Match reviews

Spain 2-1 Belgium: La Roja Do It The Hard Way But They Do It

Spain 2-1 Belgium: La Roja Do It The Hard Way But They Do It

Spain grind out a 2-1 win over Belgium in the World Cup 2026, with a late goal sealing it in the 88th minute. Jay Thompson breaks down a match that was more controlled than the scoreline suggests.

By Jay Thompson

France 2-0 Morocco: Les Bleus Do Enough, But the Stats Tell a More Complicated Story

France 2-0 Morocco: Les Bleus Do Enough, But the Stats Tell a More Complicated Story

France progressed past Morocco with a controlled second-half double, but the numbers underneath the scoreline reveal a game that was simultaneously more comfortable and more wasteful than the result suggests.

By Elena Santos

Vojvodina vs Ferencvárosi: Ferencvaros Win Europa League Qualifier Despite Losing the Shot Count

Vojvodina vs Ferencvárosi: Ferencvaros Win Europa League Qualifier Despite Losing the Shot Count

Ferencvárosi won 2-1 at Vojvodina in the UEFA Europa League, but the underlying statistics tell a more complicated story than the scoreline suggests. Marcus Vale breaks down what the data actually shows.

By Marcus Vale

Norway 1-2 England: The Crossing Pattern That Won a World Cup Knockout Tie

Norway 1-2 England: The Crossing Pattern That Won a World Cup Knockout Tie

England edged past Norway in a tight World Cup contest that went deep into added time. Sophie Hargreaves breaks down the structural detail that separated the two sides.

By Sophie Hargreaves

Argentina 3-1 Switzerland: World Cup 2026 Last-16 Thriller Settled in Extra Time

Argentina survived a Swiss equaliser to win 3-1 in extra time, with goals in the 112th and 120th minutes finally ending Switzerland's resistance at the World Cup 2026.

By Connor Maguire

Riga 3-2 Ararat-Armenia: Home Craft Holds Firm After Dramatic Ararat Comeback

Riga

3-2

Ararat-Armenia

Riga 3-2 Ararat-Armenia: Home Craft Holds Firm After Dramatic Ararat Comeback

Riga built a commanding first-half lead before Ararat-Armenia mounted a spirited second-half fightback, only for the home side to seal a 3-2 victory with a 90th-minute penalty in a bruising Champions League qualifier.

By Rafael Mbeki

FC Iberia 1999 2-2 Flora: The Beautiful Game Does Not Always Reward the Beautiful Team

FC Iberia 1999

2-2

Flora

FC Iberia 1999 2-2 Flora: The Beautiful Game Does Not Always Reward the Beautiful Team

FC Iberia 1999 built a two-goal lead through two composed first-half finishes, only to watch Flora find their way back through clever second-half adjustments and a late penalty. Rafa Mbeki reflects on a Champions League tie that spoke volumes about resilience, discipline, and the cruelty of football.

By Rafael Mbeki

Hajduk Split 2-0 Žilina: Structure and Control in the Adriatic Sun

Hajduk Split 2-0 Žilina: Structure and Control in the Adriatic Sun

Hajduk Split delivered a composed Europa League qualifying performance at home, with two right-footed finishes either side of half-time enough to see off a Žilina side that never found a way to threaten. Sophie Hargreaves breaks down what the numbers and the patterns tell us.

By Sophie Hargreaves

Bohemians 2-0 St Josephs FC: Bohs Do the Job in Conference League Qualifier

Bohemians

2-0

St Josephs FC

Bohemians 2-0 St Josephs FC: Bohs Do the Job in Conference League Qualifier

Bohemians controlled this Europa Conference League qualifier from start to finish, winning 2-0 with a penalty and a late goal to keep their European campaign on track. St Josephs offered very little and paid the price.

By Connor Maguire

Pyunik Dismantle Marsaxlokk in Clinical Conference League First Round

Marsaxlokk

0-3

Pyunik

Pyunik Dismantle Marsaxlokk in Clinical Conference League First Round

Pyunik produced a controlled and composed performance in Malta, winning 3-0 to put one foot firmly in the next round of UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying.

By Elena Santos

Europa FC 0-5 Skendija 79: A Structural Collapse That the Numbers Cannot Excuse

Europa FC

0-5

Skendija 79

Europa FC 0-5 Skendija 79: A Structural Collapse That the Numbers Cannot Excuse

Skendija 79 dismantled Europa FC with a clinical five-goal away performance in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Marcus Vale breaks down what the statistics actually show about a defeat that was every bit as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests.

By Marcus Vale

Larne 2-1 Tre Fiori: Ten-Man Visitors Undone by Penalty as Northern Irish Side Progress

Larne

2-1

Tre Fiori

Larne 2-1 Tre Fiori: Ten-Man Visitors Undone by Penalty as Northern Irish Side Progress

Larne held their nerve at home to beat Tre Fiori 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, with a 69th-minute penalty proving decisive after the visitors were reduced to nine men.

By Jay Thompson

Shamrock Rovers 5-1 Floriana: Tallaght Sends a Statement in Champions League Qualifying

Shamrock Rovers

5-1

Floriana

Shamrock Rovers 5-1 Floriana: Tallaght Sends a Statement in Champions League Qualifying

Shamrock Rovers produced a commanding Champions League qualifying performance at Tallaght Stadium, overwhelming Floriana 5-1 with a display that was relentless in its attacking intent and clinical in its execution.

By Elena Santos

Liepāja 1-0 Dečić: Ten Men, One Goal, All Three Points

Liepāja

1-0

Dečić

Liepāja 1-0 Dečić: Ten Men, One Goal, All Three Points

Liepāja nicked it. A 64th-minute right-foot finish and a backs-to-the-wall second half from ten men gave the Latvians a famous Conference League win over Montenegro's Dečić. Jay Thompson breaks it all down.

By Jay Thompson

La Fiorita 0-2 UNA Strassen: Strassen's Structure Does the Damage in Conference League Qualifier

La Fiorita

0-2

UNA Strassen

La Fiorita 0-2 UNA Strassen: Strassen's Structure Does the Damage in Conference League Qualifier

UNA Strassen arrived at the Stadio di Serravalle with a clear game plan and executed it without fuss. Sophie Hargreaves breaks down how the Luxembourgers controlled this tie from the first whistle.

By Sophie Hargreaves

The Draw That Told a Deeper Story: Hegelmann Litauen 1-1 Paide

Hegelmann Litau

1-1

Paide

The Draw That Told a Deeper Story: Hegelmann Litauen 1-1 Paide

A first-leg Conference League qualifier that ended all square, but beneath the surface there was a fascinating study in contrasting approaches, a penalty equaliser struck with conviction, and a second half that left both sides with genuine cause for reflection.

By Rafael Mbeki

Malisheva 5-0 Vllaznia Shkodër: Kosovo Side Put On A Show In Conference League Qualifying

Malisheva

5-0

Vllaznia Shkodë

Malisheva 5-0 Vllaznia Shkodër: Kosovo Side Put On A Show In Conference League Qualifying

Malisheva absolutely battered Vllaznia Shkodër 5-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League, with a blistering second-half display that left the Albanian side with absolutely nowhere to hide.

By Jay Thompson

Kauno Žalgiris Win Away in Kosovo: The Detail That Decided This Champions League Qualifier

Drita

2-3

Kauno Žalgiris

Kauno Žalgiris Win Away in Kosovo: The Detail That Decided This Champions League Qualifier

Kauno Žalgiris produced a controlled, possession-based performance to beat Drita 3-2 in Pristina. Sophie Hargreaves breaks down the structural reasons behind the result.

By Sophie Hargreaves

KÍ Claim Away Win Despite Bissen's Dominance in Opening Champions League Qualifier

Atert Bissen

1-2

KÍ

KÍ Claim Away Win Despite Bissen's Dominance in Opening Champions League Qualifier

Atert Bissen controlled the ball, generated the chances, and still lost. KÍ's clinical efficiency in Luxembourg told a story that every student of the game should study carefully.

By Rafael Mbeki