Football Roundup: This week’s footballing action – European football, Nations League, and more
This weekend’s football action – away from the Premier League. Catch up on the latest from Women’s football, the upcoming Nations League matches and the biggest games from across Europe.
Read our round-up of the weekend’s Premier League action
Women’s football
Maddy Cusack’s death not suspicious
Maddy Cusack’s death is not being treated as suspicious police have confirmed.
The 27-year-old Sheffield United footballer was found dead last week at her home. She was the first player to reach 100 appearances for the club’s women’s team last season. Police have said they were called to an address in Horsley just after 18:35 BST on Wednesday. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tributes have poured in for Cusack from around the footballing world and a minute silence was held before Sheffield United’s men’s team played Newcastle, as well as the England vs Scotland Nations League match.
Megan Rapinoe calls time on her international career
US forward Megan Rapinoe has ended her international career with a 2-0 win over South Africa in Chicago.
Prior to the 2023 World Cup, the forward said she planned to retire when the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season ends.
Rapinoe, 38, made her USA debut in 2006 and won 203 caps, scoring 63 goals, and winning the World Cup in 2015 and 2019.
“So overwhelming. It has been amazing,” Rapinoe said of the reception she received at Sunday’s friendly.
“It has been really wonderful, to hear all the nice things, to have a closure moment, to play in front of a big crowd again.
“I’ll miss it forever. I don’t think I’ll ever be at a moment where it will feel perfect but this is pretty close.”
Megan Rapinoe
Rapinoe won the 2019 Ballon d’Or and has represented her country at four World Cups. She helped the US win gold at the 2012 London Olympics. In her last World Cup appearance in 2023, she was one of three players to miss a penalty. It was also the US women’s team’s earliest exit from a World Cup. But Rapinoe noted the US going out of the competition so early suggested the impressive growth of women’s football globally.
Nations League matches 2023
England prepare to face Netherlands
England’s women’s team are preparing to face the Netherlands in their second match of the 2023 Nations League. The Lionesses won their first-ever Nations League match on Friday, beating Scotland 2-1 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. They are currently on three points in the four-team group A1 along with Belgium, who beat the Netherlands 2-1.
England are the nominated nation on behalf of Team GB, to gain qualification for the Paris Olympics. To do so they must win the group and reach the Nations League final or finish third if hosts France are in the final two.
The Lionesses have no injury concerns and striker Alessia Russo is expected to make a start, after being rested for the Scotland game.
England had a slow game against Scotland, and at times, especially in the second half they looked like they were struggling. But it was their first return to international duty following losing the World Cup final in August. We expect the Lionesses to be back to best for Tuesday’s game at Stadion Galgenwaard (kick-off 19:00 BST).
Scotland v Belgium – Kirsty Howat replaces Emma Watson in squad
Kristy Howat has received her first call-up for Scotland for their Nations League game against Belgium on Tuesday. She replaces Emma Watson in the pool for the game at Hampden Park. Howat, 26, has represented Scotland at various age-group levels.
Pedro Martinez Losa’s Scotland began their Women’s Nations League campaign with a narrow defeat against England. The squad had real signs of talent and will be looking for their first win this Tuesday.
The Netherlands will also be looking for their first Nations League win after they lost 2-1 to Belgium.
European football roundup
Mbappe injured as PSG win
Kylian Mbappe was taken off during PSG vs. Marseille with a suspected ankle injury, but the PSG team were able to cruise to victory over Marseille without any trouble. The win marked a return to winning ways in Ligue 1 for Paris St-Germain.
Mbappe had tried to carry on after an early challenge with Leonardo Balerdi but went off before half-time. The injury could mean he is out of action for the Newcastle Champions League match on 4 October.
Four goals by Achraf Hakimi, Randal Kolo Muani and two from Goncalo Ramos saw PSG go to third in Ligue 1, just two points behind Brest.
Kane scores hattrick as Bayern hit 7 past Bochum
Harry Kane scored his first hat-trick in Germany and assisted twice as Bayern Munich extended their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season.
He smashed home a loose ball in the first half, converted a penalty in the second and scored the third by turning home a pass in the 88th minute. He also provided two precise passes to set up Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Matthijs de Ligt also scored.
Kane – who helped Bayern beat Man United 4-3 in the Champions League, has now scored seven goals in his first five Bundesliga matches.
Bayern now have four wins and one draw after their opening five games at sit top of the table with 13 points.
No doubt manager Thomas Tuchel is happy with his signing of Kane.
Barcelona turnaround
Barcelona fought back to snatch a late goal to return to the top of La Liga. Celta were winning 2-0 with only nine minutes remaining, but two clinical finishes in just four minutes rescued Bara’s hopes.
Joao Cancelo snatched a late win for Barcelona as they returned to the top of La Liga with a fightback against Celta Vigo.
Celta were 2-0 up with nine minutes remaining after goals from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Tasos Douvikas.
But two clinical finishes in the space of just four minutes from Robert Lewandowski rescued Barcelona’s hopes. And then Joan Cancelo completed the ultimate comeback by meeting a Gavi ball and drilled in a volley to secure Barcelona the win.
Barcelona now top La Liga thanks to a superior goal difference over Girona, with both sides on 16 points.
Barca were regularly undone at the back, with players easily weaving through their defence. But the team remained resilient in their waves of attacks until the team finally cracked.
Real Madrid, who are second, could return to the top of the table and move two points ahead of Barcelona if they beat Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s Madrid derby.
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