Just For Kicks

A wave of unbridled optimism swept through Wembley last night as the Three Lions triumphed in commanding fashion, netting five goals against Ireland to secure promotion in the Nations League. In his brief but (somewhat) transformative tenure, departing interim head coach Lee Carsley orchestrated a revitalization of the national squad, boldly introducing fresh talent. His faith in youth was rewarded handsomely, with Curtis Jones and Harwood-Bellis marking their debuts with splendid goals. As England prepares for its next chapter, a new era beckons under the stewardship of Thomas Tuchel, who steps into the role with the formidable task of navigating the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Meanwhile, in other international fixtures, France bested Italy 3-1, surging ahead in Group B as the Azzurri faltered defensively, conceding thrice from set-pieces. Germany delivered an emphatic 7-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Cristiano Ronaldo continued to etch his name in the annals of history, scoring twice in Portugal's 5-1 rout of Poland, setting a new record for the most international wins in men’s football. All that plus matches around the region, here on Just For Kicks. 

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Lee Carsley's interim stint as England manager went back on track with a good 0-3 win against Greece in the UEFA Nations League, with Carsley playing the "reserves" as 9 players pulled out of the squad. Captain Harry Kane criticised them in an interview, saying that "England comes before anything. England comes before club". Bob Holmes and Dez Corkhill share their thoughts on what happened off the pitch for England, and whether Kane's comment is justified. We also discuss other international matches, including Asian World Cup Qualifiers. Then, it's back to the English Premier League, as the pundits give their opinions on the incident involving Premier League referee David Coote, and more, only on another exciting episode of Just For Kicks!

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Christmas comes early for Arne Slot, as Liverpool secured maximum points winning 2-0 against an in-form Aston Villa as nearest title-contender and reigning champions Manchester City again suffered a shock 2-1 loss - this time away to Brighton & Hove Albion. An outcome that saw Liverpool going five clear at the top of the table, while City struggling with injuries and four consecutive losses, saw their intensity drop, allowing Brighton to claim victory with late goals after Erling Haaland put them ahead. Arsenal's title hopes also waned with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, extending their winless streak to four, meanwhile Tottenham’s struggle with slow starts continued in a 2-0 loss to Ipswich. All that and more reviewed on this week's Just For Kicks.

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After thrashing Armenian side, FC Noah 8-0 in the UEFA Conference League, Chelsea will be looking to heap more misery on Arsenal, especially after the Gunners lost their midweek Champions League match against Inter Milan. Can Mikel Arteta get it right again, beginning with a good performance against the Blues? We look ahead to Matchweek 11 of the English Premier League, after reviewing the midweek European action that saw European giants Real Madrid losing at home to AC Milan and Manchester City going down against Ruben Amorim's Sporting. All these, and more, only on another episode of Just For Kicks!

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Moises Caicedo's performance and form in Chelsea blue is beginning to meet expectations, silencing critics who doubted his worth following a record-breaking transfer. Bossing the midfield for 90 minutes while scoring the equalizing goal - via a thunderous volley - rescued a point against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw, perfectly complementing his more attack-minded teammates. Can he keep this "not-so-quiet" protagonist arc going for him through-out the season for Enzo Maresca? Elsewhere, Arsenal's title aspirations are dwindling after a defeat to Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest's resurgence sees them holding a top-three spot. Manchester City's unbeaten streak was broken by Bournemouth, with Antoine Semenyo starring in a 2-1 victory. All that, and much more reviewed on this week's Just For Kicks.

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Man United's 2-1 loss against West Ham last weekend was the final nail in the coffin for Erik ten Hag, as he was immediately dismissed the next day. In come United legend, Ruud Van Nistelrooy to take charge on an interim basis, before Ruben Amorim takes over after the next international break. Van Nistelrooy brought the feel-good-factor back to Old Trafford with a resounding 5-2 win against Leicester City, but with Enzo Maresca's Chelsea their next visitor, can the new manager's bounce still be sustained over the weekend? We preview this big weekend match, and more, including Malaysian football, only on another episode of Just For Kicks!

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Salah proving again that he's the RIGHT man, as his 80th minute equalizer salvaged a point for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw against title-challengers Arsenal at the Emirates. That left Manchester City leading the Premier League after edging past Southampton while the result in North London left both Arne Slot & Mikel Arteta's men five points adrift. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s defeat to West Ham increased scrutiny on Erik ten Hag, with missed chances and a VAR penalty decision adding to their 14th-place struggles. Tottenham’s away loss to Crystal Palace further underscored their inconsistency, with resilience and consistency in focus as the team navigates an uneven season. All that and more on this week's Just For Kicks. 

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Just For Kicks returns to the Friday airwaves to summarise another exciting week of European football. The Champions League continues to serve up delectable matches, with Real Madrid showcasing why they're a European royalty, coming back from 0-2 down to win 5-2 against Borussia Dortmund, with Vinicius Jr. reminding the world why he's in with a shout to win the Ballon d'Or. Elsewhere, Aston Villa topped the Champions League table after winning their third game in the competition - a convincing 2-0 win against Bologna. Our pundits look back at these matches, and look ahead to Match Week 9 of the English Premier League! Can Arsenal, hampered with injuries and suspension, put a dent on Liverpool's quiet but relentless title challenge under Arne Slot? We preview that match, as well as Leicester City vs Nottingham Forest, Chelsea against Newcastle and more, on another exciting episode of Just For Kicks!

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In what was Arne Slot's toughest challenge of the season so far, Curtis Jones delivered a standout performance that saw Liverpool shine. Starting for only the second time this season, the English midfielder not only netted the winning goal but also earned the penalty that Mohamed Salah converted to open the scoring. The Reds will now face Arsenal, Brighton, and Aston Villa before the next international break—a crucial stretch that will serve as a litmus test for their title ambitions. Meanwhile, Arsenal suffered the weekend's biggest blow in the Premier League title race, falling to a surprising 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth. Manchester City, on the other hand, narrowly escaped with a win, thanks to John Stones' controversial 95th-minute goal that secured a 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Wolves. All that and more reviewed on this episode of Just For Kicks.

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Former Chelsea, PSG and Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new England manager, taking over from Gareth Southgate. We dissect the reaction to the appointment, as well as analyse whether he is the right man to finally take England over the line. Then, we welcome back the return of the Premier League, with Match Week 8 serving up another humdinger - Slot's Liverpool will host Maresca's Chelsea at Anfield. Will the Reds continue their imperious form after the international break, or will the Blues, led by Cole Palmer, spring a surprise? Our pundits share their thoughts on this big match, as well as other equally interesting matches, only on this special episode of Just For Kicks! 

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