Sports

Australia s perfect record in World Cup 2022 qualifying was ended in a 2-1 defeat to Japan on Tuesday.

The Socceroos had won all 11 games on the road to Qatar – setting a record in the process – and each of their last 12 games stretching back into the last campaign.

But Ao Tanaka s early strike in Saitama and a late own goal from Aziz Behich, either side of Ajdin Hrustic s leveller, inflicted a first competitive defeat on Australia since January 2019.

Graham Arnold s side could now see top spot in Group B relinquished to Saudi Arabia, who play later on Thursday. Only the top two sides will qualify automatically for the World Cup.

FULL TIME | Not our night in the end.

A first loss since June 2019. We ll be back 

— Socceroos (@Socc…

Former Liverpool left-back Jose Enrique believes LaLiga cannot compete with the Premier League, particularly in the absence of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018, before returning to Manchester United on deadline day this year, while Barcelona s financial difficulties forced Messi to find a new club in August, joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.

The departure of the superstar pair from the Spanish league has coincided with LaLiga falling behind other top European leagues financially – especially the English top flight.

As a result, Jose Enrique expects clubs from the two leagues to have dramatically different fortunes in the Champions League, tipping Premier League sides for more success after the …

Zinedine Zidane s career as head coach of Real Madrid looks set to come to an end after a trophy-less 2020-21 season.

Madrid finished as runners-up in LaLiga, while they were knocked out in the Champions League semi-finals and exited in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey.

Zidane returned to take charge of Los Blancos in 2019, after a previous stint from 2016 to 2018 where they won Europe s continental crown three times in a row.

TOP STORY ZIDANE STEPS DOWN AT MADRID

Spanish outlets AS and Marca both are reporting Zinedine Zidane will step down as Real Madrid head coach.

The former France international has reportedly informed the club of his final decision following weeks of speculation around his post.

Zidane had requested a few …

Felix Nmecha dented Newcastle’s Champions League charge as Borussia Dortmund kick-started their Group F campaign with a 1-0 victory on Tyneside.

The Germany midfielder’s 45th-minute strike clinched victory at a rain-soaked St James’ Park on a night when three more points for Eddie Howe’s men, who twice hit the crossbar late on, would have left them with one foot in the last-16.

They will now head into tough away games in Dortmund and against Paris St Germain next month with serious work to do to extend their stay in the competition.

Dortmund take the lead at St James Park thanks to a clinical finish from Felix Nmecha

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt)

And they will possibly have to do it without midfielder Sandro Tonali, who wa…

Jude Bellingham admitted he had done something great after almost single-handedly winning his first El Clasico for Real Madrid.

The England midfielder scored a stunning equaliser and dramatic stoppage-time clincher as Real came from behind to beat arch-rivals Barcelona 2-1 at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

It continued Bellingham’s extraordinary start as a Real Madrid player, with the 20-year-old having now scored 13 goals in as many appearances for Los Blancos.

¡Doblete y mensajito para vosotros! No os podéis quejar … Hola Madridistas, soy . He disfrutado mi primer , espero que vosotros también. ¡Hala Madrid!

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid)

Bellingham told the club’s website: “I had watched many Clasicos from th…

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire accepts the players must take responsibility for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s tenure as manager coming to an end.

Following Saturday s humiliating 4-1 defeat at Watford, during which Maguire was sent off, it was confirmed on Sunday that Solskjaer s reign as boss was over.

The Norwegian had arrived in December 2018 and steadied the ship initially after Jose Mourinho s sacking, while he went on to preside over a second-place finish in the Premier League last term.

But after significant investment in pre-season, including the signings of Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, United have gone backwards – Saturday s loss at Vicarage Road leaves them eighth in the Premier League with 17 points after 12 matches.

…

Kevin De Bruyne produced an attacking masterclass as new Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco made it two wins in as many games with a 3-2 friendly triumph at Germany on Tuesday.

Tedesco s tenure started with a 3-0 victory over Sweden in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday, and Belgium, inspired by new captain De Bruyne, impressed again at RheinEnergieStadion.

Germany had no answer inside the first nine minutes in Cologne as De Bruyne teed up goals for Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku.

Niclas Fullkrug s 44th-minute penalty offered Hansi Flick s hosts hope, but De Bruyne s slick 78th-minute finish ensured another victory at the start of a promising era under Tedesco as Serge Gnabry s late reply counted for little.

Ooooh Kevin De Bruyne!

— Belgian Red Dev…

Liverpool may need to make a January move for a centre-back after Virgil van Dijk s serious knee injury. 

The Premier League champions were dealt a huge blow with Van Dijk set to miss most   if not the remainder   of the season after a tackle from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby draw against Everton. 

Liverpool have been left with just two senior centre-backs – Joe Gomez and Joel Matip – with Van Dijk s injury, although defensive midfielder Fabinho can also provide cover. 

Unsurprisingly, there have been transfer rumours in the aftermath, with the Reds linked with RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano and Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Ben White. 

Having joined Leipzig from Salzburg for a reported €10…

David Alaba says he can imagine taking on a new challenge away from Bayern Munich.

The versatile Austria international has been on Bayern s books for his entire senior career, briefly representing Hoffenheim in a loan stint during the second half of the 2010-11 campaign.

Alaba has a contract at the Allianz Arena running until June 2021 and is one of the most highly-rated defenders in world football, meaning his words in an interview with Austrian newspaper Kurier will not have gone unnoticed.

I am aware that this decision will come to me. I still feel very comfortable here, but I can also imagine taking a different path, taking the next step or looking for a new challenge, he said.

But I leave that decision open. I have goals for this season that I want…

Diogo Jota was on fire against Arsenal and Jurgen Klopp took it as evidence he has become a world-class attacker at Liverpool. 

Liverpool spent £41million to sign Jota from Wolves in September 2020 and he has provided stiff competition for Roberto Firmino. 

The Portugal international took his tally for the Reds to 27 in 57 appearances with a double in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg against the Gunners on Thursday, clinching a 2-0 aggregate win that set up a meeting with Chelsea at Wembley in February. 

Despite only playing two games for Liverpool at Emirates Stadium he is already the club s top scorer at the ground with four goals, while he has five in his past four appearances against Arsenal in all competitions. 

Jota stepped up to play a decis…