Monday cannon fodder: greasy host pressure

Scottish football, a Jurassic world where ancient species thrive | Kevin McKenna | Opinion | The Guardian
It’s becoming a struggle to find 11 fit players who actually want to wear the shirt.

Ryan Fraser fires Scotland close to Nations League promotion | Football | The Guardian
Scotland are within 90 minutes of promotion from the third tier of the Naitons League after a 4-0 win over 10-man Albania.

England 2-1 Croatia: Harry Kane seals Nations League finals spot - BBC Sport
Harry Kane comes to England’s rescue as they come from a goal down to beat Croatia and earn a place in the next summer’s Uefa Nations League finals.

Southgate: I’ve not heard Wembley like that for a long time - Football365
Gareth Southgate was “proud” of his England side as they came from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic to speak to Dejan Lovren after Ramos elbow brag | Football | The Guardian
The Croatia coach, Zlatko Dalic, has said he will speak to Dejan Lovren after the Liverpool defender appeared to brag on social media about deliberately elbowing Sergio Ramos.

Uefa Nations League: Portugal to host inaugural finals next June - BBC Sport
Portugal will host the inaugural Uefa Nations League finals after qualifying for next June's mini-tournament.

Why Red Bull's football empire is doing more good than bad in the game
For many, Red Bull's football empire signifies all that's wrong with the modern game. The reality, however, paints a different picture.

Arsenal Women’s stroll against Everton marred by injury to Jordan Nobbs | Football | The Guardian
The England midfielder was injured late in Arsenal’s 4-0 win at Everton.

Leicester City helicopter crash: Peter Schmeichel 'proud' of son Kasper's reaction - BBC Sport
Peter Schmeichel is "proud and angry" about his son, Leicester keeper Kasper, running towards the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed the club's owner.

Ranieri: Real pressure is being without a job - Football365
Claudio Ranieri is excited about engineering Fulham's escape from the Premier League relegation zone.

Ivan Rakitic: ‘We saw Football’s Coming Home and thought: yeah, but you still have to play us’ | Football | The Guardian
The Barcelona and Croatia midfielder talks about playing England at the World Cup with a virus, how to stay calm when taking penalties and post-tournament exhaustion.

Ballad of Ousmane Dembélé: £100m victim of football’s fat greasy hands | Barney Ronay | Football | The Guardian
The Ousmane Dembélé story has been a sad saga of interests and agents and endless friction among the Dembélé sporting-industrial complex.