All posts by h716a5.icu

A major injury update has now emerged on a Leeds United star, who manager Daniel Farke has previously described as “crucial”.

Leeds suffer several early injury setbacks

We are only six games into the new Premier League season, but Leeds have already suffered more than their fair share of injury setbacks, with Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu spending time on the sidelines, while Lucas Perri and Wilfried Gnonto remain unavailable.

Prior to the 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth, Farke confirmed that Gnonto was still experiencing issues with his calf, which ruled the winger out of contention, meaning Noah Okafor and Brenden Aaronson were given the nod on the wings.

Jack Harrison replaced Okafor in the second half, but failed to make any real impact, touching the ball just 11 times, having also been unable to register a single goal or assist in any of his five substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season.

As such, Farke would’ve been hoping for some good news about Daniel James, who was widely reported to be making progress in his recovery from an injury, which has ruled the winger out of the last two Premier League matches.

However, Adam Pope has now dropped a major update on James’ fitness, and it wasn’t good news, with the reporter saying:

Leeds want to sign new Brazil winger with £50m+ release clause on the cheap

The Whites are looking to sanction an exciting deal…

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 28, 2025

The severity of the issue is yet to be confirmed by the club, however, Graham Smyth has heard from Leeds that the 27-year-old could be out for weeks not months and has now heard from the Whites who have shared an update.

James' injury could be big problem for Farke

Farke has previously made it clear just how important the Welshman is, describing his work-ethic as “crucial” after an impressive performance against Watford during the Whites’ promotion push last season.

The £75k-a-week winger hasn’t exactly made a flying start to the season, having failed to pick up a goal or an assist, but he played a major role in Leeds’ promotion back to the top flight, picking up 21 goal contributions in the Championship.

As such, James’ likely absence is a blow for Farke. Leeds will need their other forwards to step up, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was failed to score against Bournemouth last time out, with the former Everton striker missing three big chances prior to Eli Junior Kroupi’s late equaliser.

There's been a lot of talk lately about the Premier League as a product. Is modern football actually boring? Are teams now too reliant on set pieces to score goals? Are the mavericks and the willing protagonists being silenced just to preserve their manager's tactics? Have we gone too far in pursuit of sporting perfection?

These are some of the questions we'll be attempting to answer today. Football, as the world's most beloved sport, is supposed to be entertaining. That's why millions and billions tune in. It's not just about glory, but the winding, loop-filled road to it.

That's perhaps even truer in the Premier League, the supposed best competition in the world, the actual incarnation of the failed European Super League. Yet fans, supporters and viewers seem as disinterested as ever.

That's why we at GOAL felt it was imperative to both a) name and shame some of these anti-footballing culprits, and b) praise those who actually seem committed to keeping our attention. We've ranked the 20 top-flight teams based on their style of play, how much fun it usually is to watch them as a neutral, the flair and enjoyability of their best players, and the jeopardy they are constantly battling. You'll understand that last point a little later…

Getty Images Sport20Wolves

Unsurprisingly, the team that is currently bottom of the real Premier League table is also bottom of these rankings. Unless you're a West Brom fan hungry for a delicious hate-watch, who on this planet is tuning into Wolves games thinking 'ooh yeah that should be a fun one'?

Maybe new manager Rob Edwards will work some magic and get the side he used to play for firing again. Maybe Jorgen Strand Larsen will rediscover his shooting boots. Maybe one of their many South Americans will turn into Pele reincarnated. Don't count on it, though.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport19Burnley

Heading into and out of the season's third international break, Burnley sit above the relegation zone. Yeah, go and double-check if you want, it's a little hard to believe, but it's true. Scott Parker has a recent history of his teams getting slaughtered at the top level, yet he's somehow made the Clarets a fairly respectable outfit again in the Premier League. They at least have a chance of survival, unlike the newly-promoted teams of the last few seasons.

Nevertheless, this has come at a cost. Unlike Vincent Kompany's side who tumbled to relegation in 2023-24, this version of Burnley are much more compact. They will earn more points in the real world than style points in this ranking.

AFP18Leeds United

From the outside looking in, it would be very easy to assume that Daniel Farke has stuck to his high-octane principles which have served him so well as a Championship manager. However, in an attempt to keep his job in the Premier League, he's had to revert to a much stodgier brand of football.

Elland Road is home to one of the most intimidating crowds in the country, though the team that plays there could do with some more on-ball quality if they are to rise back up this list akin to the days of Marcelo Bielsa.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images Sport17Fulham

You have to feel for Marco Silva. He's worked wonders with Fulham but seldom seems to receive the backing he needs in the transfer market to ever take them to that next level.

His sides are largely perceived as defensive – which is quite funny given he was seen as a hopeless, forward-thinking romantic at Hull City, Watford and Everton – but they still do possess some trickery in the form of Alex Iwobi and youth product Josh King. The squad has gone a bit stale, though that's hardly his fault.

Plays of the day from the third ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Nelson

Andrew Fidel Fernando31-Dec-2015The Williamson wangleKane Williamson usually navigates even Sri Lanka’s best deliveries with ease, so when he crossed fifty for the seventh time in 10 ODI innings, he seemed set for a straightforward march to triple figures. But even the best players are capable of giving it away. Williamson came down the track to convert a full Milinda Siriwardana ball into a full toss. Then, having given himself the option of hitting the ball anywhere, Williamson slapped it straight to mid-on.The lunge and splitsMitchell Santner had not been thinking of taking a quick leg bye when Dushmantha Chameera’s short ball struck him on the body. His partner Doug Bracewell, though, was halfway down the pitch. Responding late, Santner took off, but by that stage, Bracewell had already turned back. Worse, Chameera had scooped up the ball in his follow-through. Santner stopped mid-lunge and dived back at his crease, but his feet got caught on the pitch and his legs ended up splayed on the pitch. Chameera’s under-arm throw caught him short a few centimetres.The payback welcomeIn the forty-eighth over of Sri Lanka’s innings, Doug Bracewell had hit Danushka Gunathilaka in the mouth. Lining up for a catch off Bracewell’s bat at deep-square leg, Gunathilaka let the ball slip through his fingers and hit him on the lips. He had to go off the field immediately, but when he saw Bracewell again, he made sure to take some sort of revenge. Bracewell’s first ball of the innings was a fullish delivery outside off stump. Gunathilaka leaned into a powerful lofted drive, and sent the ball 92 metres over the bowler’s head, way over the boundary.The slip-catching practiceGunathilaka had hit the ball cleanly enough to have New Zealand remove their cordon from early in his innings, but after he crossed fifty, Williamson installed a wide slip again. Bowling to his captain’s plan, Mitchell McClenaghan delivered a short-of-a-length ball just outside off stump. Gunathilaka opened his face and sent the ball directly to that wide slip, almost off the middle of his bat.

Once again the pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium is in focus

Mohammad Isam19-Jul-2025Pakistan captain Salman Agha has said that his team will stick to their fearless approach, especially if the conditions in Bangladesh favour them as the two teams prepare to face each other in a three-match T20I series.Except the conditions in Dhaka aren’t always conducive to run-scoring. The average first-innings score in night T20Is in the last ten games is less than 125. Those include the 2021 series against New Zealand and Australia, where raging turners were employed to aid the Bangladesh spinners. It played out perfectly as Bangladesh won the series 4-1 (against Australia) and 3-2 (against New Zealand). The current Bangladesh T20I captain though would prefer a move away from such made-to-order surfaces.”I agree that the (2021 series) had an adverse effect on our batters,” Litton Das said. “Even I could have built up a career as a bowler in those pitches. It was a tough time for the batters although Bangladesh won both series. I don’t think there will be a repeat this time. I saw a good wicket. It will be an even game.”Related

Hesson slams 'unacceptable' Mirpur pitch

Bangladesh carry momentum into contest against bogey team Pakistan

Bangladesh name unchanged squad for T20Is against Pakistan

Mahedi was Litton's 'first name in the line-up' for Colombo T20I

Shadab, Rauf to miss Pakistan's T20I tour of Bangladesh

Pakistan had beaten Bangladesh 3-0 in a T20I series in May and June. After having piled up 200-plus totals while batting first in the first two games, Pakistan successfully chased 197 with nearly three overs to spare in the third game.Head coach Mike Hesson and captain Agha are trying to get the team to follow the modern trend of trying to get as many runs as possible in the first six overs.”We have changed the way we play, and that’s how we want to play,” Agha said. “But assessing the conditions is always going to be key. We will see what the conditions are and how we want to play. If the conditions allow us to play that way, we will play, and if the conditions don’t allow us to play that way, we will try to do what the conditions are allowing us. Our goal is to score above par, like 10-15 runs, and when we are batting above par and then when we are bowling, to make sure we will restrict the teams less than over par.Litton Das hits out at the nets•AFP/Getty Images”T20 is changing every single year, every six months, to be honest. We have the players now who will play the way we want. We want to play aggressive cricket, and with that, anyone can play that kind of cricket and can come into the team. But yeah, the players we have right now, they are very good, and very exciting.”While Pakistan skipped training on the eve of the T20I series opener, Bangladesh held an optional session from late afternoon. Litton Das took a long hard look at the pitch for Sunday’s opening T20I and had a lengthy discussion with curator Gamini Silva. At his press conference, Litton said he expected sporting pitches.”Mirpur isn’t always bad for batters,” he said. “It was just troubling for batters in two particular series (against Australia and New Zealand in 2021). The ball spins here, there’s help for pacers. But there’s also runs being scored. I think it’s a sporting wicket.”Litton had earlier expressed his concerns about the conditions in Dhaka after the third T20I in Sri Lanka last week. “I don’t know how the Mirpur wicket is going to be behave, for the Pakistan series,” he had said. “I think it is raining in Dhaka every day, so wicket can be difficult for batting in such conditions. Batters may fail there, but we won’t be too disappointed. We will keep trying to give our 100%.”During the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) however, the Shere Bangla National Stadium produced good batting surfaces. Teams batting first in the last 10 night games managed a few scores in the region of 190-200. Litton said that it also has to do with the winter dew and poorer bowling attacks in the BPL.”I can see two factors in this regard,” Litton said. “There is always a chance of dew in one innings in the BPL. It makes batting easier. I also don’t think there are exactly five quality bowlers in a BPL bowling attack. We can target one or two bowlers. The international level is definitely different. We will face at least five good bowlers. I think even if this match is not high scoring, it will be an exciting match.”

This current Celtic team are insipid, uninspiring and lifeless in attack, so just imagine how much Matt O’Riley would improve everything.

When the 20 year old arrived from Milton Keynes in January 2022 for a reported fee of £1.5m, no one could’ve forecast just how good he would be.

In the end, the Danish international is in the conversation to be Celtic’s best attacking midfielder of modern times, scoring 27 goals and registering 35 assists in 124 appearances for the Hoops, named the club’s player of the year and players’ player of the year in 2023/24.

He was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £25m just 13 months ago, before joining Olympique de Marseille on a season-long loan this summer, starting les Phocéens’ Champions League opener against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu on Tuesday.

As replacements Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren struggle to hit the heights O’Riley reached in Glasgow, did Celtic sell their own homegrown version, whose value has increased by almost 1,300% since leaving?

A lack of pathways for Celtic youngsters

Most top-flight Scottish clubs, not just Celtic, are often criticised for not giving academy graduates an opportunity.

Of course, current squad members Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, James Forrest and, to a slightly lesser extent, Anthony Ralston have managed to come through the academy and become first-team regulars, but the vast majority do not.

The table below documents a selection of Celtic academy youngsters who have been forced to depart in search of regular first-team action.

Joey Dawson

1

Scunthorpe

Daniel Cummings

1

West Ham

Rocco Vata

6

Watford

Bosun Lawal

1

Stoke

Daniel Kelly

6

Millwall

Conor Hazard

7

Plymouth

Karamoko Dembélé

10

Brest

Owen Moffat

3

Blackpool

Ben Gannon Doak

2

Liverpool

Armstrong Oko-Flex

2

West Ham

As the table documents, none of the players listed made more than ten appearances for Celtic’s first team, all sold for, at most, nominal compensation fees.

Karamoko Dembélé was the most-hyped, but Ben Gannon Doak is the name that leaps off the page, given that he just joined Bournemouth from Liverpool in a deal worth £25m, and is a starter for Steve Clarke’s Scotland side.

Due to post-Brexit rules, English clubs in particular are looking north of the border for talent, given that it is now more difficult to bring youngsters in from the EU.

Thus, is there another Celtic youngster who departed seven years ago who they may rue selling most of all?

Forgotten former Celtic youngster starring in Italy

During the 2010s, brothers Liam and Ewan Henderson were both coming through the Celtic young ranks together to plenty of excitement.

Liam, the older of the duo, made his senior debut against Motherwell in December 2013, actually accumulating 37 appearances in total, albeit 23 were as a substitute.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

He spent six months on loan at Rosenborg, before also being loaned out to Hibernian, etching himself into club history by helping Hibs win the Scottish Cup for the first time in 114 years, coming off the bench to provide two assists against Rangers in the final.

Ian Crocker’s commentary line, “it’s Liam Henderson to deliver”, now a core part of Hibs’ folklore.

However, he did not manage to have quite the same impact at Celtic, despite the fact Brendan Rodgers said “as time goes on, he impresses me even more… what I love about Liam, he’s got great personality”.

Nevertheless, he was sold to Bari in January 2018 for just £115k, and has called Italy home ever since.

After making just 19 appearances for I Galletti, he spent time at Hellas Verona, Empoli on loan and Lecce, re-joining Empoli permanently in 2021, featuring 119 times for the Azzurri, a key figure during their stay in Serie A, racking up 15 assists.

This summer, he finally departed Stadio Carlo Castellani, joining fallen giants Sampdoria, scoring on his debut for I Blucerchiati against Spezia in the Coppa Italia, starting their first three Serie B matches subsequently.

Thus, Football Transfers estimate that his current market value is around £1.6m, which represents a 1291% increase on the £115k he departed Celtic for.

Also, according to Global Football Rankings, Serie A, where Henderson has played the vast majority of his football, is the second-strongest league in the world, while his current home Serie B is 30th, just three spots below the Scottish Premiership.

Thus, it is unquestionable that Henderson possesses the talent and the quality to have been a key contributor at Celtic, had things panned out differently, or at the very least been able to bring in a significantly higher transfer fee.

A creative midfield star at a string of clubs since departing Parkhead, there is a sense that the Glasgow side have perhaps let a homegrown O’Riley slip from their grasp.

Rodgers must finally bin Celtic flop who earns more than Iheanacho

Celtic must finally part ways with this flop who earns more than Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho.

ByDan Emery Sep 17, 2025

Levante star Karl Etta Eyong has revealed it would be a “dream” to play for Chelsea one day, even as Real Madrid and Barcelona monitor his rapid rise in La Liga. The 22-year-old striker, who has scored six goals this season, continues to attract major transfer interest across Europe — with Levante rejecting a €30 million bid amid growing speculation about his future.

Etta Eyong's Chelsea 'dream' revealed

Eyong’s meteoric rise in La Liga has turned him into one of Europe’s most sought-after young forwards. Having joined Levante from Villarreal in the summer for €3 million, Eyong has been sensational, finding the net six times in the league and quickly becoming the heartbeat of his team’s attack, and it is Chelsea who appear to hold a special place in his heart. The  Levante striker admitted that joining the London club would fulfil a lifelong dream inspired by his African footballing heroes. Speaking to GiveMeSport, he explained his deep admiration for the Blues and what they represent to him.

“Growing up, Chelsea was the English team I probably watched the most because of Drogba, and Eto’o was there a year as well,” Eyong said. “Chelsea have often signed incredible African players. There are so many big clubs in England, but as for [joining] Chelsea, why not? It would be a dream for me to play for Chelsea.”

Though Chelsea are reportedly monitoring him closely, their current transfer priorities lie elsewhere, with a new defender at the top of the list, meaning any move for Eyong may have to wait until summer.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLevante rejected £26m bid for Etta Eyong

Eyong’s growing stardom has not gone unnoticed by clubs across Europe, prompting intense speculation about a potential transfer. But according to Levante CEO Jose Danvila, the Spanish club have already rejected a major offer and are in no rush to sell their new talisman. Danvila confirmed that a €30 million (£26.3m) bid, made by Russian side CSKA Moscow, was firmly turned down, even though the proposal included a lucrative salary for the striker.

“What I can tell you is that Barcelona and Real Madrid haven’t contacted Levante about Etta Eyong,” Danvila told Radio Marca. “And we haven’t had any calls from the Premier League either. We received one firm offer for the player, but it has already been rejected. I’m reading many stories about Etta, and it’s true there is growing interest, but he's not going to be sold this winter.”

FIFA regulations also restrict Eyong from playing for a third club this season after already featuring for Villarreal and Levante, meaning a move before the summer is impossible. Levante, therefore, are determined to keep him and are even considering offering improved terms to reflect his outstanding form. Los Granotes view him as central to their campaign and believe his presence is key to achieving their goal of a top-half La Liga finish.

Eyong opens up on Barcelona and Real Madrid links

While Chelsea remain the team Eyong dreams of joining, the striker’s performances have also drawn admiring glances from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both clubs have been monitoring his progress closely, viewing him as one of the most exciting attacking talents to emerge from La Liga this season. Eyong said he was “flattered” by the links but remains focused on his development at Levante.

“Eto'o was the best,” said Eyong, reflecting on one of his footballing idols. “He is one of my biggest influences. I loved him at Barcelona. And I'd call Lewandowski another role model, especially when I was younger and he was at Dortmund. Lewandowski has managed to score so many goals throughout his career. It's really impressive what he's doing at Barcelona right now. He is a great finisher and has intelligent movement. He always seems to know the right time to ask for the ball. I can learn a lot from him. When we play Barcelona next [in February at the Camp Nou], I hope to get Lewandowski's shirt to add to my collection.”

He continued: “I'm really flattered [to be linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid]. It means so much because it shows my hard work is paying off. But I just have to continue on my journey with Levante and then see what happens in the future.

"I try not to look at my phone too much because my friends call me with all the gossip. I tell them, ‘I don’t know anything – I have just been on my PlayStation!' I would much rather play Call of Duty, watch anime or read history books than occupy my head with rumours. If a big move is meant to be, it will only happen if I work hard."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportEtta Eyong will wait until the summer before thinking about move

While reports in Spain have suggested Eyong favours a move to Barcelona — even resurfacing an old photo of him in a Blaugrana shirt from 2017 — the player himself insists he remains open-minded about his next destination. He continues to express admiration for both La Liga and the Premier League, refusing to choose between the two while reaffirming his commitment to Levante for now. For Eyong, the focus remains on improving his game and letting the future take care of itself.

“I can't pick between La Liga and the Premier League because I love both leagues,” said Eyong. “I have already achieved my dream of playing in La Liga and my other dream is to one day play in the Premier League. I think I have the quality to thrive in the Premier League and that my style is well suited to English football. I am physically strong and can link up play. I love watching Premier League matches. My favourite period is the Boxing Day games. You can see the players give everything – 200 percent! What I love about the Premier League is that every game feels important. But for now my focus is just on Levante and I am ignoring all other news.”

For Levante, keeping their star man beyond this season will be a challenge, with interest from across Europe showing no sign of fading. Chelsea, Barcelona, and Real Madrid, are all expected to revisit their scouting reports ahead of the summer window, where a bidding war could ignite with Manchester United and Arsenal also said to be interested.

Enzo Maresca has told his Chelsea players that they need to improve when they play five-man defences. The Blues came undone against Sunderland last weekend as the Black Cats secured a late 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge as Regis Le Bris opted to change his setup for the game in west London. And the Italian delivered a humorous anecdote about Ange Postecoglou's decision to use a five-man defence.

Getty Images SportPostecoglou's final throw of the dice revealed

Postecoglou lasted just 39 days as Nottingham Forest head coach having been relieved of his duties at the City Ground earlier this month. The Australian was brought in as Nuno's replacement during the September international break but failed to win any of the eight matches he managed.

Postecoglou's final game as Forest boss was a 3-0 loss at to Chelsea, with the former Tottenham man relieved of his duties just minutes after the defeat to the Blues. Second half goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James compounded a miserable afternoon for the Tricky Trees and ended the 60-year-old's brief stint back in the Premier League.

The former Forest head coach opted for a change in system in what proved to be his last match at the City Ground as a final throw of the dice, and Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was caught off guard by Postecoglou's decision having previously joked with the Greece-born manager about teams using a back five against the Club World Cup winners.

Advertisement'This is tough for players'

Maresca stated that a chance meeting with Postecoglou prior to his Forest appointment highlighted the issue that Chelsea face this season. "Before Ange took over at Nottingham Forest, we spoke at the LMA awards in London," the Italian began.

"I said: 'Ange, I've never seen your team use a back five – except for the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against Manchester United.

"He laughed and said: 'I hate using a back five, but, as it was the last 10 minutes and we needed to win the trophy, we did.' Then we played Forest – it was a back five, and I had prepared for a back four!

"I again told the team that everything goes straight in the bin because it was a back five. This is tough for players."

AFP 'Throw all of the Sunderland preparation in the bin'

"When we have difficulties, we like to analyse," Maresca said when asked why teams are playing five-man defences against Chelsea this season. "I'm telling the players every day that, now, teams – probably because of what we achieved last season – have changed their approach against us.

"Sunderland played nine league games and they never used a back five from the start. Never. I watched them all, so we prepared for Sunderland with a back four.

"In the dressing room before the match, I told the players: 'Guys, throw all of the Sunderland preparation in the bin.' It's so difficult to change plan in just 10 minutes."

Sunderland's plan worked perfectly as they secured a 2-1 win in the capital to maintain their flying start to the Premier League season. Alejandro Garnacho fired Chelsea ahead early on before Wilson Isidor responded midway through the second half. Summer signing Chemsdine Talbi then struck in second half injury time as the Black Cats claimed a huge win.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Chelsea responded to Sunderland setback

Chelsea bounced back from last week's loss to Sunderland with victory over Wolves to book their place in the fifth round of the EFL Cup in midweek. However, the Blues made hard work of their game at Molineux, despite going in at the break three goals to the good as Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao put Chelsea into a commanding position.

Tolu Arokodare pulled one back for Wolves shortly after the break before David Moller Wolfe halved the deficit in the 73rd minute. Jamie Gittens settled Chelsea nerves with a thundering effort in the 89th minute after Maresca's side had been reduced to 10 men following Liam Delap's careless dismissal. Wolfe struck again in the 91st minute to set up a tense finish but Chelsea held out to progress to the next round of the competition.

Chelsea have a London derby on Saturday evening as they take on rivals Tottenham and face a third successive away match next week when they face Qarabag in the Champions League. The Blues then return to Stamford Bridge for the welcome of Wolves before the final international break of the year.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has criticised the performance of two Arsenal players after his side’s unconvincing 2-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday night.

England one step closer to World Cup qualification after Andorra triumph

England extended their perfect record in their World Cup qualification group with a comfortable, but not particularly flashy 2-0 win against Andorra on Saturday night, courtesy of an own goal in the first half, before Declan Rice sealed all three points in the 67th minute.

Speaking after the match, Tuchel insisted he was happy with his side’s performance, although Roy Keane was a little more sceptical about the display.

Keane said: “I still think England fell back into their old ways tonight, certainly in the second half. Sideways, backwards passes.

“We saw their two goals, particularly the second one, just from a cross. They’ve got to cross it a bit more, don’t complicate the game. And I still think they go backwards too many times.”

While Tuchel was pleased with his side’s overall performance, despite Keane’s criticism, the German also insisted there is work to be done, with two Arsenal players failing to make the desired impact on proceedings.

Speaking after the match, the Three Lions boss said: “We missed the little moments to accelerate the game. Maybe Ebs had not his best day in the No 10 position. He trained so well. In the decision-making, struggled a little bit.

“The last pass from Noni was not clinical enough.”

Arsenal could have saved millions on Hincapie with "unique" £1m Hale Ender

Arsenal signed Piero Hincapié on deadline day, but this academy prospect could be the one that got away

ByWill Miller Sep 6, 2025 Eze criticism warranted after disappointing performance

It is fair to say Eze didn’t exactly set the world alight against Andorra, touching the ball just 38 times throughout the match and failing to create any big chances. For context, Morgan Gibbs-White picked up 25 touches during his late cameo after replacing Eze in the 78th minute.

As such, criticism of the 27-year-old is perhaps warranted, but it is a little harsh to single out Madueke, given that the winger was one of England’s only bright sparks on the night, putting in the cross which led to Christian Garcia’s own goal in the first half.

Contrary to Eze, the Arsenal winger was also very much involved in the game, completing 46 of the 53 passes he attempted, while also completing two successful dribbles and winning five duels, although he did squander one big chance.

Mikel Arteta will need Madueke to continue his current performance levels for a little while longer too, given that Bukayo Saka is not expected to return until October, although it is feasible the 24-year-old could be available for selection later this month.

Joburg turns up for its World Test Champions as Temba Bavuma’s team start to realise just what they’ve been able to do

Firdose Moonda18-Jun-2025Everyone loves a winner, as was clear at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport where South Africa returned as World Test Champions on Wednesday morning.The squad were received by the country’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, and swathes of people from across South African society. In attendance were groups of children from the KFC’s Mini Cricket programme – the largest grassroots development initiative in the country – students from some of the players’ former schools, such as Aiden Markram’s Pretoria Boys High School, and family members like Wiaan Mulder’s brother.The players signed autographs, received flowers and hugs and strutted around in custom made “champions” t-shirts before making their way to Cricket South Africa’s offices in the north of the city where they were welcomed with a brass band and a red carpet. Almost 96 hours after their five-wicket triumph over Australia in the WTC final, the magnitude of what they have achieved is starting to sink in.”It is quite overwhelming. We haven’t seen people like that at the airport before,” Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s captain said at a press conference afterwards. “As players, you don’t really realise what you’ve done but when you start to interact with people and see the emotion, it gives you a proper insight into what we’ve done. We are proud as a team but we are even more happy and proud that we’ve made our people proud. If you look at this team and the guys at the helm, we have done it the proper South African way. That’s unique to this group. We have embraced everything that it means to be South African.”With a home grown coach in Shukri Conrad and a largely unheralded group of players, Bavuma’s words spoke to the way the South African team pulled together throughout the cycle and in the final. They had nine different Players of the Match in 2023-25 and 15 different players either scored a century or took a five-for in what has been hailed as a true team effort and a unified showing after years of underperformance. For Bavuma, it showed that there is always a way, not just for sportspeople but for everyone.”What we’ve achieved speaks to all budding cricketers out there, and individuals within South Africa,” he said. “As a team, we’ve got a story. It hasn’t been a simple or easy one. We’ve come through a lot but we managed to get to where we are. So similarly for them (ordinary people) on their quest and journey, for what they want to achieve: as long as they keep having that passion and keep pushing they can also achieve what people think is unachievable.”Temba Bavuma and his men had a rousing homecoming•AFP/Getty ImagesFor 27 years, South Africa have been without an ICC trophy and in that time regularly slipped at the semi-final hurdle. The 1999 ODI World Cup, where South Africa tied the game but could not advance to the final because Australia finished higher on the Super Six points table, has long been a sore point but the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cup semis and 2024 T20 World Cup final also stung. It’s because of those failures that the WTC win is magnified, as one of South Africa’s greatest sporting achievements. “This is huge for South African cricket,” Enoch Nkwe, Director of National Teams and High Performance said. “This is huge for South African cricket and the impact it will have for generations to come. We’ve taken a lot of punches but we’ve never bent our backs. We stayed strong.”Related

This was Temba Bavuma's WTC and he can own it

Conrad: 'We're the world champions, we create our own reality'

'Together-together' – why South Africa's triumph matters on the long walk to freedom

Rabada toasts 'special, special, special' win: 'I'm willing to give my blood for this team'

Nkwe, who was appointed in July 2022, put in place the coaching structure which included Conrad, who in turn appointed Bavuma as captain. Conrad will now also take over the white-ball sides until the end of the ODI World Cup in 2027. There is particular expectation around that tournament, not least because of the history documented above, but also because the event will be hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Bavuma is also South Africa’s ODI captain and has already spoken of his hope for the event to come.”We want to carry on with the momentum we’ve gained,” he said. “We are quietly optimistic as to what can happen in the white-ball space. We see no reason as to why we can’t emulate what we’ve done here. We are more optimistic than anything. We had a little conversation about it. Shukri’s mind is always ticking. He lets you know that there’s always some sort of work you need to do.”That tournament is more than two years away, in which time there will be an entire WTC cycle and a T20 World Cup. Eyes will be on South Africa for all of them, especially as their next Tests include matches in Pakistan and India and home series against England and Australia in 2026. They believe they’ve laid the foundation to be successful in these contests but no-one can begrudge them celebrating the first world title for a little bit longer, as Bavuma suggested they would.”For now, it’s for us to embrace what we’ve done, to take it all in, understand what led us to this point and live in that moment for a little bit longer,” Bavuma said. “Then, I think the beauty of international cricket is that there’s always something else waiting. Once we get over our emotions, it will be what is the next thing? There’s the Zimbabwe tour, and the start of the new Test cycle. We will be setting our eyes on what we want to achieve over there. There is always something we are working towards. It’s a legacy we want to put together as a team. It’s not done now, but for now it’s for us to enjoy what the moment has brought us.”South Africa will have several fan engagements in the next few days before a two-Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, which starts on June 28. The series is not part of the WTC.

Marcus Rashford could be thrust into the starting line-up for Barcelona for the highly-anticipated El Clasico clash on Sunday following another damaging injury to a key Barca star just hours before the match. The England international has made an excellent start to his loan spell at Barcelona, bagging five goals and six assists in 12 appearances across all competitions.

Barca's patched-up side head to Bernabeu

Barcelona head to the Santiago Bernabeu with a significantly depleted squad and assistant coach Marcus Sorg has now confirmed that forward Raphinha will also miss the game, as the Brazilian has not recovered from a leg muscle injury. Sorg will be in the dugout for the defending champions after Hansi Flick was sent off during the recent clash with Girona. 

Raphinha joins a long list of high-profile absentees, which includes Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, and goalkeepers Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The Catalans are firmly up against it, but there was some good news as key players Ferran Torres, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Frenkie De Jong all participated in Saturday's training session. And now Rashford could line-up against his Three Lions team-mate Jude Bellingham.

AdvertisementAFPRashford feeling the love at Barca

The England international has thrived under coach Hansi Flick where his performances have been a key factor in the Catalan giants’ positive start to the season, and he has expressed his strong desire to make the loan move permanent.

When asked if he would like to stay at the Catalan giants, Rashford told Barcelona's YouTube channel: "I'm really enjoying my time in Spain. The weather is the best part. It’s a very big change. I’m learning every day, I’m really enjoying it. I hope to be here for a long time. I get along really well with Roony (Bardghji), as well as Jules (Kounde) and Frenkie (De Jong). It’s a team where we all blend together. We’re united. The team is fantastic. I just have to be in the right position. I’ll keep trying to do this. We have to keep going like this to be our best. We have a lot more to do this season." 

He added: "I’m enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game so to play here is an honour. I just believe that things happen when they’re supposed to happen. It’s not the first time I spoke with Barcelona about potentially coming here, but for whatever reasons it didn’t happen in the past, and now is my opportunity to make it happen. I feel like there’s no time like the present now."

Raphinha rocked on eve of El Clasico

Sorg said: "Any team would miss Raphinha, but the situation is what it is. He is injured. We'll see if Ferran (Torres) starts, we'll decide tomorrow. Jules Kounde also trained this morning and may play. I still have no idea about the starting eleven."

Sorg also spoke about Flick’s absence, he said: "Flick will always be missed because he's one of the most important parts of the team. I think to have Flick on the sidelines, because the players trust him, he gives them confidence. His absence does have an influence. But Flick is in a good mood, positive, motivated."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPYamal stirs up the tension

The war of words ahead of El Clasico shows no sign of abating with Madrid captain Dani Carvajal planning to confront Barca wonderkid Lamine Yamal at the end of the match over what he sees as "disrespectful" remarks in the build-up to the hotly-anticipated clash between the Spanish giants. Speaking on a Twitch stream ahead of the game, Yamal stoked the ill-feeling between the two sides, saying: "They (Real) steal, they complain, and they do things". 

Andres Iniesta has shared his thoughts on the situation and isn't too concerned by Yamal's words. He said: "It’s a comment to add a little spice to the Clasico. Beyond the comments or not, it will be a spectacular match. We'll see what happens. A lot of importance is always given to what is said, especially if it's before a match like this. I'm not very up to date with the news either. Some people will say it's to warm up the match and others won't like it, but what really matters is what happens in those 90 minutes."