The Mirror

The New York Jets are heading to London in pursuit of a first win of the season, and the AFC East franchise will need the support in the United Kingdom as they face the Denver Broncos

The Jets are bringing New York to London when the AFC East franchise faces the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Then, the Jets will take a tradition forged in London back to the Big Apple.

Last year, the Jets played the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But the Vikings were the home team, welcoming the Jets to a partisan crowd decked out in purple and white.

This time around, it's Justin Fields and the Jets' turn - and the organisation is pulling out all the stops. There is one goal in mind: to make the Jets' international home game replicate the New York atmosphere experienced at MetLife Stadium as best as possible.

Brian Mulligan knows how to bottle up and provide the Jets experience better than most. Now in his 25th year with the franchise, Mulligan is in his eighth season as vice president of events and game operations. The Jets' first-ever home-branded game in London serves as a unique new challenge for him to navigate.

"The No. 1 thing for us is, how do we recreate a homefield advantage? How do we take the MetLife Stadium traditions and the things we do there and recreate or bring over to Tottenham with us?" Mulligan told Mirror Sport.

"Certainly one of the number one things is our J-E-T-S chant. Depending on which publication you look at, it's a top 10 fan tradition in the world. It's our No. 1 priority. In London, one of our former players, Bart Scott, is going to be one of the in-stadium hosts, and he will warm fans up and teach them the chant prior to the game starting.

"You have to hit the chant in the stadium at traditional times; right before the opening kick, after we score a touchdown, and the ensuing kickoff."

The Jets are leaving no stone unturned. One of the team's mascots, Jet Man, is flying across the pond to contribute to the atmosphere, with cameras fixed on his location, ready to film a man who is the Jets personified leading a stadium in the J-E-T-S chants.

There will also be numerous giveaways, a London-first, while everything in the stadium will be Jets-branded. The Jets will recreate their game intros, where pyros are linked to AC/DC's hit 'Thunder,' with fireworks and other effects firing off throughout, just as they do during home games in New Jersey, courtesy of Jack Holmgren and the game presentation team.

Eagle-eyed fans may even spot that the Jets' player intros feature London sights, adding an international flavour to the traditional videos seen at MetLife Stadium. However, one key aspect is the air raid siren, which, although not physically brought over, has been recreated at Tottenham. "We will have somebody who will be cranking the siren, which is part of our kind of hype moment prior to kickoff."

Then, the Jets are going for an ambitious new tradition inspired by European soccer. Mulligan added: "Another cool thing that we are introducing over at the UK, for the first time, is the unfurling of a TIFO flag in the stands before kickoff to accompany the air raid siren moment and then the J-E-T-S chant moment.

"There'll be a giant TIFO unfurled in the south end zone, where we'll have like a big wall of fans. It's certainly inspired by European soccer. We did a lot of research in that world, but we've tried to do it at MetLife before, and it hasn't worked great. Sometimes it's down to logistics; we were going to do that for the Steelers game, our opening game, but the weather meant we couldn't preset the flags because of the weather.

"But after the game, we're bringing the TIFO back to New York, New Jersey, to create a new tradition at MetLife Stadium. It's going to fit; we measured it out so it was produced for MetLife as much as Tottenham. So we're taking a little piece of the UK with us."

London may only be a seven-hour flight and 3,500 miles away from New York, but it takes a lot to bring the atmosphere and an authentic Jets experience. Mulligan and the entire organisation have worked tirelessly with the league and other agencies to reproduce what fans experience on any given Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

"This will be the first time that we're the home team," Mulligan concluded. "We're excited to see the outcome."

The Jets take on the Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, 12 October.

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes was in action for Brazil on Friday as they thrashed South Korea 5-0 in a friendly, with the centre-back enjoying a battle with former Tottenham star Son Heung-min

Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes seemed to relish getting the upper hand on ex-Tottenham ace Son Heung-min during Brazil's commanding victory over South Korea in the October international break. Spurs have triumphed over the Gunners in a pre-season friendly, but their first competitive match of the season is just over a month away.

Both clubs have kicked off the new season in fine form with victories against Leeds United and West Ham United prior to the two-week domestic hiatus, propelling Spurs and Arsenal to third and first place respectively.

Despite a loss to title contenders Liverpool and dropping points against Manchester City, Arsenal rightfully sit at the top of the table.

Their robust start is even more commendable given that Mikel Arteta has already had to plan for matches without key players such as William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz due to injuries.

With these crucial players all missing some game time, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Martinelli and several others have risen to the occasion. Forced absences haven't been as frequent across north London, but considering the changes at Tottenham, it's been an impressive first few months under Thomas Frank.

The Lilywhites have faced two newly-promoted teams as well as early strugglers West Ham and Wolves, but it's worth noting that four of their five top goalscorers from last season haven't started any of those matches.

Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined due to a knee injury sustained last season, with James Maddison also out long-term. Dominic Solanke has been battling an ankle problem since August, requiring minor surgery.

In other news, former club captain Son departed the club after a decade to join Los Angeles FC. Despite making a strong start in the United States, he failed to score against Gabriel's Brazil as South Korea suffered a 5-0 defeat in a friendly on Friday.

Following the victory, Gabriel took to Instagram, sharing a series of photos from the match, including one where he appears triumphant behind Son. His caption read: "Great win! ! We continue together in pursuit of our goal! ! [Brazil flag and flexed arm emoji]."

Arsenal fans will no doubt enjoy seeing Gabriel continue his rivalry with Son, even after the latter's departure from Spurs and onto the international stage.

Gabriel has previously had memorable battles with Manchester City's Erling Haaland. However, a different challenge may await the 27 year old upon his return to England, with Fulham set to be Arsenal's next opponents.

Rodrigo Muniz is already ruled out through injury, and Raul Jimenez has also recently picked up an issue which could see Gabriel and William Saliba facing a false 9 next Sunday.

A number of Tottenham Hotspur stars are currently representing their respective nations in the World Cup qualifiers, but Lucas Bergvall in particular will hope to forget his last performance quickly

Lucas Bergvall fluffed a golden opportunity during Sweden's clash with Switzerland on Friday evening. The Tottenham Hotspur star has been turning heads in the Premier League this term under Thomas Frank, securing a goal and an assist from six appearances.

Consequently, the 19-year-old was summoned to don his national colours by Jon Dahl Tomasson, as Sweden aim to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup. After a 2-2 draw against Slovenia in their first qualifiers match last month, followed by a 2-0 defeat to 10-man Kosovo, the heat was on for Sweden to pull out all the stops.

Up against Murat Yakin's Swiss squad at the Friends Arena on Friday evening, however, Blagult fell short of expectations. They suffered a 2-0 defeat, and Sweden's chances of making it to next summer's tournament are now dwindling.

Granit Xhaka broke the deadlock for his country 65 minutes into the game, coolly slotting home a penalty after Djibril Sow was taken down by Alexander Bernhardsson.

Johan Manzambi then added to Switzerland's tally four minutes into injury time, his close-range shot ricocheting off Isak Hien's foot and past a helpless Viktor Johansson, reports Football London.

However, Bergvall could have altered the course of the match just before the interval. With the score still at 0-0, Viktor Gyokeres set up Alexander Isak for a one-on-one at the half-way line, with the Liverpool forward making a beeline for the goal after expertly evading Manuel Akanji.

With two defenders hot on his heels, Isak expertly passed the ball to an unmarked Bergvall, who had the simple task of tapping it into an open goal on the edge of the six-yard box. However, the ball got stuck under the feet of the centre-midfielder, causing him to trip and leave the ball behind before Ricardo Rodriguez managed to clear it.

It comes as Sweden find themselves at the bottom of Group B in the World Cup qualifiers with a single draw and two defeats to their name. The team will face Kosovo again on Monday, 13 October, before Bergvall returns to Premier League action with Spurs.

Since joining the Lilywhites from Djurgarden last February for £8.5million, Bergvall has made quite an impression. So far, the young player has scored two goals and provided seven assists in 55 appearances across all competitions in north London.

He will be keen to put the mishap against Switzerland behind him ahead of his country's match with Kosovo, before returning to club football with Spurs to take on a struggling Aston Villa on Sunday, 19 October.

Despite finishing 17th in the Premier League last season under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham have had a much more successful term under Frank, with four victories, two draws and just one loss from their first seven matches.

As a result, Spurs are currently third in the league table and will be hoping to maintain their momentum when they host 13th-place Villa next week.

Thomas Frank missed out on signing a familiar face in Bryan Mbeumo and is now said to be eyeing another to join him at Tottenham after leaving Brentford over the summer

Tottenham are keeping an eye on Brentford star Kevin Schade ahead of next summer's transfer window. The attacker, who worked with Thomas Frank when he was in charge of the Bees, has impressed in West London.

Schade remains under contract until 2028 after signing for Brentford in a then-club record deal for £22million, turning a loan spell into a permanent move. The Germany international has been thrust into the forefront of Keith Andrews' plans after the exits of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa over the summer.

Sky Germany report that Spurs are one of several teams monitoring the 23-year-old's progress. Schade finished last term with 12 goals and three assists to his name and has netted once in seven appearances this season.

The Lilywhites were active in attempting to sign forward-thinking players over the summer. Following Frank's arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, they looked to land Mbeumo.

Spurs pushed to hijack Manchester United's bid with a £70m move. The forward ultimately moved to Old Trafford, however.

Frank did see Mohammed Kudus added to his ranks, while Mathys Tel's move was made permanent and Randal Kolo Muani was signed later in the window. But it seems another attacker is already on the agenda for next summer.

And Schade appears to be on the shortlist. Given Frank's verdict on the talent just a matter of months ago, perhaps that should be no surprise.

After Schade scored against Manchester United last May, Frank lavished the winger in praise. “He’s grown a lot this season," he said.

"Scoring 10 goals – not many players have scored 10 goals in the Premier League in their career – and he’ll most likely become even better next year. That’s the plan,” the Dane said.

“With his pace going in behind, his threat in the box on headers – two fantastic headers [against United], the first one is an incredible header, the second one is just top class – but also if we go longer he’s one that can win a flick-on and, with set pieces in both boxes, he’s working hard.”

United, meanwhile, have already plucked more talent from the Gtech Stadium. The Red Devils recently appointed Brentford’s chief operating officer, Ameesh Manek, as their new director of football operations.

Stephen Torpey has also made the switch after starting work as United's academy director. He was previously responsible for re-opening Brentford's academy in 2022.

Djed Spence was in action for England as they secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wales at Wembley Stadium, with the Tottenham defender sending a brutal message to Brennan Johnson post-match

Tottenham defender Djed Spence delivered a savage jibe at teammate Brennan Johnson following England's emphatic 3-0 triumph over Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium. The Three Lions wrapped up the contest within 20 minutes after a scintillating start under Thomas Tuchel's guidance.

Aston Villa pair Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins netted the first two goals inside 11 minutes. Rogers opened the scoring with a clinical finish, before Watkins demonstrated his poacher instincts at the far post to extend the lead.

The match was put beyond doubt when Arsenal's Bukayo Saka curled home a third for England, as Tuchel's squad geared up for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Latvia - a fixture that could secure their passage to the tournament across the USA, Mexico and Canada. From a Spurs standpoint, the outcome proved bittersweet for their representatives.

OPINION

For Spence, it marked a memorable evening as he earned his maiden England senior cap at Wembley Stadium. For Johnson, it represented a night he'd rather put behind him quickly.

Unfortunately for the winger, Spence wasn't about to let him off lightly. After the final whistle, the defender posted a merciless message to his Tottenham colleague whilst celebrating the victory.

"Very happy to get my first England start with a great win," he wrote on Instagram. "But forget about all that emotional stuff for a second.

"You cannot escape the inevitable. Let's take a walk to the penitentiary brother."

The post featured a series of snaps of Spence in action, including one with Johnson during the match. He also included a cheeky, superimposed image from the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, showing himself walking Johnson on a leash.

Spence is known for his social media antics and recently discussed this in an interview with TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch. When shown some of his recent posts, including references to the penitentiary, the defender explained that he creates these posts with players he's personally friends with.

Following the 3-0 Carabao Cup triumph over Doncaster Rovers, Spence shared a picture of Damola Ajay 'behind bars'. Ajay, currently on loan at the South Yorkshire club from Spurs, was the subject of this jest, which the Tottenham defender insisted was just a bit of fun and not intended to offend.

It's been a stellar season so far for Spence at Tottenham. During the September international break, the 25-year-old made history as the first Muslim player to represent England.

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Managing Tottenham - Xavi Simons dilemma as Thomas Frank given £84m priority transfer

Thomas Frank's Tottenham tenure has started at a respectable pace, but the Dane still has several key challenges to address as we head into the heart of the 2025/26 campaign

It's been a bright start to life at Tottenham for Thomas Frank. The former Brentford boss has introduced a welcome blend of consistency and tactical flexibility - aspects that were sorely lacking under Ange Postecoglou last season.

Six wins, four draws, and just one defeat from their opening 11 games represent a solid return, highlighted by a superb 2–0 win away at Manchester City in August. But after an early surge, Spurs' momentum has eased somewhat, with three draws in their last five matches.

Clean sheets have also dried up. Having conceded just once in their opening four Premier League matches, Frank's team have leaked four goals in their last three outings, and six in their last five in all competitions.

Things, however, are generally looking up for Tottenham, but a challenging run of fixtures lies ahead, with home clashes against Chelsea and Manchester United, and tricky away trips to Monaco, Everton, and Newcastle.

Frank will need to have everything finely tuned if his side are to navigate this spell successfully. With that in mind, here are four key priorities for the Dane as he prepares for the remainder of the campaign.

Get Xavi Simons firing

It felt like something of a coup when Tottenham pinched Xavi Simons from under Chelsea's noses in the summer. But while the Dutchman's arrival generated huge excitement, his start in north London has been more steady than spectacular. He hasn't been poor by any means, but nor has he yet justified his £52 million price tag.

Part of the issue is that Frank still hasn't figured out where Simons fits best. The 22-year-old, who's notched just one goal contribution (an assist against West Ham) in seven games so far, has been used across multiple roles - as a No. 10, a left winger, and a No. 8 - but has struggled to find rhythm or consistency in any of them.

Simons is not a like-for-like replacement for James Maddison, the creative heartbeat he has effectively filled in for following the Englishman's ACL injury. Where Maddison thrives on invention and flair, Simons is more of a passing midfielder - one who keeps play moving and knits attacks together rather than producing moments of magic on his own. That's not a flaw, but it does mean he needs the right system and supporting cast to shine.

For Frank, the dilemma is clear: identify Simons' best position and build the structure around him to unlock his potential. Once he settles into a defined role and gains confidence and rhythm, Tottenham could finally begin to see the player who not only dazzled in the academies of Barcelona and PSG, but also lit up the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig last season.

Find a reliable No. 9

If Tottenham are to take the next step under Frank, they need a dependable, ruthless presence at centre-forward - a true No. 9 capable of turning half-chances into goals. At the moment, that player simply doesn't exist in this squad.

Dominic Solanke has shown flashes of quality, but injuries have disrupted his rhythm and consistency. Richarlison continues to work hard but remains an enigma in front of goal, while Mathys Tel, though promising, is still more of a long-term project than a reliable week-to-week scorer.

Meanwhile, Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG, remains something of an unknown quantity. Once tipped as the next big thing after his breakout at Eintracht Frankfurt, his spell at PSG fell flat following his £64.2m move to Ligue 1, and while his loan at Juventus last season was an improvement, it was hardly spectacular. He's currently sidelined with an injury, which hasn't helped him or Spurs.

Between the quartet, there's talent, energy, and potential - but not the kind of relentless finishing that defines top-four teams. For Spurs to genuinely compete at the sharp end of the table, they need a striker who can deliver 20 or more goals a season - someone who can turn tight games into wins and lift the team when the performances dip.

That's the kind of cutting edge Harry Kane once provided, and it's what Tottenham have been missing ever since his departure. Kane, who is regularly linked with a return to Spurs, has publicly distanced himself from a Premier League return, yet there will be other options available.

For Frank, the task is twofold: either get one of his current options firing consistently, or identify a striker who can come in and provide that elite output.

One potential target is Samu Omorodion, who has been sensational since joining Porto in 2024, netting 24 goals in 37 league appearances. The Spain international, who nearly moved to Chelsea last year, and has been compared to the likes of Didier Drogba and Victor Osimhen, has an £84m release clause in his contract.

That figure might be hefty, but his current form suggests it could well be money well spent. Besides, Hugo Ekitike and Nick Woltemade arrived in England for comparable fees this summer, and both have proven to be smart acquisitions.

A move for Omorodion in January might be unrealistic, but there's no reason why the groundwork for a transfer next summer couldn't begin now. Until then, Frank will need to get at least one of his current strikers firing on all cylinders, but if none prove capable of stepping up soon, finding a genuine, top-class No. 9 must become a priority - because without one, Tottenham's ceiling will remain frustratingly low.

Work out the midfield

For all of Tottenham's early promise under Frank, one key question still lingers: what is his best midfield? Rotation is healthy and even necessary in a long season, but if Spurs are to build rhythm and cohesion, they'll need more regularity in the centre of the pitch.

So far, Frank has chopped and changed his combinations, with Joao Palhinha, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Xavi Simons and Archie Gray all featuring in various trios and setups. Sometimes it's been a flat three, other times two sitting behind a No. 10.

That flexibility is part of Frank's appeal. He's tactically adaptable and unafraid to tweak his shape. But there comes a point when versatility can blur into uncertainty.

Palhinha and Bentancur offer a solid, disciplined base, but perhaps lack the creative spark to unlock tight games. Sarr brings energy and drive, while Bergvall and Gray both possess composure and promise - yet none have truly cemented their place. Then there's the question of Maddison's reintegration once he returns to full fitness: does he come back as a pure No. 10, or is there room for him in a deeper, more fluid three?

These are all puzzles Frank needs to solve, and soon. The midfield is the heartbeat of any successful side, and while depth is a strength, stability breeds understanding. If Tottenham are to progress from a promising project to a genuinely cohesive unit, Frank will need to identify his go-to trio and give them the time to grow together.

Get motoring in the Champions League

Tottenham could really do with making another statement in Europe this season. A strong run in the Champions League wouldn't just boost their reputation, it would re-establish them among the continent's elite, something they've not truly been since Mauricio Pochettino's tenure.

The campaign hasn't exactly started with fireworks. A narrow 1–0 win over Villarreal was followed by a flat 2–2 draw with Bodo/Glimt, leaving Spurs with plenty of work to do in the group phase. What they need now is momentum - a string of results to propel them towards the knockout stages and give this side the belief that they belong at that level again.

They've already shown they can compete with Europe's best, having come within minutes of beating PSG - their Champions League opponents next month - in the Super Cup before the French champions struck twice late on to force a 2–2 draw and win on penalties. Performances like that prove Tottenham have the quality - they just need the consistency.

For a young and relatively inexperienced squad, a deep European run could do wonders. It would build confidence and create a winning mentality. Frank's side have shown flashes of quality domestically, but taking that onto the European stage would be a true marker of progress.

And with Champions League qualification for next season far from guaranteed, there's every reason to go for it. A confident, fearless approach in Europe could not only transform Tottenham's campaign but also remind everyone - including themselves - that they're still capable of mixing it with the best.

Jeremie Frimpong takes swipe at Spurs 'sore loser' as Liverpool star causes immediate stir

Liverpool have 15 senior players away on international duty, with the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike making an impression with the Netherlands and France, respectively

Arne Slot's Liverpool squad could be forgiven for not being in the best spirits heading into the October international break. Enduring a a week they'd rather forget, the Reds suffered three back-to-back losses against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.

Both domestic defeats were a result of last-minute winners, rubbing salt in the wounds for Liverpool as they lost their top spot in the Premier League table to Arsenal.

However, it seems that a change of scenery could do wonders for the majority of Slot's squad, with 15 of his senior players called up for international duty as the Premier League takes its latest pause.

They all seem to be in high spirits too, if the photos and videos shared by their national teams are anything to go by, as the Reds look to bounce back from their club-level woes.

Florian Wirtz is putting in extra hours on the training pitch with Germany, hoping to kickstart his career with the Reds, while Andy Robertson has shrugged off injury worries, after getting a knock against Chelsea, to join full training with Scotland, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The first day of international matches was on Wednesday, with Mohamed Salah having a day to remember. And with several of his Liverpool colleagues also set to play in the coming days, we take a look at how Liverpool's internationals are getting on during the break....

Frimpong tells 'sore loser' Spurs star to 'have respect'

Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong may not have had the smoothest start on the pitch, but he's certainly making waves off it. The Dutch international has quickly become a popular presence in the dressing room.

He's also a hit with his fellow countrymen and couldn't resist a playful jab at Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons during a recent training session with the Netherlands squad.

A video shared by the Dutch national team on social media shows Frimpong participating in a keepy-uppy rondo with several team-mates, including Simons and Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.

Frimpong had to be quick to keep the ball in play after a volleyed pass from Simons, even colliding with the cameraman in the process. The rondo broke down when the ball returned to the Spurs midfielder.

Simons voiced his frustration before the rondo restarted, but after failing again, he ran off with the ball and kicked it high into the air.

"See, this is what losers do, bro!" Frimpong quipped to the cameras. "Sore loser, bro. Why did he kick the ball away?".

Addressing Simons, he added: "Hey, have respect, have respect bro!".

Both Frimpong and Simons could be chosen to start on the right wing for the Netherlands in their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Malta on Thursday night, followed by a match against Finland on Sunday.

Ekitike makes waves and catches eye of two-time World Cup winner

Hugo Ekitike has made a flying start to life at Liverpool, netting five times in his opening 10 matches, and will be eager to carry that momentum into the international break with France.

The forward earned his first and second caps for his nation - both coming off the bench - during the previous international window, but may now be in contention for a starting berth.

The 23-year-old has been given the number nine jersey and with Kylian Mbappe facing a fitness battle, plus several of France's regular attacking options missing from the squad due to their own injury concerns, Ekitike stands as a genuine candidate for a more significant role.

He has certainly boosted his chances during training too, continuing to catch the eye of boss Didier Deschamps, who stands as one of just three individuals to have lifted the World Cup as both a player and a manager.

The France national team shared footage of a finishing exercise on their social media platforms, with Ekitike shown slotting home efforts from both his right and left boot into the corner.

His clinical finishing drew admiration from Deschamps, as the two-time World Cup winner could be heard remarking: "Oh yes, that's what happens when you're two-footed!"

France welcome Azerbaijan in their latest World Cup qualifying fixture on Friday before making the trip to Iceland on Monday.

Salah breaks silence on social media after making history

During Liverpool's charge towards the Premier League title last season, a post-match selfie from Mohamed Salah was a common sight. Fans certainly enjoyed these small glimpses into the celebrations of the soon-to-be champions after each victory, with Salah often pictured alongside his fellow goal scorers.

However, this trend hasn't continued into this season, with Salah not quite reaching the lofty heights of last year. As a result, his performances have come under scrutiny.

Liverpool's star forward has been quiet on the pitch and social media since their 3-2 triumph over Atletico Madrid three weeks ago. However, that all changed when Salah made history for Egypt in their World Cup qualifier on Wednesday evening.

Salah was instrumental in Egypt's 3-0 win over Djibouti, scoring two goals - one a smart finish in a one-on-one situation in the first half, and the other a sublime lob over the keeper in the second half.

These goals have propelled Salah to the top of the African all-time leading goalscorer list in World Cup qualification, surpassing the likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o and Islam Slimani with a total of 20 goals.

The 33-year-old is now preparing for his second World Cup appearance, having also scored the decisive goal that secured Egypt's place in the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Despite his previous World Cup experience being marred by an injury inflicted by Sergio Ramos, Salah will be hoping to make amends as Egypt gear up for only their fourth-ever World Cup appearance.

The Pharaohs were understandably ecstatic after the final whistle, and Salah broke his social media silence by sharing a celebratory picture of the squad in the dressing room, accompanied by a heart emoji.

Konate moves closer to fitness comeback

Despite suffering a quad injury during Liverpool's loss to Chelsea, Ibrahima Konate remains with the France squad, suggesting the issue is only minor.

The centre-back has been spotted back in team training, but he has also been seen working individually alongside Mbappe as France carefully manage the pair.

L'Equipe reports that the duo trained alongside the group "without any apparent discomfort at the start of the session," during France's Wednesday session, before proceeding with their individual training.

While it's still uncertain if Konate will be fit to face Azerbaijan on Friday, Liverpool can take comfort in the fact that his injury sustained at Stamford Bridge wasn't severe.

Bradley vs Wirtz round II

Conor Bradley is set to face off against his Liverpool colleague Florian Wirtz in Northern Ireland's second match of the October international break, when they welcome Germany on Monday.

In their previous encounter, Wirtz emerged victorious, netting a spectacular free-kick as Germany claimed a 3-1 victory.

Before the clash with Germany, Northern Ireland will first play host to Slovakia on Friday.

And having witnessed their upcoming opponents already defeat the Germans in World Cup qualification, the Liverpool player isn't taking anything lightly.

"Windsor Park will probably be at its best over the two games so we have to manage the expectations of that," he stated ahead of the double-header. "I've a lot of faith in the team. We have a really good group of players".

"We feel more prepared than we did for the last Euros campaign. We've a bit more experience now and hopefully that will help us.

"I was surprised they (Slovakia) beat Germany, I think everyone was. Germany are a top team and not many sides have beaten them in the last few years.

"Slovakia are a very good team with good players, but we have some good players too, so we're looking forward to it."

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed an initial £100million by the Lewis family, who own the club, with the promise of more to come in the near future

Tottenham Hotspur's owners, the Lewis family, have injected an initial £100million into the north London club, promising more funds to follow.

After turning down three preliminary takeover bids in the past month, the influential family, who own Spurs through a trust and investment company ENIC, have now ploughed the nine-figure sum into the Premier League team as the first instalment of new capital. Since chairman Daniel Levy's departure last month after 24 years at the helm, the Lewis family have taken a more public role in supporting the club.

Siblings Vivienne and Charles Lewis, the offspring of former Tottenham owner Joe Lewis, have stepped up alongside Vivienne's son-in-law Nick Beucher.

The trio have been regularly seen in the director's box at recent Spurs matches, with Vivienne joining the club on their summer pre-season tour to Asia and Beucher accompanying her in Bodo last week for the Champions League match and at Sunday's NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

A source close to the Lewis family told football.london about the cash injection. They said: "This is initial additional funding. As the club's management decides what's needed to deliver success, more money will be available. The Lewis family is committed to backing the club to be successful."

Spurs issued their own statement following the financial injection, declaring: "This equity injection will further strengthen the club's financial position and equip the club's leadership team with additional resources to continue the focus on driving long-term sporting success. This additional capital is part of the Lewis family's ongoing commitment to the club and its future."

Tottenham's new non-executive chairman, Peter Charrington, added: "As I stated a few weeks ago, our focus is on stability and empowering the management team to deliver on the club's ambitions.

"I know the Lewis family are also ambitious for the future. Today's capital commitment reflects that ambition and I would like to thank them for their ongoing support.

"We will continue to do all we can to ensure that Vinai [Venkatesham] and his team are supported in the best way possible to take this club forward."

On Monday, Brooklyn Earick and his 12-strong American consortium revealed they would not be moving forward with a takeover bid despite reports of a planned £3.3billion offer and an additional £1.2billion earmarked as transfer funds for head coach Thomas Frank.

Earick became the third interested party to pull out within the past month, following Amanda Staveley and PCP International Finance, along with an Asia-based group of investors headed by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings.

Despite rumours, Spurs and the Lewis family have consistently stated that the club is not on the market. Both CEO Venkatesham and Frank have publicly echoed this sentiment on their behalf, and their recent £100million investment seems to further reinforce this stance.

Cristian Romero’s four-word dig at Chelsea ace shows Tottenham star’s real character

Cristian Romero has joined up with the Argentina national team for the current international break and has been reunited with some familiar faces from the Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero has cheekily ribbed two of his Argentina team-mates. The defender is currently on international duty, and he is expected to feature in the friendly matches against Venezuela (Saturday, 1am kick-off) and Puerto Rico (Tuesday, 12am kick-off).

Romero, who has played every minute of Tottenham's Premier League campaign this season, including last weekend's 2-1 victory over Leeds United, has been reunited with some familiar faces from Premier League rivals at the Argentina camp.

He shared a snap of himself alongside Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Alongside the photo, he cheekily wrote the caption: "Y'all don't contribute anything."

Two laughing emojis indicated that it was a playful jibe to his international team-mates. Despite the comment, both Fernandez and Alvarez have had strong starts to their respective seasons.

Like Romero, Fernandez has started every league game for Chelsea, playing the full 90 minutes in their 2-1 win over Liverpool last time out.

Meanwhile, striker Alvarez has featured in every league game for Atletico Madrid, netting seven goals and providing three assists in his nine appearances across all competitions.

Alvarez was the only one of the trio to feature in both Argentina games during the last international break. Fernandez sat out the first match due to a suspension and didn't make the squad for the second.

Romero, on the other hand, played the full 90 minutes of the first game but was left out of the squad for the second.

All three are keen to make their mark in the upcoming matches as they gear up to defend their World Cup title.

Their clubs' main concern will be ensuring they return fit and ready for the forthcoming fixtures. Romero missed last week's Champions League draw against Bodo/Glimt due to injury before making his comeback against Leeds.

Spurs are back in action when they welcome Aston Villa on Sunday, 19 October (2pm kick-off). Chelsea, meanwhile, are set to face Ange Postecoglou's Nottingham Forest on Saturday, 18 October (12.30pm kick-off).

Lionel Messi is set to lose two of his Inter Miami team-mates to retirement at the end of 2025 but a former Premier League defender could soon be joining the Argentina star

Sergio Reguilon is set to return to football after three months without a club by joining Inter Miami, it has been claimed. The Major League Soccer club are on the lookout for a new left-back after Reguilon's fellow Spain international Jordi Alba confirmed this season would be his last.

Regulon, 28, has been a free agent since leaving Tottenham Hotspur when his contract expired in June. He spent five seasons with the North London club but only made 73 appearances during that period, spending time out on loan at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford.

According to The Athletic, Inter Miami are "close" to a deal for Reguilon. However, the same publication notes that they are not expected to be able to play him in competitive matches until next season due to MLS' September roster freeze.

The Floridian side are preparing for a busy summer, with Sergio Busquets also set to retire. There are also question marks over the long-term future of two of their other ex-Barcelona players, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Inter Miami won the Supporters' Shield last term but fell short in the post-season playoffs. Another former Barcelona star, Javier Mascherano, took over as head coach ahead of the 2025 season and has secured a return to the playoffs with time to spare.

If Reguilon links up with the club before the turn of the year, he will be able to watch Messi et all attempt to go all the way and win MLS Cup. The Argentina star is Inter Miami's top scorer this season with 32 goals in all competitions, with his 24 MLS goals putting him level with Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga.

World Cup winner Messi has recognised his career isn't far from its end, and cut an emotional figure after what could have been his last competitive international appearance in his home country. "I haven't made a decision about the [2026] World Cup," he said at the time. "I'll finish the season then I'll have pre-season, and there will be six months left. So we'll see how I feel."

Reguilon has played against Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba in the past, and was on the opposing side for a 2019 Clasico when Barca beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. He also started twice against the Catalan club during a spell with Sevilla and made two substitute appearances against them with Atleti during the 2023/24 season.

He made just six appearances for Spurs during his final season back in North London, four in the league and two in domestic cups. He was left out of Ange Postecoglou's European squad for last season's run to Europa League glory, but attended the final in Bilbao and was spotted speaking to former United colleague Alejandro Garnacho on the San Mames pitch.