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
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ireland aim to 'turn big results into series wins'
Ireland assistant coach Gary Wilson says the team are aiming to turn big one-off wins into series successes as they prepare to face the West Indies in three T20 internationals at Bready. The teams drew their ODI series in May, with Ireland winning the first match, the second ending in a draw after a lengthy rain delay and the tourists running out convincing winners in the third game. Advertisement The Irish side has won three and lost three of their previous T20Is against the West Indies and triumphed by nine wickets in the last meeting between the sides in the T20 format in a World Cup encounter in Hobart in 2022. Ireland also secured a shock nine-wicket win on the last occasion the West Indies visited the north west, after bowling their opponents out for just 25 runs at Sion Mills back in 1969. "We have had a decent record against the West Indies over the past number of years and it's a great place to play cricket here. The locals really get behind it. It's a hotbed of Irish cricket," observed Wilson. "Obviously we know how good they are in this form of cricket - it's definitely the format they feel most comfortable in but we're looking forward to the challenge and hopefully the weather plays ball. Advertisement "We've shown a big ability to get big results, especially on the global stage over the last number of years, now we're looking to put that into series wins rather than one-off games." The T20 games take place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. 'We'll get after it' - Adair West Indies lost all three of their T20Is against England in recent days, but returning pace bowler Mark Adair knows they will be formidable opposition. Adair returns to the squad after missing the ODI series through injury but Craig Young, Curtis Campher and Gareth Delany have been ruled out. "They're one of the best teams in the world in my opinion. I think they've got some of the most exciting cricketers and are one of the most entertaining teams to watch," observed Adair. Advertisement "This is a fresh challenge and we'll get after it. Hopefully we can do the business." "The aspiration is to win the series. I think we match up pretty well and I'm looking forward to getting back out there." In addition to Adair's return, Tim Tector, younger brother of experienced batter Harry, comes into the squad for the triple header, along with Stephen Doheny and spin bowler Gavin Hoey. "Mark is a big player for us and has been for the past 24 months, if not longer," said assistant coach Wilson. "He's plying his trade around the world now and it's great that he's getting that recognition because he has put in some match-winning performances for us. Advertisement "Tim is here on merit and he's shown over a period of time in interpro cricket that he's got good run-scoring ability in this form of the game and I'm sure he's looking forward to the opportunity."
13 minutes ago
US concedes 4 first-half goals, falls to Switzerland 4-0 for first 4-game losing streak since 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The United States gave up four goals in the first half and looked unprepared for next year's World Cup, getting routed by Switzerland 4-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night as the Americans lost their fourth straight game for the first time since 2007. Dan Ndoye scored in the 13th minute, Michel Aebischer in the 23rd, Breel Embolo in the 33rd and Johan Manzambi in the 36th. The Americans failed to put a shot on target and have lost four consecutive home games for the third time and first since 1988. Switzerland won its third straight match and extended the U.S. winless streak against European opponents to eight games since 2021. Fans at Geodis Park booed loudly as the U.S. gave up four goals by the 40th minute for the first time since Nov. 9, 1980, at Mexico and the first time ever at home, according to Opta. The match was played one year and one day before the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S. starts. Going into their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the Americans are 5-5 under Mauricio Pochettino, who took over after first-round elimination last year's Copa America led the U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter. Ndoye burst behind Nate Harriel to run onto a through pass for the first goal; Manzambi dribbled past Max Arfsten along the endline to leave Aebischer with a tap-in for the second; goalkeeper Matt Turner spilled Ricardo Rodriguez's shot to leave Embolo an open net for the third; and a mix-up when Quinn Sullivan passed to Sebastian Berhalter as the former coach's son slipped created a giveaway that led to Manzambi's first international goal. The U.S. had not lost four straight games since a five-game skid in 2007. The Americans were missing Christian Pulisic (wanted time off); Yunus Musah (personal reason not disclosed); Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna (headed to the Club World Cup); Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun (injured); and Sergiño Dest (regaining fitness). Turner played his first game for club or country since March 23. Berhalter started in his debut, and Brenden and Paxten Aaronson became the fourth set of brothers to start for the U.S., and the first since George and Louis Nanchoff in 1979. Pochettino made nine changes from Saturday's 2-1 loss to Turkey, keeping only Arfsten and midfielder Johnny Cardoso. The U.S. made five changes to start the second half and Damion Downs made his debut in the 75th minute.
Forbes
24 minutes ago
- Forbes
FC Barcelona Coach Flick Chooses Surprise Transfer Target
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has picked a surprising player as a potential transfer target ... More this summer according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources. FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has picked a surprising player as a potential transfer target this summer according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources. The German is the man of the hour in Catalonia after leading Barca to an impressive domestic treble in his maiden term. Had the Catalans managed to hold on for a few more minutes at the San Siro with a 3-2 lead, after trailing by two goals, he would have also taken them to a first Champions League final since 2015. That wasn't to be, as Inter Milan equalized in the 93rd minute and then scored in extra time to secure a 4-3 win on the night and dramatic 7-6 aggregate victory as part of what many called the best UCL last four tie of all time. Reacting to the loss, and the amount of goals conceded against an outfit that didn't manage to put a single strike past Paris Saint-Germain in a 5-0 thrashing that was the European competition's final, Barca is already closing in on a goalkeeper talked up as potentially world class in Joan Garcia. On Wednesday, the 24-year-old's controversial switch from crosstown rival Espanyol to don Blaugrana should be completed by depositing his $28.5 million (€25 million) release clause, which could turn out to be a bargain in the long run. After that deal has been wrapped up and announced, Barca will then move on to trying to buy an attacker that is capable of playing primarily on the left wing and other positions across the frontline. Top targets in that respect are Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, who Flick gave his thumbs up to in January, and Liverpool's Luis Diaz. On Tuesday night, though, Mundo Deportivo reported that Flick has highlighted another potential signing that is 'not incompatible' with a Colombian international in Luis Diaz who is now an 'absolute priority' according to the newspaper. That's none other than Ivan Perisic, with whom Flick won the Champions League in 2020 and is fancied to strengthen Barca's attack 'due to his versatility and experience'. Unlike Diaz, who is expected to cost at least $97 million (€85 million) to buy from a Premier League giant that has lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid but is expected to sign German wonderkid Florian Wirtz, Perisic would cost nothing. The 36-year-old, who has just won the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, also wouldn't have high salary demands and wants to continue competing at the highest level to arrive at the World Cup in peak shape next year. It goes without saying that born winner Perisic would give FC Barcelona more options moving forward. Not only able to give the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha a rest when needed, he would be sure to become a fan favourite for his work rate and intensity.
