Placed in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group of death with France, the Netherlands and Greece, Ireland's only hope of reaching Germany was protecting Dublin against all invaders.
Up first on Monday night was a visit from the World Cup runners-up, France, who'd just blasted the Dutch 4-0 in Paris to kick-off their own campaign.
LONDON - Bukayo Saka is one of the first names on England manager Gareth Southgate's teamsheet and his weekly performances for Arsenal are driving them towards the Premier League title so it's no wonder the 21-year-old cannot stop smiling.
The winger created England's opener for Harry Kane in the comfortable 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C at Wembley on Sunday, then scored an absolute beauty himself to seal the man-of-the-match award.
PARIS — New France captain Kylian Mbappé lived up to expectations with two goals in a 4-0 statement home win against the Netherlands as Les Bleus got their Euro 2024 Group B qualifying campaign started in ruthless fashion on Friday.
Mbappé, named skipper after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris ended his international career in January, set up Antoine Griezmann for the opener before scoring the third, after Dayot Upamecano had doubled the tally in a first half blitz, before wrapping the scoring up late in front of an ecstatic crowd.
NAPLES — Harry Kane became England's record international goalscorer as his side began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign by beating reigning champions Italy 2-1 in Group C on Thursday.
England's skipper struck a penalty past Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma shortly before halftime to make it 2-0 after Declan Rice opened the scoring after 13 minutes.
HE'S DONE IT!
Cristiano Ronaldo made history on Thursday when he made his 197th appearance for Portugal’s national team in a Euro qualifier vs. Liechtenstein. CR7 passes Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa to take the honor of most capped player in men’s international soccer history.
197 times in the colours of Portugal! @Cristiano Ronaldo breaks the men's international cap record pic.twitter.com/WDq3Qt6Nv5
Con un doblete ante Liechtenstein, Cristiano Ronaldo celebró un nuevo récord: convertirse en el futbolista masculino con más apariciones en la historia de una selección nacional: 197.
Después de las penas y frustraciones que dejó el paso de Portugal en el Mundial de Catar, el futuro internacional de Cristiano Ronaldo estuvo en el aire.
Goalscoring has been an awfully bleak exercise for the Republic of Ireland since all-time leading scorer Robbie Keane announced his international retirement in 2016. The team only scored seven goals in nine matches during a failed qualifying cycle for Euro 2020, and things didn't get much better on the road to Qatar where Ireland only scored 11 in eight games (the majority coming against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan).
Portugal have recalled Diogo Jota to their squad after the forward missed the World Cup through injury while Cristiano Ronaldo was also included on Friday by new coach Roberto Martinez for their Euro 2024 qualifiers this month.
38-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo is part of Roberto Martinez's first Portugal squad.
He's not done yet pic.twitter.com/CkpBff89po
Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to inform you of the unthinkable, the impossible, the never-before-seen result of crest rebrand done right — the Football Association of Ireland has shocked the planet.
It always helps when your old badge is entirely forgettable, and that's what Ireland previously had with a soccer ball that had some Celtic flair. It wasn't the worst, but it was a pretty heavy-handed "we're a soccer team" logo.
MADRID - Spain's most capped player Sergio Ramos announced his international retirement on Thursday after being told by new coach Luis de la Fuente that he was not part of his plans.
The 36-year-old Paris St Germain defender, who won the World Cup in 2010 as well as two European Championships, has not played for Spain since March 2021, yet said he should have been given the chance to show he could still be of service to his country.