حقق منتخب انجلترا للناشئين تحت 17 عاما، فوزًا عريضًا على هايتي في كأس العالم للناشئين 2025، بنتيجة 8-1.
والتقى منتخب انجلترا مع نظيره هايتي ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من منافسات دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا المقامة في قطر.
ويقع منتخبا إنجلترا وهايتي في المجموعة الخامسة والتي تضم منتخبي مصر وفنزويلا.
طالع.. فيديو | ماركوس مايتان يسجل هدف فنزويلا الأول أمام مصر
وافتتح لوكا بارنيت أهداف إنجلترا في الدقيقة الأولى قبل أن يحرز ريجان هيسكي الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 14 من ركلة جزاء، وقلص فرانكو سيليستين الفارق في الدقيقة 17.
وسجل ريجي والش الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 21 من عمر المباراة بينما الهدف الرابع في الدقيقة 55 عن طريق أليخاندرو رودريجيزـ قبل أن يعزز شيزارام إزينواتا بالهدف الخامس في الدقيقة 58.
وسجل لوكا بارنيت الهدف السادس في الدقيقة 64 وأحرز إزينواتا الهدف السابع في الدقيقة 69 قبل أن يسجل نفس اللاعب الهدف الثامن في الدقيقة 80.
ورفع منتخب إنجلترا رصيده إلى 3 نقاط في المركز الثاني بينما تجمد رصيد هايتي عند 0 نقاط في المركز الأخير.
Losing Cole Palmer to injury had the potential to completely derail Chelsea so early into the new Premier League season.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues did lose 3-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion in what was their first game without their star man at the start of September, but since then, the West Londoners have picked up five straight wins in all competitions to flex the quality oozing throughout their squad, even with Palmer missing.
Thankfully for the Italian, many a new star has been unearthed in his absence, with Chelsea youngster Tyrique George – in particular – making his presence known last time out as the Blues humbled Ajax 5-1 on their own patch in the Champions League.
Why George is pushing for a Chelsea start
Rumours had begun to surface recently that one of Chelsea’s own in George was looking for a move away, with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both ahead of him in the Stamford Bridge pecking order in the striker department.
But, with Pedro suspended and Delap still out injured for the mid-week clash with the Amsterdam giants, the 19-year-old seriously impressed as a second-half substitute in the main striker position, as a first-ever goal on Europe’s grandest stage fell into his lap.
Just a matter of minutes after being introduced into the contest, George would power home this fine effort past a hapless Remko Pasveer, with the night very much belonging to Chelsea’s rising stars, as both Marc Guiu and Jamie Gittens also got in on the act with goals and assists.
This emphatic display mid-week could well mean Maresca is wracked with some selection headaches heading back into Premier League action later today versus Sunderland, with George no doubt pushing for a start ahead of the aforementioned Guiu, even if Pedro is now back, too, from sitting out the clash against Ajax.
George isn’t the only starlet who will be demanding first-team minutes against the Black Cats, however, as this fellow Stamford Bridge prodigy has an even more compelling case to remain in the Italian’s starting XI for the test of Regis Le Bris’ visitors.
Maresca must start teen who's "similar to Cole Palmer"
If Chelsea can keep up this sterling run of form moving forward, Maresca and Co. could well be viewed as outside challengers for the Premier League title, especially when Palmer is also reintroduced into the first team fray.
Until then, however, the Blues do arguably possess another Palmer-like talent in Brazilian superstar Estevao, with Maresca himself even declaring that the 18-year-old is “similar to Cole Palmer” in terms of potentially becoming a future number ten option in time, away from being an out-and-out winger, which is extremely high praise, indeed.
Estevao’s Chelsea numbers so far
Stat
Estevao
Games played
11
Minutes played
443
Goals scored
2
Assists
1
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Such outlandish praise is unlikely to backfire, too, with the South American teenager very much used to such latherings of praise by now, having been branded as “world-class” when still on the books of Palmeiras by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
He has slotted in nicely at Chelsea, too, much like Palmer managed when leaving Manchester City behind, with two goals and one assist already coming his way in England, despite being afforded just 443 minutes of action.
One of those efforts did come about during the rampant display against Ajax, with the breakout number 41 backing up his last-gasp goal against Liverpool by confidently dispatching this spot-kick with ease.
Pedro Neto does have a strong argument to hand to return to the XI against Sunderland on Estevao’s right-hand side, however, with a goal and assist tallied up last time out, enough to push Ange Postecoglou off his precarious Nottingham Forest tight-rope.
Subsequently, this showdown with the Wearside titans could be the perfect opportunity for Maresca to experiment with Estevao as a number ten option, to try to begin his journey to become the next iteration of Palmer, with both Andrey Santos and the aforementioned Guiu failing to do much from this role at the City Ground.
Maresca will, of course, feel more secure with Palmer back in his lineup when he’s finally rid of his injury troubles.
Yet, the future looks extremely bright at Stamford Bridge, away from Palmer, with Estevao leading the way as the brightest light of Chelsea’s next generation.
Enzo Maresca given big injury update with Chelsea star now "very close" to returning
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A total of 72 player slots will be available for the auction
Firdose Moonda24-Jun-2025
Rashid Khan and his team lift the SA20 trophy•SA20
The fourth season of the SA20 is set for a major shake-up with almost two-thirds of the player pool available for the auction, which will be held on September 9. Franchises will be permitted no more than six retentions or pre-signed players, the least in the tournament’s short history.That means 72 player slots are available for auction, which represents 63% of the 108 places across the six franchises.Squad composition is unchanged from the previous editions with a maximum of seven overseas players, and a minimum of 11 South Africans. The salary cap has been increased to R41 million (US$2.31 million) from R39.1 million (US$2.2 million) and teams can sign one wildcard player whose fee is not included in the salary cap. The amount of money available means that the SA20 is the league with the second-highest salary cap in the world, after the IPL. All six SA20 franchises are owned by IPL teams.Franchises will be allowed to use a Right to Match (RTM) card which will allow them to match the winning bid for a player who represented them in season 3. The number of RTMs will be determined by the number of the South African players franchises have retained.The rookie draft has been cancelled and teams will be required to sign a minimum of two under-23 players.With no home Tests in the 2025-26 summer (due to the national men’s team playing abroad until mid-December and stadium refurbishment for the 2027 ODI World Cup) the SA20 has been moved forward from its usual January start date. It is due to kick off on Boxing Day and reach its conclusion by January 26. The SA20 will revert back to a January to mid-February window for 2027 and 2028, when it will also have a slightly longer playing window. The number of franchises (6) and matches (34) remains unchanged.
Arsenal now have the squad depth to fight on multiple fronts and deliver that elusive first Premier League title in 22 years.
Last year’s pursuit of silverware was completely derailed by injuries, because Mikel Arteta did not have enough high-class players in reserve to cover for key absentees.
The Gunners’ substitutes bench for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-Germain epitomises this.
Riccardo Calafiori, Benjamin White and Leandro Trossard were introduced, while the other players at Arteta’s disposal were Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Jorginho as well as goalkeepers Neto and Tommy Setford, alongside now departed youngsters Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Jack Henry-Francis.
In short, not a lot of game-changers there. Fast-forward to this season, Arteta is regularly forced to leave senior players out of his matchday squad altogether.
Nevertheless, having said all of that about depth, guaranteed, world-class starters are also pivotal. Declan Rice is shining like a beacon again but he’s not the only player to become Mr Reliable at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice's new role at Arsenal
Arsenal fans sing “we got him half price” about Rice, and they’re only half joking. Who can forget those free-kicks against Real Madrid? They were special, alright.
In the history of football, only 11 players have transferred for more than £100m, many of whom go down as bona fide flops; looking at you João Félix and Philippe Coutinho.
Others, such as Neymar at PSG, Antoine Griezmann at Barcelona and Jack Grealish at Manchester City, perhaps did not live up to the hype, while it’ll be interesting to see how Liverpool’s record men, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, perform at Anfield in the long run.
Rice, on the other hand, has certainly proved to be value for money at Arsenal.
The England international has made 113 appearances for the Gunners to date, missing only three Premier League matches, scoring his 17th goal for the club against former club West Ham United last time out.
Initially signed as a holding midfielder, the club’s record signing has been granted more freedom to attack the final third the longer his Arsenal career has played out.
Whether it’s set-pieces or corners, Rice is now a true box-to-box phenomenon, something he touched on during the ongoing international break.
Alongside Gabriel, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, when available, Rice’s name is written in proverbial permanent marker on Arteta’s team sheet, but is another underrated Arsenal star elevating himself into a similar category?
Arsenal star is becoming one of the best in the world
Having conceded just three goals in ten matches across all competitions so far this season, Arsenal may well be the best defensive team in the world right now.
Gabriel and Saliba rightly earn a lot of the plaudits, but the form of Jurriën Timber should not be overlooked.
After arriving from Ajax for £38m, the Dutch defender ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest on the opening day, not seen again until the final day of the 2023/24 campaign against Everton.
Last season, the right-back roles were very much reversed, with Benjamin White sidelined for an elongated period, meaning Timber, pretty much, started every game, accumulating 3,680 minutes across all competitions, a remarkable amount for a player returning from an ACL issue.
Now that White is back, the Englishman can’t get back into the team as a result of Timber’s outstanding form, starting each of the last six Premier League matches.
Speaking on the Arsenal Vision Podcast, Tim Stillman asserted that Timber is “now one of Arsenal’s best players every week”, and the statistics below support this claim.
Timber 2025/26 PL statistics
Stats
Timber
Arsenal rank
Tackles
25
1st
Tackles won
14
1st
Interceptions
6
3rd
Clearances per 90
2
3rd
Ball recoveries
18
5th
Attacking 3rd touches
134
2nd
Carries into final 3rd
11
3rd
Passes into final 3rd
24
3rd
Key passes
8
2nd
Big chances created
2
2nd
Shot-creating actions
19
2nd
Average rating
7.36
1st
Stats via FBref and SofaScore
The table underlines that Timber is vital to Arteta’s team all across the pitch.
As well as ranking highly for tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries, the Dutchman is also in the top three when it comes to touches in and carries and passes into the final third, as well as key passes and chance creation.
The only player consistently above Timber for these metrics is Rice, notably known to be the ultimate all-rounder, but the Dutchman should also be viewed in a similar way. Like the former West Ham man, he’s a warrior and somebody who always delivers in the clutch moments. They’re both hugely consistent individuals.
The £38m paid to secure the full-back’s signature is looking more and more like a bargain when considering that, according to Football Transfers, he is now valued at around £58m, a figure that is likely to only increase, given that he is just 24 years old.
Thus, if Arsenal do go on to achieve what they hope to this season, Timber will certainly be key to that success.
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Brett Hutton was in the wickets for Notts•Getty Images
Notts Outlaws made it two wins in three days at their attractive Welbeck Cricket Club out ground, Brett Hutton taking 6 for 38 as Yorkshire Vikings were bowled out for 126 and the home side registered an 83-run victory in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Seamer Ben Coad had earlier bowled superbly for Vikings, taking 3 for 14 with off-spinner Dom Bess picking up 3 for 26 as the home side were dismissed for 209 after being asked to bat first at the picturesque venue in north Nottinghamshire.That seemed to give Yorkshire a strong chance of maintaining their winning start to the competition following last Thursday’s defeat of Surrey at The Oval.But after Lyndon James (76) had rescued Notts from 60 for 5, hitting 10 fours and a six, the Outlaws’ total proved more than enough as 31-year-old Hutton trumped Coad’s efforts.Skipper Haseeb Hameed (32) was the only batter in the Outlaws’ top five to make double figures in his side’s wobbly start, but Liam Patterson-White’s run-a-ball 38 backed up James in giving the innings some substance.The Outlaws had laboured to 25 for 3 in the opening 10-over powerplay, in which George Hill was unlucky not to be rewarded too as he and new-ball partner Coad conceded just two runs between overs five and ten.Coad – his side’s top scorer with 31 for good measure – took two wickets in the opening over, having a squared-up Ben Slater caught behind and bringing one back to bowl Jack Haynes, who offered no shot.He also bowled 19-year-old opener Freddie McCann, picking up his fourth success when Matt Montgomery, after a tortured 4 from 31 balls, edged to slip. Coad delivered his full 10-over allocation in one spell, conceding only one boundary.Hameed, joint architect with Slater in a 209-run partnership as Notts beat Sussex on this ground on Friday, made a solid start but fell caught behind off Dom Leech, leaving the home side 60 for 5.But James and Tom Moores turned the tide by adding 73 for the sixth wicket before the latter, struggling to get going as James plundered boundaries from the other end, holed out to long-on to reward left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty’s consistent accuracy.James pulled Leech for six, hammered four boundaries in another Leech over and three in an over off Matthew Revis, going to fifty from 47 deliveries.Pinned down in the 70s by Moriarty and Bess, he was caught at long-on off Bess, who picked up two more scalps as Brett Hutton and Luke Fletcher found boundary fielders before Hill recovered from conceding 22 in his penultimate over to bowl Toby Pettman.Chasing 4.2 runs per over, Yorkshire lost two wickets in the first three overs as Will Luxton’s top-edged pull soared straight up, to be caught by ‘keeper Moores, before skipper Shan Masood was bowled behind his legs by Hutton.It was at the back end of the powerplay that Yorkshire’s bad start was compounded, with Finlay Bean run out by Haseeb Hameed’s direct hit from mid-off before Hill and Harry Duke went leg before in the same Hutton over to leave the Vikings 39 for 5 after ten.Things went from bad to worse thereafter. With variable bounce starting to play a part, Hutton increased his haul to six by bowling Revis and Bess in consecutive overs, before James Wharton, desperate to put some pressure back on the bowlers, was caught at midwicket.Coad and Leech showed some belated defiance, doubling the score from 53 for 8 before Coad, who hit six boundaries, was caught behind off James, who finished off by bowling Leech for 21.
أعلن أحد أفراد الجهاز الفني لنادي الزمالك رحيله عن منصبه بالجهاز المعاون بقيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، بعد فترة امتدت لثلاثة أعوام رفقة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم.
وقرر علاء رجب، مخطط أحمال الفريق، الرحيل عن منصبه بنادي الزمالك، موجهًا رسالة مؤثرة لجماهير القلعة البيضاء ومجلس الإدارة وزملاءه.
وكتب علاء رجب عبر حسابه الشخصي على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “بعد 3 سنين عمل في نادي الزمالك العريق وجمهوره الوفي العظيم، تعلمت الكثير ونلت شرف التتويج ببطولة السوبر الإفريقي وبطولة كأس مصر وبطولة الكونفدرالية”.
وتابع: “أحب أوجه الشكر لجميع الإدارات وجميع الأجهزة الفنية والطبية والإدارية وجهاز المهمات على مدار هذه المدة، وفي الختام حسن الكلام، أتمنى من الله التوفيق لنادي الزمالك العريق فيما هو قادم”.
طالع أيضًا.. خاص بالتفاصيل | إصابة صفقة الزمالك الجديدة قبل مواجهة المصري
وفي سياق آخر، استأنف الزمالك تدريباته مساء أمس الجمعة، عقب انتهاء فترة الراحة السلبية التي حصل عليها الفريق بعد مواجهة وادي دجلة، والتي خسرها بهدفين مقابل هدف ضمن الجولة الخامسة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الزمالك في مباراته القادمة مع المصري البورسعيدي في الجولة السادسة، وذلك يوم السبت المُقبل الموافق 13 سبتمبر.
Having already welcomed Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol, Leeds United are now reportedly targeting a move to sign an alternative option to recent target Noah Sadiki.
What Leeds are planning next after Bijol
After splashing out to sign Bijol from Udinese, reports suggest that the 49ers are not done. Names such as Habib Diarra and Sadiki have found themselves on Leeds’ radar as of late and it looks as though adding another midfielder to Daniel Farke’s squad will be among the priorities in the coming months.
The Whites have even reportedly made an official offer worth as much as £24m to sign Diarra and could be closing in on their target sooner rather than later if reports are to be believed. Meanwhile, Sadkiki has also been the subject of a reported bid with the 49ers clearly ready to follow up the signing of Bijol by spending big again.
The Union St.Gilloise star would be another impressive signing and could partner Ao Tanaka at the heart of Farke’s side to form a midfield duo capable of achieving Premier League survival and more next season.
What may help their pursuit to sign Sadiki is the news that rivals Lyon have been relegated to Ligue 2 amid financial problems. Without a direct rival for the midfielder’s signature, those in the Midlands could have a simple route towards his arrival.
He'd be unstoppable with Tanaka: Leeds make offer to sign "complete" star
Leeds are looking to sign a new midfielder this summer
ByJoe Nuttall Jun 26, 2025
If that does not prove to be the case, however, then it could be another interesting midfield talent who arrives to offer those at Elland Road an instant boost.
Leeds targeting Mahdi Camara
According to Footen France, the 49ers and Leeds are now targeting a summer move to sign Mahdi Camara, who could arrive as an alternative to Sadkiki. The Stade Brest midfielder is reportedly available for as little as £13m this summer in what could quickly turn into a bargain deal in Yorkshire.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Ao Tanaka
Mahdi Camara
Minutes
3,584
2,659
Goals
5
5
Progressive Passes per 90
7.04
3.76
Ball Recoveries per 90
5.90
3.32
Whilst Camara struggled to match Tanaka in possession last season, the Frenchman did showcase his goalscoring ability from midfield in what could offer Farke an unexpected threat going forward.
Forming a midfield partnership capable of scoring 10 goals between them would certainly go a long way towards survival for those at Elland Road given how the Premier League has a history of blunting previously sharp Championship frontlines.
Mahdi Camara for Stade Brest.
What’s more, the fact that Camara is represented by the same agent as Sadiki may help any deal this summer. If the latter fails to complete a summer move to Elland Road, then it could be an easy transition to negotiate for Camara, who would be an excellent alternative option.
The holders of the T20 crown take on the holders of the ODI crown in the first heavyweight clash of the 2024 World Cup
Alan Gardner07-Jun-20246:22
Finch: Australia might need Ellis over Cummins due to England’s depth
Match detailsAustralia vs England June 8, Bridgetown, 1pm local, 6pm GMT, 10.30pm ISTBig picture – Defending champions under the pump (again)The first truly heavyweight clash of this expanded T20 World Cup format comes freighted with both history and subplots. A rematch of the 2010 World T20 final at Kensington Oval, the match pits Jos Buttler’s defending champions – who are aiming to become the first team to retain the trophy – against the Australian winning machine, victors at the 2021 edition and current world title-holders in Test and ODI cricket. And that’s before you throw in the Ashes for afters.Already there is added pressure on England, after the rain in Bridgetown led to a share of the points in their opener against Scotland (and that having conceded 90 runs from 10 overs without taking a wicket in a tepid bowling display). Lose to their oldest rivals and it will leave their Super 8 prospects open to being waylaid by the perils of net run-rate calculations, or worse.The Scotland match was the third abandonment in five suffered by England, after a rain-affected home series against Pakistan, which has clearly hampered their readiness for this campaign after almost six months without playing T20 together. It does not take much for a side to click in this format – and England looked in decent shape when they did get on the field against Pakistan – but Buttler will be anxious for things to go their way on Saturday, if only to avoid further questions referencing the team’s disastrous ODI World Cup defence last year.Australia, under the laidback leadership of Mitchell Marsh, would love nothing more than to add to the English sense of jeopardy – having helped bundle them out of the tournament in India on the way to taking the crown. Their head-to-head record is less impressive in T20, however, with England having won six of the last seven completed encounters, as well as that 2010 final.Jos Buttler has Jofra Archer back to bolster the England bowling attack•Getty Images
Despite a wobble with the bat, Australia avoided mishap against Oman earlier in the week, the experience of David Warner and Marcus Stoinis shining through in difficult batting conditions. Surfaces in the Caribbean – not to mention those for games staged in the USA – have already had teams scratching their heads; rather than the “slug-fest” England had prepared for, following a high-scoring tour of the Caribbean in December, it looks as if boxing smart may be the way to go.Speaking of Warner, this could be the last time he faces up against England in national colours – and another match-winning contribution would likely reduce the chances of them meeting again in the knockouts. On the other side of the card is Jofra Archer, fresh off an emotional maiden outing at Kensington Oval and ready to take on Australia for the first time in any format since 2020. Can Mark Wood fire up England’s campaign, as he did during last summer’s Ashes? Will Pat Cummins be back to harass the old enemy once again? Seconds out, it’s almost time to rumble.Form guideAustralia WWWWL England WWLWWIn the spotlight – Glenn Maxwell and Jos ButtlerSince smashing 120 not out from 55 balls against West Indies in February, Glenn Maxwell has been on a truly shocking run. In 14 T20 innings for Australia and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he has scored 115 at an average of 8.21, with five ducks – his last two knocks have each lasted just one ball. His recent T20I record against England is no better, with five single-figure scores in six dating back to 2020. Australia won’t be losing faith yet, though. “We know that Maxi’s going to win us games,” Marsh said in his pre-match press conference. Who would bet against him finding his touch on Saturday?Jos Buttler led England to their second T20 title in his first major assignment after taking the reins from Eoin Morgan in the summer of 2022, but things have not gone quite so smoothly since then. Questions mounted about England’s leadership – for both Buttler as captain and the coach, Matthew Mott – after their early exit at the 50-over World Cup, and Buttler has seemed increasingly tetchy in recent times when asked to address the team’s failures. His batting form has been good, since working with Rajasthan Royals coach Sid Lahiri at the IPL, but England need a win.Travis Head and David Warner are among the most dangerous opening pairs in the world•ICC via Getty Images
Team news – Cummins back, but who sits out?Cummins is set to return after being rested for the Oman game, which saw Mitchell Starc leave the field with cramp. Starc is understood to be fine and could keep his place – which would likely see Nathan Ellis miss out. Marsh is still not fit to bowl, with Australia likely to continue with the allrounder combination of Stoinis and Maxwell to give them cover.Australia (probable XI): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Josh Inglis (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Nathan Ellis/Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodThe one change England may consider is Reece Topley coming in for Wood, with the expectation that there will be some rotation among the seamers through the course of the tournament.England (probable XI): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley/Mark WoodPitch and conditionsFour World Cup fixtures at Kensington Oval have produced markedly different results for batting: at one extreme, the tie between Oman and Namibia saw totals of 109 all out and 109 for 6; at the other, Scotland’s charge to 90 for 0 from 10 overs between the showers against England. No team has scored more than Australia’s 164 for 5 against Oman, however. This fixture, a day game, will be played on a new surface, said to be the best one on the square – though a slightly patchy forecast could give the teams another thing to contend with.Stats and trivia England have a slight edge in the overall T20I head-to-head with Australia, winning 11 and losing 10 – a record which includes winning their last two T20 World Cup encounters, in 2010 and 2021. There have only ever been two 200-plus scores in 25 completed T20Is at Kensington Oval, both in the same match between England and West Indies in 2022. In scoring 56 against Oman, Warner overtook Aaron Finch as Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is.Quotes”A win is a win, it doesn’t derail us either way. We know we’ve got to win more games than we lose in tournament cricket. A win puts you in a position in the group which is obviously more favourable, but the other two games that we’ve got post this are must-win games anyway.” “I daresay this will be full and it’ll be mostly English fans, so it’ll be like playing at Headingley all over, or anywhere in England where you get sprayed. But the atmosphere, the vibe of the game, there’s always a lot riding on it. As a team we always want to challenge ourselves against the best. England have been exceptional in this format for a long period of time now, so there’s certainly going to be a lot on the game and we’re pumped.” Mitchell Marsh is braced for an Ashes-style reception from England’s travelling fans
The left-handed middle-order batter represented UAE in 38 ODIs and 47 T20Is
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2024
Muhammad Usman’s UAE career spanned from 2016 to 2022•Emirates Cricket Board
UAE batter Muhammad Usman has announced his retirement from international cricket. The Lahore-born middle-order batter represented UAE in 85 international games – 38 ODIs and 47 T20Is – across six years.Usman made his T20I debut in February 2016 against Netherlands followed by his ODI debut against Scotland a few months later. Overall, he scored 1008 runs at 31.50 in 38 ODIs including one century and four half-centuries while in 47 T20Is he finished with 891 runs, with three fifties. He was also part of the Asia Cup squad in 2016 where he top scored for UAE with 176 runs in seven games.Usman was born in Lahore and played five first-class and 58 List-A matches. His 1517 List-A runs came at an average of 34.47 and included nine fifties and a century. He last played an ODI and T20I in February 2022 against Oman and Nepal respectively.The 38-year-old expressed his gratitude and hoped to continue being part of cricket post-retirement.”It has been an incredible journey with the UAE cricket team and the cricket board,” Usman was quoted via a press release. “I would like to thank everyone who played a role in my journey including my team-mates, coaches and other support staff. I feel blessed and proud that I got the opportunity of representing UAE for 85 international matches.”I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life as I want to remain associated with the sport. I want to wish the UAE team and the players the very best in what is a very exciting time for the game in the country.”
Many thought Liverpool would fall by the wayside when Jurgen Klopp left at the end of the 2023/24 season, but this football club has an uncanny ability to remain with its head above the water.
Indeed, Arne Slot defied expectation when arriving and leading the Reds straight to the Premier League title, and has now been rewarded by FSG, who are spending freely in the transfer market.
Although Florian Wirtz will add a fresh and world-class dimension to Slot’s squad, there’s still the sense that more quality and prolificness could be added.
Liverpool’s Frontline in 24/25 (all comps)
Player
Apps
Goals
Assists
Mohamed Salah
52
34
23
Luis Diaz
50
17
8
Cody Gakpo
49
18
7
Diogo Jota
37
9
4
Darwin Nunez
47
7
7
Federico Chiesa
14
2
2
Data via Transfermarkt
Although with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong signed to bolster the wide defensive positions, the intensity toward securing new stars is set to simmer down.
But Liverpool remain very much primed to pounce if the right opportunity emerges.
Liverpool's wider transfer plans
Sporting director Richard Hughes cut a contentious figure after his first summer transfer window at Liverpool, having only added Federico Chiesa to the newly arrived Slot’s squad.
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot
But he’s since proven his meticulous, calculated nature, having dotted all the i’s and crossed the t’s ahead of the window and since pounced on top targets, reeling them in.
Any further activity will depend on outgoings, reports The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe. This makes sense, for the Reds have forked out more than £200m already this summer.
Darwin Nunez’s expected transfer to Serie A champions Napoli should see a new number nine acquired, while rumours of a new winger hinge on Luis Diaz’s future, with Barcelona and Saudi Arabian suitors interested.
He’s not Sadio Mane, but the Colombian has been immense in a Liverpool shirt, posting 41 goals and 23 assists across 141 appearances in total.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Liverpool line up new winger
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Belgian winger Malick Fofana and have been boosted in their bid now that Lyon have been relegated from Ligue 1.
However, Newcastle United have also been named as suitors, and have actually established contacts with the 20-year-old’s entourage.
Earlier this year, the player’s former representatives told Africa Foot that playing in the Premier League, namely at Liverpool, would be his “dream”, and it’s something that Hughes and Co can now bring to fruition.
Chelsea are also keen, though appear to be prioritising a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.
This could leave Liverpool with a free shot to sign one of Europe’s most exciting prospects, who is valued at £43m, with Lyon’s fate also suggesting his price tag could be whittled down.
Why Liverpool should sign Fofana
Hailed for his “electric” skills by content creator Dev Bajwa, Fofana is bound to move clubs this summer, but where to remains to be seen.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
He’s young and raw, but he’s also naturally “explosive”, as has been said by analyst Ben Mattinson, with his sharp bursts of pace something that could pay dividends for Slot’s Liverpool team, especially when the time comes to replace Diaz.
Fofana is Belgian but he is of Guinean descent, and for this reason he has expressed Mane (and Mohamed Salah) as being one of his footballing idols. For this reason, the left winger could prove to be Slot’s own version of Mane, whose career on Merseyside served to guide Anfield back to the forefront of domestic and continental football.
Sadio Mane Liverpool graphic
Part of Klopp’s iconic front three at Liverpool, Mane won the whole gamut after signing from Southampton for £34m in 2016, with the German manager declaring him a “world-class” forward and an absolute “machine”, his work rate and tenacity leaving an indelible mark on the game.
Fofana hasn’t reached that point in his career yet, but has the potential to do exactly that, already performing with a hunger for goal and fleet-footed style that is somewhat reminiscent of the Senegalese star.
Malick Fofana for Lyon.
As per FBref, Fofana ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for non-penalty goals scored and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, emphasising that very point.
So then, you can see how Mane has inspired Fofana’s early-career development, especially as elements of his defensive work rate can be found in the one-cap Belgium international’s skill set too, for he averaged 1.1 tackles + interceptions in Ligue 1 last year, as per Sofascore, also finishing the term having won 54% of his ground battles.
Slot is not Klopp, but then Fofana is not Mane either, and the Dutch tactician could fashion his own version of the former Liverpool superstar, who certainly has stylistic similarities to the Al Nassr forward, now 33.
Even if Liverpool don’t part ways with Diaz, 28, this summer, it might be worth snapping Fofana up as Lyon plummet into the second tier of French football. After all, there are no guarantees that a new out-and-out frontman will be signed, and Diaz operated so admirably in a false nine role across the 2024/25 campaign.
Given that the Colombian could potentially reprise said role, it might be worth adding some competition for Cody Gakpo to jockey with on the left flank.
In any case, given the player’s desire to move to Merseyside and indeed his Mane-esque qualities rising to the fore, it would be a smart move indeed to ward away Premier League competition and snap him up quickly.
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