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Netherlands folded for 105, after being 49 for 6 at one stage, despite chasing a modest target

Danyal Rasool09-Jul-2023It was a match that didn’t matter, and yet Sri Lanka drove their point home anyway. Stung, perhaps, by needing to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, they kept their foot on the throttle despite having qualified, dismantling Netherlands by a 128-run margin in the qualifier final.Despite a late batting collapse where they lost their last seven wickets for 53 runs, Sri Lanka were always on top as their bowlers blew Netherlands away before the chase had even begun.Related

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Dilshan Madushanka did the bulk of the damage upfront as he picked up three wickets inside the ninth over, and Wanindu Hasaranga was on the job too, with two against his name by the 12th over. Maheesh Theekshana then took over, picking up four wickets to skittle Netherlands for 105. That meant Sri Lanka had won the qualifying event without losing a single match. Both finalists, of course, had already qualified for the ODI World Cup, to be held in India later this year.Fresh from the high of a scintillating chase against Scotland, Netherlands opted to field first again. Vikramjit Singh struck either side of the first powerplay to remove both openers after a sedate start, but Kusal Mendis and Sahan Arachchige consolidated over the next 13 overs. The scoring rate went up and so did Sri Lanka’s dominance in the game with little on offer from the pitch for the bowlers. The batters used the sweep liberally against the spin bowlers, especially leggie Saqib Zulfiqar, but when Mendis missed a straight one, Netherlands had their breakthrough.Arachchige brought up a half-century, while Charith Asalanka’s run-a-ball 36 began to set Sri Lanka up for the finish, but a staggering collapse helped Netherlands storm back into the contest.ESPNcricinfo LtdA sharp catch by Logan van Beek at point brought an end to Arachchige’s innings before Asalanka was run-out two deliveries later. Netherlands broke through Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva to burrow into Sri Lanka’s tail, and only a cameo from Hasaranga helped them cross 200. But another flurry of quick wickets at the death brought an end to that stand, and Netherlands had 234 to chase.The first few overs were as good as it got for them in the chase, as they racked up 25 in 4.3 overs. But when Vikramjit carved a straight one to cover-point, the floodgates opened. Madushanka cleaned up Wesley Barresi, before Hasaranga trapped Teja Nidamanuru in front. Netherlands were shaken as captain Scott Edwards fell to a careless run-out, and they were suddenly down at 49 for 6.Max O’Dowd hung around gamely to ensure the total edged towards three figures, but Sri Lanka had already dispatched with the opposition. Theekshana returned to beat O’Dowd’s outside edge and knock back his off stump after a gritty 36-run partnership with van Beek. It was the first of four as Theekshana took up the role of mopper-up, trapping each of the last three in front as the World Cup-bound Netherlands folded for 105.These two sides will meet again in a more important contest in India, when Edwards will hope his side can give a fairer account of themselves.

GOAL looks at the tiers of teams in the 2025 Club World Cup, asking who might win it all and who is just happy to be here?

With the European season finally coming to a close, attention turns directly to the Club World Cup, FIFA's shiny new fun competition, soon to be played out in the U.S. summer sun.

But with 32 teams hailing from all over the world, it can be chaotic to summarize it all. How can you piece together RB Slazburg, HD Ulsan and Real Madrid? What is the through line among them? And what are the vibes to be found? Sure, there are three or four clear favorites, but outside of them, it gets a bit tricky.

And there's a good mix here, from obvious favorites to legacy clubs, to a few teams who might just be happy to be picking up a paycheck and selling a few jerseys on a summer tour.

The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. There are 32 teams in the expanded field. it's time to ask: Who's here to win it? Who's here for the money? Who's here for holiday? Who's got a lot to lose but not much to win?

GOAL US breaks it all down in the 2025 Club World Cup Tier Rankings.

AFPTier: Clear Favorites

Paris Saint-Germain: Luis Enrique has the Parisians playing football. After years of relying on star power, this is now a fun, young team with a point to prove. Sure, they've still spent big on some of the best young players in the world, but they ripped Inter to shreds in the Champions League final. There isn't a better team in world football at the moment.

Bayern Munich: They're not an unstoppable force, but Bayern walked to the Bundesliga title this year, and will always be strong – no matter the competition. The signing of Jonathan Tah reinforces the defense, while Harry Kane is always well placed to grab a goal or six.

Manchester City: From banter club to ominously back within a few months, City got hot towards the end of the season – and are now starting to look like a signature Pep Guardiola machine. They will likely still be tinkering with systems this summer as Guardiola tries to find a winning formula, but Rodri will be back in some form, and Erling Haaland should be in the team, too. One thing is for certain: this City team hates losing. For that reason alone, they could push to the top.

Chelsea: Time to find out how much a Europa Conference League means, then. Cole Palmer has found form again, while the signing of Liam Delap could give them some cutting edge up front. A few months ago, this would have been a laugh. Right now, though, Chelsea should be considered a top candidate.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTier: Outsiders Looking In

Real Madrid: Really? Los Blancos, outside looking in? Yep. Madrid were miserable towards the end of last season, and completely lost their identity in the final days of Carlo Ancelotti's reign. Now, though, they have retooled, added some big names, as well as arguably the best young manager in Europe to lead it all. The reality is that they might need some time to piece it all together. If this were a couple months in the future, they're at the very top. For now, it's hard to know what to expect.

Atletico Madrid: Well, Antoine Griezmann is back, which sure is a lot of fun. Atleti did a pretty good job of crumbling over the last few months of the season, and saw their brief title challenge fade quickly. Julian Alvarez realized his potential in full, but there are concerns about their midfield.

Inter: Well, that all fell apart rapidly. Inter collapsed at the end of the season in style. First, there was a masterclass in throwing the Scudetto away. Next, it was a case of getting generationally battered in the UCL final. Inter look old and tired, which is a great recipe for playing in the American sun.

Juventus: Will the vibes of securing Champions League football help them out? Weston McKennie and Juve were better under Igor Tudor towards the end of the season, and they should, at the very least, be a nightmare to play against.

Getty ImagesTier: Here For The Money

RB Salzburg: It's not like Salzburg are strapped for cash or talent, buoyed by the immensely lucrative Red Bull network. But they could really do with a boost after turning in a fairly miserable domestic season. If they keep promising talents such as Bobby Clark and Oscar Gloukh around, then who knows? Chuck in another chunk of dough in, and they should be set for the future.

Benfica: They just became significantly fun after Angel Di Maria departed the club, and fell two points short of the Liga Portugal title. If top rivals lose Victor Gyokeres, they could be title faves next year – especially if they invest well.

Fluminense: No longer the team they once were, Fluminense are struggling massively for a club of their pedigree. Marcelo has gone, and the talent factory has rather dried up. On name brand alone, this will be a valuable excursion. But Thiago Silva playing out the last days of his career with a club from his home country is a nice vibe.

Porto: A Europa League exit was something of an embarrassment for a club that really belongs in the Champions League. And their season never really picked up from there, as the Dragons finished 11 points behind league winners Sporting. Striker Samu Aghehowa will be a good watch, but there is no guarantee they hang onto him after the tournament.

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GettyTier: A Lot To Lose, Not Much To Win

Inter Miami: It's simple, really. If Miami lose with Lionel Messi, the storyline will be that MLS is rubbish and Messi is old. If Miami win with Messi, it will be, well, of course they won with Messi. Given their issues at center-back, it's all very up in the air.

Borussia Dortmund: Will Gio Reyna show up If the American plays well, then there's hope for the USMNT yet. But he hasn't kicked a ball coherently in ages. Odds are he sits on the bench for a Dortmund side who have fallen far in the last 12 months.

Al Hilal: It depends, really. If they do something silly go on a run, then there will be storylines and vibes abound. If not, they will need to show up as is and prove that the Saudi Pro League can be relevant outside of big paydays for European has-beens.

LAFC: They did well to get here, beating Club America in an play-in match, but one of MLS's richest teams have really faltered out of the gate in their domestic league. A few good showings will put them among the global conversation, but they might otherwise be examples of a league that has fallen off.

Four out of the first seven women’s games have been abandoned without a ball being bowled

ESPNcricinfo staff and ECB Reporters Network05-Aug-2023Rain wiped out both women’s fixtures in the Hundred on Saturday without a ball being bowled, meaning four of the first seven women’s games have been abandoned.Manchester Originals and London Spirit, who suffered washouts against Welsh Fire and Oval Invincibles, respectively, in their opening fixtures, were unable to get on the field at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday morning, with the game called off shortly after midday.Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets both lost their opening games – against Northern Superchargers and Southern Brave respectively – and their fixture at Edgbaston was called off shortly before 4.30pm on Saturday, after heavy rain in Birmingham.”If we would have played two games and won one and lost one, we would be in the competition and at least we would have played,” Stephen Parry, Originals’ head coach, said. “The good news is that we’ve got two points – and that’s the best start the Originals have ever had.”It isn’t the way we wanted to get the points but I’m really looking forward to seeing the girls go out there and show their skills, because they’ve been absolutely fantastic.”Parry said that Originals’ preparation has been affected throughout the build-up to the Hundred: “We had a training session at Ramsbottom and that was rain-affected; the rain has been with us for two weeks. But the attitude and energy of the girls has been second to none and I’m really pleased how they’ve gone about their business.”Emma Whiteman, London Spirit’s team manager, said: “We just want to play and it’s hugely disappointing that this has happened again.”We’ve always said we need to adapt to whatever conditions are presented, whether that is the opposition or the good old British weather, so we’re training now and hopefully we’ll get going together on Tuesday.”The weather also accounted for both of the scheduled fixtures in the men’s 50-over domestic competition on Saturday. Middlesex versus Surrey was washed out at Radlett, while Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire took a point each from their fixture at Trent Bridge.

Jobe Bellingham sent a message to the Borussia Dortmund fans after making his debut for his new team at the Club World Cup on Tuesday.

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Bellingham made his BVB debut on TuesdayCame on a substitute on the hour markFelt 'very proud' about the occasionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Dortmund's latest signing Bellingham followed in the footsteps of his elder brother, Jude, and made his debut for the German giants in the side's opening game of the Club World Cup on Tuesday. While the game against Brazilian side Fluminense ended in a 0-0 draw, the ex-Sunderland starboy sent a message to his fans and expressed how proud he was to represent Dortmund.

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The 19-year-old completed his record-breaking move from Sunderland for a fee of €33 million (£28m/$38m) and joined his new team-mates for training in the United States to prepare for the ongoing Club World Cup. Bellingham, as expected, came on as a substitute in the 59th-minute, after head coach Niko Kovac had explained why the English midfielder will not be starting games right off the bat.

WHAT JOBE BELLINGHAM SAID

Taking to Instagram, Bellingham posted a number of photos from his Dortmund debut and wrote: "Very proud to have my debut in black & yellow. Big games coming up.. Just the beginning."

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Bellingham will be expected to play a similar role off the bench in Dortmund's next game, in which they take on South African heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, June 21.

The BCCI said that Axar had suffered a left quadriceps strain while playing against Bangladesh on Friday

Shashank Kishore16-Sep-2023Washington Sundar will link up with India’s Asia Cup squad in Colombo ahead of Sunday’s final against Sri Lanka with Axar Patel out injured.The BCCI said that Axar had suffered a left quadriceps strain while playing against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup on Friday. The physio was seen taping his leg while he was batting towards the closing stages of that game.Axar has some swelling on his forearm as well after being hit by a throw from a fielder. ESPNcricinfo understands there is no fracture. He also bruised his wrist during a full-stretch dive into the crease while batting. Axar continued to bat despite the bruising and needed some spraying on the affected area. He made a valiant 38-ball 42 in India’s chase of 266. Eventually, India fell six short.Related

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Washington was to be part of a conditioning camp called by the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for India’s Asian Games-bound squad. It’s likely he will rejoin the group following the conclusion of the Asia Cup, if Axar is cleared to play in the three ODIs to follow against Australia from September 22.India’s current squad lacks an offspinner, which is one of the areas the team management hopes can be compensated by the presence of two left-arm spinning allrounders in Axar and Ravindra Jadeja. Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, is the only specialist spinner in India’s squad of 15.ESPNcricinfo understands Washington’s name had been deliberated seriously to be part of India’s World Cup squad, but he eventually lost out with India preferring to go in with an extra back-up batter in Suryakumar Yadav despite both KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer being named in the squad. India can however make changes to that squad without an ICC clearance until September 28.Washington, who was out for three months due to a hamstring injury, was most-recently part of India’s second-rung squad that played three T20Is in Ireland last month. Prior to that, he featured for South Zone in their victorious Deodhar Trophy (50-overs) and Duleep Trophy (first-class) campaigns.Changes to India’s squads for the Asian Games as wellFast bowlers Akash Deep and Pooja Vastrakar have been called into India’s men’s and women’s T20 teams due to play in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Deep replaced Shivam Mavi who is down with a back injury and Vastrakar replaced Anjali Sarvani who is nursing a knee injury. The women’s competition begins first on September 19 followed by the men’s on September 28. Ruturaj Gaikwad leads a second-string India men’s side given the first-choice players will be building up for the home World Cup which starts on October 5. The India women’s team appears close to full strength and is captained by Harmanpreet Kaur

Mexico meets Honduras on Wednesday in Gold Cup semifinals.

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Giménez isn’t worried about his goal droughtpursues Gold Cup back-to-back titlesMatch will take place at Levi’s StadiumFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico international striker Santiago Giménez praised coach Javier “Vasco” Aguirre and his staff for reshaping the team’s ethos during the 2025 Gold Cup.

“We’ve built a strong family with Aguirre’s leadership. With all his experience and our respect for him, he’s brought back our Mexican identity and given fans someone to connect with,” Giménez said.

Despite not scoring in the tournament, the AC Milan forward has remained composed, emphasizing that the team’s success comes first.

“That’s not our concern. Whether it’s Raúl [Jimenez], [Ángel] Sepúlveda, [Alexis] Vega, or me up front, we all know whoever has the moment will score – and we’ll celebrate together," he said. "We’re all united under the same flag, holding hands toward our goal: winning.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT SANTIAGO GIMENEZ SAID

Looking ahead to Honduras, he acknowledged their strength at home but said confidence is high thanks to fan support.

“They’re tough in their country – we haven’t beaten them there in two tries. But now, with our fans behind us, we’re motivated and ready to get the win," Gimenez said.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Mexico’s attack has struggled to produce, with just seven goals in the tournament so far – only one from a center-forward in Raúl Jiménez and two from attacking players. Most of the scoring has come from defenders or an own goal. Center back César Montes leads the team with three goals, making him top scorer at the competition.

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Mexico remain in the hunt for back-to-back Gold Cup titles and a historic 10th championship, despite not showcasing the level of football fans back home would hope for. Tomorrow, they face Honduras in the semifinals at Levi's Stadium, with a spot in Sunday’s final on the line.

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh superb hundreds in Bengaluru, while Netherlands will hope for another big scalp and there’s a huge game in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-20231:04

‘What works for Warner is he’s super fit’

–Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament IndexTop Story: Warner, Marsh hundreds set up vital win over PakistanAustralia may have drawn level with Pakistan today, but really, they were one step ahead all evening. A game that briefly threatened to break into a thriller ultimately had Australia clinching a routine win, the havoc unleashed by centuries from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh too much for Pakistan to overcome in the end. Pakistan fought back to contain – to the extent that word can be used for a team that posts 367 – Pat Cummins’ side, and gave the chase a good go.But despite a 134-run opening stand between Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique, Australia began to chip away with regular wickets, with Adam Zampa taking four for the second consecutive game. Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan looked to take the game deep, but eventually Pakistan would lose six wickets for 36 runs as Australia won by 62.Click here for the full reportMatch analysis: Warner still the GOAT-to option for Australia at World CupsDavid Warner leaps after his fourth successive ODI ton against Pakistan•Getty ImagesLast year, Virat Kohli hit a six off Haris Rauf that everyone raves about all the time. On Friday afternoon at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, David Warner hit Rauf for a six that was just as astonishing. Take away the context of Kohli’s six, and maybe, just maybe…But why compare at all?Here’s how the Warner six unfolded – and that word is chosen with some deliberation, because the shot was a miracle of folding and unfolding. Rauf, angling the ball in from round the wicket, went full and at the stumps at 146.1kph. It was the kind of ball that’s difficult to get underneath and hit in the air in any direction. Warner didn’t just hit it in the air, but made it clang into the roof of the stand at backward square leg.Read the full analysis from Karthik Krishnaswamy in BengaluruMust Watch: Shane Bond on Mitchell Marsh1:12

Bond: Continuity of selection brings the best out of Marsh

News headlines Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India’s next World Cup game, against New Zealand in Dharamsala on Sunday, after hurting his left ankle against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s acting captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has bemoaned their inability to turn starts into major innings as they campaign hangs in the balance after three defeats.Match previewsNetherlands vs Sri Lanka, Lucknow (10.30am IST; 5.00am GMT; 4.00pm AEST)Can Netherlands take another famous scalp?•ICC/Getty ImagesWhen these two sides met a little over three months ago, the picture could not have been more dissimilar. Sri Lanka had just racked up a clean sweep of the World Cup Qualifier and dispatched the Dutch twice over the course of the tournament. While the first was an edgy affair, the second – a final, though with nothing really riding on it – was as one-sided as most Sri Lanka-Netherlands games have tended to be.In all, these sides have squared off five times in ODIs with Sri Lanka winning all those encounters, including one where the Lankans racked up the then-highest ever ODI total of 443. But despite this lopsided history, it’s the Dutch that come into this game with all the momentum.Team newsNetherlands (probable) 1 Vikramjit Singh, 2 Max O’Dowd, 3 Colin Ackermann, 4 Bas de Leede, 5 Teja Nidamanuru, 6 Scott Edwards (capt & wk), 7 Sybrand Engelbrecht, 8 Roelof van der Merwe, 9 Logan van Beek, 10 Aryan Dutt, 11 Paul van MeekerenSri Lanka (probable) 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera/Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt & wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Lahiru Kumara, 11 Dilshan MadushankaEngland vs South Africa, Mumbai (2pm IST; 8.30am GMT; 7.30pm AEST)1:47

Buttler: ‘Commitment to our style of play more important than the result’

Will it be England, the reigning world champions across 50- and 20-overs, whose quest for a third global title in four years is in danger of dissolving in a bisque of self-doubt? Instead of cementing a legacy to rival the great Australian team of the turn of the millennium, their humiliating losses to New Zealand and Afghanistan are threatening to cast England’s narrative back into their World Cup dark ages of the 1990s and 2000s, to make that 2015-19 resurgence seem more like a mirage than a miracle.Or will it be South Africa… the calmest, most serene force in the competition for two heady performances, as a team seemingly without baggage cruised past Australia and Sri Lanka with scarcely a backwards glance, to give the impression that this… finally… could be their year. And then, out of a clear Himalayan sky, came defeat in Dharamsala, and all bets were offFull previewTeam newsEngland 1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Dawid Malan, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Jos Buttler (capt/wk), 6 Harry Brook, 7 Chris Woakes/Gus Atkinson, 8 David Willey, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Reece TopleySouth Africa (probable) 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 David Miller, 6 Heinrich Klaasen, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi/Gerald CoetzeeFeature: South Africa unites for double World Cup clash with EnglandThere are Super Saturdays and then there are Super Saffadays and this is one of the latter.South Africa and England (hence Saffa: the casual expression for someone from South Africa – which is also where a lot of English professional sportspeople come from) have only played each other in international cricket and rugby once before on the same day and that was 25 years ago. In 1998, South Africa and England were tussling on day three of the Manchester Test, which was eventually drawn, and the Springboks beat England 18-0 in Cape Town. This time, they’re both on neutral ground playing at World Cups, an unprecedented occasion, which means there’s at least 10 hours of entertainment and rivalry guaranteed.Read the full feature from Firdose Moonda

Former Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is reportedly in talks with Newcastle United over a free transfer. Calvert-Lewin has also been strongly linked with Manchester United after bringing the curtain down on his nine-year spell at Everton. Newcastle, who have secured Champions League qualification for the 2025-26 season, are looking for Alexander Isak's deputy.

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Calvert-Lewin could snub United

Newcastle join transfer race

Calvert-Lewin a free agent after leaving Everton

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The English forward has been mooted as a possible target for United, who are looking to bolster their attack after a nightmare 2024-25 campaign. The Red Devils have held early talks with the player's representative over a possible transfer, according to .

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But as it turns out, United are not the only suitors for Calvert-Lewin, as reports that Newcastle United have now joined them in the transfer race. The Magpies did try to sign Calvert-Lewin last summer but they took a step back after learning his massive valuation by Everton.

DID YOU KNOW?

After sealing a return to the Champions League, Eddie Howe is now looking to bolster his Newcastle squad, especially the forward line. The Magpies want to sign extra cover for star No.9 Alexander Isak after confirming the departure of Callum Wilson.

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The reigning Carabao Cup winners will reconvene for pre-season next week before playing their first friendly match against Celtic on July 19.

Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, with club officials reportedly willing to include a player in the deal to help meet Palace’s valuation. As the north London outfit battle rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the attacking midfielder's signature, director of football Andrea Berta has initiated talks with Eze’s representatives to get ahead in the race.

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Arsenal working on signing EzeEager to execute a player plus cash dealEze will not force a move out of PalaceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Gunners are keen to present a compelling package that could convince Palace to soften their firm stance on the player’s £68 million ($92m) release clause. Discussions are ongoing behind the scenes, and Arsenal believe a promising young defender from their squad might help bridge the gap in negotiations.

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Eze is open to a transfer to Arsenal and has remained in top condition during the off-season as he anticipates a potential move. While Palace remain adamant that any transfer must meet the full terms of his buyout clause, there is cautious optimism that the addition of a talented prospect in exchange could sway their position. While the identity of the player remains undisclosed, sources indicate he is a highly-regarded academy graduate who has made limited appearances for the first team but is held in high regard within the club.

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Palace could be tempted by the inclusion of a defensive reinforcement, especially as they brace for the potential departure of Marc Guehi. Both Liverpool and Newcastle United have shown strong interest in the England centre-back, and Palace are already lining up Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande as a possible replacement. Moreover, an untimely ACL injury to Chadi Riad, who joined from Real Betis last summer, will see him miss the start of the upcoming campaign.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Despite growing speculation about his future, Eze has made it clear behind the scenes that he intends to handle any departure with class and respect. The playmaker, who still has two years remaining on his contract, is reluctant to force a move that would damage his legacy at Selhurst Park.

He has paid close attention to how former teammate Michael Olise approached his own transfer saga amid interest from Chelsea and Bayern Munich, and hopes to follow a similarly dignified path. He has earned immense admiration from Palace fans, especially after his iconic goal in the FA Cup final that brought the club their first major trophy in decades and is determined to preserve his relationship with the supporters.

“We came here as part of a team and we will leave here as one”

Matt Roller09-Nov-2023Ben Stokes never countenanced the possibility of leaving the World Cup early to bring his impending knee surgery forwards, despite England’s Test tour to India looming in two-and-a-half months’ time. Going home, he said, would have been “the easy way out”.Stokes revealed before England’s 33-run defeat to Australia in Ahmedabad last week that he will have an operation later this month in a bid to solve the chronic left-knee issue which has seen him play as a specialist batter since the start of July. He expects his rehabilitation to take between five and seven weeks, leaving a short turnaround before his Test team tour to India in January. The first of the five Tests begins on January 25 in Hyderabad.But even after their elimination was confirmed, Stokes said he did not consider heading home ahead of England’s final two group fixtures. “Just because things haven’t gone as we’d wanted, there were never any thoughts about leaving early, taking the easy way out,” he said. “We came here as part of a team and we will leave here as one.”Related

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Jos Buttler, England’s captain, said that there had not been a conversation about the possibility of Stokes leaving. “It’s not his style at all: he’s here to play in the World Cup. He wants to be here and it’s important for us to try and qualify for that Champions Trophy. He wants to make sure we try and achieve that.”Stokes significantly improved England’s prospect of qualifying for that tournament in 18 months’ time on Wednesday evening, hitting 108 off 84 balls against Netherlands in Pune to put them seventh in the group stage heading into the final round of fixtures. It was his maiden World Cup century, in what is likely to be his penultimate World Cup appearance.Having reversed his retirement for this tournament, Stokes is highly unlikely to feature in ODIs after England’s final group game against Pakistan in Kolkata on Saturday. In any case, that will be his last 50-over match for at least 10 months: his surgery will rule him out of England’s tour to the Caribbean next month, and they do not play another ODI until September 2024.Stokes was non-committal over his future plans on Wednesday night, saying that he had “no idea” whether Saturday will be his final ODI. Rob Key, England’s managing director, is in Kolkata ahead of the Pakistan game. “I’m sure there will be a conversation [with him],” Stokes said. “But I don’t know when that will be.”After missing England’s first three games at the World Cup with a hip injury sustained doing lunges in a hotel gym in Guwahati, Stokes said that his physical fitness improved over the course of the tournament. “I have used the time between games to give myself a better opportunity [of recovering well] after the surgery,” he said.”All the work in the gym doesn’t compare to what you go through out there [on the pitch]. I’m looking forward to getting it sorted and not having to worry like I have these past 18 months. From a physical point of view, I’m better off than when I first got out here. But physical fitness and cricket fitness are two different things.”