All roads in professional football will now lead to Qatar and the 2022 World Cup. With the finalization of the group stage in the Nations League, Europe’s elite football powerhouse countries have played their last competitive football matches prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Here are how things are looking for the continent of Europe that has delivered the previous 4 – winners of the sport’s largest team accomplishment. Spoiler alert: Things could be better for the major European contenders of the 2022 World Cup, and below is the reasoning why.

France

With France defending their latest World Cup championship title, they have won only one of their last 6 – matches, their very worst record throughout the build – up to a World Cup event since the year of 1958.

It is simply difficult to come to any conclusions from their previous 2 – Nations League contests, even though, since France had only 14 – players that were out due to injury. If there were any hopes that the new generation of the French national midfielders were prepared to take over control of the action in case that Paul Pogba as well as ’Golo Kantéare unable to make it back to the team in time for the 2022 World Cup, they may have been crushed.

Eduardo Camavinga went through a devastating 1^st – half during the 2 to 0 loss against Denmark, and he may potentially be fighting for his spot on the team. Adrien Rabiot, Youssouf Fofana, and Aurelien Tchouaméni are better placed in the hands of their head coach in Didier Deschamps’ order of operations even if there were still some underlying questions and concerns.

Fofana performed well in France’s victory over Austria during his debut, but he lost a lot of balls after replacing Camavinga versus Denmark. And for Tchouameni, he was unable to live up to the hype vs. Denmark as well. Kanté, who is presently out of action due to a hamstring injury, is the only French player that his team cannot afford to play without.

England

If the game from the French national team was questionable then England’s is even more troubling. Their last match marks the 6^th – game without a win for the English national football club, the nation’s longest winless streak since the year of 1993.

Never has England ever entered such a major football event or tournament on such a bad losing streak. The good fortune of the head coach, Gareth Southgate, as well as some of his players, most notably Harry Maguire, has dropped amongst their supporters and the sports media outlets too.

Significantly there just so happens to be an impactful number of footballers either not able to play enough for their respective teams or simply those players are completely out of form for one reason or another.

Southgate has on his own came up with the suggestion that he will keep faith with them in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup due to the fact they have built up significant credit with him following England’s strong run to the World Cup semifinals in 2018 as well as the European Championship final the previous season.

Their left back, center back. and the lack of presence of a central midfielder to help assist in a match are England’s largest concerns on the pitch. Many other national teams will be envious of England’s powerful attacking opportunities, but there is still a huge reliance on their dominant striker in Harry Kane.

Belgium

Belgium was able to conclude their Nations League run knowing just one thing for sure, and it is not a very comforting or good thing that’s for sure. With only 1 – tune – up game left prior to the 2022 World Cup which just so happens to be a friendly versus Egypt on Friday, November 18^th, 2022.

Belgium dreadfully needs the services of Romelu Lukaku. Without the play of the presently injured talented striker inMichy Batshuayi the Belgium national team could simply not enforce themselves as a credible football club that is resilient.

Batshuayi was absolutely unsuccessful in the 1 to 0 defeat that Belgium suffered to the Netherlands in a match that Belgium began needing a win by 3 – goal scores or over that in order to advance.

Instead, their losing effort confirmed the 1^st – time since the 2018 World Cup semifinals that Belgium was beaten without scoring a single goal.

Batshuayi made the way in order for Charles De Ketelaere to enter following the halftime break, but the AC Milan footballer was unable to create anything at all in a false number 9 role that was too hard to fill. Lukaku is currently anticipated to return fairly shortly after he recovers from his recent thigh injury. The national team from Belgium has a chance this time around as long as he is good to go in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.

Germany

The games that the German national team have played versus England and Hungary led to more questions than they did answers just 2 – months prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Germany last won the World Cup in the year of 2014.

The largest question at hand is: how good is the German national club? The answer is nobody really knows as of now. Hansi Flick’s squad beat a weakened Italian football team with a final tally of 5 to 2 in their last match back in June, but Germany failed to influence a breakthrough versus a well – organized and efficient Hungary football club as they lost that contest with a final score of 1 to 0 at home.

Germany then blew a 2 to nil advantage in England before Kai Havertz managed to rescue a 3 to 3 draw. Havertz and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala were the only bright spots to be taken away from those 2 – games in national competition.

When the German football club controlled the time of possession, they showed that they lack the pivotal final pass in order to strike a closing blow, and England’s late push against them demonstrated that the Germans are predisposed to collapse especially in big matches. The win over the Italians was Germany’s only victory over their last 7 – matches. They conceded in each of those as well as drawing questions regarding their defensive presence for their coach Flick.

Spain

The 2010 World Cup champions in Spain, are one of the few European powerhouse clubs that look decent heading into this year’s World Cup. Spain is riding a high following them reaching the Nations League’s final four this season.

Luis Enrique’s club recovered from losing to Switzerland which surprisingly ended their 22 – match undefeated streak at home as Switzerland. They won 1 to 0 at their local rivals in the Portugal national team, potentially one of their most significant threats in Qatar for this year’s upcoming World Cup.

Spain had not won at Portugal in close to 2 – decades. La Roja was unbeaten in 8 – games prior to losing that shocker to Switzerland recently which ended a run reaching back to last season’s Nations League’s final four.

Also, on top of his game will be the 20 – year – old Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams, who set up Alvaro Morata’s game – winner vs. Portugal, and he is likely to secure his spot on the club’s World Cup roster this year.

Portugal will have to deal with the disappointments of the last – day eradication they faced at home not too long ago, and there are serious doubts encompassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s game at the moment. Ronaldo, who is likely to play in his final World Cup this year, had some unexpected misses vs. Spain, and he is not presently in Manchester United’s first – choice squad right now.

Sources:

The Associated Press News Services. “World Cup Watch: European giants showing flaws before Qatar”. The Associated Press. Wednesday, September 28, 2022.

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The Gambling Commission of Great Britain has officially awarded the National Lottery license to Allwyn. The company will begin operations no later than February 2024.

The formal tender comes after the previous operator of three decades dropped a legal challenge to the fourth license issuance earlier. Camelot, joined by IGT delayed the transfer with a lawsuit over the £6.4bn contract.

In mid-July, Camelot and IGT were granted permission to appeal a ruling that upheld The UK Gambling Commission’s award of the license to Allwyn, leaving in place an automatic suspension of the license tender. The suspension was lifted after each of the appellants withdrew their appeals.

In a statement on the official UKGC website, the authority stated: “Our priority is to ensure a seamless and timely transition to the next license, for the benefit of participants and good causes.”

The UK National Lottery was launched in 1994 and is one of the world’s most played lotteries. Proceeds of over £46 billion have been generated and delivered to more than half a million helping organizations and other good causes including the arts, sports, heritage, and communities.

Allwyn has stated it plans to double charitable giving during its tenure as a lottery steward.

Andrew Rhodes, Commission Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are pleased to have officially awarded the fourth license to Allwyn following a highly successful competition and the court’s decision to lift the suspension on the award process. We now look forward to working with all parties to ensure a smooth and efficient handover.

“I am confident that Allwyn and the key changes for the fourth license will maximize returns to good causes, promote innovation, deliver against our?statutory?duties, and ultimately protect the unique status of the National Lottery.”

This newest license will include some key changes, including the following:

• An incentive mechanism that encourages the vendor to more closely align good causes distribution to profit goals, resulting in more returns to good causes
• Implementation of an outcomes-based approach more in line with the National Audit Office’s best practices recommendations
  New abilities for the licensee to introduce new products and technologies to remain competitive and compliant as long as they continue to meet license obligations
• A fixed license period of ten years to allow investment planning by the vendor
• A retail charter beginning in February 2024 to ensure the licensee has proactive engagement with lottery retailers

Allwyn Entertainment is the new name of, and the UK arm of Czech billionaire Karel Komárek’s Sazka Group – a premier operator of lotteries in Czechia, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and Austria.

Source: The fourth National Lottery licence in the UK has now been officially awarded to Allwyn, UKGC, September 20, 2022

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On Tuesday, September 27^th, 2022 Spain’s national team looks to come through on an elusive win vs. Portugal & Cristiano Ronaldo in Nations League competition. The head coach of Spain, Luis Enrique, attempted to remain optimistic regarding Spain’s chances of advancing in the Nations League competition after a recent disappointing home loss to Switzerland.

For once and for all, La Roja is still able to secure a spot in the Nations League finals if Spain is able to somehow come up with a win in Portugal on Tuesday, September 27^th, 2022.

“We see it as a final,” Luis Enrique mentioned on Monday, September 26^th, 2022 just 2 – days following their 2 to 1 defeat against Switzerland which dropped Spain from1st – place to 2^nd – place in the Group A2 in front of the significant game which will be played in Braga. “It’s positive to arrive in the last round with a possibility to win the group.”

Beating Portugal is not a possibility that Spain has been finalize over recent time. The Iberian Peninsula neighbors have drawn their previous 4 – games against Portugal which does include friendly matches, and Spain has not defeated Portugal in close to 2 – decades.

In Spain’s most recent win versus Portugal came during a penalty shootout in the semifinals of the highly – contested and close as hell 2012 European Championship, and prior to that Spain came out victorious against Portugal in the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup throughout a match where Portugal complained of a controversial offsides call on Spain’s David Villa’s game – winning – goal during the 2^nd – half of that match.

While playing in Portugal, Spain has come out winless ever since a 3 to 0 dominant win during a friendly match back in 2003, when Fernando Torres made his national debut with the Spanish national team, and not too long following Cristiano Ronaldo beginning to play for Portugal.

“It’s all part of soccer. We have three recent matches in which we played well but didn’t win and they ended in draws,” Luis Enrique stated.

Both of these involved squads have played to draws 4 – consecutive matches since coach Fernando Santos took over the Portuguese football club following the 2014 World Cup, that included a wild 3 to 3 match to begin their operations in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup.

“We just have to focus on winning rather than reaching the final four,” Santos mentioned on Monday, September 26^th, 2022. “I want the players to face Spain on their merit, as they do all opponents. Do that and we will always be closer to getting where we want to go.”

Spain desperately needs the win following them seeing their 22 – game undefeated streak at their home stadium or stadiums ended by Switzerland on last Saturday, September 24^th, 2022. Portugal came out victorious at the Czech Republic with a final tally of 4 to 0 in order for them to take 1^st – place in the Nations League and earn the possibility of advancing with only a draw on Tuesday, September 27^th, 2022.

Only the group winners of the Nations League will be able to advance to the final four next June of 2023. Portugal has 10 – points, 2 – points over the Spanish national team so far. Switzerland has 6 – points, 2 – more points over the Czech Republic in front of their game in Switzerland to try to avoid the relegation of their football club.

Spain is seeking their 2^nd – straight appearance in the final four after finishing as the runner – up to France last season. At that time, they also needed a last – day win in order to advance to the final four, and they did it by dominantly shocking Germany with a final score of 6 to 0 at their home stadium.

Luis Enrique explained that he did not anticipate very many changes for their club in the match versus Portugal despite their loss on last Saturday, although he admitted that their club had to improve their defensive aspects of their game, which is how Switzerland scored both of their goals.

Portugal, who was the ultimate winner of the inaugural edition of the Nations League back in 2019, may see the return of forward João Félix, who was not able to play in the match vs. the Czech Republic due to an injury. Félix was able to rejoin his teammates for training on Sunday, September 25^th, 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Sporting CP

• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2002

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008, 2008 – 2009
• FA Cup: 2003 – 2004
• Football League Cup: 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009
• FA Community Shield: 2007
• UEFA Champions League: 2007 – 2008
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017
• Copa del Rey: 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014
• Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017
• UEFA Champions League: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018
• UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2017
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017

Juventus

• Serie A: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020
• Coppa Italia: 2020 – 2021
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2018, 2020

Portugal

• UEFA European Championship: 2016
• UEFA Nations League: 2018 – 2019

Individual

• FIFA Ballon d’Or / Ballon d’Or: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2008
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2016, 2017
• The Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement: 2021
• European Golden Shoe: 2007 – 2008, 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015
• FPF Portuguese Player of the Year: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008
• Premier League Player of the Season: 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2007 – 2008
• La Liga Best Player: 2013 – 2014
• Pichichi Trophy: 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2019, 2020
• Capocannoniere: 2020 – 2021

Orders

• PRT Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceicao de Vila Vicosa Cavaleiro ribbon.svg Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (Portuguese Royal Family)
• PRT Order of Prince Henry – Grand Officer BAR.png Grand officer of the Order of Prince Henry
• POR Ordem do Merito Comendador BAR.svg Commander of the Order of Merit
• Cordão Autonómico de Distinção

Sources:

Azzoni, Tales. “Nations League: Spain seeks elusive win in Portugal”. The Associated Press. Monday, September 26, 2022.

Football Reference News Services. “Cristiano Ronaldo”. Football Reference. Monday, September 26, 2022.

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Commercial gaming in the USA broke the $5 billion threshold again in July, according to the latest numbers available from the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker.

As the world health crisis gets smaller and smaller in the rear-view mirror, there are still lingering effects on the numbers year-on-year and when comparing the trajectory over time. However, the growth seems more apparent when comparing June and July of the current year. Land-based gaming was up 8% from June and while iGaming and sports betting gained 7.9% and 1.2%.

So while some y-o-y numbers are more difficult to interpret for organic growth the raw monthly numbers tell a story. July was the third biggest month ever and four out of five of the last months all broke the $5 billion mark.

For the year, commercial gaming revenue achieved $34.27 billion by the end of July representing a 15.5% jump over the same period in 2021 – indicating that 2022 is well positioned to be another record year for commercial gambling.

Inflation not Cooling Consumer Enthusiasm

Higher gas prices, rising interest rates, and other consumer burdens have not had a chilling effect on the revenues numbers but the rate of growth has cooled from the trajectory established in the late spring. The inflationary burden doesn’t seem to be affecting players as much as it might be dampening operator profits with interest rates and other factors cutting into revenue growth if not volumes.

iGaming was up over 28% for the month and more than 41% over the same year-to-date period in 2021. Sports betting performance was up a little better at 34% in July with similar volumes ($392.4 GGR and $359.6 GGR respectively). Land-based table gaming was nearly flat compared with a 3.5% increase over July 2021 and floor slots were actually down 1.4% for the period while still representing the lion’s share of overall revenues with a take of some $3.03 billion for the month.

While table game revenues didn’t show double-digit or even high single-digit growth, they still set a monthly record at nearly a billion dollars nationwide ($966.7 million).

In a continuing theme that’s not surprising for a commercial trade association, the AGA continues to lump illegal bookies in states with sportsbetting regulations in with unregulated “slot machines” in truck stops and convenience stores along with all offshore casinos serving US players – understandable but disingenuous at best.

In a fact sheet released last week (see .PDF file here), the Association compares all of the best attributes of US commercial gaming operators with the worst pitfalls possible from the worst of the worst blacklisted and unlicensed offshore sites as well as gambling machines found across the country in out of the way places.

Offshore Comparison Lacks Context

Several key pieces of information are missing from the publication cum propaganda, Chiefly, no U.S.court has ever held that offshore casino gambling is illegal at the federal level. While some states do prohibit it, many of the 25 US states with no commercial gambling within their borders do not.

As well, a court issued declaratory and summary judgments last week that the Wire Act of 1961 only pertains to interstate sports betting in International Game Technology PLC et al. v. Merrick B Garland & The United States Department of Justice. Offshore casinos are not and have never been “illegal”, according to US law.

The AGA also categorically states by inclusion that offshore casinos are not licensed, and don’t practice international standards of identity and age verification or anti-money laundering, when in fact as many as 99% of all US-facing online casinos do as anyone who has ever withdrawn money from an offshore site can attest.

One thing right about offshore gambling in the United States is that player protections in customer-casino disputes are virtually non-existent in the regulatory framework. Players who feel wronged must visit an advocacy board and make their complaint public to get relief as the only matters the regulators will address are direct violations of licensing terms such as offering unlicensed products, allowing underaged gambling, or not adhering to Responsible Gambling policies.

While most of the AGA’s warnings relate to illegal offshore bookmakers (sports betting across state lines has been illegal since 1961), the inclusion of safe and sane, regulated, audited, and accredited games and casinos does its credibility as a player advocate as well as a trade association promoting the business of it members any favors.

Source: July 2022 Commercial Gaming Revenue, American Gaming Association, September 14, 2022

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