Raphael Varane has joined Como as a board member following his retirement from football last month.

The defender joined the club as a free agent at the end of last season after three years at Manchester United, with his final year in the Premier League hampered by injuries.

However, he suffered a knee injury during his Como debut in August, prompting him to decide to hang up his boots at the age of just 31.

Varane will now serve as a board member for the Serie A club, advising on youth development, education and product innovation.

"Being a top-level sportsman comes with joy, sacrifice, and the constant drive to push beyond limits," Varane told Como's website. "Throughout my career, I've been motivated by a desire to improve and strive for excellence.

"Transitioning from the field to the boardroom isn't the end of my football journey; it's a new beginning that I'm looking forward to. Joining the board of Como allows me to continue contributing to the sport while shaping its future.

"This new phase of my career feels like a second birth, not an ending. I'm not saying goodbye to football.

"Joining the Como 1907 Development Committee excites me, and I look forward to being part of an ambitious project that resonates with my values.

"Together, we will invest in youth development, expand educational opportunities, and innovate product solutions to bring the club's vision to life."

Nikita Parris’ equaliser earned Brighton a 1-1 draw against her former club Manchester United at the Amex Stadium in the Women’s Super League.

Grace Clinton got the visitors off to the perfect start after 10 minutes when she latched onto the end of Celin Bizet Ildhusoy’s cross from the right to turn home at the near post.

Substitute Madison Haley had a prime opportunity to equalise on the stroke of half-time but placed her shot just wide after Fran Kirby had cut back for her in the centre.

After a spell of pressure, Brighton eventually drew level after half-time through ex-United player Parris. The forward got a glancing touch from a diving header on a strike from range by Maria Thorisdottir to score.

Parris' goal was the first time United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce has conceded this season.

The scriptwriters would surely have had the returning Elisabeth Terland scoring a winner against her former club, but she found herself twice denied by Sophie Baggaley in the closing 10 minutes.

The result moves Manchester United top of the WSL, above their opponents on goal difference as Brighton continue to impress and move into second place. Both sides now sit level on 10 points with Manchester City, who play Aston Villa on Sunday.

Data Debrief: Goals galore

United have now scored in all four of their WSL games played so far this season, scoring eight goals in that run, while Brighton have scored in four out of their five matches played.

Clinton now has three goals to her name in the WSL this season, making her the joint-top scorer in the league. Team-mate Bizet Ildhusoy, who moved with her from Tottenham, now also tops the assists chart with three.

At the other end of the pitch, United captain Maya Le Tissier became the youngest player in the WSL (22 years, 184 days), to make 100 starts in the WSL. Fittingly, she has represented both United and Brighton during that time.

West Brom missed the chance to reach the Championship summit after Dane Scarlett's stoppage-time header snatched a 1-1 draw for Oxford United.

The Baggies seemed set to move to the top of the second-tier table, at least temporarily after Saturday's early kick-offs, when Karlan Grant drove in a first-half opener at the Kassam Stadium.

Des Buckingham's battling hosts stayed in the clash throughout, however, before Oxford captain Elliott Moore flicked on a long throw-in for Tottenham loanee Scarlett to head into the top corner in the 92nd minute.

Dropping two points late on leaves Carlos Corberan's side fifth in the Championship, with fourth-placed Burnley and league leaders Sunderland yet to play.

Further down the table, Luton Town claimed a much-needed 3-0 win over fierce rivals Watford to ease the mounting pressure on Rob Edwards at Kenilworth Road.

Jordan Clark needed just 11 minutes to open the scoring before Carlton Morris headed home Alfie Doughty's 47th-minute corner to punish some woeful Watford defending.

Substitute Jacob Brown sealed victory in the 91st minute after a long ball from goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski as Luton managed back-to-back league victories over Watford for the first time since 1992.

Luton sit 15th in the table after Saturday's victory, one place and a point behind Preston North End, who fought to a 1-0 win over Coventry City, leaving Mark Robins' side just above the relegation zone.

Emil Riis' 72nd-minute finish proved the difference at Deepdale, where Coventry have never won in 23 league attempts (D8 L15).

Coventry may be looking over their shoulders at Cardiff City, who are level on points with Robins' men after thrashing 10-man Plymouth Argyle 5-0 at home.

Rubin Colwill scored one and assisted two more as Cardiff, under the interim charge of Omer Riza, made the most of Ibrahim Cissoko's first-half dismissal for lashing out at Perry Ng.

Alex Robertson got things going with his 16th-minute opener before the Bluebirds ran riot after the interval with goals from Anwar El Ghazi, Callum Robinson and Chris Willock.

A crushing defeat leaves Wayne Rooney's Plymouth just three points clear of the relegation zone after the Championship's return from the October international break.

A rampant second-half performance saw Tottenham ease to a 4-1 win over London rivals West Ham on Saturday, easing the pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou.

Mohammed Kudus put West Ham ahead early on, firing home at the back post following good work from Jarrod Bowen on the Hammers' right, only for Dejan Kulusevski to fire in off the post to level in the 36th minute. 

Under-fire head coach Postecoglou surprisingly withdrew James Maddison at half-time despite the England man assisting the equaliser, but that change paid off as Spurs swiftly pulled clear.

Yves Bissouma swept home in the 52nd minute, then Son Heung-min's shot deflected off both Jean-Clair Todibo and Alphonse Areola before creeping in for an own goal.

Son then made it three goals in an eight-minute span to kill the contest, racing onto a pass from Maddison's replacement Pape Sarr before finishing at the near post.

To add to West Ham's woes, Kudus was sent off for violent conduct late on, with the VAR intervening to recommend an on-field review after he raised his hands to Micky van de Ven's face.

Julen Lopetegui's visitors drop to 14th in the Premier League table with eight points, while Tottenham go sixth with 13 ahead of Saturday's other fixtures.

Data Debrief: Kulusevski takes centre-stage

It was certainly a surprise to see Maddison withdrawn at half-time, after he drove over halfway to assist Kulusevski's equaliser.

He became just the second Tottenham player on record (since 2003-04) to create five or more chances in a Premier League game while playing 45 minutes or fewer, after Darren Anderton versus Fulham in August 2003 (five chances created in 32 minutes).

However, Postecoglou's switch certainly paid off as Kulusevski shone in a number 10 role.

His clever reverse pass allowed Son in to force the own goal, while the Swede also led all players on the pitch for dribbles (six), duels contested (15) and won (eight) and possession regains (eight) in an all-action display.

Ederson believes Manchester City already have "the next manager in mind" for when Pep Guardiola departs the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola's contract with the Citizens expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, and the Spaniard is undecided on his long-term future.

The 53-year-old has guided City to six Premier League titles - including an unprecedented four in a row - since joining the club in 2016, as well as the Champions League, Club World Cup and four Carabao Cup triumphs.

Ederson, whose own future at the Etihad was also recently under speculation, knows it will be "a great loss" on the day Guardiola ends his stay with City.

However, the goalkeeper thinks the club are prepared for when the time arrives.

"City is a very well-structured club, well-managed, it has great directors, a great CEO, a great coach," Ederson told TNT Sports Brazil.

"I believe the club already has the next manager in mind. The day Pep decides to leave, they will try to follow the same line of work.

"Of course, it would be a great loss. I have no doubt about that, because you are talking about the best coach in the world. I see a club very well-prepared for post-Guardiola."

Arne Slot insists Trent Alexander-Arnold is not "disturbed" by speculation surrounding his future at Liverpool, with the defender's contract running down at Anfield.

Alexander-Arnold is into the final year of his existing deal with the Reds, and has been linked with a move to reigning Champions League and LaLiga winners Real Madrid.

The England defender is now Liverpool's vice-captain to skipper Virgil van Dijk who, along with Mohamed Salah, is also out of contract at the end of this season.

However, speaking ahead of the Reds' clash with Chelsea on Sunday, Slot says dealing with speculation on a frequent basis is nothing new to his players. 

"I think you underestimate our players," the Dutchman told reporters during his pre-match press conference. "These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis, if they have contracts or not.

"If you think they're disturbed by this interest, then you don't do justice to how strong they are mentally. This is part of our job. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do.

"Maybe, if you're 17 or 18 years of age, it could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League; Virgil and Mo the same. I don't think that is a problem for them to perform and that's what we see at the moment, because they're playing really well."

Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed a positive start to the campaign, playing all seven Premier League matches for Liverpool, who are the early pace setters in the English top flight.

The England full-back has also started all four of the Three Lions' Nations League games under interim boss Lee Carsley.

"He's been very good for us until now," Slot added. "He was - and is still - important in the attacking part of our game.

"I also like the way he has defended until now in the games he has played for us. I think he made a step-up in that perspective.

"But, like all the others, there's still room for improvement. That's clear. But he's done very well for us this season, and I think he's done really well for the national team as well."

Phil Neville is treating the Portland Timbers' Decision-Day derby against the Seattle Sounders as the first test of the postseason, as they gear up for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The Timbers have already secured a wild-card playoff place ahead of their final regular-season match, though they could yet leapfrog the Vancouver Whitecaps to finish eighth in the Western Conference.

After missing the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns, Portland are already focused on enjoying a deep run this term, with Neville seeing Saturday's match as a dress rehearsal.

"We're in the part of the season where you have to earn your money," Neville said. "You have to produce, you have to deliver.

"I'm excited and so are the players, so is everyone at the club. It starts on Saturday with a game against our biggest rivals, we're playing for the Cascadia Cup.

"We know that the highest we can get is eighth and we've got to rely on other results, but we're just going up there with the focus to get the three points and bring the cup home."

The Sounders, meanwhile, enter the final matchday flying high in the West, hoping to fend off Real Salt Lake to retain the third seed. 

"The players are feeling good," said head coach Brian Schmetzer ahead of Saturday's game. "Everybody's playing well and everybody's training hard. The guys are ready.

"I think everybody's pitched in. I think it's probably one of the tighter knit groups I've had."

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei added: "There's a lot to play for. 

"When you're playing a rival, there's also a trophy on the line as well, so we're excited to host them, and hopefully use it as a good exercise for what's to come."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak 

Rusnak is the first player in the Sounders' MLS history to record 10 goals and 15 assists in a single regular season. Rusnak is one assist away from equalling Seattle's single-season record of 16, set by Nicolas Lodeiro in 2018.

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander's 32 goal contributions this season equals Diego Valeri's 2017 campaign for the most in a single season in Portland history. 

With 15 goals and 17 assists, Evander is one of six players in MLS history to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a season, including one of two (also Lionel Messi) this year.

MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

This will be the first ever meeting between the Sounders and Timbers on the final day of the MLS regular season. 

Portland are unbeaten in eight straight visits to Seattle (five wins, three draws) in all competitions, the longest unbeaten run by any club at Seattle in the Sounders' MLS era (since 2009). However, they face a daunting task here.

The Sounders have won 11 of their last 14 regular-season matches (one draw, two losses) including the last three in a row. Seattle's 34 points over their last 14 games are the second-most they have collected over a 14-game span in a single season (36 in July-October 2018).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 49.2%

Portland Timbers – 25.2%

Draw – 25.5%

Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay feels his team are a match for anyone at Allianz Field, ahead of welcoming St. Louis City to the venue for Saturday's regular-season finale.

The Loons are guaranteed a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.

Should they beat St. Louis, they will avoid a play-in fixture by preventing the eighth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps from leapfrogging them at the last opportunity.

Speaking ahead of the game, Ramsay said he had enjoyed the opportunity to work with some of his players for an extended period during the international break.

"We've wanted to make sure that we train properly and get some real intensity into the sessions, I feel like you can be lulled into a false sense of security in two weeks," he said. 

"Everyone is absolutely raring to go on Saturday, I think we've achieved that. Hopefully the internationals come back with the bit between their teeth and ready to add to that energy.

"If I was an opposition coach analysing us, I'd be worried in the sense that we can score on the counterattack, we can score from organised play, we're a threat on set-pieces.

"We'll come good in that sense. If we're a good version of ourselves we're more than a match for anyone that comes here."

St. Louis are unable to make the postseason, sitting 12th in the West and nine points adrift of the playoff picture.

Asked what he wanted to get out of the game, interim head coach John Hackworth said: "Just a good performance. We have been in good form.

"One of the only teams in the league that has been in better form than us is Minnesota. Kudos to them, they've gone a fantastic job."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah 

Yeboah has hit 17 shots on target for Minnesota this season, with only Bongokuhle Hlongwane (26) registering more despite Yeboah not appearing in his first match for the Loons until late August.

St. Louis City – Cedric Teuchert 

Teuchert has recorded a team-high nine goal contributions (five goals, four assists) despite playing in just nine matches this season. 

The fewest games played by a player who led a team in goal contributions for a season is 10 (Clint Mathis for the MetroStars in 2001 and Danny Koevermans for Toronto FC in 2011).

MATCH PREDICTION – MINNESOTA UNITED

The visiting side has won all three meetings between Minnesota and St. Louis, including a 3-1 win for the Loons on September 14. However, a home victory could be in the offing this time.

St. Louis have only won one of their last 20 away matches in all competitions (eight draws, 11 defeats), while Minnesota have won three of their last five on home soil.

The Loons enter the final match of the season with 49 points and are looking to cross the 50-point mark for the second time in club history (53 in 2019). A victory would be their 15th for the season, equalling their club record also set in 2019.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 48.8%

St. Louis City – 25.5%

Draw – 25.7%

St Catherine High will enter the round of 16 of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup on a high after they topped Zone G with a 1-0 win over many-time champions St George’s College at Winchester Park on Friday.

Romaine Walters got the solitary strike in the 28th minute to ensure his team ended the first round unbeaten on 22 points with 30 goals to their credit. Interestingly, it was Walters’ first goal of the season and a welcome one at this point of the campaign.

St George’s College, who were suffering their first loss of the season, ended second on 19 points and, as a result, will be grouped with reigning champions Mona High for the second round.

Holy Trinity (seven points), Norman Manley (four points), and Papine (three points) were the teams in Zone G.

Donovan Lofters, St Catherine’s assistant coach, was delighted with his team’s showing.

“It was a spirited performance; playing against St George’s College at home was always going to be difficult, but kudos to our keeper; he kept us in the game, and we are happy to have him. It was a game of moments; we got off a number of chances and we took one of ours, so we are grateful, and this is good for our confidence going forward,” Lofters said in a post-game interview.

St Catherine dominated proceedings for the first 20 minutes, as they were more enterprising and also more threatening in open play.

After close shaves and half-chances, they inevitably broke the deadlock when a corner kick was headed back across in the path of Walters, who released a fairly tame effort that eluded St George’s goalkeeper Jordan Knight, who made a lazy attempt at a save.

St George’s College eventually settled into their game and went close through Matthew Spence, who pulled the trigger from point blank range, but Omarion Brown, who was impressive in goal for St Catherine, stuck out the right hand to deny him.

Minutes later, Brown, diving full stretch to his left, again came up big to keep out Shaquan Clarke’s shot from a distance.

Though the second half failed to produce a goal, it wasn’t for a lack of trying from both teams, particularly St George’s College, who created numerous half chances, which they failed to make count due to faulty shooting and more decent glove work by Brown.

St Catherine had their best chance to add to their tally in the 88th, when substitute Terray Harvey somehow skied an effort from close range.

Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell believes they could have won the contest, but for Brown’s brilliance between the sticks.

“I thought we deserved something from the game, but we didn’t score, and we gave up a goal that we shouldn’t have given up, but Omarion Brown kept them in the game. Congratulations to them and congrats to him; he was amazing. I loved the game; I thought it was a good schoolboy game, and we wanted to win or at least get a point, but we are good because we are in the second round,” Bell noted.

Gregg Berhalter has pledged to make the Chicago Fire's supporters proud ahead of taking the reins for the 2025 season, with Frank Klopas taking to the dugout for the last time against Nashville SC this weekend. 

Neither Chicago nor Nashville can make the playoffs on Decision Day, sitting 15th and 13th in the Eastern Conference standings respectively.

Chicago are propping up the table with just 30 points, and they have reacted to their dismal campaign by appointing former United States national team coach Berhalter.

Ahead of assuming a watching brief for the Fire's final game under interim boss Klopas, he wrote in an open letter to supporters: "As we turn the page to this new chapter, I want to make one thing clear: we are setting our sights on sustained success.

"We will create an identity on and off the field that you will be proud of and ensure that the Fire are competitive year in and year out.

"My vision is simple: Build one of the top clubs in North America. We will focus on building a squad that not only competes at a high level but plays in a way that makes you proud to see them wear our famous red."

Nashville are also set to enter their first offseason under new boss B.J. Callaghan, but he is confident his team will not take their eye off the ball.

"Preparations for us have gone as normal, how we always prepare for an opponent," Callaghan said.

"There's also a stage of an evaluation period, we're not competing for the playoffs anymore so that's clear but at the same time it's still a competitive environment.

"We're doing nothing short of still trying to go and win the game, that's the intention, to go to Chicago and get three points."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Chicago Fire – Chris Brady

The four goals Chicago conceded in their defeat at Charlotte FC last time out took them to 59 goals allowed this season, second-most in a single season in club history. The Fire allowed a club-record 61 goals during the 2018 campaign.

If they are to avoid an unwanted piece of history, they may need a big display from goalkeeper Brady.

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar has been involved in six goals in his last six regular-season matches (three goals, three assists). He had recorded just 11 goal contributions in his first 25 league appearances in 2024.

MATCH PREDICTION – CHICAGO FIRE WIN

The Fire enter their final match of the season on 30 points (seven wins, nine draws, 17 losses). 

Chicago must earn at least one point to avoid equalling their lowest points tally across a full season (excluding the shortened 2020 season) in club history (30 in 2015).

They should avoid that unwanted slice of club history, though. Nashville have lost 11 of their last 14 regular-season matches, including the last three in a row. They also have a minus-19 goal difference after recording a positive goal difference in their first four MLS seasons.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chicago Fire – 41.8%

Nashville SC – 31.5%

Draw – 26.7%

Juventus will have Timothy Weah and Nicolo Fagioli available to face Lazio in Serie A on Saturday, though Thiago Motta's men are still without six other players.

Juventus have not won at home in the league since the opening day of the season, when they beat Como 3-0. 

A run of four draws in their last five games has left them third in the standings, level on 13 points with fourth-placed Lazio.

Defender Bremer, midfielders Teun Koopmeiners and Weston McKennie, winger Nicolas Gonzalez and forward Arkadiusz Milik are all sidelined, Motta told reporters on Friday, while winger Francisco Conceicao is suspended.

"Fagioli and Weah will be available for selection," Motta said. "I want to see a performance deserving of a positive result. We must play well in many different areas."

Midfielder Douglas Luiz, meanwhile, seems to have turned a corner in training after a poor start to the season after his big-money arrival from Aston Villa.

"Luiz has a great attitude in training," Motta added. "He's doing really well, it's telling to see people's reactions in difficult moments and I've seen a fantastic reaction from him.

"So far when he has played he has done well, but he can do better."

Motta is expecting a tough challenge against the Biancocelesti, adding: "We must be ready for anything.

"I expected Lazio to be at the top of the table, they are a good team with a great coach who has deserved what he has won.

"We will have another chance to show that even in difficult times we can be a competitive team. The stadium will be full and that's good, it means there's enthusiasm."

Borussia Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy headed an 83rd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over St Pauli on Friday, provisionally taking them fourth in the Bundesliga table.

Guinea international Guirassy headed in a cross at the far post to clinch the points five minutes after Eric Smith silenced the home crowd with a stunning 30-yard equaliser.

Dortmund, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League next week, took a deserved lead through Ramy Bensebaini's looping header two minutes before the break.

They should have scored again with Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen spurning glaring chances, but instead it was the visitors who struck with Smith's 30-yard blockbuster in the 78th minute.

Guirassy, however, had the final say, heading in a cross from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens for his fourth goal of the campaign to lift Nuri Sahin's side to 13 points. 

Leaders Bayern Munich, on 14, face Stuttgart on Saturday while RB Leipzig, also on 14, travel to Mainz.

Data Debrief: Guirassy takes his chance

No player in the Bundesliga has had chances with an expected goals (xG) value matching Guirassy's 4.42 so far this season.

He fired off six shots worth 1.66 xG – both game-high figures – on Friday, finally getting his reward when he nodded Bynoe-Gittens' cross past Nikola Vasilj.

Only Stuttgart (five) have bettered BVB's tally of four goals in the final 15 minutes of second halves in the Bundesliga this campaign.

Goals from Pascal Struijk and Mateo Joseph fired Leeds to a 2-0 derby win over Sheffield United, taking them above the Blades and into second in the Championship table.

Struijk met Joe Rothwell's flat corner-kick delivery with a crashing strike that hit the roof of the net after 69 minutes, before Joseph came off the bench to seal the points with a close-range finish.

Chris Wilder's visitors, who entered the game as the only unbeaten side in the Football League in 2024-25, had earlier defended resolutely to prevent Leeds from turning their dominance of possession into clear-cut chances.

Largie Ramazani went closest to the breakthrough in the first half as his low drive was repelled by Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper, while Brenden Aaronson volleyed wide of the near post shortly before the break.

Sheffield United briefly improved after the restart as Joe Rodon's block diverted Ollie Arblaster's drive wide, but the Blades were caught out from a set-piece soon afterwards.

Struijk was not tracked as he raced onto Rothwell's clever corner to blast home, just the fourth goal Sheffield United had conceded in league play this season and the first since August 24.

With Sheffield United throwing men forward, Leeds made certain of the result in the 90th minute, Joseph taking in Joel Piroe's pass before sliding his finish into the bottom-left corner.

Data Debrief: Leeds maintain derby hoodoo

Leeds' victory extended their unbeaten streak in Yorkshire derbies to 16 league matches (12 wins, four draws), with their last such defeat coming against Sheffield Wednesday in the second tier in January 2020.

It is their longest ever such run against Yorkshire rivals, while they have also recorded three straight league victories over the Blades, who they beat twice in the Premier League in 2020-21 (1-0 away, 2-1 home).

Despite naming a few newcomers in his squad to face France in a much-anticipated friendly, senior Reggae Girlz Head Coach Hubert Busby says the objective remains to continue building out a playing model to ensure they improve their competitiveness ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Busby will be without talismanic striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and defender Konya Plummer for the October 25 encounter away to France due to passport issues.

However, the tactician believes the absence of those two key players, as well as his university representatives, provides an opportunity for the newcomers—Taylor Hinds, Lulu Jarvis, Reanna Blades, and Natasha Thomas—in particular to fit in and show that they belong.

“So we're really excited. We'd spoken to Taylor Hinds a few years ago and we're glad that she's in our squad to come in and embed within what we're trying to do. Lulu Jarvis is another young player that we've been monitoring; she just made a move from Brighton to Plymouth. At 20 years of age, she's another up-and-coming player,” Busby shared during a virtual press conference on Friday.

He continued: “The same with Reanna Blades, who was on the books of Chelsea but just moved to Burnley. I credit a lot of these players who, it might seem like they are dropping down a level, but they're looking to invest in themselves and to play as opposed to necessarily stagnate their growth and development by staying at what would be considered a bigger club but not necessarily getting the minutes that they need.

Reggae Girlz in action against France at last year's World Cup.

“Natasha Thomas is someone who's kind of reached out. We've been monitoring her well, so we're looking to bring her in and see how she fits in. Davia Richards has come through the programme and has done well with Frazsiers Whip through all those different experiences. We're looking to see how she fits in with this group as well as we continue to evaluate all the players from the Gold Cup (qualifiers).”

These fresh faces are expected to bring energy and a renewed sense of competition, something Busby believes is crucial as the team builds toward future challenges, including the 2025 World Cup qualifiers.

In fact, he believes the squad strikes the right balance, as the experience of Allyson Swaby, Jody Brown, Drew Spence, and others will be vital against a formidable French side ranked among the best in the world.

The two teams last met at last year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia, where the gritty Girlz held their more illustrious opponents to a goalless stalemate.

“The expectation really is for us to continue to work on our playing model. I think it's important for us to also continue to build on our playing principles so that we can ensure that we're flexible in and out of possession. We want to be a team that continues to use the ball and is known for a good defensive base,” Busby reasoned.

“So the most important thing is, yes, results are always the main thing at senior international play, but the longer-term picture is for us to be successful come next year when we're in our first round of qualifying for the World Cup. I think that's really the main goal is for us to be peaking at that sort of time, heading into those qualifiers,” he added.

Deon Burton to serve as Reggae Girlz assistant coach.

That said, Busby pointed out that this friendly against France, as well as the two against South Africa on November 29 and December 2 in Jamaica, are the stern tests he requires in a bid to build a team capable of sustained success on the world stage.

“We are deliberate in the games that we're playing and trying to play as many top ten, top 20 opponents as possible to ensure that we are tested heading into World Cup qualifiers in arguably one of the top confederations in the world when it comes to women's football. So, a lot of work has gone into it and obviously, we're looking forward to this camp and looking forward to taking a look at some players and embedding some, even some new staff, into the programme as well,” the former national goalkeeper noted.

That new staff Busby refers to is former Reggae Boy Deon Burton coming aboard as an assistant, joining Xavier Gilbert in the position, while Renee Balconi of Houston Dash will be the Girlz strength and conditioning coach.

Squad: Rebecca spencer, Sydney Schneider, Chantelle Swaby, Allyson Swaby, Taylor Hinds, Deneisha Blackwood, Vyan Sampson, Maliah Atkins, Lulu Jarvis, Atlanta Primus, Jade Bailey, Drew Spence, Sade Adamolekun Reanna Blades, Natasha Thomas, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Kayla McKenna, Jody Brown, Shania Hayles, Tiffany Cameron, Davia Richards, Mikayla Dayes

Erik ten Hag claims his critics have invented "lies and fairytales" about his Manchester United tenure as his Old Trafford future continues to be questioned.

Ten Hag has overseen United's worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with the Red Devils emerging from the international break with just eight points from seven games.

They have also failed to score in any of their last three league matches – losing 3-0 at home to Tottenham between goalless draws with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

There were suggestions Ten Hag's future was up for discussion when members of United's new leadership group – including Jim Ratcliffe – met with Joel Glazer during the hiatus, but the Dutchman is bullish regarding his position.

Asked if he had received assurances regarding his future from United's hierarchy, Ten Hag said on Friday: "No.

"The noises came from the media, some of you, not all of you. Some of you are coming up with stories, creating stories, creating fairytales, bringing noise, bringing lies.

"I know we are all on one page at this club. I've said this before the break to some journalists who probably didn't believe me as I saw the reports. Internally at the club it's quiet.

"Of course we are discussing the position we are in and we're unhappy with that. We have to turn the corner and that's the strategy to turn this corner. 

"We are quiet and composed, we stick to the plan and are convinced we will turn the corner.

"Underneath I see good things, good patterns and good stats that confirm we are in a good direction, but the ranking is not lying. We are where we are and that's not good enough."

United's underlying metrics, however, do not make for encouraging reading for Ten Hag.

The Red Devils' tally of 11.11 expected goals (xG) this campaign is only good enough to rank them eighth in the Premier League, behind Saturday's opponents Brentford.

Meanwhile, only six teams – three of whom are yet to win – have conceded more expected goals against (xGA) than United's 11.54.

Opta's expected points model, meanwhile, suggests United's performances have only warranted a marginal upturn, with their figure of 10.4 expected points only putting them 10th.