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Portugal had a "day to forget" on Thursday as their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying came to a surprising end at the hands of Ireland, coach Roberto Martinez says. The defeat, which saw Cristiano Ronaldo earn the first red card of his international career, leaves them needing a win to seal automatic qualification in their final game of the round.

• Portugal go down 2-0 in Ireland

  Portugal endured a rare collapse at the worst possible moment at the Aviva Stadium. Troy Parrott struck twice, first in the 17th minute and again just before the interval, punishing a disjointed defensive setup and a side lacking fluency in possession. Portugal dominated territory but produced little to trouble Gavin Bazunu, repeatedly running into Ireland’s disciplined low block.

  In the post-match interview, Martinez admitted his side began poorly and missed familiar combinations due to key absences.

  “We started the game very badly; Pedro Neto , Nuno Mendes, and Bruno Fernandes were missing , players with whom we already have established patterns,” he explained. “We allowed Ireland to score from a set piece, and when the team was improving, within a poor performance, we conceded. We lacked clarity on the ball, precision. Ireland plays in a safe way, and if we conceded a goal, we knew we would have many problems. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong, and everything that could go right for Ireland, went right.”

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  Ronaldo red card causes trouble for Portugal

  Just as Portugal appeared to be settling into the second half, Ronaldo’s confrontation with Dara O’Shea escalated into a VAR-upgraded red card, the first of his 226-cap international career. The dismissal left Portugal with 10 men and extinguished any hope of a response. 

  "In the second half, we tried everything; Cristiano's sending off made the game more difficult. I saw a lot of courage in the team, but this is a day to forget," Martinez said.

• Injury absences cost Portugal's winning chances

  Beyond Ronaldo, another major void was exposed in Dublin: the absence of Nuno Mendes. The PSG full-back, whom Martinez recently described as “the best in the world”, was sorely missed.

  In his earlier press assessment, the coach had said: “There’s no other left-back who can defend one-on-one, make overlapping runs, and play inside or outside with the ball. He’s a complete player… he’s a decisive player for his club and for me.”

  With no natural left-back available, Martinez turned to Diogo Dalot and Joao Cancelo, yet neither were able to recreate Mendes’ mix of defensive certainty and forward thrust. After the defeat, Martinez refused to place blame on individuals: “This isn't a day to talk about individual players; it was a collective performance. These are two players who have been doing this for many years, they can play on both wings. The idea was to utilise the connection between Dalot and Felix; they are players who know our concepts, our system, and British football very well.”

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  Portugal’s decisive final match and what must change

  Portugal now approach their final qualifier knowing the mathematics are brutally simple: beat Armenia at home and they qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. Anything else risks slipping into the playoffs which is an outcome Martinez is determined to avoid.

  Even in the wake of defeat, he urged perspective. “It would be good to go another 43 games without losing. What’s not normal is having 42 games without defeat… Now, if we win at home, we’re in the World Cup.”

  For that to happen, Portugal must repair several structural issues exposed in Dublin. They need a stronger start, having conceded early in consecutive matches. Defensive organisation on set pieces must tighten, something Martinez acknowledged himself:

  “It’s true that we conceded goals from corners in the last two games.”

  They must also rediscover fluidity in attack, where the absence of Mendes and Neto has robbed them of balance and unpredictability. The leadership group – Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias – must take charge in Ronaldo’s absence, ensuring emotional stability as much as tactical improvement. 

  “We still have one more game to qualify and for that we need to win,” the coach said.

There is also the intriguing question of what would have happened if the selectors had said no from the start

Alex Malcolm16-Oct-20241:36

What’s the logic of moving Smith back down the order?

George Bailey was very careful with his words when he revealed that Steven Smith would no longer be opening the batting in Australia’s Test team.”Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position,” Australia’s chair of selectors said on Monday before stating that captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald had confirmed that Smith would be moving. Bailey was explicit too in noting that he, despite being the chair, did not decide the order.Smith’s dalliance with opening in Test cricket has been mostly criticised and there are a lot of people who believe it never should have happened.Related

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And that is a thread worth pulling on. What if it never did happen?The intriguing part is not the question of who would have opened instead of Smith, which is fascinating but now a moot point. The intriguing part is what would have happened to Smith if the selectors had said no to his request to open the batting.This is where Bailey’s words are instructive. It has been lost somewhat that Smith drove the move. He requested to open the batting initially. He put it on the public agenda. The captain and coach both expressed their preference that Smith stay in No. 4 in the immediate days after Smith flagged his interest. Only after he confirmed his seriousness in undertaking the challenge did the team hierarchy conclude that it was worth doing to accommodate the selection of Cameron Green at No. 4 without forcing someone else to open against their wishes.There will be plenty of people who will say the decision-makers abdicated their responsibilities in that moment and that they should have told Smith it was a bad idea that wasn’t going to be entertained.That criticism is not unreasonable. Selectors, coaches and captains must make tough decisions and have tough conversations. But every decision has consequences and opportunity cost.Steven Smith wasn’t alone in find things tricky at the top•Getty ImagesSmith was hinting he was growing weary of the monotony of batting at No. 4. He has conquered every challenge there is in that role. His returns had been diminishing, albeit receding from a ridiculously high watermark. He had averaged 42.22 in the calendar year of 2023, and just 38.80 with a highest score of 50 in six innings against Pakistan prior to his move to the top of the order.It would take a brave and stubborn leader to hear one of Australia’s greatest ever Test batters request a fresh challenge and then flat out reject it when it was going to solve a selection headache.How would Smith have felt about that? There will be plenty who will argue that players should play the role they’re given rather than dictate terms. But if anyone has earned the right to at least request such a move, it is Smith.And given that he has been less than enthusiastic about shifting from No. 3 to No. 4 in Australia’s ODI team in recent times against his preference, the consequences of denying him the chance to open the batting in the Test team are worth considering. It is also worth noting his returns at No. 4 in the ODI side since the shift have been below his career record, coincidentally or otherwise.Had he remained at No. 4 in the Test side against West Indies and New Zealand there aren’t any guarantees he would have performed any differently than he did opening the batting. Would Australia have won in Brisbane had he been batting at No. 4, given he made an exceptional 91 not out in the chase as an opener? Would he have made a match-winning 174 not out at the Basin Reserve, as Green did? Could he have averaged more than 28.50? Those questions will never be answered. The added strands to Smith staying at No. 4, like how a different opener would have gone and what would have happened to Green, are also unanswerable.At least with Smith opening, he got a taste of what the alternate universe looks like and can potentially return to No. 4 with renewed vigour against India. Had he remained there, he may instead be feeling like Bill Murray’s character in Groundhog Day heading into this summer.That said, was the move as much of a failure as it has been made out to be?Smith’s average of 28.50 at the top across eight innings in those two Test series was not as bad as it appears on paper. His 91 not out was the highest score by any opener in the four Tests, with only three half-century scores registered by all the openers who played. Usman Khawaja averaged 32.42 in the same four games. Tom Latham averaged 31 in the two Tests in New Zealand but had two single figure scores in Wellington. Will Young, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul all averaged single figures.There will be plenty of focus on whether Steven Smith can rekindle his best form against India•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesMarnus Labuschagne averaged 16.85 at No. 3 in those same four Tests, with a score of 90, while Kane Williamson averaged 19.25 at No. 3 in New Zealand with a half-century. The conditions were difficult.Smith’s returns were also on par with the career averages of the three main contenders to now take the role in Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw, while David Warner averaged 30.12 across the final two years of his career.Beyond the numbers though, Smith’s initial move to open followed by his request to move back will have unintended consequences despite Green’s injury paving the way for an easy transition.The first of those falls on the team leadership when or if one of Harris, Bancroft or Renshaw gets the nod. All will feel pressure to prove themselves on Test match return in any case, but a nagging sense that they weren’t the first-choice option could be an added burden.A bolt from the blue like Sam Konstas would provide another twist. That would provide a clean, uncomplicated end to a slightly messy 11 months and signal a fresh start although depending on when Green is available again for Test cricket, another debate is on the cards.It will probably end up as a footnote on a storied career, but Smith’s time as a Test opener was a fascinating chapter.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has responded to an approach by Juventus this week as the Serie A giants search for Igor Tudor’s replacement.

It’s been an extremely mixed start to 2025/2026 for Maresca after delivering two major trophies in the space of a few months earlier this year.

A win of four straight wins in all competitions before their damning loss to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge last weekend best sums up their inconsistency thus far, with Chelsea only just getting past Premier League bottom side Wolves in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

The west Londoners were 3-0 up and cruising thanks to first-half goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao, but the home side seriously threatened an unlikely comeback when Tolu Arokodare and David Wolfe pulled it back to 3-2.

Summer signing Jamie Gittens was then on hand to score Chelsea’s fourth and his first ever goal for the club, which ultimately sealed their place in the quarter-finals, even if Wolfe bagged another for Wolves in added time to make Maresca’s side sweat.

The 4-3 win at Molineux was overshadowed somewhat by Liam Delap’s needless red card, with Maresca lambasting his two bookable offences as “embarrassing”.

Delap is now set to miss Chelsea’s crunch clash against Tottenham this weekend through suspension, despite only just returning to the fold after weeks on the treatment table with a hamstring injury.

Away from the pitch, Juve are believed to have contacted Maresca’s entourage on the same day that Chelsea edged past Wolves.

Enzo Maresca responds to Juventus approach with Chelsea demands clear

Reports earlier this season suggested Maresca’s long-term future at Chelsea is far from certain, with tensions existing between the Italian and his club hierarchy.

As well as this, journalist Simon Phillips reported that both Cole Palmer and Reece James aren’t fully behind Maresca’s methodology, so if results continue to be topsy-turvy, this situation is worth keeping an eye on.

Now, Phillips has provided another update on the 45-year-old’s future.

Writing via his Substack, the reporter shares news that Juve approached Maresca’s camp on Wednesday amid their search for a new manager.

However, the tactician’s response is clear — he’s not looking to leave midway through the campaign.

While a move to Turin at the end of the season isn’t ruled out, Chelsea will demand a huge compensation fee — which could reach up to £10 million.

Chelsea are braced for a crucial run of games from now till the end of November, including Spurs, Arsenal and La Liga champions Barcelona in the Champions League.

Given their pretty weak defence and lack of options, particularly at centre-back, the Blues could also look to reinforce Maresca’s ranks in January.

Chelsea hold talks with Premier League centre-back over cut-price January move.

For New York Mets pitcher Griffin Canning, the 2025 season appears to be over.

The Mets are putting Canning on the 60-day injured list with a ruptured Achilles, they announced Friday amid a flurry of roster moves. Canning left New York's 4–0 win over the Atlanta Braves Thursday with a non-contact injury after pitching just 2 2/3 innings.

The injury is a devastating blow for the 29-year-old, whose 3.77 ERA and 3.98 FIP both constituted career lows. This was Canning's first season with the Mets after five with the Los Angeles Angels.

Canning exited his start against the Braves with three strikeouts and just one hit allowed.

New York has enjoyed a terrific year pitching-wise, with starters Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill, David Peterson and Kodai Senga all recording sub-4.00 ERAs.

Players joining the Mets' active roster in Friday's moves include pitcher Colin Poche, pitcher Blake Tidwell, and newly healthy third baseman and designated hitter Mark Vientos.

With the USMNT set to kick off their first match of the November break this Saturday, GOAL's writers discuss the biggest storylines revolving around the team.

It’s camp time. The USMNT have reported for training, leaving their clubs behind to strut their stuff for the national team. And because this is the USMNT, there’s always a bit of drama. Injuries have hit hard, with Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards all out – and Malik Tillman missing as well. If this window ever felt like “must win,” that mood feels even further away now.

So, what can we make of all of this? Paraguay and Uruguay are good teams – certainly better than Australia and Ecuador. This will be a very difficult pair of fixtures.

Perhaps it’s all down to individual performances. There are a few players fighting for a spot on the World Cup roster. Some of the chosen absentees – looking at you, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah – also speak volumes. And then there’s the Gio Reyna conversation, with the attacking midfielder brought into the fray unexpectedly. There are plenty of storylines here, and GOAL US’s writers break them all down in the USMNT edition of… The Rondo.

• Thoughts on the squad overall

  Tom Hindle: Well, it’s about as full-strength as possible, given who Pochettino rates and the injuries he has. Sure, he’d love to have Pulisic, Adams, Tillman, and Richards, but if none are fully fit, there isn’t much that can be done. It’s good to see Christian Roldán back, and Ricardo Pepi certainly deserves another shot to prove he can be either the main man or the No. 2 behind Folarin Balogun. Honestly? Also, welcome back, Reyna.

  Ryan Tolmich: It's fine, given the situation. There’s no navigating injuries at the moment, so Pochettino was forced to confront the reality that this team, despite all intentions, was never going to be as strong as it could be. In that sense, yes, it makes sense to take a look at Reyna and Scally to see if they've learned anything. Yes, it makes sense to sort out the center-back pool without Richards to see what that looks like. And yes, it makes sense to take a different path with McKennie, who always plays his best when he’s in that sweet spot of being under pressure and playing at Juventus. For all of those reasons, the squad is fine – even if there are a few things many of us would have done differently.

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  Who are you must looking forward to seeing this camp?

  TH: Pepi. Haji Wright and Balogun are known quantities at this point. Where does Pepi fit? Sure, the U.S. will take three strikers to the World Cup; Pepi isn't going to lose his spot. But is he the No. 1 guy? Or the backup’s backup? This camp could offer a few clues as to where exactly he stands in this setup.

  RT: The center backs, for sure. We know one of the three World Cup starters will be Richards. The other two? Pretty up in the air. With no Richards in camp, it’s up to everyone else to brawl for those spots. Will it be a familiar face like Tim Ream? Can Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson convince? Will Auston Trusty make a late push? With so many positions accounted for, center back is still a question mark. Maybe we'll get some answers this camp.

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  Who is under the most pressure to perform?

  TH: It’ll have to be one of the center backs. Any errors at the back can prove costly – not only to results, but to reputation. Trusty is very much on the bubble and will need a solid camp to prove he deserves a spot.

  RT: All eyes are on the strikers, right? For the first time post-Copa America, the U.S. have what seems to be the top three strikers in the pool all in camp together. Now that that’s happening, the race for the starting job can truly begin. Balogun, Pepi and Wright are all directly competing – may the best man win!

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  Who could make a case to start with a good couple of performances?

  TH: Gio flipping Reyna. Do it, Mauricio.

  RT: Tanner Tessmann is in a spot where he could really convince. The U.S. are seemingly still searching for an Adams partner and, at the moment, Tessmann seems to be in pole position. If he can perform – especially without Adams next to him as a safety blanket – he could do a whole lot to convince Pochettino that he can be the guy in midfield.

Initially signed to play two red-ball and ten List A games, Khaleel flew back after just two County Championship matches citing personal reasons

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2025Khaleel Ahmed, the India bowler, has ended his time with Essex after playing two first-class matches for them in the ongoing County Championship.The pacer had initially signed with the club for a two-month stint, which would’ve seen him playing six first-class matches – the remainder of Essex’s first-class season – as well as a maximum of ten possible List A games in the One-Day Cup.The club announced his signing in June, after he had impressed for India A with a spell of 4 for 70 during a red-ball game against the England Lions. He flew out to join the side for a stint that was supposed to last till late September and played in two matches, taking just four wickets at an average of 64.50.However, Essex released a press statement saying that Khaleel had returned home ahead of his remaining fixtures with the club. “While we are disappointed to see him leave,” a statement said, “we fully support Khaleel’s decision and are grateful for the contributions he made during his time with us.”Khaleel, who last played for India in 2019, has taken 15 wickets in 11 ODIs at an average of 31.00. On the other hand, he has been in action for his domestic side, Rajasthan, and was also picked for last year’s Duleep Trophy. Across 22 first-class matches, he has taken 60 wickets at an average of 30.13.He will also be in contention for a spot for the inter-zonal Duleep Trophy competition, which kickstarts India’s red-ball domestic season on August 28.

Celtic are now considering a January bid to sign Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, who is also being targeted by bitter rivals Rangers.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, Martin O’Neill has been keeping things steady at Parkhead, with the veteran manager winning his first three matches in charge, most recently defeating Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden.

Extra-time goals from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand secured a 3-1 victory for the Hoops, setting up a clash with St. Mirren on December 14th, although O’Neill was none the wiser, given his response when asked if he would take charge of the final.

The interim boss said: “I was 73 on Monday, I’m 94 now! I don’t even know when the final is. I would imagine the club are making inroads to a permanent manager.”

Reaching a final is always cause for optimism, but the 55-time Scottish champions’ league form suggests they need to make improvements in the winter window, currently sitting nine points behind league-leaders Hearts.

Celtic considering January bid to sign David Watson

According to a report from The Herald, Celtic are now considering a January bid to sign Kilmarnock midfielder Watson, with the 20-year-old’s current contract due to expire at the end of the campaign, meaning he is free to negotiate pre-contract terms with other clubs.

The Hoops may have to hijack Rangers, however, with it last month being revealed their rivals have also identified the youngster, who could be Danny Rohl’s first signing, as a transfer target.

Foreign clubs have also expressed an interest in the midfielder, which means Kilmarnock could cash-in this January, although they may also choose to retain him until the end of the season to boost their chances of finishing higher in the Scottish Premiership.

Kilmarnock vice-captain Robbie Deas has waxed lyrical about the starlet’s work ethic in the past, saying: “Davey’s fantastic, honestly. He’s one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet. He’s absolutely fantastic. You see that today, and he’s putting those tackles in later on.”

Not only that, but the Scotland U21 international is already very experienced at senior level, despite his age, making 117 appearances for the Kilmarnock first team, and he has already scored three league goals in 11 outings this term.

As such, there are clear signs Watson could be capable of making the step-up to a club the size of Celtic, but their main priority should be to bring in a permanent replacement for Rodgers.

O’Neill’s solid start has bought Dermot Desmond & co some time, but bringing in a top manager could really help put the pressure on Hearts, with Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, who has won four league titles in the last five seasons, recently emerging as an option.

Charlie Mulgrew urges Celtic to appoint Jurgen Klopp

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