The big news: Southgate gets Wenger’s backing

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger backed interim England manager Gareth Southgate to get the job on a long-term basis. Wenger also has been linked with the job. Southgate took over the reins of the team after Sam Allardyce was sacked in September. The 46-year-old Southgate saw England beat Malta 2-0 and play out a goalless draw with Slovenia since taking over. England have a World Cup qualifier against Scotland at Wembley on November 11 and a friendly against Spain four days later after which Southgate's contract ends.

Wenger said Southgate "has accumulated experiences and is a good observer of what's going on in the national team." Wenger added, "We're in a job where you get questioned, especially if you have less experience, and the only answer he can give is by showing the decisions he makes are right. There's always a demand for big names but the most important thing is the person's competency. He has a good opportunity and I'm happy he has a chance to show he has the quality."

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The Frenchman refused to comment on being linked with the England job. "I focus on my job, that's what it is about."

Other top stories

  1. The Indian Under-17 team went down fighting against Brazil in their final group stage match of the BRICS U-17 tournament on Thursday. India scored their first goal of the tournament, but eventually went down 3-1. 
  2. Chennayin FC beat FC Goa to register their first win of the Indian Super League season on Thursday. A repeat of last year’s final, midfielder Hans Mulder's gave Chennai the lead with skipper Mehrajuddin Wadoo's deflected strike making it 2-0 to bag three points.
  3. Delhi Dynamos coach Gianluca Zambrotta spoke about the possibility of Manchester United's star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing in the Indian Super League in the future. "Given his fan following in India, I think Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] would want to come and end his career here. On my end, I will definitely try and convince him to play for Delhi Dynamos,” Zambrotta said.
  4. Pakistani footballer Shahlyla Ahmadzai Baloch died in a car crash in Karachi in the early hours of Thursday morning. She was inarguably the best woman footballer Pakistan has produced and was only 20 years old. In 2005, aged just nine, she became the youngest Pakistani player to feature in the Women's Football Championship when she turned out for Balochistan United. 
  5. Cristiano Ronaldo will not leave Real Madrid anytime soon following his Champions League and European Championship glory in 2016. Ronaldo described it as his "dream" to remain at Real Madrid for many years to come. The 31-year-old's contract at the Santiago Bernabeu runs until 2018, although the announcement of a longer deal is on the cards. 
  6. Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier is being investigated by Fifa after appearing to make a throat-slitting gesture to supporters during his side’s clash against Mali in the World Cup qualifiers. Aurier was seen rejoicing over a goal against Mali by turning to the crowd and dragging his hand across his throat. Fifa said a "preliminary investigation is under way". In the same game, Aurier was praised for saving the life of Mali forward Moussa Doumbia.