Tag Futebol

While Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi could be Afghanistan’s trump cards, India could counter them with Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube

Alagappan Muthu19-Jun-20241:19

How can India fit Kuldeep Yadav into the XI?

Match detailsAfghanistan vs India
Bridgetown, 10.30am local, 8.00pm IST, 2.30pm GMTBig picture – India vs Rashid KhanThis January, these two teams produced one of the greatest T20Is ever – one that needed two Super Overs to produce a result – and that was when they were playing less-than-full-strength teams after the series had been decided. The stakes are a lot higher now. So perhaps Afghanistan and India’s meeting in the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup 2024 will be a little less spectacle and a little more surgical.Afghanistan possess a bowling attack capable of asking questions every over, which works out well because they have to find a way past the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early to level the playing field. With those two out of the picture, anything can happen. That’ll be Fazalhaq Farooqi’s job. His left-arm angle coupled with the ability to swing the new ball are threats to batters of even the highest quality.Related

Trott: Day games suit Afghanistan better

Hayden expects short-of-runs Kohli to 'work out what to do' in WI

Six-hitter Dube awaits his moment to unleash

Farooqi: 'Whatever I am doing with the new ball, that is my skill'

If that happens – and it’s a big if – India will come under scoreboard pressure, which is best friends with Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan captain has walked into plenty of situations where the opposition has just started to wobble, and he finishes them off.It takes a genius to beat a genius, and India are lucky to have Suryakumar Yadav, who has dominated Rashid in T20s, scoring 86 runs in 58 balls at a strike rate of 148 without being dismissed. Shivam Dube goes at a higher strike rate (155) over a smaller sample size (18 balls), but that brings into picture the other advantage that India have: left-hand batters. Rashid has not done as well against them in T20s lately. He kept them down to a strike rate of 109 in 2022 and 2023. This year, it’s up at 141.Afghanistan’s bowling is their best strength, but India have them covered. So that means one of Afghanistan’s batters will have to have a field day.Form guideAfghanistan: LWWWW
India: WWWWWAxar Patel’s batting gives India the confidence to hit out from ball one•ICC/Getty Images

In the spotlight – Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Axar PatelScoring quickly against high-quality bowling requires both skill and bravery, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz has both in abundance. He scored 80 off 56 balls in a match where only two of his team-mates reached double-digits and the opposition – New Zealand – were bowled out for 75. Gurbaz hits pace at a strike rate of 150 and spin at 145 in T20 cricket, and that may very well be a function of how he doesn’t mind taking risks. Batters like that are hard to stop when it’s their day.So much of the focus in this game will be on mystery spin. But underneath all that, happily flying under the radar, giving both tangible and intangible results is Axar Patel. His left-arm spin is all about containment, but he does that by attacking the stumps, while his batting at No. 8 gives India the confidence to hit out from ball one. Axar should also enjoy the fact that Afghanistan should have only two left-hand batters in their top eight.Team newsIndia don’t have any need to tinker with their XI. And despite the loss to West Indies, Afghanistan might not either.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Gulbadin Naib, 4 Azmatullah Omarzai, 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiIndia (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Arshdeep Singh1:34

Bishop: Hard to name someone with Farooqi’s skillset

Pitch and conditionsBridgetown has offered decent batting conditions, having hosted one of the three 200-plus scores seen in this tournament. The weather shouldn’t be a problem.Stats and trivia Afghanistan have played India in 13 games across formats, but are yet to win one Gurbaz (167) and Farooqi (12) are currently the highest scorer and the highest wicket-taker, respectively, in the T20 World Cup 2024 India have not faced Rashid a lot in T20Is, but in two games, they have scored 69 runs in eight overs without losing a single wicket to him Rohit and Kohli are tied on 4042 T20I runs, with only Babar Azam (4145) ahead of themQuotes”I always thought that during the most difficult phase of T20, like between [overs] 7 to 14, 7 to 16 – I had thought about that a lot before making my debut for India – if I do well here, if I bat with a good strike rate, then I can be a game-changer on that day. And when I kept doing it repeatedly, I felt that this is my game plan going forward.”

Manchester United have wasted no time in the transfer market to aid Ruben Amorim in being a success at Old Trafford, already making a move to sign one player.

Matheus Cunha has been a player constantly linked with a switch to join the Red Devils over recent months, with a deal seemingly edging ever closer ahead of the final game of the Premier League campaign.

It’s been widely reported that the club have been in advanced talks with Wolves over a deal for the Brazilian international ahead of the summer despite the failure to win the Europa League.

The 25-year-old has a £62.5m release clause within his current contract, but that doesn’t appear to be an issue after agreeing a deal to pay such a figure out in multiple instalments.

However, despite the movement with a deal for Cunha, it appears as though one deal could be completed before him, with another deal edging closer to completion.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

After such a dismal year in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, new additions are to be expected at United to try and right the wrongs of the current campaign.

The likes of Ronald Araujo, Ederson and Viktor Gyokeres have all been strongly linked already ahead of the off-season, as the hierarchy look to bolster various areas of the pitch.

However, despite the interest in the aforementioned players, Palmeiras star Richard Rios could be the first summer signing, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that he’s seen as a key part of the revival at Old Trafford, and could be available for a fee in the region of just £20m – an absolute bargain.

It also claims that, despite the move for Cunha, the 24-year-old could be set to be the first addition to the new project led by Amorim to lead the club back to their former glory.

Why Rios would be an upgrade on Ugarte

Midfielder Manuel Ugarte was seen as a huge signing last summer after joining in a £50m deal from PSG, looking to be a key part of the rebuild conducted by former boss Erik ten Hag.

The Uruguayan has started 22 league games to date, often having a stop-start period in the North West and being unable to string up a real run of games over the last few months.

He was benched for the Europa League final defeat against Spurs on Wednesday night, not even being brought on by Amorim – potentially highlighting his form of late in the first-team.

It remains to be seen if he will be part of the manager’s long-term plans at the club, but a deal for Rios could further limit his game time and offer Amorim a quality option in the middle of the park.

The Colombian, who’s been labelled a “machine” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas this campaign – highlighting why his £20m fee would be a bargain.

Rios has registered more goals and assists throughout 2024/25, handing the side an added attacking option from a deep-lying role, something which is needed given their lack of threat this season.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, registering more key passes per 90 – handing the players ahead of him the chance to bolster their own tallies.

How Rios compares to Ugarte in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Rios	Ugarte
Games played	27	29
Goals & assists	6	3
Progressive carries	1.1	0.8
Progressive passes	2.5	3
Pass accuracy	91%	89%
Key passes	1.1	0.5
Blocks made	2.2	1.6
Interceptions made	1.4	1.3
Stats via FBref

The 24-year-old’s talent out of possession is just as impressive, making more blocks and interceptions per 90, offering the added defensive presence they need, given their lowly league standing.

£20m in today’s market is a bargain price, especially for a player of Rios’ quality, with his skillset certainly bolstering the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

As seen by the stats produced in recent times, he’s managed to better Ugarte in such a role, possibly being a key player in their ambitions of pushing back up the league table in 2025/26.

He's like Pogba: Man Utd begin talks to sign "world-class" £50m talent

Manchester United could be about to make a move for a star who may follow in Paul Pogba’s footsteps.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 20, 2025

Liverpool will win the Premier League this season, but the celebrations will prove to be the finale for several members of Arne Slot’s squad.

While Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to sign for Real Madrid when his contract at Anfield expires this summer, all of a Reds persuasion would love nothing more than a dramatic twist that keeps the Scouser in their team where he is.

Unlikely. However, there are further stars who may actually be shown the door, which would probably be a good thing if Liverpool are to challenge for the biggest honours once again next year.

Liverpool looking to sell this summer

Liverpool have reached a critical juncture, though in truth, the same could be said every year.

The priority, at least in terms of needing an upgrade, lies at the front of the ship, with Darwin Nunez likely to be sold having fallen by the wayside in Slot’s system. A more reliable goalscorer is needed to challenge with Mohamed Salah and ease his burden.

Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are also expendable, for the right price. Neither will be shown the door, but neither will FSG’s suits stand in the way of their potential departures.

Harvey Elliott, 21, is also at something of a conundrum in his fledgling career. The boyhood Liverpool fan is one of the most talented young playmakers out there, but has yet to start in the Premier League this season and will want playing-time assurances going forward.

He falls more into the Alexander-Arnold park of being a player who fans would want to stay put. But there’s another Liverpool forward who FSG could hit the jackpot by selling this summer without too much grumbling.

Liverpool must cash in on Slot's flop

When Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus last summer, it was regarded as a low-risk deal, worth just £12.5m, for a player who would add that little bit of extra depth to a talented and balanced frontline.

Salah rarely misses action due to injury, but with Ben Doak heading out to Middlesbrough on loan it made sense to sign a deputy. Talented and technically gifted, Chiesa was once considered among Europe’s best forwards, hailed for his “world-class” level by retired Italy star Alessandro Pierini.

However, injuries have gotten the better of him in recent years, and he’s missed chunks of his maiden campaign in English football that have been to the detriment of his role in Slot’s team.

Just 12 times has Chiesa graced the field in a Liverpool shirt, and like Elliott, he hasn’t started a single Premier League match. He’s had his moments, though, notably scoring a crisp consolation goal in the Carabao Cup final.

However, the 27-year-old’s minimal involvement doesn’t look likely to change all that much next year, especially now the Egyptian King has renewed his deal for two more campaigns.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, the Italian ace is attracting interest ahead of the summer transfer window from several Premier League suitors along with AC Milan over in Italy, and Liverpool are willing to entertain offers in the ballpark of €30m (£26m).

This feels like a no-brainer, not least because it would see FSG bank double their investment just one year ago, having not used all that much of Chiesa’s quality. It would actually equate to a 108% increase on the figure paid to the Old Lady last year.

Federico Chiesa – Liverpool Stats by Competition
Competition	Apps	Goals	Assists	Minutes
Premier League	4	0	0	33′
Champions League	3	0	1	107′
FA Cup	3	1	1	120′
Carabao Cup	2	1	0	135′
Stats via Transfermarkt

The £150k-per-week wideman is talented and could revivify his career elsewhere, but it feels like a deal for a transfer away this summer, Premier League winner’s medal around his neck, would be the best outcome for all parties.

Liverpool want world's "best player" in £77m deal who'd be Slot’s own Mane

Liverpool are planning to strengthen Arne Slot’s frontline in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 25, 2025

Everton responded well at the weekend, clawing back to draw against Arsenal after losing the Merseyside derby at Anfield, a result which ended David Moyes’ nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Things have changed at Goodison Park, which is preparing for its emotional swansong not in the throes of a relegation battle but instead playing with a freedom that has come from Moyes’ return to the dugout and the consequent tactical and mental improvements.

However, Everton’s owners, The Friedkin Group, know that a range of signings are needed this summer, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and loanee Armando Broja both set to leave in a few months, bagging a striker has got to be the first port of call.

Everton join race for coveted striker

It’s an ambitious one, but TEAMtalk have revealed that Everton have joined the race for Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, with neighbours Liverpool also keen, along with many more top-flight sides.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, both the Toffees – and Brighton and Hove Albion – are said to have gathered ‘updated information’ on the youngster in recent days, with the two clubs keeping ‘close tabs’ on his situation.

Delap has been one of the Premier League’s breakout stars this season despite his team’s woes. That plays into the forward’s suitors’ favour, though, for his £40m release clause activates upon the Tractor Boys’ relegation.

And Ipswich will be relegated. Valiant fight, but the gulf in quality between England’s top two tiers continues to yawn wider, and now a team like Everton could strengthen further at their rival’s expense by stocking up with a young striker, 22, who’s demonstrated his high-ceilinged potential superbly this year.

Why Everton want Liam Delap

Tussling with such high-profile competition, you’d be forgiven for taking the news that Everton are interested in Delap with a pinch of salt.

Ipswich have played well in the Premier League this season, competitive after back-to-back promotions, but it has proved a step too far for Kieran McKenna’s men, whose defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday has stretched the gap from safety to 12 points.

Delap, of course, got his name on the scoresheet in that 2-1 loss, and it was a fine goal at that. The 6 foot 1 striker is powerful and athletic, ranking among the top 17% of positional peers across Europe over the past year for progressive carries and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Is it any surprise that the Manchester City youth product has been described as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones? These talents highlight exactly why the Toffees should make a concerted push for his signature, especially since FBref have suggested that Moise Kean is among his most tactically similar players.

Kean flopped hard during his stint on Merseyside but has built himself back up in Italy, thriving for Fiorentina. He’s scored 22 goals and provided five assists for La Viola this season, also hailed for his “remarkable” hold-up play by Serie A reporter Marco Messina.

Matches (starts)

28 (27)

30 (29)

Goals

17

12

Assists

3

2

Shots (on target)*

3.1 (1.4)

2.0 (1.0)

Big chances missed

14

10

Pass completion

72%

62%

Big chances created

4

3

Dribbles*

1.4

1.2

Duels won*

4.8

4.7

Above, you can see Kean and Delap’s statistics across respective league campaigns this year. Both rank similarly across clinical, ball-carrying and duelling metrics.

It’s also important to note that Delap is competing within the Premier League, an ostensibly tougher division, for imperilled Ipswich, whereas Kean’s Fiorentina are eighth, fighting for European qualification.

Delap boasts a profile that seems perfect for Moyes’ dynamic but gritty system, and if TFG manage to pull this off, it might just go down as one of the biggest coups in Everton’s modern history.

Everton struck gold on “constant threat” who’s worth more than Longstaff

Everton made a good investment with the signing

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025

Wolves and their search for a new manager took a dramatic twist on Saturday with news of Rob Edwards standing down from the dugout for Middlesbrough’s clash against Birmingham, but he hasn’t been the only tactician on the Old Gold’s shortlist.

Their disastrous season has plunged from bad to worse, with the club now desperately scrambling to appoint Edwards after Vitor Pereira was sacked on November 2.

Wolves’ winless start has left them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, and they remain the only side without a victory in England’s top four divisions, having taken just two points from their opening 10 top flight games.

History is firmly against them – no club has ever survived with two or fewer points at this stage of a Premier League season — a stat which seriously threatens to condemn Wolves to relegation after eight straight years in the top tier.

Wolves 0-4 Man City

Bournemouth 1-0 Wolves

Wolves 2-3 Everton

Newcastle 1-0 Wolves

Wolves 1-3 Leeds United

Tottenham 1-1 Wolves

Wolves 1-1 Brighton

Sunderland 2-0 Wolves

Wolves 2-3 Burnley

Fulham 3-0 Wolves

Wolves have also become only the third side in Premier League history to concede 20 or more goals in their opening 10 games of two consecutive seasons, shipping 27 last season and 22 this campaign.

After Pereira’s dismissal, and following their week-long managerial search, Fosun have now turned their attention to Edwards.

The 42-year-old was once part of the club’s coaching staff, working with the U18s in 2014 before being promoted to a first-team coaching role in 2015. Since then, Edwards guided Luton Town to Premier League promotion in 2023, and made a fine start to life at Boro this season.

However, he could now be on the move just months after signing a three-year contract.

The situation reached breaking point today when Edwards was stood down from taking charge of Boro’s home game against Birmingham amid continued interest from Wolves. Edwards also didn’t take Boro training on Friday, and his pre-match press conference was cancelled, after Boro rejected Wolves’ approach seeking permission to hold talks on Thursday (Sky Sports).

Now, it is believed that Edwards is “looking likely to join Wolves” as he eyes a return to the top flight.

Boro released a statement today too, confirming that they’ve now granted Edwards permission to speak to Wolves.

All of this comes after Wolves initially explored bringing back former manager Gary O’Neil, but he withdrew from the race citing a timing issue.

Major twist on Gary O'Neil's future after advanced talks to re-join Wolves

Now, as per TEAMtalk, there’s been a “major twist” on O’Neil’s own future after his “advanced talks” to re-join Wolves.

According to their information, following a “dramatic U-turn” over returning to Molineux, with O’Neil once believed to be closing in on an agreement, it is now believed that Southampton is his most likely destination.

The Saints have made an approach to O’Neil, and talks are expected to intensify in the coming days as all parties seek to reach a swift deal.

Taking this into account, it is a wonder why O’Neil ruled himself out of the Wolves job but could now take up a position with the struggling Championship side.

O’Neil was appointed Wolves head coach in August 2023 and led the club to a 14th-placed finish and the FA Cup quarter-finals in his first season. More impressively, despite inheriting a squad in turmoil just days before the season began following Julen Lopetegui’s abrupt exit, and with minimal transfer backing, he steered the side to a respectable finish and earned plaudits for steadying the ship.

His first season included victories over Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, with Wolves reaching eighth at their peak that campaign.

O’Neil apparently remains “highly respected” in Premier League circles too (Miguel Delaney), but after his rejection, Edwards appears to be closing in on the role.

The Holliday family had a full circle baseball moment when Ethan Holliday, the son of former seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 MLB draft on July 13. Not only was Ethan Holliday the second son of Matt to be drafted into the big leagues, but he was selected by the team where the elder Holliday began his baseball career.

But Holliday's selection was far from just a marquee moment for his career, as well as a monumental one for his family. It also led to the phenon making MLB history.

The Rockies signed Holliday to a $9 million deal, according to MLB.com. The deal set a draft bonus record, surpassing the previous mark, which was set by 2025 No. 1 pick Eli Willits of the Washington Nationals. The record before that was held by none other than Holliday's older brother Jackson, of the Baltimore Orioles.

Holliday, a 6' 4" infielder, is regarded by MLB Pipeline as the top prospect in the 2025 draft. He hit .617 with 16 home runs in just 32 games during his senior year at Stillwater High School.

Now, he'll literally be following in his father's footsteps.

"This is a really incredible opportunity," Holliday said on MLB Network after being selected in the draft. "I'm so driven by faith, I'm so grateful. The Lord has really been the centerpiece of my life. I don't even know what words I can put to this. The Rockies organization, I'm so thankful, obviously with the family, the background, and my dad being drafted by them, that just adds such a cool thing. Knowing everyone in the organization since I was born, I'm just so grateful."

تحدث عمرو بسيوني مدير التعاقدات ونائب المدير الرياضي بنادي بيراميدز، على بيان الأهلي بشان دعم رمان صبحي لاعب الفريق السماوي بعد أزمة إيقافه لمدة 4 سنوات من قبل الوكالة الدولي لمكافحة المنشطات وأيضًا قضية حبسه بسبب التلاعب في أوراق رسمية. 

وقال عمرو بسيوني في تصريحات لقناة “النهار”: “بيراميدز على أتم الاستعداد للمواجهة المقبلة في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا أمام باور ديناموز”.  

وأضاف: “استقبلنا بيان الأهلي بتقدير شديد عن دعم رمضان صبحي، شيء ليس غريب عن الأهلي ومجلسه بقيادة الخطيب، رمضان صبحي هو واحد من أفراد عائلة بيراميدز، يمر بمشكلتين كبار جدًا في وقت قصير”.

وتابع: “رمضان صبحي يحتاج إلى جهود كل شخص متواجد في المنظومة الكروية المصرية، رمضان شاب أعطى الكثير للكرة في مصر، لاعب دولي وكان له دور كبير في السنوات الماضية ببيراميدز”. 

طالع.. ترتيب مجموعة بيراميدز في دوري أبطال إفريقيا بعد فوز نهضة بركان على ريفرز يونايتد

وتابع: “الأهلي هو أكبر قلعة رياضية في مصر هو والزمالك، خطوات الخطيب محترمة ومشرفة جدًا، دائمًا في كل مواقفنا نحرص على التعاون المستمر والعلاقة التي تسودها الود والاحترام مع الأهلي، ودائمًا نتحدث كيف نقرب المسافات المتواجدة بين الناديين، المشاكل المتواجدة على السوشيال ميديا، والعلاقة بين الإدارتين محترمة جدًا”.

وأردف: “علاقتنا جيدة بمجلس إدارة الأهلي، دائمًا عندما نتقابل في المباريات تكون هناك حفاوة، العلاقات الشخصية في المسؤولين بالأهلي هائلة ومحترمة، ولو هناك فرصة نزور الأهلي سيكون شيئًا هائلًا أو العكس”.

وشدد: “رمضان صبحي يستحق مننا تظافر كل الجهود لكي نقف بجانبه، يجب أن يشعر أن هناك ناس في ظهره وتساعده بشتى الطرق، نحترم القضاء المصري، من حقنا ومن واجبنا نقف بجانبه، وبعض الشائعات ظهرت بالأمس أن النادي لن يجدد لرمضان صبحي؟ الموسم الماضي رمضان جدد عقده لمدة 4 سنوات، هو فرد من عائلة بيراميدز، المشاكل وارده في حياتنا أهم شيء يشعر أنه يوجد أحد في ظهره، لم يطرح من الأساس فكرة ايقاف التعاقد معه أو فسخ عقده، هذا الكلام ليس وقته”. 

وأكمل: “مايلي واسامة جلال عقودهما تنتهي بنهاية الموسم، محمد حمدي عقده مستمر لموسم مقبل، ومايلي افضل لاعب في إفريقيا ومهاجم كبير وإضافة كبيرة لبيراميدز وللدوري المصري بشكل عام، ونحاول أن نحافظ على اللاعبين المميزين، سنبدأ التفاوض معه على التجديد عقده، هو حاليًا أصبح أفضل لاعب في إفريقيا ومتبفي في عقده 6 أشهر”. 

واختتم: “مايلي حتى الآن لم يوقع بشكل رسمي على التجديد، ويجب أن تكون الرغبة متبادلة بين الطرفين، ونحن نريد استمراره، وهو سعيد بتواجده في بيراميدز، وأسامة جلال لاعب هائل وصادفه سوء حظ بسبب الإصابة وفتحنا التفاوض معه ومع وكيله وفي أقرب فرصة ملف أسامة سيكون منتهيًا”.