Italy gives winning sendoff for Spalletti in World Cup qualifying. De Bruyne saves Belgium
With a parting gift for Luciano Spalletti , Italy beat Moldova 2-0 on Monday for its first points in the beleaguered national team's attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
There was also a significant victory in World Cup qualifying for Belgium, with Kevin De Bruyne demonstrating his enduring class by scoring in the 88th minute to snatch a 4-3 win against Wales after his team squandered a 3-0 lead after 27 minutes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bellamy bullish about World Cup despite Wales' loss in thriller against Belgium
BOSS: Craig Bellamy was proud of his Wales players in Belgium (Image: Adam Davy) Craig Bellamy insisted Wales' hopes of qualifying automatically for the World Cup were far from over despite their dramatic 4-3 defeat to Belgium. Wales lost a seven-goal thriller in Brussels after fighting back from a 3-0 deficit, only for Kevin De Bruyne to deliver a gut punch two minutes from time. Advertisement It was Bellamy's first defeat in 10 games in charge and Wales were also knocked off top spot in Group J by North Macedonia, 1-0 winners in Kazakhstan. Belgium are three points behind Wales with two games in hand, and will visit Cardiff in October for the return fixture. The group winners will qualify automatically for next summer's finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with Wales almost certainly guaranteed a play-off place through their Nations League results. Wales manager Bellamy said: 'I think I read something from the Belgium media – 'an easy way to the USA'? 'There's a lot of life in this group and today I saw a lot of life in this team. We aren't going anywhere. Advertisement 'I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.' Belgium led 3-0 inside 27 minutes through Romelu Lukaku – a controversial penalty awarded after De Bruyne's shot hit the hand of Brennan Johnson – Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku. Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the penalty spot ahead of the break before Sorba Thomas, with his first Wales goal, and Johnson put the visitors back on level terms. Bellamy said: 'I don't like losing. I understand the game but how you lose is more important. 'Who are you as a person? Who is your team? I see that and I'm beyond proud. We're a good team. Advertisement 'To come to a top-eight team and can we play the way we want to play? I think the Belgium players saw it as well. I won't tell you what we discussed.' Bellamy had promised to go on the attack in Brussels before the game and not sit back and defend against opponents ranked eighth in the world. He said: 'I understand results, I really do. But football means more to me than that. It always has done. 'I'd rather try something great and fail than do nothing and succeed. I've always been that way. 'I might not be great at anything but I'll try to be. It means more. I liked that. 'I said I wasn't coming to sit back, it's not in my nature, don't do it … it's not our culture, it's not who we are. 'So for me it was, 'can we come to a top-eight team in the world then and come and play?'.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chiefs Turn Heads After Announcement on Patrick Mahomes' Teammate
Chiefs Turn Heads After Announcement on Patrick Mahomes' Teammate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kansas City Chiefs may have hit a speed bump last season, but they have been at the top of the NFL world for much of the past several years. Advertisement Kansas City has been to three straight Super Bowls, having won in 2023 and 2024. Last season, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs suffered a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, ending their chances of winning three straight titles. Before their loss to the Eagles, the Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills in the postseason, earning the AFC championship. After the season, the Chiefs headed back to the whiteboard, looking to improve on their quest for four straight Super Bowl appearances. During the offseason, Pro Football Focus dropped its center rankings, listing Chiefs star Creed Humphrey as the No. 1 center in the NFL. Advertisement The Chiefs reacted to the announcement on social media, adding a strong statement to their post. "Giving credit where it's due," posted the official social media account of the Kansas City Chiefs. "PFF named Creed Humphrey the 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 center in the league headed into this season." Upon the release of the announcement, some fans took to social media, sharing their thoughts on the ranking. "Congratulations Creed! You deserve it! Go Chiefs," said one fan. "Protect QB1," said another fan. "It's about time," mentioned one fan. "That's my center," commented one fan. "Too bad his qb is Mahomes," said one fan. Advertisement "Congrats Creed!!! You are the man," said another fan. Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid talks with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Creed Humphrey was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 after starring at Oklahoma at the collegiate level. Since joining the Chiefs and helping lead the offense with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes, Humphrey has been named a three-time Pro Bowler. The Chiefs star, who has already earned three Super Bowl titles, has also been honored as a Second-Team and First-Team All-Pro. Related: Patrick Mahomes Turns Heads with Personal Announcement on Sunday Related: Patrick Mahomes Had No Words for Kansas City Star Amid Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Wan'Dale Robinson Seeing Early Returns From Giants' Russell Wilson
Wan'Dale Robinson Seeing Early Returns From Giants' Russell Wilson originally appeared on Athlon Sports. New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson will be tasked with more than just leading the 2025 offense. He'll be asked to mentor Jaxson Dart and lead the team through the turbulence that may come. Advertisement But for much of the roster, Dart's long-term fate isn't a huge priority. They may not be on the next good Giants team. In such a ruthless game, they may not even be in the league at all when Dart starts Week 1 of the 2026 season. Players will do what they can to make Dart successful, but performing on Sundays comes first. For as long as Wilson is the starter, New York will trust him to give the team the best chance to win. By default, he should be an upgrade over Daniel Jones, and his teammates are already taking notice. Receiver Wan'Dale Robinson revealed his first impression of Wilson after the Giants' organized team activities (OTAs) on Thursday. 'That deep ball just drops right in the bucket, for sure,' Robinson said. 'And then whenever he's throwing just the shorter routes and stuff like that, it kind of comes in like a pillow. It's really, really easy to catch, which I like.' Advertisement Wilson is far from a sure thing. His play is volatile, winning six of his first seven starts in 2024 before losing five consecutive games, including the AFC Wild Card Round contest against the Baltimore Ravens. He can avoid the middle of the field and make questionable plays under pressure, too. But even Wilson's decline has been more effective than recent quarterbacking in New York. Since 2022 (and coincidentally in 2024 itself), he has posted 0.019 expected points added per play, a below-average mark that falls between Aaron Rodgers and Bryce Young's production from this past season. In the Brian Daboll era, the Giants have generated -0.054 expected points added per dropback, ahead of just four teams (rbsdm). Wilson, undeniably, is an upgrade. Robinson, and seemingly his peers in the receiving room, know it. 'Even the first time we threw, me and (Darius) Slay(ton) were both like, this is actually better than we expected,' he said. 'And so, no, we were ecstatic about it, and couldn't be more happy that he's our quarterback.' Advertisement Related: NFC East Receiver Rankings: Giants Steady As Rivals Improve Related: NFC East Positional Rankings: Do Giants' Quarterbacks Matter? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
