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.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
A summary of Sunday's action in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers across Europe.
Spain began a new era under Luis Enrique in impressive fashion as they came from a goal down to outplay England in a 2-1 win in their Nations League opener at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Moments to remember from the quarter-finals.
Rory McIlroy shot a closing 69 to win the Irish Open for the first time after a thrilling final-round duel with Russell Knox at the K Club on the outskirts of Dublin on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford's penalty and a deflected strike from Mason Mount helped England come from a goal down to overcome top-ranked Belgium 2-1 at Wembley on Sunday and climb above them in their UEFA Nations League group.
England's right-back Kieran Trippier is one of the World Cup's top performers.
A summary of Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifying matches.
The experienced members of England's World Cup squad must step up
Danny Welbeck says he has emerged mentally stronger after a knee injury ruled him out of the 2016 European Championships and the 27-year-old is keen to make an impact in next month's World Cup in Russia.
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe was recalled to the England squad at the age of 34 on Thursday ahead of next week's friendly in Germany and a World Cup qualifier at home to Lithuania.
Liverpool and champions Manchester City drew 0-0 at Anfield while Chelsea and Arsenal enjoyed comfortable away wins. City are top on goal difference from Liverpool and Chelsea with Arsenal two points behind.
England squad members received postcards from Sam Allardyce saying their 'journey has just begun' on Thursday, two days after his short reign as manager was brought to an abrupt end, according to British media reports.
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.
Chelsea reacted angrily on Friday to newspaper reports that Carlo Ancelotti was set to replace manager Antonio Conte and that former coach Steve Holland has received texts from unhappy players who say they are missing him.
Arsene Wenger would be an ideal England coach and the Football Association should be prepared to wait until his Arsenal contract runs out in order to appoint the Frenchman, former FA executive director David Davies has said.
IMAGES from the Euro 2020 qualifiers
"Dull, boring, lifeless -- nothing else to say really. But we're going to win the World Cup anyway so don't worry about us!" said Leighton from Liverpool.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
A makeshift England side beat Romania 1-0 in their final Euro 2020 warm-up game, while Belgium's Romelu Lukaku underlined his status as one of the world's top strikers with his 60th international goal to secure a 1-0 win over Croatia.
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.
The Football Association (FA) have urged the Daily Telegraph to provide "full and unfettered disclosure of all available material" following allegations of corruption by the newspaper.
Kick It Out said it was 'sickened by the disgusting racist abuse' and suggested UEFA should have taken stronger action.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
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.
Images from the FIFA World Cup qualifiers matches.
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.
Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was appointed manager of Championship (second division) team Middlesbrough on Monday.
The Group L fixture, to be played under tight security in the Serbian capital, comes after England's black players suffered racist abuse at their Euro 2020 qualifier at neighbouring Bulgaria on October 14.
Images from the Champions League football matches played on Wednesday night.
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.
France stretched their unbeaten run against Croatia to eight games after a late goal by Kylian Mbappe gave the world champions a 2-1 win in their Nations League top-tier Group 3 match on Wednesday.
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.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is open to managing England but will not break his current contract with the Premier League club. The Frenchman, who has one year remaining on his current deal with Arsenal, was linked by British media to replace Roy Hodgson after England's Round of 16 exit against Iceland at the Euro 2016. A three-man panel of the Football Association staff began the job of finding Hodgson's successor last month.
A video of the incident showed that Taison stuck his finger up at a section occupied by Dynamo fans and then hoofed the ball into the stands.
Ralf Schumacher talks about his brother, his title hopes - and his increasingly angry exchanges with the Williams management.
Defenders Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate agreed to join EPL side Middlesbrough.
Sam Allardyce is the obvious candidate to replace Roy Hodgson as England manager if the FA decide to go with a home-grown candidate for the job, former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has said.
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