England will face Denmark, China and an as-yet undecided qualifier at next year s Australia/New Zealand 2023 Women s World Cup, as holders the United States face fellow 2019 finalists the Netherlands.

The Lionesses, heading into their first major tournament since claiming Euro 2022 glory on home turf, will compete in Group D following Saturday s draw in Auckland.

Sarina Wiegman s side will meet fellow UEFA outfit Denmark alongside Asian Cup holders China, plus one of Chile, Senegal or Haiti, who are due to complete their qualification battle in February next year.

All eyes will be on Group E however, where the USWNT will meet Wiegman s old team once more, four years on from defeating them in the final at France 2019.

They are joined by Vietnam, as well as…

Rangers got back on track in the Scottish Premiership as Vaclav Cerny scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over St. Johnstone.

Philippe Clement s side were thrashed 4-1 by Lyon in Thursday s Europa League clash at Ibrox Stadium, where they made amends with a routine domestic victory on Sunday.

Cerny broke the deadlock 11 minutes before the interval, cutting inside and curling a sumptuous effort into the bottom-left corner of Ross Sinclair s goal.

Czech Republic winger Cerny added Rangers second, and doubled his account, just before the hour after combining with returning midfielder Ianis Hagi before producing a right-footed finish into the far corner.

Hagi – who had not played a first-team game for over a year due to a contract dispute – was sent off wi…

Prediction: Turkey to win 3-0

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Iceland and Turkey will lock horns with each other in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B next week. The match between Åge Hareide’s side and Vincenzo Montella’s team will be held at Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavík and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45 pm UK time next Monday.

Iceland

Iceland have started to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in European football. While they are not yet at the stage where their fans can say that they are among the elite, gone are the days when they were considered European minnows and were expected to lose every single game.

Åge Hareide’s side, though, need to do slightly better in 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B. They are currently thi…

Sarina Wiegman and Leah Williamson were both left with an overriding sense of relief after England secured their Euro 2025 place on Tuesday.

The Lionesses managed a goalless draw with Sweden at Gamla Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, with that result sending them to next year s Women s European Championship.

Wiegman and Co. knew the equation was simple heading into the clash, needing to avoid defeat to have the chance to defend their title in Switzerland.

Olympic silver medallists Sweden, the sixth-best side in the world according to FIFA s rankings, provided a late onslaught but will ultimately face a lengthy play-off process between October and December.

I m happy, I m very relieved because it was a tough game, Lionesses head coach Wiegman told ITV Sport a…

Morocco can work miracles under Walid Regragui with their exemplary state of mind, says former midfielder and assistant coach Mustapha Hadji.

The Atlas Lions, who had only progressed beyond the group stage once in five previous World Cup appearances, are the first African nation to reach the semi-finals following an incredible run in Qatar.

Having only succeeded Vahid Halilhodzic in August, Regragui has overseen victories over Belgium, Spain and Portugal to set up a last-four clash with reigning champions France.

Hadji appeared for Morocco at two World Cups (1994 and 1998), while he served as his nation s assistant coach from 2014 until earlier this year.

What a feeling to wake-up to this dream qualification to the semi-finals

— Équipe du Maroc…

Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque says he will not rule out veteran striker David Villa forcing his way into the Euro 2016 squad.

The New York City forward, who is his country s leading goalscorer with 59 in 97 appearances, has not played for the national team since the dismal defence of their World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Villa himself said last month that he remains optimistic of regaining his place and surpassing the 100-cap mark, and Del Bosque has left the door open to a place at the finals in France for one of the few players who remain from the victorious Euro 2008 squad.

Nobody is excluded, he told Radio Marca when asked about Villa s chances.

Only five or six players from 2008 are still going. I like the term quiet revolution .

Del …

England opting to select Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford for Euro 2016 could do the player more harm than good, according to Nicky Butt.

The head of United s academy, who won 39 caps for England, feels selecting the 18-year-old for the tournament in France could be a move that backfires.

Roy Hodgson has not ruled out the prospect of selecting Rashford, who scored four goals in his first two club games, but has not netted in four appearances since then.

Asked if Rashford would be ready to play at Euro 2016, Butt told BBC Sport: I think that s well too soon for Marcus.

It could backfire on everybody and might not be the right thing for him.

I think talk of England is well too soon. He has phenomenal potential for England and Manchester…

Pep Guardiola insisted consistency is the only reason for Manchester City s sizeable lead at the Premier League summit, as he hailed the exceptional nature of his side and their long-time rivals Liverpool.

City host Chelsea on Saturday as first take on second, though Guardiola s side currently hold a 10-point advantage, with Liverpool 11 behind in third place.

Following their 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, City are looking to secure the Premier League double over Chelsea for the fourth time, previously doing so in 2009-10, 2015-16 and 2017-18.

They have won their last 11 Premier League games, their fifth such run of 11 or more consecutive victories in the competition.

However, despite his team s healthy lead, Guardiola does not believe…

Joe Willock s sensational strike was enough to earn Newcastle United a 1-0 victory over Chelsea, sending Eddie Howe s side back up to third in the Premier League.

Willock curled a wonderful first-time finish into the top-right corner to break the deadlock in the 67th minute of Saturday s encounter at St James Park.

Newcastle had needed Nick Pope to be on top form prior to Willock s moment of magic – the goalkeeper denying England team-mate Conor Gallagher.

Tempers boiled over at the end, though while Chelsea will have to lick their wounds after a third straight league loss, Newcastle claimed another statement victory.

In-form Miguel Almiron skied an early volley over the bar in a first half devoid of clear-cut chances that Newcastle slightly shaded.

…

England defender Alex Greenwood says the Lionesses are keeping their egos firmly in check as they begin their quest for a maiden World Cup title in a week’s time.

Greenwood’s first experience of the global showpiece was in 2015, when the Lionesses achieved a team-best third-place finish in Canada, and alongside Lucy Bronze is one of just two players on manager Sarina Wiegman’s current roster to have featured in three consecutive World Cups.

Perhaps more than any previous edition, the Lionesses enter this tournament firmly among the favourites to go all the way and unseat two-time defending champions the United States after winning the Euro 2022 final to lift their first major trophy.

Asked how she would rate the sense of belief in the England camp, Greenwoo…