Lead:
Mateo Retegui scored twice as Italy beat France 3-1 in Milan on Thursday in UEFA Nations League matchday five, ending the French side's unbeaten record under manager Zinedine Zidane and reclaiming top spot in Group A.
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Spain and England qualify for Nations League quarter-finals — Spain maintained its perfect record by defeating the Czech Republic 2-0 in Prague, with goals from Alex Balde and Marc Pubill, while England secured qualification with a 2-1 win over Croatia.Zinedine Zidane expects Kylian Mbappe to face Turkey — Following France's loss in Milan, Zidane told French broadcaster TF1 that the Real Madrid forward, sidelined by a hamstring injury, is likely to return for France's final Nations League group match against Turkey on Tuesday.Jude Bellingham's Borussia Dortmund — England progressed to the quarter-finals of the Nations League with their 2-1 victory over Croatia in their penultimate group match.Emirates UAE football referees praised for World Cup 2026 service — UAE Football Association President Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan met with the Emirati refereeing crew who managed matches during the 2026 World Cup final tournament, including match official Omar Al Ali and video assistant Muhammad Obaid Khadem.Roberto Carlos and Fernando Hierro join Furusiyya FC in Dubai — The Spanish Knights football club announced the arrival of Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos and Spanish defender Fernando Hierro to strengthen its management structure, alongside co-founders Michel Salgado and Faisal Al Bohol, as the club marks six years since establishment.Abu Dhabi Powerboat Team readies for 2026 X Cat World Championship — Rashid Al Tayr and Majid Al Mansouri will helm the "Abu Dhabi 5" vessel under technical director Taleb Al Sayyed as the emirate's team prepares to compete for world titles in the offshore racing championship.What to Watch:
Egypt faces Malawi on Friday in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, while the Netherlands plays Greece and Serbia faces Germany in Nations League matchday five action. The eighth edition of Dubai Games will launch March 25-28, 2027, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.