Football: the main stories of 21.09.2026

Thomas Tuchel's England squad is losing players before it has met. Cole Palmer was recalled for this window and is now set to withdraw from the Nations League fixtures. Reports describe a minor injury, and Sky Sports calls it a muscle problem. Manchester United have also been hit. Four United players pulled out of international duty on the first day of the extended break, 24 hours after a late deflected goal from Cunha rescued a 1:1 draw at Fulham. One outlet goes further. It reports that five England players are out: Palmer, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento. According to the same report, Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White have been called up. No other outlet has confirmed that list.

At Fifa, Gianni Infantino has proposed an external review of how the governing body is run. Switzerland are without their captain. Granit Xhaka is out of the squad while an investigation into his Covid-19 vaccination certificate continues, after Sunday's reports that the certificate was forged. There is still fallout from Atlético's 2:1 win over Real Madrid, the game in which Huijsen was sent off. The referee's report records that play resumed five minutes late, and Real Madrid may face disciplinary action. One outlet reports that the referees' committee has released the VAR audio of the Romero stamp and the Huijsen dismissal.

• Juan Díaz has left Rodina after nine league rounds.
• Internacional have sacked Paulo Pezzolano after 262 days in charge.
• Warren Zaïre-Emery and Robin Risser are out of Zinedine Zidane's France squad, and Akliouche has been called up.
• Messi scored his 75th free-kick, which moves him to second on the all-time list. It came in Inter Miami's draw with San Diego, and he has now scored in three games in a row.
• Messi has also shown the Argentina shirt for his farewell match against Benin on 6 October.
• One outlet reports that Benfica lost 1:3 at Porto, ending a 56-game unbeaten league run.
• Sandro Mazzola's funeral was held at the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Milan.
• Gary Lineker criticised Jim Ratcliffe over the state of Manchester United.
• Kylian Mbappé says he has nothing to add on the Ballon d'Or.
• Diego Simeone said Barcelona are playing another sport.
• Makelele and Benito argue that the referee is not Real's problem.
• Rafael Leão is facing the same criticism at Galatasaray that he faced at Milan.
• One report says Brajan Gruda has withdrawn from the Germany squad with an abdominal injury.