England

Lee Carsley was manager of the Three Lions' under-21 team when he was promoted to the senior role after Gareth Southgate bowed out in the wake of the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain,

The former Everton midfielder has overseen 2-0 and 3-1 wins over Finland, a 2-0 victory over his native Republic Ireland and a shock 2-0 home defeat against Greece at Wembley.

As a result, England sit second in Nations League League B Group 2 with nine points from four games before final meetings with Greece on 14 November (19:45 GMT) and the Republic of Ireland on 17 November (20:00).

Perhaps his lasting legacy, however, will be the players he has handed debuts to while in the role.

Angel Gomes, Tino Livramento, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke all featured for the senior team fo the first time under Carsley.

Will that list be added to over his final international break? Curtis Jones and Lewis Hall perhaps...?

Image source, Getty Images

So a little early heads-up there from Alex.

We will get the announcement on the full squad at 14:00 GMT, before hearing from interim head coach Lee Carsley.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter at St George’s Park

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers is not in the latest England squad named by Lee Carsley.

Rogers has been in excellent form for Villa this season and has got three goals and three assists in 14 appearances in all competitions.

There had been calls for Rogers to be included this time but he is set to be named in the U21s for this international break.

Right, the England Nations League squad announcement is due soon, but we've had some early breaking news from our England reporter Alex Howell...

Brighton & Hove Albion

There's a raft of Premier League news conferences taking place. and the Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's match at home to Manchester City.

On team news, he confirmed Joao Pedro and Matt O'Riley have a "big chance" of being fit to face the champions as they return from respective ankle problems.

Hurzeler added that Yankuba Minteh and Lewis Dunk we have to be assessed "in the next days" and "it is too early" for Solly March to return from his long-term knee injury.

Yasin Ayari limped off during last weekend's defeat at Liverpool but "will train today" and "might be an option for the weekend".

Image source, Getty Images

The Women's Nations League draw also put Scotland alongside Euro 2022 finalists Germany in League A Group A1, along with the Netherlands and Austria.

Also in League A, Wales were drawn in Group A4 with Italy, Denmark and Sweden.

Northern Ireland will face Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania in League B Group B1.

Group games will take place between February and June - before Euro 2025, where England will be the defending champions, starts in Switzerland on 2 July.

England

England have been drawn in the same group as world champions Spain for the 2025 Women's Nations League.

Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses fell to a 1-0 defeat by Spain in the 2023 Women's World Cup final, while Spain are also the reigning Nations League champions.

The two sides are joined by Belgium and Portugal in League A Group A3.

France

As mentioned, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has not been named in France's squad to face Israel and Italy in upcoming Nations League games.

France coach Didier Deschamps did not say whether Mbappe was injured, but explained his choice was a "one-off decision" and that the player "wanted to come" and join the team.

Mbappe started in Real Madrid's last two games - their 4-0 defeat to rivals Barcelona in La Liga on 26 October and in Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League loss at home to AC Milan.

If Paris St-Germain are struggling at the moment, the same could be said for their former star forward Kylian Mbappe, who has not been included in the latest France squad.

More to follow.

There are several European heavyweights who look likely to miss out on a top-eight spot and guaranteed qualification for the Champions League knockout stages.

Record winners Real Madrid have seen their chances drop to 19.7% after a home defeat to AC Milan while Paris St-Germain only have a 2.1% chance of making the top eight according to Opta after suffering their second loss in four games on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid.

PSG are currently 25th in the table. Could Luis Enrique's side be eliminated after the league phase? Their remaining games are against Bayern Munich (a), RB Salzburg (a), Manchester City (h) and Stuttgart (a).

Despite defeats for Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa, all five British teams retain very strong chances of securing at least a play-off place.A reminder that the top eight automatically progress to the knockout stages while the 16 teams that finish in places nine to 24 enter a play-off round to deicide the final 16.

We are now exactly halfway through the new league stage of this season's Champions League and standings are starting to take shape.

Liverpool are almost guaranteed a top-eight finish after their four wins from four, while Manchester City retain a strong chance despite their 4-1 defeat against Sporting on Tuesday.

Aston Villa had a 63% chance of automatic qualification after defeating Bologna but this has reduced dramatically to 33.1% with defeat in Bruges.

Arsenal's chances have dropped after losing to Inter Milan while Celtic have seen their chances increase from 6% to 14% after their fine win over RB Leipzig.

But what a ride it was Richard? Would you give up that home win over Kylian Mbappe's Paris St-Germain side to escape all the subsequent injuries and dip in form?

One to ponder.

Right, sticking to that theme, loosely, let's have a quick look at the statistical chances each British team has of progressing in this season's Champions League...

England's squad announcement is expected at 14:00 GMT, after which Lee Carsley, for the last time in his interim position, will be holding a news conference to discuss the Three Lions' final two Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

We'll also bring you the best lines and team news from all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences.

And the discussion continues on this week's Champions League matches, before switching to tonight's Europa League and Conference League ties.

PS: If you haven't already, check out the video highlights of this week's Champions League games.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter at St George’s Park

I’ve arrived at St George’s Park nice and early ahead of Lee Carsley naming his final England squad as interim head coach.

The questions for him today are going to be about how much he knew about Thomas Tuchel’s appointment and what the future holds for him.

There could also be some new faces as Carsley has continued to freshen up the squad.

Could it be the time Morgan Rogers gets his call up and maybe a call up for Curtis Jones too?

Image source, BBC Sport

Whether you like it or not, the new extended league format is what we have.

Coming up next we will look at how the league phase is panning out and which teams are best-placed to qualify.

But first, let's drop in on the England camp, with interim head coach Lee Carsley set to announce his third and final squad later today...

Marc Albrighton
Former Leicester midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

I actually think I am a fan of it - this new system. I don't know whether that is down to the fact that Villa are my team and it is their first season back in - apart from tonight they are flying high.

I do actually like it. It gives you a chance to play [different] teams. You haven't got a group of death, like you would usually have, when one massive team that is going to go out of that group.

I just think it gives an opportunity to go and see some of these other teams as well that people might not think much about.

There are a lot of teams in countries where people don't watch that football, but have actually got good quality. In the Europa League and Conference League there are actually some really good footballing sides. I think that is why it is important that the Champions League sees that as well.

Matthew Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily podcast

Everyone seems to be playing Young Boys when I turn the TV on!

It's hard to tell whether it is going to be good or bad - [the new extended league format] is a lot more preparation for the players and the staff because you are playing different teams all the time.

You normally get used to a team - you play them away then you have them at home. You get into that rhythm.

Image source, Getty Images