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Setback for the defending champions as they slump to their second straight loss

Firdose Moonda08-Mar-2022

Shemaine Campbelle and Hayley Matthews played starring roles in West Indies’ win•Getty Images

After their takedown of hosts New Zealand on the opening night, West Indies beat England for the first time at a Women’s World Cup to throw the qualification race wide open. A second straight win, this one almost as late in the script as the previous one, took them to the top of the standings, even as the defending champions suffered their second straight loss.Stafanie Taylor’s side defended 225 on a slow pitch in a see-saw match. For a while, it seemed to have settled with England as their ninth-wicket pair of Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross added 61 to take them within nine runs of victory. Then some magic, along with a bit of luck, for Anisa Mohammed turned the game again as West Indies pulled off a sensational win.Tasked with bowling the 48th over, Mohammed was at the receiving end of a ferocious Ecclestone hit. But she stuck out a hand and deflected the ball on to the stumps to run Cross out at the non-striker’s end. Three balls later, Mohammed bowled Anya Shrubsole, who yorked herself as she charged down the track and missed a full ball, to seal the deal.It was heartbreaking for England after Ecclestone and Cross had brought them back from 156 for 8, through a mix of street-smart cricket and calculated aggression.The game was set up, however, by West Indies openers Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin, who added 81. Then they lost four wickets for 17 runs to concede the advantage. And then came the bailout courtesy a 123-run fifth-wicket stand between Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation, which took them to 225, which at the halfway point seemed a decent total on a slow pitch.Anisa Mohammed leads the West Indies victory sprint after her sensational last over•Getty Images

It looked even bigger than it was when England were reduced to 94 for 5, before Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley put on 60 for the sixth wicket to keep England in the hunt. But they fell away again by losing three wickets in six balls before Ecclestone and Cross took them close, only to fall short again.Both teams will be disappointed with their efforts on the field. England dropped four chances, and West Indies three. England sent down 23 wides, West Indies 15. Yet, the clincher that started England’s troubles was Dottin’s leaping one-handed stunner at backward point that broke England’s steady opening stand. She was fully airborne as she leapt to her left and put out her non-dominant hand to dismiss Lauren Winfield-Hill. It came on the back of two dropped catches.Three overs later, Heather Knight was out caught behind as she advanced down the pitch to a Matthews delivery that drifted away and held its line. The decision was initially referred for a stumping, but UltraEdge confirmed a thin spike and Knight was given out. Matthews had a second when Nat Sciver top-edged a slog sweep to mid-on. England had slipped to 58 for 3 at that stage.When Amy Jones offered a return catch that was shelled by Aaliyah Alleyne, England had a brief reprieve, but Alleyne had the last laugh when she had Jones driving to Matthews at slip. Tammy Beaumont looked good, but fell to Mohammed when she played all around a full ball. A wobble had turned into a full-blown collapse.Dunkley and Wyatt repaired the innings by ticking the runs sensibly. The pair put on 60 and appeared to have eased the nerves in the England camp when Dunkley mistimed a swat straight to Taylor at short midwicket in the 34th over. Two balls later, Wyatt sliced a lofted hit to mid-off. When Katherine Brunt slapped Shamilia Connell to point, it looked like the writing was on the wall at 156 for 8.Sophie Ecclestone was impressive, and her three-wicket burst gave England a good chance•Getty Images

Earlier, Dottin and Matthews started briskly, scoring at close to six runs an over. It changed after the 11th over. Cross could have had Matthews but for a return catch that went down. She did, however, apply the squeeze with Sciver before Ecclestone forced a slowdown through eight boundary-less overs that led to a collapse.Matthews was the first to go on 45 when she top-edged a heave to short third to break an 81-run opening stand in the 21st over. Three balls later, Dottin was run-out after a mix-up with Kycia Knight, as Wyatt swooped in to under-arm a direct hit at the striker’s end. One ball later, Taylor met a slow Ecclestone delivery with an open-faced bat to defend but got the outside edge and was caught behind for a first-ball duck.West Indies could have lost a fourth shortly after but Campbelle’s lbw decision was overturned by DRS when the impact – she had attempted a sweep off Knight – was found to be outside off. But England only had to wait until the next delivery to get a wicket as Knight drilled Ecclestone straight to short cover.West Indies were 98 for 4 after 27 overs. Only 37 runs came in the next ten overs, with just one boundary, as England continued to apply pressure, but Campbelle and Nation absorbed it. They saw off Ecclestone, who bounced back from none for 77 against Australia to finish with 3 for 20 today, and brought up their 50-run stand in the 40th over.As the innings approached its end, the pair became more aggression. Nation broke a 13-over drought when she drove Sciver square of the wicket for a boundary in the 45th. Then Campbelle swivel-pulled Sciver behind square and flicked her to midwicket to raise a 70-ball half-century. Soon, they also raised the century stand. This proved to be the difference in the end as it gave West Indies a total they managed to defend after a struggle.

Robert Lewandowski became only the second Barcelona player to score 16 goals in his first 16 league games on Saturday, matching Lionel Messi.

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• Lewandowski scored against Betis
• Barca drew 2-2
• Messi feat matched by Poland star

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Poland international netted the opening goal of the game against Betis on Saturday, as he tapped home from close range. Barca would go on to draw the game 2-2 in disappointing circumstances, as they conceded an injury-time equaliser to Assane Diao, but Lewandowski has matched a record in the process, as he became the first player since Messi to score 16 goals in his first 16 league appearances of the season.

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  Lewandowski has been in remarkable form this season and has also scored seven goals in five Champions League outings. His run of form in La Liga saw him net seven times in three games in October, scoring back-to-back braces against Sevilla and Real Madrid after a hat-trick against Alaves. In 18/19, when Messi scored 16 in 16, he ended the season with 36 league goals.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi ended the 18/19 season with over 50 goals in all competitions, as Barcelona won La Liga and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. It remains to be seen if Barca can replicate that this season, or go one step further in Europe.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek in an intriguing tie. They then face Leganes as they try to get back to winning ways in La Liga.

Oman had put up 159 for 8 on the back of Aqib Ilyas’ 38-ball 59

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Oct-2021An unbroken 74-run partnership between Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamika Karunaratne helped Sri Lanka recover from a precarious position and complete a five-wicket win against Oman in Al Amerat. With the victory, Sri Lanka also sealed the two-match T20 series 2-0.Chasing 160, Sri Lanka seemed to be cruising at 87 for 2 by the 10th over thanks to Avishka Fernando’s 18-ball 33, but Oman clawed their way back into the game with three wickets in the space of eight deliveries. Fast bowler Mohammad Nadeem’s double-strike left the visitors reeling at 89 for 5, but Rajapaksa and Karunaratne stabilised the innings, their sixth-wicket stand eventually seeing the team home with 15 deliveries to spare. Rajapaksa slammed two sixes during his 21-ball 35, while Chamika Karunaratne carted three sixes in his 26-ball 35.Earlier, Oman, asked to bat, had put up 159 for 8 on the back of a half-century from No. 3 Aqib Ilyas. He stroked three fours and four sixes for his 38-ball 59, and shared a 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Ayaan Khan, taking the team to a promising 134 for 3. However, Ilyas’ dismissal in the 17th over triggered a slide, as Oman slumped from 134 for 3 to 142 for 7.Lahiru Kumara was the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-1-20-2, while Karunaratne also chipped in with two wickets, including the key scalp of Ilyas.

Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone for the night with a fiery opening spell in which he claimed both India openers

Sidharth Monga24-Oct-20212:12

Masood: Shaheen has a plan and he backs it

In their 13th attempt in World Cups, Pakistan finally managed to beat India, and did so comfortably on a night when almost everything went to plan for them. With the sensational uprooting of the openers with the new ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi was the brightest star of the night, but everyone in the support cast played their role well, including a nerveless chase by the openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of India vs Pakistan is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

The first half of the match was as if Pakistan were playing on the white board. Afridi announces himselfAfridi began the match tied with Mohammad Amir for the most wickets in the first two overs of T20 games since the start of 2018. He took the new ball here, and with the fourth ball of the innings he took the sole lead on that stat. It was not just a full inswinger, but it was a late inswinger, and from Afridi’s high release. Rohit Sharma missed comprehensively to be trapped lbw.In his second over, that beautiful late flick in release was on display again as Afridi got KL Rahul. This wasn’t even that full, and to get such late swing – almost seam – to go past a defensive bat and hit the top of middle was high skill. India 6 for 2 in 2.1 overs.Hasan seals the powerplayIndia didn’t try to break Pakistan’s rhythm against right-hand batters and stayed with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Imad got away with two overs for 10, and India’s need to get a move on got so bad even Kohli took an early risk to back away and hit Afridi for a six in the fifth over. Hasan, though, provided the final blow to win Pakistan the powerplay: the wicket of Suryakumar with nip off the pitch on a short-of-a-length delivery.Middle-overs tussleAt 36 for 3 in the powerplay, there was no way India were going to go six-hunting West Indies style. Kohli was going to drop anchor and see if he could hurt Pakistan at the death, a phase of play where he is historically among the best. Rishabh Pant got in and the onus for disruption was on him. Pakistan, though, used this uncertain period for India to get through Hafeez’s two overs.Rauf announced himself with an over of high pace in the 11th over, and it was clear the job in the death overs was his to do. In the 12th over, Pant hit Hasan for two one-handed sixes to threaten Pakistan. Shadab, though, came back to get rid of Pant with a wrong ‘un and make it 84 for 4 in the 13th over.Shadab Khan held on to a skier off his own bowling to end Rishabh Pant’s innings•AFP/Getty ImagesRauf shuts India downThis was when India made their first change, promoting Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Hardik Pandya. The idea perhaps was to keep right-left going and also retain Pandya’s power for the death overs. Jadeja, though, did not attack. He was 9 off 11 when he tried to hit his first boundary. When he tried to hit his second, he holed out to a Hasan slower ball.However, the real danger for Pakistan was now. Kohli had survived into the death overs, where only AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell have a better strike rate than him in all T20 cricket. He also had Pandya, who can be lethal. India were on their way to 140-150, which was the bare minimum. Now they stood a chance to go for bonus runs.Bowling the 17th over was Rauf, who is not known for bowling too many slower balls. In the last PSL, though, he added it to his repertoire, bowling 23 of them for 19 runs and two wickets. Here he bowled four of those in a row to concede just four runs in the 17th over. Afridi then got rid of Kohli with a slower bouncer in the 19th. Rauf conceded just seven in the last over.Slow start to the chaseWhile India didn’t get any bonus above their bare minimum, they still had asked Pakistan to mount their second-highest successful chase in the UAE if they were to win this game. After the 10-run first over, India gradually pulled Pakistan back with Varun Chakravarthy conceding just two runs in the fourth over. Overs six to eight yielded no boundaries, and Pakistan were going at barely a run a ball. They were still the favourites – 60% according to ESPNcricinfo’s Win Predictor – but you wondered if they were leaving themselves too much to do on a slow pitch.Babar turns the tideIn the ninth over, Jadeja made his first mistake with a ball a touch too short. Babar, 21 off 25 at this point, rocked back to hit him for a six. In the next over, he found a four off Varun.And this was around the time the dew began to become significant. Babar went after Jasprit Bumrah’s first over back. It was in the 13th over, though, that the exclamation mark was provided. Varun, bowling for the first time with the shorter boundary on the leg side, dropped short twice, and both openers dropped him over square leg for a six each. And once they got two fours off Jadeja, Pakistan had brought it down to 40 off 36.Both the openers went on to notch up half-centuries and sealed what was Pakistan’s first 10-wicket win in T20 internationals and India’s first defeat by such a margin.

Real Madrid have enquired about the possibility of signing Diogo Dalot from Manchester United in the January transfer window, GOAL can confirm.

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Los Blancos considering signing Portuguese full-backCarvajal injury has left Ancelotti shortDalot seen as crucial part of Amorim projectFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Madrid are on the hunt for a new right-back both in the short-term and long-term after Dani Carvajal was ruled out for the rest of the season having torn his cruciate knee ligament in October. Carlo Ancelotti has been forced to play Lucas Vazquez and Federico Valverde out of position in the meantime and there has been plenty of speculation that Los Blancos will make a move for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer as the full-back runs down his contract with Liverpool.

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But Madrid are now looking at another in-form Premier League full-back. GOAL understands that the Spanish champions have enquired about signing Dalot from United and have been informed he would cost around €50 million (£40m) to land in January. Madrid's interest in the Portugal international, first reported by Spanish outlet is believed to have begun when Erik ten Hag was still United boss. But it will not be easy for Madrid to convince United to sell the 25-year-old.

DID YOU KNOW?

Dalot saw off competition from Aaron Wan-Bissaka to win his place back in the United starting XI under Ten Hag and new boss Ruben Amorim has made it clear that the full-back will have a big role in his team. The coach said last week: "He’s very powerful. We have to rotate him sometimes because although he always looks fresh, it’s not like that, he’s not a machine. He’s a very good player. He’s better on the right and we will play him there more [but] nowadays a player who can play on both sides is perfect because you can put him in different positions. I expect the same as you saw last season. A great player who can help the team. He's really a team player, you can feel it in the way he lives the game, so he’s very important for us."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD & REAL MADRID?

The January transfer window is fast approaching, at which point Real's intent will become clearer. In the meantime, United earned an emphatic 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday to climb up the Premier League table and on Wednesday face the first big test of Amorim's tenure when they visit Arsenal. Madrid, who earned a 2-0 win over Getafe on the weekend, visit in-form Athletic Club on the same evening.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Casemiro reportedly both had concerns with Erik ten Hag's approach as Manchester United prepare for life after the Dutchman.

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• Ten Hag sacked after West Ham defeat
• Signings and training methods criticised
• United make approach for Ruben Amorim

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  More details are beginning to emerge about the causes of Ten Hag's downfall at Old Trafford. Senior players felt the Dutchman was extreme in his punishment of Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago, and it's also been reported that Casemiro had little confidence in his training methods. Furthermore, club legend Ferguson questioned the quality of the signings made under Ten Hag.

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  According to The Athletic, Ferguson, a regular at United games since his departure as manager in 2013, told friends that signings have been below the required level. The likes of Antony, Mason Mount and Casemiro were all brought in for expensive fees that haven't worked out, while Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee haven't exactly hit the ground running. The fact that veteran defender Jonny Evans has been one of the better arrivals says a lot about the recruitment under Ten Hag.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In addition to the disappointing signings, some players weren't completely impressed with Ten Hag's approach to training. Casemiro thought the former Ajax coach should have relaxed his intense sessions and preferred Carlo Ancelotti's style at Real Madrid that gave players more freedom and control on their workload.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

  Ruud van Nistelrooy will oversee Wednesday's game against Leicester in the League Cup, which may prove to be his only game in interim charge as the club pursue Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim.

Gudakesh Motie and Odean Smith kept the Tallawahs batting line-up tied down in the 170-run chase

Peter Della Penna12-Sep-2021

Nicholas Pooran was the cornerstone of Warriors’ innings•Getty Images

In a must-win encounter to control their own playoff destiny, Guyana Amazon Warriors got a crucial innings from captain Nicholas Pooran, who lifted his side with an unbeaten 75 off 39 balls that included four fours and seven sixes to set an easily defendable total in a 46-run win over Jamaica Tallawahs on Saturday in St Kitts. Pooran arrived in the ninth over at 63 for 3 and scored the lion’s share of the runs the rest of the way to get his side to 169 for 6 before impressive spells from Gudakesh Motie and Odean Smith kept the Tallawahs batting line-up tied down in the chase.After smothering two balls defensively from Chris Green upon his arrival to the crease, Pooran went into attack mode against Veerasammy Permaul in the following over, heaving him over the leg side rope to get off the mark and then followed it up with another swat over cow corner for six two balls later. The biggest fireworks though came in the final two overs as Pooran started the 19th against Andre Russell by carving out a wide yorker in elegant fashion over short third man for a boundary to bring up a 30-ball fifty. Another attempted wide yorker on the next ball disappeared over extra cover for six.Tallawahs ended the 19th and started the 20th missing consecutive chances to dismiss Pooran. A lofted drive off Russell was heading straight for Haider Ali on the cover boundary but he lost the ball in the sun only for it to land just to his right and bounce over the rope. Carlos Brathwaite then misfired on a point blank runout chance fielding off his own bowling to begin the next over and Pooran made him pay by clobbering two of the next three balls over midwicket and long-on for the final two of his seven sixes to put an exclamation mark on the Warriors innings.Tallawahs looked in a very good position at 63 for 1 in the ninth over before Smith disrupted the chase with his medium pace. Haider Ali tried to heave Smith over the leg side but could only top edge a swirler taken by Shoaib Malik tracking back from short third man. Chandrapaul Hemraj then took a tremendous low catch at short extra cover off a scorching drive from Kirk McKenzie next ball to remove both set batters following a 41-run stand.But Smith’s signature moment came in the 15th when he bowled a wicket maiden that included the scalp of Russell mistiming a heave to long-on. Motie got the ball to grip and turn sharply in the following over to claim Shamarh Brooks and Brathwaite with a stumping and a leading edge to extra cover, completing a collapse of 4 for 3 that began when Motie had Rovman Powell punching to Smith at mid-off at the end of the 14th. From 98 for 3 to 101 for 7, Tallawahs had little fight left and eventually subsided for 123 with five balls left unused.

Aston Villa’s summer transfer activity looks set to reach new highs as they appear to be closing in on a move for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.

Having lost Douglas Luiz to Juventus a few weeks ago, Unai Emery was certainly in the market for another central midfielder as a replacement, especially considering the Midlands side are set to make their first foray into the Champions League group stages next season.

How much Aston Villa are paying for Amadou Onana

A deal to sign Onana from Everton is likely to cost Villa a staggering £50m, just shy of the club-record fee they paid to sign Moussa Diaby a year ago from Bayer Leverkusen.

It is evident that playing in Europe’s premier club competition was a big incentive for the midfielder, who featured in all of Belgium’s four matches at Euro 2024, and the signing signals a massive statement of intent from Emery.

However, the Spaniard already has a player in his current first-team squad who is worth the same as Onana, one who could secure the club a substantial profit should he be sold in the next few weeks.

Dream for Onana: Aston Villa could sign £34m “duel monster”

The Midlands outfit has been busy indeed this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 17, 2024 Aston Villa have struck gold on English sensation

Jacob Ramsey might not have made as much of an impact as anticipated last term, mostly due to injury issues, but the youngster has shown plenty of potential since making his debut for the club during the 2018/19 campaign.

Season

Games

Goals

2023/24

21

1

2022/23

38

6

2021/22

35

6

2020/21

24

0

2019/20

2

0

2018/19

1

0

The Englishman emerged through the academy before establishing himself as a regular in the first-team squad during the 2020/21 season, making 22 appearances for Villa in the top flight.

The following two seasons saw Ramsey miss just seven league games, scoring a mightily impressive 12 goals and grabbing eight assists in the process, slowly becoming a key player in the squad.

The 23-year-old made just 16 Premier League appearances last term, yet this didn’t stop interest from other clubs, as Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the midfielder this summer.

Indeed, Emery has slapped a price tag of £50m on one of his prized assets in order to deter any bids, particularly with the fact that Luiz has already departed the club in recent weeks.

The 2024/25 campaign could be an important one for Ramsey as he looks to integrate himself back into the starting XI after a hit-or-miss 12 months which saw him miss 27 matches for Villa through injury.

This price tag is the same as what the Midlands side are about to spend bringing Onana to Villa Park, which certainly suggests that they have struck gold on their homegrown talent who has firmly established himself as one of the most gifted midfielders in the Premier League.

Should a bid in this region arrive over the next few days, it might be tough for Emery to turn it down, but if the young midfielder continues to improve, there is no reason why he can't increase this valuation by enjoying a wonderful 2024/25 season for Villa.

Jack Grealish repeat: Important Aston Villa star could leave for PL club

Another of Aston Villa’s finest academy graduates could depart.

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 4, 2024

West Ham United have made the biggest offer to sign a Euro 2024 star, according to a recent report.

West Ham transfer plans under Steidten and Lopetegui

The Hammers have already made a start on their summer business, with new manager Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten bringing in teenage winger Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham after he left Sheffield United.

Speaking at Lopetegui’s official first press conference as Irons boss, Steidten promised West Ham supporters a busy summer, revealing the club are “looking at all areas”.

“I can’t tell you specifics, but it will be a busy summer for us for sure. The owner and the board have done a really good job over recent years, so we’re in good shape financially…

“We’re trying to build up the squad. We’re not limiting ourselves to one position – we’re looking at all areas.”

League champions on the hunt to sign "superb" £35,000-p/w West Ham player

A key player could be on his way out of East London.

ByTom Coates Jul 1, 2024

Meanwhile, Lopetegui said: “Of course we are working to improve (the squad). The first thing to highlight is that we’re happy with the players, but of course we’re going to try to improve. We have to work very hard to be ready for the Premier League, and we would like players as soon as possible, but it’s not easy.”

One of those areas appears to be another attacking addition after Guilherme. Recent targets have included former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, now at Galatasaray, Fluminense forward Jhon Arias, Lille striker Jonathan David, Genoa forward Albert Gudmundsson and Vitoria Guimaraes star Jota Silva.

Bids were rumoured to have been made for Zaha and Arias. Talks were held to sign David, whereas West Ham were willing to pay a big fee for Gudmundsson and had even agreed personal terms with Silva.

Now, a new update has emerged on a forward who has been scoring at Euro 2024.

West Ham make biggest offer for Mikautadze

It has been a busy few weeks for Georgia forward Georges Mikautadze. He helped his nation qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024, scoring three goals in four games before they were eliminated by Spain.

At club level, it was confirmed on Monday that FC Metz have exercised their option to make his loan move from Ajax a permanent transfer in a deal worth around €13m. Now, though, it looks as if he could already be on the move again, with Metz making a healthy profit.

According to Le10Sport reporter Alexis Bernard, West Ham have made the biggest offer to sign Mikautadze from Metz, thought to be worth well over €20m (£17m).

The problem for the Hammers is that Mikautadze favours playing in France, with Monaco, Lens and Lyon also interested in the 23-year-old. It could therefore be one to keep an eye on, and it shows that West Ham, Steidten and Lopetegui are willing to splash the cash on more attacking reinforcements ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

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