Sports1 day ago3 min
Messi's Argentina farewell: a win over Benin, but what comes next?
Lionel Messi played his final Argentina match on October 6, 2026, scoring once and assisting twice in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin in Buenos Aires.
Read reportSports desk · match reports
Sports
All published match reports from the Sports desk. Use the league pills to narrow the edition.
Scores & fixtures
Scotland 1–2 Slovenia: wasteful at Hampden or a verdict still to be proven?
Scotland dominated the ball and the shot count against Slovenia but lost 2–1, raising the question of whether the problem was finishing or something the numbers alone cannot settle.
Read report
Croatia’s post-Dalić rebuild exposed as Spain win in Split
Croatia led Spain but lost 2–1, a result that deepens questions about the balance of the team after Zlatko Dalić’s July departure.
Read report
Scotland 1-2 Slovenia: Christie's Set-Piece Opener Undone as Sturm and Matko Flip Hampden
Scotland outshot Slovenia 12-10 and built 2.17 xG to 1.33, but Aljoša Matko and Danijel Šturm scored twice in 15 second-half minutes to hand Slovenia a 2-1 Nations League win at Hampden.
Read report
England 3-0 Czechia: Kane Double and Coufal Own Goal Settle Wembley Night
Harry Kane scored twice and Vladimír Coufal's own goal opened the scoring as England cruised past Czechia 3-0 at Wembley in Nations League A Group 3.
Read report
Merino's Late Double Sinks Croatia as Spain Steal 2-1 Win at Poljud
Croatia outshot Spain and edged the xG battle, but Mikel Merino's 88th-minute winner gave Spain a 2-1 Nations League victory at Stadion Poljud.
Read reportSports1 day ago3 min
Seven Names, One Deadline: Why the 2036 Olympic Race Is Only Just Beginning
The seven-country list for the 2036 Summer Olympics is an early snapshot, not a settled contest: declarations remain open until 31 October and the IOC will not shortlist interested parties until March 2027.
Read report
Northern Ireland’s Dominance Without Reward in Frustrating Georgia Stalemate
Despite a surge in attacking output, Northern Ireland were held to a goalless draw by Georgia, leaving their promotion push finely balanced.
Read report
Italy overcome Turkiye 3-1 with second-half surge
Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring before Aral Şimşir replied, but Riccardo Calafiori’s header and Francesco Pio Esposito’s late finish secured a 3‑1 win for Italy in the UEFA Nations League.
Read reportNorthern Ireland create chances but settle for goalless draw with Georgia
Northern Ireland outshot Georgia 15‑7, generated 1.84 xG and dominated the box, but the match finished 0‑0.
Read report
Ireland’s attacking surge stalls at a point in tense Nations League draw
A flood of chances and higher possession could not turn Ireland’s 1‑1 draw with Israel into three points, as off‑field tensions added to the frustration.
Read reportDenmark edge Wales as Bellamy’s side falters in chance creation
A 1‑0 defeat in Cardiff underlines Wales’ struggle to match the balance enjoyed under Chris Coleman.
Read reportGreece’s Tactical Tightrope: Holding Germany in the Nations League
Greece’s 0-0 draw with Germany at the Stadio Toumbas highlights a resilient defensive setup, even as the team navigates a period of significant tactical transition.
Read report
Norway's Tactical Regression: A Numbers-Driven Slump in Nations League
Norway's 2-1 defeat to Portugal highlights a sharp drop in tactical output, with possession and passing metrics falling well below their 2026 averages.
Read reportRasmus Højlund’s Penalty Decides Clinical Denmark Victory in Cardiff
Denmark secured a 1-0 win over Wales in the UEFA Nations League, with Rasmus Højlund’s 75th-minute penalty proving the difference in a dominant attacking display.
Read reportGonçalo Ramos' Late Strike Seals Portugal's 2-1 Win Over Norway
Portugal overcame an early deficit to beat Norway 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League, with Gonçalo Ramos providing the decisive goal in the 79th minute.
Read reportIreland and Israel Deadlocked in Tactical Stalemate at TSC Arena
Troy Parrott’s first-half penalty was cancelled out by Dor Peretz shortly after the break as Ireland and Israel played out a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Nations League.
Read report
Serbia's search for identity deepens after winless Nations League start
A 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands leaves Serbia bottom of their group, highlighting a stark decline in stability and results.
Read reportGreece's Set-Piece Surge Fails to Break Germany's Iron Wall in 0-0 Stalemate
Greece matched Germany's xG in the second half but failed to convert, ending the Nations League clash 0-0 at Stadio Toumbas.
Read reportNetherlands edge Serbia 2‑1 with Koopmeiners free‑kick and Zirkzee finish
Teun Koopmeiners opened the scoring from a set‑piece before Mihajlo Cvetković replied, and Joshua Zirkzee’s late strike secured the win for the Dutch in the UEFA Nations League clash.
Read reportScotland's Attacking Surge: A Clinical Conundrum in Skopje
Scotland secured a vital victory over North Macedonia, but the disparity between their high-volume attacking output and actual goal return raises questions about long-term efficiency.
Read reportPortugal dismantle Denmark with clinical efficiency in 4-2 Nations League win
Portugal secured a 4-2 victory in Copenhagen, out-creating Denmark 2.25 to 0.76 in expected goals to dominate the Nations League A encounter.
Read reportScotland overwhelm North Macedonia in Nations League masterclass
A clinical Scotland side dominated the Nacionalna Arena Toše Proeski, turning a massive xG advantage into a commanding 2-0 victory.
Read reportNorthern Ireland dismantle Ukraine with low-block mastery and set-piece precision
Northern Ireland's youngest post-war XI delivered a 3-0 Nations League win in Slovakia, turning 28% possession into three goals while Ukraine's 72% share yielded just 0.38 xG.
Read reportSports4 days ago3 min
Matt Ellis's five-year plan delivers Super League title in just two seasons
Wakefield Trinity defeated Warrington Wolves 23-10 at Old Trafford to win their first top-flight title since 1968, while Tyson Smoothy became only the second player to win NRL and Super League titles in consecutive seasons.
Read report
Olise Free-Kick Cancelled Out as Bastoni Earns Italy a Point in Paris
France dominated possession and territory but were held 1-1 by Italy at the Stade de France, with Michael Olise's free-kick cancelled out by Alessandro Bastoni's second-half header.
Read report
England Humiliate Croatia 7-0 in Record Nations League Victory
Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice as England routed Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka, avenging their 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat with the biggest win in Nations League A history.
Read report
Spain extend record run to 40 but injuries expose a thinning attack
A 3-1 win over Czechia kept Spain’s perfect Nations League start alive, yet the absence of Nico Williams and Ferran Torres leaves the World Cup holders asking how long their depleted forward line can sustain the streak.
Read report
Rodri’s Precision Seals Spain’s 3-1 Cruise Past Czechia
Spain dominated possession and chances, with Rodri’s first-half strike and late Merino goal securing a comfortable Nations League win.
Read report
Parrott's brace cancelled out as Austria fight back for 2-2 draw
Troy Parrott's first-half double put Ireland in control, but Austria struck twice in six minutes after the break to snatch a point in Dublin.
Read reportRaphinha hat-trick powers Barcelona to dominant win at Sevilla
Barcelona overwhelmed Sevilla 3-1 with a second-half xG surge of 2.30, as Raphinha scored three and Lamine Yamal created two in a display of total control.
Read reportLeeds United Blank Crystal Palace as 3-5-2 Smothers Elland Road Affair
Leeds United and Crystal Palace played out a combative 0-0 draw at Elland Road, with Leeds's structured 3-5-2 neutralizing Palace in tight central corridors.
Read reportCunha rescues point for United after Martínez own goal gives Fulham lead
Matheus Cunha's 89th-minute strike cancelled out Lisandro Martínez's own goal as Manchester United came from behind to draw 1-1 at Craven Cottage.
Read reportAmed Sportif Defies Territorial Siege to Stun Beşiktaş
Amed Sportif secured a 3-2 victory over Beşiktaş, overcoming a massive possession deficit through clinical finishing and a resilient defensive display at Diyarbakır Stadyumu.
Read reportJuventus 2-0 Atalanta: Bremer header caps second-half dominance
Juventus converted limited first-half chances then overwhelmed Atalanta after the break to secure a 2-0 Serie A win at the Allianz Stadium.
Read reportMarquinhos strikes late as PSG overwhelm Marseille in Vélodrome thriller
Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-1 victory at the Vélodrome, overcoming a stubborn Marseille side through a dominant second-half attacking surge.
Read report
De Bruyne Double Powers Belgium Past Turkiye in Nations League
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and Romelu Lukaku added a third as Belgium beat Turkiye 3-0 in Liège to take control of UEFA Nations League Group 1.
Read report
Wales 2-1 Norway: James and Williams strike to end Bellamy's winless run
Wales came from behind to beat 10-man Norway 2-1 in Cardiff, with Daniel James and Neco Williams on target after Oscar Bobb's early opener.
Read report
Greece hold Netherlands to 2-2 draw in Nations League clash
Greece led twice through Fotis Ioannidis and Giorgos Masouras before the Netherlands fought back with Virgil van Dijk’s header and Tijjani Reijnders’ late strike, finishing 2-2 in Thessaloniki.
Read report
Wirtz and Bischof strike as Germany overwhelm Serbia in Nations League
Germany cruised to a 2-0 victory over Serbia at the Allianz Arena, with Florian Wirtz and Tom Bischof on target in a match defined by total territorial dominance.
Read report