Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has warned his team's perfect Euro 2024 qualification record will count for nothing at next year's tournament, though he is content with their group-stage draw.
Portugal were drawn into Group F at Saturday's draw in Hamburg, alongside Turkiye, the Czech Republic and a yet-to-be-decided play-off winner.
Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece and Kazakhstan will battle for the final place in Portugal's group in March's play-offs.
Portugal have won all 10 of their games since Roberto Martinez replaced Fernando Santos in the aftermath of last year's disappointing World Cup exit, scoring 36 goals and only conceding two as they dominated their qualification group.
Having led Belgium to the last three major tournaments, Martinez is experienced enough to know that will count for little when Portugal begin their campaign against the Czech Republic on June 18.
Asked whether he was satisfied with the draw, Martinez said: "Yes, because the format of the European Championship is unpredictable, there can be three teams that qualify.
"They are difficult opponents. The Czech Republic is a bit of an unknown because they don't have a coach.
"Turkey won their qualifying group against Croatia and Wales. It is a team with a mix of talent, youth and experience.
"We want to have a perfect preparation. We qualified very well, but that doesn't give us an advantage in the tournament. We need to be prepared."
Martinez's main focus was on the logistical implications of Portugal's draw, and he was relieved to discover that their final two group games will be played in the neighbouring cities of Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen.
"For us, it is good news to be in Group F," he said. "We are based in the centre of Germany and we will have extra time to prepare for the first game. This is important for us."
Rob Page insists Wales can reach Euro 2024 by drawing on their successful World Cup play-off history.
Wales were consigned to the Euro play-offs in March after a controversial 1-1 draw with Turkey in Cardiff.
Neco Williams’ early strike was cancelled out by Yusuf Yazici’s second-half penalty – with Page suggesting Wales would have won with another referee – as the Dragons fell short in their bid to overtake Croatia for the second automatic qualifying place behind group winners Turkey.
Croatia secured automatic qualification with a 1-0 home victory over Armenia, leaving Wales in the play-offs with a home semi-final against either Finland, Iceland or Ukraine. Poland and Estonia will contest the other semi-final.
The identity of Wales’ opponents will be determined by a draw on Thursday – and boss Page hopes play-off history will repeat itself as Austria and Ukraine were beaten in Cardiff en route to reaching the 2022 World Cup.
“We will throw everything into the preparation for the play-offs now,” said Page, who will attend the draw at Nyon in Switzerland.
“I’m pleased it’s a home draw. What our supporters do is incredible and this place is a fortress. We never disappoint and the crowd never disappoints – Croatia, Turkey, the Austria and Ukraine games.
“The lads who were in the play-offs have had those experiences.
“They managed the emotions of the Ukraine game for obvious reasons and that will stand them in good stead for these games.
“We’ve had some big nights here and we go into the play-offs with confidence.”
Wales had three penalty appeals turned down in a nine-minute spell midway through the first half.
Harry Wilson went down in a tangle of legs with with Abdulkerim Bardakci before Brennan Johnson was floored by a sliding Samet Akaydin tackle when the defender did not make contact with the ball.
Akaydin then flattened Johnson from behind in a crowded goalmouth, but neither Slovenian referee Matej Jug nor VAR came to the conclusion it was a penalty.
To add insult to injury, Jug decided Ben Davies had pushed Kenan Yildiz over and awarded a dubious 70th-minute penalty.
Asked if Wales would have won with another referee, Page replied: “I have to be careful what I say. But I believe so, if I’m being completely honest.
“It’s a stonewall penalty, one of the most obvious penalties I’ve seen, against Brennan. The defender’s got the wrong side of him, he runs into him and takes him out.
“Then we’ve conceded the softest penalty you’ll ever concede. It’s so frustrating. The VAR check was over after 10 seconds.
“I can’t get my head around it, I can’t really understand how they’ve come to that decision.”
Wales will return to action in March on the back of an unbeaten six-game run, stitched together after back-to-back June defeats to Armenia and Turkey that ultimately cost them dear.
But Page was delighted by his side’s performance following a tepid display in drawing 1-1 away to Armenia on Saturday.
He said: “I think you saw from the first minute we were at them. I challenged JJ (Jordan James) and Ethan (Ampadu) to be a little more creative on the ball.
“I thought both of them stepped up to the plate – and then some. JJ went to another level and from the first minute there was no thought of ‘we’ve got the play-offs’.
“We weren’t taking our foot off the gas. We were going for the win.
“If we can recreate the performance we had against Croatia, home and away, and Turkey – even out there before we went down to 10 men – then we will be OK.”
Germany slipped to a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Turkey as Julian Nagelsmann saw his side’s stuttering build up to Euro 2024 continue.
The 36-year-old lost his first game as Germany manager after Yusuf Sari’s second-half penalty won it for the visitors.
Kai Havertz gave the hosts an early lead in the friendly, but Ferdi Kadioglu and Kenan Yildiz gave Turkey a 2-1 half time advantage.
Niclas Fullkrug’s 10th goal in 12 games for his country levelled soon after the break at the Olympiastadion.
Hansi Flick was sacked just nine months before next year’s home European Championship with Nagelsmann attempting to pick up the pieces.
A win over the USA and a draw with Mexico in his first games last month would have given him food for thought.
His early tenure looked to be going well on Saturday when Arsenal’s Havertz, playing in an unfamiliar left-back role, opened the scoring after six minutes when he fired in from Leroy Sane’s cutback.
But Turkey, who have already qualified, refused to crumble and Yusuf Yazici and Yildiz went close, either side of Sane shooting wide for Germany.
Yazici had a shot blocked before Turkey levelled when Kadioglu rifled past Kevin Trapp after losing Sane and they went into the break ahead when Yildiz rammed in at the far post in first-half stoppage time.
Germany, without the injured Jamal Musiala, Emre Can and Christian Gunter, came out fighting in the second half and were level five minutes after the restart.
The hosts hit Turkey on the break and Florian Wirtz supplied Fullkrug to drill in low to equalise in Berlin.
But the visitors almost regained the lead immediately when Dortmund midfielder Salih Ozcan hit a post.
The relentless pace continued and captain Ilkay Gundogan had a shot blocked on the hour before Turkey took the lead for a second time.
A VAR check was needed to confirm a handball by Havertz in the area and Sari buried the penalty with 19 minutes remaining.
Serge Gnabry came close to a leveller with three minutes left but he was unable to get the final touch on Benjamin Henrichs’ cross.
Julian Nagelsmann feels Germany’s rebuild ahead of hosting Euro 2024 cannot just be done from the back.
Germany face Turkey in a friendly on Saturday night in Berlin at the Olympiastadion, where the final of next summer’s showpiece tournament will be played.
Former boss Hansi Flick was sacked after an early exit at the World Cup was followed by a five-game winless run which ended with a 4-1 defeat by Japan in Wolfsburg.
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Nagelsmann took over Die Mannschaft ahead of the tour to the United States during October, with his side going on to beat the hosts 3-1 and draw 2-2 with Mexico.
The former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich head coach accepts tightening up in defence will be key to hopes of making an impact on home soil next summer – but stressed it must not be his squad’s only focus.
“We want to have good (defensive) stability. There are moments when we want to give up less space to the opponents. We want to defend highly, but also give less space for balls behind our line,” Nagelsmann said.
“With a view to the Euros, a good defence is important, but we will not seek our salvation only on the defensive.
“We want to become even more dominant in the game to reduce the time we have to defend.”
Nagelsmann confirmed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen would be returning to Barcelona as he deals with “acute back pain”, so will also not be available for next week’s trip to Austria.
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Manuel Neuer is working his way back to full fitness with Bayern following almost a year in recovery after breaking his leg while skiing.
Nagelsmann feels the 37-year-old should be allowed all the time he needs to get fully match fit and not face any extra pressure of a swift recall back to the national team.
“Anyone who listened to the reasons explaining the decision (not to call him up) can answer the question itself, why it has made sense not to nominate him (for the current squad),” Nagelsmann told a press conference.
“There are reasons that he has stayed at home and that is why a call-up now makes no sense.
“Manu has played a top role since his return and he should be allowed to continue.
“Afterwards, then at the Euros, the players who perform will play.”
Mats Hummels, a World Cup winner in 2014, should be involved after the Borussia Dortmund defender returned to training following his own back issue.
Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan is set to face his parent’s home nation for the first time.
The Gelsenkirchen-born Barcelona midfielder said: “It will be a very special game for me, no question about it.
“My grandparents, parents and other relatives still live in Turkey in Izmir, and of course I also have many friends there.
“I am really looking forward to it and I hope for a great football festival.”
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Turkey have already qualified for next summer’s finals, sitting top of Group D and will head to Wales next week for their last fixture.
New head coach Vincenzo Montella will be without captain Hakan Calhanoglu, who is recovering from a respiratory infection while his wife is also about to give birth to their child.
Fenerbahce winger Cengiz Under is another who did not travel to Germany as he continues to manage various fitness issues.
Wales newcomer Niall Huggins is ready to step onto the international stage after expressing fears that a mystery injury which left him with weak bones would end his career.
Huggins joined up with the senior Wales squad for the first time this week ahead of decisive Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey after what the Sunderland defender called a “horrendous” period.
The 22-year-old made just a couple of league starts in his first two seasons at Sunderland after joining from Leeds in August 2021, with the full-back becoming increasingly concerned over his football future.
“The last two years have been horrendous, awful to be honest,” said York-born Huggins, whose father was born in Bangor.
“When I first joined Sunderland, I suffered an initial stress fracture in my back and that put me out for four or five months.
“I had the same sort of issue but in different places when I was doing my rehab and it was something we struggled to get to the bottom of.
“There was never a reason for why it was happening. All the tests we did, nothing ever seemed to stand out.
“It was just that the bones were weak, which made it tough.”
Asked if he felt his career was at risk at the time, Huggins said: “Yes, 100 per cent. It got to the point where every time I was doing the rehab, the first few steps back on the grass, it was always there in the back of my mind.
“I would think: ‘Is this going to happen again?’ And you do start to worry. The years are going by on the contract and you are worrying about it.
“When I did finally start to get fit, it helped so much mentally. But it is still hard to look back on.”
Huggins said the issue was eventually resolved by “having an injection every morning for three months”, strengthening his bones and allowing him to return to training.
But the physical demand of matches took a toll on his body, with muscular issues and a knee problem ruling him out until Sunderland’s Championship play-off games in May.
It has not been until this season that Huggins has been able to show the potential that persuaded Marcelo Bielsa to hand him a Premier League debut for Leeds at Arsenal in February 2021.
“It literally feels like I’m starting my professional career,” said Huggins, who has started 11 Sunderland games this term and scored his first senior goal – a Championship goal-of-the-month contender – against Watford in October.
“This is the first year where I can really show what I can do and what level I can play at. To have the call-up to the senior team shows that even more.
“It wasn’t even at the back of my mind, but it felt amazing.
“To represent a country feels unbelievable. It means as much to the lads who were born outside Wales as those born in the country and who have lived there for a long time.
“It just shows the culture that the set-up creates for the players. You can see how amazing the fans are and how much it means to the country to make it to the Euros.
“The previous results show how much the lads want to play for the badge, including the lads born in England – and me being one of them. I’m just excited to one day hopefully put on the shirt and play for the country.”
Harry Kane helped Bayern Munich to a 3-1 win at Galatasaray as they remained in firm control of Group A in the Champions League.
Bayern took an early lead through Kingsley Coman but after Mauro Icardi’s 30th-minute penalty brought the hosts level, they had to soak up considerable pressure in Istanbul before two goals in the last 20 minutes secured a 16th straight group-stage win.
Kane got the first in the 73rd minute and then teed up Jamal Musiala to add another soon after as Galatasaray’s 23-match unbeaten run was ended.
After Icardi spurned an early opportunity for the hosts, Coman silenced the home crowd eight minutes in when Bayern hit Galatasaray on the break.
Leroy Sane broke down the left, cut inside and spread the ball for Coman, who had space after Kazimcan Karatas over-committed and went to ground too early, to drill home.
Galatasaray responded well to the setback, pouring forward and creating chance after chance.
Sven Ulreich did well to turn Kerem Akturkoglu’s shot around the post but was then grateful to see the Turkey forward spurn a gift, firing over the crossbar after the Bayern goalkeeper cleared the ball straight to him.
Galatasaray were rewarded on the half-hour mark when Icardi was caught by a sliding Joshua Kimmich as he tried to connect with a low cross, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.
Icardi, who missed from the spot against Manchester United, made no mistake this time with a cheeky chip down the middle once Ulreich had already committed.
The chances continued to come as Wilfried Zaha, Sacha Boey and Akturkoglu had shots blocked before half-time.
Just before the hour Lucas Torreira stooped to meet Dries Mertens’ free-kick at the front post but could only find the side-netting, and the former Arsenal midfielder then played in Icardi whose shot was again blocked.
Their failure to convert the chances they had created cost them as Bayern came forward late on.
Kane put them back in front with 17 minutes left. He tried to meet Musiala’s low cross from the right with a flick from his trailing leg but when that effort was blocked, the ball bounced up for him to prod home.
It was then Kane’s turn to set up Musiala, who rifled home a shot from the edge of the box.
Galatasaray seemed to know they were beaten and the intent they had shown for so much of the night was gone.
Instead it was Bayern who threatened to score again, with Fernando Muslera denying Sane before Eric Choupo-Moting headed narrowly over from a Kimmich corner.
The win extended Bayern’s perfect start to the campaign as they top the standings with nine points.
England, Scotland, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey, Belgium and Austria all secured their places at Euro 2024 in the latest round of qualifying fixtures.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what still to be resolved in November and the play-offs.
Group A
Scotland and Spain have both qualified for the finals, but top spot remains up for grabs.
Spain head to Cyprus and then host Georgia, while Scotland face a trip to Tbilisi before welcoming Norway to Hampden Park – where the Tartan Army are expected to revel in a Euro 2024 qualification party.
Georgia are set to go into the play-offs based on their Nations League ranking as a group winner.
Norway are one of several countries who will have to wait on all the other results to see if they can make the cut as one of 12 teams split through three paths.
Group B
While France have qualified automatically for the finals as group winners, the Netherlands still have work to do.
The Dutch edged past Greece with a stoppage-time penalty from captain Virgil van Dijk on Monday night – and victory over the Republic of Ireland in Amsterdam will secure a top-two finish.
Greece, though, could also still reach Euro 2024, having already been assured of a place in the play-offs.
Indeed because of UEFA’s complex weighted system based on overall Nations League rankings, the Republic are still not theoretically out of the running to be involved in the play-offs in March – and could even see their slim hopes boosted by a loss in Amsterdam on November 18 if other results also fall into place.
Group C
England’s 3-1 win over Italy at Wembley on Tuesday night saw them qualify with two matches left.
Italy are third, but qualification remains in their own hands if they can beat North Macedonia.
The Azzurri would then edge out Ukraine to the runners-up spot should they go on to avoid defeat in the final group game between the two countries in Leverkusen on November 20.
Italy are also assured of place in the play-offs should it be needed.
Group D
Turkey have secured qualification, but the race to join them looks set to go to the wire.
Wales will if they beat Armenia in Yerevan and Croatia suffer an unexpected defeat away to Latvia.
Armenia, though, are still not out of the mix, sitting just three points behind Wales and Croatia with two games left.
Qualification could all hinge on the very last round of fixtures – which sees Wales host Turkey in Cardiff and Croatia play Armenia in Zagreb on November 21.
However, Croatia are assured of at least a play-off spot if they do not qualify automatically.
Group E
In another tight group, leaders Albania, the Czech Republic, Poland and even Moldova can all still qualify.
Albania will qualify if they avoid defeat by Moldova in their next match or if Poland – currently third and with just one game left – beat the Czechs.
An away win in Warsaw, though, would see the Czech Republic qualify if Moldova do not beat Albania.
Moldova have two games left, which they realistically would need to win to keep in the qualification mix.
Despite being bottom of the table with just one point from seven games, the Faroe Islands could yet find themselves in the play-offs depending on other results.
Group F
Austria and group leaders Belgium have both qualified.
Belgium’s game against Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium on Monday night was abandoned at half-time after two people were shot dead in Brussels. It has yet to be confirmed whether the fixture will be replayed.
Azerbaijan are not theoretically out of play-off contention, while bottom side Estonia are the top-ranked team from Nations League Group D.
Group G
Leaders Hungary – who have Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles in the squad – missed the chance to qualify after having to recover to draw 2-2 in Lithuania.
However, a point in their next match away to Bulgaria would see them through, as would Montenegro not beating Lithuania.
Second-placed Serbia will qualify if Montenegro fail to win on November 16 or they themselves beat Bulgaria in their last game.
Bottom side Bulgaria have slim play-off hopes, but Serbia are secured a spot if they need it as one of the Nations League group winners.
Group H
Slovenia, who beat Northern Ireland in Belfast on Tuesday night, and Denmark are in the driving seat to qualify, sitting four points clear of Kazakhstan.
A win in Copenhagen for either team on November 17 would see them through, as would San Marino getting an unlikely positive result against Kazakhstan.
Finland will go into the play-offs, which is also the likely route for Kazakhstan.
Group I
Switzerland’s fightback with two late goals to draw 3-3 against Belarus left them second in the table, a point behind leaders Romania having played a game less.
Israel – assured of at least a play-off spot – are four points adrift, and have their rearranged match with the Swiss on November 15.
Switzerland will qualify if they win their next two fixtures, while Romania will if the Swiss lose in Tel Aviv and they themselves then beat Israel on November 18.
Romania are set to host Switzerland in the final round of fixtures, while Israel’s postponed match against Kosovo has still to be rescheduled.
Group J
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Portugal qualified for the finals as runaway group winners with a 100 per cent record so far through eight games.
Slovakia will also qualify with a match to spare if they avoid defeat against Iceland.
Luxembourg are five points behind, so look likely to go into the play-offs along with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Teenager Gavi’s solitary goal was enough for Spain to secure their Euro 2024 qualification with a 1-0 victory over Norway.
The 19-year-old midfielder scored his fifth international goal in his last 25 matches to put the 2008 and 2012 champions through, while also ending Norway’s hopes with Scotland the major beneficiaries of the result as they too qualified.
Georgia’s earlier 4-0 win over Cyprus had kept alive their slim hopes of staying in contention in Group A but Spain’s result ended that prospect.
Turkey qualified from Group D after a resounding 4-0 win over Latvia, with former Everton striker Cenk Tosun scoring two late goals.
However, Croatia slipped below Wales into third after Mario Pasalic’s 75th-minute goal was not enough to spark the comeback needed after Harry Wilson scored either side of half-time.
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek’s 76th-minute penalty was enough for the Czech Republic to beat the Faroe Islands 1-0 in Group E.
But the group is still in the balance as Poland’s 1-1 draw at home to Moldova – Karol Swiderski cancelling out Ion Nicolaescu’s opener – kept them in in touch in third and fourth respectively.
Belarus’ hopes of finishing in the top two in Group I were ended after Switzerland scored twice in the last two minutes of normal time to snatch a 3-3 draw.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni both struck late on for the Swiss, who had taken a 28th-minute lead through Xherdan Shaqiri, to maintain their unbeaten record after Max Ebong, Denis Polyakov and Dmitri Antilevski appeared to have done enough to keep Belarus in the hunt.
Romania went top with a 4-0 victory over Andorra in which Alaves’ on-loan Rangers winger Ianis Hagi was on target.
Wales meet Croatia in a vital Euro 2024 qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday night.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at five of the main talking points as Wales seek to keep their automatic qualification hopes alive.
Perfect finish needed
Turkey’s shock win in Croatia on Thursday has really thrown a spanner in the works. Wales had expected to be in a three-way fight with Turkey and Armenia for the second qualifying spot behind top speeds Croatia. Overtaking Croatia now looks like being Wales’ target, but a top-two spot only appears achievable by winning on Sunday and also beating Armenia and Turkey in their final group games next month.
Cardiff fortress
In a week when the UK and Ireland won the right to host Euro 2028 and the prospect of Wales returning to play at the Principality Stadium came into sharp focus, much has been made of making home advantage count at the Cardiff City Stadium. Wales have enjoyed some big nights there in the past, but that was often when Gareth Bale was in full flow and making the difference. A sell-out crowd will turn up in anticipation that Wales can make the stadium a fortress in the post-Bale era.
Moore the merrier
Kieffer Moore’s return to the fold is a big boost for Wales. Moore missed the last two Euro qualifiers after being sent off against Armenia in June. The 6ft 5in striker has had little game time at Bournemouth but Moore was in fine fettle during his 45-minute run-out against Gibraltar on Wednesday. Moore scored twice in the 4-0 friendly win to take his Wales goals tally to 12.
Creaking Croatia?
Croatia suffered their first-ever home defeat in a Euro qualifier against Turkey. But was it a one-off or something more meaningful? The 2018 World Cup finalists and 2022 semi-finalists are used to breezing through qualification but, having let two points slip against Wales at home, this campaign has been more challenging. Time might finally be catching up on midfield magician Luka Modric, 38 last month, while injuries to Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic and Hoffenheim forward Andrej Kramaric have hurt them.
Wales win overdue
Wales have proved accommodating opponents for Croatia, who they have yet to beat in seven attempts. Croatia have won four times with Wales’ best moments coming in three 1-1 draws. Simon Davies scored in a 2002 Varazdin friendly, Bale netted in a Euro 2020 qualifier in Cardiff, and Nathan Broadhead’s stoppage-time equaliser cheered Wales at the start of this campaign in March.
Daniel James insists Wales have not given up hope of automatic Euro 2024 qualification despite the blow of Turkey beating Croatia on Thursday.
Turkey’s shock 1-0 win in Osijek has left Wales with a mammoth task to claim a top-two place in Group D.
Wales realistically need to win their final three group games – starting against Croatia in Cardiff on Sunday – to secure automatic qualification for next summer’s Euro finals and avoid going into the play-offs in March.
“The players have spoken a little bit about it (the Turkey result) but not too much,” James told the PA news agency.
“You always hope results go your way, but you can’t concentrate on hoping other teams lose.
“We’ve gone into every game believing that we can win and it (qualification) is still in our hands.
“Croatia lost the other night but they’re a great team that’s been to the semis and finals of World Cups. You can’t underestimate them at all.
“We had a start in this group that wasn’t up to our standards, but we trust ourselves to go into this game with heads held high.”
Although James points out that he is “no big verbal leader” almost as quickly as he bursts down the pitch, the 25-year-old winger now has senior status within Rob Page’s squad.
James won his 46th cap in the 4-0 friendly victory against Gibraltar on Wednesday after coming on as an early substitute for the injured Wes Burns.
He made two goals and hit the post with a ferocious shot from outside the box to build on his fine early-season form at Leeds.
James, speaking at the Wales training camp to celebrate the wave of free McDonald’s Fun Football sessions in the country this autumn, said: “I still feel that age of 19 or 20 when I first came into the set-up.
“But I do feel like one of the senior boys now. The way we sit in the dining room I’m at a more senior table.
“You see boys in there now about 20 and it feels a bit crazy. It’s the same at club level where we’ve got a lot of youngsters.
“I wouldn’t say I was a massive talker in the dressing room. I let the other boys do that and concentrate on my own game.
“But you’ve got to try and set that example on the pitch by working hard and showing what you can do. I always give 100 per cent to help take the team forward.”
James has certainly done that on his return to Leeds following a frustrating loan spell at Fulham last season.
The former Manchester United player made only five Premier League starts in West London and has had to rebuild confidence in the Sky Bet Championship following Leeds’ relegation from the top flight.
James said: “Fulham was a good learning curve for me and I don’t regret it at all.
“I didn’t play as much as I wanted to but, because it happened so late in the window on deadline day, it takes a while to settle and find somewhere to live.
“You’ve got children as well and the first two or three months were very hard. The World Cup was coming up and it’s always hard to settle in pretty quick.”
On his return to Leeds, where he has been joined by Wales teammates Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon, James said: “It’s great to be back. As soon as I got back in the summer I just wanted to play and show that I was there to stay and work hard.
“We had a little bit of a tricky start, but we’ve had a good run of games and we’ve just got to keep pushing.
“It’s always harder when you haven’t played many minutes, not just physically but mentally as well.
“You need to get into the rhythm of games and I’ve got that at Leeds now. I’m feeling fit and ready and, when that happens, everything comes naturally.”
:: Daniel James was speaking at a special fun football session at the Wales training camp to celebrate the wave of free McDonald’s Fun Football sessions in Wales this autumn. McDonald’s Fun Football is the UK’s largest grassroots participation programme for 5-11 year-olds. Find your nearest free session at www.mcdonalds.co.uk/football
Aaron Ramsey will miss Wales’ November Euro 2024 qualifiers, according to his Cardiff manager Erol Bulut.
Ramsey had already been ruled out of October’s qualifier against Croatia with a knee injury sustained in training last month.
But Wales boss Rob Page, announcing his squad for that fixture on Wednesday, said he was hopeful Ramsey would recover in time to play in the final two group games against Armenia and Turkey in November.
However, Bulut has said Ramsey faces at least two months on the sidelines, and that timescale will be increased should the 32-year-old require surgery.
“Aaron, we were talking about how many weeks he would be out, we were waiting also,” Bulut said at his pre-match press conference for Cardiff’s home game against Watford on Saturday.
“Hopefully without surgery, he will be out at least eight to 10 weeks.
“If he does get surgery, it will be up to 12 weeks. If something happens in these weeks, it will add 12 weeks.
“You could see, when he was on the field, he was great. He linked the game. We will miss him.”
Former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Ramsey rejoined hometown club Cardiff in July and had been in fine form for club and country.
He scored from the penalty spot in the two games before his injury, for Wales in their Euro qualifying victory over Latvia and against derby rivals Swansea in a 2-0 Sky Bet Championship win.
Tottenham defender Ben Davies, the Wales vice-captain, will lead the Dragons in Ramsey’s absence.
Wales realistically need to draw against World Cup semi-finalists Croatia and win both games of their November double-header to secure automatic qualification for next summer’s Euro 2024 finals in Germany and avoid the play-offs.
Paris St Germain have loaned Edouard Michut to Turkish club Adana Demirspor.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who enjoyed a loan spell at Sunderland last term, will stay in Turkey for the full season.
Michut played 28 times as the Black Cats reached the Championship play-offs.
The French club said in a statement: “Paris St Germain wishes Edouard a successful season with Adana Demirspor.”
Adana Demirspor are managed by former Barcelona and Netherlands forward Patrick Kluivert.
Former Reggae Boyz striker Dever Orgill has signed for Turkish team Bodrumspor.
Orgill spent last season at Manisa FK, also in Turkey, scoring three goals in 10 matches in a season where he was plagued with injury.
“We signed a contract with Dever Orgill, the Jamaican footballer who wore Manisa FK jersey last season. We wish him success in the Bodrumspor uniform,” the team said on its Facebook page.
Bodrumspor finished third in the TTF Second League last season.
Orgill scored four goals in 18 appearances for the Reggae Boyz between 2010 and 2019.
Kennya “Yaya” Cordner netted a hat-trick on Saturday to propel Fenerbahçe SK women’s team to a 7-0 thrashing of Ataşehir Belediyespor in the Turkish Women’s Super League.
The 34-year-old Cornder, who transferred from Norwegian club IL Sandviken in November 2021, has now scored seven goals for Fenerbache and is now the joint top scorer in the league this season.
The veteran from Speyside in Tobago, scored in the 17th, 27th and 41st minutes, adding to goals scored by Busem Şeker in the ninth minute, Marcano in the 12th minute and Nazlıcan Parlak in the 22nd and 25th minutes in the rout.
It was Fenerbahçe SK’s fourth consecutive win that pushed them into second place in the Group B standings with 15 points. Fomget leads with 18 points
Serdar Gurler says Turkey can have no excuses after suffering a shock defeat to the Faroe Islands in Sunday's Nations League clash.
Turkey entered the Group C1 contest unbeaten in six matches, winning five of those en route to earning promotion into the second tier of the competition.
However, the country of around 86 million people fell to a 2-1 reverse in Torshavn against a country with a population of under 49,000.
Viljormur Davidsen and Joan Simun Edmundsson gave the hosts, who are ranked 125th in the world – 83 places below their opponents – a two-goal lead early in the second half.
Gurler pulled one back in the final minute, but the Faroe Islands held on to extend their own unbeaten run to four matches.
Reflecting on a chastening loss for the side coached by Stefan Kuntz, Istanbul Basaksehir forward Gurler told reporters: "We are incredibly sad. There is no excuse for this.
"Maybe we didn't want it as much as they did. We didn't fight. We completed the first four matches with very good results."
Quoted by Turkish outlet Aspor, Gurler added: "Maybe we were too comfortable, but we can't make any excuses for this evening. In the dressing room, there's a silence as if you were at a funeral home."
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