A national team struggling at the bottom of their qualifying group given a second chance through the vagaries of the Nations League. So the two get together, doubting manager and doubting country, and somehow, less than six months after the nadir, they are going to the World Cup. Their place in the World Cup qualifying playoffs was down to them topping their League C group in 2024-25, finishing above Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan. But wins over Ukraine and Poland now have him going to the World Cup. “My career has had some amazing nights and amazing experiences,” he said, “but to go to the World Cup … wow, this is incredible.”

Source: The Guardian April 01, 2026 13:51 UTC