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Steve Bruce fears he might be sacked by Newcastle before his 1,000th game as a manager following the completion of a Saudi Arabian-backed takeover.

The Premier League approved the sale of Newcastle to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Thursday, bringing an end to a saga that had been running for well over a year.

A new era will now be ushered in at St James' Park as Mike Ashley's 14-year ownership spell comes to an end, and it has been suggested that Bruce will follow him out the exit door.

What's been said?

The 60-year-old is aware that the new owners may want to make changes to the current coaching staff, and although he would like to continue his spell in charge of the Magpies, he wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make it to their next Premier League outing against Tottenham on October 17.

Bruce, who was in the dugout for his 999th game as a head coach in Newcastle's 2-1 defeat to Wolves just before the international break, has told The Telegraph: “I want to continue, I’d like the chance to show the new owners what I can do, but you have to be realistic and they may well want a new manager to launch things for them.

"New owners normally want a new manager. I’ve been around long enough to understand that. That decision is not up to me. I accept that and I will accept what comes my way. I have to wait to have those conversations with people when the time is right.

“If I don’t make it to a 1,000 games against Spurs, you might say that could only happen to me, but I don’t think it would be cruel. It’s just football."

Bruce under pressure

Questions were already being asked over Bruce's position at St James' Park following his side's poor start to the 2021-22 campaign.

The loss to Wolves saw the Magpies slip to 19th in the table with only one win from their first seven games, and supporters appear to be losing patience with the English tactician.

Bruce concedes that his two-year reign has been tough right from the get-go, but he still takes great pride in leading the club and wants the best for them going forward regardless of whether he is kept on or not.

“This is not about me, I cannot stress that enough,” he added. “I have said from the first-day news of this takeover came out in public, that if it is the best thing for the football club, if it takes this magnificent football club forward then I am all for it.

“I am not going to be bitter or angry about anything, whatever happens. Of course there will be sadness if I lose my job, it’s the job I’ve wanted my whole life, certainly since I became a manager and as hard as it’s been, I have been enormously proud to be manager of Newcastle United. That will never change.

“What happens to me, well, it’s not irrelevant, but this is about the football club and its future. I really hope this is the start of an exciting new era, it certainly sounds exciting when you read about how much money Saudi Arabians have."

Further reading

Bayern Munich are plotting a transfer swoop for Liverpool-linked starlet Karim Adeyemi, Goal and SPOX can confirm.

Adeyemi is attracting attention from top sides across Europe after a bright start to his career at Red Bull Salzburg, who snapped him up from German fourth-tier outfit SpVgg Unterhaching back in 2018.

Liverpool are among those being credited with an interest in the 19-year-old, but Bayern are hoping to win the race for his signature when the transfer window reopens.

Bayern's plan to snap up Adeyemi

Goal and SPOX understand that the reigning Bundesliga champions want to sign Adeyemi in January.

The teenage striker took in a spell in Bayern's youth ranks between 2010 and 2012, and they are eager to bring him back to the club as a potential long-term successor for Robert Lewandowski.

If a deal can be finalised in the winter market, the German giants are planning to send Adeyemi straight back to Salzburg on loan to continue his development.

He is being lined up for a role in Bayern's senior squad from 2022-23 onwards, with the club wary of being short on attacking options if Kingsley Coman leaves Allianz Arena next summer.

Who else is in the hunt for Adeyemi?

In addition to Bayern and Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also keen admirers of Adeyemi.

Dortmund and Leipzig may even have the edge in any bidding war given the fact that both sides could possibly guarantee more regular playing time for the Germany international at this stage of his career.

Adeyemi's record for Salzburg

Adeyemi, whose current contract at Salzburg does not expire until 2024, has appeared in 66 games in all competitions for the club to date.

The talented young forward has recorded 21 goals for the Austrian side, including 11 at the start of the 2021-22 campaign, and has also set up another 17 for his team-mates.

Further reading

Newcastle United are under new ownership, with a £300 million ($408m) deal led by a Saudi Arabian consortium being completed as Mike Ashley’s 14-year tenure at St James’ Park comes to a close.

Change behind the scenes on Tyneside had been mooted for some time, with several proposals speculated on down the years as a disgruntled fan base longed for fresh investment.

That has now arrived, amid talk of big-money signings and managerial tweaks, with a new era being welcomed in by Premier League heavyweights.

What's been said?

The Premier League have released an official statement confirming that the takeover has been completed, which reads: "The Premier League, Newcastle United Football Club and St James Holdings Limited have today settled the dispute over the takeover of the club by the consortium of PIF, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media.

"Following the completion of the Premier League's Owners' and Directors' Test, the club has been sold to the consortium with immediate effect."

Amid controversy over the new owners, the league added: "The Premier League has now received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club."

What is the deal for Newcastle?

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) have acquired an 80 per cent controlling stake in the Magpies, with Ashley’s controversial ownership coming to an end as a result.

With PIF providing 80% of the funds for a takeover, a deal has passed the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test regarding who is calling the shots at St James’ Park.

With a green light given by the English top-flight, following a breakdown in discussions back in July 2020, Newcastle can now start planning for what they hope will be a brighter future.

Staveley's PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers are also among the partners that now hold the reins of an ambitious but success-starved outfit.

Opposition to the deal

While Magpies supporters have been crying out for someone to remove Ashley from office, a deal with Saudi investors has not been universally well-received.

Amnesty International have cited Saudi Arabia’s human rights record as cause for the takeover to be opposed, with their UK chief executive, Sacha Deshmukh, saying: "Ever since this deal was first talked about we said it represented a clear attempt by the Saudi authorities to sports wash their appalling human rights record with the glamour of top-flight football.

"Saudi ownership of St James' Park was always as much about image management for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his government as it was about football."

Who is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman?

The 36-year-old has been Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia since June 2017 and is also the country's deputy prime minister, Chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, Chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs, and Minister of Defense.

Bin Salman is estimated to have a personal fortune of around £13 billion ($17.6bn), which would place him just behind Manchester City supremo Sheikh Mansour on a list of the Premier League’s richest owners.

Further reading

It was another frustrating afternoon for the beleaguered Indian head coach Igor Stimac.

His troops went up against a Sri Lankan side that is ranked 98-places behind them in the FIFA rankings and not only did the team fail to bag three points but they also looked insipid, disjointed, and clueless. And Igor Stimac has to face the brunt, along with the players who underperformed. 

India's starting XI was baffling, to say the least. Even after 19 matches, the Croatian is yet to find his best XI. He made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 against Bangladesh and yet the performance hardly improved. He started with Suresh Singh and Glan Martins in midfield, two defensive midfielders, in a match where India should be looking to crush the opponents with a flurry of attacks.

Although the Blue Tigers did dominate possession there was hardly any creativity in the attacking third. Sahal Abdul Samad was brought 68 minutes after kick-off. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka executed their plan to perfection. They stuck to the basics, were resolute in defence, and walked away with a valuable point at the end of the game. 

Let us take a look at the three key points from the match. 

Atrocious finishing 

At a time when chances are coming at a premium, a team should bury the bare minimum that they create. Throughout the 90 minutes India created around two-and-a-half chances and all of them went begging.

In the first half, Liston Colaco was unmarked and yet could not test Sri Lanka's keeper with his header, let alone score. And, in the second half, Subhasish Bose could only balloon his shot over the crossbar from close-range despite having a clear shot at the goal.

At the international level, you are expected to convert these simple chances and failing to do so further highlights the plight of Indian football at large. 

India struggles to breakdown teams

The Indian team earned plaudits for drawing against Qatar in Doha in 2019 and also did a commendable job in the reverse fixture of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, although went down by a goal to the reigning Asian champions. In both the matches, they did not have to take the initiative and instead defended with two banks of four against a formidable Qatari side. However, the team has struggled on most occasions where they have had to grow out of their cocoon and pull the strings. 

The 1-1 draw against Bangladesh at the Salt Lake Stadium and the previous one in SAFF Championship, the recent friendlies against Nepal in September, and the latest snoozefest against Sri Lanka are evidence to establish that Stimac's India struggles to break down teams who prefer to sit back and defend.

The task gets all the more difficult when you choose to field two defensive midfielders instead of an attack-minded player. 

Mission accomplished for Sri Lanka 

Amir Alagic's men walked away with a point, a memorable result, and with their heads held high. They did not try doing fancy, outrageous things but stuck to their game plan, which was to defend resolutely and prevent India from getting into a rhythm. They set themselves up in a 5-4-1 formation and hardly gave away any space at the back. They allowed India to get into their half and then tightened the noose with fervent running and soft fouls.

The Golden Army did not let go of any opportunity to make a meal of an injury and their goalkeeper Sujan Perera even complained of cramps during the final minutes of the match. Hence there were four additional minutes at the end of the first half and 10 after the regulation time. 

However, all these crude tactics did get them the result they were looking for. They now have a point to show for their efforts after losing to Nepal. 

Gor Mahia are, once again, on the verge of being handed a transfer ban by Fifa if they don't settle what they owe Jackson Owusu in the next 45 days, with the bill totaling more than Ksh.3 million ($27,000), inclusive of interest and allowances. 

The midfielder was part of K'Ogalo squad under former coach Steven Polack but was released in October, after just a single season with K'Ogalo. His dues were not settled and after intervention from the Ghanaian Footballers Association, still, Gor Mahia did not oblige.

The midfielder then opted to report the Football Kenya Federation Premier League side to Fifa.

What has been said?

"On 20 January 2020, the Ghanaian player, Owusu Jackson, and the Kenyan club, Gor Mahia FC concluded an employment contract valid for the period of one year," a statement from Fifa, and obtained by Goal read.

"The player was entitled to a monthly salary of Ksh.190,000, a monthly allowance of Ksh.6,000, a signing fee of [Ksh.1 million] and a housing allowance of Ksh.10,000. 

"On 4 February 2021, the player put the club in default for the payment of his entitlements, granting the club a 10 days’ deadline for paying the outstanding amounts, however to no avail."

What was the ruling?

On March 17, Owusu opted to file the claim before the Fifa Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) after Gor Mahia failed to settle the monies owed. 

"[Gor Mahia] failed to prove that any of the alleged amounts has been transferred to the player’s bank account as well as considering the player’s comments on such proof of payments, the DRC judge came to the conclusion that the outstanding amounts are due to [Owusu] and should be paid by [the club]," read the ruling.

"As a consequence, and in accordance with the general legal principle of pacta sunt servanda, [Gor Mahia] must fulfill its obligations as per the contract concluded with [Owusu] and, consequently, is to be held liable to pay the outstanding amounts of Ksh.1 million and Ksh 2.28 million to [Owusu].

"In addition, in accordance with its well-established jurisprudence and the request of [Owusu] the DRC decided that [Gor Mahia] had to pay default interest at a rate of 5% p.a. until the effective date of payment..."

45 days to pay or a ban to sign new players will be implemented

The former champions have been handed about eight weeks to pay the player or suffer the consequences.

"The DRC judge decided that [Gor Mahia] must pay the full amount due, including all applicable interest, to [Owusu] within 45 days of notification of the decision, failing which, at the request of [Owusu], a ban from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the maximum duration of three entire and consecutive registration periods shall become immediately effective..."

Recently, Gor Mahia's previous transfer ban was lifted after they paid former coach Steven Polack and former players Shafik Batambuze and Dickson Ambundo after Fifa's intervention.

Kaizer Chiefs have announced striker Samir Nurkovic “could be out between six to eight weeks” following surgery on his knee.

The Serb had been carrying a nagging knee injury which was operated on last week, according to Chiefs physiotherapist David Milner.

Having featured in four league games this season, Nurkovic appeared to be struggling with fitness amid criticism of his goal drought.

“Samir had surgery last week. They found a little tear in the cartilage of the right knee. The surgeon says he could be out between 6 to 8 weeks,” Milner told the Chiefs website.

“They smoothed out the cartilage. Overall the operation was a success and he will be reassessed by the surgeon in a week’s time. We will have a clearer idea as to what is going on and plan the recovery process. We believe the timeline provided is one we can work with for now.”

During Nurkovic’s absence so far in the last two games, Chiefs have managed just a single goal.

The 29-year-old joins fellow forward Leonardo Castro on the sidelines and leaves Amakhosi short of firepower.

Castro also underwent surgery and was recovering back in his home country Colombia, before recently returning to Johannesburg to continue with his rehabilitation.

The crisis upfront has seen Chefs coach Stuart Baxter turning to Lazarous Kambole, a player he had transfer-listed during pre-season.

Kambole even featured as a substitute in the 0-0 draw against Marumo Gallants recently.

Apart from Kambole, Chiefs currently have no outright striker who is fit and this has seen Bernard Parker being played in that position.

With the club desperate for their established forwards to return from injury, Nurkovic has given an update on his rehabilitation.

“All is well,” said Nurkovic. “It has been just a week since surgery. I am still moving around with crutches, it’s still painful but I am getting better and hopefully, soon we can start the rehab.”

After the current Fifa international break, Chiefs resume their Premier Soccer League responsibilities by hosting Chippa United as they seek to end a four-match winless run.

Brazil and Argentina are handing unwelcome selection headaches to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham by refusing the early release of Premier League-based players from international duty.

Both of the South American nations have stated that those selected in their latest squads must complete a three-game run through World Cup qualification.

With Brazil and Argentina not due to take in their final fixtures of the international break until the early hours of October 15 BST, there is little chance of those that play their club football in England making it back for domestic duty the following day.

What has been said?

Brazil boss Tite has told reporters when asked about allowing players to return to their respective clubs ahead of schedule: "There was never that possibility [of them returning to England early]. They were called up for the three games."

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said: "We are not going to do the same as last time with the Premier League players.

"Before the game with Venezuela I said that they came to play all three games but the players raised a difficult decision for me and I understood it, I released them.

"Now the players are here to play the three games. Under no point of view they will leave earlier."

Which players have been selected?

Manchester City pair Ederson and Gabriel Jesus form part of the Brazil squad, along with Liverpool duo Alisson and Fabinho.

The Selecao have also called upon Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, Manchester United star Fred, Leeds winger Raphinha and Tottenham full-back Emerson Royal.

Argentina, meanwhile, have Villa keeper Emi Martinez and Spurs pair Cristiano Romero and Giovani Lo Celso in their ranks – with that trio causing controversy during the September break when they travelled without quarantining and saw a meeting with Brazil abandoned once health officials had entered the field.

In the latest round of games, Brazil will face Venezuela, Colombia and Uruguay, while Argentina tackle Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru.

Which Premier League games will be impacted?

Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Thomas Tuchel, Nuno, Marcelo Bielsa, Dean Smith and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are now having to revise selection plans.

Liverpool will take in a trip to Watford in the lunchtime kick-off on October 16, while Manchester City host Burnley at 3pm BST that Saturday afternoon and Chelsea pay a visit to west London neighbours Brentford at 5.30pm.

Manchester United are also in action at 3pm, against Leicester, as are Leeds and Aston Villa, who face Southampton and Wolves respectively.

Tottenham ’s away date at Newcastle will not take place until Sunday afternoon, but there is still little chance of their South American contingent returning in time for that fixture.

Further reading

Uganda defender Enock Walusimbi has stated they are ready to show Rwanda what they are made of during Thursday's 2022 World Cup qualifier at Nyamirambo Stadium.

The Cranes are in Kigali for Group E's game against Amavubi and the Express FC star confirmed they are ready.

"All we are waiting for is the first whistle and we show them [Rwanda] what we are made of," Walusimbi is quoted by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations' website as saying.

"This is like the game of our lives because it means a lot in our campaign of qualifying for the World Cup. We only urge Ugandans to rally behind us as we face Rwanda."

On his part, Bobosi Byaruhanga said the qualifier is a great chance for the young players to show their worth.

‘We young players have learnt a lot, especially from the coaches and senior players. I think it is time we deliver and it is against Rwanda that we should do so," Byaruhanga said.

Meanwhile, Julius Poloto is hopeful they are going to overcome Amavubi as they search for their first win in the qualifiers.

"We need to win this game for Ugandans who have waited a long time without seeing their team win," stated Poloto.

"We have prepared well for the days we have been in camp and just looking forward to the game. We know that our opponents are also prepared to make the game harder on us, but we shall overcome them."

After the Thursday game, Uganda will host Rwanda again on October 10 at St Mary's Stadium in Kitende.

Uganda players in camp:

Lukwago Charles, Watenga Isma, Alionzi Nafian, Wafula Innocent, Poloto Julius, Muleme Isaac, Kayondo Aziz, Awanyi Timothy, Najib Fesali, Walusimbi Enock, Mulondo Livingstone, Waswa Geoffrey.

Aucho Khalid, Waiswa Moses, Lwanga Tadeo, Byaruhanga Bobosi, Iguma Denis, Kagimu Shafik, Orit Ibrahim, Kizza Martin, Kizza Mustafa, Sentamu Yunus, Rwothomio Cromwell, Mukwala Steven, Bayo Fahad.

EA Sports has revealed that it would be open to renaming its record-breaking FIFA franchise as part of plans for a “very bright” future.

The market-leading simulator, which holds a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling video sports game in the world, has been in existence since 1993.

FIFA 22 has recently hit the shelves and online stores, and been snapped up by millions across the globe, but upcoming editions could get a serious makeover as developers look to heed the advice of a loyal fan base.

What has been said?

Cam Weber, group general manager of EA Sports, has said in a statement on the company’s official website: “We’re here to create the best experiences for football fans everywhere. To do that, we start by listening to our players.

“We hear consistently that what matters most is growing the global community, creating innovative football experiences across new platforms, a commitment to every level of the sport including grassroots, and accelerating the elevation of the women’s game. As a result, we have a clear vision for the future of football.

“Through years of building our global franchise, we also know that authenticity is essential to the experience. That’s why we focus so much energy on the collective strength of over 300 individual licensed partners that give us access to 17,000+ athletes across 700+ teams, in 100 stadiums and over 30 leagues around the world.

“We continually invest in the partnerships and licenses that are most meaningful to players, and because of that, our game is the only place you can authentically play in the iconic UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONMEBOL Libertadores, Premier League, Bundesliga, and LaLiga Santander, among many others.

“The breadth of our partnerships and our ecosystem of licensed content will enable us to continue to bring unrivalled authenticity in our EA SPORTS football games, now and for many years to come.

“As we look ahead, we’re also exploring the idea of renaming our global EA SPORTS football games. This means we’re reviewing our naming rights agreement with FIFA, which is separate from all our other official partnerships and licenses across the football world.

“The future of football is very big and very bright. Our priority is to ensure we have every opportunity to continue delivering the world’s greatest interactive football experiences. Thank you again for your support and feedback on this year’s game. We look forward to creating the future of football with you.”

The history of FIFA

EA Sports joined the football video game market in 1993 with the launch of FIFA International Soccer.

It was then briefly FIFA Soccer in 1995 and 1996, before being condensed down to FIFA 97.

The World Cup of 1998 in France saw EA Sports produce an accompanying video game for the first time, with that project running through to the 2014 showpiece in Brazil.

Three versions of FIFA Street were produced between 2005 and 2008, while the main release was branded as FIFA Football from 2003 to 2005.

It has reverted back to merely ‘FIFA’ since 2006, while FIFA Mobile helped to expand the brand beyond static and handheld consoles in 2016.

FIFA 22 was released worldwide on October 1, with Paris Saint-Germain’s World Cup-winning forward Kylian Mbappe selected as the cover star for a second successive year.

Weber added on the success of that title: “Since launch, we’ve already had 9.1 million players join the game, 7.6 million Ultimate Team squads created and 460 million matches played. We will continue delivering amazing experiences throughout this season, but first - a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community of football fans.

“While we are only at the beginning of our journey with you in this year’s game, we’re also focused on where we go from here.”

Further reading

Gor Mahia sporting director Omondi Aduda has claimed they did not weaken their Football Kenya Federation Premier League traditional rivals AFC Leopards by signing Yusuf Mainge and Austin Odhiambo.
 
Odhiambo became the second player to join K'Ogalo recently after Mainge had completed a two-year deal.

"We have not weakened AFC Leopards," Aduda told Standard Sports.

"At the time we were engaging Mainge and Odhiambo, they had release letters from AFC Leopards. For your information, our latest acquisition [Odhiambo] has basically been training with Bandari for almost two weeks."

"We have not engaged any contracted players. When Odhiambo failed to agree on terms with Bandari, we called him, met, talked and he agreed to join us. If anything, there is a need for AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia to look at ways they can sustain their players so that there is continuity with respect to the contracts."
 
Odhiambo completed a deal from AFC Leopards to Gor Mahia on Tuesday and Aduda believes the move will help make it easier for players to cross from either side.
 
"But there is nothing peculiar about signing a player from AFC," Aduda added.
 
"This is football and we must use it to break some of these traditional barriers. In the past, it was difficult for players to switch between the two clubs, but the barrier was eventually broken."

The Central African Republic come up against Nigeria as the race towards qualifying for the 2022 Fifa World Cup continues on Thursday.

Victories over Liberia and Cape Verde have seen the Super Eagles lead Group C with six points, while Liberia occupy second position with just six points.

Against the Wild Beasts, they would be hoping to secure maximum points to boost their chances of qualifying for a seventh tournament.

Although they are massive underdogs heading into this crunch tie, Raoul Savoy’s men would be hoping to upset the three-time African kings at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Nevertheless, this could be a near-impossible task having in mind that they have failed to win any of their last nine matches in World Cup qualifiers.

Their last victory was against Botswana on June 2, 2012. In that fixture, they subdued the Zebras 2-0 at the Stade Barthelemy Boganda courtesy of Foxi Kethevoama’s second-half double.

TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

For Nigerian readers, get your fix on the latest football on TV here! For those across the globe, that is also the place to be.

Also, the game can be watched live on TV through NTA and it can be streamed online courtesy of the NFF streaming platform. 

Squads & Team News

Potential Nigeria XI: Okoye, Ekong, Balogun, Aina, Collins, Bonke, Aribo, Kalu, Simon, Osimhen, Iheanacho

Potential CAR XI: Samolah, Ngam Ngam, Ndobe, Ndokomandji, Yangao, Guinari, Toropite, Urie, Niamathe, M'Vondo, Namnganda

Betting & Match Odds

Nigeria are 1.12 favourites to win with Betking. Liberia's chances of winning are rated at 18.00 and a draw is available at 7.70.

Click here to see all of Betking's offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

Match Preview

Coach Raoul Savoy is aware of the quality in the Super Eagles squad, however, he hopes his team puts up a good fight.

His squad is majorly made up of players plying their trades in the Central African Republic top-flight, except for a few like Gisbert Zarambaud (Jura Sud) and Arnaud Tattevin (Paris).

“We are looking forward to the game against Nigeria and this fixture will be our biggest game in recent time,” the Spanish-Swiss tactician told media.

“The Super Eagles players are big names who play in top European teams, but we will try as much as possible to put up a good fight and hope for the best.”

This is the first time both countries will be squaring up against one another at international level.

Despite missing key players like Wilfred Ndidi, Terem Moffi and Alex Iwobi, Gernot Rohr boasts a strong squad that can deliver in Lagos.

For former Nigeria star Garba Lawal, these absences are not an excuse for the 2013 African kings.

"There are no easy games anymore but still, the players have no excuse not to beat them. Individually or collectively, we are better than the Central African Republic," Lawal told Goal.

"Nigeria is bigger than one player, whether we have injuries or not, time will tell that it's not about that. Some managers always have plan B, if ABC are not there then DEF can fill their spots.

"The most important thing is for them to win the game which they know better than you and I. Even if it is a home-based Eagles playing, they have no excuse not to beat Central African Republic."

In the life of Roberto Martinez, the past few months have been interesting to say the least.

Having led Belgium into Euro 2020 amid external claims that it was the last chance for the country's 'Golden Generation' to win a major trophy, Martinez and his players came up short, losing to eventual winners Italy in the quarter-finals.

Fast forward three months, though, and there is more silverware on offer for the Red Devils in the shape of the Nations League, with the finals taking place in Italy this week.

Winning the trophy would ensure that hope remains strong for the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard to take home the biggest prize of them all, the World Cup, in just over a year's time.

Will Martinez, though, still be in charge by then?

Despite having a contract with the Belgian FA that runs until the tournament in Qatar, the ex-Everton boss heads into this week's games with question marks over his future.

Not because failure to win would see him sacked, but rather because he has emerged as one of the favourites to take over at Barcelona if, as expected, Ronald Koeman is relieved of his duties in the coming weeks.

Martinez's work in lifting Belgium to No.1 in the world rankings, before keeping them there for three years, has not gone unnoticed at Camp Nou as they plan their own rebuild.

Belgium were reeling after being beaten by Wales in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 when Martinez took over, but he has brought a consistency in performance level to the team, while he also became the country's technical director in 2020 in a bid to oversee more than just the men's national side.

He has implemented scouting and analysis programs used throughout the men's and women's game in the country, while also overseeing the upgrading of the team's new training facility in Tubize, around 25 kilometres south of Brussels.

"It is powerful what these players have achieved," Martinez tells Goal in an exclusive interview at the recently refurbished Proximus Basecamp. "This building itself was paid for in 2018, where the budget difference between reaching the [World Cup] quarter-finals – which was our aim – and what we managed in finishing third allowed us to build it.

"That’s part of the beautiful story of this generation, that they have built that structure that will stand there for the next 50 years after setting a standard in terms of play."

Martinez has fostered an approach that is more akin to a club side than an international one.

"International football is a big challenge because you only get three sessions to prepare a game, but it was a conscious decision to establish a style of play from the beginning," he explains.

"You can do it in two ways. One is that you just bring in the players who are in form and bring them together to represent the national team, or you can try to work together with that pool of talent and consider what you would do at a club level. You work and synchronise concepts that you can keep for a period of time.

"We decided to foster that talent to grow together. It is clear that the relationships have become very strong. As well as keeping real continuity with the players in the group, we want to keep it competitive and the door open for new players coming into the national team too."

While fostering that team spirit has certainly paid dividends, getting over the final hurdle has remained elusive for this Belgium side as they prepare to face France in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Win that, and either Spain or a re-match with Italy will await them in the final, with all three of those countries aware of what it takes to win major tournaments given their successes of the past decade or so.

"I think there’s a big psychological barrier for a national team [that hasn’t won] to win a trophy," Martinez continues. "We have seen national teams that have had good and bad moments in tournaments, like Italy did in 2018, but they feel whenever they are in a tournament that they have the right to win it.

"If you’ve never won a major tournament, you don’t feel like you have that psychological approach. We haven’t got that back-up of having been European champions or world champions to feel that way, but we do have the commitment and talent that this generation gives you.

"Whatever way you want to look at it, it is a story for Belgium. If we play Spain, I grew up in Spain and the other option is Italy, who stopped us in the Euros. France are the team that beat us at the semi-final of the World Cup. There’s a lot of stories and plans we need to make."

And what of Martinez's plans for the future, especially if a certain Catalan side come calling in the not-too distant future?

"My career shows that I don’t make plans to get to where I am now. I just go from project to project. You learn that you have to be committed to today. In football, if you start thinking ahead, you just drop your performance and underachieve in what you can do.

"In my case, I am very, very happy in what I am doing, and I am just trying to achieve the next steps. In the end, if I have to arrive at a decision where there’s a door. I will just try to make the best decision for everyone.

"I always say that in football, I believe it is about relationships and football project. It doesn’t matter where it might be in the world, it's about having the time and means to have a long-term project and build something. That’s what I really enjoy, building something.

"That’s the importance: the person that believes in you, rather than the nature of the league that you are working in."

India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the group stage fixture of SAFF Championship 2021 on Thursday. Igor Stimac's team were held to a 1-1 draw by a 10-man Bangladesh in their opening fixture of the competition.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are winless in the championship as they registered a loss each against Bangladesh (0-1) and Nepal (2-3). 

Ahead of the crucial match, we take a look at the average age of the two squads. 

Sri Lanka, who are ranked 205 in the world, have a older squad as compared to India, who are 107 in the latest FIFA rankings. India have a younger contingent when compared to Sri Lanka only in the goalkeeping and midfield department. 

GOALKEEPERS

DEFENDERS

MIDFIELDERS

FORWARDS

The average age of India squad: 26 years

The average age of Sri Lanka squad: 27 years

It has been nearly three years since Jeje Lalpekhlua last played an international match. The last time he played for the Blue Tigers was in the final group game of Asian Cup 2019 against Bahrain which India lost 1-0.

Since then a lot has changed in Lalpekhlua's career. He missed the entire 2019-20 season due to a knee injury and was forced to undergo surgery. He came back in the 2020-21 season and donned the East Bengal jersey in the Indian Super League (ISL). He appeared in only seven ISL matches under coach Robbie Fowler and had one goal to show for his effort.

Post the knee surgery, Jeje hasn't enjoyed a purple patch of form. While he is yet to sign for a club in the 2021-22 season, he has also not featured for India under coach Igor Stimac and understandably so. The Mizoram-born forward has a formidable record in international football. In 54 matches, he has scored 23 goals and is the highest active Indian goalscorer after skipper Sunil Chhetri.

At his peak, Lalpekhlua formed a lethal strike partnership with Chhetri and together the duo provided several memorable moments for Indian football fans to cherish. From 2011 to 2019, when the striker was an integral part of the Indian national team, the Blue Tigers won 28 matches out of the 54 they played and scored 75 goals.

India managed to qualify for the Asian Cup 2019 and also won three international trophies (SAFF Championship 2018, Tri-Nation Series 2017 and Intercontinental Cup 2018).

Coincidentally, since the former Chennaiyin FC striker got sidelined from the national side, the performance graph of the team has also gone down. India, in the last two years have scored 18 goals in 18 matches and have won just thrice. Obviously, the quality of the opposition matters in this case however, India are now more than ever reliant on Chhetri for goals.

How did India perform with Jeje Lalpekhlua in the team?

In the 54 international matches Jeje Lalpekhlua has appeared in for India, the Blue Tigers have won 28 matches with a win percentage of 51.85 per cent. India lost 15 matches and have drawn 11 with Jeje in the team.

The forward himself has scored 23 international goals in those 54 matches while India have managed to score 75 goals during that time which is 1.38 goals per game.

How did India perform without Jeje Lalpekhlua in the team?

Since Jeje Lalpekhlua's last international match, India have played 18 matches so far where they have managed to win only three games with a win percentage of 16.67 per cent. They lost seven games and drawn eight. In these 18 matches, the Blue Tigers have scored 18 goals which is just one goal per game.

Morocco cruised to a comfortable 5-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau who struggled with diarrhoea and vomiting before their 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying match on Wednesday.

The West African country complained of a crisis that struck their team after they had their dinner on Tuesday, with players and members of the technical crew vomiting with diarrhoea.

After complaining about the issue on social media with the hope of having the match postponed, the match commissioner ordered the encounter to go ahead at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.

"All 25 players at Mister Baciro Cande's disposition have vomiting and diarrhoea after dinner tonight," a statement read Guinea-Bissau FA social media page.

"Also the elements of the technical team are also in the same situation. At the moment, players are being transported to hospital for more intensive care." 

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi started the party for Morocco with the opening goal in the 31st minute and Imran Louza doubled the lead from the penalty spot, just before half-time.

Four minutes after the restart, 20-year-old Ilyas Chaira made it 3-0 for Vahid Halilhodzic's men followed by goals from Ayoub El Kaabi and Sevilla’s El Haddadi Munir in the 62nd and 82nd minutes respectively.

The victory stretched the Atlas Lions' unbeaten run to 19 games in all competitions and it fired them to the top of Group I with six points from two games, while Guinea-Bissau are second in the table with four points after three games.

In the other Group I fixture, Sudan held Naby Keita's Guinea to a 1-1 draw in Marrakech.

The Liverpool midfielder started on the bench and he was introduced as a 68th-minute substitute.

Clermont star Mohamed Bayo scored Guinea's only goal in the 56th minute but it was cancelled out by Saifeldin Bakhit, 16 minutes later.

The Syli Nationale have now drawn two matches back-to-back in Group I after they settled for a 1-1 draw against Guinea-Bissau on September 1.

They are third on the standings with two points from two matches while Sudan languish at the bottom with just a point after three outings.

Gotham FC and Washington Spirit players forced a sixth-minute stoppage to their match Wednesday night to link arms in the middle of the field in protest of alleged rampant sexual abuse in the NWSL.

Teams in the evening's other games (North Carolina Courage vs Racing Louisville and Portland Thorns vs Houston Dash) plan to take the same action.

North Carolina head coach Paul Riley was recently fired amid sexual coercion accusations, and NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird subsequently resigned amid calls she didn't properly handle abundant warnings about Riley's alleged behavior. Those developments have put into full focus the scope of player protection shortcomings in the women's game, and the stories shared publicly in the U.S. over the past few weeks have inspired athletes in other countries to step forward as well.

What happened?

NWSL players in every match on Wednesday night will stop play in the sixth minute and come together at the center circle.

Gotham FC and Washington Spirit players kicked off the protests, with the two other games taking place later on.

What has been said?

Gotham FC player Domi Richardson told CBS: "The NWSL players reclaim their place on the field to honor victims and inspire and strengthen others. This isn't business as usual. We will not be silent."

The NWSL Players Association also released a statement on Wednesday night announcing demands to the league regarding its investigations into player treatment and protection.

"We will be relentless in our pursuit of a league that deserves the players in it," wrote the organization.

What is the context for these statements?

The NWSLPA said the sixth-minute stoppages signified “the six years it took for [alleged Riley victims] Mana [Shim], Sinead [Farrelly], and all those who fought for too long to be heard.”

Further reading

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini expressed displeasure after Gianluigi Donnarumma's rocky return to Milan on Wednesday, claiming fans should have prioritised their love for their national team over their anger at the player's recent Serie A club exit.

The former AC Milan goalkeeper lined up in front of San Siro for the first time since leaving for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer over the summer. 

And the Euro 2020 hero was targeted with boos and jeers from the crowd as Italy lost 2-1 to Spain in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. 

What was said? 

“It certainly won’t have pleased him, just as it did not please us. Gigio did well,” Mancini told reporters after the game.

"Donnarumma played for Italy and it was not a club game. 

"This situation could have been put aside for one night and [he could have been] whistled [at] in a possible PSG vs Milan [match]. Italy are Italy and come above all else."

Mancini also spoke out against the hostile reception to RAI Sport, stating that the whistling was an "unpleasant episode". 

'Defeat will help Italy grow'

Wednesday's defeat was the first Italy have suffered in 37 matches, a world-record run which spanned two years and included victory at Euro 2020. 

Spain, meanwhile, move on to face either France or Belgium in the Nations League final, but Azzurri defender Giorgio Chiellini tried to see the positives in adversity. 

“It’s a pity the defeat came in Milan, but there is proud for this extraordinary run of results,” the Juve stalwart told RAI Sport.

“it’s a necessary stage in the growth process for a team that can still do far better. We knew it was a difficult match, we called for patience and clear minds, sometimes you have to accept the opposition is a very strong team that causes you problems.

“It’s a pity, we wanted to continue this unbeaten run, but the fact is this will help our growth process. We almost got it back on level terms when down to 10 men and 2-0 down, so that shows what we’re capable of.”

Italy are back in action on October 10, when they will face the loser of the other Nations League semi in the competition's third-place play-off.

Further reading