#world-cup-qualifying

#world-cup-qualifying

Overall, I don't like losing, I have to be honest, but performance-wise, I have to be happy. I learned that some of our senior boys were outstanding. Some of the young boys, we have to expose them. We can see the gulf, we knew that was going to be the case. But if we don't do it, when are we going to do it?

We're evaluating player fatigue. There's a factor here we have to consider, and that could affect our strategy. I'm gathering input from players who have played under these conditions, since I don't have much personal experience. The national team, however, has played there many times - it's nothing new for Brazil. Our plan is to adjust both the strategy and the players.

Heimir Hallgrimsson warns players to expect a strong start from hosts in latest World Cup qualifying challenge

Alexander Isak's first appearance of the season was overshadowed by Sweden's shock 2-0 defeat to Kosovo, who finished with 10 men, in World Cup qualifying on Monday. Isak, who completed a British-record £125m transfer to Liverpool on deadline day, was an unused substitute in his nation's 2-2 draw with Slovenia on Friday. The former Newcastle United striker took to the pitch for the first time since May following his transfer stand-off with the Magpies, coming on late in the second half.

Getting their World Cup qualifying adventure underway on March 22nd with a dominant 5-0 romp away at Moldova, the former Copenhagen boss will be dreaming of a repeat performance here. Likewise, last seen in qualifying action landing a gritty 1-0 victory away at Estonia, they have won all of their first four Group I appearances by an aggregate score of 13-2. Booking an elite Nations League ticket back in November and signing off their group stage adventure with another 5-0 victory against Kazakhstan, it is no surprise that Norway have gained a reputation for their clinical performances in the final third.

Liverpool's new 125m signing Alexander Isak made his first appearance of the season as a substitute for Sweden on Monday night, but he could not prevent his country falling to damaging 2-0 defeat away to Kosovo in World Cup qualifying. The Swedes, who conceded a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw away to Slovenia on Friday, went behind in the 26th minute as goalkeeper Robin Olsen blocked Elvis Rexhbecaj's shot only for the rebound to fly off the midfielder's shin into the net.

The visitors struck early as Pedri found the net in the sixth minute, slotting past goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Merino doubled Spain's tally in the 22nd minute, finishing off a slick passing move inside the box with a simple unmarked strike past the Turkish defence. In first-half stoppage time, Merino struck again, this time latching onto a pull-back and firing home to give Spain a three-goal cushion at the interval.

Getting their World Cup qualifying adventure underway with a routine performance over the weekend as they cruised their way to a 4-0 romp at home against Kosovo, the Swiss have now won all of their previous four appearances across all competitions and they are enjoying their longest winning run since the summer of 2021. Signing off June's international fixtures with another stellar 4-0 victory against the USA, Yakin's side have continued on a rise up the FIFA rankings.

In their first game of the campaign, Ireland served up a stirring second-half Dublin display, a desperate but successful rescue mission, which had their higher-ranked opponents on the rack, leaving the Dublin crowd and the team united in a spirit which echoed the team's ancestors who made it all the way to World Cup finals. The bad news, and the harsh reality for Irish prospects of actually going to the 2026 World Cup,