featuring Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan and his brother Musheer from August 18 at the Gojan ground in the outskirts of Chennai.SquadsTNCA President’s XI: Pradosh Ranjan Paul (capt), C Andre Siddarth (vice-capt), B Indrajith, Vijay Shankar, R Vimal Khumar, S Radhakrishnan, S Lokeshwar, G Ajitesh, J Hemchudeshan, RS Ambrish, CV Achyuth, H Trilok Nag, P Saravana Kumar, P Vidyuth and K Abhinav.TNCA XI: M Shahrukh Khan (capt), Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (vice-capt), B Sachin, M Siddharth, Tushar Raheja, Kiran Karthikeyan, S Mohamed Ali, S Rithik Easwaran, SR Athish, S Lakshay Jain, DT Chandrasekar, P Vignesh, R Sonu Yadav, D Deepesh, J Prem Kumar, A Esakkimuthu and TD Lokesh Raj

Should Celtic re-appoint Ange Postecoglou to replace Brendan Rodgers?

Well, the Australian did enjoy great success during his two seasons in Glasgow, winning five trophies, meaning he may remain the club’s most universally popular manager of the modern era.

However, following an ill-fated 39 days stint in charge of Nottingham Forest, reports suggest that Postecoglou is not looking to jump straight back into management, while his record at Tottenham and the City Ground, Europa League triumph aside, would be causes for concern, suggesting he may not be the dream candidate some supporters believe him to be.

Instead, should they target “one of the best coaches” around in a move reminiscent of what occurred in the year 2000?

Martin O'Neill's Celtic career

On Monday evening, when news of Rodgers’ resignation was announced, Celtic also confirmed that Martin O’Neill would be placed in interim charge, working alongside Shaun Maloney.

This is the 73 year old’s first managerial position since an Ange-esque 19 game stint at Nottingham Forest in 2019 and, having been in charge of the Republic of Ireland for five years before that, he hasn’t truly been a club manager since leaving Sunderland in 2013.

He did make a winning start to life back in the dugout, overseeing a 4-0 demolition of Falkirk in the Premiership on Wednesday night, with Johnny Kenny bagging a brace, while Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti were also on target.

Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against fierce rivals Rangers at Hampden should be a significantly tougher assignment, but O’Neill certainly has pedigree when it comes to winning Old Firm games.

The Irishman began his managerial career in the ’90s with very impressive stints in charge of Wycombe Wanderers and Leicester City, gaining promotion in charge of both, before winning two League Cups with the Foxes.

This earned him the Celtic job in 2000, viewed very much as a left-field choice at the time, but this proved to be a masterstroke.

Prior to his arrival, Rangers had won 11 of the last 12 Scottish titles, but O’Neill won the league in three of his first four seasons as well as leading Celtic to the UEFA Cup Final in 2003, ultimately defeated by José Mourinho’s Porto at the Cartuja in Seville.

Not since Jock Stein has a Celtic manager been so successful in Europe, with O’Neill also winning 13 of his 24 Old Firm games, while he also boasts the best win percentage of any permanent Hoops boss in history, before even including Wednesday’s win.

Martin O’Neill

283

75.6%

Ange Postecoglou

113

73.5%

Neil Lennon

335

70.7%

Jock Stein

761

69.6%

Brendan Rodgers

292

68.8%

Gordon Strachen

195

64.6%

Willie Maley

1,617

64.4%

Ronny Deila

118

63.6%

Billy McNeill

455

60%

David Hay

209

56.9%

Tommy Burns

140

55.7%

Liam Brady

126

54%

Jimmy McGrory

843

49.7%

Note: minimum 100 matches in charge.

O’Neill will be hoping to improve that win ratio further, for however long he remains in the dugout, although that won’t be easy, with games against Rangers and then Midtjylland in Herning next on the agenda.

So, should Celtic appoint someone who is reminiscent of when O’Neill first arrived a quarter of a century ago?

Celtic could appoint 'one of the best coaches' in England

Of all the people reportedly in contention to become Celtic manager, Nicky Hayen, Craig Bellamy, Robbie Keane, Kjetil Knutsen and others, would Kieran McKenna represent the biggest coup?

Manager Focus

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Sky Sports has reported that the Ipswich Town boss is a name whom the Celtic hierarchy are ‘very keen on’, although it remains to be seen if he would leave mid-season – while a reported £5m get-out clause could also prove prohibitive.

Just 39 years old, the Northern Irishman has been in coaching since 2009, employed by Tottenham and Manchester United as a youth coach and scout, before working alongside José Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjær as an assistant at Old Trafford.

Solskjær spoke glowingly about McKenna, describing him as “the most thorough and analytical… process-driven coach that I’ve worked with”, while fellow ex-Man United great Nicky Butt agrees, labelling him “one of the best coaches I’ve ever seen on the grass”.

His reputation earned him his first head coach role at Ipswich, enjoying unparalleled success in Suffolk, guiding the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, leading them back into the Premier League for the first time since 2002, even if they were relegated straight away.

A mixed start to this EFL Championship campaign has the Blues 12th, but there is still firm belief that, with McKenna in charge, the East Anglian-based outfit will be promotion contenders.

In fact, despite taking a battering pretty much every week in the Premier League last season, only Mick O’Brien in the ’30s and Sir Alf Ramsey have a better win percentage of any Ipswich boss in history.

As outlined by the Coaches Voice, McKenna favours a ‘short-passing style’ with width provided by attacking full-backs, allowing wingers to drift inside, concluding that this approach should take him ‘ to the top of the game as a coach’, something that would suit how Celtic have played in the past and their current squad.

Also, as documents, McKenna’s history working with youth teams means he is more than willing to bring through younger players, helping Omari Hutchinson and others realise their true potential at Portman Road.

So, while his lack of experience, and poor Premier League record, with an admittedly weak squad, are causes for concern, the Celtic board must be bold, rather than churning through the same three of four faces.

If Neil Lennon wasn’t currently Dunfermline Athletic manager, he’d almost certainly be in the dugout; the Pars face Scott Brown’s Ayr United on Friday, winner gets the Celtic job anyone?

On a serious note, when O’Neill arrived in 2000, this was off the back of work with Wycombe and Leicester largely in the EFL, so who is to say McKenna could not do something similar, as he would certainly bring a freshness and new ideas to a club going a bit stale.

​​​​​​​

As good as Kenny: Celtic star who won 10 duels is already undroppable

This Celtic star who was as good as Johnny Kenny is now undroppable for Martin O’Neill.

ByDan Emery Oct 30, 2025

They are the two sides with no right-to-match cards in the auction but can still outbid other teams for their former players

Omkar Mankame21-Nov-2024Rajasthan RoyalsPlayers retained: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma
Purse remaining: INR 41 crore
Right-to-match options: None
With all six retention spots filled, Rajasthan Royals have no right-to-match options at the IPL 2025 mega option. They can still buy back some of their released players, though.Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, winners of the Orange and Purple Caps in IPL 2022, will be high on their wish list. Buttler, however, may stretch their budget. Avesh Khan and Prasidh Krishna may also be in RR’s plans. Avesh was the third most economical death bowler last season and has got back into the India T20I side. Prasidh missed the past two IPL seasons due to injuries but is back to bowling at full pace with the red ball. Both may end up being out of Royals’ budget, though.Two experienced players who may end up being within budget are Trent Boult and R Ashwin. Boult, 35, has outstanding powerplay numbers, while Ashwin has played a pivotal role for Royals with both bat and ball.The Royals could also be keen to bring back Kuldeep Sen, the 28-year-old pacer who had a breakthrough season in 2022. He took eight wickets and subsequently made his India debut. Though his performances dipped afterward, Royals could look to get him back at a low price.Will KKR consider Nitish Rana as a captaincy option?•Associated PressKolkata Knight Riders
Players retained: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh
Purse remaining: INR 51 crore
Right-to-match options: None
The defending IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, are the other team with no right-to-match options. They released captain Shreyas Iyer and may be in the market for a new captain. That makes 30-year-old Nitish Rana a possible target. Rana led KKR in IPL 2023 when Iyer was injured and has been a reliable performer, consistently scoring 300-plus runs each season since 2018. However, he had limited opportunities in 2024, batting only twice.Phil Salt, who smashed 435 runs in the 2024 season at a strike-rate of 182.00, will be high on several teams’ wish lists. Will KKR hold back in the early rounds to save their purse for when Salt’s name comes up in Set 5?One of the promising young players on KKR’s buy-back list will be 20-year-old Angkrish Raghuvanshi, bought for INR 20 lakh ahead of IPL 2024. His strike rate of 155.23 in seven innings in 2024 was eye-catching in a season where Kolkata Knight Riders were banking on high totals.Venkatesh Iyer, now 29, has been another key player for KKR. After being retained in 2022, Iyer bounced back from a lean season that year to score an IPL century in 2023. In the 2024 campaign, he struck four half-centuries and maintained a strike rate of over 158, making him a crucial asset KKR will look to bring back in the auction.A key factor in Kolkata Knight Riders’ triumphant run to their third IPL title was their potent pace attack. They retained Harshit Rana but are unlikely to have the budget to get back Mitchell Starc. Instead, they can prioritise buying back 26-year-old fast bowler Vaibhav Arora. He bowled Travis Head for a golden duck in the final, one of his 11 wickets for the season.

The Washington Nationals are reportedly starting over.

The Nationals are dismissing general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, according to a Sunday afternoon report by Jeff Passan of ESPN later confirmed by the team. The abrupt move severs Washington from the two minds behind the team's only World Series title in 2019.

On Sunday, the Nationals lost 6–4 to the Boston Red Sox to drop to 37–53 on the season. The team currently owns the worst record in the National League outside of the woeful Colorado Rockies.

Washington hired Rizzo as an assistant general manager back in 2006, just two years after the team relocated from Montreal; he has seen almost all of the team's existence in Washington. In 2013, he was named the Nationals' general manager and helped turn the team into a winner.

Martinez was brought aboard before the 2018 season. He steered Washington to an improbable title in '19 after a 19–31 start, but has not made the playoffs since. Earlier in 2025, he was reported to have alienated players with comments deflecting blame from the coaching staff during a losing streak.

Mike DeBartolo will become the Nationals' interim general manager as the team prepares to open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday.

تحدث تشابي ألونسو، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد عن مباراة فريقه أمام جيرونا ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ومن المقرر أن يخوض ريال مدريد مباراته أمام جيرونا مساء غدٍ الأحد، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ 14 من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على جيرونا في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الحادية عشر بتوقيت مكة المكرمة.

وقال ألونسو، في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة، والتي نقلته صحيفة “آس”: “نعلم أن هذه مباراة بعد آخر مباراة في دوري أبطال أوروبا في أثينا، في الدوري نحتاج إلى الفوز خارج أرضنا في ظل جدول مباريات مزدحم للغاية، نحتاج إلى مباراة جيدة وانتصار جيد”.

وعن الجدل التحكيمي حول أهداف مباراة إلتشي التي قالها لابورتا رئيس برشلونة أوضح: “هناك رسائل شعبوية خاصة لجماهيرهم، دعونا نركز على أنفسنا، والفوز بطريقة رياضية ومستحقة، كل مباراة هي اختبار لذلك”.

وأكمل: “لقد لعبنا فترات جيدة، نحتاج إلى تلك السيطرة والمزيد من السيطرة والاستمرارية والثبات وهو ما نقوم بتحسينه خاصةً دفاعيًا، لست راضيًا عن بعض الأمور وخاصةً الأهداف التي استقبلناها في المباريات الأخيرة، ما زلنا في مرحلة التطوير”.

وعن الإصابات، قال: “لقد تعافي بالفعل روديجر وميليتاو، ونأمل أن يتم ضم أسينسيو إلى التشكيل أما هويسن فلم يتم ضمه بعد كما تم ضم فرانكو (ماستانتونو) إلى التشكيل”.

اقرأ أيضًا | تدريبات ريال مدريد.. غياب جديد وموقف كورتوا من مباراة جيرونا في الدوري الإسباني

وأردف: “بيلينجهام؟ جود لديه الرغبة في التعلم وأن يكون أكثر كفاءة، هؤلاء اللاعبين الذين لديهم هذه المبادرة والذين يمكنهم اللعب في أكثر من مركز، عليك أن تعرف ما يحدث حوله”.

وأجاب عن سؤال آلام ماستانتونو في العانة قائلًا: “إنه في حالة أفضل ويتدرب دون أي إزعاج أو ألم ويتدرب بهذه الديناميكية”.

واستطرد: “حالة أرنولد الجيدة؟ نحن بحاجة إليه، هو في موسمه الأول والتكيف أمر طبيعي، وعلينا أن ندعمه في هذا التغيير الكبير بالنسبة له”.

وحول أداء ميندي أمام أولمبياكوس كشف: “لقد ترك انطباعًا جيدًا لديّ، إنها أول مباراة يلعبها معنا، لم نكن نعرف مستواه في البطولة، وقد قدم أداءً رائعًا، إنه مدافع رائع ويمنحنا أمانًا كبيرًا في الدفاع، أن يعود وأشعر بهذا الشعور هو خبر رائع”.

وحول استغلال مبابي وفينيسيوس المساحات في مباراة أولمبياكوس أوضح: “إنهما بارعان جدًا في ذلك، وقد فعلا ذلك في مباريات أخرى أيضًا، هذا الترابط والجودة وتناغمهما واضح في الملعب، كان من المؤسف أن فينيسيوس لم يتمكن من تسجيل هدف”.

وعن رسائل اللاعبين حول وحدة الفريق وشعوره بها أتم: “لطالما شعرتُ بوحدة الفريق وأننا جميعًا نعرف هدفنا وهو الوصول إلى النهائي مع فرصة الفوز بكل شيء، نحن معًا في السراء والضراء، تربطنا علاقة جيدة يوميًا ورغم كل الشائعات وما يريده البعض، نحن متماسكون جدًا من الداخل”.

Chelsea skipper Reece James has sent a warning to FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup as he urged the football’s governing body to rethink kick-off times to protect players from potentially "dangerous" heat conditions. The 25-year-old defender, who lifted the Club World Cup with Chelsea in the United States earlier this year, described the sweltering temperatures during the tournament as "super difficult" and believes that matches played in similar conditions next summer could put players’ health at risk.

• Research warns of dangerous heat levels across US venues

  A recent study by Queen’s University Belfast found that 14 of the 16 stadiums hosting matches in North America could reach or exceed temperatures deemed unsafe for prolonged physical activity. During Chelsea’s pre-tournament training sessions in Philadelphia, the team faced a severe heat warning with temperatures hitting 37°C and humidity levels pushing the perceived temperature closer to 45°C. The club’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez nearly collapsed during the game against Fluminense. He later revealed that he "felt dizzy" and needed medical attention midway through the game. 

   "Thank you for asking that question, because honestly, the heat is incredible," he said. "The other day, I got a bit dizzy during a play and had to go down to the ground. Playing in this kind of temperature is very dangerous. Especially for the spectacle as well, for the people who come to enjoy the game at the stadium, and for those watching at home. The pace of the game isn’t the same; everything slows down a lot. Hopefully next year they change the schedule at least, so that it’s more of a show, and football stays beautiful and exciting."

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• AFP
  

  James echoes Fernandez thoughts

  James echoed those concerns and believes the solution lies in rescheduling kick-off times to cooler evening hours, especially for the games staged in southern and central US states. 

  "It's super difficult conditions to play in that heat, especially us playing in England – there's not anything like that before," said James. "Later kick-offs when it's not so hot and humid. That would definitely help. For sure, that would definitely help."

  When asked if FIFA had got in touch with him for any feedback, he replied, "No, I haven't been asked about my thoughts on kick-off times. I'm sure they will have asked someone. Maybe managers or people at the clubs. I'm sure they will have got some feedback."

• FIFA’s plan to counter heat crisis

  According to FIFA is considering late-night kick-offs for matches involving major European nations to mitigate the heat issue. This could mean start times mirroring the Club World Cup’s schedule, with games at 17:00, 20:00, 23:00 and even 02:00 BST. Such timings would help avoid the worst of the afternoon sun in the US while also catering to international TV audiences. 

  "You feel the heat the minute you step outside the hotel. The conditions are super hot," James continued. "Once you are out there you adapt the longer you are there, when you are settled in once place and try to limit the things you can. The pitches when we were there weren't the greatest either and made it a little bit harder but hopefully by the time the World Cup comes around hopefully it's better."

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• AFP
  

  England preparing for the heat battle

  England have already secured qualification with two games to spare, and preparations are underway for the unique climate challenge that awaits them across the pond. Assistant coach Anthony Barry confirmed that the team will hold a warm-weather training camp in Florida to help players acclimatise to the conditions. Players will also undergo specific fitness conditioning to cope with the intense humidity that can sap energy and concentration. 

  Concerns over player welfare in extreme temperatures are nothing new. The 2022 Qatar World Cup was moved to winter to avoid similar risks, but this time, with matches spread across three countries and multiple time zones, the challenge remains unprecedented. Cooling breaks will be an important tool to counter the heat, but more exhaustive measures are required to ensure player safety. 

Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca have been warned about Oliver Glasner as the Austrian is reportedly being eyed by the "big clubs" amid links with the Manchester United & Chelsea jobs. While both Amorim & Maresca continue to work at their respective clubs, Glasner’s calm authority at Selhurst Park has seen his reputation skyrocket. And the 51-year-old has been backed to eventually move to one of the big boys.

Amorim and Maresca under scrutiny

Before the international break, Amorim found himself in dangerous waters after a bruising defeat to Brentford left him on thin ice. A sensational October, however, brought some stability, with a string of impressive performances restoring faith among fans and the United hierarchy. At Stamford Bridge, Maresca’s has fared better but nothing extraordinary. Chelsea’s erratic form has supporters scratching their heads, and the latest 2-2 Champions League draw against Qarabag is another glaring example of inconsistency. This is where Glasner’s name has emerged and bookmakers already view him as a strong contender should either United or Chelsea opt for change.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesPalace’s miracle worker

Glasner led Palace to FA Cup glory, and if not for a UEFA ruling, the Eagles would have been strutting their stuff in this season’s Europa League. His success was officially recognised when he was named Austria’s Coach of the Year at the Sporthilfe Gala. Despite the growing noise around him, Glasner remains a picture of composure. When asked about the speculation linking him with United, he offered a typically grounded response.

"As I said, I try to keep it at bay, whether I'm successful or unsuccessful, partly for self-protection," he replied. "A few years ago, I got into the habit of living in the here and now and enjoying it. It's simply better when you don't lose 19 games than when you don't win 19. Then the atmosphere at the training ground in the morning is simply better; everything is easier. I'm no less ambitious, no less demanding, and just as annoyed when we lose, like now. Even if it was the first defeat in six months: I'm one of the worst losers in the world, and I'm still annoyed about it today."

Behind closed doors, Glasner’s conversations with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish are described as constant and constructive. The manager made it clear that his ambition is to continue building something meaningful in  London, but only if both sides share the same vision.

"We are talking almost every day," the 51-year-old Glasner said. "It is not that I need conditions or I want something, Crystal Palace wants to be successful, to continue this pathway and not just the last 18 months. What we are always discussing is how can we have the best chance to continue this pathway?

"Oliver Glasner does not have the final solution and Steve Parish doesn't have (it), but we discuss about it, what is possible, what we can do. Working together and having a relationship together just makes sense if you have the same goals, the same vision, because otherwise you can't be successful. Wherever it is, in any company, if two leaders have different visions, then you go separate ways and you can't achieve your goal, and that is what we are talking about. If we can find the same pathway, the same goal – not for Oliver Glasner, (but) for Crystal Palace – then we will end the talks, and if we don't find (it) we will also end the talks."

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Hamann sent out a warning to Maresca & Amorim

Hamann believes it’s only a matter of time before the top clubs make their move. In an interview with footballblog.co.uk, praising Glasner’s achievements, he said: "He won the FA Cup, and he won the Community Shield. He beat Liverpool three times in a row and yeah, he's doing wonderful things. In the last two summers, they lost Olise to Bayern and Eze to Arsenal. That's two of their best players and he's still winning games.

"I also think the way he handled the Guehi situation in the summer was exceptional. I thought this season it'll be a long season for Palace. I thought they might be struggling, they're going well again and if a manager does well over 18 months, I’m sure clubs will take a look."

Then talking about the interest from United, Hamann added: "Because he's done a brilliant job since he came to the Premier League, I'm sure the likes of Chelsea and United will have him on their radar at the moment. Having said that, things seem to have settled down a bit in Manchester, and also at Chelsea. But he's certainly a manager who, when a big job does become available, he's one of the first ones on the list."

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Getty Images SportCrucial November for Man Utd & Chelsea

United face a brutal stretch, beginning with an away trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday before returning from the international break to tackle Everton and Glasner’s own Crystal Palace. Chelsea’s fixture list looks even more perilous as Wolves, Burnley, Barcelona, and Arsenal await. Glasner’s work in South London has turned him into one of football’s most respected modern managers. And if he continues this remarkable run, the Premier League’s powerhouses may soon find themselves fighting for his signature. 

West Ham United are now preparing the documents to sign a “special” attacker, who could be Nuno’s first signing.

Nuno still searching for first win as West Ham boss

After Graham Potter became the second managerial casualty of the Premier League season, West Ham thought Nuno would be the man to turn things around, but the former Nottingham Forest boss hasn’t made the greatest of starts.

The 51-year-old is still searching for his first win since replacing Potter in the dugout, with the Hammers losing their last three games on the spin in the Premier League, which leaves them in 19th place and four points adrift of safety.

The most recent result is likely to be the most concerning, with the Irons falling to a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United at Elland Road, in what could prove to be a real six-pointer come the end of the season.

It was a very poor performance from Nuno’s side, who recorded an xG of just 0.65, which suggests they need to bolster their forward line in the January transfer window if they are to stave off fears of relegation.

According to reporter Alan Nixon (via Caught Offside), West Ham are now preparing the documents to sign Barcelona attacker Dro Fernandez, with a major January recruitment drive now on the cards as a result of their very poor start to the season.

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Fernandez has now emerged as a serious target for the Hammers, and they are looking to be savvy by getting a deal done before his valuation goes through the roof, with the attacker in line to become Nuno’s first signing as manager.

However, the La Liga giants are well-aware of the 17-year-old’s potential, meaning he is likely to have a high valuation, which could potentially be prohibitive.

"Special" Fernandez could be destined for the top

It would perhaps be a surprise if Barca were willing to sanction the teenager’s departure, considering he clearly has a lot of potential, having received very high praise from former coach Javi Roxo in the past.

Roxo said: “Dro was always very special, he has a gift for touching the ball and has always been very creative.

“Dro is capable of everything and if Flick puts him on the wing he can also do well, it won’t be Raphinha but he can look like the Iniesta who played on the left. If he relieves himself of pressure and plays freely, he is capable of anything, his talent is infinite.”

Despite his age, the young Spaniard has already forced his way into first-team contention too, with scout Jacek Kulig left impressed after his recent display in the Champions League.

That said, it would be a gamble for West Ham to sign Fernandez in an effort to get them out of relegation trouble, given his lack of experience, and it may be a better idea to target proven Premier League players.