Tag Futebol

The Three Lions bored fans into leaving early against Andorra last time out while La Roja look like world-beaters once more after destroying Turkey

'A devastating symphony', said 'Spain ran Turkey over', crowed 'It's not possible to play football better than this,' was 's reaction; said it was 'Like watching a video game'. 

Contrast the justifiably gushing praise of the European Championship winners' latest performance with that of the team they beat in the final in Berlin little more than a year ago. 'Joyless' was ' verdict from England's drab win over Andorra; 'Turgid' was the description from the described the 2-0 victory as a 'trudge'; 'Dire' was the assessment in .

The difference in opponents was also stark. While not exactly world beaters, Turkey are ranked 27th in the world and reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. Andorra are ranked 174th in the world and have only won seven competitive matches in their history. Spain, it should be added, were playing in a hostile atmosphere on the road in Konya while England were at home, albeit not at Wembley but rather Villa Park.

Spain's exhibition on Sunday has solidified their status as favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, and while England are still third on that list, there is a chasm between the Three Lions and Luis de la Fuente's free-scoring side, as well as the other teams to beat such as France, Argentina and Portugal. That does not reflect well on Thomas Tuchel, who has been brought in on a short-term contract and at great expense with one mission only: to lead England to glory next July at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

To be fair to Tuchel, his team have not had to raise their game in any of their four World Cup qualifiers thus far and he has still managed a 100 percent record in competitive games. But now comes the first true test of his mettle, an intimidating game against Serbia in Belgrade, and his side better rise to the challenge.

AFPKnowing the squad inside out

The different trajectories Spain and England have taken since the Euros final call into question the Football Association's (FA) decision to appoint a hired gun from the outside such as Tuchel rather than a culture builder who knows the national game inside out, as La Roja have done with Luis de La Fuente. 

The Spain coach's background is strikingly similar to those of both Tuchel's predecessor Gareth Southgate and interim boss Lee Carsley. De La Fuente has been working for the Spanish football federation since 2013, coaching the Under-19s, Under-21s and the Olympic team before taking the senior reins from Luis Enrique – initially to much criticism – after Spain had bombed out of the 2022 World Cup to Morocco in the last 16. 

De La Fuente won the U19 European Championship in 2015 with a team containing current players Unai Simon, Rodri, and the hat-trick hero from the Turkey win, Mikel Merino, as well as Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos. Four years later, he did the same with the U21s, with some overlap from his U19s team but also fresh faces who are now key players in his senior squad such as Dani Olmo, Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal (the scorer of the winner in the Euro 2024 final). 

At the Olympics in Tokyo, Spain reached the final before losing to Brazil, and De la Fuente got to work with Marc Cucurella, Martin Zubimendi and Pedri, who all played their part in the drubbing of Turkey. And since leaving the youth set-up and becoming coach of the senior side, De La Fuente has continued to hand huge responsibility to young players such as Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Dean Huijsen, and has been rewarded for it, winning the 2023 Nations League before securing the Euros title.

AdvertisementGettyPlaying to win

De La Fuente not only knows the players inside out, he is also extremely clear on the style of football Spain should be playing. That comes with 12 years working at the federation's headquarters, while Spain's style is so defined that he barely has to enforce it.

He is mostly loyal to the positional play that was perfected by Vicente del Bosque's side that contained Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. The performance against Turkey, in particular the sublime second goal scored by Merino, was very reminiscent of the great Spain side that dominated world football between 2008 and 2012.

And yet De la Fuente is not as dogmatic as previous coaches and is ready to adapt to circumstances. As he explained during Euro 2024: "My idea is to play games to win them, independently of how we play. There are times when you have to take the initiative and others when you have to know how to play with other resources."

De La Fuente also differs from Del Bosque and Luis Aragones in choosing from a much larger pool than that iconic team, which was mostly comprised of players from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Eleven clubs were represented by the starting XI and substitutes on Sunday, from the usual suspects Barca and Madrid to Tottenham and Rayo Vallecano.

AFPStrange call-ups

Tuchel has taken a different approach, leaning more towards experienced players than the next generation. Yes, Myles Lewis-Skelley was a bold call-up earlier this year and Elliot Anderson made his debut against Andorra, but there have also been some strange inclusions such as Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and, above all, the return of Ruben Loftus-Cheek. In other words, players whose best days are firmly in the past.

The fact that Tuchel may only be around until the World Cup easily explains this short-term view, but it is counter-productive to England's long-term health as a footballing nation. His appointment effectively tore up everything that the FA looked to have been building towards under Southgate.

Southgate had reached the end of the road for England after eight years in charge and he as much as anyone else wanted a break. But turning to Tuchel instead of Carsley sent out a message that all that matters is short-term glory, above all winning the World Cup. Going all the way in the United States, Mexico and Canada is of course what every fan wants as well. Children dream of lifting the World Cup, not of streamlined strategies at St George's Park.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportStruggling to click

However, the fact that England are struggling to click under Tuchel, nine months into his reign and in the middle of his third camp, is concerning. There is no sign of a clear style of play and it was telling that after the Andorra game he told journalists how important long balls and long throw-ins would be to his team at the World Cup.

The coach is also not delivering on many of the promises he has made since he got the job. Before his opening game against Albania, Tuchel criticised England's performances for most of their run to the Euro 2024 final, lamenting the lack of identity.

"Not last summer, no [they didn't have a clear playing style]. The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger [was missing]," he explained to . "They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation than having the excitement and hunger to win it. What has been missing is the people feel that that is the team to beat. That we arrive with a group to beat. That we know already when we arrive, once we qualify and arrive that everyone knows this is the team to beat."

Liverpool are showing “concrete interest” in signing a hugely talented young player in the summer transfer window as FSG kick their summer plans into overdrive.

Fabrizio Romano: Liverpool "on fire" in summer transfer window

With Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez expected to join the Reds imminently, from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, attention may now turn to a new striker, amid exit claims surrounding Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool have reportedly made an approach for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, seeing him as an alternative option to Eintracht Frankfurt marksman Hugo Ekitike. The Slovenian is also seen as a leading target for Arsenal, so the Premier League champions could be looking to swoop in ahead of them.

Another fresh face in the Reds’ midfield also wouldn’t go amiss before next season gets underway and Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton has been backed to move to Anfield. The England international is a hugely exciting player who also possesses so much maturity, and he could be perfect as a squad option to begin with.

Luis Diaz continues to be linked with a move away, with Barcelona mentioned plenty in recent weeks, and Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has been mentioned as a possible replacement.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday evening that Liverpool are “on fire” and “busy” in the market, and it seems they’ve now turned their attentions to a youngster with massive potential.

"Here we go is coming" – Romano says Liverpool will sign two stars imminently

He is perfect for the Reds.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 16, 2025 Liverpool interested in signing £51m star

According to a fresh claim from Caught Offside, Liverpool have “concrete interest” in Southampton teenager Tyler Dibling this summer.

The 19-year-old is expected to leave Saints before the end of the window, following their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship, and the Reds are one of many clubs keen on him. Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Manchester City all get a mention in the report, and he is valued above £50m.

Dibling looks like an outstanding prospect, having stood out as a rare positive in a dreadful 2024/25 season for Southampton, scoring four goals and registering two assists in all competitions.

An aesthetically-pleasing player to watch, the Englishman has a lovely ability to glide across the turf and create with his left foot, with Danny Murphy not holding back in his praise for him last December.

“It is difficult to get too over the top with these young players, because he has just come on to the scene, but he is going to be something special. It is great for him getting all these minutes at Southampton. They are giving him the freedom to play and giving him time to learn the game. He is just enjoying himself and he is playing with a real belief in himself. He is just instrumental in this team.”

Better than Ekitike: Liverpool make approach to sign "the new Haaland"

Liverpool could be about to forget about Hugo Ekitike with a move for another talisman.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 16, 2025

Granted, Dibling wouldn’t be a cheap signing, and he would have to bide his time before becoming a regular, but he has the tools to grow into an elite footballer, proving to be adept at shining in his preferred right-sided role or as a No.10.

It’s been a hectic summer for Chelsea so far this year.

Instead of enjoying some time off and getting themselves ready for an intense Premier League campaign next season, the Blues have been fighting their corner in the Club World Cup.

Enzo Maresca’s men might have stumbled somewhat against Flamengo on Friday, but in the small hours of Wednesday morning, they bounced back with a 3-0 win against ES Tunis.

More importantly, the game also saw summer signing Liam Delap open his account for the club, and if recent reports are to be believed, the club could be looking at someone who’d be a great teammate for the Englishman.

Chelsea target attacking reinforcements

With Chelsea looking to improve on their fourth-place finish in the Premier League next season, it’s not been a surprise to see them linked with a host of attacking stars in recent weeks, such as Hugo Ekitiké and even Victor Osimhen.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former managed to rack up a tally of 34 goal involvements in 48 games this season and would reportedly cost around £84m, while the latter managed to amass a haul of 45 goal involvements in 41 games and could cost around £60m.

However, as brilliant as they would be for the Blues, they’re both centre-forwards, so it would be hard to describe either of their potential arrivals as good news for Delap, unlike with Alejandro Garnacho.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Telegraph, Chelsea could still make a push to sign the Manchester United star this summer.

The report claims that the West Londoners are now ‘weighing up the possibility’ of signing the Argentine international while sending Christopher Nkunku the other way in a swap deal.

We say ‘sort of’ swap deal, as the report claims the pair moving in opposite directions would be handled as separate deals, meaning a fee would have to be paid for the winger, who the Red Devils value at £60m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Garnacho’s potential and ability, it might be one worth pursuing, especially as he could be a great signing for Delap.

Why Garnacho would be a great signing for Delap

Okay, there are two main reasons why Garnacho could be a great signing and teammate for Delap at Chelsea, and the first relates to his output.

Even though the United ace is far from being the finished product and can certainly be a little frustrating at times, his raw output is actually quite impressive, especially for someone his age.

For example, in 58 appearances this season, totalling just 3568 minutes, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by Statman Dave, managed to score 11 goals and provide ten assists for a pretty rubbish Red Devils side.

Appearances

58

47

Minutes

3568′

3032′

Goals

11

8

Assists

10

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

0.36

Minutes per Goal Involvements

169.90′

178.35′

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or one every 169.90 minutes, which is actually better than some of the Blues’ better wing options, like Pedro Neto, were able to manage.

So, just imagine how effective the former Ipswich Town gem could be with someone able to produce those numbers in a dysfunctional team to his left.

The second reason the Madrid-born ace would be a great teammate for the Englishman is that he is also a young, developing player, so in theory, they could develop alongside one another, learn each other’s game and hopefully reach their respective peaks at near enough the same time, in turn helping the squad as a whole.

Ultimately, signing Garnacho might not be a popular decision to start with, but he’s shown that in the right environment, he can thrive, and with an exciting, capable striker like Delap next to him, he could become exceptional.

He'd be a dream for Ekitike: Chelsea move close to signing £55m star

The tremendously exciting attacker could become a superstar at Chelsea.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2025

Football might have come to a brief stop, but there is no rest for the wicked, and Arsenal have a potentially era-defining few months ahead of them.

To ensure they get over the line in the Premier League next season, Mikel Arteta and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta need to nail their transfer dealings, and if they can bring in Rodrygo, that’d be an excellent start.

The Real Madrid superstar has been linked with a £85m move to the Emirates on multiple occasions over the last few weeks, and the combination of his outlandish ability and stature in the game makes him someone who could really move the needle in the Gunners’ favour next year.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the North Londoners could now be closing in on another attacking talent who’d be an even more exciting signing than the Brazilian international.

Arsenal transfer news

Given Arsenal’s position in English football and how close they seem to be to glory, it’s hardly been a surprise to see them linked with a plethora of incredibly exciting players in recent weeks, such as Bradley Barcola and Takefusa Kubo.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former could cost the club a whopping £101m this summer, which might be an eyewatering sum of money, but it might also be fair enough, as in 58 games for Paris Saint-Germain this season, he scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists.

Kubo would be a far cheaper option at around £50m, but he’s not been anywhere near as prolific as the Frenchman, racking up a reasonable but unspectacular haul of seven goals and four assists in 52 games.

However, while a wide player would be a welcome addition to the club, Arteta and Co’s priority has to be a new number nine, someone like Benjamin Sesko.

Fortunately, a recent report from Caught Offside has claimed that Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Slovenian striker.

In fact, on top of confirming that Berta has already held direct talks with RB Leipzig, the report has revealed that the Gunners are now among the frontrunners for the player, alongside London rivals Chelsea.

However, it won’t be a cheap deal complete; the report states that Leipzig want €80m for their star attacker, which is around £68m, and a fee Arsenal should pay, as not only would Sesko be an incredible signing, but a more exciting one than Rodrygo as well.

Why Sesko would be more exciting than Rodrygo

So the first thing to say is that Rodrygo would, in fact, be an incredibly exciting signing for Arsenal to make this summer. After all, he’s a Champions League and La Liga-winning winger who knows how to score a goal or two.

However, for our money, the “instinctive” Sesko, as dubbed by journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, would be just that bit more exciting, and there are several reasons why.

The first is that, in signing him, Arteta and Co will finally be addressing the club’s longstanding need for an out-and-out striker, and more than that, he’d be coming in with a proven track record of scoring goals and providing assists.

For example, in the 22/23 campaign, he scored 18 goals and provided four assists in 41 appearances; last season, the Slovenian international scored 18 goals and provided two assists in 42 appearances, and then this year, the Leipzig star was able to rack up an impressive haul of 21 goals and six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes.

In other words, the Radeče-born “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, averaged a goal involvement every 1.66 games, or every 120.66 minutes this season.

Appearances

45

50

Minutes

3258′

3290′

Goals

21

13

Assists

6

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.6

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

120.66′

143.04′

In contrast, the Real Madrid star scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3290 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games, or every 143.04 minutes, in a far better team.

Finally, on top of his current ability in front of goal, the former Salzburg gem has received some rave reviews from scouts and analysts, with the respected EBL claiming he “has the potential to become the best #9 in the world” – which is also what makes him that bit more appealing than Viktor Gyokeres, another of the more heavily linked strikers in recent weeks.

He argues that this is down to the combination of him being “a 6’4 speed demon” who is “unstoppable in transition” and the fact “he can dribble”, all while also being “an elite ball-striker.”

That might sound hyperbolic, but a few of these strengths are on show in this goal, with him using his acceleration and mighty left foot – and you only need to look through some of his other goals to see his immense technical ability.

Ultimately, Arsenal need more than one attacking signing this summer, but from his goal tally this season to his potential and technical ability, Sesko would be the club’s most exciting addition.

Mega Martinelli upgrade: Arsenal eyeing £101m star with "devastating pace"

The sensational talent would be a real needle-mover for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 2, 2025

We’re less than one month away from the end of the 2024/25 campaign, a year of shifting emotions for those of an Everton persuasion.

The Toffees started off dismally, losing their opening four fixtures of the season under Sean Dyche’s wing and lacking any semblance of spirit or invention. When The Friedkin Group took over and ended the interminable pursuit of new ownership, they (re)appointed David Moyes in January.

Now, hope has been restored. Everton are 13th in the Premier League with just a few matches to go, relegation fears long in the past.

However, with as many as 15 senior players departing this summer, there’s plenty of work to be done, and who can argue that strengthening the frontline ahead of the move to Bramley Moore isn’t the priority?

Everton ready to sign new forward

The Toffees are rightly in the market for a new forward this summer, particularly given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles and the fact that his contract expires in a few months time.

So, who could head to the new stadium and join Moyes’ revolution?

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, according to GIVEMESPORT, Moyes has decided to earmark Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison, with the Brazilian identified as the ‘dream’ target.

Richarlison, of course, spent four seasons at Goodison Park before transferring to Spurs in a £60m deal back in 2022, but it hasn’t worked out and both parties appear ready to cut their losses.

The 28-year-old wouldn’t come cheap, however, priced at no less than £40m, given Tottenham face a sell-to-buy scenario this summer.

Amid those claims, it’s stated that Everton are seriously weighing up a summer offer.

Why Everton should re-sign Richarlison

Richarlison is a versatile forward with a fiery personality that he uses to his advantage more often than not. It’s all come down like a house of cards at Tottenham, but that’s not to say he’s been poor, rebounding from a tough first season to provide a comparative clinical edge.

If Moyes can get him firing, it would be sure to dynamise Everton’s frontline. Currently, Iliman Ndiaye carries quite a weight on his shoulders, recognised as a “relentless forward” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, who “could be at least a squad player in every Prem team.”

Having scored nine times across all competitions since signing for Everton from Marseille in a £15m deal, Ndiaye has been one of the brightest sparks, with his silky movements and sharpness in the danger area making him a dangerous presence against any opponent.

However, Richarlison at his best could be the new cream of the crop, having already proved himself a £60m player as a Blue in the past.

Although his debut campaign in the capital didn’t go to plan, Richarlison has returned to prolific form in the two terms spent under Ange Postecoglou. If Moyes can solve the forward’s injury problems, there’s no question that he could usurp Ndiaye and take the tag of Everton’s best player next season.

24/25

Tottenham

12 (3)

4

1

23/24

Tottenham

28 (18)

11

4

22/23

Tottenham

27 (12)

1

4

21/22

Everton

30 (28)

10

5

20/21

Everton

34 (33)

7

3

19/20

Everton

36 (36)

13

3

18/19

Everton

35 (32)

13

1

17/18

Watford

38 (32)

5

4

The stats are on his side. As per FBref, Richarlison ranks among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 11% for assists, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 14% for tackles and the top 2% for clearances per 90.

With a firmly embedded goalscoring quality, a raw athleticism and a tried-and-tested past on Merseyside, Richarlison could be a “constant nuisance for defenders” under Moyes’ wing, as he has been described before by Postecoglou.

Of course, there’s nothing to say that the two mavericks couldn’t work in conjunction at Everton next year, Ndiaye charging down the left flank while Richarlison looks to add to his 53 goals for the Merseyside outfit.

If the Tottenham man can reach his highest level, there’s no question he could be Moyes’ standout star.

He won't start again: TFG must finally axe Everton's new Phil Neville

Recent results have shown Everton need a sweep of fresh faces in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 28, 2025

The only criticism of a strong bowling performance was that Australia conceded a half-century stand for the tenth wicket for the third time in 12 months

Alex Malcolm17-Jan-2024There was an audible gasp around the Adelaide Oval moments after the toss, when Pat Cummins uttered what could be considered a sacrilegious statement in the city of churches: “We’re going to have a bowl.”Only nine times in 82 Tests at this famous ground had captains uttered those words, and it was just the second time any captain had made that choice since 1992. Only one of those nine teams had gone on to win – West Indies in 1982, with an attack comprising Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Colin Croft.But only one team in history has had an attack featuring a four bowlers with more than 250 Test wickets each. That team is this Australian team, and the final member of the quartet to reach that milestone was Josh Hazlewood when he rattled the top of Alick Athanaze’s off stump.It is brutal that this West Indies team was subjected to the first-ever Test quartet with 200 wickets each in Perth in December 2022, only to return to Australia 13 months later to face the same quartet with 214 more wickets among them. That they had to do so with two debutants in their top six, while three of the top four had only 11 Tests between them, is just plain cruel.West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite had urged his team to fight and be disciplined on match eve. His batters, for the most part, did both of those things. But when the gulf in class is so vast, it doesn’t matter how big the fight is in the dog, the biggest dogs are hard to beat.”A lot of people that play Shield games here with the red ball think it gets flatter as the game goes on,” Hazlewood said of the decision to bowl first. “So the best time to probably take 10 wickets is straight up if we get it right. I was happy to bowl today.”On this occasion, it was the big dog with the lowest profile who had the biggest bite. Hazlewood doesn’t have a multi-million dollar IPL deal, nor is his nickname an acronym of the Greatest of All Time. But he is a big dog in every sense, attacking batters in an unrelenting and consistent manner until they succumb.Cummins had provided the early breakthroughs, removing West Indies’ two most experienced batters. Tagenarine Chanderpaul fell to a stunning catch at gully by Cameron Green, his weapons-grade wingspan helping him pluck a chance no other man on the field could have reached. Cummins then knocked back Brathwaite’s off stump with a nearly identical ball to the one that brought his 200th Test wicket in Perth last summer.Athanaze and Kirk McKenzie then belied their inexperience to blunt Australia’s quartet. The pair showed the fight their captain had desired for a brief period at least. They made sound choices outside their off stump. Their defence looked rock solid. There have been many world-renowned Test batters, including Babar Azam just recently, who have looked far less assured against Australia’s artillery in Australia.Josh Hazlewood ran through West Indies’ top order•Associated PressHazlewood, though, did what Hazlewood does. He asks batters to make difficult decisions around their off stump again and again and again until they break. Athanaze defended two in a row from around the wicket but was unsure whether he should have played at the second in hindsight. The third he opted to leave; it nipped back to hit off stump.Then after lunch, with McKenzie and debutant Kavem Hodge fighting hard, Hazlewood returned having not bowled for eight overs since the break and found his metronomic line and length again. Hodge was itching for something to drive; Hazlewood obliged with something that looked like a drive ball but wasn’t. The edge again disappeared into Green’s giant hands.In Hazlewood’s next over, he went around the wicket to McKenzie, who had just reached an excellent maiden Test half-century. Just as he had with Athanaze, Hazlewood examined the left-hander’s decision-making around his off stump. Having nipped one back to Athanaze, he nipped one away from McKenzie to scratch the edge. In Hazlewood’s fourth over of his spell, Justin Greaves meekly chipped one to mid-off while trying to drive a ball that wasn’t quite there. He had bowled 17 dots in a row and taken three wickets as West Indies slumped from a respectable 98 for 3 to 108 for 6.Cummins returned to pick up two more while Mitchell Starc also chimed in, having bowled without much luck in his opening spell.Related

First-ball joy: Shamar Joseph starts Test cricket with Steven Smith's wicket

'I'll take a picture, and post it up' – Shamar Joseph on dream first-ball wicket of Smith

Shamar Joseph makes his mark after Cummins, Hazlewood take the early honours

As good as Australia’s attack are, finishing off the tail is becoming a bugbear. For the second straight Test, they conceded a half-century stand for the tenth wicket. Debutant Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach rebuffed the bouncer barrage, clubbing five fours and two sixes to lift the score from 133 for 9 to 188. Joseph made 36 off 41 from No.11 – the second-highest score of the innings.This followed Aamer Jamal and Mir Hamza’s 86-run stand for Pakistan in Sydney. Australia are the only team to have conceded more than one half-century stand for the final wicket in the last 12 months, having conceded three, including one at Old Trafford during the Ashes. Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood played all three Tests, and Nathan Lyon was there for two of them.”Often the best ball to a top-six batter is probably the easiest ball to slog sometimes,” Hazlewood said. “So it’s just maybe mixing it up a bit more. Obviously, the bouncer plays a part. So it’s just sequencing those balls. Working them out. When it’s a debutant as well it’s probably even more difficult. You don’t know his strengths and weaknesses that well. But we’ll have a look and come back with something else.”It did not cost them much at either Old Trafford or Sydney, and they will hope it doesn’t cost them here in Adelaide.

Shoriful Islam, Haider Ali, Jayden Seales and Ravi Bishnoi, among others, are making their presence felt in senior cricket

Sreshth Shah14-Jan-2022

Australia

Attacking legspinner Tanveer Sangha has developed into a mainstay at his BBL side Sydney Thunder and domestic side New South Wales. He has even been part of multiple T20I squads for Australia, including the one that was scheduled to play in South Africa, a tour that was cancelled because of Covid-19, while he did not get a start in New Zealand. His T20I call-ups were on the back of the 2020-21 BBL season, where he was the leading wicket-taker among spinners.

Bangladesh

Shoriful Islam, the left-arm seamer, is now a regular member of the senior side. His variation-packed bowling has made him a go-to death-overs bowler, and he has contributed to series wins at home against Sri Lanka (ODIs), New Zealand and Australia (both T20Is).Related

• Dewald 'AB 2.0' Brevis is charting his course to be South Africa's next big thing

• Connolly confident despite 'reality check' against India

• FAQs: Your ready reckoner for the 2022 Under-19 World Cup

• Harnoor, Faisal, Brevis, Connolly among 11 to watch

After an underwhelming T20 World Cup in the UAE, he went to New Zealand and did his bit in Bangladesh’s historic Test victory in Mount Maunganui with his first-innings wickets of Tom Latham, Ross Taylor and Rachin Ravindra.In the same Test, Mahmudul Hasan Joy was one of the chief contributors with the bat. After his impressive performance – 376 runs at 41.77 – in the National Cricket League, Bangladesh’s premier first-class tournament, Joy made his Test debut against Pakistan in Dhaka. He was dismissed for 0 and 6 but in Mount Maunganui, his 78 in the first innings helped Bangladesh take a substantial lead.Batting allrounder Shamim Hossain smacked 60 runs off 28 balls in two innings as a lower-order finisher in his debut T20I series in Zimbabwe. Bangladesh tried to harness his potential in the run-up to the T20 World Cup, with games against Australia and New Zealand at home, and despite single-digit scores in all those outings, they picked him for the World Cup. He played two games there, scoring 11 off 20 against South Africa and 19 off 18 against Australia.Yashasvi Jaiswal was retained by his IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals, ahead of the 2022 auction•BCCI

India

Ravi Bishnoi, the highest wicket-taker at the 2020 World Cup, earned a handsome IPL contract with Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) soon after the tournament. His quick-arm action, and excellent googly, has made him a difficult bowler to score off. In 23 IPL games, he has an economy rate of 6.96 and is expected to earn good money at the mega auction before the 2022 season.Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Player of the Tournament in 2020, had a lukewarm step up to the IPL with Rajasthan Royals, but despite that the opener got to play regularly through the last two seasons. Seeing his potential, Royals named him as one of three retained players ahead of the next auction. He has also become a regular in Mumbai’s domestic white-ball sides.

Pakistan

Soon after the World Cup, Haider Ali became the youngest to score a fifty in the PSL representing Peshawar Zalmi. He then travelled to England and made his T20I debut in style, with another fifty. An ODI debut followed against Zimbabwe, and in domestic cricket, he has piled on the runs representing Northern, including hitting a double-century. He has played on away T20I tours in New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, and most recently scored his highest T20I score of 68 against West Indies.Haider Ali struck a half-century on his T20I debut•Getty ImagesMohammad Wasim, the fast-bowling allrounder, came into national prominence after a stunning run for Islamabad United in PSL 2021. That led to him going to the West Indies, where he made his T20I debut in a rain-affected series, and later to the T20 World Cup. Although he did not get a game there, he took five wickets in three T20Is in Bangladesh and followed it up with eight wickets in three T20Is against West Indies at home. Last week, he was named the Emerging Player of the Year at the 2021 PCB awards.Mohammad Huraira was Player of the Match in the highly anticipated Afghanistan vs Pakistan game at the 2020 World Cup. After going under the radar for most of the last two years, there was interest in him last month, when he struck a triple century in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, becoming the second-youngest Pakistani after Javed Miandad to do so in first-class cricket. What stood out most in that knock was his strike rate of 90.67.

West Indies

Fast bowler Jayden Seales had an excellent start to his international career with the wicket of Keegan Petersen in his very first over in Test cricket in June 2021. Then, when Pakistan toured the Caribbean, he took a five-wicket haul in the second innings in a match-haul of eight wickets to take the Player of the Match award in West Indies’ win. That made him the youngest West Indian to take a Test five-for since Alf Valentine in 1950. He also played in the Lanka Premier League for eventual champions, Jaffna Kings, and was part of West Indies’ white-ball squads against Ireland in December.Jayden Seales dismissed Keegan Petersen in his first over in Test wicket•AFP/Getty Images

Zimbabwe

Both middle-order batters Dion Myers and Wessley Madhevere, captain and vice-captain in 2020 respectively, are now regular members of the senior side in all formats.Madhevere has three half-centuries in ODIs and four in T20Is. He has also been used as a sixth-bowler in the white-ball formats. Myers made his international debut in all three formats in July 2021 against Bangladesh at home and has 13 international caps to his name.Batter Tadiwanashe Marumani has played three ODIs and 11 T20Is, but his returns have been below par.But allrounder Milton Shumba, meanwhile, is developing into a finisher in T20I cricket. His unbeaten scores of 46, 45 and 66 in the second half of 2021 against Ireland and Scotland makes him one of Zimbabwe’s brightest prospects.

Leeds United youngster Harry Gray has been in the spotlight among the fanbase once again this week after scoring two goals in a 3-2 loss to Accrington Stanley for the U21s.

The 17-year-old striker has scored seven goals in eight games in the EFL Trophy and Premier League 2 combined, to go along with a hat-trick against Scunthorpe in the English National League Cup.

Whilst Gray is, as evidenced by his goalscoring form, an exciting prospect for the Whites, he is not an attacking midfielder who will come up to the first-team and improve Daniel Farke’s side in the wide areas, where they have been struggling on the right wing with Brenden Aaronson.

Why Leeds need an upgrade on Brenden Aaronson

The USA international, to his credit, did play a key role in the club’s 2-1 win over West Ham United last month, scoring his first goal of the season from close range.

However, that was only his second goal in 48 Premier League appearances for Leeds across two seasons at the level, per Sofascore, which is a concern moving forward.

The American winger did assist Lukas Nmecha against Nottingham Forest before the international break, but he has yet to prove that he can deliver a consistent end product in the top-flight.

Two goals and four assists in 48 top-flight matches is far from an impressive haul for the former RB Salzburg man, which is why the Whites may look for an upgrade on him.

Whilst Gray is shining at academy level, Farke could look beyond him and to the U18s to find the player who could end Aaronson’s Elland Road career, in Sam Alker.

Why Sam Akler could end Brenden Aaronson's Leeds career

The 16-year-old talent, who does not turn 17 until next March, has caught the eye with his performances at youth level, so much so that he has attracted interest from across Europe.

Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have both been credited with interest in the attacking midfielder, which speaks to the level of talent that he has shown during his time at Thorp Arch.

The teenage whiz, who was described as a “standout” in the academy set-up by Como scout Ben Mattinson, has delivered two goals and two assists in 15 games as an attacking midfielder, per Transfermarkt.

If Farke were to hand Alker a debut in the next match, he would rank between Aaron Lennon and James Milner in the list of the club’s youngest debuts in Premier League history.

This shows both how rare it is for a 16-year-old to debut in the Premier League and the level of talent you need to do so, given the careers that Lennon and Milner went on to have.

Leverkusen and Dortmund seemingly feel that the England U16 international is a huge talent, given their reported interest, and that is why handing him a first-team debut in the coming weeks could be a smart move by Leeds.

Giving the 16-year-old ace a chance in the Premier League would show him that there is a clear pathway to regular football at Elland Road, which could prevent him from being tempted by the prospect of a move to Germany.

Leeds have a Gelhardt upgrade out on loan who's 'similar to Summerville'

Leeds United might need to recall at least one of their loan stars…

By
Robbie Walls

Nov 14, 2025

Aaronson made the move from attacking midfield to right wing this season in the Premier League, which is why it is his career at the club could be under threat by Alker’s emergence in the first-team, as the youngster could make a similar transition, unlike Gray, who is a natural number nine.

If the English attacking midfielder can make the step up and show that he belongs at first-team level, he could develop into the upgrade that Leeds need on the wing, negating any need for Aaronson at Elland Road.

The New York Yankees suffered an embarrassing blunder during Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs on account of some sloppy plays from Oswald Peraza and Jazz Chisholm, who'll no doubt want this one back.

At the top of the third and down 2-0 to the Cubs, Peraza fielded Cubs' Dansby Swanson's hit but threw the ball to the right side of Chisholm, forcing the second baseman to reach across his body to catch it. That may have thrown off Chisholm's timing, as he then overshot his throw to first, sending the ball way up into the stands and allowing the Cubs to score a run.

Watch that pair of unfortunate mistakes below:

Both Chisholm and Peraza are arguably at fault here having squandered the Yankees' chance for a sweet double play.

Chisholm, who has been dealing with shoulder soreness that could be affecting his throwing, only recently returned to his natural position at second base after an experimental stint at the hot corner this season. For now, Peraza appears primed to handle third base duties but the Yankees may likely seek some upgrades ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, especially if more sloppy infielding like this happens again.

Paul Scholes might be of the bizarre opinion that he “takes too many touches”, but is there truly any reason to suggest why Arsenal’s Declan Rice isn’t one of the top five midfielders in the world right now?

There really isn’t anything that the Englishman can’t do, be it from whipping in a delicious corner, or rifling home a free-kick from range, having also been an ever-present fixture this season, prior to missing the trip to Bruges through illness.

He’s always up and at ’em, tearing from box-to-box in almost a Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane style of yesteryear. The true all-round midfielder.

It does boggle the mind that this was once a player shackled to a centre-back role in his youth at West Ham, before emerging as something of a safe and steady defensive-minded midfielder under David Moyes – scoring just 15 times in 245 games for the Hammers.

In the red and white of Arsenal, however, the 26-year-old has been a man unleashed, with Mikel Arteta’s handling of the all-action star proving to be something of a masterstroke.

Declan Rice's record as a No.6 vs a No.8

For all the attention surrounding West Ham’s Conference League captain, having emerged as a leading target for both Manchester clubs prior to 2023, there were still eyebrows raised at the £105m figure that the Gunners forked out to get their man just over two years ago.

Indeed, as already stated, the Three Lions star had only provided 28 goals and assists in total at the London Stadium, with the aforementioned Keane one of the more vocal sceptics at the time:

A solid, albeit unspectacular, debut season followed in north London, with 31 of Rice’s 51 games in all competitions coming in a number six role, as per Transfermarkt, with Arteta experimenting with Kai Havertz in the first half of the season in that left-sided number eight role.

Those 31 games yielded just three goals and four assists, although with the likes of Jorginho and Thomas Partey deployed more frequently heading into 2024, Rice’s 19 games as more of a box-to-box central midfielder saw him register ten goals and assists.

Indeed, that shift became something of a permanent one in 2024/25, with the one-time Chelsea youth man registering 16 goals and assists from his 37 games as a central midfielder, while providing just three goal involvements from 15 games in his deep-lying berth.

Central midfield

Games

69

Goals & Assists

13 & 17

Defensive midfield

Games

55

Goals & Assists

5 & 9

Centre-back

Games

1

Goals & Assists

0 & 0

Total

Games

125

Goals & Assists

18 % 26

Of course, shifting into a more attacking role has aided that increase in final third contributions, although plaudits should fall to Arteta for spotting his attacking potential from the off.

Perhaps, a similar scenario could lie in store for Rice’s midfield colleague, Martin Zubimendi…

Arsenal's new Declan Rice

Part of the Gunners’ success again this term has been the continued deployment of Rice as a number eight, with the arrival of an orthodox midfield metronome, in the form of Zubimendi, bringing real balance to Arteta’s midfield unit.

Signed for a fee of around £60m from Real Sociedad, following prior interest from Liverpool, the Spaniard has taken to Premier League life like a duck to water, starting every league game to date this season.

As Rice has said himself, his new teammate is “so easy to play with”, with the pair seemingly hitting it off right from the start, rather than needing any period of adaptation.

Sitting in that role in front of the back four, Zubimendi is a master at pulling the strings, both for club and country, currently ranking in the top 11% of Premier League midfielders for pass completion, as well as in the top 9% for attempted passes per 90, as per FBref.

Also ranked in the top 16% for aerial duels won, the 26-year-old mops up so effectively in the centre of the park, rubberstamping the opinion that he is something of a ‘Rodri clone’, in the view of Spanish football expert, Graham Hunter.

Like 2023 Champions League final goalscorer, Rodri – and like Rice too – might there be more to Zubimendi’s game than just prioritising his defensive work? Could Arteta also get a tune out of him in an attacking sense, too?

Indeed, Zubimendi’s midweek performance away in Bruges showed flashes of what he can do in the final third, having provided two assists in Arsenal’s comfortable 3-0 victory.

Of course, with Rice already the all-action figure in the midfield, it’s not as Zubimendi would suddenly join him in bombing forward at every opportunity, albeit with Wednesday highlighting that Arteta should allow his compatriot to let the handbrake off on occasion.

While his first assist for Noni Madueke was nothing to shout about, the new man’s second was far more eye-catching, bursting down the left wing before producing a delightful back-post cross on his weaker foot.

In all, in the absence of Rice, the £60m man registered six key passes in total on the night, while creating three big chances, as per Sofascore, indicating that he can emulate the Englishman, if and when he is needed.

Already, he looks like the greatest success story of the Gunners’ summer recruitment, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring just four league goals, while Eberechi Eze was notably hooked at the break against Aston Villa, following arguably his poorest display to date.

That viewpoint is reinforced by his rising market value too, with Zubimendi now deemed to be €75m (£66m), according to Transfermarkt, while Gyokeres and Eze are deemed to be valued at €70m (£61m) and €65m (£57m), respectively.

Unlike that attack-minded pairing, the Euro 2024 winner has hit the ground running at the Emirates. As Wednesday indicated, however, there’s plenty more to his game still be discovered.

£45m star who plays a "bit like Henry" could end Gyokeres' Arsenal career

The incredibly talented Arsenal star could spell trouble for Gyokeres.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 4 days ago