Flat track at New Road means final-day shock seems out of the question for visitors

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2021Worcestershire 415 for 8 (Mitchell 113, Barnard 98*, Haynes 65) lead Warwickshire 395 (Malan 141, Sibley 80, Rhodes 60, Sodhi 6-89) by 20 runsWarwickshire are on the brink of sealing a top two spot in Group 1 of the LV= Insurance County Championship despite encountering prolonged Worcestershire resistance in the New Road derby.Daryl Mitchell’s century and an unbeaten 98 from Ed Barnard eked out a 20 run lead for the home side in reply to Warwickshire’s 395 and they still have two wickets in hand.But the Bears will seal a spot amongst the six teams who will fight it out for the Championship crown in September if they avoid defeat on what is still a flat pitch in a game where only 18 wickets have so far fallen.Mitchell’s ton was the 39th of his career while Barnard fully justified his promotion into the top six.Worcestershire resumed on 152 for 2 and Haynes soon brought up a half-century from 110 balls with six fours in his first senior innings since a five week lay-off with an ankle problem.The 100 stand with Mitchell occupied 264 balls and the veteran opener completed his hundred with a single off Will Rhodes.It came from 228 balls with 10 boundaries and Mitchell has moved into the top six of Worcestershire’s all-time century-makers.Matt Lamb made the first breakthrough of the day when Jack Haynes (65) was caught off a leading edge at extra cover to end a stand of 130 with Mitchell.Mitchell’s fine knock ended 11 runs later on 113 when he played forward to Liam Norwell and was lbw.Warwickshire continued to chip away and captain Will Rhodes struck in successive overs as Brett D’Oliveira (18) was caught behind and Ben Cox (1) checked his shot and offered a return catch.Worcestershire Club Captain, Joe Leach, produced some aggressive batting and collected three boundaries in an over from Rhodes.He made a quickfire 34 before he was caught down the legside off Rob Yates.Barnard, promoted after impressive early season form, batted responsibly and swept Yates for four to bring up the 300.Ish Sodhi (13) picked out deep mid wicket off Lamb but Barnard completed a 122-ball fifty with his fifth four.Adam Finch helped him add a further unbroken 91 for the ninth wicket. Barnard needed three from the final over to reach his hundred but was content to take a single off the second ball. He hit eight fours in his 195-ball knock.

انتهت منافسات ملحق دور الـ16 من بطولة الدوري الأوروبي، في نظامها الجديد، لموسم 2024/25، حيث اًسدل الستار على مرحلة الإياب مساء يوم الخميس.

وانتهت مرحلة الدوري من الدوري الأوروبي، في شهر يناير الماضي، حيث تأهلت 8 فرق مباشرة إلى دور الـ16.

في حين تتنافس الفرق أصحاب المراكز بين التاسع و24 في مرحلة الملحق، على هيئة مباراتين ذهابًا وإيابًا، من أجل تحديد الفرق الثمانية الأخرى التي ستتأهل إلى الدور المقبل من البطولة.

وسيجري الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم، يويفا، اليوم الجمعة مراسم قرعة دور الـ16 من الدوري الأوروبي، إلى جانب مرحلتي ربع ونصف نهائي. نتائج مباريات ملحق دور الـ16 من الدوري الأوروبي

بودو جليمت وتفينتي:

الذهاب: فوز تفينتي 2/1.

الإياب: فوز بودو جليمت 5/2.

ستيوا بوخارست وباوك:

الذهاب: فوز ستيوا بوخارست 2/1.

الإياب: فوز ستيوا بوخارست 2/0.

ألكمار وجالطة سراي:

الذهاب: فوز ألكمار 4/1.

الإياب: تعادل 2/2.

روما وبورتو:

الذهاب: تعادل 1/1.

الإياب: فوز روما 3/2.

سانت جيلواز وأياكس:

الذهاب: فوز أياكس 2/0.

الإياب: فوز سانت جيلواز 2/1.

فناربخشة وأندرلخت:

الذهاب: فوز فناربخشة 3/0.

الإياب: تعادل 2/2.

ريال سوسيداد وميتيلاند:

الذهاب: فوز ريال سوسيداد 2/1.

الإياب: فوز ريال سوسيداد 5/2.

فيرينكفاروس وفيكتوريا بلزن:

الذهاب: فوز فيرنكفاروس 1/0.

الإياب: فوز فيكتوريا بلزن 3/0. الفرق المتأهلة مباشرة لدور الـ16 من الدوري الأوروبي

لاتسيو، أتلتيك بلباو، مانشستر يونايتد، توتنهام هوتسبير، آينتراخت فرانكفورت، ليون، أولمبياكوس، جلاسكو رينجرز. الفرق المتأهلة من ملحق دور الـ16 في الدوري الأوروبي

بودو جليمت.

ستيوا بوخارست.

ألكمار.

روما.

أياكس أمستردام.

ريال سوسيداد.

فيكتوريا بلزن.

فناربخشة.

GOAL runs through the most outstanding players to have plied their trade for Les Parisiens since the turn of the year 2000

One of European football's youngest powerhouses, the 21st century has been truly transformative for Paris Saint-Germain. The €70 million (£58m/$76m) takeover by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2011 propelled the club to become French football's dominant force, usurping rivals Lyon, and regular contenders in the Champions League.

Their success has come at a cost, with QSI spending unprecedented amounts on innumerable star names, including dropping what remains the largest transfer fee of all-time on Neymar in 2017. However, a Champions League crown still remains elusive to this day.

Throughout the QSI era, and even before, some outstanding players have passed through the doors of Parc des Princes in the pursuit of glory. Below, GOAL ranks the 25 best in what has been an extraordinary period in the club's short history…

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFP25Salvatore Sirigu

Once considered the heir apparent to Gianluigi Buffon, Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu may well feel hard done by in terms of how his PSG career played out after close to 200 appearances.

An early QSI signing, he broke the Ligue 1 clean-sheet record in his second season and was ever-reliable between the sticks, helping the club to multiple trophies, including a domestic treble in 2014-15. However, he was effectively made second-choice that summer as PSG signed Kevin Trapp.

AdvertisementAFP24Nene

PSG's final star of their pre-takeover era, Brazilian journeyman Nene spent two-and-a-half seasons at Parc de Princes, with his flair and set-piece ability earning him plenty of plaudits.

He was was Ligue 1's top scorer in 2011-12 despite the Qatari purchase of the club and a raft of new arrivals, but he was forced down the pecking order the following season and departed for Al-Gharafa in January 2013.

Getty23Lionel Messi

It's incredibly rare that you find Lionel Messi towards the bottom of any 'ranking' list, but his spell at PSG will not be particularly fondly remember by club or player. The Paris side capitalised on Barcelona's financial debacle to sign the Argentine megastar in 2021, but their attempt to build one of the most fearsome attacks in the history of football by lining him up alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar would fall flat.

Despite being unhappy off the pitch, Messi still dazzled on it; in 75 appearances, he made 67 goal contributions – with his second and final season particularly fruitful despite him being 35 years old, as he scored 21 times and laid on 20 assists on his way to winning the Ballon d'Or.

AFP22Christophe Jallet

A man who was initially an impact sub, the versatile Christophe Jallet became increasingly important for PSG following his arrival in 2009, going on to make close to 150 appearances amid the transition to Qatari ownership. The right-back-cum-midfielder was renowned for his consistency and was named club captain by Carlo Ancelotti in 2012.

"Jallet is a player with great regularity. There is no tactical error, he is always focused, dynamic. I did not know Jallet but his performance has always been good. He is very professional," the Italian tactician said at the time.

So far so good for Glasgow Rangers this summer. Not only has Philippe Clement recruited a few players prior to pre-season, but he has recruited well at Ibrox.

Jefte, Connor Barron and Oscar Cortes are all aged 22 or under, and it looks like there will be more to come for Rangers in the next few weeks.

Striker Hamza Igamane appears to be close to a move, while players such as Callum O’Hare and Reuell Walters are other talented individuals who have been linked with a move north of the border to join Clement’s revolution.

This transfer strategy – one which sees the Gers manager forming the bulk of his squad with promising youngsters – may be a gamble, but it is one the 50-year-old has to take, otherwise he could end up like his predecessors.

Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst both spent lavish sums of money on a host of players who failed to light up Ibrox. Both were sacked as a result after just ten and 12 months respectively.

Thankfully, the Belgian has taken a different route and there is a new name being linked with a move to the Scottish side…

Rangers make enquiry about former Premier League defender

The Light Blues are hardly blessed with a transfer war chest, which suggests Clement has to be smart about the signings he wishes to make ahead of the new season.

While some funds will be spent – depending on how much is raised via sales – plenty of his business will be loans or free transfers.

One name to have cropped up recently is Ryan Sessegnon, with Rangers reportedly looking at bringing the former Tottenham Hotspur gem to Scotland this summer.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, West Ham United have made contact with the player in a bid to keep him in England next season.

They aren’t the only ones who wish to sign Sessegnon, however, as Rangers are also mentioned as a club who have made an enquiry about whether he'd like to join.

Indeed, other sides such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Real Betis, Monza and Atalanta are showing plenty of interest, which suggests Clement will have plenty of competition to fend off.

Dujon Sterling

Chelsea

2023

Leon Balogun

QPR

2023

Kieran Dowell

Norwich City

2023

Jack Butland

Crystal Palace

2023

John Souttar

Hearts

2022

Tom Lawrence

Derby County

2022

Fashion Sakala

KV Oostende

2021

John Lundstram

Sheffield United

2021

Nnamdi Ofoborh

Bournemouth

2021

Via Transfermarkt

There is no doubting his talent, but the Englishman hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of times recently due to suffering from a succession of injuries.

Ordinarily, Clement should avoid moves like this, especially as it seems to sum up the club’s transfer market over the previous few years.

In Sessegnon, however, Clement could potentially get the best out of him should he decide to move to the Gers.

What Ryan Sessegnon could offer Rangers

The 24-year-old burst onto the scene with Fulham during the 2016/17 campaign when he was just 16, making a total of 30 appearances, scoring seven times and grabbing four assists in the process.

After a couple of years in the Fulham first team, Sessegnon’s displays were certainly going a long way to helping him reach the very top of the game.

In 2018, he was even compared to Gareth Bale after his ability to burst down the left flank in order to cause havoc in the final third.

After 120 games for the Cottagers across just three seasons, which featured 25 goals and 18 assists, Spurs signed him for £25m, which was looked upon as somewhat of a bargain considering how much they could potentially sell him for down the line.

Slavisa Jokanovic, his former manager at Fulham, once dubbed Sessegnon as “special” but his spell in North London was anything but.

Indeed, over five years, he made only 57 appearances, scoring just three goals as injuries hit him hard.

If Clement can get him back to the sort of form he displayed for Fulham between 2016 and 2019, then he could be a wonderful signing, but it is a big if.

Not only that, but he could form a stunning partnership with Oscar Cortes down the left wing.

Oscar Cortes’ statistics for Rangers last season

The young Colombian signed on a six-month loan back in January from RC Lens in a bid to gain some regular game time after a tough start to life in France.

He made just four appearances for the Ligue 1 side, yet managed to score and grab an assist, showing massive potential.

During the early stages of his Ibrox spell, Cortes shone when called upon on the left flank, scoring once and chipping in with two assists before an injury against Kilmarnock in February ruled him out for the season.

In just six games, the 20-year-old created a big chance, averaged 1.2 key passes and 1.7 shots on goal per game, showing his attacking intent.

Now, imagine if a player like Sessegnon was playing just behind him, linking up with the Colombian winger down the left side of the pitch. The duo could cause havoc.

During his final season in the Championship for Fulham, Sessegnon registered six assists, created 11 big chances and averaged 1.2 key passes per game.

Adding in the fact he succeeded with 1.2 dribbles, it becomes clear that if Clement can bring him back to his best, the Englishman could be a superb signing.

It won't be easy, especially considering the problems the former Fulham gem has endured recently, but managing to secure his signature on a free transfer would allow the manager to keep his precious transfer funds for other targets.

There is no doubt he will demand a decent wage to swap England for Scotland, yet for the chance to win trophies and play in Europe, it could be a move that breathes new life into a career which has gone from promising to stagnant in a blink of an eye.

Much will depend on how much of a gamble Clement is preparing to take on Sessegnon. Plenty of players from down south have arrived at the club and struggled, failing to make much of an impact.

The 24-year-old could be different. That is if he can stay fit and healthy.

Imagine him & Barron: Rangers ready to move for "irreplaceble" star

The Light Blues are reportedly keen on a deal to sign the Scotland international.

ByDan Emery Jun 25, 2024

Football is huge in Turkey, with a rich history full of incredible players, passionate supporters, and moments that will never be forgotten on the global scene.

Turkey have produced players who have excelled in Europe’s top leagues in addition to dominating on home shores.

Turkey’s greatest football accomplishment at a major event was in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the national team achieved its best-ever result in the competition with an impressive third-place finish.

They also demonstrated their potential to compete with the top teams in Europe in 2008 by making it to the semi-finals of the European Championship, and were 20 minutes away from repeating the feat at Euro 2024.

With that, here is the list of who we believe are the ten greatest Turkish footballers, based on their overall impact at either club or international level during their careers…

1

Hakan Şükür

1987-2008

2

Rüştü Reçber

1988-2012

3

Arda Turan

2005-2022

4

Tugay Kerimoğlu

1987-2009

5

Emre Belözoğlu

1996-2020

6

Nihat Kahveci

1997-2011

7

Bülent Korkmaz

1987-2005

8

Tuncay Şanlı

2000-2015

9

Nuri Şahin

2005-2021

10

Hakan Çalhanoğlu

2011-present

Euro 2024 Group F: Teams, players, fixtures and venues

Everything you need to know about Turkey, Georgia, Portugal and the Czech Republic ahead of Euro 2024.

ByStephan Georgiou Jun 10, 2024 10 Hakan Çalhanoğlu 2011-present

With noteworthy stints at Bayer Leverkusen, Milan and Inter, midfield maestro Hakan Çalhanoğlu has made tremendous progress in European football. He is known for his mastery of set pieces and playmaking ability. Çalhanoğlu’s ability to score goals from distance and deliver vital assists has helped him amass amazing figures, including 121 goals and 125 assists throughout his club career at the time of writing.

With his vision and leadership, Çalhanoğlu has been a prominent player for Turkey on the international scene, making a contribution in Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. Heading into this summer’s Euros, his overall record for his nation stands at 18 goals from 86 caps.

International caps

86

International goals

18

Clubs played for

Karlsruher, Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Milan, Inter

Club honours

Serie A, Coppa Italia x2

Individual honours

Turkish Footballer of the Year (2021)

9 Nuri Şahin 2005-2021

The story of Nuri Şahin’s football career revolves around his exceptional talent, adeptness in midfield, and tenacity. His professional career began at Borussia Dortmund, when he became the youngest player to play and score in Bundesliga history.

He went on to make 274 appearances for the German club during his time there and played a key part in the team’s 2010/11 Bundesliga title triumph under Jürgen Klopp. Sahin’s impressive achievements in Germany saw him secure a move to Real Madrid in 2011, and later went on to play for Liverpool in the Premier League.

Şahin, despite being a deep-lying playmaker, scored 38 goals and laid on 65 assists throughout his tenure in Europe’s elite leagues. He is now set to lead Borussia Dortmund from the dugout, having replaced Edin Terzic at the helm following their Champions League final defeat.

At a young age, Şahin represented Turkey internationally, garnering over 50 caps and taking part in multiple qualification campaigns. His passing range and vision made him an important member of the national team, controlling the tempo in addition to providing direct assists.

International caps

52

International goals

2

Clubs played for

Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Werder Bremen, Antalyaspor

Club honours

Bundesliga, La Liga, KNVB Cup, DFB-Pokal

8 Şanlı Tuncay 2000-2015

Şanlı Tuncay had a lasting impression on Turkey and beyond. After making his debut with Sakaryaspor, he swiftly gained momentum at Fenerbahçe, where he established himself as a vital member of the squad, making over 150 appearances and making a substantial impact with goals and assists. His displays in both the Süper Lig and UEFA competitions demonstrated his versatile playmaking skills, ranging from attacking midfield to operating on the wing.

After joining Middlesbrough in the Premier League in 2007, Tuncay quickly won over supporters with his skill, hard work ethic, and knack for scoring crucial goals, including his unforgettable overhead kick against Aston Villa.

Despite the club’s ups and downs, Tuncay scored 18 goals in all competitions during his time at the Riverside Stadium. The next stops in his career included Stoke City, Wolfsburg and Bolton Wanderers, among others, where he consistently displayed his performance level and capacity to adapt.

Tuncay earned 79 caps on the international stage, tallying 22 goals. His enthusiasm and offensive prowess were evident during Turkey’s incredible run to the Euro 2008 semi-finals, where he was a vital member of the team.

International caps

79

International goals

22

Clubs played for

Sakaryaspor, Fenerbahce, Middlesbrough, Stoke, Wolfsburg, Bolton, Bursaspor, Umm Salal, Pune

Club honours

Super Lig x3

7 Bülent Korkmaz 1987-2005

Bülent Korkmaz is a legendary character in Turkish football, dubbed “Iron Bülent” for his tenacity. Throughout his illustrious career, Bülent embodied leadership and unshakable determination.

Korkmaz played his entire club career at Galatasaray, playing around 588 games in all competitions between the late 1980s and the early 2000s. During Korkmaz’s stint at the club, the Turkish club won multiple Süper Lig championships, Turkish Cups, and most famously, the UEFA Cup in 2000, which made the squad the first Turkish team to win a major European competition. These victories were made possible by his on-field leadership as he helped lead Galatasaray through their most successful years.

In terms of the international stage, Korkmaz amassed over 100 caps for Turkey, which involved taking part in big events like Euro 1996 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where Turkey finished an incredible third.

International caps

102

International goals

2

Clubs played for

Galatasaray

Club honours

Super Lig x8, Turkish Cup x6, UEFA Cup, Super Cup

6 Nihat Kahveci 1997-2011

Famous for his quick reflexes and energy on the pitch, Nihat Kahveci left his mark on Turkish football history over a career that spanned the top leagues in both Spain and Turkey. After rising through the youth ranks at Beşiktaş, Nihat rapidly demonstrated his ability to score goals. Despite not being the most prolific of strikers, his 191 appearances, 41 goals and 29 assists during his stint at Beşiktaş are evidence of his effectiveness and reliability as a forward.

Due to Nihat’s talents, he secured a move to Real Sociedad in La Liga in 2002, where he and Darko Kovacevic forged a strong alliance, leading the group to an unexpected second-place showing in the 2002/03 campaign. Nihat’s influence in Spain did not end there, as he went on to play for Villarreal, where he scored 25 goals in 78 games.

His ability to score in key situations, such as a standout performance in which he netted two goals against Real Madrid, solidified his reputation as one of the most potent Turkish strikers in European sport at the time.

He also played a distinguished role for Turkey on the international scene, collecting 69 caps and tallying 19 goals. His vital goals in the group and knockout stages of UEFA Euro 2008 demonstrated his capacity to perform on the biggest stage, as a major player in Turkey’s incredible journey to the semi-finals.

International caps

69

International goals

19

Clubs played for

Besiktas, Real Sociedad, Villarreal

Club honours

Turkish Cup x2

5 Emre Belözoğlu 1996-2020

Considered one of the best football players to come out of Turkey, Emre Belözoğlu is respected for his toughness and intelligence in the midfield.

Starting his career at Galatasaray, Emre made a name for himself as a pivotal player in the midfield, helping the side win both domestic and European titles, notably the UEFA Cup in 2000. He made over 150 appearances during his time there, where his passing range and vision were key components of the team’s style of play.

Emre’s skills allowed him to play in some of Europe’s top divisions, such as Serie A with Inter, where he won the Italian Cup, and the Premier League with Newcastle United, where he demonstrated his versatility as a midfield player. Lastly, in La Liga, he added further experience with Atlético Madrid, which enabled them to win the UEFA Europa League in 2010.

Throughout his career, Emre’s command of the midfield and superb set-piece abilities made him an indispensable member of any squad he played for. This led to him making over 720 club appearances.

Emre gained more than 100 caps for Turkey throughout his international career, playing an important part in helping the team advance to the last four at Euro 2008 and the World Cup semi-finals in 2002.

International caps

101

International goals

9

Clubs played for

Galatasaray, Inter, Newcastle, Fenerbahce, Atletico Madrid, Istanbul Basaksehir

Club honours

Super Lig x5, Turkish Cup x4, UEFA Cup, Super Cup x2, Coppa Italia

4 Tugay Kerimoğlu 1987-2009

During his career, Tugay played for some of the top clubs in Europe, due to his exceptional technical skill, keen vision and remarkable game-reading abilities, all of which helped him stand out in the midfield.

Tugay started his brilliant career at Galatasaray, where he progressed through the ranks to become one of the most important players for the team. He accumulated numerous trophies throughout his ten years with Gala, including two Turkish Cups, six Süper Lig crowns, and the coveted UEFA Cup in 2000. Following his success in Turkey, he made the move to England to join Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in 2001, and went on to become a cult hero there.

Tugay had over 230 appearances in the Premier League, which only makes up a small part of the mammoth 734 appearances in his entire career.

Tugay represented Turkey in international competitions, winning 94 caps for the national team. Turkey placed third in the 2002 World Cup with him in the side as an ever-present.

International caps

94

International goals

2

Clubs played for

Galatasaray, Rangers, Blackburn

Club honours

Super Lig x6, Scottish Premiership, Turkish Cup x4, Scottish Cup, League Cup

3 Arda Turan 2005-2022

Arda started his career at Galatasaray, where he rose from the youth ranks to become a vital member of the team. He was instrumental in helping the team win the Turkish Super Cup and the Süper Lig during his tenure there, making an early impression with goals and critical assists that foreshadowed an incredible career.

It was his unprecedented success at Atlético Madrid that really elevated his name, as he played a key role in the team’s 2013/14 La Liga triumph, a historic feat that ended a ten-year Barcelona–Real Madrid duopoly in Spain, having previously helped the team to Europa League and Super Cup titles.

After relocating to Barcelona, Arda won two Copa del Rey championships, a FIFA Club World Cup, a Spanish Super Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and another La Liga title.

Arda earned 100 caps for the Turkish national team and has been a mainstay on the international scene.

International caps

100

International goals

16

Clubs played for

Galatasaray, Manisaspor, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Istanbul Basaksehir

Club honours

Super Lig x2, La Liga x2, Turkish Cup, Copa del Rey x3, Europa League, Super Cup

2 Rüştü Reçber 1998-2012

Rüştü Reçber is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers to come out of Turkey, and his incredible performances have made a lasting impression on the national and international football scene in his home country.

Turkey’s remarkable run to a third-place finish in the 2002 World Cup was made possible in large part by Rüştü, in what was his most noteworthy international achievement. However, this wasn’t the only time he shone for his country, as he is one of the Turkish national team’s most-capped players, with 120 caps to his name.

The goalkeeper’s career at club level was primarily shaped by his tenures at Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, where he showcased his abilities in several domestic and European campaigns. While playing at Fenerbahçe, he won multiple Süper Lig titles, Turkish Cups, and the Turkish Super Cup. Beyond this, he spent a short time in Spain after moving to Barcelona in 2003 as a result of his performances, but soon returned to Turkey and kept up his impressive displays with Beşiktaş, adding titles to his collection.

His individual achievements highlight his impact and performance at the top level of football, as he was selected as the Turkish Footballer of the Year and made the 16-man FIFA Team of the Tournament for the 2002 World Cup.

International caps

120

International clean sheets

57

Clubs played for

Burdurgucu, Antalyaspor, Fenerbahce, Barcelona, Besiktas

Club honours

Super Lig x5, Turkish Cup x2

1 Hakan Şükür 1987-2008

Hakan Şükür will go down as one of the country’s most prolific strikers, having carved out an extraordinary career full of noteworthy accomplishments and awards, cementing his legendary status in Turkish football.

The striker’s abilities were most clearly demonstrated on the global scene at the 2002 World Cup, where he was a major player in Turkey’s incredible run to a third-place finish. One of his most iconic moments was 11 seconds into the third-place contest against South Korea, where he scored the fastest goal in World Cup history.

However, his efforts didn’t stop there as he went on to score 51 goals for the Turkish national team, making him the team’s all-time leading scorer.

As well as being a Turkey legend, he was highly revered at Galatasaray. During his time at the Turkish giants, he won multiple Süper Lig titles and Turkish Cups, while he was part of the club’s first-ever UEFA Cup victory in 2000, scoring 288 goals and laying on 133 assists in a whopping 539 games.

He wasn’t always based in his home country, as he ended up tasting football in the foreign leagues, where he maintained his scoring prowess throughout spells in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers and in Serie A with Inter.

International caps

112

International goals

51

Clubs played for

Sakaryaspor, Bursaspor, Galatasaray, Torino, Inter, Parma, Blackburn

Club honours

Super Lig x8, Turkish Cup x6, Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup

With only six overseas players in their roster, LSG’s management could be in for a challenging time

S Sudarshanan20-Mar-20254:10

Moody: ‘Tantalising thought to have Pant and Pooran batting together’

Where they finished last year

Seventh. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) started with three wins in their first four IPL 2024 matches, but couldn’t win more than two in a row after that. They had the lowest net run-rate (-0.667) among the four teams that finished with 14 points, with the best of the quartet making the playoffs.

What’s new in IPL 2025

Ahead of the last mega auction, LSG let go of KL Rahul, who had led them to two playoffs in 2022 and 2023, their first IPL two seasons. Rishabh Pant, purchased for a record IPL auction fee of INR 27 crore, has since been named captain. LSG’s first game of IPL 2025 is against Pant’s former team, Delhi Capitals (DC), in Visakhapatnam.Related

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• Zaheer wants Mayank to 'play longer without breaks'

• Pant says he will give the franchise '200%'

New recruits Aiden Markram and Shahbaz Ahmed are vying for middle-order spots alongside the retained pair of Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni. Fresh picks David Miller and Abdul Samad are the finishing options. LSG also have Matthew Breetzke, who struck 150 for South Africa on ODI debut, as a back-up opener. Mitchell Marsh, who has been cleared to play IPL 2025 as a batter only, could be the preferred opener. But that could leave LSG an allrounder or spare bowler short.The bowling attack is very Indian. Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan (both retained), Avesh Khan and Akash Deep were expected to shoulder fast-bowling responsibilities, but are all recovering from injuries. That could push Prince Yadav (the leading wicket-taker for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy), Akash Singh and Rajvardhan Hangargekar to the fore, though that might not strike too much fear in the hearts of oppositions. That leaves only the retained Ravi Bishnoi as a certain starter among the bowlers.Rishabh Pant became the most expensive buy ever at an IPL auction•Lucknow Super GiantsLSG are one of two teams – Rajasthan Royals are the other – with only six overseas players, the fewest among all teams, and the staff, including new mentor Zaheer Khan, will have a job to do.

Likely best XII

1 Yuvraj Chaudhary/Arshin Kulkarni, 2 Mitchell Marsh*, 3 Nicholas Pooran*, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller*, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Shahbaz Ahmed, 9 Rajvardhan Hangargekar, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Shamar Joseph*, 12 Akash Singh/Prince Yadav
Full LSG squad

Big question

Watch out for

In the 20 matches India played since winning the T20 World Cup last year, Pant appeared in just two, with the focus being on Test cricket, rest and recovery. Sanju Samson’s form as opener and wicketkeeper has made him the go-to in the India team, for now. With LSG missing an established Indian opener in their squad, Pant could move towards the top of the order, with one eye on India ambitions. Of his IPL batting positions between Nos. 3 and 5, it is at No. 3 that he has the best average (39.36) and strike-rate (169.14), although the sample size is only 13 innings.The other opening options, if Marsh or Markram are preferred, are Arshin Kulkarni and Yuvraj Chaudhary. Kulkarni opened for LSG in the two games he played last season and was Maharashtra’s leading run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Chaudhary made a splash in the Uttarakhand Premier League 2024 at the top of the order, striking at 192.80 and averaging 80.5. At the SMAT, Chaudhary was also Uttarakhand’s leading run-scorer with 234 runs, including a century, at a strike rate of 168.34. Both also offer some bowling – Kulkarni with his medium pace and Chaudhary with his left-arm spin.LSG could be hampered by the unavailability of their fast-bowling core in Mayank, Mohsin and Avesh (at least for some chunks of the tournament). That leaves their bowling vulnerable. It also points towards surfaces in Lucknow likely being spin-friendly.Questions around Mayank Yadav’s fitness remain•BCCI

Key stats

• LSG’s home venue, the Ekana Stadium, has the lowest average score in the last three seasons of the IPL.
• Since the T20 World Cup 2024, Bishnoi has picked up the second-most wickets for India in T20Is.
• Shahbaz scored his maiden T20 hundred this season in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and had a strike rate of 176.86 in the tournament, the best for Bengal, primarily batting at Nos. 5 and 6. He also returned seven wickets, the most by a spinner for them.

Who’s out or in doubt?

LSG would have hoped for all-round balance from Marsh. But he has been cleared to play as a batter alone as he is returning from a back injury and could be their impact player. LSG’s first-choice bowling attack is also a bit brittle. Mohsin has an ACL injury, which he picked up during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Mayank has been ruled out of the first half of IPL 2025 owing to a back injury. Avesh is recovering from a knee injury. Akash Deep is recovering from a back injury that ruled him out of the New Year’s Test in Australia.Shardul Thakur and Shivam Mavi have been at the LSG training camp, but are yet to be drafted in officially as injury replacements.

MatériaMais Notícias

da wazamba： Em momento onde a bola ainda não rolou oficialmente para o CRB no ano de 2022, a hora é de fazer projeções onde o otimismo está bastante presente na avaliação feita pelo lateral-esquerdo Guilherme Romão, que vai para a sua segunda temporada no clube.

RelacionadasCRBJean Patrick fala sobre perspectiva do CRB para 2022CRB28/12/2021CRBEm alta no CRB, Reginaldo Lopes quer bom ano com o clube na próxima temporadaCRB27/12/2021CRBWesley comenta sobre sua expectativa para a próxima temporada no CRBCRB22/12/2021

da poker： Receba as principais notícias em tempo real com o novo canal do LANCE!

Para o jogador de 24 anos, a sua perspectiva para a temporada 2022 é melhorar ainda mais seus números no Galo da Praia. Na temporada de estreia, ele esteve presente em 59 dos 68 duelos disputados pelo CRB em todo o ano com três gols marcados e três assistências.

Além do aspecto individual, Guilherme não deixou de lado a visão coletiva da temporada onde o principal objetivo da equipe deve ser superar as campanhas de “quase acesso” recentes para, finalmente, conseguir concretizar o retorno a Série A do Brasileirão:

-Estou muito motivado para essa temporada e focado em fazer um grande ano com o clube novamente, ainda melhor do que foi 2021. Vou trabalhar muito para que seja uma temporada perfeita para mim dentro e fora de campo.Vamos lutar muito para fazer uma grande temporada, de alto nível, e com títulos. Tenho certeza que esse ano será muito bom para todos no CRB.

A estreia do time de Maceió na temporada 2022 acontecerá pelo Campeonato Alagoano no próximo dia 12 onde, no Rei Pelé, o time recebe o Dimensão Capela.

Glamorgan bowlers on top at Hove despite unbeaten 41 from 16-year-old batter

ECB Reporters' Network04-Jul-2021

Sussex’s 16-year-old batter Danial Ibrahim continued to make a good impression•Getty Images

Sussex teenager Danial Ibrahim defied Glamorgan’s dominant bowlers at the 1st Central County Ground. In just his second LV=Insurance County Championship match – he scored 55 on debut against Yorkshire a month ago – Ibrahim made 41 not out in two hours.Sussex were in deep trouble at 96 for 6 when Ibrahim was joined by Will Beer and the pair put on 65 for the seventh wicket, the highest partnership of a troubled innings, before Beer was out to the last ball of the day.Sussex were depleted with eight players self-isolating because of a Covid-19 case within the camp. Of these at least two, Tom Haines and Ollie Robinson, would certainly have played. Robinson was the side’s star player with 13 wickets in the club’s only Championship win of the season at Sophia Gardens.In addition, Sussex – bottom of Group Three – were missing the injured Phil Salt and Chris Jordan, while George Garton was away on England duty. Oli Carter, a 19-year-old batsman and wicketkeeper, became the seventh player to make his debut for the county this year.Glamorgan welcomed back Colin Ingram for his first first-class game since 2017 and Timm van der Gugten, with Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser in quarantine.In damp and dark conditions Sussex surprised many people by choosing to bat when play eventually got under way at 2.25pm. They lost their first wicket to the last delivery of the second over when Chris Cooke took a fine catch low down to his right to dismiss Aaron Thomason off van der Gugten for 4.After one ball of the third over the players came off, briefly, because of more rain, as they did again after 11.3 overs, by which time Sussex had progressed to 23 for 2, Stiaan van Zyl having lost his off stump to Michael Hogan for 5. By that time the floodlights were in action.Ali Orr scored a 35-ball 4 before he was lbw to van der Gugten, and Sussex were 34 for 4 when Carter was lbw to James Weighell – a very tight decision – for three from six balls.But then the sun came out and Ben Brown and Travis Head briefly prospered, with a stand of 41 in nine overs. When Head, who had averaged ten before this game, cut Dan Douthwaite for four to reach 22 it was his highest score of the season. But it was clearly Glamorgan’s session when, just before tea, Douthwaite had Brown caught behind for 22.Head moved his score to 47, with eight fours, before he was lbw to van der Gugten without offering a stroke and he walked without waiting for the umpire’s decision.

da realbet： Chelsea have now lodged a formal bid to sign a centre-back who Man United are targeting as an alternative to Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite.

Chelsea eyeing another centre-back after Tosin Adarabioyo

da esport bet： It didn't take long for the west Londoners to seal their first piece of business this summer, having put pen to paper on a deal for defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham.

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The former Man City starlet enjoyed a successful spell at Fulham, but opted to move just across west London to Stamford Bridge upon the expiry of his contract at Craven Cottage. Tosin's arrival will do wonders to fill the void left by fan favourite Thiago Silva, who has left Chelsea to re-join boyhood club Fluminese.

Despite the 26-year-old putting pen to paper on a four-year deal, it is believed that Chelsea could sign another centre-back after Tosin, as new manager Enzo Maresca seeks to reinforce his new backline further.

Tosin Adarabioyo's all-time stats for Fulham in all competitions

Total (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

132

Goals

5

Assists

2

Bookings

10

Red cards

1

Minutes played

11,382

Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewat and Paul Winstanley are expected to undergo a busy summer of recruitment. In the past week, Chelsea have held talks over signing Jhon Duran from Aston Villa, as well as pushed to seal a deal for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise (Fabrizio Romano).

Amidst all of this activity, as Maresca's side pursue a new forward, there remains a distinct possibility that Chelsea could bring another defender on top of this – with Romano tipping them to potentially bring in multiple central defensive options.

"It will continue to be a busy summer at Chelsea," said the journalist on his Dailybriefing. "It won’t be completely crazy but they will try to make smart things happen, including a new goalkeeper and I expect them to try for at least one new centre-back, but it could be two. I also expect Chelsea to be busy with the striker position."

Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano has been linked with a move to Chelsea as one option, but rather than negotiate with the Bavarians, it is believed they could instead look to pinch a transfer target of Man United's.

Indeed, Ten Hag's side are said to be monitoring Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino as an alternative to Branthwaite – with the Red Devils looking priced out of a move for the Englishman after having a bid rejected, according to widespread reports.

Chelsea make formal bid to sign Aaron Anselmino

According to South American journalist Uriel Lugt, Chelsea have made a "formal" bid to sign Anselmino, and offered the 19-year-old a four-year contract.

The teenager appears very highly-rated in Argentina, despite not making many first team appearances for Boca, and clearly Chelsea's scouting network have been doing their homework on him.

Nothing in football is certain but it does seem probable that Mohamed Salah will serve at the front of Liverpool's new era under Arne Slot's leadership next season.

The esteemed Egyptian has been one of Europe's most deadly forwards over the past seven years, and while he's entering the final year of his contract on Merseyside and remains of a vested interest to the Saudi Pro League, the 31-year-old, as per David Ornstein, is expected to stay for "at least another campaign", with his "contract to be addressed in due course".

It's a good thing too. With Jurgen Klopp's reign now over, it may prove detrimental to lose his long-time talisman at the same time. He petered out at the end of the 2023/24 campaign but Salah still scored 25 goals and supplied 14 assists in all competitions.

Still, there will come a point when Salah no longer plies his trade on Anfield's turf, and so it makes sense that FSG are prudently moving to sign a new wide forward this summer.

Liverpool lining up Salah successor

According to Leeds Live, Liverpool have pulled out of the race to sign Leeds United winger despite emerging as the early frontrunners, leaving Chelsea in the clear to secure a swoop for the dynamic Dutchman.

Why is this relevant? Well, according to the report, Liverpool's decision to end their interest has seen the focus shift their 'priorities' toward Crystal Palace's Michael Olise, who has a £60m release clause in his contract and is one of the Premier League's most coveted players after an extraordinarily good season.

The right winger, aged 22, is also being chased by the Blues and Manchester United, but Liverpool are the only mentioned suitors to boast Champions League football, with the on-pitch and financial benefits leaving Slot and FSG in a promising position.

Michael Olise's season in numbers

Few Premier League players can boast seasons better than that of Olise, who managed to emerge as one of the standout stars despite his year being punctuated by injuries that limited him to just 14 starts.

Nonetheless. Olise managed to transcend the exciting exploits of the previous season – scoring only twice but supplying 11 assists across 37 Premier League fixtures – to foster and hone his talents and leave the division's biggest names giddy with dreams of his signature.

As per Sofascore, the £100k-per-week winger scored ten goals and supplied six assists from his 19 total appearances, creating nine big chances and averaging 1.9 key passes, 2.1 dribbles and 5.7 won duels per game to underscore his versatility.

Moreover, he ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for interceptions and clearances per 90, as per FBref, emphasising the rounded game that would serve Liverpool and Slot tremendously.

As Palace went from strength to strength under Oliver Glasner's tutelage in 2024, so too did Olise deepen the argument that, yes, he is one of the Premier League's superlative forwards, a credit to Selhurst Park and a future world-beater at the apex of the game.

Pundit Micah Richards claimed this season that he "is going to be world-class… he's going to be a superstar". Olise is the real deal and he would be the perfect player to eventually replace Salah, though it would be wonderful if Slot could wield the phenoms in tandem next year.

How Olise could replace Salah

Olise doesn't appear to have the same level of inborn goalscoring quality as Salah, but then, with ten goals in just 14 Premier League starts this season, it's hard to argue against his ability to lift the crowd from their seats with consistency and quality.

However, Olise did massively outperform his xG (expected goals) in England's top divisions this term, with an expected strike return of 5.69, as per Understat.

2023/24

32

18

21.94 (+3.94)

0.77

2022/23

38

19

23.34 (+4.34)

0.64

2021/22

35

23

24.36 (+1.36)

0.80

2020/21

37

22

20.25 (-1.75)

0.59

2019/20

34

19

20.66 (+1.66)

0.64

Salah, conversely, has actually underperformed his xG across four of the past five Premier League campaigns, though is still universally accepted as one of football's elite finishers. Why is this?

Well, Salah might be an adept shooter but the real locus of his power derives from his flawless positioning, always alert, always hungry. He ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 2% for shots taken per 90, records FBref.

The Egyptian is a born goalscorer. It is the heart and soul of his skill set. Olise, however, might have reaped brilliant goalscoring rewards this year but he is not the same type of player, instead bringing an inventive and vibrant approach to his football.

But that's okay. Slot loves wingers. They are so important to the functionality of his build-up structure and game-winning execution. Simply trying to replace Salah with someone who can offer consistently matchable shooting success would be built on a house of cards, but Olise would offer an evolved, more appropriate skill set to spearhead a new chapter, led by a new head coach.

The caveat to a potential deal is of course the France U21 international's weary fitness record, with sidelined players of elite-level pedigree something that Liverpool fans have been frustrated by in excess over these past several years, but if Olise manages to weave past this Achilles heel, he would shape into one of Europe's leading forward's.

Therefore, Liverpool must pull no punches in their quest to sign the perfect Salah successor. Fit and firing indefinitely, there are few more exciting than Olise.

Liverpool enquire over Bellingham 2.0 who's “destined for elite football”

Arne Slot could turn this talented teenager into a real world-beater.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 7, 2024