Dribble Diaries

When an international break occurs, especially in the middle of a league season, few football fans rejoice. Club football was put on hold for over two weeks when players traveled to represent their countries in the Nations League and 2026 World Cup qualifications. While many will welcome the end of this brief hiatus, the international break provided plenty of drama and discussion points. Here are four major takeaways from the final international break of the 2024/25 season. Myles Lewis-Skelly has a dream England debut. Myles Lewis-Skelly, an Arsenal player, made an impressive start for England in their World Cup qualifying opener against Albania. The teenager opened the scoring for the Three Lions, latching onto a brilliant pass from Jude Bellingham and slotting home to become England's youngest player to score on his professional debut. Lewis-Skelly's historic 20th-minute strike also set the tone for England's 2-0 victory at Wembley Stadium, giving new manager T...

New Zealand qualified for the 2026 World Cup after defeating New Caledonia in the Oceania play-off. The All Whites will play on football's greatest stage for the first time in 16 years next summer. For the first time, Oceania has been given an automatic spot in the finals, bypassing the difficult intercontinental play-off that has frequently denied the federation representation at the World Cup. New Zealand were overwhelming favourites for qualification, and they overcame a poor start to easily defeat the Pacific island nation. Michael Boxall, 36, scored his first international goal for New Zealand, and Wellington Phoenix winger Kosta Barbarouses extended the lead shortly after. Eli Just clinched the victory and World Cup qualification in the 80th minute. New Zealand will compete in the competition for the third time, following group stage exits in 1982 and 2010. Chris Wood, the nation's record scorer, is now enjoying a career-best season at Nottingham Forest and will ca...