England's Tuchel Says Calls for Rotation Are 'Madness'

Soccer Football - Nations League - Group A3 - England v Spain - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - September 26, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts REUTERS/David Klein
Soccer Football - Nations League - Group A3 - England v Spain - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - September 26, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts REUTERS/David Klein
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England's Tuchel Says Calls for Rotation Are 'Madness'

Soccer Football - Nations League - Group A3 - England v Spain - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - September 26, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts REUTERS/David Klein
Soccer Football - Nations League - Group A3 - England v Spain - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - September 26, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts REUTERS/David Klein

England's players and the clubs they play for should not be allowed to pick and choose which games they feature in during the international break, manager Thomas Tuchel said.

England will play four Nations League matches during the extended international window.

Tuchel's side lost to World Cup champions Spain on Saturday in the first of those games.

They next visit the Czech Republic on Tuesday and Croatia on Saturday, before playing the Czechs again at home on October 6, ⁠with the packed ⁠schedule leading to calls for some players who had short summer breaks due to the World Cup to be rested.

Asked if any club managers had reached out to him, Tuchel told reporters: "I don't take calls from Premier League managers. ⁠I never called any national team coach (when he was in club football).

"I cannot manage (the minutes of) the players. It's just impossible. Why would I do this and start giving the players the impression that it's OK to take a step back or share a half or to rest one match? I would never. It's madness.

"We want to win the next match... An ideal scenario would be ⁠to go ⁠again and go again and go again. With six or seven players minimum that start again – to put the responsibility on them and for them to feel the trust."

According to Reuters, Tuchel said his team would go all out against the Czech Republic in Tuesday's match at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, adding: "We need to be proactive.

"There is no room for managing (the players) or an economic style. It's how the team want to play, how we want to play, so let's go."



Xavi Pleased with 1st Week as Netherlands Coach, but Wants More

Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026.  EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
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Xavi Pleased with 1st Week as Netherlands Coach, but Wants More

Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026.  EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Netherlands in Belgrade, Serbia, 27 September 2026. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC

Netherlands coach Xavi Hernández is pleased with his first week in charge but now wants his side to show an even more attacking game in their next two Nations League fixtures.

The Spanish World Cup winner wants the Dutch side playing with more of the attacking intensity that paid off last Thursday when their persistent forays forced a late equalizer against Germany in Amsterdam.

This was followed by their first victory under Xavi, a 2-1 defeat of Serbia on Sunday.

“It is always most important to get the three ⁠points, I’m happy ⁠that we managed to do that. But we do need to play better, because, especially in the first half, we did not press well," he said.

“Nevertheless, I'm very satisfied after a week of work.”

Xavi singled out AZ Alkmaar striker Mexx Meerdink, who made his a ⁠debut as a substitute against Germany and then marked his first start for the Dutch by scoring both goals against Serbia.

“Mexx is a very hard worker who understands how we want to play," Reuters quoted Xavi as saying.

“He helped the team with more than just his goals, although those certainly helped. The work he did for the team was fantastic.”

The Dutch side face Greece next, in Thessaloniki on Thursday, then entertain Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday. Xavi ⁠was clear ⁠about where improvements on last week were needed.

“For example, there were many moments when we needed to attack the spaces, but we didn’t do it. That is something we need to improve. But also things such as making the pitch wider and moving the ball around more quickly," he said.

“But the most important thing is that we are creating a lot of chances. The players feel comfortable on the pitch with the structure we are playing in, so a lot of things are also going well."


Ramos Fires Holders Portugal to Nations League Win in Norway

Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)
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Ramos Fires Holders Portugal to Nations League Win in Norway

Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)

Goncalo Ramos started in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the winner as Portugal made it back-to-back victories to start their UEFA Nations League title defense by beating Norway 2-1 in Oslo on Sunday.

Jorge Jesus's men have responded well to their tame World Cup last-16 loss to Spain, having also beaten Wales 1-0 in Group A4 on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo was named among the substitutes for the first time for Portugal since a Nations League game against Scotland in September 2024, and did not get onto the pitch as Jesus looks to manage his minutes across an expanded international break.

His replacement Ramos showed what he could do with his 12th international goal and an industrious performance.

"Every moment is important. The most important thing is to show what I can do whenever I'm called upon and to contribute to the team," Ramos told Sport TV.

"It was a demonstration of my work, of what I can offer the team -- not just goals, but everything I do on the pitch."

World Cup quarter-finalists Norway were left to rue some wasteful finishing in front of goal as they failed to build on their opening 3-2 win over Denmark.

The first big chance fell to Erling Haaland, but the Manchester City striker mishit his attempted volley after being picked out by Martin Odegaard, and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was able to make the save.

The away team quickly made Haaland pay as Joao Felix stroked a fine finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box in the 17th minute.

Haaland looked certain to equalize shortly afterwards when Costa spilled the ball into his path, but he was denied by a superb block from his City teammate Ruben Dias.

The Norway talisman was foiled by Costa again 10 minutes before half-time as the 'keeper made an excellent stop from his downward header.

Haaland finally converted six minutes into the second half, tapping in from Patrick Berg's header across goal.

But Norway gave back the lead immediately to their opponents, as goalkeeper Orjan Nyland passed the ball straight to Ramos, who coolly chipped it into the net.

Rafael Leao had a shot deflected onto the crossbar as Portugal pushed to make the game safe.

Nyland had his blushes spared when a VAR review ruled out another opportunistic Ramos effort for the tightest of offsides.

The 'keeper waited for a long pass over the top to reach him, then took a swipe at thin air as Ramos got to the ball before him and rolled it into an empty net.

Norway threw everyone forward, including Nyland, in the closing stages, but could not find another leveler.


Ireland Beat Israel but No Handshakes Due to War in Gaza

 27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)
27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)
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Ireland Beat Israel but No Handshakes Due to War in Gaza

 27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)
27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)

Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in a Nations League clash on Sunday amid an eerie and somber atmosphere that saw the Irish players wear black armbands over the war in Gaza.

Ireland's players also bowed their heads as the Israeli national anthem was played at the near-empty Debrecen stadium in Hungary.

The teams skipped the traditional pre-match handshakes and did not exchange pennants either.

Troy Parrott made a heart sign with his hands after opening the scoring on 14 minutes, while Jack Moylan kissed the Irish badge on his jersey and his black armband after netting the third goal 25 minutes in.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Ireland of being "on the wrong side of history" over the players' actions.

In a lengthy post on X, Saar referenced the Irish team of 1939 giving the Nazi salute ahead of a match against Germany in Bremen.

He also referred to Irish neutrality during the Second World War and the condolences offered by then-prime minister Eaemon de Valera to the German representative in Dublin following Adolf Hitler's death.

"Almost 90 years have passed. Ireland's unique talent for finding itself on the wrong side of history remains intact," he added.

The game, in which Israel were the nominal hosts, had been in doubt earlier in the week until Ireland's players voted overwhelmingly to fulfill the fixture, despite pressure from back home to boycott the match.

Only one player, goalkeeper Gavin Buzunu, pulled out, saying "it would be wrong to participate" in either this match or the return fixture in Serbia on October 4 due to the "killing of innocent people".

The Irish federation did not reserve any tickets for fans to attend the match and public broadcaster RTE was due to show it without commentary.

"Sports, soccer, basketball, everything is for the public, the people, and not for politics," 31-year-old software development teacher Mol Michael, draped in an Israeli scarf, told AFP.

"Once you decide, because of politics, to cancel the Irish audience, this is a really stupid move from Ireland, in my opinion."

Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy often linked to the country's own history of British rule.

Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticized Israel over the Gaza conflict.

Israel strongly rejects allegations its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.