Kane: England Must Use Win over Serbia as a Template for World Cup

England's Harry Kane celebrates winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group K soccer match between Serbia and England in Belgrade, Serbia, 09 September 2025.  EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
England's Harry Kane celebrates winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group K soccer match between Serbia and England in Belgrade, Serbia, 09 September 2025. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
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Kane: England Must Use Win over Serbia as a Template for World Cup

England's Harry Kane celebrates winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group K soccer match between Serbia and England in Belgrade, Serbia, 09 September 2025.  EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
England's Harry Kane celebrates winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group K soccer match between Serbia and England in Belgrade, Serbia, 09 September 2025. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC

England captain Harry Kane said their 5-0 demolition of Serbia on Tuesday in World Cup qualifying should be the template for how they want to play following criticism of their start to coach Thomas Tuchel's tenure.

England had won all four of their Group K qualifiers coming into the match in Belgrade but Tuchel's tactics and team selections came in for scrutiny following labored wins over Andorra, Albania and Latvia.

Tuchel's side were much more impressive on Tuesday, however, with Kane, Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Marcus Rashford and Marc Guehi all getting on the scoresheet.

"There's been a lot of noise around the outside, but we've been happy with what we've been doing," Kane told broadcaster ITV.

"It's not always been easy against opposition who are sitting in a block of 11 when we have to break them down and be patient.

"We knew tonight would be a really big test against better opposition and better players, we said we wanted to show what we can do especially without the ball with the high pressure and make it difficult for them."

England are now within touching distance of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals in North America and Kane said they must use the win over the Serbs as a template, Reuters reported.

"This is the time when the competition starts, the formation and the way we play and the style is going to be set in stone," he added.

"Of course, there might be a few games where we have to change a little bit depending on opposition, but we want to play our way – we want to be on the front foot and win the ball back quick and when we lose the ball, recover well...

"You could say today was the perfect template and we're going to have difficult games from now until the World Cup but we'll use this as a starting point and the standard's been really high."

England next face Wales in a friendly on October 9 before taking on Latvia in a qualifier five days later.



Cadillac Test at Imola with Perez Driving a 2023 Ferrari

13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Cadillac Test at Imola with Perez Driving a 2023 Ferrari

13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Sergio Perez drove a Formula One car for the first time in almost a year on Thursday with the Mexican testing for Cadillac at Italy's Imola circuit in a 2023 Ferrari.

Cadillac do not have a previous car of their own but will be using Ferrari engines when they debut next season as Formula One's 11th team, with a lineup of Perez and Finland's Valtteri Bottas.

Photos published online showed an all-black car running unbranded at the circuit.

Perez wore black overalls and helmet.

The Mexican told Reuters earlier in the week that the session, his first since his last race for Red Bull in December 2024, was important for the team to practice procedures, refine the simulator and prepare for future race weekends.

"It's basically just a time for us to be able to get together with the engineers, mechanics, start working all together, you know, start talking the same language," said the experienced Mexican.

"I'm curious, you know, to find out how many laps my neck will do before it gets destroyed," he added with a smile. "But it's great, you know. It's a great test and a great way to finish the year before getting back in the car next year."

Bottas, also 35 and a multiple race winner, has also had a year away from racing after leaving Sauber but is currently Mercedes reserve and attending grands prix.


Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Turkish soccer temporarily banned 102 top-tier club players on Thursday over a widening betting scandal.

The Turkish Football Federation suspended 25 players from the Super Lig and 77 from the second-tier first division for terms ranging from 45 days to one year.

Galatasaray and Türkiye defender Eren Elmali was suspended for 45 days. Club teammate and Türkiye Under-21 center back Metehan Baltaci was suspended for nine months. Konyaspor and Senegal winger Alassane Ndao received a 12-month suspension.

Elmali posted on Instagram this week that he bet on a game about five years ago that did not involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray this year, The AP news reported.

Baltacı also admitted past bets but insisted they were not games he played in.

“Years ago I placed a bet at a time when I couldn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the matter," he said. “I want to make it clear that this action had nothing to do with matches played by the teams I represented.”

The bans apply to matches but the players can continue training, Haberturk television reported.

More than 1,000 players have been referred to the federation’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board in the ongoing investigation.

The federation has shut down the third- and fourth-tier divisions for two weeks but allowed the Super Lig — led by defending champion Galatasaray — and second tier to continue.

Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu vowed this week to cleanse Turkish soccer from corruption, scandal and unethical practices.

“We took office 16 months ago with a promise to elevate Turkish football to the level it deserves," he said. “We will not compromise in our fight to protect Turkish football from scandal, decay, and corrupt relationships.”

Turkish soccer has been rocked by investigations into alleged widespread betting by referees, and now players, on games which is prohibited by FIFA.

More than 150 referees are alleged to have bet on games, including seven who are approved to handle top-level games and 15 top-level assistants.

The scandal is a setback to Turkish soccer's revival in recent years.

The country will co-host the men’s 2032 European Championship with Italy, the national team reached the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, and Istanbul has been picked by UEFA to stage several finals in European club competitions.


Qatar's Al Sadd Name Ex-Inter Boss Mancini as New Manager

Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
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Qatar's Al Sadd Name Ex-Inter Boss Mancini as New Manager

Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer

Al Sadd have appointed former Inter Milan and Italy boss Roberto Mancini as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-season deal, the Qatari club announced on Thursday.

Mancini takes the reins at Al Sadd, who sit sixth in the Qatari top-flight with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of table-toppers Al-Gharafa, according to Reuters.

His most successful spell as a manager came during his time with Inter. He led Inter to three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs during his first spell at the club between 2004-2008.

He also guided Italy to the 2020 European Championship title and led Manchester City to their first Premier League crown in the 2011-12 campaign.

Mancini was linked with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October.