Match story
- Switzerland fired more attempts (37 vs 4 shots).
- Gibraltar was more accurate in front of goal (50% on target vs 38%).
- Switzerland held more of the ball (75% possession).
Switzerland defeated Gibraltar 1-6 in Euro Championship. The fixture is part of the Qualifying Round - 10 stage in the 2020 season. The match was played at Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar. B. Millot officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Gibraltar vs Switzerland meeting in Euro Championship with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Gibraltar and Switzerland. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Euro ChampionshipRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
The IFAB acknowledged there was an error in Breel Embolo's sending-off during the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal clash between Switzerland and Argentina. Seventeen days after Argentina‘s 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, the International Football Association Board has admitted there was an error in the red card shown to Breel Embolo during that match. The Swiss forward was sent off in the 72nd minute after a VAR review resulted in a second yellow card for simulation, a decision that shifted the momentum of the game. The sequence began when referee Joao Pinheiro had booked Leandro Paredes, believing he had committed a foul on the Swiss forward. The play was reviewed under the “mistaken identity” concept, but upon noticing how blatant the simulation was, the Portuguese official showed Embolo the second yellow card, something that, according to the governing body of the Laws of the Game, was mistaken. In a circular published on Tuesday, the governing body clarified that a yellow card, when it isn’t already a second yellow, can only be reviewed to correct the identity of the offending player, explaining the offense itself cannot be reviewed or altered once the identity has been fixed. Referee Joao Pinheiro shows a red card to Breel Embolo #7 of Switzerland. (Getty Images) That distinction is what made Embolo’s dismissal improper: the process was designed to fix who gets the card in case of booking someone who didn’t commit the foul, not to reclassify the type of infraction that led to it. A similar situation happened earlier at the World Cup A practically identical sequence played out earlier in the tournament, during the group stage clash between the United States and Paraguay. American defender Tim Ream was originally booked for a foul on Miguel Almiron, and VAR intervened to review the play. Just as with Paredes and Embolo, the review corrected the identity of the offending player, Ream’s card was rescinded, and Almiron was booked instead for simulation. It’s the same mechanism the IFAB has now flagged as improperly applied in the Embolo case, underscoring that the issue wasn’t isolated to a single match.
Barring 15-year-old JJ Gabriel coming in for England Under-20 striker Ethan Wheatley, who has a minor calf problem, Manchester United's 25-man squad for their first two pre-season games in Helsinki and Trondheim has stayed the same. It means the academy players not involved – including the likes of Gibraltar international James Scanlon, midfielder Jack Moorhouse, who spent the first half of last season at Leyton Orient, and Gabriele Biancheri, who was at Rotherham, will have to seriously consider their next moves. Australia full-back James Overy also falls into that group.
Portuguese giants Benfica begin their Europa League qualifying journey on Thursday, traveling to Switzerland to face St Gallen at the Sitterstadion. Despite the World Cup only just finishing, European clubs are already back in competitive action, and this tie marks the first leg of the second qualifying round. Verdict: Away win Best odds: 2/5 Bookmaker: […] The post Prediction: St. Gallen vs Benfica appeared first on SoccerNews.
Despite entering as one of the favorites, Croatia were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16. Following this, Luka Modrić has reportedly decided to retire from the national team. However, he appears set to continue his professional career for one more season with AC Milan. Croatia have been one of the most impressive national teams in recent years, reaching a World Cup final and finishing third at Qatar 2022. However, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the 2026 edition. Following this, Luka Modrić has reportedly decided to retire from the national team, bringing a golden era to an end. In addition, he appears determined to extend his contract with AC Milan. According to Andrea Ramazzotti, via La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luka Modrić has decided to end his international career with Croatia. He has decided to announce it at the beginning of October 2026, after the match against Spain in the UEFA Nations League. With this, he establishes as one of the greatest legends of the national team, writing his name alongside Davor Šuker and Zvonimir Boban. Despite his international retirement, Modrić has reached an agreement to extend his contract with AC Milan for one more season, joining the club’s tour in Australia, reports Andrea Ramazzotti. With this, Ruben Amorim keeps the central figure of his midfield, as he had already expressed his desire to continue working with him. However, the head coach has already made it clear that he may not play every match. Luka Modrić has proven to be a truly outstanding player at 41 years old. At the 2026 World Cup, he started all four matches Croatia played. Not only was he key in his national team’s two victories, but he also provided an assist. Despite his age, he remains in excellent physical condition, making his presence at AC Milan a guaranteed reinforcement for the 2026-27 season in the rebuild of the roster. Luka Modric of AC Milan. Modric may be key to unlocking Ricci and Jashari at AC Milan Luka Modrić was a key figure for AC Milan in the most recent season. Under Massimiliano Allegri, he played 2,864 minutes across 37 matches. As a result, he was the team’s oldest player to record the most minutes played. Amid the reconstruction under Ruben Amorim, the Croatian veteran could be key to helping develop Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari at the Rossoneri. During the 2025-26 season, Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari had very little prominence, as they raised serious doubts in several aspects of their game. With this in mind, Luka Modrić can serve as a mentor to both players, helping provide them with more tools to make a greater impact. In addition, they would once again have the opportunity to gradually take on more responsibility, allowing for a slow transition.
According to reports, Spain and Argentina could face off in November for the Finalissima, following the Europeans' victory in the 2026 World Cup final. Just days after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the 2026 World Cup, courtesy of a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute, the two sides could be headed for a rematch before the year is out. According to a report from Argentina’s ESPN and DSports, the long-postponed Finalissima between the reigning Copa America and European champions is being revived for later this year. The Finalissima was originally slated to be played in March, pitting Copa America winners Argentina against Euro 2024 champions Spain, but the match was suspended amid the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel in the Middle East. With broadcast and commercial contracts already signed with the Qatari government for a fixture at Lusail Stadium in Doha, both CONMEBOL and UEFA have kept the door open to staging the game before it expires. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin are reportedly in talks to find a workable date on the calendar, with two FIFA windows under consideration: September 21 to October 6, or November 9 to 17. Lamine Yamal lifts the World Cup trophy. (Getty Images) A rematch would give both Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal another shot at facing off just months after their World Cup final meeting, this time with the Finalissima trophy on the line, a title Argentina already won in 2022 by thrashing Italy 3-0. The match could also serve as a potential farewell for Messi in an Argentina shirt, in case he hasn’t already played his last game at MetLife Stadium during the World Cup final, as he has yet to say whether the final was his last game with the national team. Spain’s potential scheduling conflict Playing the Finalissima this year isn’t without its complications, particularly for Spain. Between September, October and November, La Roja are already committed to UEFA Nations League fixtures against England, Croatia and Czechia, leaving little obvious room on the calendar for an extra match. Since the Nations League is a UEFA-run competition, though, the confederation could still rework Spain’s fixture schedule to carve out a window for the Finalissima. Argentina, for its part, is set to return to action between September 21 and October 6 for its next FIFA window, when it could play up to four matches.
A recent comparison has emerged, highlighting a unique achievement that separates the Portuguese forward from his ultimate rival and a host of other all-time greats. Cristiano Ronaldo is still proving he has the ultimate edge over legends like Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo Nazario when it comes to delivering massive moments on the international stage. A recent comparison has emerged, highlighting a unique achievement that separates the Portuguese forward from his ultimate rival and a host of other all-time greats. The comparison has quickly gained traction across social media, especially after Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign, as fans revisit Ronaldo’s extraordinary longevity and consistency at the international level. The statistic highlighted by the comparison focuses exclusively on competitive international matches against some of soccer’s traditional heavyweight nations. The 41-year-old veteran has scored 12 competitive international goals against top sides such as France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, England, and Italy, combined, comfortably outperforming several iconic players in the same category. According to the comparison, Zinedine Zidane recorded seven goals, Ronaldo Nazario scored four, and Lionel Messi has three against the same group of opponents, as confirmed by Transfermarkt. Ronaldo’s advantage stems largely from his extraordinary longevity with Portugal and his repeated appearances in European Championships, World Cups, and UEFA Nations League competitions. Over more than two decades, he has consistently faced Europe’s strongest national teams while maintaining an elite scoring rate. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal lifts the UEFA Nations League trophy. Those repeated encounters allowed him to build a goalscoring record against opponents that many of soccer’s greatest players rarely managed to face as often. His performances have frequently come on the biggest stages, adding even more weight to the statistic. Ronaldo’s record against international top 7 giants Among the standout performances in Ronaldo’s international career is his famous display against Spain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Portuguese captain scored a sensational hat-trick in the unforgettable 3-3 draw, producing one of the tournament’s defining individual performances. Across his competitive meetings with Spain, Ronaldo has scored four goals, making La Roja one of his favorite elite opponents. Those goals continue to stand among the most memorable moments of his international career. What’s more, he has also enjoyed impressive success against several other European giants. Against France, he has scored two competitive goals, including both strikes in Portugal’s 2-2 draw at Euro 2020. While Portugal famously defeated France in the Euro 2016 final, Ronaldo’s leadership throughout that tournament remains one of the defining chapters of his international legacy. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal poses for photographs with the Euro 2016 trophy The Netherlands has also been a productive opponent. Ronaldo has scored four competitive goals against the Dutch, including a memorable brace at Euro 2012 and another goal in Portugal’s victory in the 2019 UEFA Nations League Final. Germany is another nation where Ronaldo eventually found success in front of goal despite several difficult encounters earlier in his career. He has scored twice in competitive fixtures against Germany, including his goal at Euro 2020. OpponentGamesGoalsAssistsRecord (W-D-L)France6201W – 3D – 2LSpain7401W – 3D – 3LNetherlands4414W – 0D – 0LGermany5210W – 0D – 5LBrazil1000W – 1D – 0LEngland2000W – 2D – 0LItaly0000W – 0D – 0LTOTALS251226W – 9D – 10L Messi’s numbers tell different story Lionel Messi has enjoyed enormous international success with Argentina, winning the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 World Cup. However, when examining competitive goals against the same group of powerhouse nations, his total remains lower. Messi has sco
Although they weren't considered top contenders, Spain managed to defeat Argentina, ending a 16-year drought by winning the 2026 World Cup. With this victory, they broke four records in the tournament. Spain established as the best team of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Showing admirable consistency, Luis de la Fuente’s team defeated Argentina in a highly competitive match. Led by Ferran Torres, they ended a 16-year drought since their last World Cup title, edging their second-ever title in the competition. Not only did they return to being a brilliant side, but they also managed to break four major records along the way. According to Guinness World Records, via X, formerly Twitter, Spain have managed to break four World Cup records: Most clean sheets – 7, Fewest goals conceded – 1, Oldest Manager to win the World Cup – Luis de la Fuente, and Longest unbeaten run in competitive men’s matches – 38. With these records, they highlight their greatest strength: They do not rely on a single player, but rather on a solid collective. Head coach Luis de la Fuente built his team very differently from the others. While some prioritized building an attacking side, he decided to focus on defensive solidity. Led by Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte, they became the team with the fewest goals conceded. In addition, Marc Cucurella and Rodri also contributed greatly to the team’s stability. Alongside them, Unai Simón returned to shine as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Spain’s undefeated streak puts them ahead of Italy After losing the UEFA Nations League final on penalties, Spain appeared to lose their status as favorites ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, head coach Luis de la Fuente managed to establish a winning dynamic, accumulating 38 consecutive matches without defeat in regulation time. Following this, they have surpassed Italy, the last national team to establish such a streak for several years. Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy From 2018 to 2021, Italy accumulated a run of 37 unbeaten matches. While Luis de la Fuente’s team had already matched that record after defeating France, they have now extended it, setting a new mark. Spain’s last defeat came on March 22, 2024, when they lost 1–0 against Colombia in a friendly match in London. Luis de la Fuente: The mastermind behind Spain’s youth rise After the dismissal of Luis Enrique, the supporters foresaw a somewhat bleak future for Spain. However, the Spanish Soccer Federation decided to turn to Luis de la Fuente. Without extensive experience in clubs or senior national teams, he took charge of the national team. Demonstrating his knowledge of the youth ranks, he rebuilt the roster, winning UEFA Nations League, UEFA Euro and World Cup, a historic path. Luis de la Fuente based much of his sporting project on Spain’s youth categories. After coaching every level of the national setup, he got to know first-hand all of the young talents such as Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Gavi, Mikel Merino, Álex Baena, and more current stars. Relying on a possession-based style built around the wings, he excelled, maintaining a solid defense that allowed them to shine. Despite not arriving at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with much recognition, Luis de la Fuente is already considered by many supporters to be the greatest coach in Spain’s history. Not only did they win every trophy, but he also gave the team a highly dominant style of play, something that will remain in history. While the players are hugely important, it was the head coach who shaped the history of the national team.
Aston Villa have signed Joao Gomes from Wolves for £38m - a second deal for a central midfielder in four days. The Brazil international joins for an initial £34m with £4m in add-ons, after three years and 130 appearances during his time at Molineux. Villa completed a club record deal worth more than £50m for Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi on Friday after beating Newcastle to the Switzerland international.
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