England turn focus to knockout round and the dreaded penalty shootout
France midfielder Dimitri Payet scored the winner after setting up the equaliser in a 2-1 victory over Sweden in a top-of-the-table clash as they opened up a three-point lead in World Cup qualifying Group A at the Stade de France on Friday.
Romelu Lukaku scored twice to earn Belgium a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in the Nations League on Friday, lifting the mood in the country after a week marred by match-fixing allegations.
Before the tournament the groundwork was put in at England's tranquil, rural St George's Park training centre and once in Russia, they have been ensconced in the quiet lakeside resort of Repino, 45 kilometres outside of St Petersburg.
England's World Cup victory over Sweden on Saturday was heard throughout the land.
Tunisia fear facing England's 'most dangerous weapon'" - attacking midfielder Dele Alli - but the North Africans will be pushing for an upset in their opening game on Monday, said coach Nabil Maaloul.
Italy beat England 3-2 on penalties after the Euro 2020 final ended 1-1 following extra time at Wembley
UEFA said on Thursday that they will probe the matter and opened disciplinary proceedings against England on the matter.
The European Championship is well and truly up for grabs as the tournament enters the knockouts after a compelling group stage in which some top nations fell short of expectations while two fallen powers staged a resurgence.
Belgium's credentials as a genuine outside bet for World Cup success face a tougher examination against Tunisia on Saturday after a relatively sedate opening against Panama.
The South American possess plenty of talent and their run to the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago showed they are capable of something England haven't managed in 12 years -- winning in the knockout stage.
The following are talking points from the weekend's Premier League action:
Zidane plays down Ronaldo injury; Liverpool's Gomez sidelined after surgey
England fought back to qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League as Harry Kane and Jesse Lingard scored late goals in a pulsating 2-1 victory over Croatia, who were relegated from Group A4 after defeat at Wembley on Sunday.
A summary of Friday's action in the UEFA Nations League.
Injured Lukaku likely to sit out
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Mihaila late show for Romania stuns Swiss in thrilling draw
Spain coach Luis Enrique said football had been unfair to his side after Thursday's dramatic 3-2 defeat in Croatia left them in danger of failing to reach the UEFA Nations League finals.
Ranked first in ODI cricket, England have won 15 of their 19 series since going out in the pool stages at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2015.
Southgate hopes Black Lives Matter protests could signal change in society
Jack Wilshere and Harry Kane have been recalled to the England squad for Friday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly against Spain, the FA announced on Sunday.
Bayern Munich wasted a two-goal lead and needed a lucky 82nd- minute winner from Joshua Kimmich to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in Germany's Super Cup on Wednesday and secure their fifth title of the year.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Stones headed England in front in the eighth minute, losing his marker to angle home a Kieran Trippier corner before captain Kane made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute with his third goal of the tournament, an emphatically struck penalty after Jesse Lingard was pushed over in the box by Fidel Escobar.
Sweden's success at this year's World Cup has been built on defensive organisation and clinical counter-attacks.
England fans are dreaming of World Cup glory after their team banished a decades-long curse of flunking penalty shootouts thanks to a nail-biting win over Colombia.
The football world gathered in the Qatari capital on Friday as the draw ceremony for the World Cup finals got under way with music and dance.
Kick It Out said it was 'sickened by the disgusting racist abuse' and suggested UEFA should have taken stronger action.
An emotional and apologetic Sam Allardyce said on Wednesday an error of judgement had led to his shock exit as England manager following a newspaper sting.
The Football Association said fans who exhibited such "disgusting behaviour" were not welcome and urged the authorities to hand out "the toughest punishments possible".
England's right-back Kieran Trippier is one of the World Cup's top performers.
How England and Italy arrived at the final at Wembley.
Joe Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, violence against public employees and attempted bribery. Sharman was found guilty of insult, repeated bodily harm and violence against public employees.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
A summary of Friday's Euro 2020 qualifying matches.
The Euro 2020 Championship is being held across Europe for the first time in the competition's 60-year history, with 11 host cities in total.
Colombia have scored more goals than Argentina and notched as many as the highly-rated Brazilians
Up against the 91st-ranked Bahrain, Stimac's side, which is currently placed at 104 in the FIFA rankings, found the going tough from the word go and, had it not been for a fine save by skipper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the Indians would have trailed by a bigger margin at half time.
After more goals came from set-pieces in this World Cup's group stage than any other, dead-ball strategy has continued to have a huge impact in the knockout phase, with five of the 11 goals scored in the quarter-finals coming from free kicks or corners.
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