International
Klopp’s Wirtz praise overlooks the bigger Liverpool question
Klopp praised Wirtz, but his Serbia display did not solve the Liverpool puzzle or explain it.
Jürgen Klopp urged Liverpool supporters to “be happy” after Florian Wirtz delivered a standout display for Germany against Serbia, but that reaction papers over the reason the midfielder has looked short of his best on Merseyside.
Klopp was glowing in his assessment. “He was bursting with joy and worked incredibly hard,” he said. “That was exceptional; he played a fantastic game. Our style of play suits him.
“I don’t know what he has to do to make everyone happy, but everyone in Liverpool should be happy today.”
There is no doubt Wirtz was influential. He scored once, created six chances, and registered more key passes than anyone else on the pitch. He also finished with more chances created than misplaced passes, a sharp contrast to his return across six Liverpool appearances this season, where he has managed only one assist and is still waiting for his first goal.
But the national-team context matters. Wirtz has not been dominant every time he has played for Germany. He failed to score at the World Cup when Germany were knocked out by Paraguay in the round of 32, and he was anonymous in last weekend’s defeat to Greece. Serbia, too, offered favourable conditions. They are on a five-match losing streak after failing to qualify for the largest World Cup ever, and have conceded at least two goals in each of those defeats.
Wirtz himself acknowledged the space he was given. “The opponent gave us more space because they were a bit more disorganized and perhaps looked to counter more,” he said. “That created more spaces that we utilized well.”
He also admitted his preference: “What do I need to be at my best?” Wirtz shrugged. “Ideally, a lot of space in every game so I can do what I want!”
That is the problem. Liverpool do not regularly offer that kind of freedom. The player also looks more effective when allowed to roam, yet this season he has largely been confined to the left wing. Against Serbia, he moved across the attacking third and benefited from the movement around him. “The players around me also made it very easy for me today,” Wirtz explained. “There was a lot of movement in our game, and we were all eager to play football. That makes it easier to shine.”
International
Seven Ballon d’Or disputes that still define the award
A look at the Ballon d’Or’s most disputed decisions, from early exclusions to modern outrage.
The Ballon d’Or was created in the mid-1950s by writers Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran as a journalistic prize for the best European player in Europe. What began as a straightforward honour has become one of football’s most argued-over awards, with every era producing its own flashpoints.
By 2026, the contest sits in a different world. The Messi-Ronaldo period and the wider rise of individual acclaim have only intensified the debate, with stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal now openly seeking votes. Yet the award has never been decided unanimously, and its history is crowded with choices that have baffled observers.
The early rules left out the world’s great non-Europeans until 1995, which means names such as Pelé, Diego Maradona, Mario Kempes and Romário do not appear among the winners. The inconsistencies did not stop there, as players such as Alfredo Di Stefano and Omar Sívori were eligible through dual citizenship.
Kevin Keegan’s 1978 win remains one of the oddest, especially when set against the year he had, while Kenny Dalglish finished only eighth despite 31 goals and a European Cup final winner. More recently, Erling Haaland’s 52 goals in 53 games during Manchester City’s treble season still were not enough to prevent Lionel Messi taking the prize.
The 2010 vote also caused lasting frustration. Messi profited from split support between Andrés Iniesta and Xavi, while Wesley Sneijder, central to José Mourinho’s treble-winning Inter Milan side and the Netherlands’ run to the World Cup final, ended up fourth. Diego Milito, despite a major season, was not even nominated.
Michael Owen’s 2001 success is still disputed, with Raúl’s La Liga dominance prompting the headline “Stolen Ballon d’Or” in Spain. In 2003, Pavel Nedvěd beat Thierry Henry, who had become the first player to reach 20 league goals and 20 assists in a Premier League season.
The 1960 result also drew scrutiny, as Luís Suárez prevailed while Ferenc Puskás finished second despite 47 goals in 36 games. More recently, Vinícius Jr being passed over for Rodri led to Madrid’s boycott of the Paris ceremony and a pointed statement from the club.
Arsenal News
Xhaka withdrawn from Switzerland squad after admitting forged Covid certificate
Xhaka is out of Switzerland’s squad after admitting he obtained a forged Covid-19 certificate in 2022.
Granit Xhaka has been taken out of Switzerland’s squad for the rest of this international window after acknowledging that he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
Xhaka said the decision was “not the right course of action” and described it as a “mistake.” He also issued an apology, but the matter has moved beyond a public statement. Before posting his message as an Instagram story, he had already been in contact with the Swiss Football Association (SFV).
The issue resurfaced after Blick ran the headline last Friday, ‘Did Xhaka buy a fake Covid certificate?’ The report said the document was obtained from a doctor in Lucerne. Police searched those premises in 2023 and “evidence seized.”
On Sunday, after the news emerged in Switzerland, Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris declined to address it directly, saying it was not his “area to speak about those problems or situations.” Xhaka had played the full 90 minutes in a 5-3 defeat to Manchester City, and had previously been an Arsenal player in 2022.
The prosecutor’s office in Lucerne confirmed to Blick that proceedings have been opened against Xhaka and the doctor involved. “The aim,” they say, “is to clarify whether there has been any criminally relevant conduct in connection with the possible fraudulent procurement of a false certification and/or forgery.” Xhaka is due to be questioned in early October.
The SFV said it “welcomes” Xhaka addressing the matter publicly and taking responsibility, after discussions with the national team legend on Sunday night.
“At the same time, we jointly concluded that it is in the team’s best interest to complete this training camp without him,” SFV president Peter Knäbel said. “Our priority now is to calm the situation and focus entirely on the team and the upcoming challenges in the UEFA Nations League. After the conclusion of this international match window, we will reassess the situation together with Granit and discuss the next steps.”
The broader issue is not vaccination itself. In Switzerland, vaccination was never a legal requirement, though proof of vaccination was needed for access to certain venues or travel. The central question is the alleged procurement of false or forged official documents.
Arsenal
Why the Premier League has another three-week wait for its return
The Premier League is paused for three weeks as international football takes over until October 10.
The first chapter of the 2026/27 Premier League season has already been completed, but there will be no league football for the next two weekends. An international break has taken over, and the domestic calendar will remain on hold until October 10.
That pause comes after a strong start from Arsenal, whose perfect record drew talk of a potentially one-sided title race. Yet Brighton & Hove Albion halted that run before the break, a result that offered a reminder that the leaders are not beyond reach.
For now, though, attention shifts away from club football and back to national teams. This is the first time sides have come together since the 2026 World Cup, and the next couple of weeks will be filled with fixtures that should keep supporters occupied.
The Premier League’s return is set for Matchday 6, when Arsenal open the weekend at Emirates Stadium against Leeds United. It will mark the restart of a schedule that has been interrupted by an extended pause created by the international calendar.
That calendar was changed by the FIFA Council in 2023, leaving only three international breaks this season. September and October have effectively been combined into one longer window, with further breaks still due in November and March.
The stoppage is not limited to England’s top flight. Club football across Europe has also been paused until the second weekend of October, while the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League begins to take centre stage.
Teams will play four times during this window, and several matches stand out. League A includes a rematch of the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain on Sept. 26, Germany against the Netherlands on Sept. 24, France at home to Italy on Oct. 2, and Portugal facing Norway on Oct. 4.
