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For the seventh season of Indian Super League (ISL), Mumbai City have opted to make full use of their foreign quota of seven players.

After the takeover of the club by the City Football Group (CFG), the Islanders were on a roll in the transfer market this summer. Some of their moves include bringing in former FC Goa head coach Sergio Lobera, players like Ahmed Jahouh, Hugo Boumous, Bartholomew Ogbeche and Adam Le Fondre. 

A simple look at Mumbai's squad list gives you the impression that they are set to go all-out for the ISL title in their first year with Lobera at the helm. The recruitment drive has been impressive but it does leave a few gaps at the back. 

While clubs such as Jamshedpur and Kerala Blasters have opted to sign two foreign centre-backs, the Islanders have only brought in Mourtada Fall and are reliant on Indian defenders to step up this season. Compared to their immense firepower upfront and in midfield, the defence could be their weak point in the upcoming season. 

It must be noted that there is defensive midfielder Hernan Santana in Mumbai's squad who can slot in as a centre-back at times. He has played as a centre-back in the pre-season friendlies for Mumbai and provides an extra foreign defensive option for Lobera who knows him very well from his Las Palmas days. 

Mumbai City's defensive form will also be keenly observed by the other teams given how Lobera's Gaurs were infamous for conceding goals and throwing away clean sheets. The Spanish head coach has been adamant about his focus on outscoring opponents instead of restricting their attacks in the past and based on how the squad has shaped up, that philosophy is set to continue. 

In Lobera's 60 games in charge of Goa, the team scored 128 goals and conceded 79 (more than a goal per game). In his first season with Goa, the team kept only two clean sheets (lowest tally in the league) and let in 28 goals in 20 matches (only two teams had worse defensive records). 

But notably, Goa improved defensively in the next two years as Lobera brought in Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena together to strengthen the defence and the team, as a whole, grew accustomed to the coach's style of play. 

It is only sensible to expect a similar trajectory for defensive displays at his new team as well. Mumbai City have the firepower to outscore every team in the ISL this season and they probably will, barring the odd game here and there. However, there will be pressure on the Indian defenders to put on a good show. 

Former Gaurs skipper Mandar Rao Dessai will have a prominent role to play at left-back. On the other flank, they have the option of deploying Sarthak Golui and former Kerala Blasters right-back Mohammed Rakip. They also have Valpuia, Tondonba Singh, Mehtab Singh and Amey Ranawade to pair with Fall and it will be interesting to see who is picked out of the available Indian options.

Sarthak Golui also can play as a centre-back but it is very clear that their Indian options in defence do not inspire much confidence apart from Mandar who is known more for his attacking traits. 

As it stands, Fall will take up one of the centre-back slots in the first team and how the rest of the defensive line shapes up could also determine how far a new-look Mumbai City will go this season. 

When the news of City Football Group's takeover of Indian Super League (ISL) club Mumbai City FC broke last season, somehow most football aficianados in the country knew that they might appoint a high-profile head coach to take up the project. 

It is not that Jorge Costa's stint was a disaster - there were positives to take away - but things didn't really click for the Portuguese who had previously played under Jose Mourinho at Porto. The last time that the Islanders saw the ISL playoffs was in 2018-19 season but a defeat to FC Goa in the semis halted their progress. CFG are in it for the long term and they needed someone to revamp the whole squad and play a more attacking brand of football. 

Enter former Las Palmas manager Sergio Lobera who spent three seasons with the Gaurs and created an identity of his own in Indian football. Lobera's team was hell-bent on outscoring their opponents instead of being conservative regardless of in-game scenarios. Possession-based football was quickly the name of the game and Lobera led the revolution from the dugout.

What helped Lobera at Goa was the fact that he managed to get exactly the players he needed for his system to work. FC Goa were a more complete team by his second year in charge of the team. And he had brought in more than one former player. 

The man who introduced Ferran Corominas to India (who has left ISL as the league's all-time topscorer) has now two lethal finishers in his squad.

Bartholomew Ogbeche has been in the race for the Golden Boot for two seasons in a row and had become Kerala Blasters' all-time topscorer despite having spent only one season with the yellows in Kochi. Partnering him upfront will be Adam Le Fondre who has been on fire in front of goal recently in A-League and is arguably the most exciting foreign signing of the season.

To assist these strikers and create goals on his own, Lobera will make use of the services of the best player in the league last season - Hugo Boumous. The French midfielder has 16 goals and 17 assists in 42 appearances - an incredible return in Indian football. 

Further behind in midfield, Lobera has Ahmed Jahouh who will be vital to dominating opponents in midfield and retaining possession for long periods of the game. He will have help from India international Rowllin Borges and the talented Raynier Fernandes. 

In defence, there is the tall figure of Mourtada Fall who was vital in stemming the concesion of goals with the Gaurs. It will be interesting to see how the defence lines up because this Mumbai City team is top-heavy. 

The trusted gloves of Amrinder Singh in between the stick completes what looks like a squad that is one of the favourites to win the title this year. It certainly won't be one-way traffic, as other teams have also strengthened their squads. But Lobera has all the ingredients to make it work in Mumbai (in Goa). And when Sergio Lobera gets all his ingredients, he knows the recipe to delectable football. 

Selangor midfielder Sarkunan Krishnansamy has revealed to Goal that he will be leaving the club on loan for the coming season.

The 24-year old player had made 14 league appearances and 13 starts for the Red Giants last season, but received only five appearances and one start this season, which according to him happened due to an injury.

"I was told by the technical director (Michael Feichtenbeiner) and secretary-general (Johan Kamal Hamidon) that I will be offered on loan in order to get me more playing minutes.

"It has been tough for me here with the arrival of a Malaysia midfielder (Brendan Gan) and a Singapore midfielder (Safuwan Baharudin) this season, so it's better for me to get to play at another team.

"Apart from the shortened season (due to the pandemic), I was sidelined for four matches at the very start of the season because of an injury. When I recovered, I had an uphill battle in trying to fight for a place against two national level midfielders (Brendan and Safuwan). 

"I don't mind playing at any team, but it has to be a Super League club because not only I want to get more minutes, I also aim to improve," said the Selangor product in a telephone call on Wednesday.

Pritam Kotal was one of the standout performers for ATK in their title-winning campaign under coach Antonio Habas in 2019-20 season. He was an indispensable member who hardly put a step wrong in defence and clocked every minute of the season. 

In the pre-season, the Spanish manager tweaked his position a bit and from a traditional right-back, he was asked to slot in a right-centre-back position in a three-man backline. He had no qualms in settling down to his new role and his performances on the pitch did not reflect that he was playing in a rather unusual position. 

After overcoming that challenge with flying colours, this season has thrown up a new adversary in the form of Coronavirus pandemic. Kotal agrees that a curtailed pre-season has dented the team's preparations and staying inside a bio-bubble has been complicated. 

"This season will definitely be a bit more difficult and different from other seasons. We have been at home for the past six-to-eight months. Moreover, we have got less time to prepare. Yet, I think this season will test us mentally more than physically. We have to be mentally stronger. We are strictly adhering to the guidelines. We have not played any friendly this season. Practising inside the bubble is a difficult task. But we are adapting to it," stated the defender to Goal. 

Staying in a bubble might be a challenge but Kotal has good company in the team as his national team compatriot Sandesh Jhingan has joined the squad. His friendship with Jhingan goes back a long way as the duo first shared the dressing room during their U19 days in national colours. 

"We have a pretty good understanding with each other. We play for the national team as well. We communicate very well which is very important while playing in defence. We learn a lot from each other. His joining will definitely add more value to our team."

The Uttarpara-born defender has won the coveted Indian Super League (ISL) title twice and now wants to take a step further and focus on Asia. This is in line with the vision of principal owner Sanjeev Goenka who did not mince words while expressing his desire to do well in the continent. 

The owner has flexed his financial muscles once again to only hold on to the core players of the previous campaign but has spent wisely on Indian stars like Jhingan, Manvir Singh and Subhasish Bose to reinforce the domestic contingent, given that seven Indian players will have to take the pitch in any AFC competition. 

"I want to win the league stage and qualify for the AFC Champions League. It will be a different experience to play in ACL. Our primary target is to do well in Asia. But we will be going match-by-match and not think about the ultimate goal. The next match is against Kerala Blasters and we need to win it," said Kotal with determination. 

One must note that no team has successfully defended the ISL title. And Kotal's ambition is to win as many trophies as possible in his career so that when he hangs up his boots, he can boast of a cabinet full of silverware. 

"We always want to win. Even in practice matches during training, we compete to win. We want to inculcate a winning habit. As players, you have to win trophies. After playing for 10-15 years, I want to have a cabinet with lots of trophies. If you don't win as a team then everything goes to waste. So this is no pressure. I think we have the team to win everything. The trophy itself is a motivation and not pressure."

Bagan definitely have the ingredients to lift the trophy at the end of the season. For that Kotal must ensure that he puts his best foot forward and continues his rich vein of form from last season. 

If it wasn't for the Coronavirus pandemic, Nishu Kumar would be getting ready to make his debut in front of a wave of yellow Kerala Blasters supporters, regardless of whether the team's match is being played at home or away.

But things out of anyone's control have denied him that experience. He will now most likely make his Blasters debut against ATK Mohun Bagan in the Indian Super League 2020-21 season opener on Friday behind closed doors in Goa. The whole process of getting ready to play football during the pandemic has been a weird one for players. 

"It (this pre-season) is definitely different and difficult because we can't go out, we have to stay at the hotel. At the same time, it is for our safety and we have to follow this," Nishu told Goal ahead of the season's first game on November 20. 

"We played friendlies but this year, we don't play a lot of (pre-season) games - that is the negative part. It is difficult but we have to follow the instructions."

The biggest problem with not adding a proper pre-season into the football calendar is how challenging it will be to maintain the players' fitness and get them to full match fitness before the first game. Fans only have to look at how things turned out last season after Eelco Schattorie's team had their pre-season tour to UAE cancelled. 

The former Bengaluru full-back feels players will take time to fully get into a rhythm but is glad that coaches have the option of making five substitutions per game. 

"I think the players may take a few games to settle in. We have a good fitness trainer and the coach (Kibu Vicuna) is very caring about our fitness. He is not putting a lot of pressure on us. Having five substitutions will help this season because now the coach has more options so that is a plus point. We are ready for the season." 

Nishu's signature cost Blasters a significant sum but the talented youngster is confident that pressure to perform will not affect him when he takes to the field. 

"We have a good squad. Experienced foreigners and young players. We have a good mixture and the coach Kibu was with Mohun Bagan who dominated the I-League - I am feeling very positive about this season. I am working hard to be in better shape. 

"I don't feel that much pressure. I feel that I have to do my best in training whichever club I play for. I am young and have to improve. The pressure is more like motivation to perform. I hope I can give my best this season also. We have good support so I have to give my best," Nishu said. 

Fans will be wondering about the position he will play under Vicuna. He usually plays left-back but can play on the other flank too. At left-back, Blasters already have Jessel Carneiro who registered an impressive debut season in ISL last year. Mohammed Rakip, who played right-back last season, left the club and signed for Mumbai City.

"I can play both sides. The coach knows that and he has tried me in both positions. I am comfortable with whatever position he wants me in," the 23-year-old revealed. 

He added, "Jessel is senior to me, I am learning from him. He is a very good guy and a good competitor. In training sessions, we are fighting for the spot in the first team. It is a healthy competition and will be good for the team."

With the opening game of the seventh season of Indian Super League (ISL) set to kick off on Friday, Nishu Kumar has identified the most difficult opponents that his new club Kerala Blasters will come across. 

The young full-back, who joined the Yellow Army for a record deal in the summer, believes Friday's opponents ATK Mohun Bagan and City Football Group-owned Mumbai City coached by Sergio Lobera are going to be the most difficult teams to face this season in the ISL. 

"ATK (Mohun Bagan) are a very good team. They are the defending champions (sic) . We are preparing well for the opening game, it will be a very good game, we are ready for that. Mumbai City and ATK (Mohun Bagan), I feel are the toughest teams."

Nishu is also looking forward to taking on his former club Bengaluru on December 13. The 23-year-old spent fives seasons with the Blues and played for the first team in both the ISL and the AFC Cup. 

"I grew as a player at BFC. I played so many games and got chances to improve. I will face (Sunil) Chhetri bhai, Udanta (Singh) or Ashique (Kuruniyan) when I play so I am really excited. Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru is a big rivalry in India so I am waiting for that game," he said. 

The fullback is understandably disappointed that he will have to play in these big games without fans inside the stadium - a side-effect of the pandemic.

"I like to play in front of the fans and Blasters fans are big in numbers. I would like to play in front of them but this year, we can't play. We all are missing them. I know they will support from home. I hope next year I will play in front of them." 

Odisha FC have roped in Brazilian striker Diego Mauricio to partner Manuel Onwu upfront in the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. 

The 29-year-old is a typical centre forward who will be the target-man playing on the shoulders of the opposition centre-backs. 

Let's take a closer look at a player who has rubbed shoulders with some famous Brazilians like Neymar and Firmino. 

Jersey Number: 11

Youth Career and Debut

Mauricio was born in Rio de Janeiro. He joined the Flamengo youth set up in 2008. He honed his skills under Rogério Lourenço at the academy. He spent three years in the developmental squad and in 2010 he was promoted to the senior team. 

His shooting and clinical finishing caught the eyes of many and he made his senior professional debut against Gremio Prudente. He came on a substitute and joined Bruno Mezenga upfront. He earned a penalty for his side after he was knocked down in the box. Flamengo went on to win the match 3-1. 

For his stout physique, accurate finishing and fiery pace, he was fondly called Drogbinha or the little Drogba. 

He scored his first professional goal within 10 minutes of the match against Avai at the Maracana stadium in a 1-1 draw. 

In the latter half of the campaign, he fell down the pecking order, yet he was not allowed to leave when an offer came in from Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainians were ready to offer 5 million Euros but the club president wanted a million more and eventually, the deal fell through. 

A Globetrotter

The footballer has vast experience as he played in three different continents and in established competitions such as the Chinese Super League and the Korean League.

In 2012, Mauricio was signed by  Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, but the striker could not find his feet in his new surroundings and soon returned on loan to his native country to play for SC Recife. 

He signed for Portuguese side Vitoria SC in 2014 but after making four appearances he returned to Brazil to join RB Bragantino. He made 13 appearances and scored twice for the South American side. 

Thereafter in 2016, he was once again loaned out to Chinese Super League side  Shijiazhuang Ever Bright where he scored four goals in 24 appearances. In the following season, he joined Gangwon FC in South Korea. 

Last Stint

In the previous season, he was plying his trade in Brazil for CS Alagoano. He made 10 appearances for the club in various competitions but could not find the net. 

International Career

Mauricio was part of the U20 Brazil squad that won the 2011 South American Championship. He shared the dressing room with Neymar, Casemiro, Roberto Firmino, Lucas Moura and Danilo. He scored two goals in the tournament against Chile and Colombia respectively. 

Last season's finalists Chennaiyin FC have made quite a few striking changes to their foreign player contingent ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. 

Fulfilling the mandatory Asian player quota for the Marina Machans will be winger Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev who will become the first player from Tajikistan to feature in the ISL. 

The winger, comfortable operating on either flank, comes to India after plying his trade in the top-tiers of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Indonesia. The 30-year-old also boasts of extensive international experience with his national team. 

Jersey Number: 19

Debut and FC Istiklol move

Fatkhuloev made his senior debut for Tajikistan outfit Dynamo Dushanbe in the 2007-08 season before moving to giants FC Istiklol. Between 2007 and 2018, Fatkhuloev established himself as an Istiklol legend, winning a plethora of silverware with the club. 

The winger won six league titles and five Tajik Cups in addition to another five Tajik Super Cups during his first stint. He was also instrumental in the club's title triumph in the 2012 AFC President's Cup where he contributed a goal. 

Fatkhuloev was also part of the Istiklol side that finished runners-up in the AFC Cup twice, in 2015 and 2017. In fact, in 2017, Fatkhuloev featured as Istiklol defeated Bengaluru FC in the two-legged Inter-zonal final. 

He moved to Indonesian outfit Persela Lamongan in December 2017 after nine years with Istiklol. He made a bright start at his new club, contributing several assists in Persela's campaign in the President's Cup in January 2018. 

But very soon, he became redundant as far as the club's requirements were concerned. The club were in need of a central midfielder and had to let Fatkhuloev go, with the player and the club agreeing to a mutual termination. 

He rejoined his beloved Istiklol and impressed in the 2018 season, scoring seven goals as he helped the club land another league and cup double. In 2019, he moved to Uzbekistan's FC Buxoro where he made 11 appearances. 

He came back to his country in February 2020, signing for FC Khujand. He would end up leaving Khujand to join Chennaiyin FC.

International football

Fatkhuloev is a legend as far as Tajikistan's national team is concerned. He is their all-time highest capped international with 68 appearances and has scored seven goals as well. 

His national team debut came in 2007 when he played against Bangladesh in a World Cup qualifier. His first goal for his country came, interestingly, against India in the final of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup. Tajikistan were trailing 3-0 when Fatkhuloev scored a consolation. The match would end 4-1 in India's favour. 

He scored against India again in 2013 in a friendly which finished 3-0 in Tajikistan's favour. He is still a major part of the Tajik national team and is involved in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, last playing in Tajikistan's 4-3 loss to Myanmar in 2019 November. 

Last stint

He had joined FC Khujand in February 2020. He had a really productive season in the Tajik top-tier. He was everpresent for the club, scoring five goals and contributing five assists. Khujand finished second on the table, behind FC Istiklol. 

Chennaiyin FC's foreign contingent has an intriguing look about it. After reaching the final in the last Indian Super League (ISL) season, they have retained only two of their foreign players from that squad. 

One of those players is centre-back Eli Sabia. While the big burly Brazilian forged a partnership with Lucian Goian last season, he will be paired with Enes Sipovic this time around. 

Standing tall at 6'6", Sipovic is an imposing presence at the back and is very strong aerially. Given the fact that Sabia is also 6'2" tall, Chennaiyin's defence will have the aerial advantage over the opposition forwards. 

Jersey Number: 5

Professional debut in Romania

Sipovic might be the first Bosnian to play in the ISL but he made his senior debut for Romanian giants Otelul Galati. After progressing through the youth ranks at Bosnian club Zeljeznicar, he moved to Otelul Galati in 2009 in search of first-team football. 

He made his professional debut in April 2010 in a league game against Gloria Bistrita, playing the entire 90 minutes. However, that would be the only appearance he would make in that season and the next season. As a result, he was sent out on loans to Romanian second-tier outfits Petrolul and Farul Constanta in the 2011-12 season. 

He came back to Otelul at the start of the 2012-13 season and played a bit-part role for two-and-a-half seasons before leaving the club on a free transfer in January 2015 - a season where Otelul were relegated to the second tier. 

He joined Belgian outfit Waterlo but spent just six months there before leaving on another free transfer to Moroccan outfit Tanger. He made around 60 appearances for Tanger in two seasons before moving to another Moroccan outfit in Berkane ahead of the 2017-18 season. 

He did not stick around for long at Berkane, leaving for Saudi Arabian outfit Ohod after a season. Sipovic ended up moving back to his childhood club Zeljeznicar in January 2019. But that reunion lasted only a year and he joined Qatar's Umm Salal SC in February 2020. 

Sipovic spent another six months in Qatar before joining Chennaiyin. 

International football

Sipovic has never represented his country at the senior level but has played for Bosnia and Herzegovina's U21 team during his formative years. 

He did represent the U21 side in the UEFA U21 Championship qualifiers. In one memorable match, he featured as Bosnia U21 played out a 4-4 draw against Germany U21 side which featured the likes of current Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno. 

Last stint

His last stint was in Qatar with Umm Salal SC where he made 11 appearances in the Qatar Stars League (QSL), all of them starts. 

Roberto Mancini praised the young talents emerging through Italy's ranks and acknowledged he faces "a big problem" whittling down his Euro 2020 squad to 23 players.

Head coach Mancini has missed all three of Italy's matches this month after testing positive for coronavirus and being made to self-isolate.

Assistant boss Alberigo Evani has guided the Azzurri to three wins from three without conceding, with Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina seeing his side book a place in the Nations League finals.

Before that four-team shootout next October, likely to be staged in Italy, Mancini's men will first take part in the rescheduled Euro 2020 finals next June.

Italy have seen a large number of players withdraw from their squad for this month's fixtures, including the likes of Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Marco Verratti, but Mancini is delighted with the way others have stepped up.

"Choosing 23 players for the European Championship is going to be a big problem," Mancini told Rai Sport via webcam.

"It was already going to be difficult before but in the last four months players are coming through and are proving to be excellent. It is always better to have these problems."

Alessandro Bastoni is one of those to have profited from the large number of coronavirus and injury-related drop-outs, the Inter defender having been drafted into the squad to provide some cover.

The 21-year-old impressed on his debut against Estonia and retained his place in the side for the wins over Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He had more touches than any other player on the field against Bosnia (113) while no player attempted (106) or completed more passes (99) than the youngster.

Mancini has been particularly impressed by Bastoni's displays over the past week and has tipped the centre-back to emulate Italian greats Bonucci and Chiellini.

"Bastoni is a young boy who has played three games in 10 days, playing better and better each time," Mancini said.

"He is very young and can improve a lot and become the new Bonucci or the new Chiellini - a great defender. There are many good players, you just have to let them play."

He added: "We have very good young players. It is clear that at the beginning they may have difficulties. We have many young players - they can do well."

Italy are now unbeaten in 22 matches - their best such run since the year they won the World Cup in 2006 - and will be seeded for the World Cup qualifiers.

Asked to reflect on his two and a half years in charge, Mancini said: "We were in 20th place before and now we are up to sixth in the rankings.

"The players have done a great job because it has not always been easy.

"We have tried to become more offensive with our play. You have to have the right mentality to do so and have a style of play that all the great teams have."

England manager Gareth Southgate believes his squad will peak in 'the next three to five years' after the Three Lions' youngsters starred against Iceland.

Records tumbled at Wembley in Wednesday's Nations League encounter, with England winning 4-0.

Declan Rice opened his international account, with Mason Mount doubling England's tally before Phil Foden – who had created the opener – scored his first goals for his country to complete the rout.

The only players aged 30 or older in England's starting XI were Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker, Southgate starting four players – Foden, Mount, Rice and Bukayo Saka – aged 21 or younger; the first time the Three Lions have done so in a competitive match since November 1959.

His faith was repaid, with all of them turning in impressive displays as England dominated from start to finish, controlling 78.3 per cent of the possession, while Jack Grealish was again in superb form from a free role on the left flank.

Grealish, 25, won six fouls, meaning he has drawn 21 in total since his debut for England in September, more than any other player in that time.

Rice, meanwhile, is the first West Ham player to score for England since Matthew Upson against Germany in the 2010 World Cup, while the midfielder is also the second-youngest Hammer – after Joe Cole – to net for the Three Lions.

Two of Mount's three goals this season have come for his country, and with Foden's late double, three players aged 21 or under netted in the same match for England for the first time since February 1883 against Ireland, when William Cobbold, Oliver Whateley and Frank Pawson found the net.

Foden is the youngest player in the history of the England national team to score more than once in a match at Wembley. He also became the youngest player to score and assist in a match for England since Marcus Rashford in September 2017.

With Southgate's 3-4-3 system finally clicking against Iceland, the debate will now turn to whether it is the formation the England manager should use heading into the Euros.

Jadon Sancho came on from the bench, as did Tammy Abraham, while in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin was an unused substitute.

Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford were missing altogether, and with Mount, Grealish and Foden all looking sharp, Southgate has a plethora of attacking options to choose from, without factoring in the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Maddison.

However, it is a headache he is happy to deal with as he predicted when he expects his young squad to reach their peak. 

Southgate told Sky Sports: "I think over the last few days their talent has been outstanding. It was a very difficult game, all the players were hearing messages that this is meaningless and there was nothing to play for but they did play for it, there were big opportunities for young players but also for some older players.

"We're still trying to build and improve all the time. There was lovely football and it was good to watch and it was good for the young ones to get the goals – very special for them.

"The squad that we've had over the last three months is going to peak in the next three to five years and they'll get a lot more club experience and international experience. We'll invest the time in them. There are some very good senior professionals as well.

"We are still working on the balance of players for the system. Our attacking play was very, very good. If it's a headache about having good players in the side then that's a good one to have."

Bengaluru FC begin their Indian Super League (ISL) season with a mouthwatering clash against FC Goa on November 22 at the Fatorda Stadium.

Carles Cuadrat's team will then face Hyderabad in their second match on November 28 at the same venue. 

The Blues will take on rivals Kerala Blasters on December 13.

The full list of Bengaluru's fixtures released so far can be found below: 

Here are Bengaluru's first 10 fixtures. 

Fixtures for only the first 11 rounds, which consists of 55 matches, have been released right now. The schedule for the remaining 55 league matches will be published in December as the league awaits clarity on calendar dates of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) matches.

The entire tournament will be held behind closed doors in Goa, due to the Covid-19 pandemic which means the teams will have to stay in a bio-bubble for the duration of the tournament. 

Bengaluru lost to ATK in the ISL play-offs last season. However, they will be looking to do better when the seventh season starts rolling. 

England playmaker Jack Grealish has admitted he needed to transform himself off the pitch, with the Aston Villa skipper now having cemented his place in Gareth Southgate's plans.

The Three Lions bounced back from the disappointment of defeat to Belgium on Sunday with a rousing 4-0 win over Iceland under the bright lights of an empty Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

Phil Foden bagged a brace on his starting return to the senior fold, while Declan Rice snatched a maiden goal for his country alongside another for Mason Mount as the hosts capped off 2020 in dominant fashion.

Grealish's commanding displays, in victory against Ireland and Iceland, and in defeat against Belgium, have suggested an increased maturity in the Solihull native's game, to which he further agrees, adding that his position in the public eye has instilled a greater responsibility in his game.

"I didn’t think it was on the pitch [where pressure impacted me] but it was more off the pitch that I thought I was Jack from Solihull that could go out and do what you want," Grealish told a post-match press conference.

"As you get older, you learn that you are a hero and role model to younger lads. You need to watch what you are doing. That’s not to say that I won’t make mistakes, I probably still will. I feel like I have grown up over the years.

"Hopefully I can carry on doing that. I am a captain of a Premier League club and I just need to take it in my stride. At the moment, I absolutely love my life."

The story of England's November international break has been Grealish's emergence, with the 25-year-old one of only two players to start all three games, in a major show of confidence from boss Southgate only two months after the winger needed a late injury-forced call-up to earn a spot in the squad.

The ex-Republic of Ireland youth starlet earned major praises from the national team coach ahead of the final match this week and, speaking after England's rout, he acknowledged that his latest stint in the fold has proven a breakthrough experience.

"I have really enjoyed coming here," Grealish said. "I have started three games in a row which is brilliant. That’s what you want to do when you come away. I feel like I performed at a good level here and I have been given the chance.

"Usually, it is only Birmingham really [where I am talked about]. I am not blind to it and I can see it myself. That’s just the world we live in and the industry I am in. If you play good football then people call for you to play, it goes all over social media.

"I just have to stay level headed. I know a lot of eyes will now be on myself both on and off the pitch. I am old enough to control myself. The pressure on the pitch is what I love. All these big games, there’s certain people it can affect but I just thrive off it and I love the pressure."

On the links to former Tottenham star Paul Gascoigne's style and influence, Grealish acknowledged that he considers it an honour to be saddled with such notions, adding: "I thrive off those kinds of comparisons.

"I love Gazza. I watched his documentary on Netflix about one million times. I love his character on and off the pitch. I love his freedom that he played on the pitch. He played with so much joy. You hear people speak about him and say he was just a joy to watch. I think that’s the biggest compliment you can have.

"When people say it is a joy to watch you then that’s a compliment because that’s what I want to do. I want to entertain people. I also want to be effective on the pitch just like Gazza was.

"Those comparisons are far away because I haven’t even played at a tournament like he did. He thrived at the biggest stage, until I do that then I don’t think I can be compared to him at the moment."

Georginio Wijnaldum acknowledged there were points where the Netherlands did not look great in the victory against Poland.

The Netherlands came from behind to win 2-1 in Chorzow, but that was not enough to secure a return to the Nations League finals as Italy's 2-0 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina ensured they finished top of Group A1.

Kamil Jozwiak put Poland in front inside five minutes with an impressive solo goal, but Wijnaldum won a penalty that Memphis Depay converted in the 77th minute and then scored a deflected header to give Oranje a second win in six games under Ronald de Boer.

Poland were a potent threat on the break and match-winner Wijnaldum admitted they made the Netherlands look bad at points, saying the Dutch must improve if they are to do well at Euro 2020.

"I think this was one of our best matches. At the start we weren't sharp and they were able to score early, but otherwise it was good," Wijnaldum told NOS.

"Only in transition can we do better. Sometimes we just don't look good. It's hard to train on it. We don't have much time to practise that sort of thing together between games.

"We have to make these steps as soon as possible if we want to do well at the European Championship. We did what we had to do."

Poland's Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski started the match despite being a doubt due to a muscular injury. He assisted Jozwiak's goal and released Przemyslaw Placheta for a shot that hit the post before going off at half-time.

De Boer was disappointed his players did not heed his warning to focus from the off at Silesian Stadium but he was not too disappointed with the performance.

"I saw more positives than negatives," De Boer said. "I warned the team beforehand that because of all that hassle with Robert Lewandowski over the past few days, I expected Poland would want to show something.

"You have to be sharp from the first second, but it seemed as though we were not. Defensively, it should definitely be better, we are going to work on that. You cannot start like that.

"After 1-0 we picked it up very well and created one chance after another. Then we showed what we can do. We have to work on everything, but I leave with a good feeling.

"It is also a well-deserved victory. They fought for it until the last second and I am proud of that. We have the willpower and have to keep it."

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has professed his hope that Lionel Messi can be persuaded to pen a new deal to keep him at Camp Nou for the foreseeable future.

The Blaugrana skipper could be heading to new pastures at the conclusion of the current campaign following a protracted, public fight over his future leading into the 2020-21 season.

Though the Argentine is committed for the rest of the term following his thwarted attempts to seal an early release, many expect the striker to be straight out of the door once his deal is up, with a potential Pep Guardiola reunion at Manchester City one mooted option.

But Ter Stegen - who recently signed a new long-term deal to keep him at the Catalan outfit through 2025, cementing more than a decade of service in La Liga - remains keen for his captain to turn around and reaffirm himself to the European heavyweights.

"It's always an advantage to have Messi on the team because he can score goals out of nowhere - that's what makes him so special," the 28-year-old stated in an interview with BarcaTV.

"I hope he continues here and can be happy. You have to give him the opportunity to be above things because he's an extremely important part of our game."

Messi's acrimonious relationship with the upper echelons of Barcelona's club structure has spilled over in recent months, on the back of a 2019-20 campaign that saw the Blaugrana fail to win a trophy.

New manager Ronald Koeman is yet to instill confidence, with the team eighth in La Liga as they return to work following the international break, while accusations from associates of other players have pointed to Messi as the root of some major cultural problems within the club, claims to which the 33-year-old has vehemently responded.

Elsewhere, Ter Stegen also offered praise for defensive partner Gerard Pique, who has served as a stalwart centre-back in front of the shot-stopper since his arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach.

"He has a special personality and is very funny," the goalkeeper said of Pique. "He understands my humour, which not many people do. We often talk to each other and always try to be the best for each other to give to others."

England talent Phil Foden was delighted to produce his breakout international performance against Iceland after going through 'one of the hardest moments' in his life when he was dropped from the Three Lions in September.

The 20-year-old scored twice late in the match - his first international goals - while also providing the assist for Declan Rice's opener as England trounced their Nordic opponents 4-0 at Wembley on Wednesday evening.

Foden was making his first England start since he was axed from the Three Lions squad, along with Mason Greenwoood, after the duo broke Covid-19 rules by inviting girls back to their hotel in Reykjavik.

The Manchester City playmaker was delighted to put the past behind him and revealed his determination to make up for his mistake and earn back the trust of his team-mates.

"It was one of the hardest moments of my life," Foden told Sky Sports.

"That’s the time you need the trust of your manager and Gareth had a lot of respect for me and it means everything to me. I just wanted to repay him with goals and do well.

"I was just determined to come back and do the best I can. I was a little bit nervous at the start of this camp but I got used to it after a while."

Despite England already being eliminated from the Nations League, Foden was a man on a mission and his pinpoint free kick was deftly headed home by Declan Rice - his first international goal - for the Three Lions' opener.

Mason Mount doubled England's advantage four minutes later but it was Foden who took centre stage with a brilliant second-half performance.

The Stockport-born talent clinically swept home Jadon Sancho's cut-back in the 80th minute before securing his brace shortly after with a thumping strike into the bottom-right corner.

"It's up there with one of the best games and it means a lot to me," Foden said. "I just couldn’t stop smiling after my goal, it’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m just going to try and enjoy it as much as I can.

"I know Jadon [Sancho] well enough, I played with him in the youth team and when I arrived in the box he gave me a good assist and luckily it went in.

"When you score your confidence is high but it’s something I need to work on - scoring more goals from outside the box."

The second edition of the UEFA Nations League is heading towards the final stages, with the identity of the 2020-21 finalists now known.

Having kicked off in September 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic, games have had an air of strangeness to them, but teams have got on with things despite the associated difficulties.

Some of the biggest names in European football will go head to head for the right to get their hands on the new trophy, which was last won by Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in 2018-19.

So, when will the latest Nations League finals take place and which teams are involved - Goal has all the details.

Contents

When are the Nations League 2020-21 finals?

The Nations League 2020-21 finals will take place in October 2021, nearly a full year after the conclusion of the league stage of the competition.

The semi-final stage of the final tournament will be held on October 6 and October 7 2021.

After that, the third-place play-off between the beaten semi-finalists and final - to decide the Nations League champion - will be played on the same day on October 10 2021.

With the Nations League finals in October 2021 it means that the games occur after the beginning of the World Cup 2022 qualifying (March 2021) and the European Championship (June/July 2021).

Which teams have qualified for the Nations League 2020-21 finals?

The winners of the four League A groups qualify for the Nations League finals.

France were the first team to qualify for the 2020-21 finals after they secured their place at the top of Group A3 ahead of Sweden, Croatia and defending champions Portugal.

Les Bleus were then joined in the finals bracket by Spain after La Roja topped a group containing Germany, Ukraine and Switzerland - clinching their place with a resounding 6-0 win over Germany.

In Group A1, Italy finished in first place while in Group A2, Belgium went through with England having missed their chance.

An open draw will be held on December 3, 2020 to determine which teams face off against each other in the two semi-finals.

Where will the Nations League 2020-21 finals be played?

The Nations League finals are played in a single host country. In principle, Italy, the winners of Group A1 will be the host nation, with the Netherlands and Poland also having expressed an interest.

UEFA will officially confirm the host venues for the Nations League 2020-21 finals on December 3 2020 - the same date of the finals draw.

Below are the potential host stadiums for the finals:

Italy