Switzerland in Skopje without their captain or their main striker

Macedonia open League B of the Nations League on Saturday, 26 September, against Switzerland in Skopje, with kick-off at 8:45 p.m. The visitors arrive without half their team: captain Granit Xhaka won't play because of off-field issues, Breel Embolo is travelling but serving a suspension for his red card at the World Cup, and goalkeeper Yann Sommer has retired from international football. Injured Denis Zakaria and Ruben Vargas are also out, while Noah Okafor is in a dispute with head coach Murat Yakin. The irony is that FIFA later admitted Embolo's red card was a VAR protocol error - but the ban stood. The Swiss will train in Antalya and go straight from the airport to their hotel, with no training session in Skopje. The best chance of points against Switzerland in years - or a trap for those already counting them?

VAR handed City the derby, a panel voted 5-0 that it shouldn't have

The Premier League's independent Key Match Incidents panel ruled unanimously, by 5-0 votes, that VAR wrongly awarded Erling Haaland's goal in Manchester City's 1-0 win at Old Trafford. Haaland was onside, but Enzo Fernández, from an offside position, tried to reach the ball and impeded the defenders and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. City had played with ten men since the 23rd minute, after Phil Foden's red card, and United hit the woodwork through Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo. The referees admitted an "error of judgement" right after the derby, Howard Webb explained that the VAR team had only been watching Haaland, and United manager Michael Carrick called the apology practically worthless. The three points are still City's. Apologies arrive; points don't come back.

Arteta signs - Arsenal pay for the title

Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract with Arsenal, even though his old one didn't expire until the end of the season. The length hasn't been disclosed, but it is expected to keep him in the dugout for at least ten years since he took over in December 2019. The Spaniard had been earning around 10 million pounds a year plus 5 million in bonuses, and the new deal brings a significant raise. The justification is in the table: Arsenal's first league title in two decades and a Champions League final lost only on penalties. He had been linked with Real Madrid and PSG, but Arsenal wouldn't let him go. How many coaches in the Balkans get a decade to build something?

Zidane starts where Deschamps left off

Zinedine Zidane begins his tenure as France coach on Friday, against Turkey in Kocaeli, in the Nations League. He succeeds Didier Deschamps, who led the team for 14 years, with a World Cup title in 2018, another World Cup final and the Euro 2016 final. The key is Kylian Mbappé - captain, France's top scorer and winner of the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup, with 10 direct goal involvements this season. France may have the most powerful attack in Europe, but the World Cup semi-final lost to Spain showed that attack alone isn't enough. Turkey is a favourable start - if Zidane stumbles here, there'll be no excuses.

Bregalnica celebrate again after more than a month

In the eighth round of the Macedonian First Football League, Bregalnica beat Skopje 1-0 and ended a winless run that had lasted more than a month - their previous win was 2-0 against Bashkimi on 21 August. The first half passed without goals or real chances, and the decisive moment came in the 72nd minute: after a run by Maksimov down the right, Ivan Gligorov struck first time and hit the back of the net. Goalkeeper Jashar then saved the visitors' clearest chance. For the Štip side it's their third win of the season. The club that bears the capital's name still has no win after eight rounds and is stuck at the bottom of the table - and down there, nobody asks about your name.