Pitso promises to 'recreate history' with Al Ahli Saudi: 'Let's awaken the sleeping giant'
Well-renowned African coach Pitso Mosimane will again be in the dugout after putting pen-to-paper on a deal with Saudi Arabia outfit Al Ahli Saudi FC.
Soccer Sport News
Republic of Ireland U21s v Israel, play-off second leg: All you need to know
Tuesday, 27 September
Football rumours: Romelu Lukaku looking to extend stay in Italy
Romelu Lukaku has reportedly ruled out a return to Chelsea when his loan at Inter Milan expires in the summer. Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims the 29-year-old striker has no desire to return to London any time soon, with club bosses at the Serie A side said to want to renew his loan deal for the 2023-24 season.
Conor McMenamin reinstated to Northern Ireland squad
Conor McMenamin is to be reinstated to the Northern Ireland squad and has travelled to Greece ahead of Tuesday's Nations League fixture.
Southgate accepts future will hinge on England's performance at World Cup 2022 in Qatar
Under-fire Gareth Southgate knows his future will be dictated by England's World Cup performance rather than previous successes or the fact his contract runs until 2024. Few could have predicted how the team's fortunes would improve under the 57-cap former defender, who was initially brought in as interim boss following Sam Allardyce's shock exit in September 2016. Southgate led England on an unforgettable run to the World Cup semi-finals four years ago and within a penalty shootout of European Championship glory last summer. The 52-year-old was subsequently rewarded with a new deal until 2024 but things have gone awry of late, with embarrassing defeats home and away to Hungary compounded in Italy on Friday. The 1-0 loss led to relegation from the top tier of the Nations League and boos being aimed at Southgate, whose future is under scrutiny with the side winless in five games ahead of the World Cup. "I am not foolish," the England boss said ahead of Monday's game against Germany. "My sole focus at the moment is to get the team right for (Monday) night. "We're focused on a good performance, a good result, then you're looking towards the World Cup. And I know ultimately I will be judged on what happens at that World Cup. "Contracts are irrelevant in football because managers can have three, four, five-year contracts and if results aren't good enough then you accept that's time to part ways. "Why would I be any different? I'm not arrogant enough to think that having a contract should protect me in any way from results."
Wales' Nations League relegation a price worth paying for World Cup: Page
Wales manager Rob Page said relegation from the top tier of the Nations League on Sunday is softened by the prospect of looking forward to his country's first World Cup since 1958 in two months' time.
Nations League wrap: Netherlands, Croatia reach semis
Captain Virgil van Dijk netted a second-half winner as the Netherlands beat neighbours Belgium 1-0 on Sunday to ensure top spot in their Nations League group and a place in next year's finals tournament. Van Dijk powered home a header from a corner in the 73rd minute at the Amsterdam Arena on Sunday to ensure the Dutch finished runaway winners in League A Group Four. They finished with 16 points, six more than Belgium who had a chance to leapfrog their neighbours, and take first place, but needed to win by three goals or more on Sunday to do so. Any hopes of a goal feast were quickly stymied, however, as the two sides effectively cancelled each other out in a tight tactical battle. The Dutch pressing game frustrated Belgian efforts at building up attacks, while a five-man defence for the visitors meant there was little room for the home strikers. It meant the winner came from a simple setpiece with Van Dijk leaping over his marker, the 18-year-old Zeno Debast, to give Louis van Gaal his 37th victory in his three spells in charge of the national side, equalling the record for a Dutch coach held by Dick Advocaat.
Welsh relegated from top tier after Poland defeat
Wales' World Cup send-off ended in a 1-0 defeat to Poland and relegation from the Nations League's top tier. Karol Swiderski, just as he had done when the two sides met in Wroclaw in June, came up with a second-half winner to seal Wales' demotion to League B. Wales needed victory in Cardiff to secure their place in the top flight of European football and relegate Poland to the second tier.