SOCCER

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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.

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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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France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate (25) has become the latest player to speak out against the packed fixture schedule, saying on Tuesday that he supports his fellow players' right to strike over the issue.

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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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Jack Grealish has welcomed a new addition to his family. The Manchester City and England national team footballer shared on Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Sasha Attwood, celebrated the arrival of their first child, a baby girl named Mila Rose Grealish, on Friday, Sept. 27.

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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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Paris Saint-Germain relinquished their place at the summit of Ligue 1 as they were unable to find a way past OGC Nice in a 1-1 draw which kept Les Aiglons’ unbeaten home record this season going strong. The two sides’ contrasting starts to the Ligue 1 season were hardly evident in the opening stages, as Franck Haise’s struggling side started distinctly on the front foot.