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CA chief executive believes there is no correlation between Khawaja’s injury and the three days of golf he played in the lead-in to the Test match

Alex Malcolm22-Nov-2025

Usman Khawaja fell for 2 after coming in at No. 4•AFP/Getty Images

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has defended Usman Khawaja saying it is “drawing a long bow” to suggest that his decision to play golf prior to the Test match impacted the back spasms that he suffered on the opening day in Perth.Khawaja, 38, has come under scrutiny after the issue forced him off the field late in England’s short first innings on Friday. His absence was ill-timed as England then collapsed while he was stretching to overcome the spasm and it left stand-in captain Steven Smith calling for Khawaja to come back onto the field.Khawaja eventually did return to the field for the end of the innings but, according to ICC rules, had not returned for the equal amount of time he had been off and therefore was ineligible to open the batting. It meant Marnus Labuschagne was forced to open and Smith batted at No.3. Khawaja eventually batted at No.4 and was dismissed for just 2.Khawaja fielded for all 15 overs Australia bowled prior to lunch on day two and looked unaffected. But he dropped a catch at slip after lunch and then jumped for another and his back seized up again. He left the field for the last 48 minutes of England’s second innings and was unable to open again, with Travis Head walking out for the fourth-innings chase alongside Weatherald.”Unfortunately Uzzy is not moving too well,” Cummins told Fox Cricket on Saturday afternoon. “His back flared up again in the slips going for a jump above his head so he’s unable to open.”We were trying to work out whether we shuffle everyone up like the first innings, but Trav ran off and he was keen to give it a crack.”He’s done it quite a bit in white ball cricket so we switched those roles.”Hopefully Uzzy can still fill in a role in the middle order at some point.”Don’t think we’ll see him until after Marn and Smithy.”CA stressed it was a new injury that he had not suffered prior to Friday. Khawaja had played golf on Tuesday and Wednesday either side of Australia’s training sessions. He skipped Thursday’s optional session, with only four of Australia’s XI doing any training, to play golf alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Several of Australia’s coaching staff also played in the afternoon after the main session.Greenberg, an avid golfer himself who sat with Perth-born professional golfer Min Woo Lee at Perth Stadium on Friday, said there was no correlation between Khawaja’s golf and his back issue.”[Golf] has held him in good stead over the last couple of years. It’s not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf a day prior,” Greenberg told SEN. “Did that correlate to any of the issues? I personally don’t think so.”Usman’s a very seasoned campaigner, he knows his body well, and he knows how to get himself prepared for cricket. So I think that is drawing a long bow. A lot of people talk about cricket being played between the ears.”So getting some time away from being in your hotel or at training I think is really important. I noticed Mitch Starc played golf with him, so it certainly didn’t impact his performance.”Golf is a huge part of Australia’s team culture, as it is for their opponents England. They play regularly in the lead-up to Test matches at home and abroad. The entire squad had a team-bonding trip to northern Scotland to play a week of golf before the WTC final, which they lost to South Africa.CA’s medical and strength and conditioning staff have long sanctioned it, especially for the fast bowlers, as low impact time on their feet that also provided a mental reprieve from the grind of cricket training and playing.

Top-quality fast bowling always helps when you’re trying to win a series in Australia, and the history of the Ashes bears that out

Greg Chappell04-Oct-2025It was Douglas Jardine who said in , “Cricket is a game of skill, but it is also a game of war. You must find a way to win or you are lost.”As the shadows lengthen over the Australian summer, the 2025-26 Ashes series looms in Perth on 21 November, a mere six weeks away. For England, under the audacious stewardship of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, the mantra is clear: speed thrills.Their squad, boasting a “cartel” of express pacemen led by the enigmatic Jofra Archer and the thunderous Mark Wood, offers echoes of history’s lessons. To understand this bold gambit, we must rewind to the summer of 1932-33, when Jardine faced a Hobson’s Choice – take the only option on offer or face certain defeat. Bodyline, that infamous tactic, was not born of malice but necessity, a desperate counter to Donald Bradman’s otherworldly batting. It reminds us that cricket, for all its genteel veneer, can ignite passions that spill beyond civil norms, turning gentlemen into gladiators and crowds into cauldrons of fury.Related

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Jardine’s predicament was the stuff of captaincy nightmares. Bradman had just dismantled England in their own backyard during the 1930 Ashes, amassing 974 runs at an average of 139.14 – a record that still beggars belief. His triple-century at Headingley was a symphony of dominance, reducing England’s attack to rubble. Jardine, a steely Oxford-educated amateur with a disdain for defeat, knew that accepting Bradman’s supremacy fatalistically was tantamount to surrender. As England’s captain, his remit was unequivocal: find a way, within the laws, to curb this prolific scoring machine. But what options did he have? Conventional bowling had proved futile; spin was neutralised on Australia’s true pitches; and seamers like Hedley Verity offered control but not terror.Herein lies the essence of Jardine’s Hobson’s Choice – the illusion of alternatives masking a singular path. He turned to “fast leg theory”, a tactic not invented by him but refined to lethal precision. Precedents abounded in the 1920s. Australian fast bowlers like Jack Gregory and Ted McDonald had employed similar short-pitched barrages with packed leg-side fields during the 1920-21 Ashes, unsettling English batters on lively surfaces. Jardine, ever the tactician, drew from this example, consulting Nottinghamshire’s Arthur Carr and Percy Fender, who had trialled it domestically. He came upon the idea observing Bradman flinch against Harold Larwood’s bouncer at The Oval in 1930. “I’ve got it! He’s vulnerable!” Jardine exclaimed. Secret sessions in London honed the plan: short balls at the body, a ring of leg-side fielders to snare deflections. It was legal, innovative, and crucially, the only sensible option against a batter averaging over 100.Critics vilified Jardine as unsportsmanlike, but as a former captain, I see his dilemma plainly. Every leader, amateur or professional, bears the responsibility of solving the game’s riddles. To let Bradman score at will would betray Jardine’s team, his nation, and the competitive spirit of cricket. Bradman averaged 56.57 in the Bodyline series – still formidable, but mortal. The series’ flashpoints, like the Adelaide riot after Bert Oldfield’s skull fracture, evoked raw emotions: Australian crowds baying for blood, diplomatic cables flying between boards, threats of trade boycotts (and this during the Great Depression). Sport, in such moments, transcends civility, tapping into tribal loyalties that can fracture empires. Jardine became the scapegoat, retiring from Tests thereafter, but his choice delivered a 4-1 victory. Without it, England would have been lambs to Bradman’s slaughter.This theme – pace as the great equaliser in Australia – threads through every English Ashes win down under since Bodyline. History is unequivocal: to win in these vast, sun-baked arenas, you need express bowlers who can intimidate, extract bounce, and shatter partnerships on pitches that reward raw speed over subtle swing.Top bowling, old boy: Chris Tremlett is mobbed by his team-mates after England make it 3-1 in Sydney early in 2011•Associated PressConsider the 1954-55 series, which England won 3-1 win under Len Hutton. Frank Tyson, called “Typhoon” for his 95mph thunderbolts, claimed 28 wickets at 20.82, terrorising batters with sheer velocity on firm tracks. Brian Statham’s accurate outswing complemented him, but it was Tyson’s pace that broke Australia’s spirit, reducing legends like Neil Harvey to caution. Emotions ran high; Tyson’s ferocity evoked Bodyline, with crowds murmuring about “intimidation”, but in the end it was the key to victory.Fast-forward to 1970-71, Ray Illingworth’s 2-0 triumph. John Snow, lanky and lethal at 90mph, snared 31 wickets, his bounce and skid exploiting Australian frailties. Bob Willis, on debut, added fire. The series boiled over in the last Test, in Sydney, where a Snow bouncer felled Terry Jenner, sparking a bottle-throwing melee and Illingworth leading his team off the field in protest. Again, pace stirred primal reactions, but it secured the urn.Mike Brearley’s 5-1 rout in 1978-79 leaned on Willis’ speed and bounce (20 wickets) and Ian Botham’s deceptive pace and all-round skill (23 wickets). Willis’ hostility on Perth’s bouncy deck set the tone, evoking crowd hostility that bordered on the uncivil – boos, jeers, even objects hurled. Again, without this pace edge, England’s win would have evaporated.England’s 2-1 upset in the 1986-87 series under Mike Gatting, saw Graham Dilley take 16 wickets with his sharp pace. Botham chipped in again with nine wickets, his medium-fast swing and bounce augmented by Gladstone Small’s (12 wickets) awkward speed. Emotions peaked in Melbourne, where Botham’s heroics fused triumph with controversy, his off-field antics amplifying the drama.Most recently, the 3-1 masterclass under Andrew Strauss in 2010-11 rested on James Anderson’s 24 wickets (late swing at 88-92mph), Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn’s towering bounce (31 wickets between them). Their cartel overwhelmed Australia, with Mitchell Johnson’s waywardness contrasting with England’s precision. The Gabba draw turned on pace pressure, and the series’ intensity – verbal sledging, crowd taunts – underscored how speed ignites passions that push boundaries.In each case England’s victories hinged on one or more express bowlers. Spin played cameos but pace was the protagonist, exploiting Australia’s pace-friendly conditions: Perth’s steepling bounce; Brisbane’s humidity, which aids swing; Melbourne’s variable decks. Without it, touring sides wilt under home dominance – think Australia’s Lillee-Thomson terror in the 1970s or McGrath-Gillespie’s relentlessness in the 2000s.England’s 1932-33 series was indubitably secured by fast bowling•JA Hampton/Getty ImagesNow to the present. McCullum and Stokes have done their homework. They have prioritised the fitness of Archer and Wood, assembling a sextet of quicks – including Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, and Josh Tongue – apart from Stokes himself, to launch an assault. “We need that cartel fit and firing,” McCullum declared, echoing Jardine’s resolve. Archer’s X-factor swing and Wood’s 95mph heat are statements of intent; the two have been managed meticulously after injuries to peak in Perth. With only Shoaib Bashir as spinner, they’ve put nearly all eggs in the speed basket, betting on rotation to sustain pressure across five Tests.Australia lack a Bradman, but curbing Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Cameron Green to mortal outputs will be pivotal. The openers will be important to Australia’s success, but it is the middle order that will need to make big runs if Australia are to win the series. If England’s attack delivers and dismantles Australia’s middle order, McCullum and Stokes will join the list of successful England leaders in Australia.Batting-wise, England appear settled, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett’s aggressiveness as openers, Ollie Pope’s flair, Joe Root’s mastery, Jamie Smith’s precociousness, and Harry Brook’s prodigious talent – the latter averages 57.55 in Tests, a comet streaking across world cricket. Australia’s line-up will look more settled before the first Test on the back of early-season form, but vulnerabilities persist in the wake of David Warner’s retirement.Yet, batters will be critical only insofar as they withstand the barrage. This series, like its forebears, will be decided by the superior bowling side. England’s pace gamble could evoke Bodyline’s emotions – imagine a bouncer from Archer felling a key bat, crowds erupting, words flying. Sport’s power lies here: it distils human drama, where triumph and controversy collide, pushing participants and spectators beyond civil norms into realms of raw passion.Jardine took the only sensible option. History affirms pace’s primacy in Australia, and in 2025-26 too, bowling will crown the victor. As the urn beckons, let the need for speed reignite cricket’s eternal fire.

Thomas Frank’s position as Tottenham Hotspur manager is under scrutiny following the 4-1 North London derby defeat against Arsenal.

Tottenham’s humiliating defeat at the Emirates Stadium was arguably the low point of the Frank era so far, hardly laying a glove on their bitter rivals, with their only goal coming from a piece of Richarlison magic and just 0.07 expected goals (xG) recorded by the visitors.

Spurs have fallen to ninth in the Premier League table, but they are still within touching distance of the Champions League places, despite picking up just one point in their last three games.

It is the manner of the loss that will be particularly concerning, however, with Frank’s side once again looking extremely poor going forward, having also struggled to create any opportunities in the 1-0 home defeat against Chelsea.

As such, the manager is undoubtedly under pressure, and there has now been a new update on his future in north London.

Tottenham players concerned by Frank's tactics and lineups

In a report for The Telegraph, journalist Matt Law has revealed the Tottenham hierarchy are determined to give the Dane time to put things right, despite the disappointing loss against the Gunners, but some players have two very worrying concerns.

Indeed, some members of the squad believe the 52-year-old has been focusing on the opposition too much, instead of concentrating on the strengths of his own players, with sources around Spurs also of the belief he has chopped and changed his forward line too much.

Only Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea have rotated their starting XI more often than the Lilywhites this season, which is named as one of the reasons for the inconsistent results, but Frank seemingly remains safe in his job for the time being.

Games

19

Wins

8

Draws

5

Losses

6

Points per game

1.53

It would be a little early to relieve the manager from his duties, given that Spurs are within touching distance of the play-offs, but the negative approach has to be called into question.

When asked whether he was surprised by Tottenham’s defensive approach, Leandro Trossard said: “Yeah, maybe a bit. Because as I said, it’s still Spurs. But we have been facing a back five a lot of times this season, so we’re kind of used to it.”

It is understandable not to play an extremely high line away against Arsenal, given that they have the joint-best attacking record in the Premier League, but the lack of attacking threat is inexcusable.

It is a short turnaround for Tottenham, who face another tough test away against reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.

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ByCharlie Smith Nov 8, 2025

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.

West Ham United are now preparing the documents to sign a “special” attacker, who could be Nuno’s first signing.

Nuno still searching for first win as West Ham boss

After Graham Potter became the second managerial casualty of the Premier League season, West Ham thought Nuno would be the man to turn things around, but the former Nottingham Forest boss hasn’t made the greatest of starts.

The 51-year-old is still searching for his first win since replacing Potter in the dugout, with the Hammers losing their last three games on the spin in the Premier League, which leaves them in 19th place and four points adrift of safety.

The most recent result is likely to be the most concerning, with the Irons falling to a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United at Elland Road, in what could prove to be a real six-pointer come the end of the season.

It was a very poor performance from Nuno’s side, who recorded an xG of just 0.65, which suggests they need to bolster their forward line in the January transfer window if they are to stave off fears of relegation.

According to reporter Alan Nixon (via Caught Offside), West Ham are now preparing the documents to sign Barcelona attacker Dro Fernandez, with a major January recruitment drive now on the cards as a result of their very poor start to the season.

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Fernandez has now emerged as a serious target for the Hammers, and they are looking to be savvy by getting a deal done before his valuation goes through the roof, with the attacker in line to become Nuno’s first signing as manager.

However, the La Liga giants are well-aware of the 17-year-old’s potential, meaning he is likely to have a high valuation, which could potentially be prohibitive.

"Special" Fernandez could be destined for the top

It would perhaps be a surprise if Barca were willing to sanction the teenager’s departure, considering he clearly has a lot of potential, having received very high praise from former coach Javi Roxo in the past.

Roxo said: “Dro was always very special, he has a gift for touching the ball and has always been very creative.

“Dro is capable of everything and if Flick puts him on the wing he can also do well, it won’t be Raphinha but he can look like the Iniesta who played on the left. If he relieves himself of pressure and plays freely, he is capable of anything, his talent is infinite.”

Despite his age, the young Spaniard has already forced his way into first-team contention too, with scout Jacek Kulig left impressed after his recent display in the Champions League.

That said, it would be a gamble for West Ham to sign Fernandez in an effort to get them out of relegation trouble, given his lack of experience, and it may be a better idea to target proven Premier League players.

Newcastle United have won five of their six matches across all competitions in October, and the latest phase in Eddie Howe’s plan is starting to take shape.

It’s another trip to St. James’ Park for Fulham in December, with Newcastle drawn against the Cottagers for the Carabao Cup quarter-final. Tottenham Hotspur were put to the sword on Wednesday evening, and the cup defence moves forward.

Howe made changes after that weekend win over Fulham, whose grit was spilt open when Bruno Guimaraes struck low and true on 90 minutes to seal a 2-1 win and allow United to make headway in the Premier League.

Sandro Tonali was rested for that one, replacing Lewis Miley after the hour mark. Against Spurs, the Italian took centre stage, and he dominated and dictated and took home the Player of the Match award.

He really is the difference-maker for the Magpies.

Why Sandro Tonali is Newcastle's main man

It wasn’t always this way. After Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan for a hefty £55m fee in 2023, he would struggle to adapt to the Premier League climate before being hit with a lengthy ban for betting breaches, cutting his debut campaign short, with just 12 appearances made.

But he bounced back last year, forming an ever-tighter relationship with Guimaraes and Joelinton in the centre of the park. The synergised midfield charged a wonderful winning run of form and carried the Toon toward Wembley and victory in the Carabao Cup final.

Now, Tonali is “the best midfielder in the Premier League”, according to pundit Paul Scholes. Whether this is true is open to debate, but he’s certainly in amongst the pack, and the fans would not see him swapped for any other number six in the business.

Against Tottenham, Tonali ran the show, effortlessly good as he defended and attacked and guided the flow of the contest where he pleased.

So energetic and enterprising in his central berth, Tonali covered so much ground against Thomas Frank’s side, and it was his whipped delivery that found Fabian Schar’s head in the box and set the home side on their way.

Newcastle have hit the jackpot with this Serie A star, and, while the season is still young, they appear to have done it again.

Newcastle's new version of Tonali

Newcastle are well-stocked across the field. Tonali is the superstar in the centre, but Guimaraes is too, and Howe has recrafted a frontline with talents like Nick Woltemade, who scored against Spurs and has the potential to be one of the best forwards in the country.

But there was a need to reinforce the St. James’ Park defensive line, too, and Malick Thiaw was chosen to join the project this summer, following the footsteps of his former teammate Tonali at AC Milan.

Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle signed Thiaw in a £35m deal this summer. A talented defender, the German international had suffered regular injury setbacks in Milan, never starting more than 19 Serie A games in any one of his three campaigns.

But he has long been regarded as a “monster in the air” by the likes of journalist Martino Puccio, and he has developed one of the most underrated passing games from any centre-back across Europe.

Now, having started Newcastle’s past five Premier League fixtures and having excelled once again in the Carabao Cup against Tottenham, it’s safe to say Howe has got bang for his buck.

Against the Lilywhites, it was an all-encompassing performance, one that has only reaffirmed his quality and potential inside this squad. Marvelling at the display, Sky Sports’ Keith Downie hailed the player as being “an incredible piece of business” for the club.

Minutes played

90′

Goals conceded

0

Touches

50

Shots (on target)

2 (1)

Accurate passes

38/39 (97%)

Big chances created

1

Possession lost

2x

Tackles won

1/1

Interceptions

3

Recoveries

1

Duels won

2/7

Thiaw’s teething problems have been far less painful. Upon arrival, it was clear Newcastle had landed a progressive centre-half with qualities to advance Howe’s vision. As per data-driven platform FBref, the German ranks among the top 9% of defenders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 18% for progressive passes per 90.

He is, quite simply, a cut above, and the Chronicle Live handed the ace an 8/10 match rating after he was done with Tottenham, remarking that he didn’t put a foot wrong.

In truth, that score could have been higher still. Not only commanding defensively, Thiaw also got stuck in from an attacking standpoint, winning the ball and adding to the attack ahead of Woltemade’s second-half strike.

In the Premier League, in fact, Sofascore record that Tonali has won 71% of his duels so far this season, completing 88% of his passes and recovering four balls on average each match.

There’s a long way still to go this season, but Newcastle’s two Milan-schooled talents are shaping up to be two of the key components in a campaign which promises so much for the outfit.

Given that we can reasonably expect Thiaw to polish and refine his skillset over the coming months, there’s a sense that United might even have landed one of Europe’s most talented in their position. And in that, he might soon sit alongside Tonali.

Not just Joelinton: Newcastle's "true legend" may now be on borrowed time

Newcastle may well part ways with this Howe mainstay at the end of the campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

When it comes to Argentina’s glorious run at the 1986 World Cup, there are stories that are told over and over again; the Hand of God, the Goal of the Century, and Diego Maradona lifting the trophy at the Azteca. They’re so present in the collective memory of Argentines, as well as fans from around the world, that they almost feel like scenes from a movie we’ve all watched too many times.

But there are other stories, quieter ones, that exist on the margins of the great tales. Episodes that seem minor but end up illuminating a tournament, a country, or an entire generation from an unexpected angle.

Mexico ‘86 was full of such moments; the midday heat of Mexico City, the altitude that forced Carlos Bilardo to plan obsessive training sessions, the press conferences where Maradona answered incredulous journalists with sharp, unforgettable lines.

And among those parallel stories is one of the most colorful: that of the ‘fake’ jerseys Argentina wore in their quarter-final win over England – acquired at the very last minute in Tepito, the roughest neighborhood in Mexico City.

• Hulton Archive
  

  Under suspicion

  To understand the magnitude of that anecdote, you have to go back to months earlier. Argentina didn’t arrive at Mexico ‘86 as a favourite. The memory of Spain 1982 still weighed heavily – a World Cup in which the team tried to defend its 1978 title but failed spectacularly. Cesar Luis Menotti’s squad collapsed in the second round, and Maradona, then an up-and-coming 21-year-old, was sent off against Brazil.

  The transition to Bilardo’s era was far from smooth. His tactical approach – a 3-5-2 system that prioritised defensive order and discipline – was seen by many as heresy against Menotti’s romantic, attack-minded ideal. The always influential Argentine press openly distrusted Bilardo, calling him defensive and calculating, and even accused him of 'killing the essence' of the national game.

  Pre-tournament results were modest, the team didn’t click, and scepticism spread. Some journalists even wrote that the goal should simply be ‘to get through the group stage and save face’. The atmosphere in Buenos Aires was pessimistic, almost hostile. Meanwhile, the country itself was facing its own turbulence. Raul Alfonsin’s young democracy was struggling to consolidate after a military dictatorship amid political and economic tension. Football, as always, served as an escape valve – but also as a symbolic battleground. In that context, the World Cup appeared as a space for catharsis and hope, even if few believed in the team.

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• Unfinished business

  Amid all the doubts, there was one certainty: Diego Armando Maradona. At 25, he arrived in peak physical form and as team captain. In Italy, he was already a god in Naples – though he was still in the process of leading Napoli to the glory that would come later. But in World Cups, Diego still had a debt to settle.

  Spain ‘82 had been a bitter blow after the red card against Brazil, the early elimination, and the merciless criticism. For many journalists, Mexico was Maradona’s ‘now or never’. Bilardo knew it and built the entire team around his number 10. There was no Plan B – everything revolved around Diego.

  “We’re here to fight. I feel like this is our moment,” Maradona would later recall in interviews. That conviction wasn’t an act – it was a message he sent to his team-mates and to a doubtful nation. Bilardo reinforced it during training sessions: “Diego is the axis; we all play to bring out his best.”

  The challenge, however, wasn’t only tactical. There were external factors: the altitude of cities like Toluca and Mexico City, the scorching midday sun, and the logistical hurdles of a World Cup that demanded quick solutions. And it was precisely within that mix of obstacles that the bizarre jersey episode appeared.

• The jersey dilemma

  On June 22, 1986, Argentina were set to face England at the Estadio Azteca in the quarter-finals. It was a match charged with symbolism. Only four years earlier, the Falklands War had pitted both nations against each other, leaving open wounds and painful memories across Argentine society. Although FIFA insisted it was “just football,” for fans and players alike it was clearly something more.

  In that context, FIFA informed Argentina that they had to wear dark jerseys to distinguish themselves from England’s white. A technical detail, seemingly minor, but the problem was that the team didn’t have an appropriate alternative for the heat.

  The only available shirts were made of thick cotton – heavy, almost unwearable under the Mexican midday sun. Bilardo immediately noticed that wearing them would pose a physical risk to his players. And in such a demanding match, every detail could make the difference.

  Oscar Ruggeri would recall years later: “They went to Tepito because Zelada knew the place – he sent a kitman with a backpack and brought back one thick jersey. They kicked him out, but we had to play… They went to look for other jerseys, and those we liked.”

  Fate, mischievous as ever, had placed the team in a ridiculous dilemma: Play in suffocating shirts or go out into the city to find new ones. And that’s where Tepito came into play.

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• Market of the possible

  Tepito is an iconic neighbourhood in Mexico City – popular, vibrant, dangerous, and fascinating all at once. Known as ‘the tough neighbourhood’, it’s famous for its informal commerce, street culture, and endless ability to reproduce, imitate, and reinvent. By the 1980s, it was already notorious for selling pirated goods, from movies to sportswear.

  Amid World Cup fever, Tepito’s streets were packed with jerseys from every national team. Many were high-quality imitations, made in local workshops with lighter materials than the official ones. In their desperate search, a group of Argentine kitmen, guided by back-up goalkeeper Héctor Zelada, ventured into the neighbourhood’s alleys.

  Maradona would later summarise it in one brief, telling sentence: “I asked for something light… and they found some.”

  The negotiation was quick and almost surreal. The vendors couldn’t believe that real members of the Argentina team were buying jerseys they knew were fakes. But necessity ruled. The problem had to be solved – and in that moment, the counterfeit became salvation.

  The shirts were ideal: lightweight blue polyester with the Le Coq Sportif logo embroidered, almost identical to the official ones but much fresher. They were, literally, the perfect solution.

Manchester City are now reportedly one of the two most interested clubs in signing a key defensive reinforcement for Pep Guardiola worth over £40m.

Man City interested in key defensive addition

This time last year, Man City were gearing up for a frantic January transfer window. The Citizens were struggling more than ever before under Guardiola, who was on the worst run of his career himself.

One year later, things are little less concerning. The serial winners still have problems to address, but they still very much find themselves in a Premier League title race.

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Before they can even think about leapfrogging Arsenal, however, Man City must improve defensively. Close collapses against Leeds United and Fulham were worrying warning signs and the January transfer window represents the chance for Guardiola to add key reinforcements.

He told reporters when asked about his side’s defensive frailties as of late: “I don’t like to concede six goals in two games, but we have to build from that. We have to fix these kind of things. I believe we can do better. We create chances and score goals because we have built a team for that, but we have to be more solid.”

So, who could Man City sign in 2026? As things stand, the biggest names on their radar seem to be Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown.

Guehi would be a particularly impressive signing, given how Liverpool remain so closely linked with his signature. If he’s available as a free agent next summer, City should jump at the chance to welcome the England international.

Meanwhile, Brown would also be an impressive addition. The left-back reportedly has plenty of fans at the Etihad and has emerged as an early target to help Guardiola solve his current defensive leak.

Man City battling Arsenal to sign Brown

According to Caught Offside, Man City are now the most interested club to sign Brown alongside title rivals Arsenal. The two Premier League sides are seemingly leading the chasing pack to sign the impressive Frankfurt man, who is set to cost around €50m (£44m) when 2026 arrives.

It’s easy to see why Man City are one of the top contenders to sign Brown next year, especially as Guardiola transitions back towards flying full-backs.

The German was described as exactly that by Ben Mattinson last season, with the Como scout also calling the Frankfurt man “pacy”.

Man City rarely miss out in the transfer market and even as Arsenal rise to the top of the Premier League, they should feel confident that they can lure Brown to Manchester in 2026.

Man City now expected to sign "unbelievable" PL star who nearly joined Liverpool

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl made it four wins from four in the Scottish Premiership since his move to Ibrox to replace Russell Martin in the dugout with a 2-1 win over Livingston on Saturday.

Goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande scored the goals for the Light Blues at Ibrox to secure all three points for the German manager.

It was a game that was packed with controversial incidents, though, as Livingston’s equaliser and Diomande’s winner were both tight offside calls that were ultimately deemed to be legal.

The most contentious moment of the game came when Fernandez appeared to block a goal-bound shot with his arm, but his arm was in a natural position and VAR opted not to intervene.

That caused the official Livingston account to post on X that the officials did not get “a penalty for a blatant handball to the Lions” in their full-time post after the match.

Rohl, however, will be more concerned with the performances of some of his players, rather than the officials, and Thelo Aasgaard was one of the players who failed to deliver on Saturday.

Why Thelo Aasgaard must be dropped

The Norway international was given the nod to start the match in the number ten position, with Nico Raskin and Diomande behind him in midfield, but he was unable to justify his inclusion in the side with a strong performance.

Instead, the summer signing from Luton Town produced a dismal first-half display that caused Rohl to withdraw him from the match at half-time to bring Bojan Miovski into the game.

Per Sofascore, Aasgaard did not register a single shot on goal and created one chance, which was not a ‘big chance’, in 45 minutes on the pitch before being placed on the bench.

Thelo Aasgaard’s Premiership season

Opponent

Manager

Goals + key passes

Livingston

Danny Rohl

0 + 1

Dundee

Danny Rohl

0 + 1

Hibernian

Danny Rohl

0 + 1

Kilmarnock

Danny Rohl

0 + 0

Dundee United

Stevie Smith

1 + 4

Falkirk

Russell Martin

0 + 0

Livingston

Russell Martin

0 + 0

Hearts

Russell Martin

0 + 1

Celtic

Russell Martin

0 + 0

St Mirren

Russell Martin

0 + 0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the English-born midfield flop is yet to score a goal or create more than one chance in a game for any permanent Rangers head coach in the Premiership this season.

He has provided one assist in the league under Rohl, against Dundee, but that was a fairly simple pass from the halfway line that Djeidi Gassama turned into a wonderful goal, as shown in the clip below.

These statistics, including his poor display against Livingston, show why Rohl should ruthlessly drop the attacking midfielder from the starting line-up for the Europa League clash with Braga at Ibrox on Thursday night.

Unfortunately, the 23-year-old summer signing has not done enough with his opportunities on the pitch to prove to the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach that he deserves to keep his place in the starting XI moving forward.

Aasgaard was far from the only Rangers player who failed to deliver a good enough performance against Livingston, though, and is not the only flop who should drop out of the side for the upcoming clash with Braga.

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Rohl must also ruthlessly ditch right-sided attacker Oliver Antman from the starting line-up for that meeting with the Portuguese outfit after his struggles in a Gers shirt of late.

Why Rangers should drop Oliver Antman against Braga

The German head coach may have hoped that the winger’s international performances for Finland during the international would provide him with confidence and positive momentum for the game against Livingston.

Antman scored, as shown in the clip above, and provided an assist for former Celtic striker Teemu Pukki in a 4-0 win for his country against Andorra on Monday.

Unfortunately, though, the summer signing from Go Ahead Eagles was unable to transfer his form for Finland over to his time on the pitch with Rangers on Saturday, as he failed to deliver an impressive display.

Vs Livingston

Thelo Aasgaard

Oliver Antman

Minutes

45

64

Shots

0

0

Key passes

1

1

Big chances created

0

0

Crosses completed

0/0

0/5

Duels won

2/4

5/13

Possession lost

4x

14x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Antman was just as bad as Aasgaard against Livingston. They both failed to register a shot on goal and only created one chance for the team, without creating any ‘big chances’.

Rangers signed the Finland international to provide creativity on the right flank after he produced an eye-catching return of 17 assists in all competitions at club level during the 2024/25 campaign, to go along with seven goals.

Antman, though, has no goals and one assist in nine Premiership outings for the Scottish giants so far this season, and that assist came in the away clash with Livingston back in September.

Since he provided two assists against Viktoria Plzen in a 3-0 win on his debut for the club, the forward has no goals and one assist in 17 appearances in all competitions for the Gers, per Transfermarkt, and writer Kai Watson noted that Rangers “need more from” him.

Antman has not been able to carry his form for Go Ahead Eagles from last season over to Scottish football, yet, and his performance against Livingston on Saturday was another ineffective outing for the Light Blues.

On top of that, the 24-year-old flop has no goals and no assists in three matches in the league phase of the Europa League this term, which does not suggest that he is likely to have much of a positive impact against Braga on Thursday.

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Therefore, Rohl must ruthlessly ditch both Antman and Aasgaard from the starting line-up for the clash with the Liga Portugal outfit after their underwhelming performances against Livingston.

Siddique took a four-for in the chase where Oman crumbled in the powerplay

Alagappan Muthu15-Sep-2025

Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem gave UAE a rapid start•AFP/Getty Images

A skillful half-century from Alishan Sharafu and a dogged one from Muhammad Waseem took UAE to 172 for 5, and then a 42-run victory as well, in their Asia Cup game against Oman on Monday.Sharafu’s methodBoth teams were searching for their first points of the tournament and their challenge in Abu Dhabi was to negotiate a slow and low pitch. Sharafu did so by charging out of the crease. Twelve attempts just within the powerplay fetched all six of his fours.On the back of that, UAE, who were 11 for 0 after three overs, collected 39 runs off the next three and never looked back. Sharafu’s best shot, though, came outside the field restrictions, an inside-out drive over cover for six against legspinner Samay Shrivastava.Waseem’s recordWaseem became the fourth-quickest batter to 3000 T20I runs, behind Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. He wasn’t really at his best in this game. The 69 off 54 balls was often a struggle, but there were also clever moments, like when he saw a new bowler – Aamir Kaleem – coming on in the powerplay and smashed him for three fours in the over. Waseem went to his fifty with a trademark six down the ground.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Oman didn’t help themselves in the field. They had a chance to dismiss Waseem on 27 off 22 but the fielder wasn’t all the way back on the long-on boundary, and not only did he miss the catch but he also let it go for four. Then with Waseem on 34 off 33, Shakeel Ahmed dropped a dolly at short fine leg.UAE finished on 172 for 5 with their middle-order players chipping in with crucial runs. Harshit Kaushik and Muhammad Zohaib put together hit 40 off 21 balls.Oman’s collapseJatinder Singh briefly looked like the best batter on show as he found ways to time the ball in slow and low conditions. He raced to 20 off 10 but soon enough hitting through the line on a surface where the ball wasn’t coming on came back to bite him. The Oman captain dragged Junaid Siddique back onto his stumps during a period where his team lost three wickets in 14 balls.The powerplay was still going and Oman had lost nearly half their side. Four of their top five bagged single-digits and from a start like that – 32 for 4, then 50 for 5 – all they could do was try and play out the overs. Siddique threw a spanner in those works too, taking two wickets in the 16th over and finishing with 4 for 23. Oman were bowled out for 130.