The ghosts of campaigns past mean Steve Clarke must urge Scotland to get off to a brisk start to World Cup qualifying when Austria visit Hampden Park on Thursday. Since reaching the 1998 World Cup, Scotland have won only three of 11 opening games.

“I didn’t know that,” said Clarke. “I’m not getting six hours’ sleep a night anyway, thinking about my selection, and that’s just chopped it down to four.

David Squires on … Scotland’s joyous outpouring after 22 years of painRead more

“Listen, a good start is important. Without putting too much pressure on ourselves we want to start the group well. We won’t know until the end of the campaign what a good points total will be so it’s important we don’t…

Almost every December all around the UK, temporary winter wonderland theme parks crop up, usually in out-of-town car parks or disused industrial sites. They promise hours of seasonal fun with Santa’s grottos and magic sleigh rides – but what disappointed families often get is Santa’s static caravan covered in tinsel and two emaciated donkeys dressed in plastic antlers dragging a wheelbarrow. Imagine that, but online and with a bit more cash behind it, and you have Fifa World.

Announced via a typically histrionic press release, Fifa World is a “virtual environment that celebrates the power of football and the rich history of its pinnacle events”. Built into the hugely successful online multiplayer game Roblox, which allows its 55 mi…

Preston Johnson has been to Wembley before. “I saw Coldplay in concert once,” the American says. But the former professional gambler and NFT (non-fungible token) enthusiast will be attending in a new capacity on Sunday as Crawley, the club he co-owns, attempt to seal promotion to League One.

“I have some family and friends that are flying over and I’m going to spend some time with them Saturday,” he says. “On Sunday, the schedule is pretty much set. We have a meal before the game. Sky Sports asked me to do an interview at midday. So if I wasn’t already really nervous, now I get to do a TV hit. But it’s part of the experience. I will not complain.”

‘Bigger, better, stronger’: why the EFL’s appeal has never been gre…