When the fixture list was drawn ahead of the upcoming season, things were not kind to Arsenal.

The Gunners faced trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James’ Park. They also faced Manchester City at home.

Thus, after seven weeks of action, for Arsenal to be top of the league, and top having conceded just once from open play, is seriously impressive.

While Mikel Arteta’s men now begin to motor, their closest rivals, Liverpool, falter. Last weekend, had the north Londoners lost and Arne Slot’s side secured victory, the gap between the two would have been eight points.

Instead, Arsenal lead by one after consecutive defeats for the Merseysiders. It’s funny how quickly football can change. Who knows just how important this weekend’s action will be come next May, though.

How Arsenal defeated West Ham

While on paper this clash looked like a straightforward victory for Arsenal, it has been a bogey fixture of late.

Indeed, as Thierry Henry reminded Bukayo Saka prior to Saturday afternoon’s fixture, the Hammers have won on their last two visits to the Emirates Stadium.

Well, with Graham Potter recently sacked and Nuno Santo now at the helm, a new manager bounce threatened a third straight victory for the Irons.

Fortunately for those of a red and white persuasion, that did not happen. In fact, Arsenal didn’t really have to work too hard for victory at all.

Indeed, Nuno’s men only had four shots throughout the entire game. To put that into context, the Gunners managed 21.

Much of their win is owed to that man Saka who, despite an injury-hit start to the campaign, is growing into the season nicely now.

Saka scored in the Champions League in midweek and followed that up by netting from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 after Jurrien Timber had been fouled.

That spot kick capped off an electric display from the winger who walked away at the end of the game with an expected assists (xA) tally of 1.11. To sum up how good that is, until Saturday, no player in the Premier League this season had accumulated more than 0.75 Expected assists (xA) in a single match.

The other hero of the day was Declan Rice, who once again found the net against his former employers.

The midfielder started the game in a deeper role, behind Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze, but following Odegaard’s injury was pushed further forward again and his goal came as a result of a late dart into the penalty area.

It wasn’t the most free-flowing of displays from Arsenal but they got the job done and kept yet another clean sheet. Weaknesses are certainly few and far between; however, their 2-0 win wasn’t without one big negative.

The biggest negative from Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham

While another game went by without Viktor Gyokeres finding the back of the net, there was a bigger worry come full-time for Arteta.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Indeed, after just half an hour, Odegaard walked from the field with yet another injury. For the Norwegian, he has really been through the wringer over the last year and more specifically, this season.

To sum up the captain’s woes, on Saturday, he became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive league starts. It’s a flabbergasting statistic.

It’s a rather dismal fact and one that is clearly a source of huge frustration for the midfielder. Last season, it was an ankle problem that disrupted his campaign and led to some below-par performances.

In the first few weeks of this season, it was his shoulder that was causing discomfort. He returned to the starting XI in midweek against Olympiacos and had a stunning hat-trick, winning the Man of the Match award.

Match rating

8.5

Assists

1

Key passes

4

Shots

4

Dribbles success

100%

Duels won

5/9

Odegaard was instrumental in the victory, providing the assist for Saka’s strike and supplying the pre-assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s opener. Both passes were exceptional, but the first was a timely reminder of just how good the skipper is when fit and firing.

So, to get him back in a Premier League starting lineup on Saturday meant a lot. Sadly, it was robbed of him after just half an hour in heartbreaking scenes.

This time it was a knee problem, and it looks rather more significant on this occasion. Speaking to the press after the game, Arteta confirmed that his star playmaker had left the Emirates with his knee in a brace.

While this isn’t just frustrating for the player, it’s equally frustrating for the club. Once one of the finest wonderkids in the land, Odegaard has worked hard to get to where he is now.

Ignored and shunned by Real Madrid, the Norway international has found a home for himself in London, and he’s been one of the star players for a while now.

Cast your minds back to 2022/23 and you may well recall how he ended the term with 15 Premier League goals. No midfielder scored more in England’s top-flight that season.

Yet, he just cannot stay fit now and ended last campaign with just three league goals to show for his efforts.

Odegaard is yet to find the net this term and is plagued by injuries again. Might we have another Jack Wilshere on our hands here? The club will hope not, but parallels are almost uncanny.

Two of the most exciting wonderkids to have graced the game in the last two decades, they’re both left-footed, they both possess the same level of vision and sadly, Odegaard is quickly becoming as injury-prone as Wilshere.

He’s not there yet but if the 26-year-old is to live up to his enormous potential, he will need to find a way of stringing a run of games together.

As The Standard’s Simon Collings noted on Saturday, Odegaard has been “ridiculously unlucky” of late but to put things more bluntly, as one prominent fan noted, he looks like “he’s made of paper”. That was a phrase that sadly became synonymous with Wilshere.

While the Norwegian’s fitness up until the last year has not been too troubling, he is now in dangerous territory. The positive for Arteta is that he has a phenomenal replacement in Eze, but the negative is that he looks set to be without his captain again.

Litton Das has shown enough potential to hold on to the role of Bangladesh’s T20I captain till next year’s T20 World Cup, according to assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin. The endorsement came after questions were raised about Litton’s appointment following Najmul Hossain Shanto relinquishing the job earlier this year.Litton has just a solitary half-century and a strike rate of 101.76 in the last 12 months in the format. He has also lost his place in the ODI team and was recently rested from the Test side. But he is all set to lead Bangladesh in the two-match T20I series against UAE in Sharjah next week.Salahuddin feels Litton showed enough leadership skills during Bangladesh a 3-0 win against West Indies in their backyard last December. Litton himself scored just 17 runs but took some proactive decisions under pressure, which helped Bangladesh dominate the home side.”From the Litton I knew for a long time to the one I saw leading the team [in the West Indies], it is like night and day,” Salahuddin said in a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday. “If you see one of his recent interviews, you will notice the difference. I think if the boys are guided properly, they can adjust to the situation faster. We all have to support the captain. I think Litton has all the ingredients of a good captain. He can motivate the players. He is good with strategy. He is trying to take it forward. I think he will do well if allowed to work independently. You can’t just make a leader.”Salahuddin also emphasised the challenges that come with Bangladesh’s captaincy. “We must realise that he is the captain of Bangladesh, which for us stands for the whole country. Leading Bangladesh is a very difficult job, although it may seem easy from the outside. Those who think that it is an easy thing are living in a fool’s paradise.”After Shanto stepped down, Litton is probably the only choice for captaincy in Bangladesh’s current T20I side. With Mehidy Hasan Miraz dropped from the format, there is no clear leadership group in the team. Mahedi Hasan being named as the vice-captain suggests as much.”We haven’t performed collectively,” Salahuddin said. “We have to admit that we are not consistently performing at the highest level. It is a big challenge. We have rapid ups and downs in our performance. Our people are emotional, so they have a hard time accepting how their performance isn’t the same every game.”Bangladesh have a long summer of T20 cricket. If their schedule remains as it is, they will play two T20Is against UAE, five against Pakistan, three against Sri Lanka, then three more against Pakistan in July and three against India in August.Salahuddin said that it was critical for the team to work on their batting ahead of this busy schedule. “We had some training sessions targeting skill development. We have also stressed on the players’ fitness. It is rare for us to get such time as we go from one series to another so rapidly. We want their improvement in skills and fitness. There are certain shots that we are unable to apply in the middle, so we worked on those skills that would b

Heading into Leeds United’s clash away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, it felt as if it was a game the Whites couldn’t afford to slip up in as they attempted to get grumbling supporters back on side.

After all, the unwanted backdrop for the trip to Molineux was the fact that Leeds had only scored one goal all season long in Premier League action, with a last-minute loss away at Fulham also still very much stinging.

Thankfully, the demons of Craven Cottage were exorcised emphatically in the West Midlands, as a first-half flurry of goals handed Daniel Farke’s men a 3-1 win.

Already, some heroes are beginning to emerge, with Anton Stach’s wonderfully taken free-kick on the day already making him a firm favourite among the travelling Leeds contingent.

Stach and various other top performers at Wolves will hope they’re remembered in a similar light to Raphinha down the line, with the Brazilian still fondly remembered as a modern icon at Elland Road, before winning himself a bumper move to Barcelona.

Raphinha's memorable stay at Leeds

While Raphinha is now in regular Ballon d’Or conversations at the Camp Nou, he will still look back on his time in West Yorkshire as a proud career moment.

Indeed, without this switch to English shores, the sensational South American might never have been able to win himself such an illustrious move to Spain, with the 28-year-old going on to prove himself as a top-level talent for the Whites by constantly lighting up the demanding Premier League.

Across 67 games donning Leeds white, Raphinha would chip in with 17 goals and 12 assists, with his efforts during the 2021/22 season managing to help keep his precarious side afloat in the top division, per Transfermarkt.

Indeed, without his 11 strikes in Premier League action, Leeds might well have fallen through the trapdoor, with a vital strike on the final day away at Brentford securing a much-needed 2-1 victory to beat the drop.

Winning an all-important penalty on that day, too, alongside also throwing himself into three successful ground duels, Raphinha is further remembered for his non-stop commitment to the cause, away from just his obvious sublime qualities in attack.

One of Farke’s emerging stars from the Wolves win embodies this same spirit, arguably, with another hard-working, yet skilful winger catching the eye in a similar vein to the much-loved Brazilian, and it was not Stach.

Leeds have unearthed their next Raphinha

Various faces in Farke’s camp now have the potential to be the club’s next cherished legend in the same mould as Raphinha, with plenty of the German’s new signings entering the hustle and bustle of the English top-flight from Europe.

Amazingly, the 28-year-old attacker only cost Leeds £17m to obtain from Rennes back in 2020, with a similar bargain perhaps in the offing when considering Noah Okafor relocated from AC Milan to West Yorkshire himself for just £1m more at the £18m mark this summer.

After struggling to get up to speed in his opening Premier League encounters, Okafor would – thankfully – spark into life on the road at Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold, with his calmly tucked away chance on the counter ending up being a game-clinching goal for his new side in the 3-1 win.

Now, Farke and Co. will hope the Swiss international can kick on and pick up more goals and even assists aplenty to be held in the same high regard as Raphinha, with Okafor hoping he can, too, be viewed as a dependable and exciting option on the left wing in the long term that regularly ensures survival is secured.

He should be able to settle, considering his past exploits in some tough European environments, with a mighty 81 goal contributions picked up in total playing in Austria, Italy and his native homeland, even seeing scout Jacek Kulig hail the 25-year-old as “incredibly prolific”.

With his Leeds duck now broken after three games, the goals will hopefully start flowing, as he potentially chases down Raphinha’s weighty 17 strikes in England.

Obviously, the hope will be that Okafor sticks it out at Leeds past the two seasons Raphinha managed.

But, if the “electric” forward, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, were to go on and be as jaw-dropping to watch as his South American counterpart, a big move might also arrive at the number 19’s door, whether Farke’s side likes it or not.

Not Okafor or Stach: Farke's 9/10 hero looked like "Leeds' best player"

This Leeds United star outshone both Noah Okafor and Anton Stach at Molineux.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 21, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O elenco do Santos fez uma reunião a portas fechadas durante a semana que antecedeu o duelo contra o Grêmio, que aconteceu neste domingo, dia 20, e terminou com vitória santista, de virada, por 2 a 1. Capitão do Peixe, o goleiro João Paulo foi quem convocou a conversa entre os atletas antes de um dos treinamentos no CT Rei Pelé.

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– Durante a semana, aconteceram muitas coisas. Uma delas foram os jogadores pedirem para falar. O treino começou mais tarde. Ficaram uma hora entre eles, sozinhos, falando, preocupados e se comprometendo com as coisas que têm pela frente – revelou o técnico Diego Aguirre em entrevista coletiva após o triunfo sobre o time gaúcho.

+ Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90

A atitude agradou o técnico Diego Aguirre, que afirmou que o presidente Andres Rueda também conversou com o elenco santista antes do jogo contra os gaúchos, que teve caráter decisivo por uma série de aspectos. Além da abertura do segundo turno do Brasileirão, foi a volta da torcida santista à Vila Belmiro depois de quatro jogos de punição, com o estádio tendo portões fechados, e a oportunidade dos jogadores do Peixe passarem uma impressão diferente depois de terem sido goleados pelo Fortaleza na semana passada, no Estado do Ceará. Partida esta que marcou a estreia do atual treinador do Alvinegro.

– Tudo o que aconteceu com a torcida, o presidente falou com os jogadores, transmitindo confiança e coisas boas. Fizeram muitas coisas durante a semana para tentar entender o que aconteceu na derrota por goleada para o Fortaleza, na semana passada. Eles acordaram. Para serem os jogadores que são, com o respeito que merecem, como clube grande, gigante. Coisas que, para mim, decidiram na hora do jogo – pontuou o técnico uruguaio.

TORCIDA FOI COMBUSTÍVEL

Mais de 12 mil pessoas estiveram no estádio Urbano Caldeira no jogo mais importante do ano para o Santos, até aqui. Antes de a bola rolar, um corredor de fogo foi feito desde o início da Rua Princesa Isabel para recepcionar o ônibus que transportou a delegação santista. Foram distribuídas faixas com mensagens de apoio que estiveram presentes nas arquibancadas da Vila Belmiro naquela que foi a primeira vez de Aguirre dirigindo o Santos em casa.

– Imagina para mim, meu primeiro jogo com essa festa, com essa torcida que apoiou, que foi importante durante a semana. Fizeram um compromisso de estar juntos, independentemente da situação ruim que estamos. A torcida hoje fez um grande trabalho, ajudou muito o espírito de jogo. Difícil tomar um gol no primeiro minuto do segundo tempo, quando não merecíamos, estávamos bem, tranquilos e organizados. O que a torcida fez hoje foi muito importante -, revelou o treinador.

VIRADA EM CAMPO E DE CHAVE

Para Diego Aguirre, o resultado contra o Grêmio foi um ponto de virada para o Santos, além de ter feito com que o clube revertesse o placar. O treinador, inclusive, frisou que as coisas que aconteceram no passado e que levaram o clube à condição ruim em que está atualmente não podem ser carregadas pelos atletas.

– Temos que aprender que as coisas que aconteceram têm que estar fora das novas mentes. É uma nova etapa, um novo começo. Para buscar nossos objetivos, não somente uma vitória, mas é muito importante – salientou Aguirre, que completou:

– A motivação às vezes faz tirar um plus máximo do jogador. Eu não sei o que acontecia antes, posso falar daqui para frente. Na primeira semana de trabalho, os jogadores foram bem, intensos. A ideia é continuar assim. Claro que precisamos de trabalho. Bom que teremos somente um jogo por semana. E seguramente o nível do time vai estar bem.

O elenco santista volta aos trabalhos nesta segunda-feira, dia 21, com atividade regenerativa. Na terça-feira, dia 22, o grupo ganhará folga, voltando aos treinamentos na quarta-feira, dia 23. O próximo compromisso do Alvinegro Praiano será no domingo, dia 27, contra o Atlético-MG, em Belo Horizonte.

However, any temporary replacements signed after the league’s suspension will not be eligible for retention ahead of next season

Matt Roller14-May-2025

The IPL will allow franchises to sign temporary replacement players for the final stages of the rearranged 2025 season – but those players will not be eligible for retention ahead of the next auction.The league will resume on Saturday after its suspension due to cross-border India-Pakistan tensions, with the new dates prompting calendar clashes for a handful of players. The majority of overseas players will return to India for the rest of the season but some have withdrawn, including Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals) and Jamie Overton (Chennai Super Kings).The IPL’s regulations permit teams to sign replacements in the event of illness or injury provided it occurs during or before their 12th match of the season. But the league has taken the call to change those rules, enabling temporary replacements to be signed for the remainder of the rearranged season.Related

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However, any temporary replacements signed after the league’s suspension will not be eligible for retention ahead of next season. The move is seemingly designed to avoid a situation where franchises are effectively incentivised to sign replacements as a way of circumventing the auction process, rather than for legitimate reasons.The IPL told franchises in a memo that it had “reassessed” the replacement rules. “Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament,” the league said.”This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement players taken from this point forward will not be eligible for retention in the following year. Temporary Replacement players will have to register for the IPL Player Auction 2026.”The IPL also clarified that any replacements which were approved before the league’s suspension remain eligible for retention ahead of next season. Four players were signed in the 48 hours before suspension: Sediqullah Atal (Delhi Capitals), Mayank Agarwal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Nandre Burger (both Rajasthan Royals).Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have brought in Blessing Muzarabani, the Zimbabwe fast-bowling spearhead, as temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi, who will leave to join South Africa for their preparations ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The replacement will be effective from May 26, the day before RCB’s last league-phase game, against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) away in Lucknow. An IPL statement said that Muzarabani would be joining RCB for INR 75 lakh.

Harry Kane has, during an exclusive either/or quiz with GOAL, pieced together a star-studded XI made up of Premier League and Bundesliga legends. The England captain has, of course, graced both of those divisions across spells with Tottenham and Bayern Munich. He has now made some intriguing selections from a list that includes the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Oliver Kahn and Gerd Muller.

Kane's goal record in England and Germany

Kane rewrote the history books in his homeland with Spurs, moving 47 efforts adrift of Alan Shearer’s record-breaking tally of Premier League goals, before stepping out of his comfort zone in the summer of 2023. A move to German has proven to be productive, with long-awaited major silverware being secured when landing the Bundesliga title in 2024-25.

Kane has added two more Golden Boots to his collection in Bavaria, while passing 100 goals for the European heavyweights, and continues to maintain remarkable individual standards at 32 years of age. There could come a day when he goes down as a bonafide legend in English and German football.

AdvertisementWatch Kane piece together Bundesliga vs Premier League XIKane's selections: Premier League just shades it

For now, Kane is happy to pick between performers who already enjoy icon status. He was charged with the task of compiling a team made up of Premier League and Bundesliga greats that would have lined up in a 4-5-1 formation.

The list of players given to Kane and his selections were:

Oliver Kahn vs Petr Cech

Philipp Lahm vs Gary Neville

Mats Hummels vs John Terry

Franz Beckenbauer vs Bobby Moore

David Alaba vs Ashley Cole

Michael Ballack vs Steven Gerrard

Bastian Schweinsteiger vs Paul Scholes

Lothar Matthaus vs Frank Lampard

Arjen Robben vs Theo Walcott

Franck Ribery vs Eden Hazard

Gerd Muller vs Alan Shearer

The Premier League just about claims bragging rights in Kane’s team, with the English top flight boasting six selections compared to five from the Bundesliga.

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GettyKane explains differences between Premier League & Bundesliga

Kane has previously spoken of the “confidence” that he gets from being mentioned in the same breath as World Cup-winning England captain Moore – as he now fills that armband with the Three Lions. He has previously said of being inspired by legendary No.9 Muller after stepping into his boots at Bayern: “I wanted to find out what he was like and how he played. He was an incredible goalscorer and, from what I hear, above all, an incredible person. It’s very special for me to follow in his footsteps.”

Kane is now fully adjusted to life in Germany, alongside wife Kate and their four children, with a new experience proving to be everything that he hoped it would be. Kane said shortly after his move to the Allianz Arena of noticeable differences between the Premier League and Bundesliga: “It was my first transfer after a really long time at Tottenham, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I just believed in myself and my abilities. It was clear to me that I would be joining a great team, but I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect and how everything would work out. But now I’m totally happy with how I’ve settled in in Munich and with the team. Bayern Munich was a really good option for me. I wanted to experience something different, I wanted to get to know European football.”

He added: "In the Bundesliga more teams try to play out from the back, more teams press and sometimes even play man against man. Therefore, the spaces are a bit bigger, which we can take advantage of by bringing pace into our game. In the Premier League there's probably a bit more structure – a few more teams defend in block. Regarding the atmosphere, it's fantastic in Germany – completely different to the Premier League.”

Liverpool have been dealt a blow in their attempts to sign Marc Guehi as Crystal Palace reportedly plan to sell the defender in January, amid interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. The England international was on the verge of joining the Reds in the summer, only for the Eagles to pull the plug at the last minute as they struggled to sign a replacement in time.

• Getty
  

  Palace want to build on excellent start by selling Guehi in January

  According to a new report from Palace are looking to cash in on Guehi when the transfer window reopens in less than three months’ time. The report claims that while Oliver Glasner’s side were initially happy to allow the centre-back to run down a contract which expires next summer, the club are now looking to capitalise on their excellent start to the 2025-26 season by giving their manager money to spend in January. Palace are currently sixth in the Premier League table, with their only defeat coming against Everton in a result which ended a remarkable 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions. The club lifted both the FA Cup and Community Shield in that time, while they also got their Conference League campaign under way with victory over Dynamo Kiev on October 2.

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• Heavyweights Barca, Bayern and Real all keen to sign Guehi

  The sudden change in Palace’s stance means Liverpool are reportedly no longer the frontrunners to land Guehi. La Liga giants Barcelona and Real – along with Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern – are all in touch with the former Chelsea’s man camp as they look to secure his signature. The report claims that Palace will not sanction a cut-price deal, however, despite Guehi having the option to negotiate a free transfer in January, when he will have just six months remaining on his current terms.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Liverpool could turn to Dortmund's Schlotterbeck as Guehi alternative

  Should Liverpool feel a move for Guehi is no longer on the cards, the report concludes by claiming the club are also interested in Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck. Arne Slot’s side reportedly view the 25-year-old as a possible long-term replacement for captain Virgin van Dijk, who turns 35 next July. Liverpool are also keen to sign a new centre-back amid uncertainty over the future of Ibrahima Konate, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, while summer recruit Giovanni Leoni will be sidelined for a year after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) in the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton in September.

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• Palace boss Glasner confirms Guehi will not sign a new contract

  Speaking ahead of Palace’s league clash against Bournemouth on Saturday, Palace boss Glasner confirmed Guehi will not sign a new contract with the club, saying: "I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year.

  “The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, 'no, I want to make something different'. And that's normal. And for us, it's how we can deal with this situation? [What] is the best way to get this next step done? And that's all about how we are talking together."

  Glasner’s comments came after Palace chairman Steve Parish opened up about the club’s decision to block Guehi's proposed move to Liverpool in the summer, telling "It's a difficult decision. It’s as simple as that these things are never black and white. I decided in the end that, based on the advice that I got and also with what I think, that we would have a better season if we kept Marc. We don't guess about these things.

  "If you look at it rationally, if you look at what is worth the place in the Premier League, the fact that we're in the Conference League for the first time in our history, this is a fairly unusual set of circumstances in which to keep a player. If we were fighting between the difference of 10th and 14th, if that was going to be the difference between keeping Marc and letting Marc go, then probably we would have said; 'Right, we should take the money’.”

South Africa have picked two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and allrounder Senuran Muthusamy

Firdose Moonda13-May-2025South Africa have named a familiar-looking Test squad to take on Australia at the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s next month, led by Temba Bavuma and headlined by pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who has completed a one-month ban for failing a drug test.Rabada served his sanction between April 1 and May 1 and has since been cleared to play. He was available for Gujarat Titans’ match against Mumbai Indians at the IPL on May 6 but was not selected. Rabada will lead a six-man pace pack at the WTC final which includes Lungi Ngidi, who has not featured in Tests since August last year.Gerald Coetzee, who was ruled out of the home summer when he injured his groin in the Durban Test against Sri Lanka and 19 year-old left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka, who debuted against Pakistan at Newlands, have not been selected. Neither have Anrich Nortje, who does not have a central contract but was in consideration for Tests this summer before he broke his toe, or Nandre Burger, who has recovered from a lower back stress fracture and is at the IPL. Dane Paterson, a key member of South Africa’s success at home and who is currently playing at Middlesex, and Corbin Bosch, who debuted over the home summer, have been included.Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s coach, explained that he made his selections with fitness and form in mind. “With regards to Anrich (Nortje), it didn’t really pan out the way we had hoped. He was due to play in the Centurion Test match against Pakistan and then sustained the broken toe and I don’t think he’s in any position, really, to be playing the Test match,” Conrad said. “With regards to Gerald, he’s making his way back as well from injury and I just felt that with what Corbin had done for us in the series against Pakistan, that he provides really good cover. When I say cover, he might still make the starting XI. Corbin’s not lacking in pace, so I don’t we compromised too much pace in that respect. I’m really happy what Corbin offers us and brings really good balance to our side as well. And that’s ultimately what we were after – balance.”Getty ImagesSouth Africa have picked two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and allrounder Senuran Muthusamy, who has been a regular member of squads but has not played since the tour of Bangladesh last October.In the batting department, Conrad confirmed Ryan Rickelton will open the batting with Aiden Markram and he’s yet to decide where Tony de Zorzi will bat, if he plays. “Whether Tony slots in at No.3, whether he slots in the middle order, conditions will determine all of that,” he said.It also remains to be seen Tristan Stubbs will continue to hold on to the No.3 spot or be moved lower down, while Bavuma, who has recovered from an elbow niggle that kept him out of the domestic four-day final, will bat at No.4. Further, there will be questions over whether David Bedingham will keep his place in the starting XI after a home summer in which he top-scored with 44* in eight innings, and a period of time on the sidelines.Bedingham is recovering from a broken toe and has not played a competitive match since April 11 but is expected to return to action for Durham this week. “Bedders is pretty much ready to go. And if there is such a thing as a good break, it was a good, clean break,” Conrad said. “Durham were keen to play him in the next county match. Again, our medical staff have been in conversation with them as to whether we feel that’s the right thing, but Bedders has been hitting balls, and Bedders is best when fresh. His form has been a little bit up and down, but I still think he’s a key guy in our line-up, especially with the type of cricket he plays, and especially against a side like Australia. When Bedders plays well, he’s the perfect guy to take on a side like Australia.”Kyle Verreynne will remain the first-choice wicket-keeper and also has experience in the UK. He is playing for Nottinghamshire and scored a century in his first appearance for them this season.Cricket South Africa (CSA) has not officially confirmed whether their players will return to the IPL and how long they will be available there for but their statement announcing the squad indicated they will all assemble in England on May 31. Initially, the IPL contingent of Rabada, Ngidi, Markram, Marco Jansen, Rickelton, Bosch, Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs were given NOCs to run until May 25 and expected back in South Africa the following day. ESPNcricinfo has confirmed that those at the IPL will come back to South Africa and not travel directly to the UK and it is expected they will adhere to the May 26 deadline even though he IPL has since been extended until June 3. That is the same day that South Africa are due to begin a four-day warm-up match against Zimbabwe in Arundel. South Africa’s squad is to leave the country on May 30.SA squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne

أعرب لاعب ريال مدريد وروما السابق عن استيائه بسبب العنصرية التي يتعرض لها أصحاب البشرة السمراء في مهنة تدريب كرة القدم.

وقال خوليو بابتيستا في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا” عن وصوله إلى روما في نفس يوم وفاة رئيس النادي: “أحيانًا يبدو أن روما لا تتذكر إلا الأخطاء، لا الأحداث الجانبية، حملت نعشه إلى جانب توتي، رأيته يبكي وفهمت ما يعنيه هذا النادي لجماهيره، لم أرَ مثله من قبل”.

وعن المعاناة التي عاشها البرازيلي تحت قيادة رانييري على العكس تمامًا ما كان عليه مع سباليتي: “لقد شعرت بالخيانة، كنت ألعب بشكل جيد مع البرازيل لكنني لم أكن ضمن خطط روما”.

وأكمل: “لم يخبرني رانييري بأي شيء أبدًا، غادرت لأنني كنت بحاجة إلى أن أشعر وكأنني لاعب كرة قدم من جديد”.

وأضاف: “قيل الكثير من الهراء عني، تحدث الكثيرون دون معرفة أين تكون الحقيقة، كانت فترة صعبة وبدلًا من أن أتلقى الدعم تعرضت للسخرية”.

اقرأ أيضًا | حكم مباراة برشلونة وإلتشي في الدوري الإسباني

وكشف: “قدمت أداءً رائعًا في روما لكن البعض يفضل التركيز على الجانب السلبي فقط، في إشبيلية كنت بمثابة دبابة، لقد سجلت 47 هدفًا وحصلت على لقب الوحش”.

واستطرد: “ثم جئت إلى ريال مدريد وآرسنال، وتلك المباراة التي لا تُنسى في أنفيلد أمام ليفربول والتي سجلت فيها أربعة أهداف وسط تصفيق حار من الجمهور، كانت تلك الليلة ساحرة”.

واسترسل: “كنت على وشك الانضمام إلى إنتر ميلان بقيادة مورينيو، في النهاية لم يحدث ذلك، وتعاقدوا مع شنايدر، ربما كان هذا هو سبب فشلي في دوري أبطال أوروبا”.

وعن حلمه بتدريب أحد الفرق الكبرى في كرة القدم، أتم: “اليوم وأنا في الثالثة والأربعين من عمري، لا أعرف ما سبب ابتعادي عن التدريب لكن كم مدربًا أسودًا ترى في الدوريات الخمس الكبرى؟ لا أرى الكثير، أود أن أعتقد أنها مجرد صدفة لكن للأسف، لا أعتقد ذلك، الفرص قليلة لنا للغاية، آمل أن أكون الشخص الذي يعكس هذا التفكير، أنا لا أعرف اليأس”.

A shock battle is brewing at Borussia Dortmund, as €22.5 million signing Fabio Silva aims to usurp star striker Serhou Guirassy in the starting XI. Nico Kovac has praised the ex-Wolves man as "accurate and clean" after his goal in the Champions League in midweek while Guirassy struggles with a thigh injury and a dip in form. With Silva pushing for a start against Koln, it comes as Guirassy's release clause puts Barcelona on alert.

Kovac praises 'clean and accurate' Silva

Guirassy is facing an unexpected challenge for his starting place from new signing Silva, according to a report from . While Guirassy battles a persistent injury and a rare goal drought, the €22.5m (£19m/$26m) summer acquisition has earned high praise from manager Kovac for his impressive substitute appearances.

The 29-year-old Guirassy, who has been nominated for the 2025 African Player of the Year, is reportedly in danger of being benched for the first time this season for Dortmund's upcoming Bundesliga match against Koln.

Kovac has been deeply impressed by Silva, 23, who has brought a new dynamic in his five substitute appearances, culminating in his first goal for the club during the 4-2 Champions League victory in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

notes Silva is seen as the "exact opposite" of the struggling Guirassy, describing the Portuguese as "lively, hard-working, and technically strong." Kovac's praise highlighted Silva's tactical suitability and ball retention.

"He's been very diligent in training," Kovac said. "Very accurate, very clean in his execution, very team-oriented. Fabio is coming in more and more. I'm trying to give him more and more minutes because he deserves them."

AdvertisementIMAGO / HMB-MediaGuirassy struggling with persistent thigh injury

Silva's emergence coincides with a difficult period for Guirassy. The Guinea international has scored just once in his last six matches across all competitions, a significant drought for a player of his calibre. According to , the slump is not merely tactical but physical. Guirassy is reportedly struggling with persistent thigh problems that have hampered him for weeks, an issue that flared up just before the recent international break.

This injury is visibly affecting his performance, with reports noting he "can barely control the ball and appears insecure." This is a sharp downturn for the striker, who started the 2025-26 campaign in strong form with four goals in six Bundesliga appearances, on top of goals in the DFB Cup and Champions League. It pales in comparison to his explosive 2024-25 season, where he hit 21 top-tier goals and finished as joint-top scorer in the Champions League with 13 goals.

Kovac backs 'insurance policy' Guirassy despite form

Despite the internal pressure from Silva and Guirassy's physical struggles, Kovac recently offered his star striker a public vote of confidence. Speaking to , Kovac dismissed concerns over the temporary drought and insisted the 29-year-old remains central to his plans.

"For me, Serhou is very, very important. He remains our insurance policy because he is a key part of this team," Kovac stated. The manager attributed the slump to increased defensive attention following his prolific scoring. "They are clearly trying to take our top striker out of the game. That’s why it’s not so easy for him. But I know that in the coming weeks, he will again give us what we need: his goals."

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Guirassy’s contract situation attracts Barcelona

The competition for the starting role comes amid fresh speculation over Guirassy's long-term future. According to Sky Germany, the striker's contract, which runs until 2028, contains a release clause that progressively decreases. After a clause valued around €75m (£65m/$87m) went un-triggered last summer, a new, lower figure will reportedly become active in 2S026.

This has reportedly put clubs like Barcelona on high alert as they seek long-term striking options. Guirassy's record justifies the interest, with the forward scoring 44 goals in all competitions. In that period, only Harry Kane, with 59, Kylian Mbappe (58), Erling Haaland (46) and Robert Lewandowski (46) have scored more across Europe's top five leagues.