SOCCER

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Belgium capitalized on Lorenzo Pellegrini’s first-half red card to come from behind and draw 2-2 against Italy in UEFA Nations League (UNL) Group A2, avoiding defeat for the first time in four H2Hs. It took just 61 seconds for Italy’s wing-backs to team up for the opener, as Federico Dimarco glided up the pitch and delivered a pinpoint pass that culminated in Andrea Cambiaso converting despite the best efforts of Maxim De Cuyper and Koen Casteels.

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Italy can become a great team if they play at their best, coach Luciano Spalletti said on Wednesday, ahead of a game against Belgium which he described as crucial for their hopes of progress in the Nations League.

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The obvious reaction to England's shock 2-1 defeat by Greece on Thursday would be to blame the radical selection of stand-in coach Lee Carsley, but the key moments came not in the crowded midfield but when England had numbers galore at the back. Vangelis Pavlidis scored both Greece goals, the second in stoppage time, despite being surrounded by defenders on both occasions.

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German coach Jurgen Klopp (57) has been appointed Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

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Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock was found dead in his swimming pool at his rented villa in Athens, Greece, on Wednesday evening. The 31-year-old athlete, who had recently joined Greek club Panathinaikos, was discovered unresponsive after his partner in the UK raised concerns when unable to reach him by phone.

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Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker (32) is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks with a hamstring injury, which would rule him out of matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.

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As the pressure mounts, Brazil's national football team faces critical World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru, but they will do so without several key players sidelined by injuries. After a string of poor performances, the five-time World Cup champions are under intense scrutiny as they sit precariously in fifth place in the qualification standings, just ahead of Venezuela on goal difference.

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France captain Kylian Mbappe (25) is facing criticism in his home country for skipping their upcoming Nations League games against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for Real Madrid. The forward picked up a muscle injury last month but made his return to the pitch off the bench in his club's Champions League defeat at Lille last Wednesday.