Skiddle's open goal: A weekly roundup of football news and events

Boooo it was the international break week, which means we've seen a lot less football than usual in the past week but we've seen plenty of off-field drama play out to keep us entertained. However, we'll start with England's two games as they went up against Italy and Ukraine.

Impressively they grabbed a 2-1 win away win in Italy for the first time since 1961. It was also historic for the fact that Harry Kane became the country's all-time leading goalscorer, a record he would go on to extend against Ukraine. There was drama after Luke Shaw was sent off but they saw through the victory.

There are still questions over Southgate about his seemingly blind loyalty to players who simply don't play enough to be picked such as Maguire and Phillips. The game against Ukraine was pretty much plain sailing as England made the perfect start to their European qualifying campaign. Saka's goal was the best moment of the 2-0 win.

It was not a surprise that Antonio Conte was eventually sacked as Spurs manager after his outburst, with the team now in the care of his assistant until the rest of the season. Many want Pochettino back, but a better choice would surely be the recently sacked Nagelsmann.

Bayern Munich might have done Spurs a favour by sacking him despite being a point off the top of the Bundesliga and having key Champions League games against Manchester City coming up. They've brought in Thomas Tuchel, who they see as the man to turn to for instant glory.

This has all worked out in Tottenham's favour, where they might be able to snap up one of Europe's best young managers, who if given time can surely build a team that plays attractive football, a far cry from the defensive tactics of Conte. Of course, nothing is certain at Tottenham as they don't seem to be able to make the right investments in the market.

Back to the international break, the other home nations had mixed results as Northern Ireland grabbed a win over San Marion but lost closely to Finland. Scotland opened with a win over Cyprus and they'll take on the difficult task of Spain tonight. Wales will also be in action after gaining an unlikely draw away at Croatia. The republic of Ireland put in a brave performance against France but fell to a stunner from Pavard.

If you're looking for more football action then take a look at the events below.

 

Liverpool Football Quiz: The Miracle Of Istanbul Special

When: Thursday 25th May

Where: The Shankly Hotel, Liverpool

Arguably the most memorable night in Liverpool's history, the miracle of Istanbul saw an incredible turnaround result in the lifting the most prized trophy in club football. Now, you can be quizzed all about the club during that period, the players who were hidden gems and facts you may have forgotten about the game.

 

Buy tickets:

 

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Pre-match Legend Meal LFC vs Fulham

When: Wednesday 3rd March

Where: Hotel Tia, Liverpool

Liverpool will be taking on Fulham and they'll hope that they can restore some pride after drawing away in London at the start of the season. You can enjoy the pre-match buildup in the best way possible by hearing from a club legend and tucking into a meal you won't forget in a hurry.

 

Buy tickets:

 

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Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.