Jack Edwards produced a superb spell as the home side were bundled out for 161 on a hot day
AAP01-Feb-2024New South Wales rocketed to top spot on the Marsh Cup table after posting a five-wicket bonus-point victory over defending champions Western Australia at the WACA Ground.Player of the match Jack Edwards snared 3 for 14 as WA were rolled for 161 in 39.1 overs in 41-degree heat on Thursday.In reply, NSW reached the victory target with a whopping 17.4 overs to spare courtesy of important knocks from opener Daniel Hughes (52 off 83 balls) and Ollie Davies (38 off 34 balls).The result catapulted NSW from third to first, while WA’s second loss of the season relegated them to second spot. Both of WA’s losses have been to the Blues, setting up an intriguing battle if the two powerhouses make the final.WA slumped to 89 for 7 after being sent in to bat before some late heroics from D’Arcy Short and AJ Tye lifted the home side to a defendable total. Edwards caused the early damage, before offspinner Chris Green and Will Salzmann joined in on the fun.The wheels fell off early for WA as they slumped from 15 for 0 to 15 for 3 in the space of seven balls. Sam Fanning was the first to fall when he struck Ben Dwarshuis to point. Josh Philippe followed next over when Edwards found a leading edge.Alarm bells were ringing for WA next ball when a rising Edwards delivery crashed into the left glove of Sam Whiteman and rebounded onto the stumps.Cameron Bancroft helped steady the ship with a cautious knock, but his good work was undone when he was cramped by Edwards and edged behind.Green then sent Ashton Agar and Cameron Gannon packing in consecutive balls to leave WA in dire straights. Short and Tye refused to go down without a fight, the duo striking some lusty blows in a 69-run partnership off 63 balls.But just as WA looked set to push on towards 200, Salzmann dismissed both Short and Tye within the space of three balls in the 38th over to end the home side’s resistance.NSW slipped to 19 for 2 in their run chase after Edwards and Blake Macdonald fell to the impressive Gannon, but a strong knock from Hughes ensured there would be no major collapse.
While it was roughly six months ago that Erik ten Hag finally lost his job at Manchester United, it could be argued that the Dutchman’s fate was sealed far earlier, particularly following what has proved to be a damaging 2023 summer window.
Despite the way his tenure ended, it’s worth remembering that the former Ajax boss had overcome a shaky start to life at Old Trafford to ultimately enjoying a promising debut campaign at the club, securing a third-place Premier League finish and winning the Carabao Cup to boot – ending a six-year wait for silverware.
Although that season was punctuated by the lows of the FA Cup final defeat to rivals Manchester City – and the 7-0 drubbing away at Anfield – Ten Hag had largely helped to stabilise the Red Devils, having also overseen the resurgence of 30-goal talisman, Marcus Rashford.
What United needed then was to kick on again with a handful of marquee summer signings, in order to try and bridge the gap with those above them. Instead, in came an error-prone Andre Onana, an injury-prone Mason Mount, and a goal-shy Rasmus Hojlund.
That assessment may be with hindsight in mind, although the issues were staring the Old Trafford hierarchy in the face. Onana, for instance, had made a catalogue of mistakes during his time at Inter and Ajax; Mount had endured an injury-hit 2022/23 season at Chelsea and Hojlund had scored just nine Serie A goals for Atalanta.
Arijanet Muric
5
Robert Sanchez
5
Bart Verbruggen
4
Andre Onana
3
Alphonse Areola
2
Alex McCarthy
2
Nick Pope
2
Ederson
2
How different things could have been had different targets been acquired, be it Ten Hag’s first-choice striker, Harry Kane, or even a certain Declan Rice.
Why Man Utd missed out on Rice
There remains the feeling that during the days of the great Sir Alex Ferguson, both Kane and Rice would have ended up at Old Trafford, a point that club legend Teddy Sheringham notably made last month:
As reported by Sky Sports at the time, it was the England captain who was Ten Hag’s ‘number one target’, albeit with Rice – alongside Mount – also on the club’s midfield shortlist.
Rice-Arsenal-West-Ham
The then-West Ham United skipper had also been linked with a move to Manchester a year earlier, while in 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also seemingly keen on signing the rising midfield star from the London Stadium.
As it proved, Kane moved on to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £86m, while Rice made the move to Arsenal on a £105m deal, with the Gunners also edging out rivals Manchester City to make that deal happen.
Whether United were truly in the mix, considering the mammoth nature of the transfer fee, is a valid point, albeit when considering that £156m was spent the previous summer on Antony and Casemiro, it illustrates where the funds could have been more wisely invested.
As it is, the 26-year-old – who deemed the Emirates “project” to be more “exciting” than the one at the Etihad – is now the centrepiece of Mikel Arteta’s midfield, having since scored twice against the Red Devils over the last two seasons.
The one-time Chelsea youth project no doubt joins the list of those who got away for the Old Trafford side, although – thankfully – the club could be brewing their answer to the Three Lions star.
Man Utd's answer to Declan Rice
While Arsenal’s title bid faltered, it has proven to be a positive few weeks, at least, for Rice in north London, with the midfield machine scoring in the 1-1 draw against Ruben Amorim’s side, before producing stunning heroics in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Real Madrid.
Those pinpoint free-kicks highlighted another weapon to the £105m man’s already impressive arsenal, with the Gunners’ number 41 having perhaps helped to already book their place in the last eight.
Of course, back in Manchester, United already have a set-piece king of their own in the form of Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese playmaker notably netting from range against both Arsenal and Everton in recent weeks.
The 30-year-old is, however, a naturally more attack-minded playmaker than his Arsenal counterpart, with a better likeness seemingly shown in the form of young Kobbie Mainoo, even amid the 19-year-old’s injury-hit season this time around.
Described as a “generational talent” by teammate Hojlund, Mainoo has had a campaign to forget due to his repeated spells on the sidelines, albeit with it hard to ignore the brilliance of his breakthrough 2023/24 season, which was rounded off with the decisive goal in May’s FA Cup final.
Subsequently thrust in as Rice’s partner in the knockout stages of Euro 2024, as Gareth Southgate’s men surged to the showpiece, the United teenager was actually praised by his midfield colleague for his “leadership” despite his youth, with the pair forming a “nice partnership” in the centre of the park.
Much like Rice, Mainoo showcased his ability to feature as a number six or as a number eight during Ten Hag’s reign, with club legend Paul Scholes even stating that the pair are alike in the fact that it can be hard to pin down their best position.
Manchester United – Kobbie Mainoo
Even so, what the two men both possess – as the Arsenal star showed on Tuesday – is the impact they can make in the final third, with Mainoo notably curling home in fine fashion against both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool last season.
While we are yet to see the £20k-per-week starlet’s free-kick ability, he does mirror Rice in being able to thrive when popping up just outside the area, while at the other end of the pitch, the United man can also sniff out the danger when needed – as shown with his vital goalline clearance against Everton on what was his first Premier League start.
Where the two international colleagues are also alike, perhaps most notably, is their knack for driving forward with the ball from deep, with Rice ranking in the top 4% of European midfielders for progressive carries, while Mainoo ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
The issue now for Amorim is finding a permanent home for his young sensation in the 3-4-3 system, having trialled the 2022 FA Youth Cup winner as a number ten of late, with it set to be a real waste if United fail to get the best out of their own Rice-like midfield powerhouse.
Bad news for Mainoo: Man Utd ready move for "out of this world" £52m star
Man Utd are seeking to bolster their midfield ranks this summer
India’s dominance continued in Sylhet as they went 4-0 up in the five-match series
Srinidhi Ramanujam06-May-2024
Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur put up a solid stand•BCB
Harmanpreet Kaur and India’s spinners combined to hand the visitors a comfortable 56-run win against Bangladesh in the rain-hit fourth T20I. India’s dominance continued in Sylhet as they went 4-0 ahead in the five-match series.Harmanpreet, playing her 300th international game, top-scored with a brisk 39 to lift the visitors to a competitive 122 for 6 in 14 overs after being asked to bat on a cloudy day. Chasing a revised DLS target of 125, Bangladesh lost a flurry of wickets to post 66 for 7. S Asha – India’s oldest debutant in women’s T20Is at 33 – and Deepti Sharma starred with two wickets each.Bangladesh made three changes from the XI that played the third game, but were never in the chase on a sluggish surface. After Deepti handed the first breakthrough for India with the wicket of Murshida Khatun in the fourth over, she went on to dismiss Dilhara Akter (21 off 25). Rubya Haider (13 off 17) was also run out after a mix-up with captain Nigar Sultana in the eighth over.Asha’s maiden wicket was the prized scalp of Sultana, who couldn’t read a googly on the stumps and ended up being trapped lbw. The legspinner added one more wicket when she dismissed Shorna Akter, having the batter mistime a slog-sweep only to be caught by Richa Ghosh off a leading edge. Asha finished her quota of three overs with figures of 2 for 18.Bangladesh’s batting collapse continued to haunt them in the series as they slid from 38 for 1 to 47 for 6 to lose the plot and the game.India lost Shafali Verma early for a four-ball 2 in the second over. D Hemalatha played a cameo of 22 off 14, hitting two fours and as many sixes, which included two powerful lofted drives over extra cover. However, her stay was cut short by the young fast bowler Marufa Akther who trapped her lbw with an inswinger. India reached 48 for 2 in 5.5 overs before rain halted the game for an hour.Once the play resumed, Smriti Mandhana got going to make an 18-ball 22 but was bowled by Rabeya Khan. But India did not slow down, thanks to Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh.The duo put on 44 runs off just 28 balls for the fourth wicket. Harmanpreet picked up pace after Mandhana’s dismissal as she went from 10 off 8 to 39 off 26 balls, hitting five fours. Ghosh played a 15-ball 24 and hit three fours and a six as India accumulated 52 runs in the last five overs. Though several shots were coming off edges, India scored quickly to put up a solid target in 14 overs.India will be eying a series sweep when they take on the field for the final game on May 9.
Not to forget the big question: will this be MS Dhoni’s IPL farewell if CSK fall short?
Sruthi Ravindranath17-May-20242:35
Aaron: Santner gives CSK a lot of options
Match details
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) (7th; 6W, 7L) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) (4th; 7W, 6L)
Bengaluru, 7.30pm IST (2pm GMT)
Big picture – RCB vs CSK, the match of the season?
Is the hype around this encounter justified?The results over the years have been rather one-sided in favour of CSK. RCB have won only once in their last five meetings and only 31% of the all the matches in the IPL against them.So maybe not.But this time, there is a lot at stake – it’s a virtual quarter-final. RCB are in roaring form, with five wins in a row; CSK have been up and down. Scenarios-wise, it’s easier for CSK to get through. Just win, or hope the game is rained out – not unlikely, considering the weather in Bengaluru. RCB, however, have to win and win by a certain margin – assuming a score of 200, they need to win by 18 runs or chase the target down with about 11 balls to spare – to get into the top four.There are sentimental reasons for the hype too. Is this the last we’ll see an MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli encounter on the field? Will it be Dhoni’s last game for CSK? (Nobody knows, not even CSK’s batting coach Mike Hussey.)Dhoni and Kohli may grab all the headlines, but some subplots mean much more. The two most powerful spin-hitters this season will come up against each other: Shivam Dube, who rocked it for CSK in the first half, and Rajat Patidar, who turned the fortunes around for RCB in the second. It will also be the battle of the Indian quicks, who have played key roles in their sides’ wins in the last few games. M Chinnaswamy Stadium might be a batter-friendly surface, but it may all come down to which pace unit performs better on the day.In terms of the venue, RCB have won both their recent matches at the Chinnaswamy after being relentlessly bashed by oppositions earlier in the season. CSK, however, have won only two of their six away matches. For CSK to gain an advantage at the Chinnaswamy, their batters must come together.Does all of that make this the match of the season? It could very well be. Unless rain plays spoilsport.Related
Gaikwad the captain faces his sternest test yet
Patidar: 'I should know that I am the best, nothing else matters'
Rain threat looms over RCB-CSK clash in Bengaluru
Form guide
RCB WWWWW CSK WLWLW
Previous meeting
It was the season opener, at Chepauk. Mustafizur Rahman ran through the RCB top order but a late lift from Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik took them to 173 for 6. In reply, CSK chased down the target with eight balls remaining, with Dube and Ravindra Jadeja posting an unbeaten 66-run stand. In many ways, that result set the tone for the first half of the season for the two sides. But it all changed since then.One last time?•AFP/Getty Images
Team news and Impact Player strategy
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB are likely to bring back Glenn Maxwell for the game in place of Will Jacks, who has left for England duty. Patidar for Yash Dayal or Swapnil Singh will likely be the impact swap again.RCB probable XII: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Glenn Maxwell, 4 Rajat Patidar, 5 Mahipal Lomror, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Yash Dayal, 9 Karn Sharma, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Lockie Ferguson 12 Swapnil SinghChennai Super Kings
Moeen Ali has left, so Mitchell Santner is likely to get a place in the XI. Ruturaj Gaikwad is also back to opening with Rachin Ravindra. In the last game, Daryl Mitchell was subbed out during the chase to get Sameer Rizvi in at No. 7. Considering Rahane’s poor form, and with Moeen out, will they consider starting with Rizvi and have Mitchell at No. 3?CSK probable XII: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Daryl Mitchell, 4 Shivam Dube, 5 Ravindra Jadeja, 6 Sameer Rizvi, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Tushar Deshpande, 12 Simarjeet Singh4:26
How do RCB make best use of Maxwell?
In the spotlight – Faf du Plessis and Shivam Dube
Faf du Plessis is yet to make a big impact with the bat. He has three fifties, but has struggled for consistency overall, having scored just 367 runs at 28.23 in 13 games. He averages just 27 in the powerplay this year compared to 120 last year, when he had a great time. While he’s not got the big scores, he’s been striking at 205 in RCB’s last seven games compared to 140 in the first six games. RCB will be hoping for a big score from their captain in the crucial game to go with another big hand from orange cap-holder Virat Kohli.Shivam Dube‘s superb run in the first half of the season earned him a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad. However, since then, his form has dipped. Following ducks in back-to-back games against Punjab Kings, he scored 21 and 18 in the next two matches. He was taking spinners apart when the going was good. In three out of the last four games, he’s gotten out trying to go after spinners.
Pitch and conditions
It was cloudy all day in Bengaluru on Friday, and there’s a 78% chance of rain on Saturday, with the forecast saying there could be thunderstorms accompanied by showers in the evening. The average first-innings score at the venue this season is 193. The day before the game, there was no grass on the centre pitch, which will be used for this match, so expect it to be a belter.
Stats that matter
Kohli has upped his powerplay game, from striking at 131 at an average of 62 in the first six matches to 193 at 98.50 in the last seven
RCB are Dhoni’s favourite opposition – he has scored 413 runs at an average of 82.6 against them at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the most against any team for him in the IPL
Ruturaj Gaikwad averages 71 this season, which is the best for an opener in IPL 2024
Quotes
“He’s a bowler that basically bowled the fastest in our group. Every team will like a bowler like Simar because he bowls with a lot of pace and he’s very aggressive by nature. Even against our own batsmen in the nets, sometimes I get scared with the way he bowls. Very happy to see that the work that he’s put in to finally get an opportunity to play and he’s performing well.”
قام أنطونيو روديجر، مدافع نادي ريال مدريد، بالتعليق عن الإصابة التي تعرض لها خلال الفترة الأخيرة، والتي سوف تحرمه من اللعب لفترة طويلة بالفعل.
روديجر أصيب على مستوى الركبة خلال الأيام الماضية، مما سوف يجعل الدولي الألماني يغيب عن الملاعب لمدة قد تصل إلى 7 أشهر.
أقرأ أيضًا .. أنشيلوتي يوضح الفارق بينه وبين كلوب وجوارديولا.. والمنتخب الأقرب للفوز بـ كأس العالم 2026
ووجه روديجر عبر حسابه الرسمي في إنستجرام الشكر إلى جماهير ريال مدريد التي وجهت له الدعم خلال الفترة الأخيرة في ظل تحسن مردوده مع الميرنجي.
وقال روديجر: ”أولاً، شكراً جزيلاً لكم على رسائلكم بالشفاء العاجل، أقدر كل واحدة منها حقاً وكما تعلمون جميعاً، لا أكره شيئاً أكثر من عدم قدرتي على اللعب مع زملائي في الفريق، والدفاع عن ريال مدريد”.
واختنم روديجر في حديثه: ”لكن شيئاً واحدًا مؤكدًا، سأبذل قصارى جهدي لأعود إلى كامل لياقتي البدنية في أقرب وقت ممكن، لقد مررت بانتكاسات من قبل وسأنهض من جديد دائماً”.
روديجر انتقل إلى صفوف نادي ريال مدريد خلال صيف عام 2022، وذلك في صفقة انتقال حر عقب نهاية عقده مع تشيلسي.
ومن المنتظر أن يغادر روديجر صفوف ريال مدريد في نهاية هذا الموسم، مع عدم وجود أي نية من قبل إدارة الفريق الملكي حول التمسك باللاعب وتجديد عقده الذي سوف ينتهي مع نهاية شهر يونيو من العام الجديد.
🤍 Antonio Rüdiger on IG: “First of all – thank you so much for all your get well soon messages. I really appreciate every single one. As you all know there’s nothing I hate more than not being able to be out there with my teammates, fighting for the club. But one thing’s for… pic.twitter.com/UJRgudQpuY — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 14, 2025
He eases the ball over the rope with minimum fuss and a lack of warning about what is coming
Sambit Bal08-Jul-2019So you think the ball has come out all right, the way you visualised it in your run-up – not full enough to be driven, not short enough to cut or pull, not on the legs to be clipped way, not wide enough for the batsman to free his arms. At best he can bunt or dab it for a single, but the percentages favour it being a dot ball, and that’s what it looks like when you’re in your follow-through. The batsman hasn’t moved much, no intent at all, the bat is coming down straight – a pat down the wicket mostly, and you are thinking about your next ball.And Rohit Sharma has hit you for a six. Maybe over your head. Maybe over long-off. Maybe over extra cover. Wherever the mood has taken him. Ask Mustafizur Rahman. Ask Pat Cummins. Ask Dhananjaya de Silva. Left-arm wobbler, right-arm fast, offspinner – when Rohit chooses the moment, the ball travels. Minimum fuss, maximum impact. He doesn’t savage you, he chaperones you over the ropes in the manner of an aristocrat.At worst, it’s a masterful con job – he has deceived you into believing all is well, before extracting maximum value. At best, it’s a work of art, a wonder of wonders, and if you were as generous a soul and as besotted with the game as Bishan Bedi, you would follow the arc of the ball till it finished its descent, and turn back to applaud. You know you have played your part in something quite divine. It’s no humiliation, it’s a moment of grace.
There are more prolific and devastating six-hitters than Rohit in contemporary cricket. Chris Gayle monsters them from as stationary a post. Andre Russell muscles them more regularly in T20. Jonny Bairstow can swing them hard. Jos Buttler can hit them all around the ground. But no one can be as explosive as non-violently as Rohit Sharma. What is a bludgeon for most is a caress for him.There have been touch players who could clear the ropes with ease. Brian Lara did it with twinkling feet and a magic wand; Mark Waugh with rubber wrists; Sourav Ganguly with the gift of timing and by giving himself space. But even with those players, the effort was visible. They created momentum either with footwork or by cocking the wrists, or often with both, and there was always a forewarning. It’s impossible to remember a batsman hitting a six with as much stillness and as languidly as Rohit.ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma and the magic in his touchThe best driving is often an extension of a defensive shot, and it has been the hallmark of several great batsmen from India. Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar stroked past the bowler with little more than a push, and Virat Kohli often cover-drives without a hint of a follow-through, but Rohit extends this to casual six-hitting. The simple downswing of the bat and timing give the ball both elevation and distance. “Killing Me Softly with His Song” was perhaps composed in anticipation of his sixes.Effortlessness, however, hasn’t been the only theme of his record-breaking World Cup campaign. Five hundreds in eight innings don’t come with six-hitting alone. Restraint, in fact, has been the distinguishing feature of his campaign. Like in the past, he has built his innings steadily, but unlike in the past, he has chosen to grind through the middle overs and has been unruffled by tough phases or dropped catches. He was unable to take India over the line against England on a pitch that got progressively more sluggish, but he fought his way through excellent spells from the English quick bowlers.Rohit’s sixes win Nobel Peace prizes for gentleness•Getty ImagesThough it seems ages ago, his first hundred came against the toughest bowling India have encountered in this World Cup. On a pitch where the second-highest score was 42, he marshalled India’s tricky chase against South Africa as wickets fell steadily, with a determination and measured brilliance that set the tone of his campaign. Kagiso Rabada versus Virat Kohli was the anticipated battle, but Kohli ended up facing only five balls from Rabada before being dismissed by Andile Phehlukwayo, and it was Rohit who absorbed the full impact, facing 35 of Rabada’s 60 deliveries.The pitches were fresh and the weather heavy in that part of the tournament. Rabada harried Rohit with pace and skiddy bounce early on, and a miscued pull barely eluded a fielder. He was pinned on the pad, beaten past the outside edge, and even Chris Morris got a ball past him and had him fending over point. But Rohit battled through, and it was a six that turned the tide.ALSO READ: What I think about when I watch Kohli and RohitHe had just been beaten on a drive the previous ball, and Rabada followed it with a ball at the ribs. In his normal position, Rohit would have been cramped for space, and been able to, at best, fend it off for a single. But behind every genius stroke there is anticipation and instinct: in this instance, he moved a shade inside, just a shade, mind you, not by way of premeditation but with a touch of intuition, and it was not so much the feet that moved but the upper body – just enough for the arms to free up and for the bat to meet the ball on the upswing. He pivoted on the back foot to complete a pull that took the ball flat over square leg.In that moment you sensed the mood of the game change. Two fours came off the next four balls, one a defensive prod with an angled bat, and then a ferocious cut off the back foot behind point. Rabada would bowl one more over in that spell, but all through it he was perhaps replaying that one ball: just where did that stroke come from?Now, that is perhaps our imagination. Rabada has probably put it out of this mind. But in the mind of the viewer, the mellow warmth of a Rohit Sharma six always lingers.
Borussia Dortmund are looking to strengthen their defence and have found what they are seeking in Real Madrid's teenage centre-back Diego Aguado.
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Dortmund not giving up on Madrid youngsterSaw their first offer ahead of CWC rejectedBVB plotting more tempting offerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Dortmund apparently continue to show interest in signing defensive gem Aguado. After an offer of €6 million was reportedly rejected before the Club World Cup, the Black and Yellows are said to be stepping up their efforts to sign the 18-year-old centre-back, according to .
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
According to the report, BVB will approach Madrid "in the coming days" with an improved offer for Aguado – and also make the move more appealing to the centre-back with a tempting offer. Unlike Madrid, where Aguado is initially expected to play for the reserve team next season despite his participation in the Club World Cup with the first team, Dortmund are offering the Spaniard a place in the first team and even guaranteed playing time.
DID YOU KNOW
Aguado, who can operate both as a centre-back and a left-back, recently signed a long-term contract with Los Blancos until 2029, which reportedly includes a high release clause. For this reason, and because Madrid are keen to keep Aguado, a transfer seems unlikely for the time being.
The 18-year-old made his debut for Real's first team last season under Carlo Ancelotti. He played 90 minutes as a left-sided centre-back alongside fellow academy starlet Raul Asencio in the third round of the Copa del Rey against Deportivo Minera. What's more, Aguado has also been in the squad four times in La Liga, but has not yet played in the Club World Cup and was not even in the squad for Madrid's final group match against Red Bull Salzburg.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR AGUADO AND DORTMUND?
Dortmund are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements because defensive stalwart Nico Schlotterbeck will miss much of the first half of next season due to a serious knee injury. Soumaila Coulibaly was brought back early from his loan spell at Brest for the Club World Cup to compensate for the injury-enforced absence of captain Emre Can.
As for Aguado, the teenager is unlikely to receive minutes at the Club World Cup. However, he has been touted as a player with immense potential by those at La Fabrica. Given Xabi Alonso's tendency to nurture youngsters and give them opportunities, there's every chance Aguado could earn a rotational role in the squad. His chances could significantly increase if Real Madrid fail to sign Alvaro Carreras from Benfica. With Fran Garcia currently the only fit first-team left-back and Ferland Mendy set to miss the first couple of months of the 2025-26 season, Aguado could get a run-in on the left flank.
أنهى ليفربول في اليوم الأخير من سوق الانتقالات الصيفية، صفقة التعاقد مع المهاجم السويدي الدولي ألكسندر إيزاك والتي تبلغ قيمتها 125 مليون جنيه إسترليني من نيوكاسل يونايتد، حيث وقع على عقد لمدة ست سنوات.
وعلى الرغم من نجاح ليفربول في إنهاء هذه الصفقة إلا أنه قد فشلت محاولات النادي للتعاقد مع مارك جويهي من صفوف كريستال بالاس في اللحظات الأخيرة من سوق الانتقالات، ويعود ذلك لفشل بالاس في تأمين التعزيزات الدفاعية الكافية.
وكان ليفربول قد اتفق مع كريستال بالاس على ضم جويهي مقابل 35 مليون جنيه إسترليني وقد سافر إلى لندن لإجراء الفحص الطبي وكان يستعد لتوقيع عقده الجديد لخمس سنوات.
وقد رفض رئيس كريستال بالاس ستيف باريش الموافقة على رحيل اللاعب بعد أن اختار إيجور جوليو ومانويل أكانجي الانتقال لأندية أخرى مما جعل جلاسنر يصر على ضرورة التعاقد مع مدافعين جدد قبل رحيل جويهي.
أقرأ أيضاً.. يويفا يستعد لتحقيق جديد في واقعة مباراة ليفربول وأتلتيكو مدريد المثيرة للجدل
وتحدث توم فيرنر رئيس نادي ليفربول في تصريحات عن ضم إيزاك وصفقة جويهي ونشرها الصحفي البريطاني “ديفيد أوكوب”: “في حالة نيوكاسل كان على ناديهم إيجاد بديل”.
وأضاف: “لقد ظننا أننا نمتلك عرضًا ماليًا رائعًا لكنه كان مرتبط بعقد لثلاث سنوات، كنا نشعر أننا تعاقدنا مع إيكتيكي ليكون مهاجماً وشعرنا أنه إذا نجح الأمر سيكون رائعاً وإذا لم ينجح سيظهر خيار آخر في النهاية، لم أكن أعرف شيئاً أكثر من وسائل الإعلام”.
وحول مارك جويهي كشف فيرنر: “ظننا أننا سنتعاقد معه من بالاس، بدأ ناديهم بشكل جيد جداً في المفاوضات، ولم يكن رئيسهم مستعد لخسارته مهما حدث”.
وحول تحقيق الانتصارات في ليفربول أتم تصريحاته: “الفوز يتطلب جهدا كبيرا وليس بفضل موهبة لاعب واحد، إيزاك سيكون رائعاً لكنه ليس المهاجم الوحيد في العالم”.
وحول الفارق بين آرني سلوت ويورجن كلوب كشف فيرنر: “أحترم في سلوت أنه يتطور أكثر في الشوط الثاني دون تقليل من كلوب”.
وعن ذكرى ديوجو جوتا رد فيرنر: “العائلة تحظى برعاية مالية جيدة، لقد كان جوتا شخص استثنائي محبوب ليس لأنه كان هداف بل لأنه كان طيب القلب، أجده فضولياً للغاية وعندما أتحدث معه كنا نتحدث كثيراً عن الألعاب وكان لديه فريق رياضات إلكترونية، كانت لديه روح فضولية مميزة جذبت الناس له وكان يتمتع بشعبية كبيرة بين زملائه في غرفة الملابس”.
وختم فيرنر: “لقد تعرض العام الماضي لبعض الإصابات الخطيرة لكنه لم يستسلم وركز على مساعدة النادي وكان يعلم أنه قادر على ترك بصمة إيجابية حتى لو لم يبدأ أساسياً في المباريات، لقد تواصلنا مع أرملته وإعلام عائلته أننا في ليفربول عائلة واحدة ونريد التأكد من حصولهما على رعاية مالية جيدة”.
The international break came at precisely the right time for Glasgow Rangers. The Ibrox side had progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League before beating Celtic at Parkhead just three days later.
Barry Ferguson will have had a few days to enjoy those results, particularly the latter while keeping an eye on several players who are away representing their national teams.
Speaking of which, what have the boys in Light Blue been up to over the last week or so?
The Rangers players on international duty
It’s been a busy week or so for those at Rangers, travelling off on the globe. Perhaps the most notable national side inclusion was Hamza Igamane. His rampant form at Ibrox earned him his first call-up to the Morocco squad, making his debut against Niger in a World Cup qualifier.
Nedim Bajrami played 63 minutes against England on Friday evening, while Ianis Hagi and Vaclav Cerny both appeared for Romania and the Czech Republic in their recent international games.
Elsewhere, Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo were called up for Wales, with the latter scoring the opener against Kazakhstan during a 3-1 victory. Lawrence failed to come off the bench.
John Souttar started both games against Greece for Scotland, as the 3-1 aggregate loss sent the nation back to League B.
It was a mixed bag for the Rangers contingent, but one player certainly made the most of his first international call-up…
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Nico Raskin's incredible display for Belgium
Raskin has arguably been one of the Gers’ finest performers this season, none more so than in the recent Old Firm game when he dominated the midfield and scored the opener.
This led to him being called up for the Belgium squad for their Nations League double-header against Ukraine.
He came off the bench for the final ten minutes during the first leg during the 3-1 defeat, although he did succeed with 93% of his passes and won 100% of his aerial duels despite his limited time on the field.
Having to overcome a two-goal deficit, Raskin was awarded with his first start for Belgium as they defeated Ukranian 3-0 to remain in League A for the next Nations League campaign.
Raskin’s stats for Belgium vs Ukraine
Accurate passes
75/82
Key passes
1
Touches
91
Ground duels (won)
5 (4)
Possession lost
8
Tackles
4
Via Sofascore
The Gers starlet claimed the Man of the Match award for his performance, which was outstanding to say the least. He completed 91% of his passes during the game, while also making one key pass, winning four of his five ground duels contested and making four tackles.
Deployed at the centre of a three-midfield, Raskin was one of the stars of the 3-0 win, outshining fellow players such as Hans Vanaken and even Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne.
The latter was even hailed as “one of the best players in the world” by Rio Ferdinand just a few years ago and he provided an assist against Ukraine on Sunday evening.
Still, all the talk was about Raskin and how he settled into the midfield with ease, especially with pressure on the country to win by three goals or more to remain in the top division.
The 2026 World Cup starts in just 15 months. If Raskin can replicate these performances between now and then, he will surely be on the plane to North America. That’s for sure.
Rangers can find their new Igamane in 17-year-old who's "making waves"
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Dame Caroline Dinenage MP questions chair’s intentions in open letter from CMS committee
ESPNcricinfo staff23-May-2024Colin Graves, Yorkshire’s chair, has come under renewed scrutiny from the chair of the parliamentary committee that oversees sporting bodies, following his recent claims that a process of demutualisation could prove to be “essential” to the long-term future of the club.Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, queried the timing and content of Graves’ remarks, made in a letter to Yorkshire’s members on Monday, which she felt contradicted his previous assurances that the club would remain a members-owned institution under his leadership.Graves appeared before the CMS select committee on February 20, after his return as Yorkshire chair had been ratified at an EGM earlier that month. Yorkshire claimed at the time that it had engaged with more than 350 interested parties, including the former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, but had deemed his offer was the only one capable of retaining the club’s existing status as a mutual society.”Your return to the club was predicated on your financial support not being contingent on demutualisation of the club, in contrast to alternative bids discussed by the board,” Dinenage wrote in a letter to Graves on Thursday, which was also posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We are therefore concerned that you have now decided that converting the club to a private structure is now ‘essential’?””Prior to your bid’s approval, you reassured the members of the club on 16 January that ‘there are no discussions or plans to change the mutual status of YCCC.’ This claim was made despite your September 2023 offer to the YCCC board, which you initially denied any knowledge of to us, which was contingent on such a demutualisation.”Dinenage also queried the nature of Graves’ relationship with the family trust, overseen by independent trustees, which is a legacy of his original bail-out that saved Yorkshire from bankruptcy in 2002, and still constitutes some £15 million of the £20 million of the club’s “long-term borrowing” that Graves outlined in his letter to members.Related
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Graves’ proposed process of demutualisation would unlock those loans and open the club up to private investment – a prospect that has already be raised among county clubs via the ongoing discussions over the future of the Hundred.In his update to members, he pledged that any potential windfall “for either myself or my family trust … would be donated in full into a charitable trust supporting Yorkshire recreational cricket, both men’s and women’s”. Dinenage, however, requested more information on that commitment, and set a deadline of May 31 for a response.”You have previously told the Committee that you have no role in your family trusts,” Dinenage wrote. “We would be grateful for clarity on the following points:
Whether the trustees of the Graves family trustees have agreed to the commitment to donations, and your role in securing this agreement?
Whether the ‘financial upside’ referred to in your 20 May update includes the interest rates of 4% above base rate, which will be returned to you and your family trusts as part of the repayment of debts?
The proposed governance arrangements for any new charitable trust for Yorkshire recreational cricket.”It is the second time in as many months that Yorkshire have come under parliamentary scrutiny. In April, the committee released its “Equity in Cricket” report, in which the ECB was urged to closely monitor the club in the wake of the racism scandal, to “ensure that there is no return to the ‘business as usual’ that allowed a culture of discrimination to take root and thrive at the club”.