**Football Daily | Ireland’s Risky Precedent and England's Promotion** Well, that was a close call. Despite all the media fuss over mass player withdrawals and the puzzling absence of a new manager who, as Football Daily confirms, isn’t set to start until the new year, England somehow managed to secure promotion back to the top tier of European football. This league, reminiscent of the old quiz show Turnabout, is known for its convoluted rules—so much so that even its host has admitted to not fully grasping them. Nevertheless, it drew a massive audience simply because it was on. Consequently, Wembley was packed on Sunday for a match deemed “must-win” for England, even if many in attendance were unclear about the stakes. At least it was something to do. Imagine the scene: the once-mighty Rome struggling to regain its former glory, plagued by internal conflicts that see leader after leader toppled, until everyone turns to an old figure on the sidelines named Claudio… sorry, Claudius. Is history really repeating itself? In response to Andy Morrison’s email, which mentioned Glenn Hoddle and the infamous phrase about ‘setting the balls up in the right place,’ I was reminded of the unpleasant memories from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Perhaps enduring ITV’s coverage was a punishment for past sins. This is just a glimpse of our daily football email, Football Daily. For the complete version, be sure to check out our subscription page and follow the instructions.

In the latest episode of the Football Weekly Extra podcast, host Max Rushden is joined by panelists Barry Glendenning, Paul MacInnes, and Lars Sivertsen to delve into the story of Premier League referee David Coote, as well as the upcoming Nations League matches. The discussion centers around the implications of Coote's experiences, exploring what they reveal about referees, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), and the behavior of managers towards officials. The panel also reflects on the internet's tendency to target individuals, particularly in the context of sports. Listeners are encouraged to rate, review, and share the podcast on various platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast, and Stitcher. They can also engage with the podcast community through social media and email.

**Premier League, WSL, and FA Cup First-Round Build-Up: Live Updates** Stay tuned for the latest updates from Friday's press conferences as we gear up for an exciting weekend of football. **Key Highlights:** - A look at ten crucial aspects to watch for in the Premier League this weekend. - We welcome your thoughts and insights—feel free to reach out via email. **Liverpool's Left-Back Situation: A Non-Issue?** While discussions around player selection often create dilemmas, it seems there isn't a real concern regarding Liverpool's left-back position. This is just part of the narrative that surrounds team selections in football. Keep following for more updates as the weekend approaches!

**Football Daily | Evangelos Marinakis, Phlegm, and a Full-Throated Discourse** Last Friday, news broke that Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had received a five-match stadium ban for “improper behaviour” in the tunnel area following his team's defeat to Fulham. Many, including Football Daily, were left wondering what could have warranted such a significant punishment. In contrast, Nuno Espírito Santo and Morgan Gibbs-White received shorter bans for verbally confronting match referee Josh Smith and his officials. It turns out Marinakis's suspension stemmed from a more serious infraction: he was penalized for his outspoken remarks directed at the officials. In reading about Luka Modric, I was struck by a remarkable statistic: he has now participated in over half of Croatia’s all-time men’s national games, with 182 appearances out of 363. Modric has outlasted numerous legends at Real Madrid, including Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and Toni Kroos. At 39, he continues to perform at the highest level for both club and country, which is truly impressive. It’s surprising that his name isn’t mentioned more frequently in discussions about football greats. While four years can bring significant changes in football, the transformation from a certain period to the current state of Real Madrid is quite striking. The contrast between the unpredictability of past seasons and the current predictability is notable. Arthur Ellis may have been the ‘man in the middle’ during a memorable match in Berne, but that was long before my time. So, I, along with over a thousand other readers, remember him more for his role in the classic television show "It’s A Knockout." Despite the controversies surrounding Stuart Hall, Ellis brought a certain ‘smart, aristocratic’ flair to the show, making the 1979 edition feel rather seedy in retrospect. This is just a glimpse of our daily football email, Football Daily. For the complete version, be sure to check out our subscription page and follow the instructions.