Prasidh Krishna beat India C’s defiance with three quick wickets to secure the win
Shashank Kishore22-Sep-2024With 4.1 overs left and the light fading slowly, Prasidh Krishna beat India C’s defiance with three quick wickets to seal India A’s title triumph at the season-opening 2024-25 Duleep Trophy in Anantapur. Prasidh, playing his second straight first-class game after a long injury layoff, dismissed centurion B Sai Sudharsan, Baba Indrajith and Anshul Kamboj to secure victory.Sai Sudharsan, who had battled hard and defied the bowlers to make his fifth first-class century, fell for 111 when he was out attempting a scoop. In Prasidh’s next over, the 80th, he had the injured B Indrajith, who came out to bat only because a draw had seemed a possibility.But in trying to defend a short ball aimed at the ribs, Prasidh had Indrajith caught at leg slip, who had been specifically brought in for the short ball. And then, with a brand new ball taken at the first available opportunity in the 81st over, Prasidh bowled full and straight to dismiss Kamboj lbw to close out the game.Related
Arshdeep Singh's career-best of 6 for 40 gives India D consolation win
While Prasidh did the late demolition job, it was young Uttar Pradesh seamer Aaqib Khan who did the early damage, nicking off Ruturaj Gaikwad with a superb outswinger, and then having Rajat Patidar bowled.Once those breakthroughs were achieved, Agarwal summoned his spinners on a final-day surface, which had begun to take turn, but not to the extent that made stroke-making impossible. Offspinner Tanush Kotian removed Ishan Kishan and first innings top-scorer Abhishek Porel, while his Mumbai team-mate Shams Mulani dismissed Manav Suthar to open up the possibility of victory.Until that point, it didn’t seem like India B would have the services of Indrajith, who had retired hurt on 34 in the first innings because of a hamstring injury. But with the possibility of a draw looming, he walked out to a packed close-in ring, but only lasted two deliveries. That strike turned a hopeful bunch boisterous as Prasidh and India A then picked up the final wicket after a tense few deliveries of playing and missing to seal the match.That India A were in a position to win outright was largely down to a superb back-to-the-wall century from Baroda’s Shashwat Rawat, who made 124 in the first innings to set up the game on the face of a batting collapse. Then in the second, he struck a half-century along with Riyan Parag to set up a declaration, which eventually helped them build scoreboard pressure on the final day.
And with that, the Premier League is done and dusted for another year. Arsenal, the division’s second place side, ended things with a win but the real work starts now for new sporting director Andrea Berta.
Mikel Arteta declared post-game on Sunday that work for the new season would commence quickly.
Where do they need to strengthen?
It’s pretty obvious unless you have been living under a rock.
For the first time since the 1923/24 season, yes, over 100 years ago, Arsenal failed to find a player who scored double figures in a league season.
Injuries have no doubt led to this but so has the club’s poor recruitment over the last 18 months.
A new striker and potentially also a winger simply has to be sourced this summer.
Arsenal’s transfer plans post-season
It’s set to be out with the old and in with the new this summer for the Gunners.
Kieran Tierney scored on his final outing for the Gunners at Southampton but it may not have been just his final outing.
Indeed, Raheem Sterling will head back to his parent club while Thomas Partey and Jorginho see their contracts expire in a few weeks time.
Leandro Trossard – linked with Saudi last January – could sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium this summer, but that is unlikely to have an impact on whether or not they sign a new forward.
For that central berth, the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko seem the most likely of candidates but there’s also the potential for a new winger to arrive in the shape of Real Madrid star, Rodrygo.
The Brazilian isn’t the only wide player on their shortlist with reports in recent weeks suggesting that Arsenal have been working on a deal for Rafael Leao.
The Milan star is also wanted by Bayern Munich this summer but there’s has been a new development in Arsenal’s chase.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That’s according to French publication, Foot Mercato, who suggested over the weekend that while the Portuguese winger is on the club’s ‘shortlist’, Berta actually had a phone call with the player in the last two weeks.
The purpose of that call was to tell Leao that there is definite interest in him from the Gunners.
Arsenal don’t have an endless supply of cash this summer, and with other areas needing to be improved, they will have to spend wisely. Thus, a reported £145m release clause is unlikely to be met too well by the club’s recruitment team.
How Rafael Leao compares to Rodrygo
Speaking last week ahead of the game with Southampton, Arteta was actually asked about the prospect of signing Rodrygo from Real Madrid.
While he didn’t explicitly reveal that Arsenal were interested, he was slightly more open to the prospect of discussing transfers than he was a week or two ago, stating: “If you want to win titles, you have to be the best in the market. The teams that win have the best players.”
Well, speaking of the best players, who would be the better option here?
AC Milan's RafaelLeaoreacts
Rodrygo is an electrifying talent and there is a belief that if he moved away from the Bernabeu and was the main man, he’d be a genuinely scary proposition. After all, this is a player who has scored 50 goals since the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
In comparison, Leao – who’s actually been compared to a young Thierry Henry for his play style on the left flank – has scored 43 times in the same time frame.
So, with fewer goals, why is the Portuguese more exciting?
Goals
0.40
0.34
Assists
0.31
0.24
Shot on target %
36.0%
36.3%
Key passes
2.06
1.91
Progressive passes
4.12
3.76
Shot-creating actions
4.60
4.71
Successful take-ons
2.64
2.56
Progressive carries
5.20
5.63
A genuine speedster, the Milan forward has notably been described by the Athletic’s Alex Barker as “one of the best dribblers in the world”, the numbers certainly showcase that.
He ranks within the top 5% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues this season for successful take ons per 90 minutes with 2.84. In contrast, Rodrygo only ranks among the best 23% with 2.08 per 90 mins in 2024/25.
Evidently both very capable dribblers, over the last three seasons it’s the Milan superstar who comes out on top in most areas, most importantly producing more end product (goals and assists) every 90 minutes.
Leao isn’t just a dribbler and a goalscorer, but he’s also capable of providing assists, delivering more key passes and progressive passes than Madrid’s wing sensation.
AC Milan's RafaelLeaocelebrates scoring their first goal
It’s likely the latter would be a cheaper acquisition but based on the numbers it’s the Portugal international who looks like the more exciting talent.
Combine that with comparisons to Henry and you have a genuine world beater here capable of getting Arsenal fans off their seats again.
It’s safe to say they’ve lacked that star quality and X factor on too many occasions this season.
Arsenal struck gold on "unplayable" star worth way more than Nico Williams
The incredible talent is going to be a superstar for Arsenal.
Fabian Allen made his mark in the Global T20 Canada 2018 and this year’s World Cup. Now he has his eye on the IPL
Saurabh Somani06-Dec-2019Fabian Allen’s left elbow has a network of scars that could well be a Rorschach inkblot test. Those marks are not remnants of a tattoo – of which Allen has quite a few, with plans to get more.”In 2016, I had a car accident,” he says. “I almost lost my arm. I have to just give God thanks that I’m still alive and I’m here. It was a situation that could have happened to anyone. I was trying to protect the other driver, who was coming from the opposite side. Unfortunately, the car lost control and turned over. The doctor said I’m lucky, because I almost lost my hand. But God kept me going.”From that jolting experience to three years later, Allen has had quite the journey. He caught the world’s attention at the 2019 World Cup with a blazing half-century against Sri Lanka, albeit in a losing cause when his partnership with centurion Nicholas Pooran was cut short by a run-out. That World Cup, though, is etched on Allen. Literally – he has the tournament logo tattooed on his neck.”A lot of people would wish they had been to the World Cup, and I got the opportunity to go and showcase my talents. It’s a pleasure. And I love tattoos,” says Allen. “Every World Cup I go to [including T20 World Cups] I will get a tattoo. All will be on the neck.”It may sound like a lot of pain to go through, but Allen is no stranger to it. A resident of St Elizabeth in Jamaica, he didn’t have it easy growing up. But it’s not something he wants to talk about much. “I grew up in rough areas. We are tough and can bear pain. Where I live, it’s very tough to play. We used to play cricket on the dirt,” is all he’ll say.What that upbringing has wrought, though, is a player who lights up cricket grounds with his dynamic batting and electric fielding. Throw in his handy left-arm spin and you’ve got a proper allrounder. It’s not surprising that Allen is already a crucial part of West Indies’ limited-overs teams despite having played only 21 List A games and 27 T20s, almost half of which have been for West Indies.His T20 strike rate of 165.70 is an indication of his ability, and the reason he was fast-tracked into the West Indies team.
The man just above him on the list is a T20 colossus – Andre Russell. Allen sports a mohawk, just like Russell. He doesn’t aim for four when he can hit a six, just like Russell. He can bat, bowl, field – and make a game-turning impact in all three disciplines, just like Russell. “Just like Russell” could be Allen’s tagline.”Yeah, he’s my brother,” Allen smiles. “He’s my idol, so I’m going to be taking a lot of notes from him about my game. He inspires me a lot, how to go about my game, how to focus, how to relax… stuff like that.” Is the haircut then a tribute to Russell? “Yes, everything.”When asked to explain his power-hitting technique, Allen doesn’t think there’s anything to break down.”I think it’s a natural West Indian thing,” he says about the ability to clear fences. “You don’t need to do nothing, just stand properly and get bat on ball. Yes, we practise our strengths. That’s the major aspect of the game.”Surely Russell would have shared tips on some of the finer aspects of power-hitting? “Just need to get bat on ball. Keep your base, keep your shape. That’s all.”Look, if it were that simple, a lot more people would have been hitting it at the strike rates he and Russell do. Allen shrugs. “It’s all about determination, you know? If you’re not determined to do something, you’re not going to.”What about the secret to his gravity-defying fielding efforts, like this one or this one? Allen acknowledges that he was always a very good fielder, though he says that if people put their minds to it, they could fly through the air like he does.”I started playing cricket from when I was nine years old,” he says. “Fielding was my main focus. I used to field first before I started batting and bowling. It’s not hard. Very simple. Just train. Train properly, do what you have to do. And the main thing is to be focused, dedicated.”Whenever I’m fielding, I give my 100%. I expect the ball to come to me, and I expect to do crazy stuff on the field. It’s just me.”The flying Jamaican: Allen’s superhuman feats of fielding are well documented•Getty ImagesAllen’s talent was first spotted during the 2018 Global T20 Canada tournament, where he was part of the West Indies B team that reached the final. He had the highest batting average (42.25) and strike rate (181.72) for his team, and the second best economy rate (6.56). About three months after the final, he made his ODI and T20I debuts.”Well, the selectors saw something in me,” Allen says. “The Global T20 brought my career into the spotlight, made everyone see me. I think I did pretty well. I have to give credit to West Indies. They saw the talent and future in me. I was playing against the best in the world, lots of different guys from different countries. I got a lot of experience from them, seeing how they move, how they go about things. It’s a good feeling to be around guys like Chris Gayle and others.”The T20I series against India comes right before the IPL 2020 auction. “It’s everybody’s dream to play IPL, and it’s my dream too,” Allen says. “I just have to do what I have to do [on the field] and look to get into a team. You know, money’s not everything. It’s just that I want to get into the action. Once I do the job, money’s going to come.”My goal is just to contribute to my team, in any competition. Just be Fabian Allen and achieve the best I can. Whatever any team asks me to do, I’ll just lift up my hand and do it.”And what if he comes up against Russell in an IPL match? “So be it! I would love that challenge.”How would Allen the bowler bowl to Allen the batsman? “I won’t tell you that!” he says with a full-throated chuckle. “Basically, I would just try to build pressure and try to keep the pressure on me.”Perhaps surprisingly for someone who is making headlines in white-ball cricket, Allen made his first-class debut in 2016, before his List A (2018) and T20 (2017) debuts. In his first seven first-class matches, he racked up runs and averaged 58.30. But around that time, he began finding success in the shorter formats, where his career really took off. Since then he drifted away from the red-ball game somewhat.”It’s just that I’m playing more shorter formats now, I’m focusing on the shorter formats,” Allen explains. “I still love red-ball cricket. Red-ball cricket is my dream. It gave me the opportunity to be here, so I have to give thanks for it. Everyone has a goal. Everyone’s looking to play as long as possible. I wouldn’t mind if I play a long, long, long time till I hang up my boots. Once you put in the work, you’re going to get the results and the selectors are going to look at you.”So is Test cricket still on the cards? “Definitely. Once I put my mind to it, I can achieve anything.”It sounds like a cliché, but when you’ve grown up in a rough neighbourhood, had a potentially life-threatening accident, kicked off an impressive first-class career before changing lanes and skyrocketing in limited overs, who would dare argue that Allen the cricketer cannot achieve whatever he wants?
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
تواصل أزمات نادي الزمالك مع القضايا الخارجية، بسبب مستحقات صفقات اللاعبين الأجانب الذين تعاقد معهم في فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية.
بعدما خرج نادي أستريلا أمادورا البرتغالي ليؤكد أن القلعة البيضاء لم تلتزم بسداد قيمة القسط الأول من صفقة الجناح، شيكو بانزا.
اقرأ أيضًا | ميدو: خوان ألفينا كشف لاعبي الدوري.. وربنا يبعد عنه اللي مابيحلاش في عينيهم حد إلا من الزمالك
وقال أندريه سيلفا، المتحدث الرسمي باسم نادي أستريلا أمادورا، في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “الزمالك لم يسدد قيمة القسط الأول من مستحقات صفقة شيكو بانزا، وبالتالي هو مدينًا لنا”.
وأضاف: “لم نتقدم بشكوى ضدهم حتى الآن أمام الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، لقد راسلنا الزمالك من أجل القسط الأول، ومنحناهم مهلة حتى الخميس المقبل، إذا لم يردوا علينا ولم يسددوا المبلغ، سنتقدم بشكوى ضدهم أمام فيفا”.
وتابع: “عليهم دفع القسط الأول وفقًا لاتفاقنا معهم، وعليهم ألا يتجاهلوا اتصالاتنا”.
في السياق ذاته، يواجه الزمالك أزمة أخرى مع نادي أوليكساندريا الأوكراني بسبب صفقة الجناح خوان ألفينا بيزيرا، حيث لم يقم النادي الأبيض بسداد مستحقات الصفقة، وهو ما دفع النادي الأوكراني إلى تقديم شكوى رسمية ضد الزمالك أمام الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”.
وبات الزمالك مهددًا بعقوبات جديدة من “فيفا” في حال صدور قرارات ضد النادي في القضيتين، مما يزيد من تعقيد وضعه القانوني في سوق الانتقالات.
There could be a huge summer on the cards for Michael Edwards and Arne Slot at Liverpool due to potential player movement in and out of Anfield.
Firstly, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract at the end of this season, and it remains to be seen if any of them will put pen to paper on extensions on Merseyside.
Losing any of them would be a significant blow for Liverpool, as they are all regular starters, but Salah could be the biggest loss as he has scored 32 goals and provided 22 assists in all competitions this season.
Rather than finding a one-for-one replacement, which would be incredibly difficult to do, the Reds could sign players in several positions in hope that they all step up to make up for the goals and assists lost.
Mohamed Salah celebrates for Liverpool
For example, Liverpool have been linked with a move to sign Atletico Madrid centre-forward Julian Alvarez, who they reportedly ‘appreciate’ and hold a long-term interest in.
Why Liverpool need to sign a player like Julian Alvarez
Salah has been Liverpool’s main source of goals from a right wing position and that has papered over the cracks in the front three, as Slot has had a problem in the centre-forward position this season.
Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have both had attempts at being the main number nine for the Reds, but they have both failed to provide a reliable presence in front of goal. The former has scored five goals from 7.21 xG and the latter has scored five times from 5.28 xG in the Premier League.
Darwin Nunez warming up for Liverpool
These statistics show that Liverpool do not possess a ruthless number nine who can make the most of the chances that come their way in the box, which is why they need to go out and sign a player like Alvarez.
The former Manchester City man joined Atletico Madrid last summer to bolster Diego Simeone’s squad, and has proven to be a big hit in Spain with his performances at the top end of the pitch.
Starts
22
10
xG
8.86
2.38
Goals
11
7
Minutes per goal
166
113
Big chances missed
5
1
Assists
2
1
As you can see in the table above, Alvarez has outperformed his xG in both LaLiga and the Champions League this term, which shows that he can be ruthless in front of goal.
In fact, the Argentina international has only missed 26 ‘big chances’ in all competitions for Atletico and Man City combined since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
Nunez, for comparison, has missed a staggering 81 ‘big chances’ in all competitions for Liverpool in that time, having joined from Benfica in 2022, which illustrates the stark difference in quality between the two centre-forwards.
The Reds, though, are also interested in signing a defender who could be as important of a signing as Alvarez in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool have held talks to sign Premier League star
According to journalist Bence Bocsak, Liverpool “have held talks” with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez over a potential move to Anfield next season.
The reporter claims that the club “like” the Hungary international but that a transfer to Merseyside is not advanced at this moment in time, with nothing beyond those initial talks.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Bocsak’s article for Anfield Watch expands on the news, adding that Liverpool wanted to sign Kerkez from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2023, but the player decided to move to Bournemouth instead to play regular football.
The report reveals that Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on the Hungarian dynamo, which suggests that there will be plenty of competition for his services this summer.
Michael Edwards, though, must push to sign the left-back, who is reportedly valued at £40m by the Cherries, because he could be as important of a signing as Alvarez.
Why Liverpool need to sign Milos Kerkez
Liverpool are reportedly in the market to sign a replacement for veteran left-back Andy Robertson this summer, and Kerkez would be a dream signing to take the Scottish star’s place.
The Scotland international has been a terrific servant for the Reds over the years, racking up 66 assists in 336 appearances in all competitions for the club, as a consistent creative threat down the left flank.
However, Robertson’s powers appear to be waning. The 31-year-old star has failed to register a single goal or assist in his 27 appearances in the Premier League this season, along with just one assist in his eight outings in the Champions League.
He is heading towards the latter stage of his career and has not been as influential as in previous seasons, as shown by his lack of production in the final third, and that is why a new long-term left-back option should be a priority this summer.
Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth
Kerkez, at the age of 21, is ten years younger than Robertson and could, therefore, be the new left-back for the club for the next decade, if all goes to plan, which is one of the reasons why he would be such an important addition this summer.
The Hungarian star’s performances in the Premier League for Bournemouth this season also suggest that he would come in as an immediate upgrade on the current Liverpool defender.
Appearances
29
27
Goals
2
0
Assists
5
0
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.6
2.0
Clearances per game
2.7
1.3
Dribbled past per game
0.4x
0.6x
Ground duel success rate
58%
51%
Aerial duel success rate
33%
27%
As you can see in the table above, Kerkez has vastly outperformed Robertson with his play in and out of possession in the top-flight, as he has made a bigger impact at the top end of the pitch whilst being far more active and reliable defensively.
Wingers find it harder to get past the Bournemouth star, as he makes more tackles and interceptions whilst being dribbled past less, and opposition defenders find it harder to deal with him, as he has scored more goals and provided more assists.
Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth.
Therefore, Kerkez could come in as a big upgrade on Robertson at left-back this summer, which is why Liverpool must push hard to get a deal done for him this summer.
As important as Alvarez and the addition of his finishing quality would be for the Reds, signing a Premier League proven left-back with the potential to be a key player for the next decade is equally as important.
He earns more than Gakpo: Edwards must sell Liverpool's "pointless" star
The Liverpool chief must ruthlessly cash in on the forward who has been outperformed by Cody Gakpo.
Caleb Jewell made 227 and Beau Webster made 100 while Aaron Hardie bowled just four overs due to a tight calf and Cameron Green concede seven per over
AAP and ESPNCricinfo18-Feb-2024Tasmanian opener Caleb Jewell’s maiden double century, sealed with a slice of luck, has effectively batted Western Australia out of their Sheffield Shield clash at Bellerive Oval.Beau Webster also posted his 10th first-class century and his second of the season as the Tigers lead Western Australia by 449 runs with two wickets remaining ahead of the final day.Jewell, dropped without scoring on Saturday, began the day on 98 and enjoyed two more slices of luck on the way to a career-best 227. Wicketkeeper Josh Philippe dropped a chance when the left-hander was on 165. He was then caught with his weight on the wrong foot as an edge flew between him and first slip to bring up Jewell’s 200.Jewell and Webster kept coming at a tiring WA attack who couldn’t find much life in the Blundstone Arena wicket. They put on 183 before Bradley Hope’s unbeaten 56 rubbed salt into the WA’s wounds.Joel Paris was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while Cameron Green went for more than seven an over as Jewell scored the sixth-highest first-class score by a Tasmanian.’It probably hasn’t really sunk in yet, what’s happened,” Jewell said.”I just woke up at the start of the day pretty nervous about getting those first two runs, but [I’m] very happy.”Hopefully I can make the most of it and get another [big score] soon.”He was cagey when asked what the plan would be on Monday. A victory would go some way to securing the table-topping Tigers’ position with two rounds until the final.”I’m sure we’ll have a bowl at some stage tomorrow. We’re still trying to win this game,” he said.”With fresh bowlers and a new ball, we can do some damage.”WA coach Adam Voges said Aaron Hardie (calf) was sent from the field and unable to bowl as a precaution but would bat on Monday if required.
The USMNT boss broke down his pre-Gold Cup squad, one missing several big names and including 17 MLS players
The clock is ticking. Mauricio Pochettino can feel it. Just a year separates the U.S. men's national team from a World Cup on home soil and, more than ever, it's apparent that there's work to be done. The Gold Cup next on the agenda, a multi-week meeting ground to give Pochettino and his staff their longest preparation period of his World Cup runway.
That all looks different, though. On Thursday, Pochettino's roster was unveiled for the upcoming matches. The USMNT, coming off a pair of disappointing CONCACAF Nations League losses in March, will head into the Gold Cup without many of its stars – including Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson – significantly altering the chemistry of a crucial summer.
It's still crucial – maybe even more so given the absences – but the look and feel of the USMNT will be different than what many expected. Pochettino knows that but, for him, expectations have not deviated.
"We need to create a culture of winning," Pochettino said. "We need to chase that because, if we want to be good in one year, we need to think that today is the important day. We need it to be from today. If we say, 'OK, I'll wait because the World Cup is in one year', then it's in six months, then in one month and then it's too late. That's why I think it's important to have a different approach.
"I think we learned a lot in the last few camps, for sure in March, and I think it's about maybe using a different way to approach this. This opportunity is amazing. We are so motivated and excited. We are, with full energy, working to create a good group that we can feel proud of."
GOAL looks at five key takeaways from Pochettino's squad selection.
Imagn
The Pulisic problem
It's understandable. Really, it is. Pulisic is no doubt feeling beaten up and, with a World Cup a year away, getting and staying fit remains priority No. 1. Furthermore, no player in this pool has less to prove. Pulisic didn't need to play in this Gold Cup as much as the USMNT needed him to play.
That's the frustrating part. The USMNT needs its stars right now – both to build bonds, and, you know, try to win the tournament – and, despite this being an excused absence, no Pulisic could be a problem for a team that failed to beat either Panama or Canada two months ago.
In the long run, maybe it does end up being a good thing. At least that's the glass half-full point of view – and that's how Pochettino is looking at it, both from Pulisic's perspective and from the that of players that now have a chance to play because of his absence.
"Many people can say it's really important for us to all be together, but always as a coaching staff, we always listen to the player," Pochettino said. "Then, of course, we make the decision. We have our own ideas about everything but, I think after the consideration in every case and, in this case with Christian, I think we decided the best thing for him, the best thing for the national team is the decision that we made."
According to Matt Crocker, U.S. Soccer sporting director, Pulisic and his team made the request to sit out the Gold Cup.
“Christian and his team approached the Federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years at both the club and international level with very little break,” Crocker said. “After thoughtful discussions and careful consideration, we made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs. The objective is to ensure he’s fully prepared to perform at the highest level next season.
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Who else is missing?
We knew that there would be absences. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna were out due to Club World Cup commitments. Alejandro Zendejas won't be on the squad, also tied to Club America's potential spot in that competition. Then there was the Pulisic bombshell.
And it doesn't end there.
Yunus Musah, Pulisic's AC Milan teammate, is another mainstay that misses out. He was in the squad as of Monday, but had to pull out due to personal reasons.
"We cannot go deeper into that because what happened there is up to the player to share or not share," Pochettino said.
Robinson has been dealing with a tendon injury that has barely allowed him to train over the last few months. That kept him out of Nations League and, after consulting with Fulham, Pochettino and his staff made the decision to shut Robinson down for a summer of recovery.
"We were considerate and talked with the medical staff and the staff from Fulham about the situation," Pochettino said. "He was visiting different specialists and it's still not clear, the situation. I'm no doctor to explain the problem that he has, but it's a player who hasn't been training much over the last few months.
"He's only been competing on the weekend and then, next weekend, they'll see if he can play or not. I saw it as a big risk and, in this moment, we need to consider and pay attention to the advice of the medical staff and, of course, Fulham."
Also missing? Josh Sargent? No injury here. That was a coaching choice. Pochettino simply chose to look elsewhere, leaving a group of forwards that includes Patrick Agyemang, Folarin Balogun, Damion Downs, Brian White and Haji Wright.
"It was only a football decision," Pochettino said. "We needed to choose between different strikers."
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No punishment for Nations League squad
Beyond those players, the list of Nations League participants that weren't included is long. Joe Scally, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Marlon Fossey, Tanner Tessmann – all also excluded after recently concluding their European seasons. Were those decisions a direct response to the Nations League failure? Was the plan to shake things up to send a message?
Yes and no.
"It's not to punish," Pochettino said. "I think it is about that we didn't perform in March, and the first responsibility is my responsibility… I think it's important for us also to find different solutions or try to find a different way to approach. One of the things is to give the possibility to maybe different players to show what they can do for the national team."
One group has familiar faces – goalkeeper, with Matt Turner again leading the way, along with Zack Steffen, Patrick Schulte and Matt Freese. But veteran and new faces alike should expect a certain tone in this camp. Pochettino sent a warning shot, though, at anyone who shows up lacking focus.
"If you arrive at the camp and want to spend some nice time, play golf, go for a dinner, see your family, see your friends, that is not the culture we want to create," he said. "No, no, no. What we want to do is go to the national team, arrive and be focused and spend all focus and energy on the national team because we need to create this culture about winning."
With many European club regulars missing, there is a distinct MLS flavor to the squad, with a total of 17 domestically based players in the team. That wasn't necessarily intentional, Pochettino said, but came down to individual decisions between players on similar levels.
"We cannot assess players because they are playing for one team or in Europe or play in MLS," Pochettino said. "I see all the players that I have seen with us. When you are talking about different names, they are names that are in the same level of the players that are now involved in the roster."
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Finding the goals
With Weah and Reyna in the CWC, Pulisic now out and Ricardo Pepi still injured, the USMNT is missing significant firepower. There is good news, though.
Balogun is back, giving the USMNT their starter from the Copa America. Newcomer Downs is showing promise. White and Agyemang have ridden the wave from their January camp breakouts, as has midfielder Diego Luna, who has rapidly become a Pochettino favorite.
Still, there are questions about where the goals will come from. But Pochettino says that question can be spun into an opportunity for others to show why they can be counted among those top-line names.
"The first approach that we are going to have when we are all together is, 'Listen guys, you have the possibility to defend your place with the national team'," he said. "It's not because they are here to replace people; it's for them to be sure they will be here. They have the possibility to defend their place. How do you defend your place? That is the important thing for us.
"You need to fight. You need to show attitude. Not only that, but perform, be brave, follow the rules that we are going to set in the group. I think it's really important for us. They need to know that and they are going to compete in a fair way with different people, including some that maybe are not involved today or in this camp next week."
Pochettiono refused to offer a preemptive excuse based on the injuries and missing players. Instead, he pointed to the Nations League – poor performance, even with big-name players – as a lesson learned, and said this summer will be a chance to capitalize on opportunity.
"We cannot go to the competition or the two friendly games thinking about missing a player or not being competitive or not scoring," he said. "We cannot say we will not do well because we are missing players. I think a good example is March. With all the names, I think everyone will agree, we didn't perform. We saw what happened and we cannot change it, but the important thing is to now provide new players the possibility to challenge."
England hope that Brydon Carse can replicate Liam Plunkett’s success in the middle overs after drafting him into their World Cup squad as a replacement for the injured Reece Topley.Carse will arrive in Bangalore ahead of England’s match against Sri Lanka on Thursday, though is unlikely to be considered for selection having last played competitively four weeks ago. He featured in one of England’s four ODIs against New Zealand last month after impressing in the T20I series, and also played for their second-string side against Ireland.Carse, 28, was born in South Africa but is a UK passport-holder who plays for Durham and Northern Superchargers in domestic cricket. A tall, powerful seamer who can also contribute with the bat from the lower order, he has won 12 ODI caps and three T20I caps since making his debut in 2021.”He’s a brilliant all-round package,” Joe Root said on Monday. “He can score some handy runs for you, is very dynamic in the field and has a unique wicket-taking ability. He’s got that [Ben] Stokes element to him where sometimes, you feel like nothing is happening and he’ll pick up wickets.”England had swiftly and unceremoniously moved on from Plunkett after the last World Cup, when he was 34, and Carse is the closest like-for-like replacement that they have used in the four years since. “He almost feels like a junior Plunkett,” Root said. “He’s very similar. Pudsy [Plunkett] might not like me saying this, but he’s probably got even more to offer with the bat as well.”Root also expressed his sympathy for Topley, who was officially ruled out of the World Cup on Sunday after scans confirmed a fracture in the index finger of his bowling hand. “The poor lad, it just doesn’t seem to stop for him,” he said. “Every time he does extremely well and gets a string of performances together where he’s playing good cricket, he just seems to get a setback.”England travelled from Mumbai to Bengaluru on Sunday afternoon following their 229-run thrashing by South Africa. They will train on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon before playing Sri Lanka at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, the first of five must-win group fixtures as they aim to reach the semi-finals despite three defeats in their first four games.”The situation we find ourselves in now, we’ve got to make sure that we’re ready and in the best possible place to perform well in the next game,” Root told Sky Sports. “We’ll look at that as a World Cup final now – then do the same for the game after that, and the game after that. All we’ve got to do is really focus on Sri Lanka.”I’ve played in a number of different England teams, good ones and bad ones,” Root said. “This is one of the very best. It’s a very together team. We know what we need to do… We’ve got some very simple messaging in front of us right now: we have to go out and win. In some ways, that unshackles us and frees us up to do what we do.”
da 888： Aston Villa secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 win over Club Brugge in Birmingham on Wednesday night.
da poker： Two goals from Marco Asensio either side of a strike from Ian Maatsen ensured that the Villans went through 6-1 on aggregate, after the 3-1 win in Bruges last time out.
Unai Emery should be delighted with his side’s performance against the ten men of Club Brugge, who had Kyriani Sabbe sent off in the first half, and with Asensio – in particular – who starred off the bench.
Marco Asensio's performance against Club Brugge
He was named on the bench for the start of the match but was brought on for English forward Ollie Watkins by the manager at half-time with the team drawing 0-0.
The Spaniard scored his first and the opening goal for Villa shortly after his introduction when he found space in the box to finish, awkwardly, with his weaker right foot into the roof of the net.
His second, however, was a simpler finish. Marcus Rashford did brilliantly to create space for the cross down the left and cut the ball back for the PSG loanee to sweep the ball past the goalkeeper.
The 29-year-old maestro was not the only star for the Villans on the night, though, as left-back Maatsen put in his best performance for the club since his permanent move from Chelsea last summer.
Performance in Numbers
Ian Maatsen's best performance from Aston Villa
The Netherlands international has only started four times in the Premier League and three times in the Champions League this season, as Lucas Digne has been preferred ahead of him, but this performance may convince Emery to hand out more game time to him.
He was just as good as Asensio on the night because of his excellent contributions in and out of possession for Villa on the left flank, playing the full 90 minutes.
Maatsen won four of his six defensive duels, making two interceptions and one tackle without being dribbled past once, and this shows that the Club Brugge players found it difficult to get the better of him.
Ian Maatsen
Vs Brugge
24/25 UCL (per game)
Pass accuracy
94%
90%
Tackles + interceptions
3
2.0
Duel success rate
67%
56%
Key passes
3
0.5
Dribbled past per game
0x
0.5x
Sofascore rating
8.4
6.99
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Dutch dynamo was also sublime with his use of the ball, creating three chances and completing 94% of his attempted passes to go along with his goal.
Maatsen, who was handed a player rating of 8/10 by both the BirminghamMail and GOAL, put in his best performance in a Villa shirt, as illustrated by his statistics in comparison to his average output in the competition this term.
It was also his first goal for Villa, his highest Sofascore rating (8.4) for Villa, his most chances created (three) in a game for Villa, and his joint-highest pass success rate (94%) as a starter in the Champions League or Premier League this season.
Overall, it was a statement performance by Maatsen, who combined defensive solidity with attacking fluidity, and it was one that may earn him more starts and minutes between now and the end of the campaign, as the defender has shown just how good he can be at his best.
99th percentile for assists: Aston Villa now in talks to sign £13m maestro
The Villans are in active negotiations over a move for a midfielder who has “star quality”.