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Category: Live Matches

  • Manchester United VS Barnsley live (EFL)

    Manchester United VS Barnsley live (EFL)

    Manchester United begin their 2024/25 Carabao Cup journey at home to League One Barnsley in the third round of the competition on Tuesday night.

    Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils have developed an impressive record in domestic cup competitions, with the Dutchman helping oversee triumphs in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup since his arrival. United’s victory in last season’s FA Cup final over Manchester City arguably saved Ten Hag’s job.

    United have had a mixed start to the new season, but they head into this cup tie having cruised past Southampton 3-0 at the weekend.

    While Ten Hag is expected to shuffle his pack considerably for this fixture, the hosts will be expected to enjoy a serene night against third-tier opposition. After starting the season strongly, Barnsley fell out of the play-off picture following a 3-0 defeat to Stevenage at the weekend.

    Man Utd team news

    United’s victory at the weekend did come at a cost with defenders Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Lisandro Martinez all limping off, although Ten Hag’s likely rotation in midweek means it was unlikely for any of them to feature on Tuesday anyway.

    Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia also remain out, with Victor Lindelof likely to return at the end of the month. Leny Yoro is a longer-term absentee, while Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund continue to nurse their hamstring injuries.

    Manuel Ugarte could make his first start for the club after coming off the bench for his Premier League debut at St. Mary’s.

    Barnsley team news

    Forwards Max Watters and Fabio Jalo returned from their respective injuries at the weekend, meaning they’re in contention for Barnsley’s trip to the Theatre of Dreams.

    Conor Hourihane, formerly of Aston Villa, is set to miss out, and there are doubts over the fitness of defender Donovan Pines after he was withdrawn at half-time of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Stevanage.

    Man Utd vs Barnsley score prediction

    The hosts have a ton of defensive injuries, but Ten Hag was always going to rotate and the Red Devils have typically dispatched lower league opposition without much fuss in recent years – FA Cup semi-final against Coventry notwithstanding.

    Barnsley are expected to compete for a promotion berth in the third tier this season, but the gulf in class between the two sides will be mammoth on Tuesday. While the visitors could take advantage of the structural issues that continue to plague the Red Devils, the hosts’ quality going forward should allow them to safely progress into the Carabao Cup fourth round.

    Prediction: Man Utd 2-0 Barnsley

  • Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE

    Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE

    Tottenham Hotspur will face their fierce rivals Arsenal in the highly anticipated North London Derby in the English Premier League.

    The match, set to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, kicks off at 2:00 PM local time (13:00 GMT).

    This historic rivalry between the two London clubs has always been intense, with both teams looking to assert dominance.

    Tottenham, under new management, will aim to maintain their solid form at home, while Arsenal, currently one of the top contenders in the league, will look to continue their impressive run.

    Both clubs are vying for crucial points, adding even more pressure to this already electric fixture. Fans can expect a thrilling, high-stakes clash.

  • Germany Vs Hungary (UEFA Nations Cup)

    Germany Vs Hungary (UEFA Nations Cup)

    In the long-awaited quest for a trophy to be achieved in the long run of the UEFA

    Nations League, the Netherlands start their new cycle on Saturday, hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina in Eindhoven.

     

    There is also Germany and Hungary in

    League A Group 3 so both cannot afford a slip – although fourth place finish see’s a team go down to the next league.

     

    The ‘weaker’ second half of the draw in Euro 2012 proved as easy for the Netherlands as they had only managed third place in the group in Euro 2024

    summer they defeated Romania in the last 16 before overwhelming Turkey and setting up semi-final match against

    England.

     

    However, they departed the Germany soil – where they achieved their European champions in 1980 – with a raw taste, as Watkins scored in the late part of the game after the Three Lions’ scrumptious equaliser which put them out of the competition.

     

    The Oranje also faced England on the last occasion that they came close to getting their hands on some silverware, prevailing

    3-1 after a nervy extra time encounter in the inaugural Nations League final earlier this year – and current coach Ronald Koeman was benched for that tie too.

     

    Nevertheless, an unfortunate Dutch team were really second best and they conceded a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in the final and they were at fourth place while hosting this finals tournament last time.

     

    To get that far, they had qualified for the top of a rather benign group comprising of Belgium, Poland and Wales, but this season even a second place finish will see a team through to new quarter final stage of the Nations League.

     

    But with Virgil van Dijk choosing to remain as skipper, Koeman will have the same captain for the games against Bosnia as well as the match against Germany next

    Tuesday.

     

    In the pandemic-affected second edition of the Nations League, Bosnia-Herzegovina last faced its hosts this week and lost 3-1 on the road before holding out for a goalless draw at home in late 2020.

     

    After defeating Finland, Montenegro, and Romania to win League B last season and celebrate promotion to the highest division in Europe, they reunite with the Oranje this season.

     

    The Dragons, who placed fifth in a six-team group during Euro 2024 qualification, were unable to sustain their winning streak, since two of their three victories came

    against Liechtenstein’s minnows.

     

    Bosnia’s performance in the Nations

    League was still good enough to get them into the playoffs, but head coach Savo Milosevic was fired after his team lost 2-1 to Ukraine in the semifinals.

     

    Since then, Sergej Barbarez has assumed leadership and has seen the squad’s friendlies against Italy and England in June.

    On Saturday, he will lead his side against opponents of a similar caliber.

     

    Barbarez may be hoping to pick up a point in Eindhoven before traveling to Hungary the following week, since placing third in Group 3 would result in a relegation playoff and fourth would mean automatic

    demotion.

     

    Hungary could take heart from their recent performance against Germany and use it to their confidence before this Saturday’s

    match. Germany has only triumphed against Hungary once in their previous four meetings, that being their 2-0 victory at

    Euro 2024.

     

    Hungary drew 1-1 at home with Germany in the most recent UEFA Nations League competition, then triumphed impressively

    1-O away from home.

     

    After Euro 2024, two German football legends announced their retirement from the national team. Without Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos, their midfield will undoubtedly seem lighter.

     

    Although filling such shoes won’t be simple, Aleksandar Pavlovic of Bayern Munich and Pascal Gross, a former Brighton player, will do their hardest.

     

    Despite the fact that neither player has the star qualities of Kroos or Gundogan, Nagelsmann is an excellent coach who will arrange the squad such that neither player is exposed in the middle.

     

    Dominik Szoboszlai, the captain of Hungary, will be trying to take advantage of the weaknesses in the duo. The Liverpool midfielder will be especially dangerous in dead-ball scenarios and has the ability to give Germany difficulties.

  • Netherland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (UEFA Nations Cup)

    Netherland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (UEFA Nations Cup)

     In their latest quest of claiming a title which they wish to commence with the Nations League, the Dutch team’s beginning in qualification starts on Saturday evening with the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Eindhoven.

    Germany and Hungary are members of the League A Group 3 and, as such, they cannot afford to lag behind – especially since the third or the fourth place in the competition means relegation.

    Having progressed through the ‘easier’ part of the draw at this summer’s Euro 2004

    finals having only come through Group D in third place, the Netherlands then dispatched Romania in the last 32 before seeing off Turkey to reach this stage against England.

    But they departed the land of Germany which they won the European championship 36 years back with a raw feeling in mouth after a late sensational

    Ollie Watkins goal and Three Lions equalising goal yet again made them face exit.

    The Oranje also faced England when they got as far as the finals in the nearest previous attempt in the Nations League, which began in 2018-19; they won 3-1 in a semi-final after extra time in June 2019, though current coach Ronald Koeman was in charge then.

    But a fortunate Dutch team were second, defeated 1-0 by Portugal in the final, and they were fourth when the finals tournament was last held in the Netherlands.

    To get that far, they had beaten a quite friendly group including Belgium, Poland, and Wales, however, this season to get to the new Nations League’s quarterfinal stage even a second place will be enough.

    Van Dijk agreed to remain as the captain of the team, Koeman will have the same skipper as the one he is expected to take to this month’s games against bosnia followed by Germany fixture next Tuesday.

    In the pandemic-affected second edition of the Nations League, Bosnia-Herzegovina last faced its hosts this week and lost 3-1 on the road before holding out for a goalless draw at home in late 2020.

    After defeating Finland, Montenegro, and Romania to win League B last season and celebrate promotion to the highest division in Europe, they reunite with the Oranje this season.

    The Dragons, who placed fifth in a six-team group during Euro 2024 qualification, were unable to sustain their winning streak, since two of their three victories came against Liechtenstein’s minnows.

    Bosnia’s performance in the Nations

    League was still good enough to get them into the playoffs, but head coach Savo Milosevic was fired after his team lost 2-1 to Ukraine in the semifinals.

    After the Netherlands’ elimination from

    Euro 2024, Ronald Koeman reorganized his team; midfielders Marten de Roon and Georginio Wijnaldum were informed they would not be selected, Daley Blind declared his retirement from international competition, and two important strikers were not called up.

    Not only has Steven Bergwijn been criticized for his recent move to the Saudi Pro League, but Koeman has also excluded star striker Memphis Depay, who has 46 goals, and Depay is still without a club.

    Benjamin Tahirovic of Ajax and Rade

    Krunic, who is now at Red Star Belgrade from AC Milan, might start in midfield together.

    The most seasoned defender on the visiting team, Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta BC, may be included in a back five on Saturday night.

  • Ireland Vs England (UEFA Nation Cup)

    Ireland Vs England (UEFA Nation Cup)

     Two new managerial tenures start in Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday evening as

    Lee Carsley’s England lock horns against

    Heimir Hallgilsson’s Republic of Ireland in

    UEFA Nations League.

    It occurred in the League B Group 2 where

    Finland and Greece are also competing to be promoted to the elite event in the continent. 

    Not being able to establish a senior team that would replicate the 2022 women or mirror the 2023 under 21 squad, filled with legends such as Carsley, Gareth Southgate’s England journey ended on a painful note of another second place finish at Euro 2024.

    Some were surprised to see England in the final place, those have watched extremely languid and careless side of Southgate during the whole tournament, but once again the shot for international glory was missed, thanks to Luis de la Fuente’s indomitable Spain Side.

    Sidelining for a temporary or permanent successor, after seven and a half years at the FA, Southgate occupied the managerial seat for Carsley who has been hired for the interim as the governing body assesses its options; Pep Guardiola has been mentioned in this regard.

    Indeed, Southgate had been given a temporary contract before persuading the FA that he should be given a permanent position while Carsley was bound to receive numerous queries asking whether he wants to be the permanent manager of the team other than the autumn term after naming his first young squad.

    To mention one, returning to the first tier of the Nations League – which England was humiliated to be relegated to in 2022-23 – would be the perfect beginning to such a mission, and more so as the Three Lions are also set to host Finland at Wembley three days after the Dublin showdown.

    Carsley’s ascendancy to the throne has likewise dominated preparations for a second managerial baptism set to happen at the Aviva Stadium wherein Ireland have taken their time and hired Hallgrimsson, a former Iceland and Jamaica head coach, to rekindle the feeling of pride among the

    hosts.

    The 57-year-old has been named as a permanent replacement for Stephen Kenny who was far from successful in his bid to qualify Ireland for their first major tournament since the Euro 2016, winning only 11 out of the 40 games that he played for the Boys in Green.

    After John O’Shea’s rather up and down interim spell in the beginning of the year in which Ireland defeated Hungary but lost to Switzerland and Portugal, and stood their ground against Belgium, Hallgrimsson was only appointed after a short stint as Jamaica’s manager in which he watched the Reggae Boy’s dismal Copa America performance.

    Serving as an assistant to Lars Lagerback’s

    Iceland during Euro 2016, where the Nordic nation cruelly beat one of the worst English team ever, Hallgrimsson takes charge of an Irish team that has won just two of its last 10 fixtures, failing to score in three of the past four.

    At least he will get a game against a team from the Republic’s group in his Ireland debut – Greece visit the Aviva Stadium on September 10 – but the Boys in Green have not beaten England since the 1988 Euros, drawing their subsequent six encounters before suffering a 2020 friendly thrashing.

  • Benin Vs Nigeria (AFCON)

    Benin Vs Nigeria (AFCON)

    Benin will be up next for the Super Eagles in a WA derby encounter on Saturday in Uyo at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium as they chase a perfect start for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    It will be the second time that both teams are going to face each other in the course of four months The home side lost to the visitors 2-1 when Uganda and the Cranes met in June for an international World Cup qualifying match.

    If Nigeria steps on the pitch on Saturday, they will seeking to get even because for only the second time ever, they lost this match in June.

    It was Raphael Onyedika who put the Super Eagles ahead in the match three minutes in the first half of the thirty minutes periods, but Benin was not to be conquered by the Eagles as two goals of Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounie saw the Cheetahs over powering the Eagles in the first half.

    This lead to the curtain being drawn on Finidi George’s brief stint as the Nigeria head coach after the former Ajax winger resigned after the Nigeria Football

    Federation suggested that he made way for a new head coach while he rejoins the team in an assistant coaching position.

    After a number of months with the post unfilled, a new head coach in the name of Bruno Labbadia was named, however, the NFF had not agreed a deal with the German before release hence creating confusion as both sides failed to agree on the terms of the contract.

    This forced Augustine Eguavoen to be appointed on an interim basis to take the team through the games in September; this will be the third time for him to handle the

    team.

    His first assignment is to ensure that the super eagles of Nigeria register their first victory in the AFCON qualifiers since

    March this year when the team has been running without a win in three matches – been defeated by Mali, Benin, and stuck with the draw of 1-1 against South Africa.

    Nigeria, who placed second in the previous AFCON, has only lost one of its previous 12

    AFCON qualifying games. They will be looking to continue this winning streak on

    Saturday.

    In the meantime, in an attempt to lead Benin to its first AFCON since 2019, former Nigerian head coach Gernot Rohr will try to inflict further suffering on his former team.

    Since the German took over as head coach in February 2023, the Cheetahs have won three of their last twelve games, drawn four, and lost five.

    But the first victory was given by CAF because Rwanda used an ineligible player in an AFCON 2023 qualifying match against Beninese. The other two victories, however, have come in their past two games, indicating a trend they will be hoping to continue when they meet the Super Eagles again.

    Benin has never won a game in Nigeria, having lost 2-1 on their lone visit there in 2019 for an AFCON qualifier. However, with Rohr’s experience playing for Nigeria and their recent victory, the Cheetahs will be feeling more confident than ever heading into this match.

    Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Player of the Year, and William Troost-Ekong, the AFCON 2023 Player of the Tournament, have both rejoined the Nigerian team for the games in September after being injured and missing the country’s June World Cup qualifiers.

    Returning to the squad is Taiwo Awoniyi, who hasn’t played since November owing to a mix of injury and not getting called up.

    Bright Osayi-Samuel, a defender for Fenerbahce, was forced to withdraw due to an injury; Benjamin Tanimu, a recent addition to Crawley Town, took his place.

    For this match, Samadou Attidjikou of Bani Ganse FC and Bachirou Sika of Cotton FC have been called up to the Benin squad for the first time.

  • Georgian Vs Czech (UEFA Nations Cup)

    Georgian Vs Czech (UEFA Nations Cup)

     Georgian and Czech check point their games in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations

    League Opening round on Saturday at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi.

    They are both in action for the first time since facing each other in Euro 2024

    qualifiers group stage in each of the last campaign for a chance to get promoted from League B Group 1 alongside Ukraine and Albania.

    Georgia played independently in the summer as a nation for the first time in their history and many expected little of them when they faced the Euro 2024

    qualifiers where they had the lowest ranking, but qualified for the knockout stages of the competition.

    Willy Sagnol’s men collected four points in three group stage matches, including all threes in a crucial 2-0 victory over Portugal and moved into the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

    The fairytale run was stopped by Spain who thrashed Georgia 4-1 but the Crusaders were respectable in their exit from the tournament in Germany and Sagnol is now hoping to do well in the next Nations

    League.

    With FIFA ranking of 70, Georgia is one of the gifted football playing nation, this has seen them gain promotion to League B of the nation’s league in the 2022/23 season where they have won five and draw only one of the available six matches to dominance the group comprising of Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Gibraltar.

    Spain, Georgia have only lost three of their last 11 internationals in all competitions, two of those coming against Spain while Saturday’s host nation has lost just one of their last 13 at home since November of last year against Czech Republic.

    It is a far cry from reaching the quarterfinals of the European Championship three years ago to ending at the bottom of Euro

    2024 group with only one point to their name.

    They managed just one point from a 1-1 tie with none other than Georgia, when Patrik Schick’s goal in the second half offset

    Georges Mikautadze’s penalty in the early half. They also suffered 2-1 losses to Portugal and Turkey.

    Ivan Hasek, who took over as head coach in January, led the Czech Republic to victory in all four of his games before Euro 2024.

    Now, he must rekindle the team’s enthusiasm as they attempt to get off to a strong start in the Nations League.

    Czechia, who were demoted from League A of the 2022-23 Nations League after losing four of their six group matches and finishing behind Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland, were ranked 47th in the world by FIFA, having dropped 13 spots since the end of Euro 2024.

    With the exception of Euro 2024 matchups, Hasek’s team has only won three of their previous 13 away international matches.

    They did, however, defeat Norway 2-1 in their most recent away game in March, so they will be looking to improve their away performance when they take on Georgia on

    Saturday.

    Giorgi Mamardashvili, the new acquisition for Liverpool, is anticipated to start in goal on Saturday. The loaned player returned to Valencia and produced an incredible 29 saves at Euro 2024, more than twice as many as his closest opponents.

    Georges Mikautadze, one of six players to split the Euro 2024 Golden Boot with three goals, currently plays for Lyon in Ligue 1 and is expected to start in Georgia’s offensive line-up. Other possible first-team selections include Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a star for Napoli, and captain Guram Kashia, who has 117 caps.

  • France Vs Italy (UEFA Nations Cup)

    France Vs Italy (UEFA Nations Cup)

     

    France and Italy, two of the biggest names in international football, square battle at Parc des Princes on Friday night to begin their respective UEFA Nations League campaigns.

    The teams are currently meeting in Paris after Les Bleus lost to eventual Euro 2024

    champions Spain in the semi-finals, while the Azzurri had a miserable summer defending their European crown.

    France did not perform well this year at the Euros, finishing with just one goal outside of set pieces and own goals despite reaching the quarterfinals and losing to Spain in the semifinals thanks to an early goal by Randal Kolo Muani.

    The 2022 World Cup finalists had a lackluster tournament as captain Kylian Mbappe, who only managed one goal, injured his nose in the opening match against Austria and returned wearing a mask that appeared to limit his play.

    Didier Deschamps was criticized once more for his tactful approach, but the veteran coach will now guide Les Bleus into a new campaign, with the Nations League this season as the next stop on the schedule.

    Deschamps led his squad to triumph in the 2021 edition of UEFA’s newest competition, which brought them worldwide recognition in addition to a disappointing third place result in their group from six games played.

    France will not be able to afford another poor performance in 2024-25, as the bottom team in each group will be automatically demoted, and the top three teams will need to compete in a playoff to avoid being sent to League B.

    Israel and Belgium are also in Group 2, and the top two finishers there advance to a fresh series of quarterfinal matches. The victors of those matches go on to the finals in June of the following year.

    It’s safe to say that Italy was appalled by their Euro experience, as well, since they barely made it out of their difficult group with a last-minute goal against Croatia before losing to France in the first round of the knockout stages.

    Few could have been disappointed when

    Luciano Spalletti’s team was knocked out by neighboring Switzerland in the round of 16, therefore terminating their

    championship defense, as they never really settled into a groove.

    Ever reflective, Spalletti has subsequently stated that he wants to restore stability and clarity to the Italian lineup while also bringing in fresh players and gradually replacing some of his more seasoned teammates.

    After Roberto Mancini, the winner of Euro 2020, left after taking the Azzurri to the top of their most recent Nations League group and then to third place in the finals, Italy had not lost in six games coming into Germany under 

    Spalletti’s leadership.

    La Nazionale’s season is off to a difficult start against teams they had lost to in their last three friendlies but famously vanquished in the 2006 World Cup final, before they play Israel next week.

    In fact, the match on Friday will mark the rekindling of an illustrious rivalry at Parc des Princes as it will be Italy’s first competitive encounter with France in about sixteen years.

  • Belgium Vs Israel (UEFA Nations Cup)

    Belgium Vs Israel (UEFA Nations Cup)

     


    Belgium takes on Israel in the opening match of the new UEFA Nations League campaign on Friday, starting their most recent chase for some elusive hardware.

    The Red Devils, who are playing in Hungary owing to security concerns, will look to get off to a strong start as they take on Italy and France in League A Group 2.

    Fans of Belgium suffered more this summer when their team lost to France in the first round of the Euro 2024 elimination competition. There are still concerns that current coach Domenico Tedesco can lead a good team that contends for championships.

    Tedesco will be hoping to move past his first tournament as head coach and guarantee his team a top-two berth in Group 2 of the Nations League’s premier category, since the Red Devils failed to impress in the group stage either.

    That would ensure a spot in the quarterfinals of the recently expanded competition; third place would imply a relegation playoff; fourth place would mean automatic relegation.

    With just four goals conceded, Belgium easily qualified for the Euros. However, after placing second behind the Netherlands in the previous Nations League season, they were not able to advance to the finals.

    They finished fourth overall in the 2021 edition, which is their best finish to date.

    They need to beat that number in the upcoming season, therefore it’s imperative that they don’t make a mistake this week.

    Tedesco will be under increased pressure to defeat underdogs Israel after failing to mend his split with Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The Belgians’ next two games are in France and Italy.

    Israel will not have history on their side in

    Debrecen’s Nagyerdei Stadion, having previously lost four out of their four games against their opening opponents, giving up ten goals and scoring just one.

    After winning a group that included

    Iceland, Albania, and initially, Russia, in 2022, they were promoted from League B and placed in an extremely challenging group.

    The Sky Blue and Whites were also present in the Euro 2024 playoff semi-finals, where they were defeated 4-1 by Iceland. Despite their consistent improvement, they have yet to make it to the major finals after more than 50 years without one.

    Ran Ben Shimon’s team is back in Nations

    League action this season after losing 3-0 to Hungary and winning 4-0 against

    Belarus in summer friendlies. The team will strive to snap that wait by qualifying for the

    2026 World Cup.

    Due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, games in Israel cannot be held. Therefore, on Monday, they will play again in Hungary, hosting Italy in Budapest.

  • Wales Vs Türkiye (UEFA Nations Cup)

    Wales Vs Türkiye (UEFA Nations Cup)

    Wales’ opening UEFA Nations League match of the season against Turkey will mark the start of the Craig Bellamy era at

    Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night.

    Although Wales was previously relegated from League A, its guests advanced from the third division and made it to the final eight of the 2024 European Championship.

    Wales seemed to have lost their way after an embarrassing group-stage loss at Qatar

    2022. They finished bottom of their most recent Nations League group with only one point from six games and were subsequently unable to qualify for the European Championship.

    The era of previous manager Rob Page ended in disgrace after his team lost a penalty shootout to Poland in the Euro 2024 playoffs, after two painful defeats in summer friendlies.

    Page’s tenure as Wales’ head coach came to an end when his team lost 4-0 to Slovakia, and Craig Bellamy was appointed in July despite having no prior senior management experience. This was just after a humiliating goalless draw with Gibraltar.

    The former Newcastle United striker has set his sights on qualifying for the 2026

    World Cup after missing out on appearing at a major finals during his 78-cap Wales career. However, he must first contend with a doubleheader to begin a new

    Nations League season.

    The Dragons will play their second straight

    Group 4 match in Montenegro on Monday.

    Their opponents in the battle for promotion back to the top division-or possibly avoiding relegation -are Iceland.

    According to UEFA’s current structure, group winners advance directly, second place earns a promotion playoff, third place earns a relegation playoff, and last place automatically advances to League C.

    As Turkey returns to the capital of Wales, the stakes are already high. Head coach Vincenzo Montella will be facing some familiar faces elsewhere but a new man in

    the dugout.

    In their two most recent encounters as

    Euro qualifiers, Wales and Turkey have met.

    In those four meetings, the Crescent-Stars have recorded two victories and one defeat, with their most recent draw coming less than a year ago in Cardiff (1-1).

    After a thrilling escape from the group stage and a 2-1 victory over Austria in the round of 16, Montella’s team is rejuvenated after an incredible journey at the European Championship. The ever-present dark horses are expected to challenge well into the competition.

    But Turkey was ultimately sent home after blowing a lead in their quarterfinal match and falling to the Netherlands 2-1, despite enjoying strong support from German expatriates.

    With a good group of attackers to assist him, Montella has stayed on to manage qualification for the next World Cup. Kenan Yildiz and Arda Guler both proved their mettle at Euro 2024 and are expected to be major players in this season’s Nations League.