Football essentials for October 5: Portugal into the quarter-finals, England’s 7-0, Messi one night from his farewell

The international window closes tonight at the Stade de France with France against Belgium, and England host Czechia tomorrow. The day belonged to Portugal, already through, to England’s biggest scoreline of the window, and to the farewell Argentina is preparing for Lionel Messi.

Portugal book their quarter-final place

Sunday’s 2-1 win over Norway made it four wins from four for the holders, who will play the quarter-finals in March. Norway lost more than a match: Erling Haaland limped off, and the severity is not yet known. Greece held Germany to a draw, and Wales went down 1-0 to Denmark, Rasmus Højlund scoring from the penalty spot, a third defeat in four for the Welsh.

England run riot, but lose two defenders

After the 2-0 win in Czechia, England thrashed Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka. Tomorrow’s game against Czechia will be played without Ezri Konsa or Alex Scott, both injured and sent back to their clubs for assessment, with no replacements called up. Our report on the two withdrawals has the details, and our match preview is already online.

France against Belgium to close Zidane’s first squad

Tonight at 20:45, France play their fourth match in ten days without Dayot Upamecano, sent off against Italy; Belgium are without Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans, both suspended. Lucas Da Cunha has owned the loose control that cost Bastoni’s equaliser in Friday’s 1-1, and Zinedine Zidane promises a few changes. Jules Koundé plays for his place, with Pierre Kalulu pushing and little game time at Barcelona. The full preview covers both teams and the absentees.

Golden Boy: Cubarsi heads the 25 finalists

Tuttosport unveiled the 25 finalists for Europe’s under-21 award in Venice on Monday, with the winner crowned in Turin in early December. World champion and best young player of the World Cup with Spain, Pau Cubarsi (19, Barcelona) is the clear favourite, ahead of Ayyoub Bouaddi, who left Lille for Manchester City in a 100-million-euro move. Three Germans (Karl, El Mala, Jeltsch), two Real Madrid players (Endrick, Diomandé) and one Parisian, Warren Zaïre-Emery. Lamine Yamal, the 2024 winner, and Désiré Doué, who took the 2025 award, are out of the running: the trophy can be won only once.

Messi: the Monumental gets ready to say goodbye

Argentina host Benin on Tuesday night for Lionel Messi’s final match in the albiceleste shirt. Half a million people logged on to the ticketing site, and Rosario has hung a 30-metre shirt in his honour. Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou has promised him no gifts. The number 10 stays in the dressing room: Fifa rules forbid retiring it for good.

Mbappé nurses his knee and answers back

Injured against Turkey, Kylian Mbappé left the France camp early and was back in Madrid on Monday. On Instagram, he replied with irony to Javier Tinto, a Radio Marca journalist who claimed the striker was angry that Real Madrid would not campaign for his Ballon d’Or. According to AS, he should start against Villarreal on Saturday.

Neom: the 2034 World Cup stadium in the sky on hold

According to two sources cited by Reuters, Saudi Arabia is close to shelving the 46,000-seat stadium planned 350 metres up, on the roof of The Line at Neom, for the 2034 World Cup. Work is on hold and nothing is official. The numbers and the consequences are in our report.