Tag Futebol

Australia had a real chance of enforcing the follow-on – their best chance of winning the Test – when Jadeja fell, but India’s last-wicket pair spoilt their plans

Andrew McGlashan17-Dec-20240:59

What does saving the follow-on mean to India?

For a period late on the fourth day at the Gabba, a Test match that has endured endless stoppages for rain came to life as one of the curiosities of the sport was on full show – a team miles behind in the contest, yet being cheered as though they were winning. A game within a game.When Ravindra Jadeja hooked Pat Cummins to deep square-leg, where he was brilliantly caught by Mitchell Marsh, India still needed 33 to avoid the follow-on as Akash Deep (Test average 6.42) walked out to join Jasprit Bumrah (Test average of 6.97).”At that stage, I was thinking more about going and padding up and trying to go back to bat, probably,” KL Rahul said after play, with no disrespect meant to his two team-mates at the crease.Related

Rain likely to help India on final day in Brisbane

Hazlewood likely to miss rest of India series with calf strain

Rahul and Jadeja fight to help India avoid follow-on

For Australia, the follow-on was their most realistic route to victory given the amount of time lost already and more rain forecast on the final day.”There was a desperation to get that final wicket and we thought we had a really good chance when Jadeja was dismissed,” assistant coach Daniel Vettori said.Bumrah hooked Cummins for six to take a useful chunk out of the runs needed, the day after he had referenced his batting ability when it was put to him that he may not be the ideal person to discuss the problems of India’s top order.”It’s an interesting that you are questioning my batting ability,” he said with a smile after the third day’s play. “You should use Google and see who’s got the most number of runs in a Test over.”That was, of course, referring to his 35-run over against Stuart Broad at Edgbaston in 2022, but he wasn’t going to try and save the follow-on in that fashion. Against relatively deep-set fields, he and Akash Deep chipped away at the runs required as the India supporters among a small crowd got increasingly excited, with forward defensives and back-foot blocks cheered among the precious runs.3:03

KL Rahul on the Akash Deep-Bumrah show: ‘I was thinking about padding up’

Occasionally, though, they went for their shots with Akash Deep scything a boundary down to deep third off Mitchell Starc and he also punched a brace of twos to get India closer. But with five needed to save the follow-on he nearly dragged on to his stumps as he looked to flay Starc away. A message came from the dressing room.”[You] don’t have to try and do it with a boundary,” Rahul revealed was the instruction. “You can still knock it around, get those singles, they’d spread the field. So the singles were there to be taken. So [it was] just to stay a bit more patient, because we saw just before the message went out, Akash tried to, I don’t know where he tried to hit it, but he tried to hit a boundary. So [it was] just a message to calm it down and see if they can get five or six singles and [avoid] the follow-on.”Vettori acknowledged that India’s last two batters were belying their career records, but it came as no surprise.”Don’t think we assume that anyone is going to live up to their average,” Vettori said. “Think you look at those averages and you think there’s not much there, but Bumrah has proven that he’s been able to put on partnerships, proven that he can attack and he can defend, and Akash Deep is better than a No. 11.”Akash Deep – and India’s tail – were put through a stern test, and passed with flying colours•Associated PressWith four needed, Akash Deep did it with a boundary, although it was more luck than a case of him ignoring advice as he jabbed at a short-of-a-length delivery from Starc, which flew over a leaping Nathan McSweeney at gully.A roar went up from the India supporters as though they had won the game. In the dressing room, Virat Kohli shared high-fives and captain Rohit Sharma had a huge smile on his face.”It’s always nice to see your bowlers going out there scoring some runs,” Rahul said. “They really put in the work in the nets. And when it mattered today, I’m happy that they could really play some shots, and very exciting shots. And it was a great contest at the end. The last half-an-hour when they batted, not just the runs that they got, just the heart that they showed to keep away the bouncers. There’s a lot of pace and bounce in the wicket.”To cap things off for India, Akash Deep, now freed of a little pressure, deposited Cummins over long-on for a huge six two balls before bad light ended play for the final time in the day. Normally, trailing by 193 runs is little cause for celebration, and Australia have been by far the better side, but you just never know how important those few overs could prove.

Time and again, he has finished games from improbable situations that required him to go hell for leather from the outset

Shashank Kishore13-May-20231:34

Bishop on Pooran’s ‘perfect’ role at LSG

Last year, Sunrisers Hyderabad broke the bank to acquire Nicholas Pooran’s services to finish games like these. From improbable situations that require you to just go hell for leather from the outset, when all other options have been exhausted.Pooran returned a mixed bag – 306 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 144, but it wasn’t enough to be retained. Sure, in an auction, teams sometimes look to buy back players they’ve possibly exhausted a lot of their budget on, and Pooran’s tag of INR 10.75 crore was a significant chunk.But there was an element of disbelief when Sunrisers didn’t put in a single bid, even as four others went aggressively in the auction ahead of IPL 2023. When the paddle came down, he’d been signed for an even bigger sum – INR 16 crore.Related

• Mankad 64, Pooran 13-ball 44 take LSG back to No. 4

• Pooran on the 31-run over: 'Once it's your match-up, you need to make it count'

It was no surprise then that Tom Moody, the former Sunrisers coach who was at the auction table when they signed him for IPL 2022, was among the first to voice out his disbelief soon after Pooran’s unbeaten 13-ball 44 helped Lucknow Super Giants to a win that seemed distant when they needed 80 off 36 on Saturday afternoon.An overhaul had meant Moody and Pooran were both out. In a sense, with the season on the line, this was perhaps an opportunity for Pooran to send out a quiet message. He walked in with Super Giants needing 56 off 27. Marcus Stoinis had briefly struggled against spin, before hitting Abhishek Sharma’s part-time left-arm everything for two back-to-back sixes. In trying for a third, Stoinis fell.SRH seemed to have the game in the bag, till Nicholas Pooran walked out•AFP/Getty ImagesPooran walked out to join Prerak Mankad, playing in only his third IPL game. His promotion up the order hadn’t yielded the kind of results Super Giants would’ve liked. There was a sense that Mankad had been stuck. It wasn’t quite the Rahul Tewatia-like struggle from that famous game in 2020, but a struggle, nonetheless.Pooran saw the ball in his arc, and went 6, 6, 6. Abhishek started the over thinking the match-up was set to test two right-handers against the longer boundary on the leg side, but ended it, much against his luck, against a marauding left-hander to the short leg-side boundary.If you were to apply brevity to Pooran’s carnage, here’s what happened: full, slot-ball: walloped over deep midwicket. Full on off, muscled down the ground. Full on stumps, swung over wide long-on. Truth be told, the hits were monstrous and so clean that boundary sizes wouldn’t have mattered.ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster pegged Super Giants’ win percentage at 30.02 when Stoinis fell but skyrocketed to 85.26 after those three sixes that brought the equation down to 38 off 24. Between overs 13 and 16, Super Giants had made 70 off 24. It capped off a stunning turnaround.”T20 is a batsman’s game. I believe they’re called part-timers for a reason, when they come on, you have to target them,” Pooran told the broadcasters about his flying start. “T20 [batting] is about risks. No risk, no reward. When a match-up is in your favour, you have to make it count. It got my innings going, thank you to the Sunrisers for that.”Momentum was firmly on Super Giants’ side. It helped Mankad shred all that pressure he seemed to have brought upon himself after an excellent start at No. 3, so much so that he barely even celebrated his maiden IPL half-century.Abhishek Sharma’s 16th over•ESPNcricinfo LtdHe was on 7 off 7 at the end of five overs but broke the shackles when he peppered the off-side boundary by holding his shape and hitting through the line against the left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi. Then when Quinton de Kock fell, he found it hard to get going even as Stoinis found his way in. Until turned it around.”It was an important game. I wasn’t happy because I couldn’t connect balls I should’ve connected, but in the end, I was happy with the result,” Mankad said. “I was trying to hit the spinners but couldn’t connect before the 10th over, I knew Mayank would get me out, I have played against him in domestic matches, I wanted to counter him and see what best I could do.”Pooran stayed right till the end to see the game through, but spoke later, albeit in a lighter vein on how he’d like to spend more time at the crease. Only twice this season, he has faced more than 20 balls in an innings; he averages 14 balls per innings to be precise.The team’s decision to hold him back in the previous game in a chase of 228 had raised a few eyebrows, and his entry point here may have well been debated long and hard had they got close and lost. But Pooran hardly left anything to chance; his impact on the game was all but defined by those three sixes that swung momentum wildly in their favour.”Definitely in T20 cricket, I’d like to bat for a longer time,” he said with a laugh. “I know how to bat in different situations having played a lot of white-ball cricket. My role is to come in and bat in the last four-five overs and try to have an impact. For the last month or so, I’ve just been preparing to put myself in good positions. I know I will face a lot of yorkers and slower deliveries, I’ve just been working on executing my skills against whatever they put against me.”

Afghanistan legspinner unfazed at Trent Bridge’s runs, or burden of being first draft pick

Andrew Miller23-Jul-2021Rashid Khan, the No. 1 pick at the original Hundred draft in 2019, says that his faith in his own ability will allow him to overcome Trent Bridge’s recent reputation as a bowler’s graveyard, as he prepares to lead Trent Rockets’ attack in their opening fixture against Southern Brave on Saturday.Khan, who was recently confirmed as Afghanistan’s captain for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, warmed up for his Hundred stint with two Vitality Blast outings for Sussex last week – alongside a potential opponent on Saturday, Jofra Archer – having emerged from ten days in quarantine following his arrival from Lahore Qalanders’ PSL campaign.And on Saturday, he will take on a Southern Brave batting line-up featuring a number of in-form batters including James Vince, who followed his maiden ODI century against Pakistan with two match-winning innings in a single day for Hampshire in their Blast double-header last week, and New Zealand’s Devon Conway, who has followed up remarkable start to his international career with a strong run of form in the Blast as Somerset’s anchor (the Brave are missing Quinton de Kock for the opening games due to South Africa’s series in Ireland).Rashid, however, is unfazed by his status as the tournament’s most in-demand signing, nor by a Trent Bridge pitch that served up a total of 433 runs in Pakistan’s thrilling victory in last week’s first T20I, and where, in the past five years, England have twice broken the record for the highest innings in ODI history – most recently their total of 481 for 6 against Australia in 2018.Rashid Khan poses in his Trent Rockets uniform•Trent Rockets”As a spinner, if you have those things in your mind, that the wicket is flat, the boundary short, I think it doesn’t help you,” Khan said. “What helps is that you bring your own skills and your own experience to the game, rather than to think about those things, which is not in our control.”As a bowler, you cannot get 75-80-metre boundaries at every ground. But still, if you bowl a bad ball, even if it’s a 100-metre boundary, they are going to hit you for six, you’re going to concede runs. So it will be a definitely a challenge. I will need consistency in how I bowl, and that will be tested. But as long as I have that positive mindset for the game, I can deliver.”Whatever it is, as long as I’m hitting the right area, and backing up my skills and my talent, I think I can deliver for the team. Your best delivery is your best delivery for any batsman around the world. That’s why it has written on the wicket [on the TV analysis], ‘good length’. As long as you’re hitting that area, that gives you the maximum right result.”In a T20 career that has now spanned 267 matches, Khan’s career economy rate of 6.28 is a testament to the impact of his misleadingly simple methods – a bustling stump-to-stump approach, brisk pace through the air, and a natural command of line and length, all backed up by a wicked googly that is scarcely distinguishable from his legbreak.And with all teams having to get to grips with the possibilities and pitfalls of the Hundred’s new playing conditions, in particular the opportunity for a bowler to deliver two consecutive sets of five balls (and potentially 20 out of 25 all told) Rashid recognises that his ability to becalm the batters in his sights makes him one of those players for whom the alterations could have been tailor-made.”I’m super excited about bowling ten balls in a row,” he said. “It kind of gives you an opportunity to take ten wickets straight away, and three hat-tricks. That’s an advantage we have, but you can also be hit for ten sixes as well, or give 50 runs away in just ten balls.”It mostly depends on the conditions, and the situation of the game as well, but if a batsman is struggling against any bowler then, definitely, the opposition captain will want to have those ten balls by that bowler to keep the pressure on.Related

Rashid Khan talks us through his bowling grips and variations

Rashid Khan: 'You can get form back, but once you lose respect, it's hard to get that back'

Rashid Khan playing in the PSL is a sort of homecoming

Rashid Khan named Afghanistan T20I captain

Shiny, new, and a load of balls – your handy guide to the Hundred

“In this format, I think the more you look to put the pressure on the batsman, that’s the time they give you the wicket, rather than trying to attack to get his wicket. As long as you’re putting the pressure on by bowling the dot balls, that gives you the wickets as well.”Above all, however, Khan is looking forward to playing his cricket in front of packed crowds once again, after a year of behind-closed-doors fixtures due to Covid-19. And, having witnessed the success of the IPL’s tamasha, the off-field glamour and excitement that has accompanied the on-field action, he is excited about the glitz surrounding the Hundred, and its potential to hook in a new audience in English cricket.”If you want to have a successful competition, then definitely, it’s 60-70% the fans that make it successful,” he said. “If you look at the last one-and-a-half years, we don’t have fans in the stadium, it doesn’t look the same game. The fans make it more bright and entertaining, and if they give their love to this form of the game as well, it will be on top of the world. As players, we can only give 100% in the centre, and bring our skills into the game.”To me, it looks like a massive competition, for everyone around the world, not only here in England,” he added. “It will definitely take lots of attention and motivate lots of youngsters as well, and that’s the main reason behind this game, to motivate the youngsters and to bring their mindset for this game.”Khan, of course, is no stranger to such role-model status, having risen to become Afghanistan’s most famous sportsman since making his international debut in 2015. And having taken that burden of expectation in his stride, he’s comfortable with his prominent status going into the Hundred.”It was a huge, proud moment for me and for my country, to be someone from Afghanistan and to be the first pick in this competition,” he said. “I’m so lucky, and I think what I have done in the last five-and-a-half years made it possible.”I’m looking forward to prove that. I just need to keep it simple for myself, bring my skills into the game, enjoy the game, keep smiling and keep doing well for the team.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Fluminense estreia na Libertadores na noite desta quarta-feira (3). O Tricolor não conta com diversos jogadores, sobretudo, o artilheiro Germán Cano. Mas quem deve ser o grande substituto do atacante argentino? Confira o resultado da enquete do Lance! abaixo.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFluminenseMarcelo diz que atacante do Fluminense é mistura de Romário com Ronaldo FenômenoFluminense02/04/2024Futebol NacionalSenado avança em CPI para investigar manipulação de resultados no futebol brasileiroFutebol Nacional02/04/2024Mercado do EsporteOnde assistir à Libertadores? Entenda divisão dos direitos de transmissãoMercado do Esporte02/04/2024

A enquete foi realizada no canal do Lance! Fluminense no WhatsApp. Além de ter muito conteúdo e informação, você também pode interagir e votar em outras enquetes.

Como faço para participar? Clique aqui para entrar no canal Lance! Fluminense no WhatsApp, a casa dos tricolores.

Tudo sobre

FluminenseFutebol NacionalGermán CanoLelêLibertadores

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has offered his thoughts on Xavi Simons and his performances in training, while addressing the decision to bench him in Spurs’ last four matches.

Thomas Frank set for Brentford reunion amid poor Spurs run

Spurs welcome Brentford to north London on Saturday, desperately needing to end a dismal run that has seen them plummet to 11th in the Premier League table with just 19 points from 14 games.

Frank’s side approach this clash winless in their last five league outings, including three defeats.

Cristian Romero’s dramatic late overhead kick salvaged a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in their last match, with a controversial VAR penalty to Newcastle denying them all three points.

Their home form has completely collapsed too, with the club now going six consecutive league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a single victory.

16. Burnley

2

1

4

7

-2

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

6

1

-11

That shocking run includes 10 home defeats throughout the entire calendar year of 2025, matching the club’s worst-ever records for home losses in a single year.

Most concerning was their last appearance on home soil, where Fulham raced into a two-goal lead within the opening six minutes before securing a 2-1 victory.

The final whistle brought a cacophony of boos ringing around the stadium, aimed squarely at Frank and his struggling squad.

The ghosts of their 4-1 capitulation at Arsenal last month continue to haunt the team. During that humbling derby defeat, Tottenham managed an expected goals figure of just 0.07, one of their lowest outputs this season, highlighting their serious lack of creativity which has become a concern.

Injury problems compound Frank’s difficulties.

Player reveals Daniel Levy blocked his dream transfer to Chelsea from Tottenham

The ex-Lilywhites chairman held him hostage.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025

Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined, robbing Spurs of crucial attacking impetus, with James Maddison not expected back until the new year. Meanwhile, Yves Bissouma also has no set return date yet.

The Lilywhites really need Simons to step up right now after his marquee £55 million move from RB Leipzig, but the Dutchman has scarcely been given a chance lately.

Simons’ highlights in a Spurs jersey are few and far between, with the ex-PSG sensation putting in a Player of the Match display against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League and notching an assist against West Ham way back in September.

That is, however, the sum of his contribution this season, with the ex-Eredivisie starlet attracting criticism.

Thomas Frank makes Xavi Simons training claim in response to Tottenham snubs

Simons could end up costing the club £125 million when factoring in wages, agent’s fees and other add-ons over a potential seven-year contract, but to be fair to him, it’s hard to justify that price with limited game time.

Speaking in his latest press conference, Frank addressed why he hasn’t been starting for Simons for Tottenham lately — claiming it is down to a matter of form with alternatives and different personnel for contrasting matches.

The Dane also shared how Simons has been impressing in Tottenham training lately, so it is absolutely not a question of work ethic.

With the pressure on Simons to perform, Saturday sets the perfect stage, and he could become a hero by helping to arrest the club’s barren home form through a convincing display against Frank’s former club.

Tottenham Hotspur are stuck in a cycle of repeated mistakes, time and time again struggling to establish a winning formula on home turf and struggling also to weave Thomas Frank’s tactics into their identity.

Much has been made of Spurs’ attacking problems this season, but defensively, there are imbalances too. The north Londoners’ xGD (Expected Goals Difference) stands at -6.8, marking them 18th in the division for that metric.

Despite adding a range of talented additions to their ranks after winning the Europa League last season, the residual issues that stemmed from a torrid Premier League campaign remain, and Frank has to show that he has what it takes to wipe out the recurring patterns that are threatening an exciting season.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons were welcomed to the ranks, but Frank has yet to pull it all together

The potential Frank replacements ENIC should consider

It has been reported that Frank is not under immediate pressure in the Tottenham hot seat, but after picking just two points up from his past five outings, the Spurs boss will know that results need to improve, especially with the win over Burnley in August standing as a lonely win down N17.

Kudus might be the joint-top assist maker in the division so far, but Tottenham’s creativity is a big concern, and ENIC Group may have the perfect replacement they can fall back on.

Back at the start of the summer, ESPN reported Tottenham had whittled their shortlist down to two candidates, Frank being one, Fulham manager Marco Silva being the other.

The Portuguese tactician is a well-seasoned Premier League manager, having led 221 matches across four different tenures.

Known for establishing stability and a clear tactical vision, the 48-year-old has earned his share of praise, with pundit Jamie Carragher among those to suggest Silva may well be a tailor-made fit for the Lilywhites.

Why Carragher has "always seen" Silva at Spurs

Carragher remarked on The Overlap this week that he has “always seen Silva at Tottenham”, with his blend of pragmatism and shrewd ideas potentially instilling the secure and balanced foundations the club have been lacking in recent years.

Implementing a 4-2-3-1 formation, Silva, whose Cottager side beat Tottenham away from home only last weekend, seeks to strike a balance between possession-based play and counter-attacking football, with both sides of that coin on show against Spurs.

There is an emphasis on overlaps and wide play that could also give rise to Kudus’ qualities. The Ghanaian – who England fans will be threatened by at the 2026 World Cup next year – has made a positive start to life in north London, but there’s a sense that there is more to come from the versatile wideman.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 3% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for successful take-ons per 90.

Matches (starts)

13 (13)

Goals

2

Assists

5

Touches*

52.4

Shots (on target)*

1.5 (0.5)

Accurate passes*

20.9 (87%)

Chances created*

1.6

Dribbles*

3.1

Ball recoveries*

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.9

Duels won*

6.5

Kudus needs to score more, and he also needs to make more of his inherent creative skills. Silva’s system could help achieve this.

Transfer reporter Dean Jones has even gone as far as to label Silva a “genius”, with his subtle and nuanced approach to the managerial game something Spurs may need to adapt to different situations and rediscover their fluency both in defence and attack.

Whether Tottenham decide to cut their ties with Frank down the line will be a matter of time and perserverance, but should an upswing fail to materialise, Silva could be the shrewd successor to finally take this team to a sustainable level at the top.

Spurs star is becoming Frank's own version of Kane & he's not even a forward

This Tottenham star is becoming a talismanic force for Frank’s side.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 5, 2025

Arguably one of the best sights in football is seeing a world-class winger in full flow. Whether it be through speed or skill, there are plenty of top-quality wide men in today’s game, including 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele.

In the past, we have been graced with the brilliant skills of Ronaldinho and crossing ability of David Beckham, but who is the best winger in football today?

Ranking factors

To help rank the wingers in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has been performing Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others are saying about them 15 Rafael Leao AC Milan and Portugal

One of the fastest wingers around in the game today is AC Milan star Rafael Leao, who has been called one of the players Ronaldinho most enjoys watching.

Tammy Abraham has even said that Leao “has no idea how good he is”, and he has wowed on the left wing, contributing with double figures for goals and assists in 2024/25.

Serie A

2022

Nations League

2025

Italian Super Cup

2025

Taca da Liga

2018

14 Rodrygo Real Madrid and Brazil

With Real Madrid’s squad filled with world-class stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo is sometimes forgotten about in Spain.

However, Jude Bellingham labelled Rodrygo as “the most gifted player in the squad” and a “pleasure to play with”, so he must be doing something right at the Bernabeu. Neymar is also a big fan of his fellow countryman, calling him a “joke” in 2025.

Champions League

2022, 2024

La Liga

2020, 2022, 2024

Copa del Rey

2023

FIFA Club World Cup

2023

UEFA Super Cup

2022, 2024

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2020, 2022, 2024

13 Luis Diaz Bayern Munich and Colombia

Luis Diaz has both the speed and the skill to leave defenders for dead and is already catching the eye at new side Bayern Munich.

Diaz, who left Liverpool in 2025, won his first Premier League title before leaving Anfield, and, according to Danny Murphy, has “gone under the radar”. His defensive work ethic has also been praised, and in the final third, he can come up with something special out of nothing.

Premier League

2025

Liga Portugal

2020, 2022

Categoria Primera A

2018, 2019

FA Cup

2022

League Cup

2022, 2024

Taca de Portugal

2020, 2022

Copa Colombia

2017

Community Shield

2022

Portuguese Super Cup

2021

Colombian Super Cup

2018

12 Nico Williams Athletic Club and Spain

After coming through the Athletic Club academy, Nico Williams has made a huge impact in La Liga and with Spain and is now regarded as one of the top left-wingers around. At the age of 23, Williams looks destined to move from Bilbao at some point, but did sign a new contract in 2025.

Jose Mourinho has even revealed that he prefers Williams to Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, calling the Athletic Club star “unique” and “wonderful” – high praise from an iconic manager.

European Championship

2024

Copa del Rey

2024

11 Bradley Barcola PSG and France

Bradley Barcola arguably goes under the radar slightly at Paris Saint-Germain due to the sheer amount of attacking talent at the Parc des Princes, but the 22-year-old enjoyed his best ever season in 2024/25.

Called “unstoppable” by Luis Enrique, Barcola has hit double figures for Ligue 1 goals and assists for the first time in his career, which has resulted in his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing to €70m.

Ligue 1

2024, 2025

Champions League

2025

Coupe de France

2024

French Super Cup

2024, 2025

10 Desire Doue PSG and France

Another exciting attacking PSG star is Desire Doue, who, on the right-hand side, has been making a name for himself all across the world.

In French, Doue means ‘gifted’, and the teenager has been living up to his name, with some even calling him the next Neymar due to his ability to stand defenders up, slow the play down before going past them with a piece of skill.

Ligue 1

2025

Champions League

2025

French Super Cup

2025

9 Mohamed Salah Liverpool and Egypt

Many would argue that Mohamed Salah would have been top of this list earlier in 2025, however, the Egyptian King has gone off the boil at Anfield in 2025/26.

The Liverpool star extended his Anfield stay and produced record numbers for goals and assists in a 38-game Premier League campaign, winning his second title with the Reds as a result. Arne Slot called Salah “outstanding” recently, but at 33, Salah may well be getting past his prime.

Champions League

2019

Premier League

2020, 2025

Swiss Super League

2013, 2014

FA Cup

2022

League Cup

2015, 2022, 2024

FIFA Club World Cup

2020

UEFA Super Cup

2019

Community Shield

2022

8 Jeremy Doku Man City and Belgium

Jeremy Doku has been a standout player for Manchester City in 2025/26, terrorising full-backs with his explosive speed, agility and dribbling qualities.

The Belgian’s display in a 3-0 win over Liverpool was unbelievable, and if it wasn’t for a certain Erling Haaland, you could say Doku would be the first name on the teamsheet under Pep Guardiola.

7 Michael Olise Bayern Munich and France

After swapping Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich in 2024, Michael Olise has taken his game to the next level with the Bundesliga giants, hitting double figures for league goals and assists for the first time in his career in 2024/25.

Olise “could be as good as anyone” and, according to Didier Deschamps, the Bayern star has a “lot of qualities and has progressed a lot”, so he could get even better over the coming years. His Transfermarkt valuation now sits at a career-high €100m.

Bundesliga

2025

6 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia PSG and Georgia

After starring for Napoli for over two-and-a-half years, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sealed a big-money move to PSG in 2025 and is so far proving to be worth the €70m fee.

The two-footed winger can play on either side and has helped PSG to another Ligue 1 title and a Champions League triumph. Kvaratskhelia is not just brilliant in attack, but the Georgia star also does a “titanic defensive job” with a “relentless” attitude in tracking back, something which doesn’t go unnoticed.

Ligue 1

2025

Champions League

2025

Serie A

2023

Russian Cup

2019

MatériaMais Notícias

Em reta final de preparação para 2024, o Flamengo realiza pré-temporada em Orlando, nos Estados Unidos. Assista no vídeo acima a atividade comandada pelo técnico Tite.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

CRONOGRAMA DE PRÉ-TEMPORADA DO FLAMENGO

O elenco rubro-negro se reapresentou no dia 8 de janeiro, no Ninho do Urubu, e realizou dez dias de treinamento no Brasil antes de viajar para a Flórida. Neste intervalo tempo, a equipe estreou com vitória no Campeonato Carioca.

Atuando com os titulares, o Fla não tomou conhecimento do Audax Rio na Arena Amazonas, em Manaus, e venceu por 4 a 0. Posteriormente, o grupo principal partiu para Orlando para dar continuidade a pré-temporada.

continua após a publicidade

O restante do elenco, por sua vez, permaneceu no Rio de Janeiro para a disputada do torneio estadual.

Nos Estados Unidos, o Flamengo disputou seu primeiro amistoso no domingo (21) contra o Philadelphia Union, da MLS, e venceu por 2 a 0. Neste sábado (27), o Rubro-Negro enfrenta o Orlando City antes de retornar ao Brasil.

Tudo sobre

FlamengoFutebol Nacionalpré-temporada

Matheus Cunha recalled his tunnel conversation with Ruben Amorim last season after starring in Wolves' 1-0 win at Old Trafford in April. Cunha eventually went on to sign for Manchester United in the summer transfer window after the English giants triggered his £62.5million ($85m) release clause. Cunha, along with Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, was brought in at Old Trafford as part of Amorim's squad overhaul.

Cunha's impressive start

Cunha has quickly established himself as one of United’s standout performers this season so far following his big-money summer move from Wolves. The 26-year-old Brazilian has become a fan favourite at Old Trafford, with his blend of flair, aggression, and creativity earning him comparisons to former club legend Eric Cantona. While his goalscoring numbers remain modest, with one goal in 10 games so far across all competitions, his influence on matches has been undeniable, sparking the Red Devils’ offensive setup. 

Amorim has built his front line around Cunha and fellow new arrival Bryan Mbeumo. The Red Devils boss' tactical setup has given Cunha the freedom to roam between the lines, link play with midfielders, and exploit gaps between the defensive line. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCunha recalls conversation with Amorim

In April this year, Cunha visited Old Trafford with the Wolves side for a Premier League clash and starred in his club's 1-0 win over the hosts as Pablo Sarabia scored the only goal of the match. After the full-time whistle, as the Brazilian was about to enter the tunnel, Amorim grabbed him and had a conversation. 

Recalling the discussion with the Portuguese manager, Cunha told : "He said, ‘Hey, take care today. What do you feel about the stadium? After the first game, Wolves against United [on Boxing Day], it was a good moment to feel like we have this connection. Wolves is very passionate. We discussed a little bit in the game and he [said] something to me. 

"And then I said: 'Hey, take care of that thing!' or something like that. He’s someone that pushes us forward. This is the most important thing to be a coach in this big environment. The results start to come much more now. But personally, he’s someone that can show you the energy and then the passion to be part of his team and do the things for him, for the club and to show what you can do to be better. He’s someone who’s very passionate about his job. Someone who I feel is privileged to be the manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world and he shows us this. He shows us our responsibility to use this shirt and then show everyone what is to be part of Manchester United. Every single day he’s with me is a little bit more intense! But I know 100 per cent it’s because he wants to get out my best and then show everyone what I think he knows I can do."

GOAL Tips on Telegram

Cunha responds to comparison with Cantona

Last month, former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock said Cunha has "got the aura of Cantona". Responding to the comparison with a club great, the Brazil international said: "Wow, what a player. I need to do much more things to be compared to him. When someone says something like this to me, I try to see the good part of this. To be someone who has a lot of passion to play for this club, to play football – and then try to represent everyone inside of the pitch. I feel privileged to be associated with these kind of things and with Cantona also. He made history. And if I can do a little percentage of what he did already, I’ll be very happy and then try to build my way to the guys to remember me also. I’m new at the club. I’m new in terms of the look, all the other performances from the past. Everything for me is new. So I have only my mind in bringing back the United glory days."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportUnited's Tottenham test

United saw a sudden surge in form since October as they have remained unbeaten in their last four league matches, including three back-to-back wins against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton. They faltered against Nottingham Forest last weekend after being held to a 2-2 draw. Amorim's side will aim to get back to winning ways this Saturday as they take on Tottenham in a key away fixture. 

The first two matches against Australia will mark the end of the allrounder’s West Indies career, seven months before the next T20 World Cup

Andrew McGlashan16-Jul-2025

Andre Russell has played 84 T20Is, taking 61 wickets•AFP/Getty Images

West Indies allrounder Andre Russell will retire from international cricket after the first two T20Is against Australia on his home ground at Sabina Park in Jamaica.Russell, 37, has been a T20I-only player since 2019 and currently has 84 caps. His retirement comes seven months before the next T20 World Cup, which will be staged in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026. He also played one Test and 56 ODIs.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“Words cannot explain what it meant. To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life,” Russell said. “When I was a kid, I did not expect to get to this level, but the more you start to play and get to love the sport, you realise what you can achieve. This inspired me to become better because I wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and become an inspiration to others.””I love playing for the West Indies and I love playing at home in front of my family and friends where I get to showcase my talent and produce more high-quality performances. I want to finish my international career on a high while being a role model for the next generation of cricketers coming out of the Caribbean.”Russell will become the second high-profile West Indies player, after Nicholas Pooran, to quit international cricket in less than two months. It’s understood West Indies’ selectors were not expecting Russell’s announcement.Russell was a part of the West Indies squads when they won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and then in 2016, when he took the new ball and dismissed Alex Hales in the second over in Kolkata.”Andre has always been the consummate professional and a fierce competitor,” coach Daren Sammy said. “Whether I was captaining him or now coaching him, his hunger to perform and win for West Indies has never wavered. I wish him all the best on his next chapter, and I hope he continues to inspire generations to come.”Matthew Forde will be Russell’s replacement in the squad against Australia for the St Kitts leg of matches.Meanwhile, teenager Jewel Andrew and Jediah Blades, 23, earned their maiden call-ups to the West Indies T20I squad. In CPL 2024, at 17 years and 266 days, Andrew had become the youngest West Indian and second youngest overall to score a fifty in a major T20 league. Andrew is currently part of Guyana Amazon Warriors in the ongoing Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana.As for Blades, he has not played the CPL so far but had impressed with the new ball during the inaugural West Indies breakout league, a tournament that was held recently to identify emerging talent from the region. Shai Hope will continue to lead the side, which also includes Rovman Powell, who missed the GSL for Dubai Capitals.”Our goals and strategic plans are aligned to winning the T20 World Cup in 2026,” Sammy said. “We have continuity in the squad from the previous series and as a unit we will continue to fine tune our style and brand ahead of the World Cup.””Our previous two T20 series at home we were on the wrong end of the results but starting against Australia, we want to regain our form at home as we build momentum into next year’s World Cup with our exciting and dynamic group of players.”West Indies squadShai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd