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James Donachie has joined FC Goa on-loan from A-League outfit Newcastle Jets for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) and AFC Champions League.

The Australian, standing at 6 feet and 5 inches, is adept at countering the aerial threat in the backline and will be an asset during offensive set-pieces. Donachie also holds a vast array of experience of playing in the AFC Champions League over multiple seasons with different clubs as well.

He is a three-time A-League champion with two of his triumphs coming in the colours of Brisbane Roar in the 2011/12 and 2013/14 seasons before winning the title again as a part of Melbourne Victory in the 2017/18 campaign. 

Goal takes a look at the 27-year-old's illustrious career so far.
 

Jersey Number: 8

Youth Career and Professional Debut

Donachie is a product of the Brisbane Roar’s youth programme. He played junior football in Queensland and was awarded Australia’s Youth League Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The central defender started off his semi-professional career with Rochedale Rovers while holding a youth contract with Brisbane Roar before joining the latter's senior side in 2012. In the very first season with Roar, he tasted silverware as his side overcame Central Coast Mariners in dramatic fashion to clinch the title.

Senior Career

The Queensland native made his first big move in 2016 when he signed for Melbourne Victory. After a few injury struggles, in the 2017-18 season, he became a crucial part of the club's defensive line to eventually play 15 league matches that year. He also started Victory's 1-0 grand final win over Newcastle Jets.

He was with Victory till the end of last season except for a short six-month spell with the erstwhile K-League side Jeonnam Dragons in 2018 where Donachie replaced fellow Australian defender Tomislav Mrcela. With the Korean side relegated to the K-League 2, even though Jeonnam were keen to retain his services, Donachie moved back to Melbourne on loan later in January 2019.

It is also a known fact that, at the age of 25, Donachie had his eyes on a move to Europe but eventually made his Victory move permanent.

Before returning to AAMI Park for a second spell, Donachie had amassed 47 appearances in all competitions over two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18) and later became a key figure in the Victory defence to be awarded the club’s Players’ Player of the Season award for his performances in 2019-20. He had signed on a three-year deal with Newcastle Jets earlier this year before joining Goa on loan. 

AFC Champions League & International Career

The Australian was named in the Young Socceroos squad for the AFC U-22 Qualifiers two years after he signed a youth contract with Brisbane Roar in 2010. He has represented his country's U-20 and U-23 national teams U-20 World Cup and AFC U-23 Asian Cup competitions respectively.

With FC Goa becoming the first Indian club to make it to the group stage of the AFC Champions League on account of winning the 2019-20 ISL League Winners' Shield, Donachie will play a fourth consecutive in the AFC Champions League. He has played in the Asian competition over five different editions including the last three seasons - all with Melbourne Victory - other than two seasons with Brisbane Roar previously. 

Last Stint

In the 2019-20 A-League, he made 25 appearances for Victory. 

France head coach Didier Deschamps saw "some interesting things" from Marcus Thuram on his international debut against Finland.

Les Bleus' 12-match unbeaten run was ended with a shock 2-0 loss to Finland at Stade de France on Wednesday.

Thuram, the son of World Cup winner Lilian, hit the crossbar with a header and volleyed over as he made his international debut.

Deschamps liked some of what he saw from Borussia Monchengladbach forward Thuram.

"Because it is his first cap with France, I will look at some mitigating factors," he told a news conference.

"He has done some good things, especially during the first half. He could have scored with a bit more luck when his header hit the crossbar.

"He has tried, he has created some space. It was a bit more difficult for him during the second half. There were less gaps and maybe he was a bit tired too, his last game was on Sunday. He has shown us some interesting things for his first cap."

Marcus Forss and Onni Valakari scored debut goals for Finland in a shock win. France attempted 24 shots against Finland, their highest tally in a game without scoring a single goal since drawing with Luxembourg in September 2017.

Deschamps said France needed to learn from their loss ahead of facing Portugal in a crucial Nations League clash on Saturday.

"I want to congratulate this Finland team. Regarding our aggressiveness, intensity and togetherness it is a hard lesson to remember for us," he said.

"Sometimes, it is nice to take a hard game like this in case we forget some of the basics. Those are the facts, this is the reality of high-level football and hopefully it is like that."

Deschamps is hopeful of having injured duo Benjamin Pavard and Kylian Mbappe back for his side's next clash, adding: "We are sure of nothing, but things are going in the right direction. It is progressing every day. Will this be enough? It's Wednesday, there are still three days until the match." 

Igor Angulo is expected to fill the boots of former FC Goa striker Ferran Corominas in the 2020-21 Indian Super League's (ISL).

Corominas who is the all-time top scorer in the six-year history of the league, with 48 goals in 57 games, played a crucial role in FC Goa's three consecutive play-off appearances. He also helped the club win the Super Cup and the ISL League Winner's Shield in 2019-20. 

Angulo has also racked up 88 goals in 154 games during his time in Poland and will play a crucial role in FC Goa's fortunes this season. 

Goal takes a look at the career span of the Spaniard who earned the status of legend in just four years with his last club, Gornik Zabrze.

Jersey Number: 17

Youth Career and Professional Debut

Born in Bilbao, he enrolled himself with Danok Bat CF before joining Athletic Bilbao's youth setup at the age of 12. Six years later in 2002 went on to make his senior team debut with Basconia in the Spanish Tercera Division.

Having joined Athletic Bilbao the following year, Angulo had his first taste of playing in the La Liga coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 away defeast against Celta Vigo. His first overseas move was to French side AS Cannes, on-loan from his parent club.

Senior Career

Playing for a few more Spanish clubs such as Ejica Balompie, CD Numancia and Real Union in the Segunda Division B and Segunda Division, Angulo's next foreign expedition took him to Cypriot First Division side Enosis Neon. He also played for several clubs at Greece and Poland - where he gained his recent stardom.

Not that he didn't make a name for himself in Spain as he was the top scorer for Ejica in his second year at the club with nine goals 19 games that included a hat-trick against Jerez Industrial. Before moving abroad, Angulo's best numbers were with Real Union - 13 goals from 32 appearances and he was the team's top scorer in 2012-13.

In Greece, he represented Apollon Smyrnis and Platanias before moving at Poland where he helped Gornik Zabrze gain promotion to the Ekstraklasa - the Polish top division. He helped the club finish as I Liga runners-up in his first season and was the club's top scorer (17). Angulo then became the league's second highest goalscorer with 23 goals besides helping the team qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League and subsequently went on to win the Golden Boot with 24 goals from 37 games.

UEFA Europa League & International Career

Angulo represented Spain's junior national teams at the U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels where he has shared the dressing room with former FC Goa players Carlos Pena and Ferran Corominas.

Having helped Gornik Zabrze qualify for the UEFA Europa League after a gap of 23 years and now to turn up for ISL side FC Goa in the AFC Champions League, the 36-year-old scored in the Polish club's first tie that ended in a 1-0 win over Zaria Balti in the European competition.

Last Stint

He made 36 appearances for Zabrze in the 2019-20 season, 33 of them starts, and scored 16 goals. 

Alberto Noguera is all set to vie for a position in the centre of the park for FC Goa in the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).

In the midfield, the Gaurs have managed to retain Edu Bedia from last season but have lost regular starter Ahmed Jahouh and Hugo Boumous. 
 

Jersey Number: 5

Youth Career and Professional Debut

Born in Madrid, the Getafe youth product started his senior football career with Rayo Vallecano B, Rayo Majadahonda and SS Reyes before joining Atletico Madrid's C team in 2009.

Noguera plied his trade in the Tercera Division but soon got himself promoted to the Atletico B team in Segunda Division B, thanks to his impressive performances that caught the attention of then first-team manager Quique Sanchez who handed the midfielder his La Liga debut towards the end of 2010-11 season. He came off the bench in the 85th minute after his side had already done the damage in a 4-1 win over Levante.

Senior Career

Although Noguera turned up for Atletico B team in the 2011-12 season, he received the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League winner's medal for having been part of the Atletico first team roster. 

Moving abroad at the age of 23, he tried it out with English side Blackpool in the Championship where he made only one appearance off the bench besides remaining an unused substitute for three other matches. Terminating his two-year contract with Blackpool by mutual consent, he then spent a season with FC Baku in the Azerbaijan Premier League before returning to Spain to join Trival Valderas in 2014 and Fuenlabrada a year later, both in the third tier.

Last Stint

Noguera, now 31, then helped Lorca gain promotion to Segunda Division in 2017 with a runners-up finish before joining CD Numancia. He went on loan to Racing Santander in the 2018-19 season where he finished runner-up in the Segunda B before returning to Numancia.

In the 2019-20 season, he made 23 appearances for Numancia in the Segunda B, 12 of them starts.

FC Goa have roped in Jorge Ortiz on a two-year deal after last year's star performer Hugo Boumous left for Indian Super League (ISL) rivals Mumbai City FC. 

Having played only in Spain so far, the 28-year-old will get a taste of the AFC Champions League with the Gaurs. He is a player who is known for his speed, overlapping runs and diagonal deliveries. He also has a good long-distance shot on him.
 

Jersey Number: 9

Youth Career and Professional Debut

Ortiz trained in the youth teams of Getafe CF where he played in the Division of Honor in the 2010-2011 season. He started his senior playing career with CD Madridejos in Tercera Division and soon became an important member of the squad, He established a spot in the first team, playing 20 games and scoring five goals in the first half of the season.

Senior Career

After his impressive stint with Madridejos, Ortiz joined Albacete Balompie in 2012 where he had to pave his way from the reserves' side in the fourth level where he scored four goals from 14 games. Struggling for minutes, however, he looked towards CP Villarrobledo where he was brought in as a winter signing. Alongside Kike Espinosa, he was a hit at the club and the duo was heavily involved in the attack. 

At the age of 21, he was announced by Inter de Madrid where he gathered 38 appearances and scored a couple of goals before going on to help Alcorcon's B side. Soon enough, he was promoted to their first team which was playing for the Segunda division. However, he made only three appearances for the first team. 

A stint with Fuenlabrada where he scored seven goals in 36 matches including strikes against Real Madrid and Getafe's B teams in the Segunda B, was followed by a Real Oviedo stint. 

In January 2018, after the completion of FIFA's sanction on Atletico Madrid from registering players for two transfer windows, Los Rojiblancos announced the signing of Jorge Ortiz for their second team and the Spaniard scored in his first start. He continued scoring goals at Cultural Leonesa and Atletico Baleares in the Segunda B.

Last Stint

Before signing a two-year contract with FC Goa, Ortiz was part of Atletico Baleares's team that played the Segunda Division B play-offs in July 2020 where he recorded eight goals in 20 games that made him the second top scorer of Group 1.

Donny van de Beek said his time is "definitely coming" at Manchester United as the Netherlands goalscorer preached patience amid his lack of minutes.

Van de Beek has yet to start a Premier League game for United since joining from Eredivisie giants Ajax at the start of the season in a deal that could rise to £39 million (€44m/$51m).

The 23-year-old has only seen 75 minutes of Premier League action, scoring once, while he has started twice in the Champions League and twice in the Carabao Cup this term.

Asked about his situation in Manchester after scoring in the Netherlands' 1-1 friendly draw with Spain on Wednesday, Van de Beek stressed that he was happy and that he's already shown his potential to have a positive impact on the side. 

"It sounds cliche for me to say this, because of course I would have liked to play more, but I really enjoy being in a nice team. I am simply received very well and helped by everyone," Van de Beek told NOS.

"I'm a patient person, but of course you go there to play as much as possible. I also think – in the minutes that I have made, in the times that I have come in – I have shown that I can add something to the team."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's midfield options include stars Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay.

United manager Solskjaer has preferred a midfield duo of Fred and McTominay just behind Fernandes in games against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United, with Pogba and Van de Beek on the bench in last week's win over Everton.

In his limited Premier League minutes, Van de Beek has a passing accuracy of 83.33 per cent – better than Pogba and Fernandes.

In the Champions League through three matchdays, Van de Beek boasts a passing accuracy of 92%, better than Matic (89.4), Pogba (85.5), Fred (84.1), McTominay (83) and Fernandes (73.3).

Van de Beek added: "What does he [Solskjaer] say to me? That I have to be patient, but also that I just have to continue with what I am doing. 

"And that he's seen that I have a good impact when I come into the field. My time is definitely coming. And when those opportunities come, I have to be there."

England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted he does have concerns about the prospect of suffering from dementia later in life as a result of football. 

Southgate, a former centre-back who played for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough across an 18-year career, had a tendency to head the ball - a practice directly linked to health concerns. 

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton was diagnosed with dementia earlier this month, with his former team-mate Nobby Stiles passing away from the same illness just days prior. 

A 2019 study funded by the Football Association found that former players are three-and-a-half times more likely to die from dementia than non-players in the same age range - research that has Southgate worried considering his own playing career. 

“Of course at my age, having headed a lot of footballs, I do have concerns," Southgate said on Wednesday. 

“But I also recognised that whenever I took the field I was taking that risk of injury, short or long term and I knew that, and I would always have wanted to have the career and the opportunity to play, even if it meant longer-term that there might be physical issues for myself or health issues.

“Most athletes would go that way, I think. That’s not to undermine the situation by the way.

“In terms of the link, there is research going on. That’s a little bit inconclusive at the moment, which is a bit frustrating for everybody because we’d love to have a clear solution.

“And so of course it’s a concern for everybody and we have to keep supporting that research. Part of the issue with dementia is age and one of the positives of being involved in sport is that people tend to live longer, they’re healthier, they live longer.

“And so there’s a possibility that that could be part of the link with the dementia as well.

“Unfortunately we don’t have all the answers we’d like at the moment. I know some of that work is going on in the background.

“But yes, do I have concerns? Of course I do. I’ve had people in my own family who’ve suffered with dementia and it’s a terrible, terrible illness.”

Peter Crouch has revealed he "never wanted to punch anyone more" than Marcelo after the Real Madrid full-back ensured his sending off in a 2011 Champions League clash.  

Playing for Tottenham at the time, the England striker was sent off just 15 minutes into the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Crouch picked up two yellow cards in quick succession on the night with his second coming after a questionable challenge on Marcelo. 

Spurs would end up losing the match 4-0 and the return leg 1-0 as the club's European run effectively came to end after Crouch's dismissal - something he still struggles to accept all these years later. 

“The dressing room is underneath the stadium and there are tiers upon tiers of fans and you can hear them. I’m sat in the dressing room with a towel over my head, hearing goal after goal after goal going in and I’m thinking: ‘that’s down to me’. That was a low point and a big regret," Crouch said on Paddy Power’s From the Horses Mouth podcast. 

“I do have a little excuse when it comes to the cards though. The first one was me being excitable, so I can give the referee that. It was a tackle on Sergio Ramos.

“For the second one, I went to block a ball down the line from Marcelo and I did dive in a bit, but I didn’t touch him.

“He’s jumped up in the air and rolled around, and there is a camera angle where you can see he looks at the referee and he celebrates as the red card comes out then he jumps back up.

“I’ve never wanted to punch anyone more in my life! For them, that was seen as a win. They’ve won the game and they played me. I was naive to let myself get caught up in that.”

Real Madrid, coached by Jose Mourinho at the time, were later knocked out in the semi-finals by Barcelona, who ended up winning the Champions League that season after defeating Manchester United 3-1 in the final. 

Crouch left Tottenham at the end of that campaign and went on to play over 250 games for Stoke City before retiring in 2019 after a short stint with Burnley. 

The closest he came to Champions League glory was in 2007 when he came off the bench in Liverpool's 2-1 loss to AC Milan in that season's final. 

Bayern Munich star David Alaba is growing increasingly disillusioned with his contract situation at the Bundesliga giants, father George revealed on Wednesday. 

The Switzerland defender has been a cornerstone of the Bayern backline for almost a decade, having come through the Bavarian club's academy after making the move to Germany at just 16 and going on to rack up almost 400 appearances to date.

In recent seasons he has undergone a transformation on the field, moving into the centre of defence - a switch which among other things has allowed Canada sensation Alphonso Davies to take Germany and Europe by storm as Alaba's successor at left-back. 

Bayern caused a stir at the start of November, though, when they announced they had withdrawn their offer of a new contract after failing to come to terms with the star defender. 

Alaba is out of contract next summer, meaning that he will be free to discuss a transfer with foreign clubs from the new year onwards. 

While the defender's future has become the subject of numerous public statements from both Bayern and his management team he has remained largely silent on the issue, although he did admit that Bayern's  willingness to include him in a mooted swap deal was "a slap in the face". 

But his father insists that the constant speculation is taking its toll. 

"He is so disappointed and upset because so many falsehoods are being aired in public," George Alaba explained to APA on Wednesday. "I don't know how this will proceed." 

Liverpool are one of the teams linked with a possible move for Alaba, and the Reds could even strike as early as January to ease the defensive crisis which worsened on Wednesday with news of Joe Gomez's knee injury. 

Bayern, however, have not ruled out a new deal for their long-time star, with CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge leaving open the possibility of a future accord. 

"The door is still open a crack,” Rummenigge told Sky Deutschland over the weekend.

“If David wants to stay at Bayern then we have to evaluate how we can find a reasonable solution for both sides."

Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi is desperate to transfer his form for his country to his club after the international break.

Batshuayi scored both of Belgium's goals in a 2-1 friendly win over Switzerland on Wednesday – converting both of his attempts of the game.

The 27-year-old took his tally to 21 goals for Belgium, with five of those coming in his last three games for the Red Devils.

However, it has been a different story in the Premier League with Batshuayi, who is on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea, yet to find the net in five games this season.

"Why do I score so easily here? That's a question I ask myself," Batshuayi told RTL Sport.

"It's a bit annoying but I don't think about the past, I'm going forward. Personally, it feels good to score two goals. It shows that I have qualities, I have to try to perform well in the club as in the national team."

Belgium's win was a fortunate one, as they managed a total of seven shots in total compared to Switzerland's 12.

The Swiss also enjoyed more possession – 51.5 per cent to 48.5% – and completed more passes (632 to 594) as well as winning more duels (40 to 38)

Batshuayi felt it was a challenging game for Roberto Martinez's side, with many of their stellar names rested ahead of their Nations League clash with England on Sunday.

"It was difficult, it's a team that is very physical. We knew that from last year when they eliminated us in the Nations League," Batshuayi added.

"It's a good test match for newcomers and for me. The thing to remember is that there were a lot of new players. They listened very well to the coach's instructions and it really feels good to win this kind of victory."

Belgium were without Real Madrid star Eden Hazard, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, with Martinez disappointed by his absence. 

"Obviously we were all delighted to see Eden play in the last three games with his club and starting to look happy and free, being able to score," Martinez told reporters on Tuesday.

"I think we were all looking forward to seeing Eden play for the national team. I think that was good news for the club as well because to be able to play minutes and get games will help his match fitness.

"The positive is a disappointing news but it's not abnormal in the current world we live in." 

Georginio Wijnaldum is honoured to have captained the Netherlands in their 1-1 draw with Spain but said he has mixed feelings due to the absence of close friend Virgil van Dijk.

Wijnaldum took over the captain's armband for Wednesday's friendly from injured Liverpool and Netherlands team-mate Van Dijk, who is likely to be out for the rest of the season after sustaining significant damage to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last month.

Stand-in skipper Wijnaldum played 45 minutes in Amsterdam – the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Poland and Ukraine taking priority, and revealed after the match he had been in close contact with Van Dijk ahead of kick-off.

"Of course it is great to represent your country in this way," Wijnaldum said, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Wednesday. "But I would have preferred for Van Dijk to have been here. Then he would have been the captain instead.

"He makes our team stronger and is still very involved with us. I had him on the phone before the game - we talked about my birthday. But I'll call him again shortly."

Donny van de Beek scored his second international goal in as many games early in the second half to earn the Netherlands a draw against a second-string Spain side.

Sergio Canales had earlier given Spain the lead with his maiden goal for the national side and Netherlands head coach Frank de Boer was unhappy with his team's defending in the first half.

"We forgot to cover properly," he said. "I told them about that at the break and we improved on it. The game turned when De Beek and [Luuk] de Jong put their opponents under more pressure, more quickly."

De Boer is winless in four matches since replacing Ronald Koeman as coach but is hopeful that run will come to an end in Sunday's home match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"Of course I would have liked to have won the game," he said. "Let's go and do that against Bosnia."

Owen Wijndal, 20, was the standout player for the Netherlands on what was just his second senior outing.

The left-back managed more tackles (three) than any home player while nobody turned over possession more times (seven) and intercepted the ball (twice) more often.

"He was fantastic," De Boer said. "He made a very good impression today. He has done a fantastic job and was a lot better than on his debut against Mexico."

Lyon and Netherlands striker Memphis Depay has admitted that it would be hard to pass up the opportunity to move to Barcelona. 

Depay, 26, has proved a huge hit at Lyon since moving to the Ligue 1 club in 2017 having failed to live up to expectations at Manchester United. 

The forward netted 19 goals in his first full season in the French top flight and, in 2019-20, was a key part of his side's march to the Champions League semi-finals, scoring six goals in eight appearances as Lyon upset both Juventus and Manchester City before their European dreams were ended by Bayern Munich in the last four.

Barcelona have long been linked with Depay's services, and would have tied up a transfer over the summer but for the star's wages pushing the cash-strapped Catalans over budget. 

The Blaugrana would have to further trim their squad to fund new signings of the striker's calibre, but should a move be on the table Depay would consider it very carefully. 

"I don't know about Barca. The transfer market is not open. My mind isn't on that," Depay told reporters after drawing 1-1 with Spain on Wednesday.

"I am trying to give my best, to play well in order to become a better player. There is a lot of speculation out there. 

"Who wouldn't like to play there? They are one of the best teams in the world. Everyone would like to play there, but I'm not thinking about that." 

One person determined to quash any transfer talk is Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who stated this week his desire to see Depay remain in France. 

“We have a lot of internationals for different countries, including Memphis, who is a leader,” Aulas told RMC Sport.

“Memphis, I’m not in love with him but I think he can bring to Lyon a dimension that everyone wants the club to have. But, no, we are seemingly not going to keep him [at the end of his contract].

"I was the first to say he would not go to Barcelona. Nobody listened to me during the transfer window because everybody thought he would leave.

“There is not only Memphis, but also Houssem Aouar and Moussa Dembele. From the start, I told you, they will not leave because in a year when we were unfairly deprived of European football, we absolutely have to make a success of the season. So he will stay.”

Barcelona have failed to reach an agreement with players over a salary reduction after a lengthy negotiation ultimately ended without a resolution.

The Liga giants are seeking to reduce their wage bill amid a "serious financial problem" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Barca say Covid-19 has caused a reduction in revenues of more than €300 million for the 2020-21 season, with the club requiring a salary adjustment of €191m.

But talks between Barca and representatives of the players - as well as a group of corporate workers - ended on Wednesday without an agreement.

“Regarding the status of salary negotiations between the club, the representatives of professional footballers and the corporate worker group, FC Barcelona issues the following report,” a statement released by the club said.

“Today, November 11, after several days of intense meetings and exhausting all avenues, the parties involved have concluded talks without reaching a firm agreement.

“We find ourselves in a situation where it is up to the management board to make decisions that will help ease the financial problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In monetary terms, the club is facing a loss of income amounting to €300m for the 2020-21 season alone. As such, a salary adjustment of €191m must be made.

“The negotiating process has revealed the sincere desire of all parties to come to an understanding, including the process of reimbursing wages that must be postponed in the short-term. We have overcome things that previously seemed insurmountable.

“All parties have agreed to give each other until November 23 to reflect and decide whether the proposals that remain on the table are acceptable.”

Reports have suggested Barca want to cut the wages of their top earners, including Lionel Messi, by 30 per cent.

Barca are believed to have one of the highest wage bills in Europe, with the likes of Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal having left the club in the close season.

Ronald Koeman's side are eighth in La Liga, nine points adrift of leaders Real Sociedad but have played two fewer games.

Once the international break is finished, Barca will travel to Atletico for a crunch La Liga clash on November 21.

Luis Enrique praised "unique" Sergio Ramos after the Spain captain  equalled Italy great Gianluigi Buffon's European caps record in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands.

Ramos was brought on five minutes from time at the Johan Cruijff ArenA for his 176th international appearance, some 15 years after making his senior debut.

The Real Madrid centre-back can overtake Buffon as Europe's most-capped international footballer should he feature against Switzerland in Basel on Saturday.

He is also within eight appearances of the worldwide caps record, which is currently held by former Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan.

Spain head coach Luis Enrique praised Ramos for matching Buffon's tally.

"Sergio is unique. He is on a different level," he said after the match. "The appearance record is only within the reach of those who are very gifted."

Enrique fielded an experimental XI that included debutant goalkeeper Unai Simon, plus returning quartet Koke, Alvaro Morata, Hector Bellerin and Marco Asensio.

Morata set up Sergio Canales for Spain's 18th-minute opener - the ninth goal the Juventus striker has been directly involved in in nine games for club and country this term.

"Alvaro has been very good but it is the same as we have seen these months at Juve," Enrique said. "We caused problems for them with him in attack."

Koke also impressed in Amsterdam as he attempted more passes in the opposition half (29) and produced more tackles (four) than any other player on the field.

Asked about the Atletico Madrid midfielder's display, Enrique said: "He is a player who gives us total guarantee that he will perform at a very high level. He did very well, exactly what I asked of him, and has the personality to play there."

Spain have won only two of their six matches this calendar year but Enrique insisted he is happy with where his side are at ahead of key Nations League games with Switzerland and Germany over the next week.

"I have a good feeling because this was a complicated game for us," he said. "We had some good phases, although in the second half we became a little bit more disorganised.

"But in general I am satisfied with my side, who showed a good attitude. We had a plan in place to bring in some fresh player ahead of the two competitive matches. I am more than satisfied with what I have seen."

Croatia centre-back Domagoj Vida was substituted at half-time in the 3-3 friendly draw with Turkey on Wednesday after testing positive for Covid-19. 

Though Vida, along with the rest of the team, had tested negatively on Monday, subsequent tests on the morning of the game resulted in a 'potentially positive result' being returned as the match was unfolding. 

As a precaution, the 31-year-old, who plays club football for Besiktas, was taken off at half-time and put into immediate isolation with further testing confirming his positive Covid-19 diagnosis. 

The Croatian Football Federation revealed the coronavirus scare post-match and were quick to stress that they had adhered strictly to all UEFA protocol.

"The medical service of the Croatian national team received initial information at the end of the break between the two halves that there was one potentially positive result. This is a common test procedure, and a 'suspicious' finding is retested to confirm the result," their statement read.

"As at that time the coach Zlatko Dalic had already made the decision to change Vida, the medical service of the national team isolated Vida according to all epidemiological measures until the confirmation of the test results.

"Vida will, in accordance with regulations, spend the next few days in self-isolation in Istanbul.

"All other national team members and staff members, who tested negative, are scheduled to travel to Stockholm. It is taken into account that the national team complied with all epidemiological measures, in accordance with UEFA's Return to Play protocol."

Croatia came from behind twice on Wednesday before themselves squandering a lead in a seesawing 3-3 draw. 

"It was a really friendly match, with six goals, and I can be happy because I saw some things I wanted to see, but I can also be unhappy because we let in three goals lightly," manager Dalic said post-match.

"That worries me, it wasn’t good, our defence was weak. That must not happen." 

Dalic's side next face Sweden and Portugal in the Nations League over the next week with Croatia currently third in Group 3 of League A and boasting just three points from their first four games. 

Joachim Low believes Germany should have beaten Czech Republic by a bigger margin than 1-0 in Wednesday's friendly, but was satisfied with his new-look side's performance.

Full-backs Ridle Baku and Philipp Max made their debuts for the national team, while midfielders Florian Neuhaus and Jonas Hofmann made their second appearances in the clash in Leipzig - though the latter went off injured after 20 minutes.

Luca Waldschmidt's goal just 13 minutes into the match was enough to secure the hosts' second win of 2020.

While Low says his side played well, he admits it is unlikely he will field the same starting XI again. 

"We will probably never line up in this constellation again. Nevertheless, the boys got to show themselves, so you can be satisfied," he told RTL.

"We did well in the first half, but in the second we should have made it 2-0. A few more mistakes happened in the second half, including in the build-up. Overall, we defended the 1-0. You could tell that we wanted to win, so we can be satisfied.

"We were sometimes unable to concentrate. In the first half we were better, in the combinations up to the goal, had more shots. That was the problem in the second half, so the opponent came into play a little better."

He continued: "I'm very happy that [Philipp Max] came in so well, also that Waldschmidt scored. I think overall you can be satisfied with the newcomers. In the first half we had more quality of play with Ilkay Gundogan. But overall everybody was very committed."

Max, who has impressed at PSV since his summer move from Augsburg, was delighted with his debut.

"I am very happy and proud that I was able to make my first international match today," he said.

"This is a special day for my family and friends. I enjoyed the day very much, despite the ghost game atmosphere.

"The coach just said I should enjoy it, have fun and do what I do at club level, just make the situations dangerous up front, play balls in front of goal. That's me, thank God it was a success."

Crystal Palace's £17 million ($22m) summer signing Eberechi Eze is readying himself for England Under-21s' match with Albania on Friday but his journey has been a story of overcoming rejection.

Eze was released by Arsenal aged 13 and tried his luck at a series of other clubs but history repeated itself after the academies at Fulham, Reading and Millwall all declined his services.

Having worked part-time in a UK supermarket chain while studying in college, Eze finally saw a subsequent trial at Queen's Park Rangers lead to a contract. He made his first-team debut six months later and now, four years on, he is playing against Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League.

To overcome such a series of setbacks wasn't easy and Eze admits that he was concerned that his dream might never have come to fruition.

"Of course, you have doubts," Eze said at England's training centre at St. George's Park. "You have doubts in your thinking of whether you're going to get your professional contract, whether you're going to be what you hoped you'd be.

"It has built huge resilience in me; I think being released, I'm sure loads of players will tell you this, being released is not the best feeling and you're not in the best space mentally. But of course, as a footballer, not just a footballer, but anyone, you have to be strong, you have to be courageous.

"You have to get back up again, not allow your setbacks to determine where you end up in life. You have to keep moving forward. For me, I feel that's something that was put into me, was forced into me after being released - I had to get up and be strong.

"But for me, it was more the support my family and people around me that continue to instil, that faith in me - and being religious as well.

"Having faith was huge for me, I would always believe that I would get to where I hope to get to and thankfully, and thanks to God, it has worked out."

The contract at QPR was important for Eze, who staked a lot on making it in football. He grew up in Greenwich, London and admitted to money struggles in his part of the south-eastern borough as a kid.

"I didn't come from a rich family or anything like that, my parents did what they could and try their best to help me and my brothers and my sister to get through life. I know the struggle that they've been through, it wasn't easy for them even to gather money for us to look after us," he added.

"But that's why it was more of a relief because I can take some pressure off them and help them a bit and it's not so much of a hand-to-mouth sort of situation.

"I finally got the pro contract that I was praying for, endlessly. And for my family, knowing that I'm now in a position where I can grow and progress along if I work hard, I can grow and be able to help them out of whatever situation that we were in back then.

"That's why it was more of a relief because we had been in a situation without a club for a while and was still working hard still doing what we can but the fact that it came eventually and came quite late, it was honestly a grateful moment.

"I can't relax because you're still working hard but a bit of pressure is off now."

Eze is out to gain more experience in England's set-up, having had just two U21 and seven U20 appearances so far. England have already qualified for the U21 European Championships this summer but still have two extra games to play to help work out who will be in Aidy Boothroyd's final squad.

That is amid a first full season in the Premier League for Eze, who has quickly emerged as a key player for Roy Hodgson's high-flying Palace side. That hasn't changed his mentality, though, and the polite youngster hasn't changed his outlook since making it.

"You know how I feel about myself? I feel the same as how I felt when I was at QPR," he continued. "So it's not much of a difference for me. I know other people may look at me differently,  but for me, the way that me and my family have been and how they've helped me and supported me, I can't look at it any differently."

Spain captain Sergio Ramos has equalled Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon's record for the most international appearances made by a player for a European nation.

Ramos made his 176th appearance for La Roja in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in a friendly at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam - matching the mark set by Buffon made with his final Italy appearance in March 2018.

The Spaniards couldn't mark the 34-year-old's milestone with a win, however, despite Sergio Canales' maiden international goal putting them ahead in the 19th minute.

Manchester United's Donny van de Beek drilled home an equaliser in the second half as the two teams played out a draw ahead of their UEFA Nations League fixtures later in the international break.

During his teenage years at Sevilla, Ramos made his debut for Spain's national team during a 3-0 friendly win against China in March 2005 - with his appearance at 18 years, 361 days making him the national team's youngest player in 55 years at the time.

After joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2015, Ramos scored his first two goals for Spain shortly after in a 4-0 thrashing of San Marino in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

Ramos also established himself as an indispensable part of the Spanish team that won the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

He captained his nation for the first time in a friendly against South Korea in June 2010 and eventually took over the role permanently in 2018 for the World Cup once legendary goalkeeper Iker Casilias was phased out of the squad.

Ramos started his career as an attacking right-back, but eventually moved into central defence when his defensive qualities became apparent.

Despite playing as a centre-back, Ramos is Spain's eighth-highest all-time goalscorer with 23 goals, as he often takes penalties and threatens from set pieces.

He also holds the record for the most international victories for La Roja with 129 wins.

Spain are currently positioned top of Nations League A Group 4 with seven points - one ahead of Germany and Ukraine.

Their next fixtures in the competition will come against Switzerland (Saturday) and Germany (Wednesday).

Gabriel Jesus wants Brazil to again prove they can win without Neymar after it was confirmed their talisman would miss the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.

Selecao No.10 Neymar is struggling with a groin strain, missing Paris Saint-Germain's past three matches in all competitions – including a Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig.

Brazil are just as reliant on the 28-year-old as his club, with their remarkable semi-final collapse against Germany at a home World Cup in 2014 coming after he was injured in the last eight.

But Tite's men were also without Neymar for last year's Copa America, a competition they won, and Jesus does not believe his side can go looking for excuses.

"Obviously we talk about the importance of Neymar with his club and for our team, how much he has given and gives every day. I'm a big fan," the Manchester City forward said. 

"But when it comes to the national team, everyone has to share the responsibility, it can't just fall on him. Everyone is here for a reason.

"With Neymar, we were closer to victory, but the Selecao demonstrated that they can play without him. We always want him to be available, as he scores, assists. But if he can't play, while we know his importance, we have to share the responsibility.

"Whoever is here has the quality to make the Selecao win."

Jesus, who both scored and was sent off in the Copa America final, is determined to play his part, having missed the previous international break through injury.

"Even as a young man, I have a certain history here and I am happy to wear this shirt that I always dreamed of," he said.

"And whenever there is a call-up, it is the same party as always; I look, I hear my name and I am moved. I always want to come and help, and this time I came with 100 per cent focus to be able to help."

After hosting Venezuela on Friday, Brazil then travel to Uruguay for another World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. Tite's side have won their past three matches and scored an impressive 12 goals in the process.