The Football Faithful
·15 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·15 November 2024
The international break might not have quite the same spice for some, but there’s still plenty of heat around this weekend’s fixtures.
Here are our five must-watch games of the weekend.
Fancy some lower league action to whet the appetite? Edgeley Park is the place to be. Stockport Country and Wrexham have made a fine start to life in League One, having duked it out for the fourth-tier title last season.
Both are big-spending sides with bold ambitions and it promises to be a cracking contest. Stockport bounced back from home humbling against leaders Wycombe to thrash promotion rivals Bolton 5-0 on home soil last time out.
Wrexham, meanwhile, have lost just twice since promotion and are sitting pretty in third, four points and three places above Stockport.
Turkey and Wales will battle it out in the Nations League on Saturday, with the promotion places poised perfectly. After a goalless stalemate between the teams on matchday one, Turkey have reeled off three consecutive wins to sit top ahead of the penultimate games.
However, Wales are unbeaten and just behind the group leaders. Craig Bellamy’s team can take top spot with a win in Kayseri.
England and Ireland renew rivalries at Wembley this weekend.
The Three Lions arrive in buoyant mood after easing to a 3-0 win in Greece on Thursday, a win that takes England top of the group. Another win will secure promotion back into the top tier for England, as Lee Carsley looks to end his reign as interim manager on a high.
Ireland, however, will want to prove to be more stubborn opposition than during September’s defeat to England in Dublin. A 1-0 win over Finland on Thursday ensured the Boys in Green avoided automatic relegation to League C.
The Women’s Super League weekend will see a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday evening.
Chelsea pipped Manchester City to the title on goal difference last season and the two look evenly matched once again in 2024/25. It’s City who lead the table by a point, though Gareth Taylor’s side have played a game more than the hosts, who have a perfect record of six wins from six games.
Despite the continued absence of Sam Kerr, Chelsea are the leading scorers in the league and have averaged 3.8 goals per game, which includes a 7-0 win over Crystal Palace.
City, however, have Khadija “Bunny” Shaw in their ranks. Last season’s Golden Boot winner has seven in seven games this season and scored a record sixth Women’s Super League hat-trick earlier this month.
One of European football’s glamour games takes place this weekend as Italy and France meet.
Already qualified for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, their contest will determine who progresses as group winners. Italy are unbeaten with 13 points from five games, and France must win by two goals to take top spot.
The two nations have been involved in some unforgettable showdowns, including the 2000 European Championship final and 2006 World Cup decider. Will we see another classic added to their story?