Nottingham Forest have sacked head coach Nuno Espirito Santo three games into the new seasonn. The 51-year-old, who was handed a new contract this summer having guided Forest to the Europa League, said in August his relationship with co-owner Evangelos Marinakis was “not the same” and “not so good as it was [last season]”. It followed Nuno’s open criticism of the senior figures at Forest overseeing their transfer strategy, saying his squad was “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from being ready for the new season. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Fulham’s Marco Silva are all widely admired by the Forest hierarchy. Forest released a statement at 12.15am on Tuesday that read: “Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach. “The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club. “As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey.” Source: skysports

Sandro Tonali scored in added time as Italy kept their World Cup qualifying hopes on track with a thrilling 5-4 win over Israel in Debrecen. The Israelis twice led and then scored twice in the last five minutes to haul the score back to 4-4 before Tonali threaded his last-gasp winner from the edge of the box. The result was harsh on Israel, who went ahead through Manuel Locatelli’s early own goal and grabbed the lead again through Dor Peretz after Moise Kean had equalised. Kean’s second, followed by further strikes from Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori, looked to have settled it only for Alessandro Bastoni to put through his own net on 87 minutes, and Peretz to grab his second two minutes later. Source: yahoosports

The Black Stars of Ghana reignited their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium. Alexander Djiku’s opportunistic strike early in the second half proved the difference, lifting Ghana to 18 points and solidifying their lead at the top of CAF Group I. Coming off a frustrating 1-1 draw against Chad last week, Ghana, under the guidance of coach Otto Addo, displayed resilience in front of a fervent home crowd. The match was a tense affair, with Mali’s Eagles dominating possession for long stretches, but the Black Stars’ defensive resolve and clinical finishing secured a vital three points. The game’s defining moment arrived in the 49th minute when Spartak Moscow defender Djiku capitalized on a rare error from Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra. A well-delivered corner caused chaos in the Mali penalty area, and Diarra’s fumble allowed Djiku to stab the ball home from close range, sending the Accra crowd into a frenzy. The goal came shortly after substitute Caleb Yirenkyi struck the crossbar with a thunderous long-range effort, signaling Ghana’s renewed intent after a lackluster first half. Mali responded with relentless pressure, pinning Ghana back with their disciplined pressing and fluid possession play. However, Ghana’s backline, marshaled by Djiku and bolstered by goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi’s sharp saves, stood firm. In midfield, Thomas Partey’s composure and tactical discipline were pivotal in weathering Mali’s storm, while Jordan Ayew and Mohammed Kudus worked tirelessly up front, often stretching Mali’s compact defense. Despite Mali’s attacking threats, led by Kamory Doumbia and Lassana Coulibaly, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against Ghana’s resolute defense, which has conceded just five goals in eight qualifiers. The Eagles’ frustration was evident as they failed to convert their dominance into goals, with their hopes of topping Group I now all but extinguished.The victory keeps Ghana in pole position in Group I with 18 points, two ahead of Madagascar (16) and three clear of Comoros (15). Mali, with 12 points, face an uphill battle to secure a top-two finish with only two matches remaining. Ghana now needs just four points from their final fixtures against the Central African Republic and Comoros to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Coach Otto Addo praised his team’s grit post-match, stating, “It wasn’t our most fluent performance, but the boys showed character. This win is massive for our World Cup dreams.” Djiku who was named Man of the Match, added, “The fans gave us the energy to push through. We knew how important this was, and we delivered.” The Black Stars’ unbeaten home record in qualifying remains intact, and the Accra Sports Stadium proved once again to be a fortress. As Ghana edges closer to back-to-back World Cup appearances, Djiku’s poacher’s finish may well be remembered as the moment that revived their global ambitions under the Accra floodlights.

Xabi Alonso has been named LALIGA coach of the Month for August. Real Madrid have made a magnificent start to the season, finishing the month top of the table with nine points after winning all three of their matches. In his debut as Real Madrid coach in LALIGA, Xabi Alonso and his team beat CA Osasuna 1-0 on the first day of the championship. Later, the Whites defeated Real Oviedo 0-3 and RC Mallorca 2-1 in the last match before the international break. The Tolosa-born coach has made an incredible debut in LALIGA, winning coach of the month award for the first time, beating Ernesto Valverde (Athletic Club) and Manolo González (RCD Espanyol de Barcelona) in the final vote. Source: LALIGA

Kasper Hjulmand has been appointed the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag. Hjulmand signs a two-year contract with Leverkusen until 2027, replacing Ten Hag after the Dutchman was dismissed just three games after himself taking over from double-winning coach Xabi Alonso. It is the latest development in a summer of significant change at the club, with Hjulmand now tasked with getting the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions’ season back on track. “We are delighted to have signed Kasper Hjulmand, whose work we have been following closely for a long time,” said Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes. “He will now work with our team to develop a clear and dominant style of play once again. Kasper is the right person to develop our new Werkself back into a top team that will strive for the most ambitious national and international goals.” The 53-year-old’s last coaching assignment was with the Denmark national team, where he spent four years as coach from 2020 to 2024. Before then, Hjulmand coached Nordsjælland in his homeland either side of a 24-game spell as Mainz boss during the 2014/15 campaign. “I’ve always regarded Bayer 04 as a very well-run, well-structured and highly ambitious club. This impression has been confirmed in recent days,” Hjulmand said after agreeing to take over. “It is an honour to be entrusted with such a team. After outstanding success in the past, I’m very motivated by the task of shaping the future of Bayer Leverkusen with both proven and exciting new players.” Hjulmand’s first game in charge will be at home on Friday night, with high-flying Eintracht Frankfurt the visitors. Source: bundesliga

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his sixth major trophy overall at the U.S. Open on Sunday after defeating No. 1 Jannik Sinner. It is his second of 2025 following his victory over Sinner at the French Open. The showdown between Sinner and Alcaraz who will now be No. 1 marked the first time in tennis history that the same two men played each other in three consecutive Grand Slam finals within a single season. Alcaraz won the first set 6-2 in 37 minutes once the match finally began after a delay caused by extra security measures for President Trump, who watched the match from a suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City. Sinner, the 24-year-old defending champion from Italy, then took the second set 6-3. That was the first and only set Alcaraz lost in his seven matches at the tournament. The third set was dominated by Alcaraz, who took it 6-1. Alcaraz then closed out the championship with a 6-4 win in the fourth set. Since May, Alcaraz has won 36 of 37 contests. The one loss was to Sinner at Wimbledon also Alcaraz’s first defeat in a Slam final. Alcaraz leads the tour in wins (60) and titles (six) in 2025 and has reached the finals at his past eight tournaments. The 22-year-old from Spain won his first Slam title in New York in 2022 as a teenager after defeating Sinner in the quarterfinals that year. Even though both are quite young, theirs is already quite a remarkable rivalry. This was the eighth consecutive major title and 10th of the past 13 that has ended up in the hands of Sinner or Alcaraz. Source: cbsnews

Four-time world champions Germany struggled for more than an hour against Northern Ireland before scoring twice in three minutes in the second half to earn a 3-1 victory in their 2026 World Cup qualifier on Sunday. Germany honored Mats Hummels following his retirement from football before the kickoff at Cologne’s RheinEnergieStadion. Germany was under pressure to deliver in front of a home crowd following three consecutive defeats. With the score level at 1-1, a tap-in by substitute Nadiem Amiri in the 69th minute and a free kick from Florian Wirtz made sure of Germany’s first win in Group A. Despite having 78% possession in the first half, they were unable to create any meaningful chances after Serge Gnabry had put them in the driving seat in the seventh minute, chipping the ball over the keeper after breaking clear.Germany, who have set the goal of winning the World Cup next year, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, were more aggressive than on Thursday. Yet the match did not turn into the goal bonanza that fans had hoped for, with Germany forward Nick Woltemade toothless until his second-half substitution for Amiri. Their opponents grew bolder and struck in the 34th minute with Isaac Price’s superb volley at the far post from a corner, with the Germans accompanied by jeers and whistles from fans as they went in at halftime. They upped the tempo after the hour mark and were rewarded when Amiri, who instantly injected energy into their game, tapped in from close range to put them back in front. Wirtz then curled a superb free kick into the top corner in the 72nd minute to put the game to bed and liven up the stands. The group winners qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup while the runners-up go into a playoff. Slovakia are top on six points, with Northern Ireland and Germany on three. Luxembourg are in last place with no points. It was also the first victory for Julian Nagelsmann’s team in their last five matches and followed their shock 2-0 loss to hosts Slovakia on Thursday, their first ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifier in their opening group match. “Today it was all about momentum and not looking beyond the game today,” said Germany coach Nagelsmann. “Northern Ireland are a very uncomfortable opponent. But the important thing was that we started well, with a lot of energy, and took the lead. “After the break the lads picked themselves up again and in the last 30 minutes that was the face we want to show. With a lot of power and energy.“We still have a lot of steps to take after Thursday and today, but I am satisfied with the win today.” Source: reuters

Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku both got a brace that fired Belgium to a resounding 6-0 victory over Kazakhstan, extending the Red Devils’ unbeaten home run in FIFA World Cup qualifying (WCQ) matches to 17 (W14, D3).Having topped their group in the last three WCQ campaigns, Belgium knew a victory was needed to keep pace with North Macedonia and Wales at the top of Group J. Rudi Garcia’s side dominated possession in a one-sided opening half-hour, but Charles De Ketelaere blazed wastefully over the bar from close range and Kevin De Bruyne saw a pair of efforts smartly saved by Mukhammedzhan Seysen in the visitors’ goal. Belgium remained firmly on the front foot with HT approaching, but more profligate finishing from De Ketelaere and Maxim De Cuyper continued to prove frustrating for the home faithful. However, their fortunes soon changed on the stroke of the interval, with two goals in as many minutes. First, De Bruyne swept a sublime strike into the top corner from De Ketelaere’s lay-off, before Doku cut inside his marker on the left wing and fired a clinical finish beyond Seysen to double Belgium’s lead. Garcia’s men carried their momentum into the early stages of the second half, and they duly added a third in the 51st minute when Nicolas Raskin tapped home at the back post after good work from Doku. The one-way traffic showed no signs of slowing down, with Belgium extending their advantage further on the hour mark as Doku drilled a composed left-footed finish into the far corner for his second of the evening. Kazakhstan looked to avoid further damage heading into the closing stages, with Seysen standing firm to deny Alexis Saelemaekers and De Bruyne. However, Belgium completed the rout with two goals in the final six minutes, when De Bruyne converted from Saelemaekers’ clever pass and Thomas Meunier curled home from the edge of the box. As a result, Belgium move level on points with Wales, albeit having played a game less, while Kazakhstan require a minor miracle if they’re to reach the World Cup for the first time as an independent nation. Source: flashscore

Mikel Merino’s hat-trick helped Spain to thrash hosts Turkey 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday as the European champions remained firmly in control of Group E. The hosts had no answer to Spain’s dominance, undone time and again by the visitors’ speed and finesse, with a helpless Turkish defence torn apart on every counter-attack. Spain lead the group with six points from two matches, while Turkey and Georgia sit on three points from the same. Georgia beat Bulgaria 3-0 earlier on Sunday. The visitors struck early as Pedri found the net in the sixth minute, slotting past goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Merino doubled Spain’s tally in the 22nd minute, finishing off a slick passing move inside the box with a simple unmarked strike past the Turkish defence. In first-half stoppage time, Merino struck again, this time latching onto a pull-back and firing home to give Spain a three-goal cushion at the interval. The onslaught resumed eight minutes into the second half when a Turkish corner backfired, Ferran Torres leading a rapid counter-attack and finishing off a sharp exchange inside the box to make it four. Brimming with confidence, Merino completed his hat-trick just four minutes later, capping another breakaway with a stunning left-footed curler from distance that flew into the top corner for Spain’s fifth. Pedri added another one for Spain in the 62nd minute, arriving unmarked at the end of another swift break to slot home his second for the night. Source: straitstimes

Memphis Depay became the Netherlands’ all-time top goalscorer with a brace in their 3-2 win in Lithuania in World Cup qualifying on Sunday. Depay, who now plays in Brazil for Corinthians, scored his 51st and 52nd international goals to move clear of Robin van Persie, with whom he had been tied in first place on half a century of strikes for the Oranje. The 31-year-old turned in a Cody Gakpo cutback for the opener before Quinten Timber netted the second goal for the Netherlands in the 33rd minute in Kaunas. They appeared to be on easy street, but Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis pulled one back and Edvinas Girdvainis then headed in the equaliser before the break for the team ranked 143rd in the world. Depay, though, rescued the Netherlands by heading in a Denzel Dumfries cross just after the hour mark. The result lifted Ronald Koeman’s side clear at the top of European qualifying Group G for next year’s World Cup in North America. They have 10 points after four games and are three points above Poland and Finland, who play each other later. Lithuania are fourth with three points from five games. Source: yahoosports