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Sweden beat Belarus 4-0 in Minsk yesterday with Pontus Jansson on the bench as a unused substitute while Belgium became the 2nd European side, after hosts Russia, to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Very classy 4-0 win for Sweden in Belarus, they sit top but France have the game in hand soon v Luxembourg, which they are full strength for
— Micky Loadwick (@forzamicky) September 3, 2017
Oh, and France drew level with Luxembourg, keeping Sweden’s hope for an automatic bid still alive with two matches left, and leaving the Netherlands needing two wins and a lot of help to qualify even for the playoffs.
Today, both England and Northern Ireland play, and a number of Leeds United fans will be paying attention to Northern Ireland v Czech Republic match taking place at Windsor Park in Belfast while England take on Slovakia at Wembley. There’s some kind of joke or metaphor with Northern Ireland, part of the UK, playing the Czech Republic while England, also part of the UK, is playing Slovakia who used to be part of the same country as the Czech Republic. So basically Czechoslovakia is playing half of the UK tonight. Or something. Anyway, he’s hoping that Stuart Dallas plays well for Northern Ireland.
Leeds United Links
Stuart Dallas thinks that the fans will be key to a promotion push. [Yorkshire Evening Post]
Mighty Whites Podcast has a new episode up, give it a listen. [Through It All Together]
England and English football Links
The communication director of Sporting Lisbon calls David Sullivan a liar over Sullivan’s claims over the failed transfer of William Carvalho to West Ham United. [Brace The Hammer]
And now West Ham United and Sullivan are claiming that they are going to sue Sporting because someone said mean things about them. Petty. [Sky Sports]
World Football Links
Nicolas Lodeiro is “trying” to convince Luis Suarez to sign for Seattle Sounders. [Sounder At Heart]
US fans who blame the loss to Costa Rica on Ticos fans in New Jersey are missing the point entirely. [MLS Soccer.com]
BBC News video about a young player in the US who could go on to Mexico to star for Xolos. [BBC News via Facebook] Bonus link, Eugene Rupinski profiled the Xolos Academy in New Jersey for FMF State of Mind earlier this year. [FMF State of Mind]
Mexico beats Panama to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. [FMF State of Mind]
Cultural Leonesa wins with a goal in stoppage time for the 2nd week in a row. [LaLiga.es]