In an era that demands showmanship from managers, he is struggling to inhabit the role of leader

Gian Piero Gasperini believes the Irish striker has the qualities to be a star for his title-chasing team

Thursday’s playoff draw sees Ireland play the least intimidating opponents they could have been pitted against

Ireland’s win over Hungary saw the most dramatic Irish late winner ever followed by the best goal celebration

The game is about lines and tactics and skill but it’s also passion, the battle of wills, and this is what people love to see

One can only imagine Gianni Infantino’s reaction to the news Ronaldo could be suspended for World Cup games. Trump might intercede

Hungary have put four past the group leaders in two games, but unlike Ireland, they had a right go

Free-scoring Manchester City thump Liverpool in riposte to Arsenal’s corners-and-duels vision

There are few fates in football bleaker than being a set-piece team whose set-pieces aren’t working

Real Madrid demonstrate oddly casual approach to set-pieces but prevail largely thanks to the clinical finishing of Mbappé

It seems Liverpool’s players don’t know how they’re supposed to fit together - and neither does their coach

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s decision to go with a 5-4-1 formation when a win was required made no sense

Ireland can’t realistically outplay Portugal, but they proved they could at least make them anxious

As Ireland face Portugal, the team are still haunted by the shambolic defeat in Yerevan that cost any realistic chance of World Cup qualification

New signings Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are too big – and expensive – to fail. Will Arne Slot pay the price?