World Cup Qualifiers

In a strategic reshuffle, ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, Australia’s head coach Tony Popovic has opted to insert experienced players Rhyan Grant, Milos Degenek, and Martin Boyle into the squad while dropping teenage star Nestory Irankunda. This is a departure from their last match against China where the young player impressed quite a number of people. This change seems to be a combination of tactical balance as the Socceroos will have two crucial matches and would want to qualify for the World

Wales ended their 64-year wait for a place in the World Cup finals as they beat Ukraine 1-0 on Sunday to end the war-torn nation's hopes of reaching Qatar. An own goal from Ukraine winger Andriy Yarmolenko, who headed a Gareth Bale free-kick into his own net, decided the contest. It was a cruel way for Ukraine's qualification effort to end with Oleksandr Petrakov's side, who beat Scotland in the playoff semi-final, again showing a level of football which would have certainly merited

Captain Gareth Bale said Wales are desperate to qualify for their first World Cup finals appearance in 64 years when they take on Ukraine in Sunday's playoff match at the Cardiff City Stadium. Wales' only World Cup finals appearance was in Sweden in 1958, where they lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals. "It's a big game. It's difficult to put it into whether it's 'the' big game. Obviously, we played in a semi-final of a European Championship" in 2016, Bale, who sat out

Ukraine's delayed World Cup qualification playoff semi-final against Scotland has been rearranged for June 1, with the winners facing Wales four days later for a place at this year's tournament, FIFA and UEFA said in a statement on Thursday. The match was due to be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow on March 24 but Ukraine's Football Association asked FIFA to postpone the qualifier following Russia's invasion, which Moscow calls a "special operation". Wales beat Austria 2-1 in their semi-final and will host

The United States and Mexico both booked tickets to this year's World Cup in Qatar in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying on Wednesday. The United States, who missed out on the 2018 tournament, lost 2-0 to Costa Rica but still progressed along with the Mexicans, who beat El Salvador 2-0. On the final matchday of CONCACAF qualifying, the United States knew that a win, draw or loss by less than six goals would ensure a return to the World Cup finals. "It's

European champions Italy became the first national team to go 37 games without defeat as they thrashed Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier. There were suggestions the Azzurri had broken the record during last Sunday's goalless draw with Switzerland. However, Roberto Mancini's side ended any doubt, with Everton's Moise Kean - on loan at Juventus - scoring twice. Giovanni di Lorenzo, Giacomo Raspadori and Edgaras Utkuse's own goal sealed Italy's first win since Euro 2020. Some had claimed Italy had already secured the longest unbeaten streak by

Poland snatched an injury-time equaliser to deprive England of three points in Warsaw and a sixth straight victory in their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. England looked on course to maintain that perfect sequence of results in European Group I and take another giant stride towards Qatar after a moment of quality from Harry Kane gave them the lead when he sent a dipping drive past Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny with 18 minutes left. Gareth Southgate's side had performed

Brazil and Argentina's World Cup qualifier was abandoned just minutes after kick-off on Sunday after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of three Argentine players they believe broke quarantine rules. The visitors walked off the pitch at the Corinthians Arena after the officials came out to stop the game. The dramatic intervention came hours after Brazil's health authorities had said four England-based players for Argentina had to quarantine. Although it did not name the four, the players with English Premier League clubs

There was a strong sense of synchronicity about Wales' dramatic win over Belarus. Gareth Bale was Wales' saviour once more with a late winner in a qualifier. Against lowly opponents. On a troublesome pitch. That was the story in Russia on Sunday, as it was in Andorra in 2014 when Wales started their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Their hopes of reaching a first major tournament since 1958 looked to be over at the first hurdle when Andorra, ranked 199th in the world, took

England secured a predictably comfortable win over Andorra at Wembley as the smooth path to next year's World Cup in Qatar continued with a fifth successive victory in their qualifying group. Manager Gareth Southgate made 11 changes from the side that won 4-0 in Hungary in readiness for arguably the toughest test in European Group I, in Poland on Wednesday. Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford was given a debut but was unable to find the net in the usual one-sided contest against Andorra,

Memphis Depay scored twice as the Netherlands secured an important World Cup qualifying victory over Montenegro. The Barcelona forward scored from the penalty spot after he had been hauled down in the box by Dusan Lagator. He struck his second after the break, lashing in from an angle before Giorginio Wijnaldum struck the third. Cody Gakpo then curled in the best goal of the night as the Dutch moved second in Group G, a point behind leaders Turkey, who they host on Tuesday.

ZEENEWS Lionel Messi started his first match since the final of the Copa America on July 10 and his flicks and jinks frequently ended with him being fouled as Venezuela struggled to contain him. Argentina extended their unbeaten run to 21 games on Thursday (September 2) with a comfortable 3-1 win over Venezuela in their World Cup qualifier in Caracas. Venezuela had beaten Argentina only once in 14 previous World Cup qualifiers and their hopes of doing it again on Thursday were snuffed

Cristiano Ronaldo broke the world record for goals scored in men's international football as he hit his 110th and 111th goals for Portugal in their dramatic 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland. The 36-year-old scored two late headers - to break and extend the record - after he had a penalty saved by Gavin Bazunu. Ali Daei, who scored 109 goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006, held the record which Ronaldo equalled with a double against France at

Scotland's World Cup hopes were dealt a serious blow as they were outclassed by a vibrant Denmark in Copenhagen to slip seven points behind the group leaders. Daniel Wass jumped above Kieran Tierney to head in an early opener, and Scotland's composure deserted them as they let in another 93 seconds later to go 2-0 down after just 15 minutes. Joakim Maehle played a flick before running off Billy Gilmour to receive Mikkel Damsgaard's pass and finish through the legs of Craig Gordon

Inter Milan's Edin Dzeko gave the Bosnians the lead with an excellent drilled effort from outside the box. Griezmann, who had re-joined Atletico Madrid from Barcelona less than 24 hours earlier, scored with a fortunate ricocheted effort - with VAR needed to see if the ball had crossed the line. Jules Kounde was sent off for hosts France early in the second half. The Sevilla defender, who Chelsea unsuccessfully tried to sign during the transfer window that closed on Tuesday, was initially given