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Man City now make contact to sign 58-cap international who's "the perfect player"

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Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a 58-cap international, who is able to play in a number of positions.

Man City looking to increase squad depth after Bayer Leverkusen defeat

Pep Guardiola clearly had a lot of faith in some of his back-up options heading into the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, having made ten changes to his starting XI, but his side came up short in a 2-0 defeat.

The Spaniard has since admitted he probably made too many alterations, saying: “I always had the belief of the long season and everyone had to be involved but maybe it was too much. They played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do.

“It was not the performance that we thought. I take full responsibility. We missed something. We missed an incredible opportunity and now we need to fight in the next games.”

Despite limiting the German side to an xG of just 0.51, the Blues conceded two goals for the second game on the spin, and having kept one clean sheet in their last seven games, they have now joined the race for a new defender.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Man City have now made contact over a deal for versatile AS Roma defender Zeki Celik, who is able to play as a wing-back, full-back and at centre-back.

Celik could be available for a bargain fee in the January transfer window, given that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, but if the Italian club are unwilling to sanction a departure, City could wait to snap him up on a free next summer.

Worse than Savinho: Man City star is in danger of becoming another Grealish

This Manchester City star is in danger of becoming the next Jack Grealish after another off-performance versus Bayer Leverkusen.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 26, 2025

There may be competition for the defender’s signature from a plethora of rival Premier League clubs, however, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea also making enquiries of their own.

"Perfect player" Celik impressing for club and country

The 58-cap Turkey international was recently lauded by national team manager Vincenzo Montella, who said: “He’s the perfect player for any coach,”

“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”

The 28-year-old has also put in some impressive performances for AS Roma as of late, recently scoring and recording a 95% pass-completion rate in his side’s 2-0 victory over Udinese, with the latter statistic indicating he could be ideal in a Pep system.

As such, Celik could be a solid addition to the Man City squad, particularly on a free transfer, with Guardiola clearly keen on bolstering his options at full-back, given that a Bundesliga star has also been identified as a potential target…

How many players have been part of more than one Test hat-trick?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

And was England’s 22-run win at Lord’s the closest there by margin of runs?

Steven Lynch22-Jul-2025Is it right that England’s win last week was the closest in a Test at Lord’s? asked Dennis McKinlay from Scotland

Last week’s exciting Test against India at Lord’s was the 149th to be played there, so it was something of a surprise to discover that 22 was indeed the narrowest victory margin by runs in any of them. The previous closest was 43, when Australia beat England in 2023. South Africa beat England by 51 runs in 2012, and Australia beat England by 61 in 1888.There have been two two-wicket victories in Tests at Lord’s, by Pakistan against England in 1992 and by England against West Indies in 2000. However, perhaps the closest Test of all at Lord’s finished in a draw: at the end of a famous match against West Indies in 1963 England were nine down but needed just six to win.West Indies were 11 for 6 during their horrendous collapse in Jamaica. Has the sixth wicket ever fallen at a lower score in a Test innings? asked Jason Cameron from Trinidad

The dismissal of skipper Roston Chase in the second innings in Kingston last week left West Indies perilously placed at 11 for 6. The only team to lose their sixth wicket earlier in a Test were Australia, who dipped to 7 for 6 in the follow-on against England at Old Trafford in 1888. Australia were also 11 for 6 at The Oval in 1896.That 1888 series, incidentally, is the only one of three or more Tests in which the highest score in the series was lower than the 75 (by Brandon King in Grenada) of the recent encounter in the Caribbean – England’s Bobby Abel made 70 at The Oval. There have only been five other such series which did not feature an individual century from either side.West Indies made it to 26 for 6 before Scott Boland’s hat-trick, and were grateful to a misfield for the chance to avoid equalling the lowest total in Test history, New Zealand’s 26 against England in Auckland in 1955. They still suffered the second-lowest; West Indies’ worst before this was 47, against England, also at Sabina Park, in 2004.Justin Greaves has been part of both 2025’s Test hat-tricks. Has anyone else been part of two in Tests? asked Colin Henderson from England

The unfortunate Justin Greaves was the first victim of Scott Boland’s hat-trick in the third Test in Jamaica last week, just as he had been when the Pakistan spinner Noman Ali achieved the feat in Multan in January.Greaves was the fourth man to be part of two Test hat-tricks. The first was arguably the most notable: the South African wicketkeeper Tommy Ward, making his Test debut in the Triangular Tournament at Old Trafford in 1912, was the third victim of the Australian legspinner Jimmy Matthews in both innings, thus completing a king pair.Another Australian legspinner, Stuart MacGill, was the middle man in the hat-tricks of Darren Gough (in Sydney in 1999) and Jermaine Lawson in Bridgetown in 2003), while the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana was the first victim of Wasim Akram (in Lahore in 1999) and Abdul Razzaq (in Galle in 2000). Akram took hat-tricks in successive matches against Sri Lanka, but the batters were all different.England’s Stuart Broad remains the only man to be involved in three Test hat-tricks. He took two – against India at Trent Bridge in 2011, and Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2014 – and was the final victim in Peter Siddle’s birthday hat-trick for Australia in Brisbane in 2010.Boland was the tenth Australian man to take a Test hat-trick.Only Stuart Broad has been part of three hat-tricks – as the perpetrator or two, and a victim in the third•Getty ImagesThe just-retired Angelo Mathews, the Waugh twins, and Steve Smith were all born on June 2. They have amassed more than 37,000 Test runs between them. Is this the most Test runs “born” on a single day? asked Siddiqui Saleem from the United States

It’s a reasonable guess – and a correct one! In total there have so far been 38,282 runs scored in men’s Tests by players born on June 2: that’s 10,927 by Steve Waugh, 10,477 by Steven Smith, 8214 from Angelo Mathews, 8029 by Mark Waugh, 416 from Lindsay “Dad” Weir of New Zealand, 213 from England’s George Lohmann… and not forgetting six by Jayantha Silva of Sri Lanka. Second on this particular list is October 27, with 32,417. That includes 12,400 from Kumar Sangakkara, 8786 by David Warner, and Mark Taylor’s 7525.The best day for bowlers is July 3, with 1104 wickets, the main contributors being Richard Hadlee (431), Harbhajan Singh (417), Ewen Chatfield (132) and Henry Olonga (68). A close second with 1074 wickets is June 24 – made up of 604 from Stuart Broad, 246 byGraham McKenzie and 224 from Vernon Philander.Apparently there’s someone who played in the same Test side as Victor Trumper and Don Bradman. Who was it? asked Michael Hunter from Australia

Victor Trumper, who played 37 Tests between 1899 and 1911-12, and Don Bradman, whose 52 matches came between 1928-29 and 1948, are the two most famous Australian batters of the past – Bradman because of his phenomenal scoring feats, and Trumper because of the unusual elegance of his batting. Both have inspired shelves full of books.As Trumper played his last Test before the Great War – he died of Bright’s Disease in 1915, aged only 37 – it needed a long career to have played alongside both him and the Don. My first thought was that it might be another fondly remembered batter, Warren Bardsley, but although he made his Test debut alongside Trumper in England in 1909, he played his last Tests in the 1926 Ashes, aged 43, a couple of years before Bradman’s debut.And it turns out that the man who played with both is a less celebrated figure. The New South Wales allrounder Charles Kelleway made his Test debut against South Africa in 1910-11 alongside Trumper (and Bardsley). He appeared in most of Australia’s Tests from then until 1924-25, but missed the 1926 tour of England – but was recalled after three years out of first-class cricket for the first Test of the 1928-29 Ashes tour, in Brisbane, where one of his team-mates was Bradman, making his debut. It wasn’t a happy occasion for the Australians, who lost by a whopping 675 runs: Kelleway bowled 34 wicketless overs and was out for 8, and then went down with food poisoning, missed the rest of the match and never played again; Bradman was out for 18 and 1 and was dropped for the only time in his life.Eighteen months later, after Bradman scored a century in the first Test of the 1930 Ashes series in England – he went on to amass a record 974 runs in the series – Kelleway, who was in a unique position to judge, was asked whether he was a greater batsman than Trumper. “It is very sad, because it is very nearly true,” he said. “In a century there will be only one Trumper, and in a century there would be only one Don Bradman.”Three England players – Jack Hobbs, Phil Mead and Frank Woolley – opposed both Trumper and Bradman in Test matches.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

The unconventional journey of the unconventional Digvesh Rathi

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Two coaches detail the LSG bowler’s transformation from unremarkable offspinner to un-pickable man of mystery

Hemant Brar11-Apr-20251:17

What makes Digvesh Rathi such a tricky bowler?

“Hard work, it is said, beats talent, and Digvesh Rathi is a prime example of it.” That’s Sachin Shukla, Rathi’s coach at the Dronacharya Cricket Academy in Delhi.Rathi, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mystery spinner, has caught everyone’s attention at IPL 2025 with his frugal bowling and extravagant celebrations. In five matches, he has picked up seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.75 and has been penalised twice for his “notebook” celebration. His long hair and a Sunil Narine-inspired run-up further add to his persona.Shukla, though, has known Rathi from a time before he had fancy celebrations, long hair, or mystery spin.Related

  • Narine-clone Rathi just 'loves bowling' and is being rewarded for it

  • Rathi gets penalised again for his 'notebook' celebration

  • Rathi dismisses idol Narine with his first ball

“Digvesh bowled offspin with a typical offspinner’s action when he first came to our academy around 2017,” Shukla tells ESPNcricinfo. “He was 17 then and, in his very first year, took 40-odd wickets in 14 matches for our club Delhi Blues.”He is a completely different bowler now. He hides the ball behind his back in his run-up and bowls at a much quicker pace. His carrom ball is very difficult to pick as he uses a similar grip for his googly as well. That’s how he bowled Naman Dhir in the Mumbai Indians game.”Even though Rathi had not played any age-group cricket previously, he was shortlisted for Delhi’s Under-19 side. But there were many more talented players in that group and he failed to make the cut.Shukla remembers the day the squad was announced. “He came to me around noon, visibly upset and emotional. I asked him what had happened. He replied, ‘ [I couldn’t make it].’ When a boy from a middle-class family chooses this field, he is putting his everything at stake. Because in many cases, the whole family is dependent on you. And when you don’t get selected despite your best efforts, only you know how hard it hits.”Rathi was a net bowler for Delhi Capitals during IPL 2022 and 2023•Digvesh RathiAnother setback followed soon. Rathi fractured his right collarbone while fielding in a match. Rathi doubled down and worked harder. He also realised it was not easy to stand out as an offspinner. So, around 2020, he decided to add some mystery to his bowling.Rathi was always a Narine fan. He used to use Narine’s photo as his profile picture on Facebook and WhatsApp. Now he began emulating his bowling style too. When Covid-19 brought cricket to a halt, Rathi worked on his fitness.”People had many excuses during Covid but not Rathi,” Shukla says. “He set up a small gym on his terrace. He was already fit and got even fitter. Once cricket resumed, he would bowl for long hours in the nets.”After the match against Mi in Lucknow, LSG head coach Justin Langer spoke about Rathi’s love for bowling: “If he could bowl for 16 hours a day, he would bowl for 16 hours a day.”

“I have come across many passionate players, but the hard work Digvesh put into becoming a mystery spinner was of a different level. He would bowl non-stop for six-seven hours on a single wicket”Sachin Shukla, Rathi’s coach

Shukla witnessed this before anyone else. “I have come across many passionate players, but the hard work Digvesh put into becoming a mystery spinner was of a different level,” he says. “He would bowl non-stop for six-seven hours at a single stump. At times, the wicketkeeper would say he was tired. But Digvesh was never tired. It’s the same even now.”Those long hours in the nets helped Rathi develop his carrom ball, googly and seam-up delivery. It also improved his accuracy, which is the bedrock of his bowling.The rewards came on cue. For IPL 2022 and 2023, Delhi Capitals (DC) picked him as a net bowler. Last year, he was with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the same role and got to learn from his idol Narine. In between, he got a chance to play for Delhi when the BCCI made the CK Nayudu Trophy an Under-25 rather than Under-23 tournament. During this time, he also picked up the signature celebrations of Wanindu Hasaranga and Kesrick Williams.Rathi was now waiting for a bigger platform to showcase his talent. That came in the form of the 2024 Delhi Premier League, where he was picked by South Delhi Superstarz. But that brought its own set of challenges.Rathi brings out the notebook celebration after dismissing Naman Dhir•BCCI”He had never bowled with a Kookaburra ball,” Sarandeep Singh, the former India offspinner and team director at South Delhi Superstarz, says. “Apart from that, he was bowling too fast. We advised him to slow down a bit, especially against a new batter, so that he could get more turn.”We told him, ‘You are a wicket-taker. Even if you get hit for two sixes in an over, you should go for wickets. We don’t expect economical overs from you.'”Rathi levelled up quickly and emerged as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the DPL with 14 scalps from ten games at an economy rate of 7.82. After the tournament, Sarandeep, who was named the coach of Delhi’s domestic team two weeks later, asked Rathi to “keep practising the same way.”Two months later, Rathi was selected for Delhi’s senior team at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was a back-up for Suyash Sharma and got to play only two games, against Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. His combined figures in those matches were 7-2-19-3.

“He [Rathi] is very disciplined, likes to be with himself, trains well and bowls to his heart’s content. [No show-off]. It’s rare to come across such kids these days, especially in Delhi”Sarandeep Singh

But even before that, LSG had picked him at the mega auction for IPL 2025. He has since become their go-to spinner, outperforming India legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, whom the franchise had retained between seasons. Of the 120 balls Rathi has bowled so far, 44 have been dots. Among spinners, only Varun Chakravarthy, another idol of Rathi, has bowled more dots this season (49 out of 114). And Rathi has been hit for just three sixes, the fewest among all bowlers who have bowled at least 15 overs.”I spoke to Rathi recently,” Sarandeep says, “and told him that it’s his hard work that has brought him till here, and he must keep at it. Because right now not many have seen him, his variations. Once everyone knows what he is doing, then the real test will begin.”He is not someone who has come via the Under-19, Under-23, Ranji Trophy route. Till last year, he was playing in corporate leagues. Suddenly, the DPL happened. Then he made his debut for Delhi and now he is playing in the IPL. So the more he bowls, the more he will learn about his bowling.”I think he is on the right track. He is very disciplined, likes to be with himself, trains well, and bowls to his heart’s content. [No show-off]. It’s rare to come across such kids these days, especially in Delhi.”

Rathi’s reserved, almost shy nature was also evident in the video LSG posted of him meeting Narine. But what explains the celebrations that have brought him fines and three demerit points? Against Punjab Kings, he even made physical contact with Priyansh Arya after dismissing the batter.”Priyansh and Digvesh are actually very good friends,” Shukla says. “They played for the same team in the Delhi Premier League and that celebration happened in jest.”Digvesh has been doing these celebrations for a long time. In fact, I often tell him to invent a celebration of his own. But he says, ‘ [brother, let it be for now].'”The way Rathi has been performing, no one would want him to change anything.

Arne Slot claims it's 'impossible to measure' impact of Diogo Jota's death on Liverpool squad but admits there is no excuse for poor form

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Liverpool are still grieving the death of Diogo Jota following the Portuguese star's tragic death in the summer and Reds boss Arne Slot has conceded it’s difficult to quantify how much they miss his talent on the pitch. Slot has responded after Andy Robertson revealed how much he still thinks about Jota as he continues to come to terms with the death of his team-mate.

  • Stumbling start to to title defence

    The Premier League champions recent form has been inconsistent and largely disappointing, marked by significant defensive issues, losing six of their last seven games in all competitions. Key recent results include a 3-0 defeat by Manchester City just before the international break and they were dumped out of the EFL Cup by Crystal Palace in a 3-0 loss at Anfield. The team's defensive vulnerability is a major concern, having kept only three clean sheets in 11 Premier League games this season and they have also developed a worrying trend of conceding the first goal early in matches, often making games a "rescue mission". Despite the poor run, they did secure a thrilling win over Real Madrid earlier this month, demonstrating potential that has yet to translate into consistent results.

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    Emotional Robertson hails Jota

    Robertson paid an emotional tribute to Jota after Scotland's 4-2 victory over Denmark, a win that secured their place in the 2026 World Cup. Robertson revealed he was "in bits" all day thinking about Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025 with his brother Andre Silva. He and Jota had often discussed their shared dream of playing in a World Cup after they both missed the 2022 tournament (Jota through injury, Robertson as Scotland didn't qualify). "I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today," Robertson said in a post-match interview, adding, "I know he'll be somewhere smiling over me tonight". He dedicated the historic win to his late friend, highlighting the profound impact of Jota's death on the Liverpool squad.

  • Slot: 'It is good for us to remember him'

    The Liverpool boss said: "We are always judged, sometimes fair, sometimes not fair. But I saw the interview (with Robertson) live and I know that it is an issue for us, which is completely normal. At this moment in time, I always think how must it feel for his wife and his children? Because it is so, so, so much harder for them than it is for us. But that we will miss the player and the person is completely clear. Now we play Nottingham Forest, last season there we were 1-0 down and it only took him (Jota) one minute to score the equaliser. So now I am talking about the player that we miss for sure. That we also miss him as a person is also clear."

    He added: "It is good for us to remember him at all times. It is possible because of the person and player he was. It is impossible to measure what it does to the players and to our results. The last thing I would do is use it as an excuse. I don't know. What I do know is that we miss the player, that is 100 per cent sure, and we miss the person, but I cannot measure the impact that has on our results. That is impossible for me to say, and we will never use it as an excuse."

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    Forest next in Anfield showdown

    Liverpool host Nottingham Forest on Saturday and Slot has confirmed mixed team news ahead of the clash. Goalkeeper Alisson has fully recovered from a hamstring injury and is expected to start, which provides a significant boost. However, the Reds face new injury setbacks after the international break, with both Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz ruled out with muscle injuries. Bradley is anticipated to be sidelined for around three weeks, while Wirtz's absence should be shorter. These injuries are compounded by Jeremie Frimpong still being out with a hamstring issue, leaving Liverpool short at right-back. Alexander Isak is fit once again and is expected to feature, with the Sweden international still looking to find form after his mega-money move from Newcastle.

Leicestershire celebrate promotion after 22 years in exile

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No thrilling finish but draw with Gloucestershire is enough for Foxes combined with stalemate at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Sep-2025There was no thrilling finale on the field but Leicestershire could celebrate nonetheless after securing the draw with Gloucestershire that, in the event, ensured their promotion to Division One of the Rothesay County Championship.With two fixtures still to play, the result at the Uptonsteel County Ground combined with the draw between Middlesex and Derbyshire at Lord’s guarantees that Leicestershire will finish in the top two in Division Two and end a 22-year-exile from the top division.Set 316 to win from a minimum 74 overs when Gloucestershire, who felt their outside chance of a promotion required them to win here, declared four overs before lunch on 175 for 3 in their second innings, Leicestershire were 93 for 1 from 30.3 when the afternoon’s third interruption for rain proved heavy enough for the final day’s play to be abandoned at around 4.10pm.It is a first promotion for Leicestershire since the County Championship adopted its current two-division format in 2000. Led for most of the season by Australian international Peter Handscomb – now back home preparing for his domestic season – Leicestershire have been the dominant side in Division Two all season after winning five of their first seven matches and suffering only one defeat.They last played in Division One in 2003 and have since become almost perpetual stragglers, finishing bottom of DivisionTwo on eight occasions. In four of those, the last as recently as 2022, they failed to register a single victory, famously going 37 matches over 933 days without a Championship win between September 2012 and June 2015.Leicestershire, whose next target is to secure the points they need to guarantee they are crowned Division Two champions, went into the final day in the comfortable knowledge that while a victory would seal the deal in terms of confirming promotion, a draw might do it anyway depending on the result at Lord’s, or at worst leave them needing minimal gains from their final two fixtures.Gloucestershire’s need for a win, therefore, put the onus on them to set up a finish, to which end they added 165 in 21 overs before declaring just before lunch, setting the home side 316 to win in a minimum 74 overs.Against a Leicestershire attack that was a man down because of Ben Mike’s ongoing hamstring problems, 21-year-old opener Joe Phillips further enhanced his growing reputation with an unbeaten 69 from 73 balls.Ben Charlesworth cleared the midwicket boundary off Logan van Beek and landed back-to-back sixes off Chris Wright in his 56-ball 61 before a miscue to deep third man ended his charge. Ian Holland limited Ollie Price to just 8 but Miles Hammond plundered another 28 from 26 before top-edging into the off side, Holland veering away in his follow-through to be under the ball when it came down.Gloucestershire asked Leicestershire to face four overs before lunch possibly more in hope than expectation. The wicket of Sol Budinger perhaps came as a bonus, the opener making no attempt to rein in his natural attacking instincts but perishing after just 13 deliveries, tempted by a widish ball from Ajeet Singh Dale despite having collected three boundaries already and picking out the fielder at wide third.The visitors’ cause was not helped by showers after lunch, which eventually washed out 43.3 overs of the scheduled 74.Yet there never seemed enough jeopardy in the fourth-day surface to make 10 wickets a realistic possibility. Rishi Patel finished unbeaten on 42 with acting captain Holland on 27. Gloucestershire’s frustration was cushioned a little by taking 15 points for the draw, but the gap between themselves and second-placed Glamorgan remains at more than 30 points.

Netherlands to tour Bangladesh for three T20Is before Asia Cup

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This will be Netherlands’ first bilateral series in the country

Mohammad Isam04-Aug-2025Netherlands will play their first bilateral series in Bangladesh when they arrive in the country later this month for three T20Is. The series will give Bangladesh some competitive cricket leading up to the Asia Cup, which begins on September 9.Netherlands will land in Dhaka on August 26 before heading to Sylhet, where they will train for three days before the first T20I on August 30. The second and third T20Is are also in Sylhet, on September 1 and 3. All three matches will start at 6.00pm local time.The BCB arranged the Netherlands series after India postponed their tour to Bangladesh, which was to feature three ODIs and three T20Is from August 17 to 31. It had left Bangladesh with a month of no international cricket before the Asia Cup. Initially, the BCB were also in talks with the Nepal board.Netherlands have played in Bangladesh once before, in the 2014 T20 World Cup where they won a memorable game against Ireland to confirm their progress to the main round.Bangladesh and Netherlands have played only five T20Is against each other, with Bangladesh winning four of them. In 2012, Netherlands had hosted Bangladesh for two T20Is, their only bilateral series against them before the upcoming tour.

'A day to forget' – Roberto Martinez explains shock defeat to Ireland but coach defends his record as they close in on World Cup spot

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Portugal had a "day to forget" on Thursday as their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying came to a surprising end at the hands of Ireland, coach Roberto Martinez says. The defeat, which saw Cristiano Ronaldo earn the first red card of his international career, leaves them needing a win to seal automatic qualification in their final game of the round.

  • Portugal go down 2-0 in Ireland

    Portugal endured a rare collapse at the worst possible moment at the Aviva Stadium. Troy Parrott struck twice, first in the 17th minute and again just before the interval, punishing a disjointed defensive setup and a side lacking fluency in possession. Portugal dominated territory but produced little to trouble Gavin Bazunu, repeatedly running into Ireland’s disciplined low block.

    In the post-match interview, Martinez admitted his side began poorly and missed familiar combinations due to key absences.

    “We started the game very badly; Pedro Neto , Nuno Mendes, and Bruno Fernandes were missing , players with whom we already have established patterns,” he explained. “We allowed Ireland to score from a set piece, and when the team was improving, within a poor performance, we conceded. We lacked clarity on the ball, precision. Ireland plays in a safe way, and if we conceded a goal, we knew we would have many problems. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong, and everything that could go right for Ireland, went right.”

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    Ronaldo red card causes trouble for Portugal

    Just as Portugal appeared to be settling into the second half, Ronaldo’s confrontation with Dara O’Shea escalated into a VAR-upgraded red card, the first of his 226-cap international career. The dismissal left Portugal with 10 men and extinguished any hope of a response. 

    "In the second half, we tried everything; Cristiano's sending off made the game more difficult. I saw a lot of courage in the team, but this is a day to forget," Martinez said.

  • Injury absences cost Portugal's winning chances

    Beyond Ronaldo, another major void was exposed in Dublin: the absence of Nuno Mendes. The PSG full-back, whom Martinez recently described as “the best in the world”, was sorely missed.

    In his earlier press assessment, the coach had said: “There’s no other left-back who can defend one-on-one, make overlapping runs, and play inside or outside with the ball. He’s a complete player… he’s a decisive player for his club and for me.”

    With no natural left-back available, Martinez turned to Diogo Dalot and Joao Cancelo, yet neither were able to recreate Mendes’ mix of defensive certainty and forward thrust. After the defeat, Martinez refused to place blame on individuals: “This isn't a day to talk about individual players; it was a collective performance. These are two players who have been doing this for many years, they can play on both wings. The idea was to utilise the connection between Dalot and Felix; they are players who know our concepts, our system, and British football very well.”

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    Portugal’s decisive final match and what must change

    Portugal now approach their final qualifier knowing the mathematics are brutally simple: beat Armenia at home and they qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. Anything else risks slipping into the playoffs which is an outcome Martinez is determined to avoid.

    Even in the wake of defeat, he urged perspective. “It would be good to go another 43 games without losing. What’s not normal is having 42 games without defeat… Now, if we win at home, we’re in the World Cup.”

    For that to happen, Portugal must repair several structural issues exposed in Dublin. They need a stronger start, having conceded early in consecutive matches. Defensive organisation on set pieces must tighten, something Martinez acknowledged himself:

    “It’s true that we conceded goals from corners in the last two games.”

    They must also rediscover fluidity in attack, where the absence of Mendes and Neto has robbed them of balance and unpredictability. The leadership group – Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias – must take charge in Ronaldo’s absence, ensuring emotional stability as much as tactical improvement. 

    “We still have one more game to qualify and for that we need to win,” the coach said.

From wanting it, to not: the curious case of Steven Smith's opening career

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

There is also the intriguing question of what would have happened if the selectors had said no from the start

Alex Malcolm16-Oct-20241:36

What’s the logic of moving Smith back down the order?

George Bailey was very careful with his words when he revealed that Steven Smith would no longer be opening the batting in Australia’s Test team.”Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position,” Australia’s chair of selectors said on Monday before stating that captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald had confirmed that Smith would be moving. Bailey was explicit too in noting that he, despite being the chair, did not decide the order.Smith’s dalliance with opening in Test cricket has been mostly criticised and there are a lot of people who believe it never should have happened.Related

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  • Australia quicks' unbroken summer could be an 'outlier'

And that is a thread worth pulling on. What if it never did happen?The intriguing part is not the question of who would have opened instead of Smith, which is fascinating but now a moot point. The intriguing part is what would have happened to Smith if the selectors had said no to his request to open the batting.This is where Bailey’s words are instructive. It has been lost somewhat that Smith drove the move. He requested to open the batting initially. He put it on the public agenda. The captain and coach both expressed their preference that Smith stay in No. 4 in the immediate days after Smith flagged his interest. Only after he confirmed his seriousness in undertaking the challenge did the team hierarchy conclude that it was worth doing to accommodate the selection of Cameron Green at No. 4 without forcing someone else to open against their wishes.There will be plenty of people who will say the decision-makers abdicated their responsibilities in that moment and that they should have told Smith it was a bad idea that wasn’t going to be entertained.That criticism is not unreasonable. Selectors, coaches and captains must make tough decisions and have tough conversations. But every decision has consequences and opportunity cost.Steven Smith wasn’t alone in find things tricky at the top•Getty ImagesSmith was hinting he was growing weary of the monotony of batting at No. 4. He has conquered every challenge there is in that role. His returns had been diminishing, albeit receding from a ridiculously high watermark. He had averaged 42.22 in the calendar year of 2023, and just 38.80 with a highest score of 50 in six innings against Pakistan prior to his move to the top of the order.It would take a brave and stubborn leader to hear one of Australia’s greatest ever Test batters request a fresh challenge and then flat out reject it when it was going to solve a selection headache.How would Smith have felt about that? There will be plenty who will argue that players should play the role they’re given rather than dictate terms. But if anyone has earned the right to at least request such a move, it is Smith.And given that he has been less than enthusiastic about shifting from No. 3 to No. 4 in Australia’s ODI team in recent times against his preference, the consequences of denying him the chance to open the batting in the Test team are worth considering. It is also worth noting his returns at No. 4 in the ODI side since the shift have been below his career record, coincidentally or otherwise.Had he remained at No. 4 in the Test side against West Indies and New Zealand there aren’t any guarantees he would have performed any differently than he did opening the batting. Would Australia have won in Brisbane had he been batting at No. 4, given he made an exceptional 91 not out in the chase as an opener? Would he have made a match-winning 174 not out at the Basin Reserve, as Green did? Could he have averaged more than 28.50? Those questions will never be answered. The added strands to Smith staying at No. 4, like how a different opener would have gone and what would have happened to Green, are also unanswerable.At least with Smith opening, he got a taste of what the alternate universe looks like and can potentially return to No. 4 with renewed vigour against India. Had he remained there, he may instead be feeling like Bill Murray’s character in Groundhog Day heading into this summer.That said, was the move as much of a failure as it has been made out to be?Smith’s average of 28.50 at the top across eight innings in those two Test series was not as bad as it appears on paper. His 91 not out was the highest score by any opener in the four Tests, with only three half-century scores registered by all the openers who played. Usman Khawaja averaged 32.42 in the same four games. Tom Latham averaged 31 in the two Tests in New Zealand but had two single figure scores in Wellington. Will Young, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul all averaged single figures.There will be plenty of focus on whether Steven Smith can rekindle his best form against India•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesMarnus Labuschagne averaged 16.85 at No. 3 in those same four Tests, with a score of 90, while Kane Williamson averaged 19.25 at No. 3 in New Zealand with a half-century. The conditions were difficult.Smith’s returns were also on par with the career averages of the three main contenders to now take the role in Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw, while David Warner averaged 30.12 across the final two years of his career.Beyond the numbers though, Smith’s initial move to open followed by his request to move back will have unintended consequences despite Green’s injury paving the way for an easy transition.The first of those falls on the team leadership when or if one of Harris, Bancroft or Renshaw gets the nod. All will feel pressure to prove themselves on Test match return in any case, but a nagging sense that they weren’t the first-choice option could be an added burden.A bolt from the blue like Sam Konstas would provide another twist. That would provide a clean, uncomplicated end to a slightly messy 11 months and signal a fresh start although depending on when Green is available again for Test cricket, another debate is on the cards.It will probably end up as a footnote on a storied career, but Smith’s time as a Test opener was a fascinating chapter.

Enzo Maresca responds to Juventus approach as Chelsea demand mammoth compensation fee

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has responded to an approach by Juventus this week as the Serie A giants search for Igor Tudor’s replacement.

It’s been an extremely mixed start to 2025/2026 for Maresca after delivering two major trophies in the space of a few months earlier this year.

A win of four straight wins in all competitions before their damning loss to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge last weekend best sums up their inconsistency thus far, with Chelsea only just getting past Premier League bottom side Wolves in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

The west Londoners were 3-0 up and cruising thanks to first-half goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao, but the home side seriously threatened an unlikely comeback when Tolu Arokodare and David Wolfe pulled it back to 3-2.

Summer signing Jamie Gittens was then on hand to score Chelsea’s fourth and his first ever goal for the club, which ultimately sealed their place in the quarter-finals, even if Wolfe bagged another for Wolves in added time to make Maresca’s side sweat.

The 4-3 win at Molineux was overshadowed somewhat by Liam Delap’s needless red card, with Maresca lambasting his two bookable offences as “embarrassing”.

Delap is now set to miss Chelsea’s crunch clash against Tottenham this weekend through suspension, despite only just returning to the fold after weeks on the treatment table with a hamstring injury.

Away from the pitch, Juve are believed to have contacted Maresca’s entourage on the same day that Chelsea edged past Wolves.

Enzo Maresca responds to Juventus approach with Chelsea demands clear

Reports earlier this season suggested Maresca’s long-term future at Chelsea is far from certain, with tensions existing between the Italian and his club hierarchy.

As well as this, journalist Simon Phillips reported that both Cole Palmer and Reece James aren’t fully behind Maresca’s methodology, so if results continue to be topsy-turvy, this situation is worth keeping an eye on.

Now, Phillips has provided another update on the 45-year-old’s future.

Writing via his Substack, the reporter shares news that Juve approached Maresca’s camp on Wednesday amid their search for a new manager.

However, the tactician’s response is clear — he’s not looking to leave midway through the campaign.

While a move to Turin at the end of the season isn’t ruled out, Chelsea will demand a huge compensation fee — which could reach up to £10 million.

Chelsea are braced for a crucial run of games from now till the end of November, including Spurs, Arsenal and La Liga champions Barcelona in the Champions League.

Given their pretty weak defence and lack of options, particularly at centre-back, the Blues could also look to reinforce Maresca’s ranks in January.

Chelsea hold talks with Premier League centre-back over cut-price January move.

The Rondo, USMNT edition: Who steps up without Christian Pulisic – and what are the expectations for Gio Reyna and Ricardo Pepi?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

With the USMNT set to kick off their first match of the November break this Saturday, GOAL's writers discuss the biggest storylines revolving around the team.

It’s camp time. The USMNT have reported for training, leaving their clubs behind to strut their stuff for the national team. And because this is the USMNT, there’s always a bit of drama. Injuries have hit hard, with Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards all out – and Malik Tillman missing as well. If this window ever felt like “must win,” that mood feels even further away now.

So, what can we make of all of this? Paraguay and Uruguay are good teams – certainly better than Australia and Ecuador. This will be a very difficult pair of fixtures.

Perhaps it’s all down to individual performances. There are a few players fighting for a spot on the World Cup roster. Some of the chosen absentees – looking at you, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah – also speak volumes. And then there’s the Gio Reyna conversation, with the attacking midfielder brought into the fray unexpectedly. There are plenty of storylines here, and GOAL US’s writers break them all down in the USMNT edition of… The Rondo.

  • Thoughts on the squad overall

    Tom Hindle: Well, it’s about as full-strength as possible, given who Pochettino rates and the injuries he has. Sure, he’d love to have Pulisic, Adams, Tillman, and Richards, but if none are fully fit, there isn’t much that can be done. It’s good to see Christian Roldán back, and Ricardo Pepi certainly deserves another shot to prove he can be either the main man or the No. 2 behind Folarin Balogun. Honestly? Also, welcome back, Reyna.

    Ryan Tolmich: It's fine, given the situation. There’s no navigating injuries at the moment, so Pochettino was forced to confront the reality that this team, despite all intentions, was never going to be as strong as it could be. In that sense, yes, it makes sense to take a look at Reyna and Scally to see if they've learned anything. Yes, it makes sense to sort out the center-back pool without Richards to see what that looks like. And yes, it makes sense to take a different path with McKennie, who always plays his best when he’s in that sweet spot of being under pressure and playing at Juventus. For all of those reasons, the squad is fine – even if there are a few things many of us would have done differently.

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    Who are you must looking forward to seeing this camp?

    TH: Pepi. Haji Wright and Balogun are known quantities at this point. Where does Pepi fit? Sure, the U.S. will take three strikers to the World Cup; Pepi isn't going to lose his spot. But is he the No. 1 guy? Or the backup’s backup? This camp could offer a few clues as to where exactly he stands in this setup.

    RT: The center backs, for sure. We know one of the three World Cup starters will be Richards. The other two? Pretty up in the air. With no Richards in camp, it’s up to everyone else to brawl for those spots. Will it be a familiar face like Tim Ream? Can Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson convince? Will Auston Trusty make a late push? With so many positions accounted for, center back is still a question mark. Maybe we'll get some answers this camp.

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    Who is under the most pressure to perform?

    TH: It’ll have to be one of the center backs. Any errors at the back can prove costly – not only to results, but to reputation. Trusty is very much on the bubble and will need a solid camp to prove he deserves a spot.

    RT: All eyes are on the strikers, right? For the first time post-Copa America, the U.S. have what seems to be the top three strikers in the pool all in camp together. Now that that’s happening, the race for the starting job can truly begin. Balogun, Pepi and Wright are all directly competing – may the best man win!

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    Who could make a case to start with a good couple of performances?

    TH: Gio flipping Reyna. Do it, Mauricio.

    RT: Tanner Tessmann is in a spot where he could really convince. The U.S. are seemingly still searching for an Adams partner and, at the moment, Tessmann seems to be in pole position. If he can perform – especially without Adams next to him as a safety blanket – he could do a whole lot to convince Pochettino that he can be the guy in midfield.

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