Gareth Southgate said England’s players fell short of the standards they “need to be at” against Malta but had no concerns about their attitude and aptitude ahead of next summer’s European Championship.Nobody at Wembley expected anything other than a victory from the side ranked fourth in the world against the one nestled between Fiji and Bermuda in 171st.But already-qual...Full Story »

England’s final home match of the year will be remembered for the pre-match tributes to Sir Bobby Charlton rather than the football that followed as Gareth Southgate’s side limped to a 2-0 win against Malta.Friday’s European Championship qualifier at Wembley saw the senior men’s team play their first match since the incredible 1966 World Cup winner died at the age of 86 l...Full Story »

Let's start our 7M Daily Laugh today.   100 m, popular price   Trent Arnold last night against Malta   H Kane next season ?   Alejandro Garnacho confessed in multiple interviews that Cristiano Ronaldo is his childhood idol.   Camavinga: “At Real Madrid we are expected to win all trophies.” Tchouameni: “I told the president to make the trophy r...Full Story »

Gareth Southgate praised Trent Alexander-Arnold for buying into England’s midfield experiment and showing what he was capable of in the comfortable win away to Malta.The 24-year-old may be an established star at Liverpool but he has often flattered to deceive with the national team, with intense competition at right-back restricting opportunities.Alexander-Arnold struggled in a midfield ag...Full Story »

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunner and sparkled in midfield as England continued their march to Euro 2024 with a comprehensive victory against minnows Malta.The talented full-back has rarely looked like the player that shines for Liverpool when donning a Three Lions shirt, with the immense competition at right-back also restricting his opportunities.Alexander-Arnold won just his 19th Englan...Full Story »

Stephen Kenny admitted the Republic of Ireland have played better and lost after seeing them grind out a narrow friendly victory over European minnows Malta.Callum Robinson’s 55th-minute strike proved to be the only goal at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium as Ireland once again came up against a massed defence and struggled to break it down, just as they had done in defeat by Norway in ...Full Story »

Callum Robinson scored his first international goal in a year as Republic of Ireland ended 2022 with a narrow friendly victory in Malta.Robinson’s 55th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win on a night when Ireland were once again frustrated for long periods, this time by a side sitting 119 places below them in the FIFA rankings, to leave manager Stephen Kenny with more questions than answers ahe...Full Story »

Ian Baraclough admitted his Northern Ireland side were not at their best in Sunday’s 3-0 friendly win over Malta but that did not matter as the goals finally flowed and he could celebrate his first victory inside 90 minutes at the 12th attempt.Northern Ireland got some monkeys off their back as Baraclough got his first win since the penalty shoot-out victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina las...Full Story »

Ian Baraclough recorded his first win as Northern Ireland manager inside 90 minutes as they eased to a 3-0 friendly win over Malta in Austria.After Jordan Jones capitalised on a defensive mistake just two minutes in, quickfire second-half goals from Gavin Whyte and Ali McCann effectively ended the game as a contest.It was not always convincing against a side ranked 175th in the world and dealing...Full Story »