Summary

Live Reporting

Joe Rindl, Lorraine McKenna, Tasnim Chowdhury & Adwaidh Rajan. Edited by Murray Burnell

  1. Scotland Nations League games to be shown on YouTube

    Scotland v Croatia (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    Scotland

    ScotlandSNS

    Put down the Radio Times if you're looking for what channel Scotland's two Nations League fixtures will be on.

    That's because the games with Croatia and Poland will be broadcast on YouTube, rather than on television.

    Scandinavian broadcaster Viaplay owns the rights to show the games but announced in June 2023 it is scaling back its operations in the UK.

    The company will still produce coverage of the matches, but they will be shown on the Scottish FA's YouTube channel dedicated to the national side.

    It follows the same arrangement as the matches in October with the loss to Croatia and draw with Portugal attracting more than 1.5m views combined on YouTube.

  2. What is Scotland's status in Nations League?

    Scotland v Croatia (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    Scotland

    Table.

    Scotlandare close to relegation from League A, sitting bottom by three points before their final games against Croatia and Poland.

    Steve Clarke's side will be relegated if they lose to Croatia and Poland avoid defeat, or if they draw and Poland win.

    The manager is speaking to the media right now, so we'll have quotes shortly.

  3. Just to highlight, that's Joe who is FPL obsessed. Sometimes we need to mark who is writing - like the way Ant and Dec do at the end of their tweets. LM.

  4. I've got so into FPL this year. I thought the international breaks were a time of rest but instead I just spend even more time researching possible transfers.

    Like did you know none of the top five players in the BBC Sport League have Erling Haaland in their team?

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    Thank goodness for the Nations League. We FPL managers are mentally exhausted. Batteries can now be recharged watching a bunch of glorified friendlies safe in the knowledge that half our teams will have pulled out "injured" and are sure be ready for PL duty next weekend...

    Anon

  6. What happened when England played Greece at Wembley?

    Greece player celebratesGetty Images

    Five weeks ago Greece beat England 2-1 at Wembley thanks to a 94th-minute winner.

    The BBC described England's performance as "dismal".

    Jude Bellingham's 87th-minute goal looked to have rescued a disappointing England display after Vangelis Pavlidis gave Greece the lead four minutes into the second half.

    But Greece responded to earn a deserved victory as Pavlidis struck again deep into stoppage time.

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    I'd love to see the international breaks scrapped and play all international matches through a 6 week period each summer. Tournaments in the 'even years' (2024, 2026, etc) and qualifiers in the odd years (2025, 2027, etc). The domestic season could run 1 Sept-30 April as there would be less breaks, less overseas travelling leading to injuries - especially for non-European players, and more importantly, if players pull out for minor reasons, they'd not get to represent their country. Having 4 months between the end of a domestic season and the start of the next, alongside the 6 weeks of internationals, would also allow for players to have a decent break and a full pre-season.

    Steve, Surrey

  8. What's England's situation in the Nations League?

    Group B"

    It's not perfect, but it's certainly not bad.

    England have won three of their four matches, losing to Greece in the last international break.

    If they top the group they'll be automatically promoted to the Nations League League A. Plus, they'll have a back-up route to World Cup qualification.

    If they finish second they'll be in a promotion-relegation play-off with a third-placed team from League A.

    Those are in March. England v Scotland anyone?

  9. Thanks Richard, a very good point.

    Yesterday we started talking about having an International Month and chatted about limiting the number of international breaks in a season, but making said breaks longer.

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    You cannot both have your cake and eat it. Football ain’t gonna be “coming home” anytime soon if players don’t train & play together for some reasonable time. International managers have it tough as it is trying to make a team out of fantastic football players that play in a myriad of systems and roles (meant for a year long campaign) that are not relevant to what they will do at international levels - mostly knock out games. They need more! Not less time!

    Richard

  11. 'Availability is the best ability'

    England

    England player Anthony GordonGetty Images

    England and Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon spoke about his enthusiasm for the game on the Football Daily podcast: Yeah, that's never left me. I try to not let it get that way consciously, because football does get hard at times, but like you said I have always been enthusiastic, I have always found a way to enjoy it. I try to keep that the same although it does get hard at times."

    When asked, "is that why there is never any thought of you not making squads and not being available for your club and country constantly because it’s another game", Gordon said:

    "I spoke about that recently at Newcastle about availability is the best ability. I love playing football, so if I can play football even with a slight illness, or a slight knock, if I can play, I will play. I have always been that way, so I don’t know any different."

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    Re 11:53 comment The solution is clear to me, in that there's too much international football. The nation's league is pointless. Time in the schedule for qualifiers, yes. Friendlies to test new players, ok sure when timed well. But this Nation's league is just a waste of time. Bin it.

    John

  13. 'That’s what I have always dreamt of'

    England

    Anthony GordonGetty Images

    Newcastle's Anthony Gordon spoke about playing over 150 career games, seven England caps and his achievements so far, on the Football Daily podcast: "Yes, proud, but I am not that guy to sit back and look at what I have achieved, it’s not in my nature. More looking ahead not so much into the future but what is right in front of me. I have been guilty of looking too far into the future. I am trying to rein that in a little bit and focus on what is ahead of me but definitely proud of what I have achieved especially the England caps."

    On whether he feels the responsibility as a first team England player: "You definitely feel the responsibility. That change from going from somebody who is on the periphery to someone who is starting games for England, but I like it, that’s what I have always dreamt of, that is who I have always wanted to be. So, I try not to shy away from, I try to be who I am within that role. But ultimately, we are here to win a trophy. So, get as many caps as I want but if I don’t win anything it is not going to be that much."

  14. What are we talking about?

    Just joining us? We're building up to England's match with Greece tonight.

    We're after your thoughts on the Nations League and nine England players withdrawing from the squad.

    Plus, stick with us as we'll have news from the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland camps very soon.

  15. I see your point Tom, but I don't know how managed game time would work in practice.

    If a club rests a player so they're fit for international duty and then they drop points, that club will be furious.

    And what if the top clubs don't let their players play in qualifiers and England miss out on going to a World Cup?

    I can't see a solution. Anyone got any ideas?

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    It should be an honour to play for your country, but we are only 11 games into the premier league season and already on our third international break. Every year we talk about players being asked to play too many games, and this year that has been increased again for top clubs with expanded European competition set ups. England have to work with clubs to manage the players game time - of course clubs will withdraw players who are having their game time managed when they are coming back from injury if this isn’t in place effectively. But this is also an opportunity for England - use these international breaks to give other players a chance, experiment a bit. Because come the summer when there are the big international tournaments the benefit is there - top players who have had their game time managed, and a whole host of alternatives with international experience.

    Tom

  17. 'Playing for England means the world to me'

    England

    Anthony GordonGetty Images

    England and Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon spoke about his fitness levels on the Football Daily podcast: "I was in the same boat really. I was coming into camp, I was quite unsure after the game with the way my hip felt, but we have got great physios for a reason. We did some treatment, I got assessed early on and they said it would progress over the seven days. So, once they said that I love playing football and more so for England. So, I was never going to let that get in the way.

    On his priorities: "Yeah, I have said that from the beginning before I have played for England, and I was getting asked if I would like to play for England them sort of questions, playing for England means the world to me. There is no higher honour for me. To get selected for this national team with the quality that we have is a massive honour and I love it every time, the feeling never goes."

  18. 'Majority of players have legitimate reasons'

    Leon Osman
    Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves the game after picking up an injuryGetty Images

    I liked it from Harry Kane. There always has to be people within a squad who determine the levels and what need to be maintained.

    It can be quite difficult. I think a majority, if not all, of the players who pulled out had legitimate reasons. But it's right to make sure for those who might have had thoughts about it to put that reminder out there from Kane.

    So, it was a good thing that the captain took the responsibility to remind those players.

    The most important thing now is that the players who are there should be capable of going out there and putting a performance in.

  19. 'Everyone should want to play for England at all costs'

    England

    England and Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon spoke to the Football Daily podcast about Harry Kane's comments about England players dropping out of the squad:

    "He is captain of the team, so he is well within his rights to speak about them topics. He is talking about a broader point of wanting to play for England and everyone should want to play for England at all costs, which I totally agree with.

    "A lot of lads have pulled out but there is context to that. We are in November now going into December, we have played a lot of games in the Premier League. It's so physical now there is no rest physically or mentally. Some of those lads are playing in the Champions League as well which makes it worse.

    "So, I am very understanding of what they are going through. I have had a couple of injuries myself, but luckily mine are not too bad, but obviously theirs are where they can’t play so I wish them well."

  20. 'We should stop international football'

    Nicky Campbell phone-in: Is Harry Kane right?

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Gordon: "Club. We should stop international football, it's a waste of time, nobody wants to watch it. Club football is the thing. All this qualification is a farce. Who is interested in England playing Iceland? It's club football that matters."

    Jason: "I've got quite a simple point. It does upset me when people say how tired players must be, I understand the stresses and strains, compared to me who has had cancer surgery and had to be back at work in four and a half months. If they choose club over country, then it's quite simple, if that's the way you want to take your career, brilliant. But don't expect to get called on for your country."