A Associação de Árbitros de Futebol do Brasil (Abrafut) comunicou que pedirá a punição de Bruno Spindel, Diretor Executivo do Flamengo, e Felipe Melo, zagueiro do Fluminense. Ambos os personagens reclamaram das arbitragens de seus respectivos jogos e colocaram a lisura do Brasileirão em xeque.
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➡ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!
No duelo entre o Tricolor e o Atlético-MG, o camisa 30 reclamou de uma aplicação de cartão amarelo dada por Raphael Claus após uma falta dura em Otávio. O atleta disse que “John Textor tem razão”, em relação as acusações do dono do Botafogo com relação a manipulação de jogos no país.
Além disso, Bruno Spindel reclamou veementemente da arbitragem de Paulo Cesar Zanovelli no confronto entre Flamengo e RB Bragantino. No fim da partida, o dirigente afirmou que as acusações de fraudes e roubos estão prejudicando o Rubro-Negro.
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– Outra acusação que também não pode passar é a do diretor do Flamengo, Bruno Spindel. No jogo Bragantino x Flamengo, se revoltou contra a atuação de Paulo Cesar Zanovelli dizendo que o Flamengo está sendo prejudicado e que a arbitragem favorecerá o clube que acusá-la de roubo, fraude, assalto, colocando pressão nos árbitros e dessa forma garantindo resultado favorável à sua equipe.
No fim, a Abrafut defendeu a arbitragem do país e afirmou que os profissionais estão sendo usados como “cortina de fumaça” por conta dos resultados em campo. E reclamou do comportamento de jogadores e comissões técnicas.
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– Vai ser impossível termos um futebol de qualidade tanto para os membros que trabalham nessa modalidade, quanto para os torcedores e espectadores se todas as insatisfações forem justificadas pela injusta desconfiança, descrença, suspeita e incredulidade em cima do trabalho da arbitragem. A Abrafut, em defesa dos seus árbitros, entrará com uma notícia de infração no STJD.
Com isso, o Supremo Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva fará uma avaliação com relação a uma infração no Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportivo (CBJD). A Corte pode ouvir testemunhas e realizar diligências.
For the first time in a long time, there is a lot to be excited about for West Ham United fans.
After a dreadful start to the season, which saw them become one of the early favourites to go down, Nuno Espírito Santo has got them back on track.
The East Londoners picked up just their second Premier League win of the season against Newcastle United, and then got their third on Saturday, against Burnley.
On top of the uptick in form, fans have finally got to see Freddie Potts from the start, and he has been sensational in the middle of the park, although his brilliant form could signal the beginning of the end for another West Ham star.
What makes Potts so special
West Ham have a proud history of producing top-quality players from their academy, such as Declan Rice, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, and there is every chance that Potts could be another.
Now, that is certainly a lot to say about someone who has only just made his second competitive start for the club, but as his last performance made very clear, he is a special midfield talent.
For example, against both Newcastle and Burnley, the Barking-born put in quintessential all-action midfield performances.
One moment, he was fulfilling his defensive duties perfectly, and then the next, he was helping to initiate an attack, either through his exceptional range of passing or by carrying the ball through the centre of the park.
With his recent performances, it’s easy to see why respected analyst Ben Mattinson described the academy gem as someone who is “so smooth on the half-turn and composed under pressure.”
In addition to raw ability and mentality, the West Ham supporter also has considerable experience.
For example, he spent last season on loan with Portsmouth in the Championship, where he made 38 appearances, and the season before that in League One with Wycombe Wanderers, where he made 43 appearances nd was named the Player of the Season.
Season
23/24
24/25
Team
Wycombe
Portsmouth
Appearances
43
38
Goals
2
1
Assists
3
4
In all, it looks like Potts is going to become one of West Ham’s most important players this season, but in doing so, he could force one of the club’s signings of the decade to move on.
The West Ham player who could be replaced by Potts
There are a few West Ham players who could see their places in the team threatened by the emergence of Potts this season, such as Andrew Irving and Guido Rodriguez.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, while they might succeed elsewhere, it would be fair to say both of them have been disappointments in East London, which is not the case for Tomáš Souček.
The Czech international might not be anywhere near his best anymore, but when you take into account the totality of his achievements in Claret and Blue, it would be hard not to describe him as one of the club’s best signings this decade.
He initially joined the Hammers from Salvia Praha just over five years ago, and since then has made 254 appearances, in which he’s scored 44 goals and provided 13 assists.
More importantly, though, he was a crucial part of the side that won the Conference League in 2023, making nine appearances in the competition that season, totalling 507 appearances.
There can be no denying the fact that the 30-year-old has given everything during his time at the club and will undoubtedly go down as an icon for it.
However, with his contract expiring in a year and a half, and Potts emerging as a potential game-changer in the middle of the park, the Brod-born titan’s time in East London might be coming to an end.
Ultimately, Souček has been an incredible signing for West Ham, but Potts may eventually be one of the reasons his time with the club comes to an end.
West Ham star with "KDB-type quality" looks like Nuno's new Gibbs-White
The incredible talent could play a massive role in helping Nuno keep West Ham United in the Premier League this season.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is pleased to 'put pressure' on their arch-rivals Real Madrid after a dominant win against Celta Vigo, featuring a strong yet explosive performance of Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick. However, Flick bemoans the "incredible" suspension of key Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who will miss the next fixture against Athletic Club after the international break.
Barcelona's character shines in Balaidos victory
Celebrating his 50th La Liga game in charge, Flick's side demonstrated a potent attacking display as they ran out 4-2 winners to cut the gap on league leaders Madrid to three points. The match saw three goals from Lewandowski and one more from Pedri for Barcelona, while Celta threatened with strikes from Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The win, which came with eight shots on target from 20 attempts, showcased Barcelona's attacking prowess, contrasting with Celta's four shots on target from six attempts. Despite conceding two goals, Barcelona's control in the second period was evident, maintaining 63% possession and achieving 95% pass accuracy.
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Flick's focus on continued pressure on Real Madrid
Speaking after the match, Flick said: "Yes, of course, I'm happy. I think we made more mistakes in the first half than in the second. In the first half we were very good with the ball, and in the second half the team knew how to control the game.
"In football, the previous match doesn't matter, you always have to look ahead to the next one, but it's good to put pressure on the team above us. The second half gives us confidence. I'm happy for the team."
The Barcelona coach highlighted the strategic significance of the result, especially heading into the international break. "Pushing pressure on the opponent is good, we did it and I’m happy. Winning before the international break is also very good. I feel happy. We had to look out for ourselves and we applied the pressure well today."
This result positions Barcelona on 28 points, three behind Real Madrid's 31, with both teams having played 12 matches.
The undeniable star of the evening was veteran striker Lewandowski, who netted a hat-trick to take his La Liga tally to seven goals. The Polish international, in his fifth start, demonstrated his enduring quality despite being 37 years old. Flick expressed confidence in Lewandowski's form, avoiding speculation about his future beyond the current season.
"It’s too early to talk about Lewandowski’s next season. I can say that after his injury, I saw a different Robert, positive, confident. It’s very important for us that he scored three goals," Flick commented, acknowledging the striker's strong return to form. This performance is a significant boost for Barcelona's title aspirations, providing the cutting edge in attack they need to challenge Real Madrid.
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De Jong suspension a blow for Barcelona
While celebrating the victory, Flick voiced regret over the suspension of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman received two yellow cards during the match, resulting in a red card in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and will now miss Barcelona's next league fixture against Athletic Club. De Jong's absence will be keenly felt, given his crucial role.
"I think De Jong controlled the game and is very important for us," Flick noted. "He’s playing at an incredible level. It’s not good that he’ll miss the next game because he’s important for us, but we’ll have to manage it. When we return from the break, I hope to have Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan [Garcia] available. We’ll see."
De Jong’s influence on possession and pass accuracy is considerable, and his ability to dictate the tempo of games is vital for Barcelona. His suspension comes at a challenging time, especially with the team striving to maintain pressure on the league leaders.
O goleiro Lucas Perri não escondeu a relevância da vitória do Botafogo sobre o Fluminense por 2 a 0, na noite deste domingo (8), no Maracanã. Em entrevista na zona mista, o goleiro destacou o fato do fim do jejum ter acontecido justamente no clássico.
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Segundo o camisa 12, o ânimo revigora após um confronto com um rival tradicional.
+ Transforme sua paixão pelo futebol em profissão. Descubra o caminho com o curso Gestor de Futebol!
– Vencer um clássico é muito importante. O clássico dita muito o ânimo para o resto da semana, para a sequência do campeonato. A gente sabe que o clássico não tem favorito, que pode mudar. O time pode estar numa sequência de derrotas, como a gente estava e, ao vencer um clássico, isso dá um ânimo muito grande. Mas nós buscamos sempre estar muito equilibrados – disse.Em seguida, Perri falou sobre o novo comandante.- Tanto o Lúcio (Flávio) quanto o (Joel) Carli são pessoas sensacionais sensacionais e estão aqui para ajudar a gente – garantiu.O Botafogo volta a campo no dia 18, uma quarta-feira, para encarar o América-MG, no Independência.
Eddie Howe has some problems to fix at Newcastle United. Ah, but he has solved issues before, smoothing out the creases in his system each year he has been on Tyneside.
Last season, Howe led Newcastle to the Carabao Cup title, their first major domestic honour since 1955. The Magpies have also flown back into the Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League.
Important days are ahead. Newcastle currently sit 15th in the Premier League with one win from six attempts. The season, it’s worth underlining, has only just begun, and the Magpies took a time to click into gear during the 2024/25 campaign, mounting a phenomenal run of winter form that carried them through to the finish.
Howe is trusted to bring it all together, with the difficulties of the summer transfer window, defined by Alexander Isak’s deadline-day move to Liverpool for a record-breaking £125m fee, seeping into the season.
However, among the brightest sparks on Tyneside right now is Nick Woltemade, who replaced Isak in August and has kicked off his career in black and white strongly.
Nick Woltemade's start to life in Newcastle
When Woltemade first touched down in Newcastle, he was stepping into big boots. Isak, after all, is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe, with his 27-goal haul last season a testament to that.
But the German, signed from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee, has shown promise across these early weeks. Scoring the winner on his debut against Wolves and again against Arsenal on Sunday.
An intelligent and technically gifted number nine, Woltemade has not the same snappy, electric athleticism as Isak, but he is deft on the ball and adept in link-up phases. He’s a towering presence besides, and a clean finisher of the ball.
With Yoane Wissa sidelined with a knee injury, the 23-year-old has pounced on the opportunity to lay down his claim for the starting spot at the front of the ship, even picking up Newcastle’s Player of the Month for September.
Newcastle’s four-goal tally across six Premier League appearances so far this season puts them right at the bottom of the pile, alongside Aston Villa and Wolves.
At the corresponding stage last year, they had scored eight goals, and the fact that that was a middling return in any case perhaps highlights the task Howe has in the final third.
Premier League 25/26 – Lowest xG Totals
Club
Position
xG
Leeds
12th
5.9
Wolves
20th
5.5
Newcastle
15th
5.2
Aston Villa
16th
4.8
Burnley
18th
4.5
Data via FBref
Woltemade, regardless, has been a great signing. His ceiling is high. Moreover, Wissa has yet to touch grass in black and white.
Newcastle's shrewdest summer signing
Central defence was an area in need of shoring up as Newcastle stepped into the summer transfer window, but it wasn’t until August that Howe claimed his quarry, welcoming Malick Thiaw over from Italy.
Thiaw, 24, joined from AC Milan in a deal worth £35m, and while his technical quality and strong defensive skillset have long suggested there is a place for him in the Premier League, an injury record that leaves plenty to be desired came attached as a caveat.
But he’s looking well worth the money, so far. Thiaw, let’s not forget, has long been regarded as a top talent, and over the past year, he ranks among the top 7% of centre-backs across Europe for pass completion and the top 18% for progressive passes played per 90, as per FBref.
The last-minute defeat against Arsenal at the weekend stung, all right, but Thiaw’s performance was a positive, with the Chronicle Live awarding the German with an 8/10 match rating post-game.
Thiaw, after all, stood his ground against arguably the best team in the Premier League, with Sofascore recording that he made eight clearances and won five duels across the afternoon.
Alongside Sven Botman, Howe may well feel he has a new central defensive partnership to guide Newcastle through the next chapter, fit to last and with the capacity to challenge for the biggest prizes, against the biggest hitters that the Premier League and Europe can offer.
At a fee of just £35m, this may well prove to be a steal for Newcastle. Thiaw has always been among the most talented centre-halves of his age bracket, merely impeded across the past several years by regular trips to the infirmary.
Still, the early signs are promising in the Premier League. Thiaw has been hailed as a “monster in the air” by journalist Martino Puccio, and with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn and Jamal Lascelles all vying for starting berths of their own, Howe has the means to enforce healthy rotation across the season as Newcastle look to stay competitive across four fronts.
While Woltemade has started on the right track as he looks to smoothly replace Isak, it’s not outrageous to say that he is not, and that plenty of work over a number of years must be completed before the lanky goalscorer reaches the same level of fluency and snap as his predecessor at St. James’ Park.
However, it’s also fair to say that Thiaw boasts more completeness than Newcastle’s defensive crop, Botman notwithstanding, and that, for about half the price of the unpolished striker, he might prove to be the pick of the bunch when assessing Newcastle’s summer transfer window at a later date.
Newcastle's "true legend" looks like he's on borrowed time under Howe
Newcastle’s modern “legend” may well be phased out before too long.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has again hit back at Barcelona boss Hansi Flick after the German accused the national team of mismanaging Lamine Yamal’s fitness. The teenager’s groin injury has sparked a public row between club and country, with De la Fuente insisting “everyone is condemned by their actions” as tensions escalate ahead of El Clasico.
Flick vs De la Fuente: Tensions boil over
The dispute began when Yamal returned to Barcelona from international duty in September with a groin injury. Flick openly accused Spain of “not taking care of the player”, suggesting that national team staff ignored his condition and overused him despite knowing he was in discomfort. His comments quickly went viral in Spain and Germany.
La Roja's manager responded strongly during an appearance on , criticising Flick for forgetting his own past as a national team manager. He doubled down, saying: “everyone is condemned by their actions”, suggesting that the 60-year-old should reflect before criticising others.
AdvertisementAFPDe la Fuente responds to Barcelona boss
Flick was unable to hide his frustration: "He went to the national team with pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers to play. They had at least a three-goal lead in each match, and he played 73 and 79 minutes, and between matches, he couldn’t train. That’s not taking care of the player. I think the Spanish national team has a great team, the best players in the world, but they haven't looked after their players and I’m very sad about this situation."
De la Fuente did not hold back when asked about Flick’s criticism, he said: "I didn't understand it, because he was also a national team coach. In the end, everyone is condemned by their actions. I also sometimes don't understand the clubs' position. All footballers want to be in the national team.
"There's a schedule where you know the number of matches you're going to be able to play. What's not fair is complaining in November and then saying everything's fine when the year starts again. There are a lot of matches, and for footballers, that's a challenge."
Records, pressure and Spain’s 2026 World Cup dream
Away from the drama, Spain are on the verge of history. Their 4-0 win over Bulgaria saw them equal the legendary 29-match unbeaten run under Vicente del Bosque. Their last defeat came in 2023 to Scotland. Since then, they’ve gone unbeaten through Euro 2024 and World Cup qualifying.
They now chase a 30th game unbeaten when they face Georgia, led by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Victory would edge Spain closer to sealing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Spain are among the favourites heading into that tournament, De la Fuente said: "We're going to be fighting for a very beautiful dream. I think success isn't just about achieving it; the most beautiful thing is the process, the journey."
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AFPYamal’s response is on the pitch
Despite the noise, Yamal has let his football speak. After returning from his groin injury, he assisted Pedri in Barcelona’s late win over Girona and played 60 minutes before being subbed off. In the Champions League, he started against Olympiacos and was outstanding, assisting Fermin Lopez’s opener before scoring a penalty in a 6-1 thrashing. It was a reminder of just how crucial he already is at 18 years old for the Catalan giants.
Yamal now prepares for the ultimate test – away at the Santiago Bernabeu in El Clasico. He scored in his last visit during Barca’s 4-0 win and will be expected to deliver again with Barcelona still battling injuries to key attackers.
Leeds United did not add any new players to their squad to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch on deadline day before the summer transfer window officially slammed shut.
That was despite the fact that Daniel Farke claimed that it would be “difficult” for the club to avoid relegation from the Premier League if they did not add more quality to their frontline.
The German head coach was clear that he wanted more recruits to improve his options in the final third to give his side the best chances of avoiding the drop back down to the Championship.
Unfortunately, the club were unable to deliver on what the manager wanted. The Athletic’s Beren Cross has since reported that the club felt that there were not many wingers on the market who were better than Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto, who scored four goals combined in their last season in the Premier League.
Despite that claim from sources inside the club, it was well-reported that Leeds were interested in a deal to sign Harry Wilson from Fulham on deadline day.
Why missing out on Harry Wilson was a blow for Leeds
The Championship champions reportedly agreed a deal with the Cottagers to sign the Wales international by meeting their asking price on the final day of the window.
Fulham's Harry Wilson in action against Brighton.
However, Fulham then had a late change of mind and opted to keep the left-footed star at Craven Cottage, which left the Whites with little time to find an alternative before the window slammed shut.
Ultimately, Leeds should have known that they needed another option on the right wing the second they were promoted to the Premier League, given James’ aforementioned struggles in the division in the past, so there cannot be too much sympathy given to them for missing out on Wilson on deadline day.
Ipswich Town'sLeifDavisin action with Fulham's Harry Wilson
However, it was a blow to miss out on the winger at the time because it then left the club without enough time to source a replacement before the window closed, and it was a blow because Wilson is a quality player who could have been an excellent signing.
Appearances
35
25
xG
3.38
4.21
Goals
4
6
Big chances created
5
2
Key passes per game
0.7
0.8
Assists
6
1
As you can see in the table above, the Welsh wizard is a proven Premier League performer who has delivered ten goals and seven assists in the last two seasons, outperforming his xG in both campaigns.
Given that James has never scored more than four goals in a Premier League season in his career, Wilson’s tally of six in the top-flight last term suggests that he could have been an upgrade on what Farke currently has at his disposal.
Given Farke’s claim that it will be difficult for Leeds to avoid the drop without any additions to the frontline, the club must now consider looking into the free agent market, as they did around this time last year with the signing of Josuha Guilavogui to bolster their midfield.
There are some interesting names in the free agent pool, including recently released former Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, and one player who could fit the bill for the Whites is Hakim Ziyech.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Morocco international is a reported transfer target for Spanish side Elche, after leaving Al Duhail earlier this summer, and Leeds should now push to convince him to make a move back to the Premier League this season.
Why Leeds should sign Hakim Ziyech
The West Yorkshire outfit should attempt to sign Ziyech on a free transfer as an alternative to Wilson because it is clear that they need an addition to their options in that position.
James’ historical struggles in the Premier League and his poor start to the current campaign, with zero goals and zero ‘big chances’ created, suggest that he is not going to be the answer to their attacking woes any time soon.
Hakim Ziyech for Galatasaray.
Bringing in Ziyech, who is vastly experienced at the top level, on a free transfer could be a shrewd and relatively low-risk move that could pay off big time for Farke and his side.
The 32-year-old star has played over 200 Eredivisie matches, over 60 games in the Premier League, and 45 times in the Champions League, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has had a fantastic career and proven himself in big competitions.
Ziyech, as you can see in the clip above, showed signs of quality during his time with Premier League giants Chelsea, with this stunning strike against Spurs arguably the individual highlight of his spell at Stamford Bridge.
Appearances
23
23
18
Starts
15
14
6
Goals
2
4
0
Big chances created
6
9
6
Key passes per game
1.5
1.3
0.8
Assists
3
3
3
As you can see in the table above, the Moroccan wizard delivered an eye-catching return of 21 ‘big chances’ created in 35 league starts for the Blues.
James, meanwhile, has created 16 ‘big chances’ in 109 appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, for Manchester United, Fulham, and Leeds combined, which shows that he does not offer anywhere near as much creative quality as Ziyech.
Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech.
The former Ajax star, whose touch was hailed as “extraordinary” by Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk, also scored 79 goals in 216 Eredivisie games earlier in his career, per Transfermarkt, which means that he can also offer a goal threat when given regular game time.
At the age of 32, Ziyech may not be at the peak of his powers or a signing that would be as exciting as it would have been five years ago, but he is still at a stage where he can contribute at the top end of the pitch and provide a touch of class that Farke’s side are clearly lacking.
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The Whites clearly wanted a left-footed right-wing option, given the interest in Wilson, and the Morocco international could be a dream alternative option now that the club are restricted to free agents.
Over the summer, Rodrygo seemed like the Real Madrid player likeliest to depart the club, with teams such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain all expressing their interest. However, the Brazilian winger has reiterated that he never had any desire to leave Los Blancos, proving that there was never any weight to any rumours linking him with an exit.
Rodrygo's summer of speculation
The 24-year-old was subject to intense speculation linking him with a departure from Real Madrid over the summer, with reports suggesting that he wasn't in the plans of new head coach Xabi Alonso, thanks to the arrival of Franco Mastantuono for the right wing position and the continued prominence of Vinicius Junior. on the left flank. The ex-Santos prodigy, however, has rubbished claims that he was ever close to leaving the Spanish capital, affirming that the club didn't ask him to find new suitors despite links with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and PSG.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportRodrygo wants 'more with Real Madrid'
Speaking in an interview with , Rodrygo explained his situation that saw him get linked to numerous big teams across Europe. "Every summer, the same thing happens to me. Whether I'm going to leave or whether I have offers from this club or that," said the winger.
"Every week, I was in a team if I paid attention to what was published. Of course, there are always offers; I'm not going to lie about that. But I always made it clear to the club that I want to continue succeeding here, even more than I already have. It's a lot to have won two Champions Leagues at my age, but now I want more European Cups in this shirt.
"I've always said: 'As long as Real Madrid wants me, I'll be here.' If one day Real Madrid says to me: 'Rodry, find a team,' I'll say 'OK.' But that hasn't happened. The club has always told me they count on me. And when I had a problem, they were there for me. People speculated because I kept quiet. But I knew what I was going to do this season with Real Madrid and that I'm going to be focused on giving my best. It hasn't bothered me. I was calm, and here I am… as always. This is my seventh season."
Alonso sees Rodrygo as a left winger
After playing just 100 minutes at the Club World Cup in June-July, Rodrygo was expected to not feature much during the season. In fact, he was an unused substitute in two of the first four La Liga games. However, he was handed a surprise start in the Champions League opener against Marseille last month, making five consecutive substitute appearances thereafter.
Rodrygo revealed the conversation he had with Alonso, assuring that he is "happy" with his playing time, adding: "When the manager arrived he called me in to talk and said: 'I know you like playing on the left, but I'm going to need you in other positions too.' I told him, 'Okay, manager, I'm here to help the team.' Everyone knows I prefer playing on the left and that I'm much better on that wing, but I'm always available to the team to play on the right or as a number nine, and I told him so. The truth is, he's only putting me on the left, and I like the level of minutes I'm getting. I'm doing well, although, logically, I want to play more. I'm in a process of evolution, and I'm getting better and better, and I feel happy. I'm performing better and better."
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AFPImpact with Brazil on Rodrygo's mind
After being 'rested' for the first international break of the 2025-26 season, Rodrygo has been called up by his former boss and current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti for the upcoming set of international friendlies, which will see the Selecao lock horns with Asian giants South Korea and Japan. The mazy dribbler has stated that he hopes to lift the 2026 World Cup with Brazil, in addition to another Champions League with Madrid.
Here we are again. South Africa and New Zealand, the two best sides to have never won a World Cup, meet in a knockout match. Both have had their hands on trophy all the way back when it was called the ICC Knockout and possibly meant something else in terms of its significance in the global game. So make no mistake: winning this will not take away the desire for the big one but it will help to tide things over until 2027, when South Africa co-host the event with neighbours Zimbabwe and Namibia.Quietly, South Africa know they are actually building for that but the pressure to return home with something other than disappointment is ever-present. This is another chance to change that. New Zealand, after coming so close to the trophy at the 2019 World Cup, also carry scars but somehow seem less burdened by them. Perhaps a smaller population, with fewer socio-economic fractures that can be plastered over with sporting success helps them; maybe they’re just good at stoicism. Those are things to ponder later in the week when one of these two teams will play a final against a yet-to-be-decided opposition at a yet-to-be-decided venue. For now, they’ve both probably got the knockout they wanted.Facing each other, rather than India or Australia, appears to give them both a better chance of progressing to the final. And doing it in Pakistan, though both teams travelled from Dubai at different times on Monday, likely suits them more. Conditions are good for run-scoring and both have line-ups capable of posting big scores which suggests fans will be in for a run-fest. Their attacks are similarly matched to the point where both were hit by injury-enforced absences amongst the quicks. Some of the more interesting narratives could be around which of the tall men – Marco Jansen and Kyle Jamieson – can extract the most with their height or which of the attacking bowlers, Kagiso Rabada or Matt Henry, has the most success.Related
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A difference could come in the spin resources, where South Africa have chosen to operate with only one specialist in Keshav Maharaj but New Zealand have both captain Mitchell Santner and offspinner Michael Bracewell in their best XI. Maharaj had previously indicated he sees a spinners role as a more defensive one at this event so their economy rates are the numbers to watch here.Overall, this match promises an even contest without the hype that comes with playing a big three nation even though there is plenty of history. New Zealand dumped South Africa out of both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups and though the likes of us will talk about it, it’s worth remembering that the last of those was ten years ago and much cricket has been played since.Then, particularly for South Africa, the results seemed seismic. Now, ICC events happen annually and teams are dusting themselves off and starting again with much greater frequency. Does that mean it matters less if you lose at a crucial stage or even if you win? Ask one of these two, who have both spent the best part of the last three decades trying to win a major trophy and they’re likely to say no. Only one of them will have the chance to do it this time.
Form guide
South Africa: WWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)New Zealand: LWWWW
In the spotlight: David Miller and Kane Williamson
No one has quite said it yet but could this be the last time 35-year-old David Miller plays in an ODI tournament for South Africa? And if so, what kind of say will he have on it? He has limited opportunity in the tournament so far. He came to bat in the 43rd over against Afghanistan only to smash the winning runs against England, but has had almost-decisive knocks in both South Africa’s previous white-ball knockout games. At the 2023 ODI World Cup, Miller’s century gave South Africa something to defend in the semi-final after they were reduced to 24 for 4; at the 2024 T20 World Cup, he was looking good on 21 off 17 balls before being spectacularly caught on the boundary which could have taken South Africa within touching distance of the trophy. Miller has shown he enjoys the big occasion and has also indicated he is taking things year by year, so chances to play in knockouts are likely becoming fewer. After all his efforts, he will want to play a role in South Africa winning one.2:46
Latham: Scheduling is out of our control
Kane Williamson has back-to-back ODI centuries against South Africa, albeit they were scored six years apart. He made 106* against them in Birmingham in June 2019 and 133* against them at this venue in the tri-series that preceded this tournament, though that was not against a full-strength South African side. Overall, Williamson averages 57.35 against South Africa, his best against any opposition other than Zimbabwe. Though New Zealand have a line-up of creative and crafty hitters, Williamson’s role in New Zealand’s side continues to be of utmost importance as evidenced by his 81 against India in Dubai, where he kept New Zealand in the fight in what was ultimately a losing cause.Like many of the more experienced players at this event, at 34, Williamson may not get another opportunity to win an ODI trophy and will want to make the most of this one.
Team news
Openers Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi have both recovered from the illness that kept them out of the England game and are expected to be available for selection, but de Zorzi is expected to make way for Aiden Markram, who passed his fitness test on Tuesday. George Linde has been called up as a travelling reserve. The bowling make-up – two allrounders, one specialist spinner and two quicks – is expected to be unchanged.South Africa (possible): 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi NgidiMitchell Santner and Temba Bavuma shake hands•AFP/Getty Images
New Zealand’s only question will be which one of Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway or Daryl Mitchell they will leave out. Conway sat out the India match for Mitchell, who played against Pakistan but not Bangladesh. Young and Ravindra both have centuries to their names at this competition which suggests the decision is between Mitchell and Conway, who has scores of 30 and 10 from his outings in the tournament.New Zealand: 1 Will Young, 2 Rachin Ravindra/Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Kyle Jamieson, 11 Will O’Rourke
Pitch and conditions
In five ODIs this year, the average first innings score is 316.5 and results have been shared between the team batting first and the chasing team. It’s expected to be another belter for the batters and tough outing for bowlers. While Heinrich Klaasen mentioned some drizzle on South Africa’s arrival in the city on Monday, the forecast is mild and clear for the semi-final.
Stats and trivia
South Africa and New Zealand have played no bilateral white-ball cricket against each other since 2017 but played each other at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups and won a game a piece and the Pakistan tri-nation series, in a match which New Zealand won. In ICC tournaments, they have met 11 times, and New Zealand have won seven of those games.
South Africa are the only country to have qualified for the knockouts of all of the last seven ICC events – across men’s, women’s and Under-19 tournaments. That includes the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup semi-final, the 2024 men’s T20 World Cup final, the 2025 World Test Championship final, the 2024 men’s Under-19 World Cup semi-final, the 2024 women’s T20 World Cup final and the 2025 women’s Under-19 final.
Quotes“Scheduling is an issue all around but when you do have time to rest and recover, you should. One day cricket can be quite exhausting on the body, and for us, it might be about making sure bowlers are ready for tomorrow. I don’t think they’re going to be doing much today in training.”New Zealand travelled back to Pakistan from Dubai early on Monday morning and will use Tuesday to recuperate rather than train heavily according to captain Mitchell Santner.“We’ll approach it as we normally would. We obviously want to play our best cricket. We understand New Zealand will obviously come with a certain challenge and we’ll have to prepare accordingly but I think Marco [Jansen] said it, it’s just another game for us. Yes, it’s important but we definitely won’t be blowing it out of proportion. It’s the semi-final, we want to play our best cricket.”
She made a welcome return to form as the hosts clean-swept India building towards a defence of their 50-over title
Tristan Lavalette11-Dec-2024
Ashleigh Gardner starred with both bat and ball•Getty Images
Having gone through what went wrong at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Australia rebounded with a series clean sweep of India as they build towards a defence of their 50-over crown next year.Australia outplayed India after two comfortable victories in Brisbane before finishing the series with an 83-run win in a topsy-turvy contest in oppressive conditions at the WACA in Perth.Australia entered the ODI series with an unfamiliar bitter taste after their semi-final defeat to South Africa in the UAE. Underlining an increasingly cramped women’s cricket calendar, the team and hierarchy did not get a chance to debrief due to the WBBL starting almost immediately after.Related
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Once the WBBL ended, the squad assembled in Brisbane and had to dissect their failed bid for a fourth straight T20 World Cup title. “I think it was just a really good touch point for our group to realise the things that we weren’t doing as well as probably what we could have,” Ashleigh Gardner told reporters after the third ODI. “We reviewed that game [against South Africa] and then… we were just really positive on where this group can get to.”And I think that’s the most exciting thing, that anyone that comes into this group is excited to be here, really wants to be here, and just striving to be better every day.”Australia had numerous players step up across the series against India. Their wins in Brisbane were highlighted by debutant Georgia Voll’s spectacular performances at the top of the order, while in Perth all-round efforts from Gardner and Annabel Sutherland overcame an Indian team mustering belated fight.It was a welcome return to form for Gardner, who shrugged off her struggles in the WBBL with 50 off 64 balls after Australia had collapsed to 78 for 4. It was her first ODI half-century in almost 18 months and she backed up with the ball to claim career-best figures of 5 for 30.Ashleigh Gardner scored her first fifty of 2024•Getty Images
“I felt it’s one of those things… you feel really confident in the nets but then it doesn’t replicate in the middle,” Gardner said. “For me, I knew that I just had to spend a little bit of time out in the middle and I came in at a pretty tough time.”I just love batting with Bells [Sutherland]. It’s always really positive, just keep each other going in those moments and knowing that if we just got through that tough little phase… it would be fine. And I guess that’s the messaging that I just tried to keep telling myself.”With Alyssa Healy on the sidelines for the entire series due to injury, Tahlia McGrath took the captaincy reins with the 27-year-old Gardner as her deputy. “I think T-Mac [McGrath] and I work really well together,” she said. “We’re obviously very different personalities, but I think we complement each other in that way as well.”She’s a very cool, calm person. And I guess what I challenged her with was to try and think outside the box. What I tried to throw to her was just different ideas at different points to get her mind ticking over.”Australia, however, did not submit a flawless performance in Perth having endured a ragged effort in the field marked by five dropped catches. It is an area they will hope to brush up quickly ahead of the three-match ODI series in New Zealand starting on December 19.”We want to be the best fielding team in the world and that certainly wasn’t on show tonight,” Gardner said. “I think there were glimpses of brilliance, but then there’s just those little moments where maybe it’s a lapse of concentration.”We do train really hard on our fielding but maybe it’s just training under pressure more, and try to do some different drills.”Australia took precautions ahead of the New Zealand tour with Voll and Sophie Molineux leaving the field after diving efforts left them feeling ginger, while the fitness of Healy will continue to be monitored.”Healy’s coming away with us, we’ll see how she goes. But she’s progressing well, which is really pleasing,” Gardner said. “I’m sure she’ll be chomping at the bit to play that first game in New Zealand.”The group’s just really excited. It’s a really cool little period. We’re only over there for ten days before the Christmas break. I think it’s going to really spur the team on to finish off what we’ve done here in this series.”I think this group’s in a really good place at the moment. We’ve been really successful in 50-over cricket. So it’s just kind of going on to the next progression and that’s obviously looking forward to the World Cup.”