UEFA

England’s impressive 3-2 win over Spain in Seville had its fair share of landmarks. The defeat was the first of Luis Enrique’s reign as boss, and it was also Spain’s first home loss since 2003. Raheem Sterling, who had a brace, scored his first international goal in 1,102 days, and England’s first goal in Spain since 1987. Harry Kane, who was signaled out for praise before the match by Sergio Ramos, had his first-ever two-assist match for the Three Lions.

When Germany won the 2014 World Cup, there was little doubt Manuel Neuer was the best goalkeeper in the world. His impressive shot-stopping ability and unparalleled foot skills made him a unique weapon for Die Mannschaft. 

These days, however, Neuer looks to be a shadow of his former self.

Following a long injury layoff, Neuer couldn’t do anything to help Germany during the country’s worst-ever World Cup showing over the summer in Russia. 

The 30 nominees for the 2018 Ballon d’Or award were released today by France Football, and although The Best FIFA Football Awards got tongue’s wagging back on Sept. 24, the gala for the sport’s most prestigious individual prize is expected to follow in a similar vein. (Read: Luka Modric will win, denying Cristiano Ronaldo a third straight triumph.)

Finally, UEFA has confirmed it has common sense. On Thursday, the Executive Committee confirmed there will be VAR in Champions League matches starting with the 2019 season. 

A contest between Germany and Turkey for the right to host Euro 2024 was decided today, and it’s Deutschland that will welcome 24 teams in June and July for the 17th edition of the European Championship. 

Juventus fans and football lovers everywhere have been waiting with baited breath for a ruling on the red card Cristiano Ronaldo received in Juve’s opening Group H match against Valencia last week. But no one has been more anxious than the Portuguese star himself, who left the pitch in tears for, what many believed, was a rather harsh call by the referee.

Rennes played Jablonec on Thursday in the Europa League, beating them 2-1. And there were a few takeaways. One being the fact that Hatem Ben Arfa came on after practically two years of inactivity and scored the winner, another being that Theoson Siebatcheu is an American-born player and plays for Rennes, which is promising for the state of U.S. soccer and could be an exciting USMNT call up.

But most notably: Ismaïla Sarr scored a banger — a volley outside the box that arguably skyrocketed into the upper-right corner faster than an actual rocket.

Volodymyr Chesnakov has one of the oddest pregame rituals we have ever seen. 

The captain of Vorskla Poltava, Chesnakov and his teammates were in London to face Arsenal in the Europa League on Thursday. Before coming out onto the pitch at Emirates Stadium, Chesnakov spit all over his own face.

And it worked. He scored a great goal for Vorskla, the fifth-place team in the Ukrainian Premier League.

But Arsenal still won easily, 4-2, to the surprise of no one.