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South Africa take hurt, hope and hard lessons into the semi-finals

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Two heavy defeats in the group stages have exposed flaws that the players are keen to work on ahead of bigger tests that lie in wait

Firdose Moonda25-Oct-20253:06

Review: South Africa undone by the ‘King’ of Indore

If South Africa hoped they could move on from 69 all out against England in Guwahati, their Indore implosion against Australia has ensured that they can’t. Especially not now that they will play England in Guwahati again.The two blowouts that have bookended South Africa’s World Cup group stage essentially ask the same question: how will this team perform on a big occasion?Within that are smaller, and perhaps more significant questions: do South Africa have the technique and the patience to play different kinds of spin, is their batting line-up organised correctly and are they championship material? So far, the jury’s out on whether they are those things consistently enough.Related

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Against England, South Africa were flummoxed by Linsey Smith’s left-arm spin where they failed to pick up the deliveries that held their line and were done by drift. Against Australia, they were bamboozled by Alana King’s legspin but again, it was less about the turn and more about the bounce and line. The difference between the two is that while South Africa hung back a touch against England in what appeared a more conservative approach, they showed intent against Australia albeit that it caused their downfall.South Africa were 32 for 0 in the seventh over, and 28 of Laura Wolvaardt’s 31 runs had come in boundaries. Then they lost their way. Of course, that makes it worse. It means all ten wickets fell for 65 runs, but look at the shots South Africa played and there was something of a (perhaps misguided?) plan. Sune Luus slog swept, Marizanne Kapp tried to slice one over point, Annerie Dercksen wanted to hit down the ground, Chloe Tryon attempted a flick off her pads and Sinalo Jafta swiped across one and missed.South Africa’s aggressive intent against Australia did not pan out well•Getty ImagesEssentially South Africa seemed to have decided this was a free hit for several reasons. Their place in the semi-finals was already confirmed, and it was also certain they would not have to play Australia – the team everyone wants to avoid in a knockout. Though topping the table would have meant they also avoided England, maybe South Africa don’t mind facing Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side, who are unbeaten but have shown weaknesses in the middle order again.Perhaps it was more important to experiment various game plans in case they come up against Australia again. It didn’t work but it may still have been important for them to have tried. “Coach Mandla (Mashimbyi) has given me a task to go 100% or nothing. That actually makes me just watch the ball and hit the ball regardless of what happens,” Sinalo Jafta, who top-scored with 29, said at the post-match press conference.

“To lose like that, it does hurt. If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t mean anything.”Sinalo Jafta

She, and the rest of the line-up, seemed to adopt the same approach. Instead of doing what England did, which was to survive and stonewall against Australia, before reaching a total that wasn’t enough anyway, South Africa tried to attack. It’s admirable in intent but the execution needs work and Jafta conceded that. “If we just go forward, play straight, I think we should be good. A lot of times we play with a cross bat, and we’ve seen it in these conditions, it doesn’t work.”That’s what South Africa will remember going into the knockouts. Everything else, including the humiliation of being bowled out inside 20.4 against England and 24 overs against Australia, they will forget. “It’s disappointing to lose the way we did but coach Mandla always says to have the chicken brain,” Jafta said. “Obviously, we will assess where we went wrong and then by the time we get on the plane tomorrow to go to Guwahati, we will know what’s at stake. It gives us a great opportunity to search, reflect and just see where we went wrong. So it’s literally just going out there, forgetting what happened and just focusing on what works for us. I mean, we’ve proved right before. So what’s stopping us from doing it again?”That’s where the personnel question comes in and Jafta’s spot is one of those under scrutiny. Batting at No. 6 seems a place too high for her, though she has demonstrated a vastly improved technique since being pushed up the order. Dercksen’s place is the other under the scanner, with only one score in double-figures at this World Cup. The more experienced Anneke Bosch, who also only has one double-figure score at this event, could come into the mix instead. Chiefly what South Africa have lacked so far is reliability from their batters and they also carry far too long a tail. Can a title-winning team only bat to No. 8? They’ll test that this week, in the semi-final for sure and then again if they get further and apart from the obvious outcome of winning, they’ll also want to show that they’ve learnt something from their two big defeats in the group stage.”To lose like that, it does hurt. If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t mean anything,” Jafta said. “But these are great opportunities to actually get better. We obviously played England in the first game and it didn’t go out the way we wanted. But I think going into that match, we knew exactly what to do, we prepped and one game doesn’t makes us a bad squad. Our culture has been brilliant and we’ve got that bounce back ability.”Wednesday will tell.

Postecoglou 2.0: Celtic looking at hiring "box-office" McKenna alternative

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Who will replace Brendan Rodgers as Celtic manager?

Well, most supporters would like to see Ange Postecoglou return, having won five trophies during his two seasons in Glasgow, very much still, almost inarguably, the most popular Celtic boss of modern times.

However, according to widespread reports, the Aussie is highly unlikely to return to the club at this time, seeking time away from football following his ill-fated 39 days in charge of Nottingham Forest, failing to win any of his eight matches in the East Midlands.

Other names, including Kieran McKenna, Craig Bellamy, Kjetil Knutsen and Nicky Hayen, appear to be high up on the board’s wish list, but getting them out of their current positions will not be easy, so should Celtic target a “box office” title-winning coach currently out of work, who could repeat Postecoglou’s success?

What made Ange Postecoglou a success at Celtic

Given that Celtic had been a total mess the season before, when Postecoglou was appointed manager in the summer of 2021, most, including all Rangers supporters, were laughing.

Well, they weren’t laughing for long because, after losing his first three Premiership away games, the Australian then oversaw a 38-match unbeaten streak in the league, winning 32 of these matches, departing having picked up two league titles, two League Cups and a Scottish Cup.

His charisma and personality completely won over a then-divided fan base, very much playing the role of a cult leader, while his now infamous Ange-ball high intensity, high-possession, relentless style of play was like nothing seen in Scottish football before or since.

Also, Postecoglou’s knowledge of lesser-known markers, specifically the Japanese league, helped him sign Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Kyōgo Furuhashi, while, in a cosmopolitan squad, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Matt O’Riley, Aaron Mooy, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Alistair Johnston and others from all across the globe thrived.

All of this culminated in creating, arguably, the most thrilling and unstoppable Celtic side anyone has enjoyed watching for a very long time, ending the 2022/23 season with 99 points, having scored 114 goals, the most the club have managed in a single league campaign since 1916.

However, it was Postecoglou’s cult of personality that instantaneously enamoured him with supporters from day one, which was crucial considering his lack of prior name recognition, so should Celtic now seek to appoint a coach who possesses similar characteristics?

Celtic's next Ange Postecoglou

According to a report by Sky Sports, seven names are under consideration for the vacant Celtic job, including the aforementioned Bellamy, Knutsen, McKenna and Hayen.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

They also state that Damien Duff is ‘being assessed’, noting that he has ‘strong ties with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond’.

The Irishman began his coaching career as youth manager at Shamrock Rovers before joining Celtic, briefly working with the B team before serving as Neil Lennon’s assistant when he replaced Rodgers in February 2019.

After Lennon was sacked, he had a short stint on the Republic of Ireland’s coaching staff, before joining Shelbourne, where he truly made a name for himself.

In just over three seasons in charge of Shels, overseeing 151 games, Duff enjoyed unparalleled success, as the table below documents.

Duff’s Shelbourne statistics

Stats

Duff at Shels

Matches

151

Wins

60

Draws

50

Loses

41

Goals for

189

Goals against

157

LOI points-per-game

1.49

2022 LOI finish

7th

2023 LOI finish

4th

2024 LOI finish

Champions

FAI Cup best

Runners-up

Stats via Transfermarkt

When Duff was appointed Shelbourne manager, they were a newly-promoted club, leading them to a first ​​​​​​​FAI Cup Final for 11 years at the end of his first season, ultimately beaten 4-0 by Derry City at the Aviva.

Nevertheless, this would prove to be the start of something special because, last year, the Reds were crowned League of Ireland champions for the first time in 18 years, pipping serial champions Shamrock Rovers on the final day by two points.

As a player, Duff won two Premier League titles with Chelsea and was part of the Fulham side that reached the Europa League Final, as well as accumulating 100 international caps, only six Irishmen have more.

Nevertheless, considering the Reds were 25/1 rank-outsiders before the season began, Duff described this as both the greatest achievement and the “pinnacle” of his career, adding that it was like something out of a Hollywood script.

Despite being a beloved figure among the Tolka Park faithful, Duff resigned as manager in June, following a sequence of five wins from 20 league matches, stepping away just days before the start of their Champions League qualifying campaign.

Still very popular in Drumcondra, Shelbourne technical director Luke Byrn described Duff as “box office”, while Miguel Delaney of the Independent asserted that his personality is ‘intensely captivating’ and ‘compelling’ to listen to, comparing him to José Mourinho, who was of course his manager at Stamford Bridge.

Meantime, Samuel Hutchinson of Total Football Analysis documents how Duff favours a style revolving around high possession and high intensity, very similar to that of Postecoglou.

Thus, Duff has both the personality and playing style to replicate Postecoglou’s success in Glasgow.

Of course, his lack of elite-level coaching experience is a concern, but he has worked at Celtic before and, possibly most crucially of all, is available.

Postecoglou himself was not first-choice, the Celtic board spending months attempting to woo Eddie Howe before that fell through, so Duff could ultimately prove to be the right man at the right time.

O'Neill 2.0: Celtic chasing "one of the best coaches" as Ange alternative

Rather than Ange Postecoglou, should Celtic appoint “one of the best coaches” in the EFL who would repeat Martin O’Neill’s success from 2 decades ago?

By
Ben Gray

Oct 31, 2025

Can West Indies get their maroon stars back in the red-ball set-up?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Sammy has done it for the white-ball set-up by getting the likes of Russell, Lewis and Hetmyer to return

Cameron Ponsonby17-Nov-2024I watched the highlights of Brian Lara’s 153 not out against Australia earlier Saturday. It was great.A ram-packed Kensington Oval, The Prince being princely, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh being comically bad at batting, a one-wicket win and a bloke doing backflips on the outfield as Lara is escorted off by security. Steve Waugh looks angry; Shane Warne has zinc on his nose. It’s the best.Wistful yearning for West Indies cricket of old is always dull and almost always preceded by a sigh that “they all play basketball these days”. Which no matter how often it is said, will still never be true.Related

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Even the ‘s match report from that day, 25 years ago, refers to the notion of cricket in the region being dead. Test cricket dying; the young being work shy; and the standard of refereeing being worse than ever. The three eternal truths of this world. Said by every generation in history.But cut to St Lucia – in a dead-rubber fourth of five T20Is. It’s a series where the integrity of the result has been corrupted by a shift in start times to better suit UK TV audiences that have made all seven games win toss, win match, events, with a touring side that is sub-strength because of a scheduling clash and it all played out to a backing track of in the land of dancehall, soca and reggae. Well, it was hard not to yearn. should never be played in the Caribbean. There is being welcoming. And there is pandering. If you are a local West Indian fan and you are going to watch a match that has been scheduled for an English fan’s TV experience and designed for an English fan’s in-ground experience. What, exactly, is left for you?

“It is so difficult for me to just say that I’ll go back into some red-ball cricket when the IPL is going on”Hetmyer, who last played for Guyana’s red-ball team in 2022, said in July

Of greatest frustration is that the yearning isn’t only of the past, but a failure to capture the present. Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, all in the XI on Saturday, represent the mess of scheduling and proliferation of the franchise game.Hope boasts a non-Test first-class average of 51. It was reported that earlier this year he turned down the chance to return to Test cricket for the tour of Australia due to not having enough red-ball experience under his belt. Since his last Test in 2021, he has played just three first-class matches. One in 2022, where he scored a century for Barbados. And two in 2023 for Yorkshire, where he made two fifties in four innings.Pooran – who Hope described after the game as “the best T20 batter in the world” – was presented with a shirt pre-match to commemorate him becoming the most capped T20I player in West Indies’ history, overtaking Kieron Pollard. A self-described “son of franchise cricket”, Pooran has played 369 T20 matches and five first-class games. In 2022, he said playing Test cricket was still in his plans.

Hetmyer, who burst onto the scene and averaged 47 after his first 15 ODIs, has since regressed. A return to the ODI team hasn’t seen a return in runs. In his last 15 ODIs, he has averaged 12.61. In his last 20 T20Is, it is 17.82. He said earlier this year to the Cricketer that he still wishes to return to Test cricket, which he last played in 2019.West Indies cricket is often cited as having a depth problem. That there isn’t enough talent in the region to call players up who meet the level required. But unlike other teams, West Indies’ challenge isn’t just calling players up, it’s calling players down. People they know who have the ability to play international cricket but for whatever reason aren’t available. They also keep getting players pinched by England.However, a crucial change was announced last month that players can now be selected for Test cricket even if they have not played in the regional domestic competition. That had previously impacted all of Hope, Pooran and Hetmyer with the competition overlapping with the IPL.The old policy, according to Miles Bascombe, CWI director of cricket, “could not stand up to the current intensity of cricket schedules.”The West Indies Championship, now an eight-team tournament after the addition of a West Indies Academy side and the return of the Combined Campuses and Colleges team, mainly runs from February to April. Guyana, Hetmyer’s nation, have won seven of the past nine titles.A lot of West Indies players have to strike a balance between playing regularly and spending time with families•ILT20″It is so difficult for me to just say that I’ll go back into some red-ball cricket when the IPL is going on,” Hetmyer, who last played for Guyana’s red-ball team in 2022, said in July. “It is something that I have been thinking about, something that I’ve actually thought about a lot.”You still have to think about your family and everything, because you can’t just go into a supermarket and go, ‘I play for West Indies’, and they’ll just give you stuff for free.”Each of the players is deeply committed to playing for West Indies in their own way. Hope is ODI captain, Pooran has expressed his desire to play another 100 T20s and Hetmyer wants to reach 100 ODIs as motivation for returning to the fold.But nothing is guaranteed tomorrow and the money on offer to league hop and look after your family is better than churning out red-ball runs in February. Pooran knows that more than most after being involved in a car crash in 2015 that almost took away his ability to walk.”It is still one of the legacies of T20 cricket, sadly, that so many of the guys have found the red-ball game not to be fitting their long-term agenda,” Ian Bishop said on the Sky Cricket podcast earlier this year. “And I can’t blame them. That’s where the biggest revenue comes in.”It is worth pointing out that playing Test cricket is far from financially negligible. West Indies’ match fees sit at around US$10,000. Being a full-time cricketer for West Indies is a lucrative job. It’s just not as lucrative as playing for West Indies and others.The trio of Pooran, Hetmyer and Hope are not alone in being international white-ball players with an interest in the longer format. Akeal Hosein has previously said he wishes to play Test cricket, while Kyle Mayers has recently fallen out of red-ball contention.Ultimately, there is suspicion/hope that if you get a couple, you could get all of them. No doubt a reservation of joining a weakened Test side is an element of ‘what’s the point’ if you’re going to lose. But West Indies have the players to be competitive now.”When we’re growing up as kids we want to play for West Indies,” Hope said about his team-mate Pooran’s achievement of overtaking Pollard. “Sometimes we don’t think about playing 100 games, 200 games. It’s something he must cherish. It’s an honour to play for West Indies and we always talk about that amongst each other.”Despite falling to a series loss against England, there is a coherence to West Indies’ T20 cricket. Yes, some players skip a tour here or there but there is a core unit that turns out regularly with a set goal of becoming the No.1-ranked side in the world and to become world champions. Coach Daren Sammy deserves much of the credit for that, persuading the likes of Andre Russell, Evin Lewis and Hetmyer to return when they had otherwise ceased to play.Sammy has shown it can be done to get the band back together and form a narrative around a West Indies national team. We can cross our fingers that the same could soon be true for the Test side also.

Yankees Acquire Outfield Help in Trade With White Sox

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The New York Yankees have acquired Chicago White Sox outfielder Austin Slater in exchange for right handed pitcher Gage Ziehl. Ken Rosenthal of was first on the trade, and 's Bob Nightengale was first on the return.

Slater was one of several outfield names that the Yankees were considering ahead of the trade deadline amid the elbow injury to star slugger Aaron Judge. The Yankees were considering a reunion with former outfielder Harrison Bader, but Slater proved most palatable for New York.

Slater has hit .236 this season with five home runs and 11 RBI.

Litton: Availability of first-choice players was key in T20I series wins

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Bangladesh have also had the luxury of rotating their fast bowlers, which Litton said helps with workload management

Mohammad Isam25-Jul-2025Having all their first-choice players available helped Bangladesh turn around their six-match losing streak and seal their maiden T20I series wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, captain Litton Das has said.Bangladesh’s 2-1 series win against Pakistan at home came on the back of an away series win in Sri Lanka, with the same margin.”We were facing a [players] crisis in the UAE and Pakistan [in May],” Litton said after winning the recent series against Pakistan. “I didn’t get my best players during those two series. Taskin [Ahmed] wasn’t available. Mustafizur [Rahman] had left for the IPL. We are well aware of Mustafiz’s capability and how dangerous he can be for the opposition. We also had some players unavailable in Pakistan. Those who were there didn’t play up to the mark. I think we had the full set-up against Sri Lanka and Pakistan [this time]. We have to continue playing in such a manner.”Related

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Mustafizur was at his miserly best against Pakistan, conceding at just 2.86 in two games. Taskin took a total of six wickets, while spinners Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain were crucial in the wins in Sri Lanka. Mustafizur had missed two matches in the UAE, while Taskin had missed the series against UAE and Pakistan due to an ankle injury.Left-arm quick Shoriful Islam wasn’t available for the series against Pakistan in May due to an injury, while Bangladesh couldn’t field Rishad and Nahid Rana in a game against UAE due to visa issues, and Rana skipped the Pakistan tour on personal grounds.Litton credited his bowlers for the victories against Pakistan, who were bowled out for low totals in the first two games of the series. “The bowlers definitely had a huge role in this series win,” he said. “They bowled out Pakistan for 110 runs [in the first T20I]. Then we defended 133 runs [in the second T20I]. Those were big challenges. We bowled well even today.”In Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lost the first T20I but turned it around to win the last two to seal the series. Litton said that the Bangladesh bowlers corrected their execution in the next game, to go on and win the last two T20Is.Mustafizur Rahman was at his miserly best in the Pakistan series•BCB

“I think we didn’t score enough in that game in Kandy, where 180 was a par score,” Litton said. “Sri Lanka were in attacking mode that day. I think we were behind on the execution of our plans. We didn’t bowl where we wanted to bowl at the Sri Lankan batters. We followed the same plan and came back into the series (against Sri Lanka).”Bangladesh’s pace bowlers have combined to take 51 wickets, which is 60.71% of all wickets Bangladesh have taken this year in T20Is. What has also impressed is the size of the pace attack. They have used eight pace bowlers this year, accommodating injuries, but in the last two series, Bangladesh have also had the luxury of rotating their fast bowlers.Litton said workload management will be considered going forward, but they are also looking at a bowler’s skillset to determine their selection. “We are fortunate to have some more really good bowlers,” he said. “We don’t want to lose them early. We want to give them enough opportunities, but we also want to consider their health.”Taskin is returning to cricket after a long injury break. We all know that he will have a high chance of more injuries if he plays continually. Shoriful is the same. He had a groin injury in Pakistan. He also had a similar problem in Sri Lanka. We have to determine who plays when and where.”

Memphis Depay offers to help Corinthians amid financial crisis by giving up hotel suite that has cost Brazilian club €2.5m so far

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Corinthians’ financial troubles have reached a breaking point, with unpaid wages, heavy debts and over €2.5 million already drained from club accounts this season. In a gesture of solidarity, Dutch star Memphis Depay has offered to give up his €40,000-a-month hotel suite to help the club reduce expenses. This comes after there were reports that the club had asked the forward to cut-back on his finances and move to a cheaper accommodation.

  • Depay’s offer to help Corinthians

    Depay’s career has been defined by flair, self-expression, and a strong sense of identity. But in Sao Paulo, it’s empathy that’s making headlines. The Dutch attacker, who joined Corinthians in 2024, has reportedly offered to give up his €40,000-per-month luxury hotel suite to ease the club’s growing financial burden.

    According to , the suite which is located in one of Sao Paulo’s top hotels, costs the club around 250,000 Brazilian reais monthly and includes premium services like room service, laundry, a chauffeur, and 24-hour concierge support. Since his arrival, Corinthians have already spent over €405,000 on his accommodation alone.

    Depay’s willingness to forgo this contractual privilege is seen as a commendable gesture at a time when Corinthians’ finances are stretched thin. Despite his €11 million annual salary (which could rise to €19m with bonuses), the forward has acknowledged the club’s fragile situation and expressed readiness to help reduce costs.

    So far, Depay has scored nine goals and registered 10 assists in 44 games for Corinthians this season.

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    Corinthians can't afford Depay's luxurious lifestyle

    Depay's stance in the Corinthian's case marks a shift in tone for a player long known for his confidence and occasional controversies. In early 2025, the Dutch player clashed with the Brazilian club officials over his unpaid $1m in debt. The forward further notified the club that if the situation is not resolved quickly he would not fulfil his contractual obligations. He also missed a few training sessions in a bid to boycott the club. The situation was resolved after he met the club's president, Augusto Melo.

    Corinthians, one of Brazil’s most historic football institutions, is currently navigating one of its worst financial crises in decades. The club’s debt has reportedly ballooned to R$2.7 billion (around €500 million), driven by mismanagement, inflated contracts, and unpaid transfer fees.

    Amid this turmoil, Depay’s luxurious living arrangement became a symbol of excess. Reports suggest that club executives recently approached the Dutchman to discuss ending the deal or asking him to bear part of the costs. While the suite was part of his signed agreement, the club can no longer sustain such high non-sporting expenses.

    At first, sources claimed Depay was reluctant to change terms, arguing the club must honour its contract. But in a surprising turn, the 31-year-old forward later expressed a willingness to help.

  • Corinthians’ mounting debt and the struggle to survive

    Corinthians’ financial crisis runs deep. The club has faced wage delays, transfer bans from FIFA and threats of point deductions due to unpaid fees. Over the past two years, their debt has climbed to around half a billion euros, a figure that dwarfs even some European clubs.

    Sponsorship disputes and heavy spending on marquee signings like Depay have worsened the situation. The club has been forced to cut costs drastically, delay transfers, and renegotiate contracts.

    This economic strain has already impacted results. Corinthians have struggled in both domestic and continental competitions, unable to strengthen their squad or retain key players. Local media reports suggest that morale inside the camp is low, with several foreign players frustrated by delayed payments.

    Depay’s offer to ease the burden comes as a rare positive in an otherwise grim narrative. It also highlights a wider conversation in football: whether players and clubs can find balance between contractual rights and moral responsibility in times of crisis.

    The Brasileiro-side currently stands 10th in the league table after 32 games.

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    Depay remains a complicated figure in Brazil

    Depay’s time at Corinthians has been anything but quiet. Beyond the financial headlines, he has been at the centre of both brilliance and controversy. On the pitch, his flair and goal-scoring instinct made him a key figure; off it, his personality, high-profile disputes, and rumoured personal scandals have kept him in the spotlight.

    The forward has been facing pregnancy claims by Brazilian influencer Lary Simoes after she publicly claimed that Depay got her pregnant and then ghosted her. Multiple reports also confirm that the Dutch footballer had received a four-month suspended prison sentence for a drunk driving offense that occurred in Monaco in 2024.

    However, Corinthians are reportedly looking to extend Depay's current contract after they are done with their current financial obligations. His recent action has also come as a relief for the club, giving more hope to the club for a renewed bond but the road to recovery is still a long one for the club and to manage to personality like Depay will take a lot of toll on the club. 

Xabi Alonso sends out strong message on Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of Real Madrid's La Liga match with Elche

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Xabi Alonso has offered a robust defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fitness, form, and future at Real Madrid, as the English defender prepares to make only his third league start of the season in Sunday’s away trip to Elche. The 27-year-old’s transfer from Liverpool has not yet ignited in the Spanish capital, with recurring injuries limiting him to brief cameo appearances and only two starts in La Liga.

  • A rocky start in Spain for TAA

    Alexander-Arnold were limited to just nine minutes in Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League defeat at Anfield, where he was loudly booed by the home crowd, followed by a seven-minute appearance in the goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano. His stuttering start drew criticism in the Spanish press, adding further pressure to a player navigating a major change in club and tactical demands. His limited involvement played a major part in England boss Thomas Tuchel omitting him from the latest national squad. However, Alonso has assured that the right-back is now physically ready and mentally refreshed after two weeks of intensive work during the international break at Valdebebas.    

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    Alonso puts his weight behind TAA

    Alonso told reporters: "In this [international] break, we've worked with Trent, collectively and individually, after the injuries he had. Trent being in better form gives us more options in that position, and we have other players, too. Fede [Valverde] is still there. [Eder] Militao played right-back with Brazil the other day, and Raul [Asencio] can play there too."  

  • Madrid's attack under the scanner

    While Alexander-Arnold’s absence has contributed to a lack of balance, Madrid’s bigger issue in recent weeks has been goals, or the lack of them. Los Blancos failed to score against Liverpool or Vallecano, and Kylian Mbappe did not record a single shot on target across both matches. However, Alonso refused to single out his star forward.

    "We didn't score at Liverpool or in Vallecas, but it isn't just about Kylian, it's about the team," Alonso said. "When we don't score we have to look for alternatives: the wingers, the midfielders, set pieces… The goals will return, I have no doubts."

    However, Mbappe has faced fresh criticism after he flew to Dubai during the international break following his exclusion from Les Bleus squad by the French Football Federation (FFF) due to an "inflammation in his right ankle, which requires further examination." His sudden trip to Dubai without visiting the medical facilities in Madrid had raised questions about his professionalism. 

    Speaking to, France coach Didier Deschamps explained: "He has almost chronic inflammation because he's had this ankle problem for a while now. Even if it doesn't prevent him from playing. I believe there's no risk to take given that we've already qualified, and I've made him available to Real Madrid." 

    Whereas, the president of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, shed further light on Mbappe's condition and added, "He is currently going through a delicate sporting moment. When he is the best player in the world, he becomes an irreplaceable asset for the French national team. My only wish is for him to return to his best and rejoin us in March for the next call-up, bringing everything he has always given us."

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    Defence boost as Rudiger nears return

    There was some good news defensively after Eder Militao picked up a minor injury while on Brazil duty. Alonso confirmed that although the centre-back will miss the Elche match, his recovery is progressing well. More importantly, Antonio Rudiger is nearing a return. 

    "It's very good news that [Rudiger] is close," Alonso said. "Probably not for tomorrow, but we'll see for Athens [against Olimpiacos]. With his level, and his personality, it's important to have him. Militao's injury isn't serious but we'll miss him, and having Toni as soon as possible is very good news.

    "We know where we are, the demands at Real Madrid. We're demanding of ourselves after every game. We don't have to give it any more weight than that."  

    Barcelona’s victory over Athletic Club on Saturday temporarily lifted them back to the top of the table, drawing level with Los Blancos on points. Real Madrid, winners of 10 of their 12 league matches so far, now must secure three points away to 11th-placed Elche to reclaim first place.

Green's return brings into focus Australia's big selection calls

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The allrounder begins his county stint with an eye on returning as a batter for the World Test Championship final – but it’s not simple

Andrew McGlashan17-Apr-20252:15

Marnus in or out? Finch and Clarke pick their WTC final XIs

More than six months after Cameron Green last took the field, in an ODI at Chester-le-Street where he sent down a bouncer barrage as Harry Brook stamped an early mark as England captain, he will return to the field on Friday for Gloucestershire when they face Kent following the back surgery which ruled him out of the 2024-25 home season.In a deal funded by a mystery benefactor, Green is available for five County Championship matches over the next six weeks – where he will be captained by Western Australia team-mate Cameron Bancroft – leading into Australia’s World Test Championship final clash with South Africa at Lord’s which is followed by three Tests in the West Indies.Barring any setbacks on his return, Green is expected to be involved in both those squads but beyond that there are some tricky decisions for Australia’s selectors to make about how he slots back into the XI give his bowling will remain on ice until shortly before the Ashes at the end of the year.Related

  • Hazlewood's successful return likely to leave Boland unlucky for WTC final

  • Labuschagne to reset after leanest run-scoring summer

  • Green nears return ahead of WTC final selection race

  • WTC final may not be Konstas' route back to Test side

While the selectors may not be overly concerned about the volume of runs scored by Green in the next few weeks – the philanthropic Gloucestershire member would no doubt like a return on his investment – after a lengthy period out of the game, he will need to show some sort of form given the squeeze for batting places. The selectors will name the squads partway through Green’s county stay but if he looked especially rusty, it could question the merit of bringing him straight back, although his known qualities will stand him in good stead.The last time Green played Test cricket was against New Zealand early in 2024. He batted at No. 4 and made a masterful, match-winning 174 not out in Wellington where many other batters struggled. Things have changed since then, however, with Steven Smith returning to the middle order and producing his best returns for a number of years while Beau Webster has made a promising start at No. 6 having replaced Mitchell Marsh in the allrounder’s role.Cameron Green was settling in at No. 4 before injury struck•Getty ImagesIf Green was bowling, it would probably have meant a pat on the back for Webster for a job well done but his bustling medium pace could be important in ensuring Australia’s frontline quicks have support. Webster will also be playing county cricket from early May for Warwickshire.Therefore, if Green does come straight back into the side at Lord’s, he may have to find a spot at the top of the order – either opening or, more likely, at No. 3 – which throws open the question about whether that is an ideal spot for him. Green was in contention to fill David Warner’s opening position before the brief experiment with Smith but has only batted higher than No. 4 once in his first-class career.It could come down to whether Marnus Labuschagne has done enough to keep his place after a challenging season, which extended a two-year run where he has averaged 28.62 in Tests. He is due to join Glamorgan in May, meaning he, too, will have some cricket before the WTC final.George Bailey, the chair of selectors, has left the door ajar for a more one-off style selection for the final and it’s not beyond the realms that Labuschagne is asked to open rather than there being a recall for Sam Konstas, creating a spot for Green at No. 3 and the rest of the order runs from there. The other, less likely, route is that the four frontline bowlers (three quicks plus Nathan Lyon) are considered enough for the title shootout and Green still replaces Webster.Marnus Labuschagne is also a key part of the selection debate•Getty ImagesEven if the selectors do take an isolated view of the final at Lord’s, other decisions are only kicked down the road a couple of weeks to Barbados when the West Indies series starts. With Konstas having been left out in Sri Lanka when Travis Head opened in a horses-for-courses approach, there will likely be much thought given to enabling him to resume his Test career where there will be far less need than to do anything but bat normally.Before too long, perhaps the end of next season’s Ashes, Australia will be on the search for another new opener if Usman Khawaja decides his time is done. In an ideal world, Konstas has started to bed himself in by then. Australia’s revolving door of openers post-Warner has not hampered their success but, excluding the tactical move with Head, it has not been ideal.Green and Konstas are also not the only names to factor into the immediate batting order debate. Josh Inglis is quickly becoming hard to ignore after making a century on Test debut in Galle, albeit having been selected for his specific skills against spin.Inglis is currently at the IPL for the Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab Kings where he has just played his first game having been warming the bench. Konstas was keen for a county deal but nothing, as yet, has been forthcoming. In terms of red-ball cricket, therefore, Green has a head start but there remain some big calls to make before June.

Middlesbrough keen on Championship title-winning manager alongside Gerrard

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Middlesbrough aren’t just looking at a move for Steven Gerrard, with a Championship title-winning manager also on the Riverside radar.

Gerrard among top Middlesbrough targets to replace Edwards

Boro’s search for a new manager is now officially underway after Rob Edwards’ move to Wolves was confirmed on Wednesday. Taking to social media, Edwards released a statement, saying:

Adi Viveash remains in interim charge for the time being and oversaw the club’s 2-1 win at home to Birmingham City prior to the international break, a victory which saw Boro return to the Championship automatic promotion spots.

A top two finish in 2026 will be the ask of Edwards’ permanent successor and there have already been named linked with the Riverside vacancy.

Gerrard is one who has been heavily mooted with a move to Middlesbrough in what would be his first taste as a manager in the Championship.

Out of work since January when he left Saudi Arabia and Al-Ettifaq, Gerrard is rated by Steve Gibson and is thought to find the idea of a move to the Riverside appealing.

Journalist Graeme Bailey said: “Gerrard is well liked by Boro, he has an impressive CV and would be a significant coup to land him, but it is not certain if they could put together the package to persuade him to move to the North East.”

Middlesbrough also eyeing Tony Mowbray return

According to Bailey and The Rousing Kop, Middlesbrough are also eyeing up former manager Tony Mowbray as an alternative to Gerrard.

As well as Mowbray, Alex Neil, Paul Heckingbottom, Raphael Wicky, Gary O’Neil, Robbie Keane and Mark Robins are also named as potential candidates to come in on a permanent basis.

Mowbray, who has six wins against Middlesbrough as a manager, spent three years in charge of Boro between 2010-2013 but failed to guide the club back to the Premier League.

Tony Mowbray’s record as Middlesbrough manager

Games

153

Wins

61

Draws

37

Losses

55

Points per game

1.44

Players used

66

The 61-year-old is currently out of work, with his most recent spell in the dugout coming at West Brom, where he was labelled “exceptional” by Baggies’ sporting director Andrew Nestor.

He won the Championship title during his first stint as Baggies boss back in 2008 and has even been linked with a short-term role at Southampton in recent weeks, so Mowbray’s return to the Riverside could be one to keep an eye on.

Cubs Gave Up the Weirdest Run After Outfielder’s Throw Hit Giants Player in the Head

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The Chicago Cubs were blown out by the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night, losing 12-3 at Oracle Park.

During the loss the Cubs gave up one of the weirdest runs of the season on a play that had the Giants' announcers chuckling in disbelief.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Matt Chapman hit a single to right field. Then as he stood on first base he was hit in the head by Kyle Tucker's throw from the outfield. The ball bounced off his helmet and went flying over the catcher before landing behind home plate, which allowed Dominic Smith to score from third base.

Here's how that played out:

Now that is using your head, Matt Chapman.

The Cubs, who have lost two straight to the Giants, will try to avoid being swept when they square off in the series finale on Thursday afternoon.

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