Soccer (FIFA)

Soccer (FIFA)

Italy put on a late show to see off Moldova with a 2-0 away win in World Cup qualifying, though have little chance of snatching top spot from Norway. Norway thrashed Estonia 4-1 prior to Italy's last-gasp victory, but Gennaro Gattuso's side are three points behind the Group I leaders and have a significantly inferior goal difference before hosting them in Sunday's final encounter.

How did this happen? Leon Goretzka likely still remembers his young, rambunctious days at VfL Bochum or his progression into a bright young talent at Schalke 04, struggling to find his spot in the Germany starting XI. But now he has become the veteran. He is one of the longest serving Bayern Munich players and, after the most recent international squad was released, it turns out the same is the case for the German national team.

We weren't due on stage until after 6pm, so I looked to see if there was a match I could go and watch. It was the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup, so I thought that it would be good for me to get away and out of my head by going to see a football match, in the same way some people go to an art gallery or meditate. So I found out Penrith were playing Pickering Town and went along to the game on my own.

France secured their place at next summer's World Cup with an easy 4-0 win over Ukraine in Paris. Les Bleus dominated possession from the outset but struggled to turn territory into clear chances before the break. Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki provided early spark on the flanks, while Kylian Mbappe twice tested Anatoliy Trubin, who produced strong saves from a low drive in the 17th minute and a bending Barcola effort just before half-time.

Switzerland were the toast of the continent this summer as hosts of the Women's European Championship. The national team reached the quarter-finals for the first time and a total of 623,088 were in attendance at the 31 matches, a tournament record. The hope within Switzerland was for a boost at club level similar to what England experienced three years previously. Those heights have not been reached, but there has been a definite bump.

"He's brimming with confidence; he's in the discussion to be the best defender in the world this season. He's one of those dominant defenders who are capable of pressing high. It's important to have players like that. He's able to run with the attackers, to win duels. He's a tactical asset. He's at a big club, Bayern Munich; there aren't many better clubs, but there's better,"

He's a very important player because he's one of the talents to have come out of Brazilian football. We're evaluating him. But it's not true that I said Endrick should leave Real Madrid to go to the World Cup. That's a matter between Real Madrid and the player. He needs to talk to the club and make the best decision for himself and for Real Madrid.

Uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has been left out of the England squad to face Serbia in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Thursday.

"Right now he's super important because we've got a few players out injured in that position and because he's a very good player,"

"He suggested, 'can you not ask [Danish coach Sepp] Piontek to play for 45 minutes or maybe less? Then I'll pick you up and we come with a private jet and you can play in the evening in Bochum'. "I was not thinking it was too crazy because I was in the best shape of my life."