Wales is looking for a second-straight World Cup berth after a magical run in 2022 ended a 64-year drought. This is as prosperous a time for Welsh soccer as any, even without its greatest export, Gareth Bale. The Dragons reached the semifinals of the European Championships in 2016 and then advanced to the round of 16 in 2020.
Conte's team came from behind twice to seal a share of the spoils at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with debutant Alisson Santos netting an 82nd-minute equaliser. Napoli had fallen behind through Donyell Malen's sixth-minute finish, only for Leonardo Spinazzola to restore parity just before the break with a deflected strike over Mile Svilar. Malen then re-established Roma's advantage from the penalty spot after Wesley was fouled by Amir Rrahmani, but substitute Santos popped up with the leveller on his Serie A debut.
When waters are choppy, you do not need some ambitious captain with notions of heading out on an adventure. All you really want is someone who can get you safely to shore. Igor Tudor is not keen on the word. Hearing it applied to him when he arrived at Juventus last season, he observed that every manager, everywhere, is living from game to game. You can have a contract for five years and get sent home after three matches, he said.
Liverpool enter the weekend sitting sixth and outside the Champions League places, regardless of whether England earns an additional qualification spot, while Manchester City are under mounting pressure to keep pace with Arsenal in a title race that appears to be slipping further out of reach. Both teams will approach this clash knowing that anything less than three points could prove damaging.
