The hosts will be hoping to take advantage of Christian Eriksen’s absence and exact revenge on Age Hareide’s charges for ending their World Cup dream

The Republic of Ireland host Denmark at the Aviva Stadium in the UEFA Nations League for the first time since their 5-1 mauling in the second leg of their World Cup Qualifying play-off.

The Danes’ star man, Christian Eriksen, put the Irish to the sword that day, scoring a hat-trick, but injury keeps him out of his country’s second fixture in this competition.

His double got Denmark all three points in their opening fixture against Wales, and Age Hareide’s side will have to replace the midfielder’s goals in his absence.

Ireland, however, were beaten soundly by the Welsh and will need a much-improved performance from the 4-1 defeat if they are to avoid a similar scoreline against a side who have lost just once in two years.

In the United States (US), the game can be  watched live with LiveSoccerTV.

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on Sky Sports Football and it can be streamed live online using Sky Go. The game can also be followed live on Goal here .

Ireland boss Martin O’Neill is without star defender Seamus Coleman, while Stephen Ward is also injured, leaving the hosts short at full-back.

However, Shane Long and James McClean appear to have recovered in time from ankle and wrist injuries, respectively.

Potential Ireland XI: Randolph; Stevens, Clark, Duffy, Christie; Arter; McClean, Hourihane, Hendrick, O’Dowda; Long

Denmark’s most glaring issue is the absence of Tottenham midfielder Eriksen, who is their most potent goal-threat and regular set-piece taker.

Aside from that, Hareide has no other significant injuries to contend with, although Rosenborg striker Nicklas Bendtner misses out after being charged with assaulting a taxi driver in Copenhagen last month.

Potential Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Stryger Larsen, Kjaer, Christensen, Dalsgaard; Delaney, Hojbjerg, Schone; Sisto, Cornelius, Poulsen

Denmark are favourites to win the match according to bet365 , who price them at 7/5. Ireland are considered a 13/5 bet to win at home and a draw is available at 2/1.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

Ireland sit bottom of Group B4 in the Nations League after their defeat to Wales, while Denmark are above Wales on goal difference with a game in hand.

A win in Ireland would put the Danes in pole position to top the Group and achieve promotion, while the hosts need to pick up points from somewhere quickly if they are to avoid relegation.

They will be thankful that Eriksen, who has scored 15 in his last 17 competitive appearances for Denmark, is sidelined through injury, but their performance in Wales should be cause for real concern.

Speaking to a press conference ahead of the game, Denmark head coach Hareide said: “[Eriksen]’s a good player, an important player for us, but we haven’t focused on him not being there but on the players who are here. We may have to play a different way without him but we have shown we have a lot of good players in Denmark. We don’t want being without Christian to be an excuse after the game. We need to show ourselves and do our best.”

Hareide also praised the new Nations League and alluded to his side’s aim of promotion to a higher division, with the aim of playing European heavyweights on a regular basis: “It’s a lot better than playing friendly matches and it gives you a chance to play against the top teams the next time if you get promoted – that’s very interesting.

“It’s usually very hard to get games against teams like France, Spain and Germany, teams who attract huge crowds.”

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The Arsenal centre-back has confirmed his international retirement and detailed the difficulty in dealing with sitting out Les Bleus triumph

France defender Laurent Koscielny says that his country’s World Cup triumph did him greater psychological damage than the Achilles injury that ruled him out of the tournament, and admitted part of him was rooting against his team in the final.

The Arsenal defender had previously confirmed he would retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup.

However, his Achilles injury late last season sidelined him for Russia, leading to questions over whether he might decide to stick around.

But in an interview with Canal+ Koscielny detailed his struggles in dealing with missing out on France’s success in Russia, while admitting seeing it all unfold brought out the worst in him.

“The World Cup will remain a dark spot of my career,” Koscielny told Canal+.

“The injury was hard to accept. The result was even harder because they won the World Cup. I have a selfish side. I tell myself that I could have been part of the adventure and won the Cup. And I would have it in a corner of my head for the rest my life. It’s difficult and no one can put themself in my shoes. 

“I was really happy for them, but also disgusted. You can not feel like a world champion, as the 60 million French could. It’s a strange feeling that during the tournament I wanted them to qualify, but at the same time I wanted them to lose. That was my feeling at the time.”

The centre-back grew emotional speaking on his situation, and detailing his difficult road back from the injury.

“It’s my first big injury, mentally you’re getting very strong, you’re learning a lot about football and life, I’ve worked every day at St-Raphael, and put my family aside,” he said. 

“These are things in life, and you have to face all of that, during my rehabilitation, I was selfish, I only thought of myself, and I did not pay attention to my family.”

Koscielny won his first cap for France in 2011 against the USA, having initially considered an offer to represent Poland for whom he also qualified.

He made 51 appearances for Les Bleus across his career and scored once, in a 3-0 friendly victory over Scotland in 2016.

He has however been unable to force his way back into contention since the start of the new season, with Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho instead earning a recall and Everton’s Kurt Zouma preferred at the back.

And Koscielny pulled no punches in his criticism of Deschamps and the coaching staff, who masterminded their country’s success 20 years on from lifting the trophy as captain in 1998 on home soil.

“Deschamps called me once [since the World Cup], during my birthday in September,” Koscielny said. “Lot of people disappointed me, and there are lots of other coaches. It feels like a slap on the face.”

“I think I gave what I could give to the French team.The national team has a very good generation with great players.

“My injury has not changed my decision: for the Blues it’s over for me. But I remain a supporter of the French team.”

With his time with France now complete, Koscielny is focusing on his recovery so he can return to the field with Arsenal.

While he admits he is uncertain how he’ll perform when he does get back, Koscienly is determined to make a strong effort to get back out there. 

“I have a new state of mind, there was the Laurent before, and the Laurent after. I want to continue to Arsenal, and come back quickly, I do not know what level I can have. but I want to fight. “

A man who has worked with the Portuguese at Chelsea and Real Madrid believes he remains the right coach for the inconsistent Red Devils

Manchester United taking the decision to sack Jose Mourinho would be “unfair”, says Michael Essien, with the Portuguese still the right man for the job.

A testing start to the 2018-19 campaign has seen pressure mount on a high-profile manager at Old Trafford.

Mourinho’s ongoing presence has divided opinion, although a number of his former players have spoken out in support of a coach who is being let down by an underperforming squad.

Essien has now added his voice to those who believe United need to make brave calls during a difficult period and offer support to an under-fire boss, rather than ushering him through the exits.

A man who worked under Mourinho at Chelsea and Real Madrid during his playing days told Standard Sport: “It’s all part of the game. When things are not going right, clubs start making changes.

“It would be unfair [if they sacked him] but, as I said, it’s part of the game. Managers come and go but we’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

Essien added on the situation Mourinho finds himself in at Old Trafford: “They’ve had a very bad start to the season. Knowing Jose and the players, I am sure they will work hard and start to change things around.

“He’s a good man, first and foremost, and he always knows how to get the best out of his players. He knows when things are not going right and he knows what to do and the words to say to pick them up. 

“I am sure he will do that and hopefully things will begin to change for him.

“He is [charismatic in training]. He is always close to his players. He’s such a good man but people see him differently on camera. But, off camera, he is such a lovely person.”

Mourinho was able to send his side into the international on the back of a dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle, but bigger tests now lie ahead.

United will return to domestic action on October 20 with a trip to Chelsea, before then taking in a Champions League reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo and his Juventus side.

After netting a brace in the Nations League win over Spain, the Man City star revelled in scoring his first England goals since 2015

Raheem Sterling was overcome by a “beautiful feeling” after scoring his first England goals in over three years to help the Three Lions see off Spain 3-2 in Seville on Monday.

Sterling scored either side of Marcus Rashford’s effort as Gareth Southgate’s side dismantled Spain in the first half of their Nations League encounter, ultimately giving the hosts too much to do after the break.

The Manchester City star’s 16th-minute opener was his first England goal since October 9 2015, and Sterling acknowledged that finally ending his drought provided a huge relief.

“It was a beautiful feeling to score, I put pressure on myself, it’s my position to score goals,” Sterling told Sky Sports.

“It means a lot to me. Three years is a long time not to score!

“I haven’t scored for a while for England, so it was frustration, all the pressure, it all comes out in the celebration,” the 23-year-old added to BBC Radio 5Live.

“There is nothing better than scoring in an England shirt. We showed energy, effort and courage to get on the ball.”

England’s first win in the UEFA Nations League puts the Three Lions second in Group 4, with Spain retaining hold of the summit two points ahead. 

Their final game of the group stage will take place on November 18 at home to Croatia, who must beat Spain three days prior to that clash to keep the fight for qualification to the semi-finals alive. 

The Red Devils manager saw the game between the midfielder’s side and Montenegro, which ended 2-0, much to the player’s delight

Serbia and Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has admitted his delight that Jose Mourinho attended his country’s clash with Montenegro in midweek.

The Manchester United manager was present as Serbia ran out 2-0 winners in the first competitive clash between the two nations, who competed at the 2006 World Cup as one country.

Milinkovic-Savic has been regularly linked with a mega-money move away from Serie A, and United were reportedly one of several clubs queueing up to secure the 23-year-old.

He is unsure that Mourinho was in the stands to watch him, particularly given that he started the game as a substitute, coming on in the second half, but is nevertheless pleased that the United boss saw him play.

“I’m a Lazio player, but obviously I was pleased that a coach of his calibre came to see the game,” he told reporters.

“If he gave the impression of disagreeing with the starting line-up, it may not be because of me.

“Maybe he wasn’t here for me but for someone else. I read a bit from everywhere that he came here to watch me play, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Indeed, Mourinho and United have also been linked with Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic, who helped his side keep a clean sheet.

The Fiorentina defender is reportedly among the defenders on the Red Devils’ wish list after they missed out on the likes of Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng in the summer.

United have endured a poor start to the Premier League season, losing three of their opening eight games, and currently trail Chelsea and Manchester City by seven points.

The D.C. United forward scored from a stunning set-piece as his side defeated Toronto 1-0 to extend their winning streak to four games

Wayne Rooney’s sensational free kick lifted D.C. United to victory over MLS champions Toronto, while the Seattle Sounders qualified for the playoffs and Sporting Kansas City earned an impressive win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Former Manchester United and England captain Rooney scored from a stunning set piece as D.C. defeated Toronto 1-0 to extend the club’s winning streak to four games on Wednesday.

Rooney curled a 30-yard free kick past Alex Bono in the 18th minute and that proved to be the difference at Audi Field in Washington.

The 32-year-old’s memorable effort – his 10th in 18 MLS appearances – further boosted his side’s playoff chances, with the capital club four points clear of the Montreal Impact in the sixth and final postseason place in the Eastern Conference after 32 rounds.

Sporting Kansas City returned to second in the Western Conference with a 4-1 rout of the playoff-chasing Vancouver Whitecaps.

All four the Kansas City side’s goals were scored in the second half as the club stormed back following Felipe’s strike for Vancouver just before the break. 

Yohan Croizet pulled SKC level just after the hour mark, with the floodgates opening after Daniel Salloi put visiting side in front in the 82nd. 

Gianluca Busio put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, the 16-year-old netting his first MLS goal on a simple tap-in before Salloi rounded out the scoring at the death. 

The other match on the night saw the Seattle Sounders ride two early goals to a 2-1 playoff-clinching win over Orlando City.

The Sounders have now made the playoffs in 10 straight seasons, pulling level with a league record for consecutive years in the postseason. 

Seattle ended the night in fourth place in the Western Conference, four points back of table-topping FC Dallas. 

The Scots will be looking to improve after their defeat to Israel, while a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal side will be buoyed after beating Poland

Scotland host Portugal at Hampden Park on Sunday as the visitors line up without Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese will instead look to Andre Silva to be their goalscoring inspiration, having already scored seven in La Liga for Sevilla so far this season

Scotland skipper Andrew Robertson is the man to watch for Scotland on Sunday as he looks to help guide the Scots to what would be an impressive victory over the Euro 2016 winners.

In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

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In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on Sky Sports Main Event and it can be streamed live online using the Sky Go. The game can also be followed live on Goal here.

Scotland boss Alex McLeish make half-a-dozen changes following their collapse against Israel, while he further switches formation to a 4-4-2 following the departure of Robert Snodgrass and Scott McTominay to their clubs after Thursday’s defeat.

Celtic’s Craig Gordon replaces Rangers rival Allan McGregor in goal, while the additional Bhoys pairing of Jack Hendry and James Forrest also come in, with Swansea’s Oli McBurnie, Southampton’s Stuart Armstrong and Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna the other additions, with Charlie Mulgrew, John Souttar and Kieran Tierney all absent.

Scotland XI: Gordon; O’Donnell, McKenna, Hendry, Robertson; McGregor, Armstrong, McGinn, Forrest; McBurnie, Naismith.

Portugal are of course missing Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been omitted from selection for his country since the World Cup in Russia. Andre Silva is rested following his goal in the UEFA Nations League win over Poland though, meaning that Wolves forward Helder Costa makes his international debut up front.

Portugal XI: Beto; Cedric, Neto, Dias, Rodrigues; Danilo, Oliveira, Fernandes; Bruma, Eder, Costa.

Portugal are marginal favourites to win the match according to bet365, who price them at Evens. Scotland are considered a 29/10 bet to win at home and a draw is available at 9/4.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

Both sides are coming off the back of Nations League matches and, given the fixture at Hampden is a friendly, that could see both managers ring the changes as they take a look at some of the lesser-used members of their squad.

That could see Wolves winger Helder Costa given an opportunity to impress, while Bernardo Silva, who has featured prominently for Manchester City so far this season, is rested and has returned to the Premier League champions.

Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out too, with Fernando Santos having not included the Juventus star in his squad for what is the second round of international matches since the World Cup.

Alex McLeish is seemingly yet to decide on his best XI having taken the job in February 2018 and will hope to see better from his side after the 2-1 defeat away to Israel.

The Scotland boss claims there is nothing to look into regarding Tom Cairney’s absence from the squad amid rumours of a tussle with England to gain his services at international level. The Fulham man has been capped twice by Scotland but remains eligible for England due to not having played a competitive fixture. 

“We contacted Fulham last week and at that moment they said Tom wasn’t going to be available,” he said.

“It’s nothing sinister, it was more the dialogue we had with Fulham.

“Whenever we have had Tom Cairney in the squad, he has integrated in the group brilliantly and we would expect him to prolong his Scottish career.”

The U.S. boss couldn’t help but voice her displeasure at some questionable scheduling decisions by football’s governing body

U.S. women’s national team head coach Jill Ellis is welcoming FIFA’s new initiatives in the women’s game, but also questioned the sport’s governing body over its choice to schedule two major men’s finals on the same day as the 2019 Women’s World Cup final. 

FIFA announced a new global strategy for women’s football on Tuesday, with the aim of doubling female participation to 60 million by 2026.

The governing body also revealed plans to introduce a women’s equivalent to the men’s Club World Cup, among other initiatives. 

“I think they’re targeting participation numbers, they’re targeting marketing. All these things are excellent for our game in terms of willingness to grow our sport, grow our brand, make it more available and supportive,” Ellis said after Wednesday’s win over Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying. 

“I think it’s great and we need to make sure that’s supported.”

Though FIFA continues to make strides to grow the women’s game, it also continues to make decisions that undermine that particular goal. 

The Copa America final in Rio de Janeiro and the Gold Cup final in Chicago are scheduled for July 7, 2019, the same day that the Women’s World Cup final will also take place in Lyon, France. 

Many have questioned whether FIFA would schedule any event the same day as a men’s World Cup final, let alone two other major finals. 

After her comments on FIFA’s new women’s football strategy, Ellis couldn’t help but add her views on another perceived slight to the women’s game. 

“My own personal opinion is putting three finals in one day isn’t supporting the women’s game,” the manager said. 

FIFA controversially held the entire 2015 Women’s World Cup at stadiums with artificial turf, and the governing body continues to not say whether video assistant referees will be used at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, one year after the system was used at the men’s event in Russia. 

After scoring on his long-awaited first appearance of the Bundesliga season, the attacker has received encouragement from the Germany striker

Germany striker Timo Werner believes Mario Gotze has been wronged, but overcome unrealistic expectations attached after the 2014 World Cup to prove he still belongs at the top.

Gotze, 26, has endured a steady fall from a grace since firing his country to the ultimate glory with an extra-time winner in the final in Brazil four years ago.

The injury-prone playmaker left Bayern Munich to re-join Borussia Dortmund in 2016 but the move has not gone to plan, with a metabolic disorder limiting his playing time and new boss Lucien Favre yet to afford him a Bundesliga start this term.

Amid public debate over his fading fortunes, Gotze earned an opportunity off the bench against Augsburg last weekend and responded with a vital goal in a chaotic 4-3 victory.

Werner hopes the strike will silence the discussion and allow his former Germany team-mate to concentrate on rediscovering his best.

“Mario is being wronged a lot. Every time [the talk is] whether he is fit, whether he can play or why he sits on the bench,” Werner told Sport1.

“He played a really good game against Augsburg the other day. Mario has not forgotten how to play football, he is a great player.

“I hope the attention around him now calms down, and when calmer waters return I believe he can get on track again.

“Everyone in Germany sees Gotze as the hero that scored to give us the World Cup title, that he should show he is better than Lionel Messi.

“He scored a great goal. That’s above all else. But how do you beat that?

“His performances should be considered sensibly again.”