{"id":33525,"date":"2025-11-14T14:18:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T14:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=33525"},"modified":"2025-11-14T14:18:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T14:18:18","slug":"ronaldo-could-miss-two-world-cup-games-after-red-qualifying-latest-football-news-live-soccer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=33525","title":{"rendered":"Ronaldo could miss two World Cup games after red; qualifying latest: football news \u2013 live | Soccer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<br \/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"\/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><span id=\"filter-toggle-mobile\"\/>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p><span>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>The world of football throws up no shortage of questions. <\/strong>Today, Graham Ruthven endeavors to answer three of them, two of those involving Pep and Messi.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>After failing to reach the finals in 2018 and 2022, could we be facing a third World Cup without the presence of Italy?<\/strong> It\u2019s possible. With group rivals Norway in such flying form (seven wins out of seven), Italy are now destined for the play-offs. The Azzurri only just scraped past Moldova last night, goals in the 88th minute and injury-time securing an unconvincing 2-0 win against a team that Norway had blasted 11 past, Erling Haaland helping himself to a five-for.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Not surprisingly, the travelling fans weren\u2019t happy, voicing their disapproval loudly but Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso wasn\u2019t having it. <em>\u201cWhat I heard today was a disgrace. I can\u2019t accept it. There are no easy games. If you\u2019re still thinking about the 11-1 Norway did against them here, that\u2019s not my problem. I\u2019m very happy, let\u2019s move on. You have to stay united, because the team is struggling with difficulties on the pitch &#8211; and I don\u2019t accept hearing 500 fans protesting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Warming to his task, Gattuso also had a go at the qualification system. <em>\u201cIn our day, the best runners-up went straight to the World Cup.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.03 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Quiz time!<\/strong> Plenty of football questions in today\u2019s test of the grey matter. Quite a tricky one today.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Can France, after West Germany and Brazil, become only the third team to reach three consecutive World Cup finals?<\/strong> Luke Entwistle runs the rule over the 2018 winners after their 4-0 victory over Ukraine last night, a game that was Didier Deschamps\u2019 last competitive game on French soil as manager.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a008.42 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Here\u2019s Troy Parrott on his double against Portugal which kept the Republic of Ireland\u2019s World Cup hopes alive.<\/strong> Those two goals from the AZ Alkmaar striker secured a surprise 2-0 victory which means the Irish can earn a play-off spot if winning away to Hungary on Sunday. Parrott got the nod due to the absence of injured Roma frontman Evan Ferguson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cIt means everything. I felt emotions scoring those goals that I\u2019ve never felt before. I don\u2019t even have the words to describe them. It\u2019s really a special feeling. I\u2019m over the moon.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cI know it\u2019s a bit of a cliche, but I think Sunday now is probably the biggest game. We gave ourselves a good chance to get into that second spot, so now all the focus is on Sunday.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cI\u2019ve had a big night. I\u2019m not frustrated with the past. It is still frustrating that I\u2019ve had to wait a long time for a night like this, but it just goes to show I have a lot of belief in myself. To see it pay off is really special.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Former England captain Millie Bright has been getting her chat on with Suzanne Wrack.<\/strong> The Chelsea defender talks Barcelona, the benefits of taking a breather and joining a campaign to tackle winter loneliness.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Thanks Alex.<\/strong> Excellent win there for Cura\u00e7ao. Fun fact: they\u2019re 82nd in the Fifa World Rankings, nine spots above Bulgaria. Stoichkov won\u2019t be happy.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>It\u2019s not just European qualifiers going on right now<\/strong>, naturally, results in Concacaf World Cup qualifying today include Guatemala 2-3 Panama, Haiti 1-0 Costa Rica, Nicaragua 2-0 Honduras, Bermuda 0-7 Cura\u00e7ao and, vitally, Trinidad and Tobago 1-1 Jamaica \u2013 a game which pitched Dwight Yorke against Steve McClaren in a managerial showdown. Honours even!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And, on that bombshell, <strong>I\u2019ll hand you back to David Tindall<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s red card and possible suspension <\/strong>from two World Cup games for Portugal (note: I, perhaps cynically, believe this is unlikely) has me thinking about star players suspended for the start of major tournaments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Wayne Rooney missed England\u2019s opening two games of Euro 2012, of course, after being sent off in England\u2019s draw with Montenegro. Before that, in Euro 2008, Russia were without a suspended Andrey Arshavin for two group games, before he returned and helped his side to the semi-finals. I\u2019m sure there are simply loads I\u2019m missing \u2026<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Oh Wayne! Rooney leaves the field after a costly red card against Montenegro.<\/span> Photograph: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/AllstarShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.57 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Unsurprising news<\/strong>: Marc Gu\u00e9hi has now officially withdrawn from the England squad due to his foot injury. An FA statement has trumpeted: \u201cCrystal Palace\u2019s Marc Gu\u00e9hi has left the England camp and will not travel to Albania for Sunday\u2019s 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe defender joined up with the Three Lions at Tottenham Hotspur\u2019s training ground earlier this week but has returned to his club to continue his rehabilitation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Palace go to Wolves next weekend so the club will be hoping to get their captain fit for that.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Thomas Tuchel has given more feedback on his England players <\/strong>after the win against Serbia. The gist: stand down John Cena, because none of them require an attitude adjustment. \u201cI\u2019m very happy with the attitude again of the team,\u201d said Tuchel. \u201cI don\u2019t see any change of attitude in training because the game doesn\u2019t mean anything, or is a dead-rubber as you call it, or is a friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">England go to Albania in their last qualifier aiming to make it a perfect eight wins from eight. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure we will be ready and the team will have the right spirit, to do it hopefully again in Albania, with all the respect,\u201d added Tuchel. \u201cIt will be not easy and from there we go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Scotland visit Greece tomorrow in a vital Group C match<\/strong> \u2013 Ewan Murray is in Athens, surrounded by ancient wonders, and he\u2019s supplied his preview.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cIt appears you can be on the brink of reaching your holy grail without many people paying sufficient attention. Scotland\u2019s opportunity for World Cup qualification is their best since 1998, when they last performed on that scene. Theirs is also a scenario that would have been widely welcomed before a ball was kicked. On the basis Denmark will defeat Belarus, Scotland must take at least a point from Saturday\u2019s clash in Greece.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.37 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Group G<\/strong>\u2019s fixtures tonight are Finland v Malta and the big one: Poland v the Netherlands. The Dutch are three points ahead of Poland with a far better goal difference, so it isn\u2019t exactly a top-spot showdown, but nothing is settled yet. Finland could still sneak into second if it all goes wrong for Poland in their last two fixtures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Group L<\/strong> has Croatia v Faroe Islands (on a three-game qualification win streak!) later today. Plus Gibraltar v Montenegro. Croatia will qualify for the World Cup if they pick up a point.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>World Cup qualification action tonight is brought to you by the Groups A, G and L<\/strong> (note: for me, Group L just sounds too far into the alphabet but there we go).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Group A<\/strong> features Slovakia v Northern Ireland and, while the latter are guaranteed a playoff spot after topping their Nations League group, they could do Germany a favour(!) by taking at least a point off Slovakia. Germany face Luxembourg this evening, but the final match is Germany v Slovakia in a likely playoff for top spot. A reminder that Germany lost the first fixture between those two sides, 2-0 in September.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Germany&#8217;s Nick Woltemade is challenged for the ball during Slovakia\u2019s World Cup qualification win in September.<\/span> Photograph: D\u00e9nes Erd\u0151s\/APShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.20 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Thanks David \u2013 on the subject of England World Cup songs:<\/strong> I\u2019m obviously partial to the epic 90s duo of my youth (World in Motion\/Three Lions).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">However I also have a guilty soft spot for Ant and Dec\u2019s We\u2019re on the Ball and I can recite the entire passing sequence \u2013 \u201cit\u2019s Neville to Campbell, Campbell to Rio, Rio to Scholsey\u201d etc, etc \u2013 from start to finish off by heart. Yet I can remember next to nothing of my GCSE French. How useful.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.28 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Right, time for me to hand you over to Alex Reid<\/strong> while I head out in the pouring rain for supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Here\u2019s Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defending Cristiano Ronaldo<\/strong> for the elbow on the Republic of Ireland\u2019s Dara O\u2019Shea that could lead to the skipper missing the first two group games of the 2026 World Cup finals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">FIFA\u2019s disciplinary code states violent conduct should lead to a suspension of at least three matches, as should any offence of assault, including \u201celbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting at or hitting an opponent\u201d. Ronaldo will definitely serve a one-match ban for his red card in the 2-0 defeat in Dublin, meaning he misses Portugal\u2019s final qualifier against Armenia on Sunday, but then it\u2019s in Fifa\u2019s hands as to whether that suspension is increased to three games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Martinez said of Ronaldo: <em>\u201cThe red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games \u2013 I think that just deserves credit \u2013 and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cHe was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender. I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s an elbow, I think it\u2019s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cThe only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the (pre-match) press conference, (the Ireland) coach (Heimir Hallgrimsson) was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano\u2019s body.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>An e-mail from Kieran McHugh. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe all know that the best World Cup song is This Time by the 1982 World Cup squad. Whether it\u2019s comb and paper or a kazoo may never be known, but it\u2019s a cracking song and the video demonstrates Shilts\u2019 lip syncing is up there with Milli Vanilli. However as a resident of Loughton, Essex I have further information that may be of interest. News in fact of a blue plaque in Loughton that celebrates the former home of Ron Greenwood. The house number? 22. Of course!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1alawo7\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A No 2 hit in 1982. <\/span>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>A song now to hopefully inspire the Republic of Ireland to World Cup qualification.<\/strong> Remember this? Mick McCarthy on drums after 31 seconds. Produced by U2\u2019s Larry Mullen.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1alawo7\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The Republic of Ireland\u2019s official Italia \u201890 World Cup ditty.<\/span>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Exciting news from Norway<\/strong> where Erling Haaland was seen coming out of a local restaurant with a massive stash of cheeseburgers after scoring a brace in the 4-1 win over Estonia. Experts reckon the celebratory haul was significant, with claims of \u201c60 to 70 cheeseburgers\u201d in some outlets. Haaland, age 25, was still wearing his Norway training gear when emerging from the fast food establishment. More when we have it.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Shall we have some World Cup songs? <\/strong>Let\u2019s start with England. This is often forgotten and overshadowed by 1970\u2019s \u2018Back Home\u2019 and 1982\u2019s \u2018This Time (We\u2019ll Get It Right)\u2018 but I rather like 1998\u2019s \u2018(How Does It Feel to Be) On Top of the World\u2019. I mean, the Spice Girls are in the video, it was written by Ian McCulloch, Johnny Marr and the fella out of Ocean Colour Scene. Released on Juxtaposition Records. Didn\u2019t get to No.1. Good, didn\u2019t want it to. Next.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The Spice Girls are on top of the world before the 1998 World Cup.<\/span> Photograph: Dave HoganShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.27 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>A brief departure from international musings.<\/strong> Then again, not quite as two England starters from last night appear in this list curated by Danel Harris.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>England analysis.<\/strong> Five pointers from the Wembley win, courtesy of Jacob Steinberg. Nico O\u2019Reilly and Marcus Rashford both feature.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cThe dream scenario is Marcus Rashford becoming England\u2019s Son Heung-min. Kane loved dropping off and releasing Son when they were teammates at Tottenham.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Some Thomas Tuchel quotes from England\u2019s 2-0 win.<\/strong> The German was delighted with the impact of his substitutes which included Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cThis is not about building a starting XI, it\u2019s about building a team. And that means that sometimes, they\u2019re all big players in their club, they\u2019re all used to play, they\u2019re all disappointed. This is normal, but they buy into this idea of building a team and this is what we want, this is what we need, there is no other way around it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a005.41 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>You want content?<\/strong> How about this for content, then: Luis Rubiales having eggs flung at him during during the presentation of his new book in Madrid. Not only that, the disgraced former Spanish football federation president claimed the flinger was his uncle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Zapruder footage here. You have to say that the disgraced former Spanish football federation president takes the second egg well. Quite the spin to catch it on his cool jacket, ensuring the egg doesn\u2019t strike his cool white t-shirt and cool light blue jeans. Would disgraced presidents from other football federations have shown such mobility in a tight area?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A reminder that Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault for a forced kiss on the player Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a005.34 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Here\u2019s Barney Ronay\u2019s take on last night\u2019s game at Wembley and the big talking point: England\u2019s No 10.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cTuchel has been very clear. He wants a structure not a group of the coolest guys, a selection by aura. And in many ways it worked here as on 65 minutes, with England already 1-0 up, we finally got it, the shootout of the No 10s. We got energy, mood-shift, a four-man blazing squad entering the field of play: Jude, Phil, Eberechi Eze and, er, Jordan Henderson.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>The World Cup starts in 209 days.<\/strong> It seems quite a while yet but if you\u2019re thinking about committing to the 2026 Panini sticker album, it\u2019s probably worth putting aside some cash now. With 48 teams involved, this ain\u2019t going to be cheap.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I\u2019ve asked AI to run the numbers. \u201cIt will likely cost <strong>well over \u00a31,000<\/strong> to fill the 2026 Panini World Cup sticker album, potentially reaching as high as <strong>\u00a31,500<\/strong>, due to the increase in the number of teams and general inflation. While the theoretical minimum cost, assuming no duplicates, is much lower (around <strong>\u00a3120-\u00a3130<\/strong>), the practical cost is much higher because of the high probability of getting duplicate stickers.\u201d Quote this to your football-mad 10-year-old nearer the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In related news, I had a rummage the other night and found three spare Robertos from the 1978 World Cup collection. Does anyone know if the Brazilian striker is worth much?<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Gabriel Jesus and Casemiro \u2013 but no Roberto.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.33 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>A World Cup qualifying quiz question.<\/strong> In the European section, only one other team apart from England have gone through qualifying with a perfect record so far? Don\u2019t look down if you want to try and make a guess.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A clue: they haven\u2019t played in the finals since France \u201898.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A second clue: they have a big lad up front.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Yes, the answer is Norway, who have won seven out of seven after beating Estonia 4-1 in Oslo last night. Erling Haaland helped himself to another couple and now has 14 goals in qualifying.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Technically, they haven\u2019t yet qualified as Italy, who they play away in the final game, could still join Norway on 21 points. However, check the goal difference: Norway +29, Italy +12. So just a 17-goal swing then.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Norway\u2019s Erling Haaland is congratulated after scoring against Estonia.<\/span> Photograph: Jonas Been Henriksen\/EPAShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.18 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Not wanting to spoil the party but it\u2019s a still a big ask for the Republic of Ireland to qualify for the finals.<\/strong> To secure a play-off spot they need to secure victory over Hungary in Budapest on Sunday. Hungary stayed ahead of the Irish in Group F after Barnab\u00e1s Varga headed home Dominik Szoboszlai\u2019s cross to secure a 1-0 win in Armenia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The last time Hungary took part in a World Cup play-off they lost 12-1 on aggregate to Yugoslovia in 1997. What?! 12-1!!<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Which countries have qualified for the 2026 World Cup and how did they do it? <\/strong>Here\u2019s a very handy \u2018Explainer\u2019 from Andy Martin. Twenty-nine of the 48 places have now been filled but some big names \u2013 Cameroon and Nigeria for example \u2013 will need to come through a playoff.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Ronaldo could be suspended for World Cup group games<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>That red card for Ronaldo against the Republic of Ireland was his first in 226 appearances for Portugal.<\/strong> And the man himself certainly didn\u2019t see it coming having come out with these famous last words before the match. \u201cI really like the fans here. The support they give to their national team is lovely. For me, it\u2019s a pleasure to come to play here again. I hope they don\u2019t boo too much to me tomorrow. I swear that I\u2019m gonna try to be a good boy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There could be some serious ramifications for Ronnie after his flailing arm on Dara O\u2019Shea. The red means he\u2019s automatically banned for Portugal\u2019s home game against Armenia on Sunday. But if judged as \u201cserious foul play\u201d by Fifa, that suspension would double to two matches and if classed as \u201cviolent conduct\u201d the ban would be extend to three.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">That, of course, would mean Ronaldo missing one, or even two, of Portugal\u2019s opening group games in the 2026 finals. I\u2019m going to make a wild guess here\u2026 I don\u2019t think that will happen.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s reaction to his red card after a VAR review in Dublin.<\/span> Photograph: Ben McShane\/Sportsfile\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.43 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Back to England v Serbia and some player ratings.<\/strong> We have a \u20189\u2019 and a couple of \u20188s\u2019. Press here to reveal Ed Aarons\u2019 scores on the doors from Wembley.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Republic of Ireland 2-0 Portugal.<\/strong> While England winning 2-0 generated nothing much more than a shrug around the football world, another qualifier ending in that same scoreline raised lots of eyebrows. Fantastic stuff from the Irish as two goals from Troy Parrott secured a famous win in Dublin and kept their playoff hopes alive. And just for extra craic for the home fans filing out of the Aviva, Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off! More details here on the best sporting performance from a Parrott since John beat Jimmy White 18-11 in the final of the 1991 world snooker championship.<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a004.16 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Good morning!<\/strong> Before the deep dive, let\u2019s start with the bread and butter: David Hytner\u2019s match report of England 2-0 Serbia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>\u201cToo often, the final pass was missing. But what the manager did get was another win and another clean sheet. Count seven of each from seven qualifiers. The final one is against Albania in Tirana on Sunday. And, also, two lovely goals.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Preamble<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">International breaks seem to go on for ages and we\u2019re not even halfway through the latest one. Still, matters are being resolved and the picture of just who will be at next summer\u2019s 2026 World Cup finals is becoming clearer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">England had already qualified ahead of last night\u2019s 2-0 win over Serbia but that didn\u2019t stop the forensic analysis of Thomas Tuchel\u2019s latest selection and England\u2019s Wembley performance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">We\u2019ll bring you all the fallout from last night\u2019s game and also a round-up of events elsewhere where it was quite the night for the Republic of Ireland. For Cristiano Ronaldo, not so much.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And beyond World Cup qualifying, there appears to have been a family feud in Spain involving eggs. More on that shortly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Righty, let\u2019s get this thing going!<\/p>\n<p>Share<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature The world of football throws up no shortage of questions. Today, Graham Ruthven endeavors to answer three of them, two of those involving Pep and Messi. Share After failing to reach the finals in 2018 and 2022, could we be facing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[130,1413,378,1193,132,150,8920,1411,7369,1544,550],"class_list":{"0":"post-33525","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-cup","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-games","11":"tag-latest","12":"tag-live","13":"tag-news","14":"tag-qualifying","15":"tag-red","16":"tag-ronaldo","17":"tag-soccer","18":"tag-world"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}