“The thing that impressed me the most was the method that he used,” captain Morgan said of Rana’s knock

Sidharth Monga11-Apr-20212:11

Morgan: Rana’s aggressive method impressed the most

The level of care he would have got is of course beyond the imagination of most of the country right now, but the country could possibly take some heart at this bleak time that the Man of the Match in the third game of the IPL is someone who has just beaten Covid-19.Last month, Nitish Rana became the first player in this IPL to test positive for Covid-19 with a reported vacation in Goa after having successfully participated in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy becoming the talking point. In that light, the preparation could not have been anywhere close to ideal.However, the first ball Nitish Rana got on Sunday night was a juicy wide half-volley, and he took the approach that sets the Kolkata Knight Riders apart from others: attack if you can, there are others behind you if you fail. He smacked Bhuvneshwar Kumar away for four, and set the tone for the rest of the innings.Related

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“I just saw the ball was in my slot, and I went after it,” Rana said on Star Sports when receiving his Man-of-the-Match award. “I have only one thing in my mind when I bat: if the ball is in my half, I have to try to convert it into a boundary.”Rana converted 13 of those into boundaries in his 56-ball 80, impressing his captain Eoin Morgan, who along with coach Brendon McCullum have to be the most positive leadership group in a cricket set-up. When you impress such a champion of aggressive cricket with your approach – never mind the results – you must have done something right.”Delighted for Nitish,” Morgan said at the post-match press conference. “Obviously a match-winning innings. The thing that impressed me the most today was the method that he used. He played really aggressively, and always took a positive option, which really did set up our batting innings. Rahul [Tripathi] played extremely well, which allowed our lower middle order [to play with freedom], one of whom came off today in Dinesh Karthik, so I am delighted for Nitish.”Rana and Tripathi added 93 runs in 50 legal deliveries, all of them in the dreaded middle overs on a dry and slow track. Thanks to that onslaught, the blip in the end – just 42 runs in the last five overs – wasn’t enough to restrict the Knight Riders to a par total. It was only after they were dismissed that the difficult nature of the pitch became apparent.”Just catching up really,” Morgan said when asked what the conversations were like once Rana came out of isolation. “[He was] delighted to be out of quarantine and have a negative report. Then when he joined the squad, getting back to playing in the camp, netting and then batting in the practice match as well, his game [was] in really good touch. We witnessed it today on a wicket that wasn’t as good as he made it look to bat on. We are delighted for him.”What might have been a challenging pitch for the others possibly took out an aspect that challenges Rana. Teams have looked to go quick and short at him with impressive results, but the pitch didn’t have that kind of pace nor did the Sunrisers Hyderabad have that kind of bowlers. The Knight Riders’ next match is on the same square: Rana will be keen to end the pattern in his last six IPL innings: 0, 81, 0, 87, 0 and now 80.

da roleta： Arsenal are in hot pursuit of fresh squad upgrades ahead of a crucial campaign for Mikel Arteta, with the pressure on for him to deliver major silverware.

Related Benjamin Sesko has now made "unusual" demand in Arsenal transfer talks

The Slovenia international wants something out of the ordinary.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025

da betsson： It’s been five years since Arteta lifted his first major honour, which came at the end of his first season in charge of the Gunners. Since then, barring Community Shield wins, their trophy cabinet has remained barren, despite coming close on a number of occasions.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Man City edged Arsenal in each of the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 title races, with Arteta’s side battling Pep Guardiola until the very final day last year. However, it was close but no cigar, and Arsenal meekly surrendered the latest Premier League crown to Liverpool by a seismic 10 points.

After many seasons steadily building the project, Arteta has undoubtedly transformed the Gunners into an elite-level side, and this was evident in the Champions League last season when they put 15-time European champions Real Madrid to the sword.

The progress made has been clear, but Arteta has still come under fire for Arsenal’s lack of trophies over the last few years.

New sporting director Andrea Berta has been tasked with backing the Spaniard this summer, and Arsenal are set to sign both midfielder Martin Zubimendi and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (The Times) in what is a real boost.

However, their lack of a prolific striker is seen as a major elephant in the room. It is by far the position which supporters are most keen to see strengthened, with Berta working on deals for both Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Viktor Gyokeres convinced he's going to join Arsenal

The former has been central to a tense transfer saga, with Sporting publicly denying claims that Gyokeres can leave for £60 million and their president, Frederico Varandas, taking aim at the player’s agent.

The “underrated” striker’s 54-goal haul in all competitions last season helped the Primeira Liga giants lift their first domestic double in two decades, and Gyokeres won’t be leaving for Sporting until one of his suitors meets his asking price.

Arsenal do possess a trump card, namely reliable reports that Gyokeres is prioritising a switch to the Emirates Stadium (Fabrizio Romano).

Now, as per talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Gyokeres is apparently convinced that he’ll join Arsenal, and has even made this clear to his close circle.

“I had a message 24 hours or so ago suggesting that Viktor Gyokeres has told friends and family he expects to join Arsenal,” said Crook on talkSPORT Breakfast earlier this week.

“We know that Manchester United are interested in signing him as well, obviously there is that pre-existing relationship with Ruben Amorim.

“But Arsenal can offer Champions League football, maybe can offer a tilt at the title next season. Sporting are going to play hardball, there’s been a fallout between Gyokeres and the club because his agent has suggested that they had a gentleman’s agreement he could leave for £60million, I think they’re looking for nearer £80m.

“Arsenal are juggling both him and Benjamin Sesko, they’ve opened talks with Leipzig as well but at the moment, I would say Gyokeres looks the more likely.”

The player’s willingness is crystal clear at this point, but Sporting’s demands remain a major roadblock, so it will be very interesting to see how this consistently evolving story unfolds over the coming weeks.

يعتقد بول ميرسون لاعب خط وسط آرسنال السابق، أن مانشستر سيتي سينافس على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بفضل أحد لاعبيه المتألقين هذا الموسم.

ويقدم إيرلينج هالاند مستويات رائعة مع مانشستر سيتي هذا الموسم، لكن لاعب آرسنال السابق يعتقد أنه في حالة غياب النرويجي سيواجه فريق بيب جوارديولا صعوبة في التأهل بدوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال ميرسون في تصريحات نشرتها “MANCITYNEWS”: “لا أعتقد أنهم يستهينون بالأمر، ولا أعتقد أن مانشستر سيتي فريق كبير حالياً”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. جوارديولا: أحب لاعب مانشستر سيتي كثيرًا.. والفريق حاليًا يشعرني بالراحة

وأضاف :”شاهدت مباراة إيفرتون ضد مانشستر سيتي يوم السبت، ولو استبدلنا بيتو ولا أقلل من شأنه بهالاند، لكان إيفرتون فاز بسهولة بالمباراة أكبر من فوز مانشستر سيتي وهذا هو الفارق وهو أمر مقلق للغاية”.

وأضاف: “اللاعبون يكبرون في العمر ويتغيرون، دي بروين رحل، فودين لم يصل لقمة مستواه قبل عامين، بيرناردو سيلفا يتقدم في السن قليلاً، لا يزالون في سباق لقب الدوري الإنجليزي بفضل هالاند لكن إذا استثنينا هالاند من المعادلة لن يصل مانشستر سيتي للمراكز الأربعة الأولى”.

We’re now just a week away from the start of Celtic’s pre-season fixtures.

Next Friday night, Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops will make the short three-mile journey to Glasgow’s south side to take on Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden, having demolished the Spiders 6-4 in a friendly almost exactly 12 months ago.

After that, Celtic to Cork, Lisbon, the north of England and then face Ajax and either Al-Ahli or the hosts at the Como Cup.

So, just how many new signings will the Parkhead masses have the opportunity to cast their gaze at during these fixtures?

Celtic's star attacker set to depart

Both returning hero Kieran Tierney and new third-choice goalkeeper Ross Doohan have already signed for Celtic this summer, with deals for Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren close to being finalised too.

However, due to Celtic’s position in the global football food chain, they’re always in danger of losing a star player, and this summer is no different.

As has been widely reported by Josh McCafferty of the National and elsewhere, RB Leipzig have ‘intensified their interest’ in Nicolas Kühn, who is supposedly available for around £15m.

Well, now, according to Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Como have ‘made an approach’ as they target a move for Kühn.

I Lariani finished tenth in Serie A last season under Cesc Fàbregas, their first top-flight campaign since 2002/03, but are not your ordinary newly-promoted club, given that they are owned by the Djarum Group, making them the wealthiest club in Italy, as noted by James Horncastle of the Athletic.

So, potentially creating a bidding war could be good news for Celtic, as they seek to drive up the price for, what is set to be, one of their biggest sales of all-time.

Regardless, it appears very likely that Kühn will be sold in the coming weeks, so has Rodgers identified a potential replacement?

Who Celtic should sign to replace Kühn

As reported by Glasgow World, Aston Villa are open to selling youngster Louie Barry, to ease their ongoing concerns about breaching the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules.

Thus, they add that Celtic are ‘weighing up a potential offer’ for the 22-year-old, given their long-standing interest in Barry, who they have been ‘keeping close tabs on’. Previous reports have suggested he could be available in and around the £12m mark.

Barry first made headlines by joining Barcelona’s fabled la Masia academy in 2019, before returning to England a year later, signing for Aston Villa for a reported £880,000.

He’s since been loaned out no less than seven times, making the biggest impression at Stockport County, scoring 24 goals in 43 league appearances for the club, with Sam Byrne of the Manchester Evening News describing his performances for the Hatters as “absolutely electric”, adding he “captured the imagination” of all supporters.

So, let’s assess his senior career statistics so far.

2024/25*

Championship

4

0

0

2024/25*

League One

24

16

3

2023/24

League Two

22

9

4

2022/23**

League Two

21

2

1

2022/23**

League One

32

1

3

2021/22

League Two

16

6

1

*moved to Hull City in January 2025.

**moved to Salford City in January 2023.

As the table outlines, Barry very much burst onto the scene at Stockport this season, scoring 16 goals in just half a campaign, before moving to Hull in the EFL Championship, featuring just four times for the Tigers before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘highly-rated prospect’, while Mick Brown of Football Insider believes that Barry is ready to take the next step in his career and make a permanent move away from Villa.

Barry can be deployed centrally or on either flank, a position that Celtic might have vacancy to fill in the coming weeks, thus making him an ideal replacement for Kuhn.

The young attacker is certainly an extremely talented player, so the Hoops should do all they can to secure his signature, especially if they can do so at a reduced rate, with Villa needing to raise funds and fast.

New Wanyama: Celtic looking to sign "outstanding" £2.5m star after Nygren

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ByBen Gray Jun 26, 2025

Crystal Palace have now moved ahead of Leeds United in the race to sign a Championship playmaker, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace receive UEFA Europa League boost

Not only did the Eagles secure their first major trophy in their history by winning the FA Cup, but they also booked a place in next season’s Europa League. This is unprecedented for Palace, but since that famous FA Cup win, their participation in the Europa League has been under threat due to multi-club rules.

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John Textor’s Eagle Football Group also has a controlling stake in French side Lyon. Both clubs are in the Europa League next season, and things heated up this week as Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest wrote to UEFA over an alleged breach of multi-club rules.

However, according to talkSPORT, UEFA don’t see Textor as someone who has a controlling influence at Selhurst Park, and they recognise the value of having the South Londoners in the competition next season due to their FA Cup win. Therefore, as it stands, UEFA are in favour of keeping Palace in the competition.

Crystal Palace ahead of Leeds in race to sign £20m Championship ace

So, as Palace receive a Europa League boost, they can now concentrate on building a squad that is capable of competing in the Premier League as well as Europe. According to the Irish Examiner, relayed by Football League World, Crystal Palace are now leading the race to sign Finn Azaz from Middlesbrough.

The Eagles are looking to bulk their squad up for the 2025/26 campaign and have identified Azaz as a potential target. It’s already been reported that Palace chiefs have been keeping an eye on the attacking midfielder but face competition as Leeds United and AFC Bournemouth have also registered their interest in the Boro man.

The 24-year-old joined Boro in January 2024 for a fee of £2.5 million, and it’s now been claimed that were he to leave the Riverside Stadium, he would cost any team interested around £20 million. Indeed, he is still under contract until the summer of 2028, has been capped seven times by the Republic of Ireland and has just come off the back of a season in which he scored 12 goals and assisted 11 in 45 Championship games.

Apps

45

Starts

43

Goals

12

xG

9.53

Assists

11

xAG

7.62

Big chances created

10

Key passes per game

2.0

It is looking very likely that Palace could lose Eberechi Eze this summer, as he continues to be linked with a move to some of the biggest clubs in England. So, while Azaz won’t be seen as a like-for-like replacement, Oliver Glasner may see him as someone who could help fill the void left by the Englishman.

Viktor Gyokeres has been some handed some advice as he prepares to leave Sporting CP and seal a blockbuster transfer to Arsenal.

• Gyokeres set to join Arsenal
• Arrives after prolific campaign at Sporting
• But must adapt to life with the Gunners

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal's hunt for a goalscorer looks to be over, with Gyokeres set to join the Gunners in time for the 2025-26 Premier League season. The Sweden international moves after a prolific campaign in Portugal which saw him score 39 goals in just 33 league games for Sporting.

Advertisement

• (C)Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal will be hoping that Gyokeres can continue his prolific form in the Premier League and help fire them to the Premier League title. Former striker Jeremie Aliadiere, who was part of the 2003-04 title-winning squad in north London, says the new arrival will have to adapt after joining Mikel Arteta's side.

• WHAT ALIADIERE SAID

  He told UK Riches: "Will there be pressure on Viktor Gyokeres? Anyone who joins Arsenal now will know the target, they will know the goal.
  Finishing in the top four or even the top two isn’t good enough, it’s about winning the Premier League and that's what everyone connected to the club wants.

  "It’s been building and with recent signings as well as the signing of Gyokeres, the club can get over the line in the new season.
  Gyokeres has other options but from what we’ve heard, Arsenal is his first choice and he will want to join the club in order to win the Premier League. It will be great to see the signing announced and how he will adapt to Mikel Arteta’s system.
  He won’t be the only star at Arsenal, they have many other superstars and egos and all that stuff, he is going to have to adapt to play for the team and if he does, he can achieve great things.”

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR GYOKERES?

  Gyokeres has now been given permission to travel to London and complete a medical with his new side. Meanwhile, the Gunners are currently in the Far East and will play Newcastle in a friendly on Sunday in Singapore.

The season may have been abruptly suspended, but there were several takeaways

Gaurav Sundararaman08-May-2021Dhawan and Shaw: IPL’s best openers sitting out of India’s T20 XI
In the home T20I series against England, which preceded the IPL, India captain Virat Kohli lined up alongside KL Rahul as a contender to open with Rohit Sharma. While Rahul continued to prosper in the IPL, Kohli and Sharma, though consistent, scored at a quieter strike rate. At the halfway stage of the IPL, the trio’s first 10-ball strike rate was: Kohli (126), Rahul (100) and Sharma (89). But Sharma had played five out of seven matches on the challenging pitches in Chennai.Prithvi Shaw had by far the best first ten-ball strike rate among openers•ESPNcricinfo LtdIn contrast, the Delhi Capitals’ pair of Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan took T20 opening to a new level with their intent and built a strong case for their selection. Shaw’s 10-ball strike rate was 178.57 and he scored a boundary every three deliveries while Dhawan scored at a strike rate of 116. The right-left combination scored at a healthy 8.87 runs per over in the powerplay, dominating virtually all the IPL bowling attacks. They might not have been part of Indian T20I combination previously, but if Dhawan and Shaw end up continuing in the same dominant vein once the IPL resumes, they might end up giving a few headaches to the selectors and team management.For once, big buys turns up with performances
Earning huge salaries through the auction could result in a lot of pressure in the IPL. Not often do we see such players living up to the price tag. There have been instances in which a player has not played despite being sold for a large sum. However, early indicators this season showed that the big money players performed well. Chris Morris, who fetched the most money for any player at an IPL auction, won matches with the bat and ball for the Rajasthan Royals while serial IPL millionaire Glenn Maxwell neatly settled into a middle-order role at the Royal Challangers Bangalore. Maxwell played in tough conditions, helping his team get over the line on couple of occasions. Kyle Jamieson, relatively unknown on the T20 circuit, came into the league with a lot of questions, but displayed his potential with some tight bowling in difficult conditions and also showed he could stand his ground with the bat.CSK press the refresh button
In 2020 they surprised with their worst-ever IPL season. Barely six months later, MS Dhoni’s team surprised by making a remarkable turnaround. The Chennai Super Kings were leading the points table at the halfway stage. That turnaround happened because the team management had addressed their weaknesses promptly. In 2020, the Super Kings were the worst batting unit in the powerplay, but this time around the Super Kings were probably the only team to go hard through the 20 overs without worrying about the wickets.The Chennai Super Kings upped their attacking intent dramatically after a poor 2020 season•ESPNcricinfo LtdThat intent was brandished by Faf du Plessis at the top and the fireworks of Moeen Ali at No. 3. No team hit more sixes (62) or scored at a faster rate (9.57) than the Super Kings. Dhoni, the captain, realised that the other batters were striking the ball much better than him and he duly pushed himself down the order. In seven matches, Dhoni played just 30 deliveries, scoring 37 runs and batted only if required. That allowed Ravindra Jadeja more batting time and he proved to be a matchwinner. Flexibility and execution were the hallmarks of the Super Kings’ campaign.AB de Villiers rose to the occasion for Royal Challengers Bangalore•BCCIde Villiers gives South Africa hope
ESPNcricinfo is running the Greatest IPL Performance series currently. In the next edition, AB de Villiers’ undefeated 76 against the Knight Riders will easily be one of the nominations. It might be second to Kieron Pollard’s majestic assault against the Super Kings, but de Villiers once again proved why experience matters. And why Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher, the top brass at South Africa, want him back in the T20 set-up.de Villiers’ role at the Royal Challengers was to come in around the 12th over and close the innings. He did so on three occasions on tough pitches and conditions. Pitches do not matter for de Villiers and if he decides to make a comeback, he will be a force to reckon with for South Africa who are currently struggling to win in the shortest format.Related

The IPL 2021 team of the tournament (so far)

When and where can IPL 2021 be rescheduled to?

IPL 2021 and T20 World Cup – what happens next?

IPL 2021 orange cap: Ruturaj Gaikwad, purple cap: Harshal Patel

The uncapped Indian surprises
Not many might have expected the Royal Challengers’ fast bowler Harshal Patel to hold the purple cap and the Capitals’ quick Avesh Khan to be second among the highest wicket-takers at the halfway state of this IPL. Yet, both men made headlines by bowling the difficult overs. With an ability to bowl in the high 140s at will, Avesh was both accurate and consistent while being one of the best yorker specialists. His continued success not only allowed the Capitals to leave out their 2020 IPL hero Anrich Nortje, but also find space in the top order for Steven Smith.Patel, who was traded by the Capitals to the Royal Challengers, built his success using smart variations in pace which batters found difficult to read in Chennai. In addition, the pair of Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad carried forward their good form from the 2020 season while first-timers Harpreet Brar (Punjab Kings) and Chetan Sakariya (Rajasthan Royals) showed heart and courage to not get daunted by the occasion, making an impact more than once.Sunrisers Hyderabad made the surprise decision to axe David Warner as both captain and batter•BCCI/IPLHow the mighty have fallen
Did we ever imagine that franchises would drop players of the caliber of David Warner and Nicholas Pooran? Or Ishan Kishan after his success last IPL, which earned him an India T20I call-up? Despite being among the runs, Warner was dropped by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, both as captain and batter, for the sake of finding the right team balance. For some years now Sunil Narine has been dealt with easily by opposition batters and this season was no different as he failed to make an impact. Pooran, one of the smoothest power hitters in T20 cricket, had four ducks this season. Kishan played just two matches, but that was enough for the Mumbai Indians to change their combination and promote Krunal Pandya to No. 4 for the first time. The suspension of the IPL meant it is hard to comprehend the exact impact of such hard calls.Contrasting pitches make good viewing
Netural venues, contrasting pitches and the difference in boundary sizes made for interesting viewing. While Chennai and Ahmedabad aided spinners and kept the batters in check, Mumbai and Delhi were a nightmare for bowlers, mainly due to the dew setting in early. Batters scored at an average strike rate of 125 in Chennai and Ahmedabad, and 145 in Mumbai and Delhi. With no home advantage, teams such as the Mumbai Indians had to find new strategies to combat the slower pitches. Delhi and Mumbai saw teams scoring in excess of 200 consistently, making it difficult for the bowlers. The toss did not make as much of an impact as previous seasons.The curious case of Kuldeep
For the second season now, Kuldeep Yadav struggled to find a spot in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling attack owing to the success of Varun Chakravarthy. In 2017, Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were meant to be the future. However, even Chahal has been struggling to make an impact over the last one year, both with India as well as the Royal Challengers. Since January 2020, Chahal’s economy rate of 9.27 is the highest among all spinners (minimum 100 balls bowled) in T20Is. The break could be a welcome opportunity for the pair to work out an approach to help them bounce back strongly.

Fulham have now submitted an opening bid of £1m for an “outstanding” EFL defender who has a “wonder of a left foot”, according to a report.

Silva set to stay on as Fulham boss

In what will no doubt come as welcome news to Fulham fans, Marco Silva has now made it clear he expects to remain at Craven Cottage beyond the summer, saying: “I am under contract with the club and of course I’ve been in planning with the board (for) next season.

“Everything on track and the plan is there. We have the next two months to prepare for the season as best we can. If I’m under contract with the club and if I’m planning with the club the next season, of course I expect to be here.”

As such, the Cottagers can now continue to plan for the summer transfer window with Silva in mind, despite recent suggestions they could make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Vitor Pereira or Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl to replace the 47-year-old.

With their manager looking likely to stay, a new transfer target has also now entered the frame for Fulham, with a report from Football League World revealing they have submitted an opening offer of £1m for Peterborough United defender Harley Mills.

The Posh are currently considering the bid for the left-back, who scored a free-kick in the Vertu Cup final last month, which attracted the attention of a whole host of scouts.

Peterborough do not want to sell the 19-year-old, having offered the youngster a new contract in the hopes of retaining his services beyond the summer, but they will be well-aware that a move to the Premier League is likely to be a tempting proposition.

"Outstanding" Mills has a "wonder of a left foot"

Peterborough U18s manager Jamal Campbell-Ryce was full of praise for the starlet upon signing a professional development contract with the Posh, lauding him as “outstanding”, while also adding: “Harley has shown how much he values defending now and has real quality when in possession of the ball and has a wonder of a left foot.”

The Peterborough defender’s ball-striking ability was particularly on show during his side’s 2-0 triumph over League One title winners in the Vertu Cup, scoring a stunning free-kick to open the scoring in the first half.

Fulham are well-stocked at left-back, with Antonee Robinson and Ryan Sessegnon at their disposal, but with the former being linked with a move elsewhere this summer, it could make sense to bring in a new option.

Mills is yet to prove himself above League One level, but the teenager’s performance in the Vertu Cup final indicated he is ready to make the step-up to a higher level, and at a fee of just £1m, the young Englishman would be a low-risk addition for the Cottagers.

Nail-biters, rollercoasters, unexpected contests and sweet comebacks – our correspondents and writers pick their most memorable matches of the last ten years

31-Dec-2019England v New Zealand, World Cup final, Lord’s, 2019
By Sambit Bal
So, what do we remember? The dream or the tragedy? The drama that lasted all day or the mockery in the final moments? Ben Stokes’ nerveless brilliance, or the accidental six that rolled off a ricochet? The two heart-stopping ties, or the ridiculous tiebreaker? England’s coronation after 40 years of longing, or New Zealand’s heartbreak to last a lifetime?The truth is that we will forget nothing: the slow burn, the twists, the blunders, the absurdity, the unimaginable finish, the cruelty and the euphoria, and the whole damn rollercoaster of it. Add to this the weight of the occasion and the poignancy of the two perennial World Cup bridesmaids seeking their first title. This was a match like none other.It was just as well that the World Cup belied the expectations of being a run fest, because rarely do run fests produce the humming tension of low-scoring thrillers, and at long last, we were rewarded with a final that can lay claim to be the greatest World Cup match ever.Some would argue that it would have been just to have joint winners after the Super Over was tied, but in some ways, the imperfect result etches the match even deeper in memory. Beyond outcomes and heroics, the purest joy of sport lies in the experience, and if you were at Lord’s that Sunday, to even consider any match to be greater would feel like infidelity.After the storm, the smiles•AFP India v Australia, first Test, Mohali, 2010
By Sharda Ugra
This is a favourite, which edges out Durban 2010 for sheer sentimentality, and the madcappery of its last day. The Test was one final flourish of the big rivalry of the previous decade – Australia v India. At its centre was the batsman who, amid many skirmishes between the two sides, became his team’s totem.A target of 216, the eighth wicket falling at 124, with only Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha to follow. There was only one being who could haul tailender-ass over the finish line, and had made a habit of pulling victory out of the straitjacket of looming defeat. Mohali 2010 was the complete VVS Laxman package – the impossible task, the dicky back, the snarling Aussies, the company of two eager but far from qualified companions.Our composure was being shred one over at a time. We, who had sort of given up, couldn’t move, because Laxman kept the score moving. Then, finally, when there were six runs left, Ojha was almost run out, and there came a rare sighting: total meltdown from Mr Equanimity, an all-around pleasant fellow with an absence of epithets. We saw Laxman lose it, in an angry, bat-jabbing tirade – but he ensured that India didn’t. At the end, all was forgiven in a sunburst of smiles and celebrations.India won a few more home Tests that followed, and then began the slide of the last of their titans into their other lives as coaches, commentators, celebrities, comics. They have left us, of course, with the memory of many Mohalis.Bangladesh’s nine-run victory in Dhaka was followed by a nail-biter in Mirpur that sealed a 4-0 whitewash of New Zealand by the hosts•Associated PressBangladesh v New Zealand, fourth ODI, Dhaka, 2010
By Mohammad Isam
New Zealand’s record against Bangladesh coming into this 2010 ODI series was 17-1, and the home team was without regular captain Mashrafe Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal. It was supposed to be a cakewalk. Enter stand-in captain Shakib Al Hasan, then 23 years old.Shakib was instrumental with bat and ball in the first two games, and with the series on the line, he made a century from 44 for 3, which gave Bangladesh a competitive 241 to defend. As ever, he was not content with doing well in just one department. He took 3 for 54 with his slow left-arm spin, sometimes teasing the batsmen in the air, sometimes making the ball fizz off the black pitch. He was the most animated person in the field too, especially while talking to his bowlers.In front of a full house at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh prevailed by nine runs, in a match that has entered folklore. It was their first ever series win against strong opposition, and it was fitting that it came at the start of the decade, starring the man who would define Bangladesh cricket in the 2010s.Spooktacular: Abdul Razzaq hauled Pakistan over the line with a 72-ball 109 on Halloween in 2010•AFPPakistan v South Africa, second ODI, Abu Dhabi, 2010
By Danyal Rasool
That this game took place this decade is incongruous enough. Just look at that Pakistan line-up: Fawad Alam actually playing; Zulqarnain Haider – who would famously disappear before the final game of the series – the first-choice wicketkeeper; and, as cricket looked ahead to a decade dominated by T20 opulence, Asad Shafiq opening the batting.They took on a juggernaut of a South African side, which had won ten ODIs on the bounce, including the first one of this series. Now, a Colin Ingram hundred helped them to 286, and Pakistan were already battling history: never had they chased down a score north of 223 to beat South Africa. They slumped to 70 for 4, and at 228 for 7 needed 59 in 5.5 overs.They had Abdul Razzaq, though, a T20 finisher since before the format existed, and on his day as unstoppable a hitter as – the comparison is unapologetic – Viv Richards himself. It wasn’t until Razzaq’s three sixes in the 47th over that a Pakistan win appeared even conceivable.It came down to the last wicket and 14 off the final over, but by then Razzaq had found all the cheat codes to batting, and unleashed them upon Albie Morkel. He hit six sixes and three fours off his final 19 balls, getting himself up to a 72-ball 109, while the tail contributed a solitary run. Pakistan swung an absurd one-wicket win on Halloween night, thanks to a man possessed who had spooked South Africa.You know it’s a big win when the sprinkler dance makes an appearance•Getty ImagesAustralia v England, fourth Test, Melbourne, 2010
By Andrew McGlashan
For someone who grew up in the 1990s, winning in Australia is a rare thing. The three Ashes series hosted in Australia either side of England’s 2010-11 triumph are 14-0 to the home team. Maybe English sport does wallow in the past too much, but what Andrew Strauss’ side achieved in 2010-11 remains special.There were many high points, but nothing was better than the MCG – and specifically the opening day. Australia had won in Perth to make it 1-1 and anticipation was high that they could halt England’s ambitions on Boxing Day at the G. Midway through the day, the scoreboard read Australia 98 all out. A few hours later there was the added line, England 157 for 0. It was a thing of beauty.The rest of the match was a procession towards England retaining the Ashes. And there was also the bonus of watching Ricky Ponting lose his cool. Early on the fourth day, with the 19,000-strong crowd made almost entirely of England supporters, Tim Bresnan claimed the final wicket. There are worse ways to spend Christmas.When 2 becomes 1: Vernon Philander’s five-for sealed a 2-0 win for South Africa to displace England at the top of the Test rankings•PA PhotosEngland v South Africa, third Test, Lord’s, 2012
By Firdose Moonda
South Africa have not won the World Cup, but their pinnacle came at Lord’s in 2012, when they took the Test mace off England in a match worthy of the occasion. After Hashim Amla’s triple-century opened the series in emphatic fashion at The Oval, where South Africa won, and rain and a rampant Kevin Pietersen ensured a draw at Headingley, the teams headed into the final Test, which England had to win to stay No. 1.England eked out a six-run first-innings lead, and at 259 for 4 in the second innings, South Africa looked as though they would be content to bat England out of contention. An inspired second-new-ball performance from the home attack ensured that did not happen: England took 6 for 92 and needed 346 to win. At 16 for 2 on the fourth evening, with Vernon Philander giving a masterclass in the art of subtle seam movement, England looked unlikely to get there. But on an electric final day, Jonathan Trott, Jonny Bairstow and Matt Prior made a fight of it.Eventually, Philander – loved at home, looked down upon away – seamed it South Africa’s way. His 5 for 30 took South Africa to the top of the Test rankings, where they stayed for the best part of three and a half years, and his “stats don’t lie” comment will be long remembered as the crowning moment for South Africa’s golden generation.More picks by our writers and correspondents hereMore in the decade in review, 2010-19

MatériaMais Notícias

da apostebet： O ex-zagueiro Joel Carli não esconde sua expectativa por se adaptar a nova rotina. Três meses após ter pendurado suas chuteiras, o argentino assumiu a função de Especialista de Formação e Transição dentro do Botafogo.

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da realsbet： Com a vivência de quem fez cursos técnicos e de gestão, Carli assegurou que está adaptado para ajudar o Glorioso de uma nova forma.

+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

  + Ação contra o Botafogo no STJD: organizada rechaça cunho nazista em frase que pode gerar punição ao Alvinegro; entidades israelitas se manifestam

– Estou passando por esta transição e estou feliz por continuar em casa, no clube que eu amo, e realmente estou gostando muito. Sempre me interessei nessa parte do extracampo já quando ainda estava como atleta e isso me facilita agora nessa adaptação para a nova função. Estamos trabalhando muito fortes e muito conscientes, Tomara que, a curto prazo, possamos nutrir cada vez mais nosso time profissional com atletas da base – detalhou o ex-defensor ao site oficial do Botafogo, destacando:

– O Botafogo está nesse caminho, tem melhorado muito no trabalho, claro que ainda falta para a perfeição que o clube precisa e merece. Estamos trabalhando muito forte e muito consciente, tomara que a curto prazo podemos conseguir nutrir cada vez mais nosso time profissional com atletas da base – completou.

Gerente de futebol do Alvinegro, Tiano Gomes exaltou a presença do argentino no processo das categorias de base.

– É muito bom ter o Carli, um ídolo do clube, desempenhando essa função, participando da transição para o futebol profissional com todos os atletas e trazendo toda a experiência que ele tem para todas as comissões técnicas e para que possamos qualificar ainda mais a nossa formação, nossos profissionais e jogadores, para que sejam entregues da melhor forma possível para o futebol profissional – afirmou.

Gerente técnico metodológico, João Paulo Costa falou sobre a função de Carli.

– Carli passa a atuar no desenvolvimento dos atletas da base a partir das suas experiências e percepções como jogador de futebol. Nesta primeira fase, temos o processo de observação, dentro e fora de campo, realizando intervenções em aspectos que precisam ser melhorados pelo atleta e sugerindo ações individuais para serem realizadas nos treinamentos e nos jogos. A partir disso, será construído um Plano de Desenvolvimento Individual para cada jogador, baseado naquilo que são os processos formativos que entendemos que os atletas devem ter ao longo da sua formação nas diferentes categorias – destacou.