تحدث قائد ليفربول فيرجيل فان دايك، في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الثلاثاء، قبل مباراة فريقه المرتقبة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويفتتح ليفربول مشواره في منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا 2025-2026 بمواجهة أتلتيكو مدريد على ملعب “آنفيلد” بالجولة الأولى لمرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وبشأن أتلتيكو مدريد ومدربه دييجو سيميوني، أفاد فان دايك: “توديع دوري أبطال أوروبا مؤلم، إنه فريق يبذل جهدًا كبيرًا، ومدرب من الطراز العالمي يقول الكثير، فهو موجود معهم منذ فترة طويلة، ولديهم لاعبون وحارس مرمى من الطراز العالمي”.
وأضاف: “أتلتيكو مدريد فريق يصعب هزيمته، ولن يستسلموا أبدًا، ربما لم تكن بدايتهم في الدوري هي الأفضل، لكنني أعلم أنهم سيرغبون في تقديم أداء رائع، علينا أن نكون مستعدين”.
واستطرد: “عندما لا يكون لديك الكثير من الإصابات، يمكنك تغيير خطة اللعب وتدوير اللاعبين، هذا هو الهدف، الحفاظ على الثبات والمستوى، من السهل قول ذلك، لكن هذه هي مسؤوليتنا كلاعبين”.
وبشأن فرص ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا، أوضح: “عندما وقّعتُ عقدي، كنتُ آمل الفوز بجميع البطولات التي سأشارك فيها، لكن للأسف، لا تسير الأمور على هذا النحو، إذ نواجه فرقًا قوية، أنا واثق من قدرتنا على إظهار قوتنا أمام أوروبا، لكن علينا العمل بجدٍّ لتحقيق ذلك”.
اقرأ أيضًا | فان دايك: إيزاك مهاجم متكامل جاء كبديل.. وليس لدينا سيطرة على أسعار اللاعبين
وأكد فان دايك: “غدًا بداية رائعة، آمالنا كبيرة، يمكننا أن نُظهر مجددًا مدى صعوبة التواجد في هذا المركز، علينا فقط أن نتعامل مع كل مباراة على حدة”.
وعن احتمال غياب جوليان ألفاريز عن أتلتيكو مدريد في المباراة، أشار: “ألفاريز لاعب رائع، لكن أتلتيكو فريق خطير للغاية، بلاعبين رائعين ومدرب رائع، علينا أن نكون في أفضل حالاتنا غدًا، أنا مستعد لأي شيء”.
وعن اللعب ضد ثنائي هجومي، استطرد: “في كثير من الأحيان، تلعب الفرق بثنائي في الهجوم، ربما ليس بشكل مباشر، طريقتنا الدفاعية دائمًا ما تكون من الأمام، وقد تكون مواجهة فردية أحيانًا، لكنها منظمة جيدًا”.
وأتم: “عليك التعامل مع الموقف، إنه جزء من كونك قلب دفاع، من الجيد في دوري أبطال أوروبا أن تواجه أحيانًا أنواعًا مختلفة من المهاجمين وطرق لعب مختلفة للفرق ضدك، أستمتع بذلك”.
The 2024/25 season was a huge success for Leeds United, winning the Championship with 100 points and returning to the Premier League. It could have been easy for them to slip up again, especially after a summer in which they lost one of their most important players, Crysencio Summerville.
Following the disappointment of losing the playoff final, the Dutchman made the move to Premier League side West Ham United for £25m plus add-ons. It didn’t have much bearing on Leeds’ fortunes last season, but he was still a big loss.
Leeds United'sCrysencioSummerville
There is always a desire to have players in the squad as talented as Summerville. And the Whites could be making a move for someone just like him this summer.
Leeds’ new winger target
Whilst Leeds certainly reinvested the money they got for Summerville last season, they never really brought in a direct replacement on a permanent deal. Well, that could all change this summer, if recent reports are to be believed.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth, Daniel Farke’s side are said to ‘have spoken to’ the representatives of Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao over a possible move. Smyth reports that Leeds ‘presented the project to his camp this week’ in a bid to try and sign him.
There will be competition for the 25-year-old winger, however, with French outfit Marseille also eyeing up a move.
As for the price to sign Paixao, journalist Santi Aouna reported last month that Feyenoord could demand as much as £34m for his signature.
Why Paixao would be a good signing
Should the Whites agree a deal to sign Paixao this summer, he will join the club off the back of a fantastic season for Feyenoord. As football scout Antonio Mango says, he is a “major threat” going forward, which will certainly increase the potency of Leeds in the final third.
Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has noted that the in-demand talent has “similarities to Rodrygo”, referencing Paixao’s Real Madrid-based compatriot – a player who has scored 68 goals in 270 games for Los Blancos. That likeness also stems from Paixao’s “insane” ball-striking quality.
Unlike Rodrygo, Feyenoord man is yet to make his debut for the national team, but had a superb campaign for the Dutch giants last season. As the numbers on Sofascore highlight, he scored an impressive 18 goals and grabbed 14 assists in 47 games across all competitions.
With 26 of those goal involvements coming in the Eredivisie, Paixao also shone on the European stage, in the Champions League. The forward, who excels on the left-hand side, also bagged six goals and assists in Europe’s most prestigious club competition, including this stunning strike against Sparta Prague.
Should the Whites bring Paixao to Elland Road this summer, he would no doubt love to replicate the impact Summerville had at the end of his career for the club. The Dutchman also joined from Feyenoord as a youngster, and exploded in his final season as a Leeds player in 2023/24, before his big move to the London Stadium.
That season, in which Leeds lost the playoff final to Southampton, he won the Championship player of the year. The 22-year-old notched up a phenomenal 21 goals and ten assists in 49 games in all competitions, as per Sofascore.
Summerville
Indeed, strikes from the Dutchman like this one against Norwich City were spectacular, and similar in many ways to Paixao’s in the Champions League last term, notably the power on the shot and angle from which it came.
To further see if the Brazilian can become the second coming of Summerville, we can compare their stats on FBref, using Paixao’s from this season and the former Leeds winger’s numbers from his final campaign at Elland Road.
They certainly stack up well against each other, with the 25-year-old Feyenoord star averaging 0.82 goal involvements and 0.53 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, the West Ham attacker averaged 0.72 goal involvements and 0.46 goal-creating actions each game for Leeds back in 2023/24.
Paixao and Summerville key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Paixao
Sumerville
Goals and assists
0.82
0.72
Key passes
2.19
2.88
Goal-creating actions
0.53
0.46
Progressive carries
4.33
5.04
Ball recoveries
3.35
3.78
Stats from FBref
Those stats suggest that, in fact, with the impact he could have in the final third, Paixao could well become the second coming of Summerville. He certainly has the goal and assist numbers behind him from this season.
For £34m, this looks like a good deal for Leeds. Farke’s side would be gaining a dangerous attacker who can have a real impact on their final third output, and finally be the Summerville replacement they were crying out for.
Piroe upgrade: Leeds set to make a bid for star who's "like Sergio Aguero"
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England fight their way out of trouble at Lord’s thanks to Joe Root’s 33rd Test hundred
Alan Gardner29-Aug-2024
Joe Root celebrates his 33rd Test hundred, and his sixth at Lord’s•AFP/Getty Images
Was it brave or foolhardy to insert England beneath clear blue skies at Lord’s? As Joe Root peeled off his sixth Test hundred at the grand old ground, the verdict erred towards the latter. Gus Atkinson added to Sri Lanka’s pain with a maiden Test half-century and, although the bowlers toiled manfully until late in the day to repay the faith shown in them by their captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, England had grappled their way into an increasingly sturdy position.After Root, there was daylight on the England batting card – and Dhananjaya might rue the inability of Lahiru Kumara to persuade Paul Reiffel to raise his finger to an lbw appeal when Root was on 11, with the DRS returning a verdict of umpire’s call. The next-highest score was Atkinson’s unbeaten 74 from No. 8, with his 92-run stand alongside Root the chief reason that England did not have what looked a perfectly respectable batting rug pulled from under them.Root’s 143 took him level with Alastair Cook on 33 Test centuries for England; during the course of his innings, he overtook Cook for most Test runs scored in England (and Wales) – and it is now surely only a matter of weeks, if not days, before he passes Cook’s overall mark for his country. Once the engraver has done his work, no one will have more entries on the batting honours board at Lord’s than Root, Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan.Having steered England past the winning post at Old Trafford a few days ago, Root was again the batting bulwark for his side. As in the first Test, Sri Lanka bowled well to put England’s first innings in peril without quite finishing the job. England were 130 for 4 and then 216 for 6, only for Root to bolt together the two biggest partnerships of the innings alongside Atkinson and Jamie Smith.With Atkinson, who lofted Prabath Jayasuriya for six off his eighth ball and added three more before the close, looking increasingly assured, the eighth-wicket stand with Matthew Potts added an unbroken 50 as the shadows lengthened.This was not quite a mid-2000s Lord’s shirtfront but conditions remained placid throughout. Dhananjaya had reasoned that there is “always swing in the first hour” when opting to bowl but, while there was occasional lateral movement to deal with, few of England’s top order could claim that to have been genuinely got out.Ollie Pope, in particular, departed in a manner that might have made for uncomfortable viewing back in the dressing room. Pope, England’s stand-in captain, had spoken before the game about separating his duties in leading the team from the processes required to bat at No. 3; perhaps he was wrongfooted by Dhananajaya’s decision at the toss, having been expecting to be told he was fielding, but the ungainly flap at Asitha Fernando suggested he still has plenty of work to do on that front.England’s top three were all back in the hutch before lunch, and Asitha struck again after the break. Harry Brook produced a volley of attacking shots to put the hosts back on the front foot only for a marginal lbw call to this time go in Sri Lanka’s favour. Brook aimed an expansive drive at Asitha only to be defeated by a hint of seam movement back in, with Reiffel agreeing that it would have hit leg stump.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
A stand of 62 between Root and Smith helped the Lord’s crowd settle into a more appropriate state of post-prandial relaxation. Smith was largely watchful, despite picking off the spinner Jayasuriya for three boundaries, before being caught behind with tea approaching as he aimed a more expansive drive at Milan Rathnayake.Root had got off the mark with a four from his first ball but went about his business in typically unobtrusive fashion. Other than the Kumara lbw appeal, his one moment of genuine anxiety came when chopping Rathnayake just past off stump on 59; he edged the same bowler between slip and gully in the following over. The nerves were more evident in the crowd as he bided his time for 12 balls on 99, before opening the face to steer Kumara down to third, punching the air as soon as the ball had sped through the cordon.Root eventually departed trying to reverse-ramp Rathnayake but, although the day ended with Atkinson and Potts taking liberties against the second new ball, this was a stuttering effort from England. The new-look opening pair for this series produced their third consecutive stand in the 30s, before Dan Lawrence edged tamely behind trying to walk down the pitch at Kumara. Ben Duckett looked assured in making 40 from 47 balls, only to reverse-swipe the fourth ball of spin in the match down the throat of deep point with 20 minutes to go until lunch.Dhananjaya’s decision at the toss caused more than a few raised eyebrows around the ground as it basked in late August sunshine. When Duckett clipped three boundaries from Asitha’s second over of the morning, it seemed as if England were in the mood to ram home the point about Lord’s being a “look up, not down” ground. But Kumara, brought into the side for Vishwa Fernando, struck in his first over as Lawrence edged through to Nishan Madushka, deputising with the gloves after the blow to the hand sustained by Dinesh Chandimal in the first Test.Pope’s average as Test captain then dipped from 6.00 to 4.33, as Asitha switched to the Nursery End and induced an ungainly pull across the line that took the top edge and ballooned to a gleeful Dhananjaya at square leg.Sri Lanka, who have not lost a Test in London since 1991, had their tails up, with Asitha and Kumara probing for openings while Rathnayake kept things tight. Kumara was wholehearted, pushing the speed gun up towards 90mph, and he might have had another when bringing one down the slope into Root’s knee roll. The bowler bellowed an appeal, fully aware of the fine margins involved in umpire’s call: DRS duly had it clipping the top of leg stump, so Reiffel’s not-out stood. On such margins did the day turn.
Tottenham Hotspur are now confident about winning the race for a £25m striker, who could be in line to join alongside West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, according to a report.
Tottenham pushing to sign Kudus
Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that Tottenham are in ongoing talks over a deal to sign Kudus, with the Ghanaian winger keen to make the move across the capital.
The interest in Kudus comes amid doubts over Son Heung-min’s future, with widespread reports suggesting the forward wants to remain in north London for one more year, which means Thomas Frank may have to bring in a long-term replacement for his captain.
With Everton and a whole host of other Premier League clubs keen on Richarlison, a new striker may also be required, and Tottenham have now been provided with an update on their pursuit of OGC Nice’s Evann Guessand.
Football Insider sources say that Spurs are confident about winning the race for Guessand this summer, with the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers also in the race for the forward’s signature.
Tottenham targeting £35m swoop to sign goalscoring midfielder with Kudus
The Lilywhites are set to step up their transfer business.
ByTom Cunningham Jul 7, 2025
The French side have set an affordable asking price of £20m – £25m, off the back of an impressive 2024-25 campaign, with transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke adding: “There’s been talk that Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce would like to sign him as well.
“My sources tell me the player himself is not overly keen on that move, so that will be positive news for his Premier League suitors.
Evann Guessand in action for Nice in Ligue 1.
“Looking at the interested clubs, Brighton, West Ham, Wolves… Tottenham I’m sure would be pretty hopeful that, if they do follow up their interest, that they could win the race for his services.”
"Electric" Guessand could be versatile option for Frank
The 24-year-old is capable of playing on both wings and through the middle, meaning he could be a versatile option for Frank in attack, and the 2024-25 campaign was by far the Nice star’s best season to date.
The Ivory Coast international registered 12 goals and nine assists in 33 Ligue 1 outings, indicating he could be a solid replacement for Richarlison, who missed a whopping 37 games through injury last season.
Having averaged a 7.19 match rating in Ligue 1, the France-born forward was also Nice’s second-best-performing player last term, while outperforming every Tottenham player to make more than six Premier League appearances.
Player
Average rating (Premier League)
Son Heung-min
7.0
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
At just £20m – £25m, Guessand could be a bargain addition to the Tottenham squad, and a move to north London should be a far more attractive proposition than joining Wolves or Brighton.
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.
He'd be Wirtz 2.0: Liverpool stand a "chance" of signing the "next Mbappe"
Liverpool believe they have a good chance to sign a star who would be a Florian Wirtz repeat.