At the end, Ireland’s players just wanted to get out of the nightmare
Finn Azaz’s creativity was missed against Israel but leaving him on the bench spared him from the criticism that would inevitably have come his way
Ken Early: Israel’s war in Gaza brings Ireland to remote cornfields in Serbia
In a country with its own tortured history, small town of Backa Topola hosts divisive Nations League fixture
Ireland find focus as Troy Parrott scores one of the best goals we’ve ever seen
Many hours spent arguing in team meetings last week could have confused and demoralised Ireland, but it seems to have cleared their heads
Ireland beat Israel in a bleak farce that leaves everyone feeling betrayed
In a mess seven months in the making, there is no one villain in the Irish set-up at whom people can point the finger
Ken Early: Why the discomfort over Israel fixtures? Because we know Ireland’s position is a fudge
Ireland are anxious to get through these games without creating any unnecessary trouble. Israel are long past caring about that
Ireland finally buckle under Balkan onslaught in listless Kosovo loss
Big strong back five did not bring the security they were intended to provide
Ken Early: Quite a few big Premier League clubs are looking pretty dumb right now
But expect change at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta will not treat Brighton defeat as just a bad day at work
In the post-Ferguson era, expectation is Manchester United’s Kryptonite
United fail to exploit advantage after Foden sees red in hotly contested Manchester derby
Emi Martínez might have arrived at Chelsea a couple of seasons too late
Despite €2bn spent on new players in the past four years, Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso still has few midfield options
Premier League’s financial dominance not enough to lure European elites
Big-spending English clubs increasingly reluctant to take a risk on players without Premier League experience
Bezos-backed Liverpool look the most vulnerable ahead of new Premier League season
Arsenal’s squad is most likely to endure in a league that prizes the strength of Declan Rice over the subtlety of Rodri
Ken Early: Argentina shows us what Ireland could be if our GAA culture escaped the island
Argentinians may believe that nobody can get more carried away over football than they do ... but we know better – just think England
Spain the winners but football the loser in worst World Cup final of all time
Tournament finale proves spending the big bucks does not guarantee entertainment
Ken Early: World Cup final is a confrontation of two opposite ways of seeing the world
Argentina are an inexplicable frenzy of tears, rage, ecstasy, barbecue, violence and genius
Ken Early: Tuchel left best passers at home then cursed England’s lack of possession DNA
Manager is said to be an Anglophile, but those feelings are no longer reciprocated after England’s disastrous World Cup exit