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Stephen Welsh draws on Celtic spirit of 2007 ahead of RB Leipzig clash as he recalls night Kaka and Co were downed

Stephen Welsh admits AC Milan superstars Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka and Filippo Inzaghi were part of his own Champions League baptism of fire on a night when Celtic beat the best in the world. The Hoops defender may have been at primary school at the time but the memory of a 2-1 Parkhead win over the holders remains fresh as it was also his first taste of Europe as a fan.

How will Celtic, Rangers and Hearts fare in Europe and will Fashion Sakala start against Liverpool? Monday Jury

KEITH JACKSON: The play-off certainly feels like a very comforting safety net now that we have Spain and Erling Haaland to deal with. But second spot in Group Aaarg can still be a realistic target for Steve Clarke and the boys. DAVID McCARTHY: Tough, but possible. Spain should skoosh it but Norway, apart from the obvious, are no great shakes and there are potential banana skins in Georgia and Cyprus. But second place is there to be taken. ANDY NEWPORT: That play-off spot is looking pretty handy now. Spain may be in a transitional phase but they still have bags of quality and I’d rather not think about what Haaland is going to do to our defence. MICHAEL GANNON: It’s a pretty stinky section to be honest after pulling the best player on the planet out of pot three. But anything is possible under Steve Clarke so we have to keep the faith.

Commentary: Games that tolerate cheating gamble with their future

LONDON: In Ian Fleming’s 1955 novel Moonraker, James Bond is enlisted to punish Sir Hugo Drax, a sinister industrialist who cheats at bridge at the fictional Blades club in London. Bond fixes the cards and crushes Drax with an impossible-looking grand slam: “Thirteen separate lashes whose scars no card player would ever lose.”

Italy To Face England In Euro 2020 Qualifying

Reigning champions Italy were drawn on Sunday to face England, the team they beat in the final last year, in qualifying for the 2024 European Championship. Euro 2024, hosted by Germany, will be Italy's chance to regain some pride after they failed to qualify for the World Cup finals which kick off in Qatar in six weeks' time. Italy beat host nation England in a penalty shootout in the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 final at Wembley last year after the match ended 1-1 following extra time.