Saturday, 28 March 2026
Friday, 27 March 2026
STUNNING GYOKERES HAT-TRICK FIRES SWEDEN TO WIN
Viktor Gyokeres netted a fine hat-trick to help Sweden move one step closer to World Cup qualification with a 3-1 win over Ukraine.
Sweden headed to Valencia for the European playoff semi-final, with our summer signing opening the scoring after just six minutes.
Viktor doubled his tally on 51 minutes before firing home a penalty to ensure he would take home the match ball.
Sweden, managed by Graham Potter, will now face Poland, who defeated Albania in their semi-final, in Solna, with the winner advancing to the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
NORGAARD NETS
There was more joy for our stars in the European playoffs as Christian Norgaard scored for Denmark as they took a step closer to qualifying for a third straight finals.
The Danes took on North Macedonia in Copenhagen and opened the scoring in the second half through Mikkel Damsgaard. The Brentford attacker then doubled his tally on the night before Rasmus Hojlund added a third.
There was still enough time for Christian to find the net, producing a bullet header from Christian Eriksen's cross to round off a fine night's work.
Denmark will now take on Czechia, who came from 2-0 down to beat Ireland on penalties and will host the playoff final in Prague.
CALAFIORI ONE AWAY FROM WORLD CUP
Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori ensured it was three wins from three in the European playoffs for our Gunners as Italy downed Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo.
Richy started for Gennaro Gattuso's side as Italy looked to right the wrongs of two previous failed qualifications - and it took 56 minutes to make the breakthrough courtesy of Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali.
Former Everton attacker Moise Kean scored the second for Italy, who will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place at the summer tournament in Zenica.
MARTINELLI MINUTES
Away from World Cup qualification, Gabriel Martinelli picked up his 21st cap for Brazil as the five-time World Cup champions took on France in Foxborough, USA.
Gabi started for Carlo Ancelotti's side and went close early on, bending his shot narrowly wide at the Gillette Stadium.
Our forward played 62 minutes as goals from Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike gave Les Bleus a 2-1 victory, with Gleison Bremer netting for The Seleção.
Finally, Max Dowman played 88 minutes in England under-19s 2-0 defeat against Serbia. Max was bright throughout, forcing Vuk Draškić into two good saves.
FULL LIST OF CONFIRMED INTERNATIONAL GAMES
*all times UK
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
England U19 0-2 Serbia U19
Max Dowman started, played 88 minutes
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
Denmark 4-0 North Macedonia
Christian Norgaard netted late on in the victory
Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
Riccardo Calafiori played the full 90 minutes, kept a clean sheet
Ukraine 1-3 Sweden
Viktor Gyokeres netted a hat-trick
Brazil 1-2 France
Gabriel Martinelli played 62 minutes
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
Andorra U21 v England U21 (Setford, Lewis-Skelly)
Euro U21 qualifier | Andorra | 6.30pm
England (Saka, Madueke, White, Rice) v Uruguay
Friendly | Wembley | 7.45pm
Switzerland v Germany (Havertz)
Friendly | Basel | 8pm
Spain (Raya, Zubimendi, Mosquera) v Serbia
Friendly | Villarreal | 8pm
Morocco v Ecuador (Hincapie)
Friendly | Madrid, Spain | 8.15pm
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
England U19s (Dowman) v Poland U19s
Euro U19 qualifier | Guimaraes, Portugal | 11am
MONDAY, MARCH 30
Germany (Havertz) v Ghana
Friendly | Stuttgart | 7.45pm
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
Portugal U19s v England U19s (Dowman)
Euro U19 qualifier | Guimaraes, Portugal | 4pm
England U21s (Lewis-Skelly, Setford) v Moldova U21s
Euro U21 qualifier | Norwich | 7pm
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy (Calafiori)
World Cup qualifier | Zenica | 7.45pm
Czech Republic v Denmark (Norgaard)
World Cup qualifier | Prague | 7.45pm
Sweden (Gyokeres) v Poland
World Cup qualifier | Solna | 7.45pm
England (Saka, Madueke, Rice, White) v Japan
Friendly | London | 7.45pm
Netherlands v Ecuador (Hincapie)
Friendly | Eindhoven | 7.45pm
Spain (Mosquera, Raya, Zubimendi) v Egypt
Friendly | Cornella | 8pm
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
Brazil (Martinelli) v Croatia
Friendly | Orlando USA | 1am
- Arsenal
Thursday, 26 March 2026
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ SHUTS DOWN 'WRONG KNEE' INJURY CONTROVERSY AT REAL MADRID, SAY'S 'I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SITUATION'
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| France's forward Kylian Mbappe signs autographs upon arriving at the hotel in Boston on March 24, 2026. (AFP) |
| Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday shut down claims that Real Madrid examined the wrong knee following the injury he sustained late last year. |
The controversy stemmed from a report on French broadcaster RMC Sport’s talk show After Foot, which claimed that the club had initially scanned Mbappe’s right knee instead of his left after the December injury. The report was widely picked up by global media outlets.
Mbappe, however, dismissed the claim outright.
“The report that said that they (examined) the wrong knee is false,” he said at a press conference ahead of France’s international friendly against Brazil.
While rejecting the claim, the French star admitted that a lack of communication may have contributed to the speculation.
“I am maybe responsible indirectly for this situation, because when you don’t communicate on what’s happening, it opens doors to others’ interpretations.”
Mbappe had earlier stated in December that he had sprained his left knee. He continued playing through January before being sidelined for three-and-a-half weeks, returning only recently and featuring as a substitute in his last two matches for Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old also emphasised that there has been no confusion internally.
“I have very clear communication” with Real Madrid, he said.
Currently in Boston, Mbappe is part of the France squad set to face Brazil in an international friendly in Foxborough on Thursday, before taking on Colombia in Landover on Sunday.
Speaking earlier this week in Paris, Mbappe admitted the injury phase had taken a mental toll.
“There was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, and then also some anxiety at one point,” he said. “I had reached a stage where I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I didn’t go through that period in the best way. I wasn’t the happiest player in the world. But I’m happy now because it’s truly behind me. It’s all gone.”
France head coach Didier Deschamps has yet to confirm whether Mbappe will start in the upcoming fixtures.
- Aratrick Mondal
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
CRISTIANO RONALDO JR, 15, CLOSE TO REAL MADRID MOVE AFTER FOLLOWING IN DAD'S FOOTSTEPS
Cristiano Ronaldo's eldest son, Cristiano Jr, 15, has been training with Real Madrid's under-16 side with La Liga giants considering signing the teenager who currently plays for Al-Nassr youth team
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| Cristiano Ronaldo's son is training with Real Madrid(Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) |
Cristiano Ronaldo's eldest son is training with Real Madrid, potentially paving the way for a move to the Spanish heavyweights. 15-year-old Cristiano Jr is currently plying his trade at youth level for his father's club, Al-Nassr, in Saudi Arabia.
According to The Athletic, chiefs at the Bernabeu are mulling over the prospect of signing him up in the near future. Cristiano Jr has represented Portugal at youth level, most recently turning out for their under-17 side. He earned his first call-up for Portugal's U15s in May last year, making his debut against Japan in the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament.
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| Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is training with Real Madrid(Image: Soccrates Images, Getty Images) |
Ronaldo Sr has previously expressed his wish to share the pitch with his son in a professional game. In 2025, the 41-year-old revealed: "I would like it, I would like it. It's not something that keeps me up at night, but I would like it. We'll see. It's more in his hands than in mine.
"The years are starting to pass and, obviously, Cris will have to, one day, leave football, because the years I'm extending... There will come a time when it's no longer possible. Not only physically but psychologically.
"But I also don't see it as an obsession. He will follow his path, his trajectory. I will be a proud father, I will be proud of whatever he wants to do. If he plays, 'top'. If he doesn't play, we tried. At least his father tried hard. But it won't be a problem either, in my opinion."
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| Ronaldo has spoken about his dream of playing next to his son(Image: Mike Hewitt - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images) |
But Ronaldo won't compete forever, acknowledging that he's in the closing years of his remarkable career as he approaches the 1,000 goal milestone. The Portugal skipper will feature at what's expected to be his final World Cup this summer while his deal with Al-Nassr is set to run out in 2027.
"It's difficult to keep playing, but I am motivated," Ronaldo said. "My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn't matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.
"You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number [1,000 goals] that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries."
- Nathan Ridley and Cameron Winstanley
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