UEFA

UEFA has failed to protect players from racist abuse once again.

It’s not that this is anything new, it's just the players are naturally fed up with the monkey chants, the racial diatribes and having things like water bottles and human spit flung at them. UEFA in the past has levied fines and partial stadium closures and recently put in a new protocol allowing teams to walk off the pitch, but is that really enough of a crackdown?

No. Racism in the stands has always been there but now that there’s a spotlight on it, UEFA looks like the joke that it already is.

A disastrous week of qualifying for the Republic of Ireland began with a 0-0 draw away to Georgia on Saturday and concluded with a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in Geneva on Tuesday, effectively handing control of Group D over to the Swiss and Denmark in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Torrential rain before Tuesday’s match had pounded the pitch at Stade de Genève, but the prospective bog figured to suit an Irish side that entered the match with an anemic attack that’d produced only six goals in six games coupled with an unforgiving defense that’d conceded only twice. 

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 700th goal of his professional career, but Portugal’s 13-game unbeaten streak was brought to an abrupt end by Ukraine in Kiev on Monday. The victory secured qualification to Euro 2020 for Ukraine, and it was a continuation of the country’s glorious renaissance under the direction of 43-year-old manager Andriy Shevchenko.

It was Shevhenko himself who scored Ukraine’s last goal at a major international tournament — that coming at Euro 2012 — but based on today’s display, this is a team that will certainly do more than make up the numbers next summer. 

Despite having a portion of the Vasil Levski Stadium closed by order of UEFA for “racist behavior” from Bulgaria supporters during a June qualifier against Kosovo, the buildup for today’s match between England and Bulgaria in Sofia was centered around how Three Lions players would respond to the inevitable racist abuse that would come their way.

On Sunday, during a crunch Euro 2020 qualifier between Wales and Croatia in Cardiff, there was a terrifying moment in the 14th minute when highly touted Welsh winger Daniel James — somewhat stooping to win a header in the middle of the park — caught a flying knee to the back of the head from Croatian defender Domagoj Vida.

Wales and Croatia played to a mutually beneficial draw on Sunday, with Nikola Vlašić’s ninth-minute opener canceled out by Gareth Bale just before the halftime whistle in Cardiff. Croatia remains top of a tight-knit Group E and can secure passage with a draw or victory against Slovakia on Nov. 16, while Wales is now on a collision course with Hungary on Nov. 19 in Cardiff (assuming the Dragons take care of business against Azerbaijan on Nov. 16).

It wasn’t a vintage Netherlands performance by any means, but the Dutch’s quest for a first major international tournament appearance since the 2014 World Cup remains on course following a 2-1 victory over Belarus on Sunday.

With two matches remaining in Euro 2020 qualifying, a draw against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Nov. 16 would ensure a return to the big stage for the Oranje. 

Following a 9-0 beatdown of San Marino on Thursday, Belgium became the first nation to book its place at next summer’s European Championship. Today, the Red Devils maintained their 100 percent record in Euro 2020 qualifiers with a 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan in Nur-Sultan. 

As the world’s top-ranked side, Belgium boasts an embarrassment of attacking riches. After netting goals 50 and 51 for the national team against San Marino, striker Romelu Lukaku was rested against Kazakhstan, but it was his replacement, Michy Batshuayi, who opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

Christian Eriksen may not be having the best of seasons with Tottenham, but he’s still one of the most visionary midfielders in the game today. 

With his country hosting Switzerland in a big Euro 2020 qualifier, Eriksen reminded Spurs fans of the quality he’s capable of with a game-changing assist on Saturday. Aided by some huge saves from Kasper Schmeichel, Denmark scored a 1-0 win, with Yussuf Poulsen’s 84th-minute strike set up by Eriksen proving just enough for the home side.