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Skipper Millie Bright said England “gifted” the Netherlands their goals and were “not ruthless enough” after the Lionesses were beaten 2-1 in Utrecht in their second Nations League group game. The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute when Georgia Stanway was closed down near her own box, the ball went to Danielle van de Donk and she teed up a Lieke Martens finish, which it appeared would have been ruled out for offside if VAR had been in operation. After Alessia Russo’s 64th-minute equaliser, England were then punished after losing possession again in the 90th minute as Alex Greenwood gave the ball away and Martens fed substitute Renate Jansen, who rifled past Mary Earps. Bright told ITV: “I think there were some really good parts of the game where we really dominated. “I thought they were ruthless when they had their opportunities, and to be honest we gifted them two goals, which is really disappointing on our behalf. “I think when you concede in that manner, that’s the most disappointing thing, especially when games like this really matter. “They had probably less chances but were really, really clinical in those. We had a couple but were not ruthless enough in that area.” Having threatened little for much of the first half, England went close to levelling in the 41st minute, Rachel Daly volleying against a post, and Lauren Hemp and Lucy Bronze then saw efforts saved by Daphne van Domselaar, before Linda Beerensteyn struck the bar for the home side. I think when you concede in that manner, that's the most disappointing thing. Millie Bright Van Domselaar subsequently made an excellent save to deny Hemp early in the second half before Russo’s leveller and Jansen’s decisive late impact as the battle between England boss Sarina Wiegman’s current and former employers – both of whom she has guided to Euros glory and a World Cup final – proved an unhappy occasion for the 53-year-old Dutchwoman. Wiegman afterwards expressed frustration at the opener, replays of which suggested Van de Donk had been in an offside position. The manager described it as “obviously offside” as she voiced her disappointment at what is only the third loss of her 41-game England tenure. Wiegman told ITV: “(It is) absolutely a tough one to take and a very, very unnecessary one. “The first half they were the better team. I think second half we totally dominated the game, and of course we scored one goal – but before that we got lots of huge opportunities too. And it’s just one moment that we don’t manage the game and in the counter-attack they score for 2-1. That’s very, very disappointing. “I also think – that’s disappointing too – when they scored their first goal, we didn’t do well, we didn’t play well, but it’s so obviously offside. That needs to be seen. “I think the standards of the game are getting higher and higher, so (having VAR) would absolutely help. It’s just a little bit disappointing.” The result leaves both England and Andries Jonker’s Netherlands on three points in Group A1. Belgium, who England face twice in October in their next group games, lead the pool with four points after drawing 1-1 with Scotland, who have one. Wiegman’s side, 2-1 victors over Scotland in their opener last Friday, are attempting to secure a Paris 2024 Olympics qualification spot via this competition, and need to finish top of their group to have a chance to do so. Bright said: “It’s still all to play for. We have to rest, recover, go again – (and) reflect. These opponents are getting better and better, and we have to reflect, evolve, get better as a team, develop.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Manchester City hit by travel headache ahead of hectic fortnight Rob Edwards rues Luton’s lack of attacking quality after Carabao Cup exit Casemiro stars as Manchester United ease past Crystal Palace

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted his side deserved to be on the end of an upset as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 defeat at Exeter. Demetri Mitchell scored the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute, poking in from close range from Yanic Wildschut’s cross, before he was sent off two minutes from time after collecting a second yellow card. Toothless Luton, who made 10 changes from their Premier League draw with Wolves, rarely troubled League One Exeter, who reached round four for the first time since 1989 and claimed their first top-flight scalp since beating Leicester in the FA Cup back in 1981. Edwards said: “It was a disappointing night for us clearly. Congratulations to Exeter, I have got to say that. With all of the possession we had tonight, we didn’t look like we were going to score. “We need to be better, more aggressive, more clinical and have more desire to create chances and, when we do, be more ruthless. “We can’t keep saying the same things at the moment. We have been sucker-punched out of a mistake on our part and we have not had the quality or desire to get the ball over the line and ultimately we got punished and don’t deserve to go through. “I do want more. There wasn’t a lack of commitment or effort, I would never label that at our group, but I want to see more quality in that final third. “As the game started opening up, we started to cause more problems for them, but they defended the box very well with high numbers and that is difficult to break down. “We wanted to go deep into the competition, but we needed to make the changes we made.” Exeter manager Gary Caldwell hailed a magnificent “team effort” from his side. “I am really proud of the players, they were absolutely incredible tonight,” Caldwell said. “We had to come up with a game plan and we had one day to work on it and they performed it to the letter. “In the beginning, I thought we understood it, but we weren’t quite aggressive enough and, as the game wore on, we got better, they got more frustrated and it was an amazing win. “Full credit to the players for the effort, the desire to not concede, to fight for the team, to fight for each other – it was unbelievable. “I said we were hoping for a special night under the lights at St James Park and I think we got it. “Everyone was amazing tonight, the finishers that came on as well. It was a real team effort tonight and everyone deserves credit. “This stadium is special and we want anyone to come here and we believe that, on our day, when we get it right, then we can be a real match for anyone. “That’s the spirit and belief I want to get into these players and tonight will give them confidence.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Manchester City hit by travel headache ahead of hectic fortnight Casemiro stars as Manchester United ease past Crystal Palace Ipswich come from two goals down to knock Wolves out of Carabao Cup

Pep Guardiola has revealed Manchester City are affected by travel problems during one of their most hectic periods of the season. City have four away games in less than a fortnight, with Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle followed by a Premier League clash with Wolves, a Champions League outing to Leipzig and then another league game against Arsenal. Guardiola’s men would normally travel back by train or plane to minimise time on the road but neither is available on Wednesday. “We cannot come back by plane because we don’t have planes to travel back so we have to take a bus, it’s two, three hours later, we arrive here so, so late,” said the Catalan. “Then Friday we have to travel to Wolves. We go to Germany to play Champions League, it’s a really, really important game for us because we know what it means to be able to win there for qualification for the next stage. This is what we have to do.” Guardiola admits he will have to play several players he would rather rest because of injury and suspension issues in midfield, while he does not feel he can call on academy products. “We cannot take a few of them because we sell a lot of them and still they are not ready to play with us,” he said. “That’s why I have to give time to them to develop. They are still so young to play Newcastle away.” One player who will start is Kalvin Phillips, who impressed Guardiola after coming on against Nottingham Forest last weekend. It will be just a fifth start for the midfielder since his move from Leeds last summer, where his performances under Marcelo Bielsa persuaded City to sign him. “I think Marcelo gave Kalvin the best of Kalvin in his career,” said Guardiola. “I would love to have done with Kalvin what Marcelo has done to him. But it’s where he is. “We have a specific way to play. Sometimes he struggles with a few things, but the previous game was perfect. He’s open-minded, he always wants to learn, always wants to help and this is what I try to do.” Guardiola named “exhausted” Kyle Walker as one player he will rest but, whatever team he puts out, he expects a better performance than the one that saw City dumped out of the competition by Southampton in the quarter-finals last season. “What we don’t want to do is perform not who we are in terms of the principles and who we are as a team, which happened last season against Southampton,” he said. “That’s the worst game I’ve had as manager of Man City, by far. I didn’t recognise anything about that. You can lose, of course, credit to Southampton in that game, but you have to meet a minimum and this is what I want from my team in every single game, every single competition. “And tomorrow it’s going to happen, I’m pretty sure of that.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Rob Edwards rues Luton’s lack of attacking quality after Carabao Cup exit Casemiro stars as Manchester United ease past Crystal Palace Ipswich come from two goals down to knock Wolves out of Carabao Cup

A Casemiro header helped secure Manchester United the first silverware of Erik ten Hag’s reign and a Casemiro header brought a successful start to their defence of the Carabao Cup. If much else has changed since a heady day at Wembley in February, when Casemiro opened the scoring against Newcastle, his presence on the scoresheet has become an increasingly regular occurrence. Cruising past Crystal Palace has rendered this a restorative few days for United, with three straight defeats followed by consecutive wins with clean sheets. Casemiro’s goal was sandwiched by a first of the campaign each for Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Martial, with the Frenchman finishing from the Brazilian’s cross. If Casemiro has been struggled with his defensive duties at times this season, his attacking efforts have arguably increased. His status as the unlikely top scorer was cemented. If that is partly the product of his late brace against Bayern Munich, as well as Marcus Rashford’s slow start to the campaign and the injury that delayed Rasmus Hojlund’s debut, it is part of a broader theme. Casemiro has found both goals and red cards easier to come by at Old Trafford. An 11th strike in 59 outings for United means his goal-per-game ratio for them is almost double what it is for either Real Madrid or Brazil. It will nevertheless be a problem if, further into the season, he is still United’s most prolific player. But on that rarest of occasions – when Bruno Fernandes, who started 58 of 62 matches last season, was given a night off and, after Raphael Varane went off, Casemiro ended up with the armband – he provided the productivity more associated with the new captain. He rose above Jeffrey Schlupp to head in Mason Mount’s corner and then delivered a deep cross that Martial met on the half-volley to put United three ahead. The Frenchman is very much an understudy now, with Rashford saved for the Premier League rematch with Palace at the weekend and Hojlund limited to a late cameo. But some of the more intriguing elements concerned the newcomers and the returning. Mount belonged in both categories: sidelined for a month after two dispiriting starts, the summer signing’s contribution was curtailed after 45 minutes. But he was influential and excellent, belatedly looking at home in a United shirt. Mount had a role in both first-half goals; fit to feature for the first time since the Tottenham defeat, his conversion into a No 8 continuing, he showed his passing range with a cross-field ball in the build-up to Garnacho’s opener, which was tucked in from Diogo Dalot’s cutback. He had a more direct part in the second, with the corner Casemiro headed in. It was Mount’s first assist for United and if he is less likely to be afforded set-piece duties when Christian Eriksen and Fernandes are on the pitch, it was an indication of what he can offer. There was a brightness, an intelligence that boded well. For Harry Maguire, meanwhile, a first start of the season came in a role Ten Hag has been reluctant to deploy him in – as a left-sided centre-back. For Sofyan Amrabat, a full United debut came in the unfamiliar position of left-back, at least until Victor Lindelof took over there for the second half. Behind each, Andre Onana had a quiet night; otherwise a spectator, he made two stops to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta and clinch his second successive shutout after his nightmare in Munich. Ten Hag decided not to give Altay Bayindir a debut but three goalkeepers who have been on United’s books nevertheless took the field. Dean Henderson’s Palace debut and first return to Old Trafford proved a shortlived affair, the £20m signing hobbling off after 18 minutes in which he did not have to field a shot. Palace’s other former United keeper, Sam Johnstone, was instead beaten before he touched the ball. He later made a terrific save to deny the substitute Jonny Evans his first United goal since 2014. By then, with progress assured, Dan Gore was on for his United bow, on the 16th anniversary of Evans’ first appearance. It was suitably comfortable by then, United delivering the kind of emphatic display that had eluded them this season. They were aided by the docility of the visitors. Palace represented ideal opposition: lacking strength in depth, the teamsheet showed the Premier League is Roy Hodgson’s priority. Their cup runs have been few and far between in recent seasons whereas Ten Hag tends to place more of an emphasis on such games. It was an attitude that took him to Wembley last season. But while Casemiro has won far grander trophies, the Champions League specialist is showing a growing liking for the Carabao Cup. Read More Casemiro stars as Manchester United ease past Crystal Palace Is Man Utd v Crystal Palace on TV tonight? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch When is the Carabao Cup fourth round draw? Erik ten Hag’s got a good thing going at Manchester United – Jonny Evans Nothing to divide them - Crystal Palace and Fulham finishes in goalless stalemate Odegaard signs and De Roon reveals all – Friday’s sporting social

Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season was filled with plenty of excitement and surprises, as well as some key injuries. Be sure to stay up-to-date with the latest news, injuries, and analysis before running to the waiver wire to make your pickups for Week 4.

The obstacles on the road to Paris had appeared to be little more than potential problems. The Netherlands would always undoubtedly be the toughest task but after defeat by Belgium and an early World Cup exit their status became increasingly tenuous. England Women needed to make a statement and the circumstances would rarely be more favourable. After all, the Lionesses impressed against Scotland, they brushed off the oft-levied concerns about fatigue. There were a handful of worrying instances in their Nations League opener but they had been fleeting at best. They weren’t supposed to follow it up like this. A 2-1 defeat away from home presents more questions than answers for Sarina Wiegman. There’s no doubt this team are capable of great moments but they can’t afford to allow getting caught out to become a more regular occurrence. Within a matter of minutes in Utrecht it became apparent this was going to be a tiresome night for the Lionesses. Their passing was wayward, their possession uneasy, their defending inattentive. England lacked any semblance of composure and they were made to pay. The Netherlands’ pressure was unwavering, their attacking intent notably creative. England stuck to their shape but that matters little when the opponent takes any opportunity to force you to unwind, bring out your worst tendencies and carve out the gaps. Whipped up by a boisterous home support – a sea of luminous orange wanting to get the better of Wiegman on her return – the Netherlands toyed and made sure to torment the travelling team. Caitlin Dijkstra had an effort batted away by Mary Earps, the England goalkeeper leaped highest to collect the resting corner, but the predominant feeling when she dropped to the ground in a vain attempt to slow the tempo was one of exasperation. England rode their luck but playing in such a manner is always unsustainable: the Dutch opener was long overdue when it finally arrived. Georgia Stanway dawdled at the back and took too long to play the ball forward, Jackie Groenen noticed the opportunity. She pounced and dispossessed the England midfielder, Danielle van de Donk – offside on the replay but handed a reprieve by the lack of VAR – collected and spotted Lieke Martens, prowling the edge of the box waiting for her chance to come. Her precision finish, curled into the top right corner, forced the Lionesses into an uphill battle. There was, at least, some marginal improvement which followed. First Rachel Daly scooped a volley towards Daphne van Domselaar’s goal and was denied by the post, then Van Domselaar was made to showcase her abilities to keep out Lauren Hemp and Lucy Bronze with a fine double save. But Wiegman knew something was still amiss – even if her customary stoic body language refused to admit any concerns. Something needed to change and it’s certainly helpful for England in moments like this to have a master tactician at the helm. Daly made way for Chloe Kelly, the back three was abandoned in favour of a more secure back four, and from the opening moments of the second half it seemed that despite England’s uphill battle having looked increasingly like a mountain they had the perfect sherpa for the task. Hemp began bombing towards the defence in a manner she hadn’t been able to achieve while Kelly replicated such intent on the opposite flank. The game tilted back into balance and Alessia Russo, back in the team after overcoming an issue which kept her out against Scotland, came to the rescue – or at least that’s what the Lionesses would have hoped. Stanway was played in by substitute Kelly, she cut the ball across the face of goal, and, with a slight deflection off Dominique Janssen playing it into the air, found Russo. Those opportunities are her bread and butter and she was at hand, rifling into the same corner where Martens drew first blood. England found their way back into it but little more than that was able to materialise. They couldn’t capitalise and were made to pay. Andries Jonker rejigged his Netherlands team and, when England began to tire, got the better of his country’s former manager. Carelessness was the enemy again, Alex Greenwood sloppily handing off the ball to Martens. She fed Renate Jensen and Earps was beaten at her near post. On the stroke of 90 minutes England became the architects of their own downfall. England are level on points with the Netherlands in their Nations League group after their first two matches. They mustn’t slip into their increasingly regularly seen error-strewn ways when they welcome Belgium to Leicester next month. There were warning signs at the World Cup when England were sloppy but the Lionesses managed to mostly ride their luck on the big stage. Issues were laid to rest by reaching the final, but it’s becoming clear those tendencies remain present. Experimenting with a back three has been a double-edged sword and the formation question remains mostly unanswered: both have their merits, both have their downfalls. The particular way in which Wiegman sorts this side’s problems is less important than sorting them quickly. They managed to stop the rot which had been setting in before the World Cup; Team GB’s Olympic hopes rest on it being stopped from seeping in once more. Read More Netherlands vs England LIVE: Latest Nations League updates Nike U-turns on selling Mary Earps’ England goalkeeper jerseys England boss Sarina Wiegman looking forward to ‘special’ Netherlands return Sarina Wiegman happy with ‘three very important points’ against Scotland England find another blueprint for success to start Nations League with victory England vs Scotland LIVE: Latest Nations League updates

Sarina Wiegman leads her England Women team out on Tuesday evening to face her own home nation, with the Lionesses facing Netherlands in their second Women’s Nations League fixture. Last time out as the competition got underway for the first time in the women’s game, England triumphed over Scotland but it was hard work indeed - while Netherlands suffered a late defeat at the hands of their own near neighbours, Belgium. All four nations are in Group A1. There’s not just relegation and the finals at stake either; a couple of berths at the 2024 Olympics in Paris are also on the line, for the two countries who reach the Nations League final. Top spot in the group, then, is of massive importance to those with medal ambitions - potentially including Team GB. Follow all the latest action from Netherlands vs England below and get the latest football odds and tips here.

Bukayo Saka has added to Arsenal’s injury woes as Mikel Arteta revealed the England winger could miss the weekend trip to Bournemouth with a foot problem. The 22-year-old scored from the penalty spot and saw a first-half shot deflected in by Cristian Romero as the Gunners drew 2-2 at home to north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday. Saka, though, then limped off late in the game to be replaced by Emile Smith Rowe and will definitely miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash at Brentford, while his club-record run of 86 consecutive Premier League appearances is also under threat. Declan Rice was replaced at half-time against Spurs with a back issue and forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard missed the game through injury, with Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey also sidelined. Now Arteta is worried Saka – who has four goals as well as four assists from the first eight games of the campaign – could join that lengthy injury list. “He was limping quite badly after the match,” said Arteta. “We had to get him off the field, which is never a good sign. He hasn’t been able to participate in the session.” Asked if he could miss the Bournemouth game, Arteta added: “It’s a possibility, yes.” None of the players currently on the treatment table will be available for the London derby against the Bees, with the same quintet unlikely to return in time for Saturday’s trip to the south coast. Saka could yet make an appearance at the Vitality Stadium as Arteta once again highlighted the amount of football being played as a potential explanation for so many injuries. “It’s true that they play with the national teams and they’re coming from a season where they had a World Cup and some players played 60-odd games,” he said. “We’ve been unlucky. Jurrien, for example, was due to other reasons, while Bukayo was because someone stepped on him. “There are some traumatic injuries, others are more muscular. We try to find the ways to avoid them but they’re a part of football. “It’s true that we have a lot of internationals in the last few windows and they have quite a lot of exposure to minutes but at the moment we have a squad that is not 24 players. To change 11 or 12 players tomorrow is just not a possibility we have.” Arteta suggested he could rotate at the Gtech Community Stadium, with fringe players and young talent in line for a rare chance to impress. “There are a lot of players who need minutes,” he said. “If you go through the squad there are lots of players who haven’t had minutes and they are going to need exposure, that’s for sure. “We all trained today. The line up, we could not make it because there are still some players who are doubtful. So I will decide the best team to put out there.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live From Elie to Nice – Johnny Matthews buzzing after joining Scotland squad Kalvin Phillips to start in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup clash at Newcastle Start of a new journey – Ex-Man Utd defender Phil Jones sets sights on coaching

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Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes could be facing months on the sidelines as he awaits a specialist’s verdict on the foot injury he suffered at Sheffield United. The 25-year-old limped out of Sunday’s 8-0 Premier League demolition job at Bramall Lane after just 12 minutes, and head coach Eddie Howe fears he could miss a significant proportion of the campaign with surgery a possibility. Asked if Barnes could be out for some time, Howe said: “Yes, we’re fearing it’s going to be. It’s difficult. I don’t want to put a time on it until we get confirmation from the specialist, but I think it will be months rather than weeks.” The England international, who joined the Magpies in a £38million summer switch from Leicester, suffered his injury as he pushed off to run in South Yorkshire and has since undergone a scan. Howe said: “It’s an injury to a part of the foot just below the toe. I think it’s quite a substantial injury. We’ve had it scanned, we’re waiting now for a specialist’s opinion on what to do next, whether there’s surgery involved or not. “I don’t think it was a tackle, I think it was just pushing off to run, a very unusual injury. I won’t go too technical because I’m not medically qualified to do so, but yes, very unusual.” Any extended absence would come as a blow to both a player who is desperate to establish himself on Tyneside – Sunday’s game was just his second start for his new club – and his employers, who invested heavily in his services during their latest spending spree as they prepared for a season which includes Champions League football for the first time in two decades. Whatever the injury is, we’ll support him and we know he’s a top quality player and he still has a massive part to play Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe Howe said: “He was down after the game because he knew it wasn’t a normal injury where you feel a muscle and think that might be one or two weeks. “This was a slightly more complex issue, and I think he probably feared the worst because there was no one around him and it was one of those mechanisms where he knew it wasn’t quite right. “There’s no doubt he’ll be disappointed because he was very keen to show his value and worth and Sunday was an opportunity to do that. But whatever the injury is, we’ll support him and we know he’s a top quality player and he still has a massive part to play.” The disappointing news on Barnes’ injury came as Newcastle turned their attention from a remarkable afternoon against the Blades to the task of finding a way past Treble-winners Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, the only honour Pep Guardiola’s men did not lift during the last campaign. The third round draw could hardly have handed the Magpies, who lost to Manchester United in last-season’s final, a more difficult task despite Guardiola hinting he could make wholesale changes with injuries biting hard into his squad. However Howe, who is himself without the injured Joe Willock and Joelinton as well as Barnes, is refusing to be taken in by the Spaniard. He said: “Pep is a manager who has won so much and he hasn’t done that without giving everything to every moment to try and achieve that success. I’ve no doubt we will see the best Manchester City tomorrow.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jermaine Jenas apologises after referee rant sparks backlash: ‘I got it wrong’ On this day in 2021: Lewis Hamilton celebrates 100th race win in Formula One Philadelphia Eagles turn up the Hurts on Tampa Bay to remain unbeaten

What the papers say Arsenal are gearing up to grab Ivan Toney, with the Daily Mirror reporting Brentford have valued the 27-year-old at £60m ahead of a likely move for him in the January transfer window. Jadon Sancho has been urged by players at Manchester United to end his dispute with manager Erik ten Hag, according to the Daily Mirror. The Times reports that the PFA has offered to help the England winger, 23, settle his differences with ten Hag. Jesse Lingard has ended his one-month training stint at West Ham to move to Saudi Arabia, with the Daily Mirror reporting club manager David Moyes insisting the club is comfortable with Lingard’s decision. The Daily Telegraph reports that Chelsea secretly parted ways with Bruno, who arrived at Stamford Bridge under former manager Graham Potter’s watch and was a first-team coach under Mauricio Pochettino. Social media round-up Players to watch Romelu Lukaku: Roma are keen to turn the 30-year-old striker’s loan from Chelsea into a permanent move. Mohamed Salah: Negotiations between Liverpool, Saudi Arabia and the striker’s agent are becoming the subject of a Harvard study. Read More Erik ten Hag insists Manchester United players are fighting together to improve form From Paul Pogba to Angel Di Maria – Manchester United’s recent flops Jadon Sancho set for cut-price Manchester United exit