كشفت تقارير صحفية عن تفاصيل ما حدث بين النجم الأرجنتيني ليونيل ميسي، وتوماس رينكون لاعب فنزويلا، بين شوطي المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين قبل أيام.
وخاض ميسي مباراة مع الأرجنتين ضد فنزويلا على ملعب مونومنتال، في آخر مباراة رسمية له مع منتخب بلاده على أرضه.
وسجل ميسي هدفين من أصل ثلاثة أهداف لفريقه ضد فنزويلا في الفوز (3-0)، وشهدت المباراة التحامًا مع توماس رينكون على أرض الملعب.
وبحسب ما أوضحت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، عندما توجه الفريقان إلى غرفة الملابس بين الشوطين، ذهب ميسي ليسأل رينكون عن سبب شجارهما.
اقرأ أيضًا | جواش: أتمنى أن يلعب ميسي في كأس العالم حتى لو كان مُحنطًا
وبمجرد ظهور رينكون، انتقده ميسي على تصرفه ودفعه دفعة خفيفة، وتدخل اللاعبون والجهاز الفني الأرجنتيني والفنزويلي للفصل بينهما، وتدخل سالومون روندون بينهما وقام بتهدئة ميسي.
كانت مباراة الأرجنتين وفنزويلا ضمن تصفيات أمريكا الجنوبية المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026، واحتفل الجمهور بميسي وتفاعل معه والتقط اللاعب الصور مع عائلته.
وصرّح ميسي عقب المباراة أنه ربما لا يشارك مع الأرجنتين في منافسات كأس العالم 2026 إذا شعر أنه ليس بكامل لياقته.
Glasgow Rangers boss Russell Martin knows that he needs to bolster his attacking options before the end of the summer transfer window, which officially re-opened on Monday.
The Light Blues boss could be about to lose first-choice number nine Cyriel Dessers, who has reportedly agreed a contract with Greek outfit AEK Athens, with talks ongoing to agree a fee.
Whilst a transfer is not yet complete, the Scottish giants have to be prepared for the possibility of being without the Nigeria international in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.
Dessers scored 18 goals in 35 matches in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 season, but also missed 21 ‘big chances’, and they will have to find a striker to replace those goals if this move to Athens goes through.
He is not the only attacking player who will have to be replaced this summer, though, because the Gers have already lost Vaclav Cerny, who has returned to Wolfsburg after his loan deal came to an end.
Why Rangers need to replace Vaclav Cerny
The Czechia international was a huge player for Rangers in the 2024/25 campaign, after joining on loan from the Bundesliga outfit, and will need to be replaced because he provided a huge threat in front of goal.
Cerny ended the season with a haul of 18 goals and nine assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Gers, which shows that he offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the right flank.
The left-footed star, who liked to cut inside onto his favoured foot from the right wing, produced 12 goals and four assists in 33 outings in the Premiership for Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson combined.
Cerny also caught the eye in the Europa League for Rangers, as they made it to the last eight of the tournament, with goals and assists on the European stage.
xG
4.26
Top 3%
xG on target
4.29
Top 3%
Goals
6
Top 2%
Shots on target
15
Top 1%
Assists
2
Top 23%
xA
0.93
Top 39%
Chances created
14
Top 14%
As you can see in the table above, the Wolfsburg loanee was among the top-performing wingers in the Europa League this season, both as a scorer and a creator.
These statistics illustrate why it is so important for the Scottish giants to sign a replacement for the Czechia international to bolster Martin’s options out wide.
The Gers need a winger who can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, and a fresh report suggests that they are on course to sign one.
Rangers set to sign new winger
According to TEAMtalk, Rangers are close to agreeing a deal to sign Kwame Poku from Peterborough United when his contract expires at the end of this month.
The Ghana international’s current deal with the League One outfit is due to expire in time for him to sign for a new team at the start of July, and this means that the Gers can snap him up for a compensation fee.
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TEAMtalk adds that Rangers believe that they have won the race to sign the left-footed forward, who is now poised to become one of Martin’s first signings as the new head coach at Ibrox.
The outlet adds that the Premiership giants are set to beat off competition from teams in the English Championship and from abroad to bring the talented winger to Glasgow this summer.
Kwame Poku in action for Peterborough.
It states that Birmingham, who have been promoted to the Championship, have been pushing hard to land the wing wizard, but it is Rangers who are now closing in on his signature.
What Kwame Poku could bring to Rangers
If the Light Blues get this transfer over the line, as this report suggests that they will do, then the club could have their next version of Cerny on their hands.
Like the Czechia international, Poku is a right-sided attacker who likes to cut inside onto his favoured left foot to deliver goals and assists in the final third on a regular basis.
The 23-year-old star, who former boss Darren Ferguson lauded as an “unplayable” winger at times, racked up 11 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in the third tier in England in the 2023/24 campaign.
That was an impressive return for the young winger, given that he almost hit 20 goal contributions in total, but the whiz improved his output in the 2024/25 season for the Posh, as Poku proved that he can be relied upon to make a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.
xG
6.01
Top 11%
xG on target
7.74
Top 7%
Goals
12
Top 2%
Assists
8
Top 3%
xA
5.17
Top 7%
Chances created
33
Top 19%
As you can see in the table above, the Rangers target hit that 20-goal contribution mark this season in League One with 12 goals and eight assists.
This means that he scored as many goals as Cerny and provided four more assists than the Wolfsburg loanee did at league level this term, which suggests that the potential is there for him to offer even more in front of goal.
Kwame Poku for Peteborough.
They appear to offer a similar goal threat but Poku could be more creative on the right wing, which would also make him a dream signing for whoever comes in to replace Dessers this summer.
Of course, the Peterborough star is unproven in the Premiership at this moment in time. However, his form down south is incredibly promising and, for a compensation fee, he appears to be an ideal signing to perfectly replace Cerny with a similar type of player on the right flank.
Goldson 2.0: Rangers initiate talks to sign Propper upgrade for Martin
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Tottenham Hotspur are being told to appoint an “influential” manager by incoming chief Fabio Paratici, with current Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou still heading for an exit despite reaching the Europa League final.
Tottenham welcoming Fabio Paratici back after worldwide ban ends
Reports claim that Paratici’s return to Spurs is gaining serious traction, after talks to become AC Milan’s new sporting director reportedly fell through recently.
Paratici could sign £150k-a-week Liverpool player after Tottenham return
The ex-managing director is expected to come back after his worldwide FIFA ban ends.
ByEmilio Galantini May 8, 2025
The 52-year-old was forced to resign from his post as Tottenham managing director in early 2023 after being found guilty of false accounting during his time at Juventus, with FIFA handing Paratici a 30-month worldwide ban from official footballing activity.
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
However, that ban is due to end on June 30th, and it is believed that Paratici is now very likely to make a return to Tottenham after rumoured meetings with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy – which were reported as far back as March.
A popular figure among the fan base, Paratici also played a role in appointing Antonio Conte during his time in N17, and if his comeback is made official, the Italian will likely have a major say on Tottenham’s potential replacement for Postecoglou.
While Spurs eased past Bodo/Glimt to reach their first European final since 2019, where they have a golden chance to clinch their first piece of silverware since 2008, reliable media sources have claimed that Postecoglou could still leave Tottenham regardless of their success abroad (The Telegraph).
Fabio Paratici recommends Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham
A succession of managers have been linked with the job over the last few weeks, but Paratici has a particular name in mind – compatriot Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian moved to Marseille after a successful period at Brighton, where he’s now on around £105,000-per-week, with De Zerbi remaining popular among those close to Spurs – specifically Paratici.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to The Boot Room, Paratici has recommended De Zerbi to Tottenham, and the chief is believed to be a huge fan.
“I understand Roberto De Zerbi is a name that Fabio Paratici – incoming Spurs technical director – is a fan of,” said Bailey.
“He liked him during his time at Brighton and recommended him. Even during his talks with AC Milan recently, he was a name put forward. De Zerbi is understood to be on the radar of a number of Italian clubs – but Spurs do like him.”
The outlet themselves add that Postecoglou is “set to leave” this summer, and De Zerbi could be a fantastic candidate to replace him, going by the words of Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who called him “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years”.
“There is no team playing the way they play – it’s unique,” Guardiola said of De Zerbi’s Brighton in 2023.
“I had the feeling when he arrived the impact he would have in the Premier League would be great – I didn’t expect him to do it in this short space of time. He creates 20 or 25 chances per game, better by far than most opponents. He monopolises the ball in a way it hasn’t been for a long time.
Liverpool will lift the Premier League title this season – maybe even this month.
Arne Slot will lift the trophy in his first season as first-team boss, and Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will get their hands on it for a second time before gearing up to defend their title after signing much-anticipated contract extensions.
Though Trent Alexander-Arnold looks to be just one month away from finishing his playing career on Merseyside, FSG will be delighted with their success in tying down the outfit’s two biggest legends ahead of Slot’s second term.
Liverpool will be looking to defend their Premier League title while challenging for the other pieces of silverware, which proved too much to secure this year.
Liverpool managerArneSlotbefore the match
New signings will flow through, for sure, but the importance of extending the skipper’s stay cannot be understated and deserves a closer look.
Van Dijk's new Liverpool contract
Van Dijk’s new deal will see him stay as the leader of Slot’s squad for the next two seasons, earning a rather decent salary too, some £400k per week.
The 33-year-old always wanted to remain at the club but for whatever reason talks dragged on interminably. It also bears noting that he was approached by a number of hopefuls – including the lucre of the Saudi Pro League’s heavyweights – but made it clear that Liverpool is his home and that FSG had promised him investment and a project apt for silverware over the next few years.
He’ll go down as one of the definitive defenders – if not the – of his era, inspirational and effective at Liverpool’s back.
With Alexander-Arnold expected to move to Madrid and Robertson in danger of being replaced this summer, Van Dijk could consolidate his Liverpool career with a staggering number of appearances, eclipsed only by Salah and Jordan Henderson since the Klopp era began.
Most Liverpool Appearances – Current Squad
#
Player
Appearances
1.
Mohamed Salah
395
2.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
349
3.
Andy Robertson
339
4.
Virgil van Dijk
314
5.
Alisson Becker
292
Data via Transfermarkt
He’s a true legend and will go down as one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s long history. Van Dijk certainly isn’t done yet, but FSG would be prudent to replace him this summer, signing a new star who can be willed into shape over the next few years alongside the Dutchman.
Before finally taking his place.
Liverpool chasing Van Dijk heir
Van Dijk might be staying put, but he’s not getting any younger and Liverpool will need to prepare for his eventual departure. Signing Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen this summer would be a pretty good way to go about that.
The young Spain international has been riding the crest of a wave since transferring from Juventus to England’s south coast last summer, and according to Chelsea insider Simon Phillips, has been placed right at the top of Liverpool’s wish list.
Chelsea have made contact with the 20-year-old’s reps but it’s FSG who lead the race at the moment, having held discussions with the player’s camp for several weeks.
A wide range of suitors are keen, though, for Huijsen has been incredible under Andoni Iraola this year and has a £50m release clause that all parties expect to be activated this summer.
Why Liverpool are desperate for Dean Huijsen
Huijsen is young and his data pool shallow, but from the evidence of the past few years, for Roma (on loan) and now Bournemouth, it’s already clear that he’s got the potential to become a superstar.
AFC Bournemouth's DeanHuijsenduring the warm up before the match
Dutch-born, Huijsen was reared in Spain before making the move from Malaga’s youth scene to join Juventus’ academy aged 16.
He looked promising, alright, but the Old Lady could do with an extra penny and cashed him in to Bournemouth last summer, claiming £15m for their young prospect.
Huijsen has flourished on English soil, and no mistake. Already labelled a “world-class” player in the making by one analyst, he’s featured prominently for the Cherries this term and indeed attracted the attention of every high-profile club worth their salt as the market beckons.
As per FBref, the rangy star actually ranks among the top 15% of defenders in the Premier League this year for goal involvements, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for interceptions and clearances and the top 20% for aerial battles won per 90.
He’d contrast nicely with Van Dijk over the next couple of years before finally taking the Netherlands captain’s place in the seasons to come.
Premier League 24/25 – Van Dijk vs Huijsen
Stats (* per game)
Van Dijk
Huijsen
Matches (starts)
32 (32)
26 (21)
Goals
2
2
Assists
1
1
Clean sheets
13
6
Touches*
89.4
60.5
Pass completion
92%
84%
Ball recoveries*
3.2
3.4
Tackles + interceptions*
2.7
3.0
Clearances*
5.2
5.8
Duels (won)*
4.7 (67%)
3.9 (56%)
Stats via Sofascore
It’s also worth noting that Huijsen is a two-footed centre-back who has plied his trade on the left side of the pitch this season, further material for the argument that he should be a priority for the Reds this summer.
Huijsen might not be as commanding in the duel but he shares many technical and defensive qualities with the Anfield captain, thus in good hands to maximise his potential if moving to Liverpool instead of, say, Chelsea.
There is also, of course, the elephant in the corner that is Ibrahima Konate’s Liverpool contract.
Ibrahima Konate warming up for Liverpool
Konate has been a formidable partner alongside Van Dijk this season, but he’s a meagre year away from free agency and negotiations for an extension have become protracted.
Liverpool won’t want to lose the Frenchman on a free, and thus could cash in this summer, something that might strike Huijsen as compelling, for he would be in with a great chance of slotting right in as Van Dijk’s star partner in the rearguard.
Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana in action with AFC Bournemouth's DeanHuijsen
Analyst Ben Mattinson has remarked that Huijsen is “the most in-demand centre-back in the world,” but Liverpool’s current position at the front of the race makes a telling comment on the state of things at Anfield.
It’s a big summer up ahead, and if Huijsen is brought in to shore up an already impressive backline, Liverpool might just be able to reach even higher next year.
Slot's own Saka: Liverpool step up move for "special" £85m key target
Liverpool are set to reward Arne Slot and his squad with a host of exciting signings this summer.
Middlesex’s high-profile signing on a chaotic franchise winter, and the desire for a new challenge
Andrew Miller05-Apr-2024It’s fair to say that the circumstances of Leus du Plooy’s arrival at Middlesex aren’t quite as he had envisaged when he made the decision, in July last year, to call time on his prolific five-year stint with Derbyshire.On the face of it, the upgrade was obvious. At the age of 29, du Plooy was swapping the provincial charms of Derby for the Big Smoke of London, where he could fine-tune his career ambition amid the allure of Lord’s and the prospect (so he thought) of regular trophy-hunting at a newly promoted first-division outfit.Instead, he’s found his new club to be in the grip of an identity crisis. As if Middlesex’s immediate return to the second tier wasn’t galling enough, this was coupled with the ECB’s decision, in September, to place them under special measures for financial mismanagement – a double-whammy that tore back the veil on their gilded St John’s Wood cage, and arguably left them looking more vulnerable even than the oft-maligned club du Plooy had left behind.”I’d signed quite early in that transfer window, and I think we were mid-table at that point, so I was expecting us with the quality batting line-up that we had to stay up,” du Plooy said on the eve of the new county season. “So that hurt me. It took me a time to get over too. But it’s gone. I can see it from training; the boys haven’t lingered on that or are still upset by it. It’s how we get the best of ourselves this season.”Nevertheless, the reality of Middlesex’s situation perhaps reinforces the sense that du Plooy could be one of the signings of the season – a man with a proven ability to shore up a malfunctioning batting line-up, as shown by a stellar haul of 1236 runs at 82.40 in that final, winless, Derbyshire season.In the space of a fortnight last June, right around the time he was weighing up his options, du Plooy twice improved on his previous highest score for Derbyshire – 170 against Yorkshire, from the depths of 17 for 4, then 238 not out against Worcestershire, this time from a similarly bleak 38 for 3. Given his new club opened that same season with four consecutive ducks in a scoreline of 4 for 4 against Essex at Lord’s, here’s proof that he won’t be fazed if the standards around him aren’t everything he’d hoped they might be.As the extent of Middlesex’s plight became clear last summer, there was even a proposal from Alan Coleman and Richard Johnson, his new team management, to bring du Plooy in early on loan. However, his sense of loyalty, particularly to Derbyshire’s head coach Mickey Arthur, held sway.Du Plooy was the mainstay of Derbyshire’s batting for five years•Getty Images”It would have been great in a sense, that I’d have been able to meet the lads before now,” he said. “Whether I’d have helped them to stay up, I don’t know. But I completely understand Mickey’s point of view there; he made me captain for a reason and until the very last over on that field I was committed to Derbyshire.”It’s always a club that I’ll look back at and love them dearly. They gave me a great opportunity to play county cricket in 2019, and I had an awesome time there, but I just felt that I did all I could in that space of time from a personal level. I was always going to move, but you want to leave without burning any bridges. I certainly feel proud of my time there.”Still, at least some of those Middlesex drawcards remain as alluring as du Plooy remembered them from his very first visit as a 13-year-old in 2008.”I just see it as a privilege,” he said. “I’m sitting here at Lord’s, chatting about playing cricket for a living. The first time I sat here was right over there [Mound Stand], watching South Africa play England. That was my first-ever experience of a cricket ground in England.”The city of London was a major attraction away from cricket,” he added. “Me and my missus don’t have any kids, so it’s a great time in our lives to explore the city. I’m a city boy from Pretoria in South Africa, so we enjoy the things that a big city offers. I think it’s quite important away from cricket to fulfil whatever you want with your off-time.”It’s not the first time, however, that du Plooy has rocked up to Lord’s in less-than-ideal circumstances. As he recalled, on his second trip as a schoolboy cricketer in 2011, he ripped his toe open while wearing flip-flops on the escalator at St John’s Wood Tube, and ended up in hospital instead of getting the full guided tour. “I was just running down the street with a massive bloody foot; I almost passed out from the blood.”He did, however, make amends on his next visit in 2019, when he capped a memorable maiden season with Derbyshire with a century in a rain-affected draw, after his then-coach Dave Houghton had given him the behind-the-scenes experience that he’d missed out on eight years earlier.Du Plooy’s busy winter on the franchise circuit included a second stint in the SA20•SA20″That always just meant more for me. So this place – putting aside that it’s the Home of Cricket – with my own history with it has been quite special. I’m excited to build more memories here that are dear to me.”I think there is a lot of potential here,” he added. “Looking back at your career, you’ll remember the times that you won trophies. Some guys in the dressing-room have had a taste of that, and I certainly want to. Whether it’s realistic for this season, that isn’t for me to judge, but I’ll give it my very best to try and build something special here.”The depth of commitment entailed in du Plooy’s Middlesex contract is a far cry from the “madness” he encountered on the T20 franchise circuit this winter – particularly in a chaotic fortnight in February when, in flitting from the SA20 to the PSL, via a four-match stop-over at the ILT20 in the UAE, he inadvertently came to epitomise the sport’s current free-for-all.”The franchise world has gone a bit bonkers,” he conceded, as he recalled the scramble for signatures as one tournament bled into the next. After another prolific season for Joburg Super Kings in the SA20, du Plooy found himself playing for Dubai Capitals just two days after JSK’s play-off elimination, and was still sporting a JSK bandana when, a week later, he produced a matchwinning 63 not out for Capitals in the ILT20’s own play-offs. Even that affiliation, he admitted, hadn’t been a given when he stepped off the plane from South Africa.
Leus du Plooy batting in a Joburg Super Kings bandana for Dubai Capitals in a game he probably needs to lose to make it to Karachi Kings on time pic.twitter.com/s6Uz9tDg83
— Xavier Voigt-Hill (@voigthill) February 15, 2024
“I was thinking I was going to play for Sharjah Warriors. But when I got there, they were like, ‘No, they’re out now; you have to go and play for Dubai Capitals’. I think of myself as a very loyal person, and it’s quite tough. I guess you shouldn’t be emotionally attached to those teams, but you almost have to detach yourself completely.”It is still pretty cool to be part of, and you learn so quickly in those tournaments. But I feel like if you sign a player, then they should be available for the whole tournament unless it’s an injury. I’m sure they’ll figure it out; there are people who get paid to make sure that cricket is the lovely sport that we grew up watching, sustainable throughout. I’m sure people will take care of it.”Du Plooy clearly hasn’t lost his love of the game despite its fluctuating circumstances, and this was perhaps best epitomised during perhaps the most unlikely of his winter engagements – an appearance for Hungary, his parental homeland, at the European Cricket League. There, his entanglement with a series of club cricketers led to an extraordinary series of scores, including the small matter of 163 not out from 40 balls against Turkey.”I went there purely to play with my brother, and I left just having been made so whole,” he said. “A lot of the guys in my team emigrated from Pakistan and India to get a better life. I can’t call myself English yet, but I’ve very much got used to the culture where we find things to complain about quite often, especially after a long cricket season when sometimes you just want it over and done with.”Playing with those guys, we stayed in a three-star hotel and we were on the beach every day. They were just loving it. We were getting a plate of food and they were just buzzing. It was actually the perfect thing to go to for me; it put everything back into perspective. Yes, I have the opportunity to live my dream, but there are guys out there who just do it for fun. There was no money there, it was a week in Spain for me to enjoy it. We got into the final and lost to Ireland, but that was all just add-ons. The whole experience was great.”
“We can do similar things: he hits the ball a long way and bowls fast, and I can do that”
Matt Roller20-Jan-2022A Jamaican allrounder who hits 100-metre sixes and bowls at 90mph/145kph will represent West Indies against England this week – but it isn’t Andre Russell.While Russell takes part in the Bangladesh Premier League, Odean Smith will be tasked with closing out the innings with both bat and ball in the five T20Is in Barbados. Smith, 25, was among the young players introduced into West Indies’ white-ball set-up after their World Cup debacle in the UAE, and will be given opportunities to impress in his first T20I series on Caribbean soil.Last week’s ODI series against Ireland brought mixed emotions for him. A surprise 2-1 defeat meant the team started 2022 on a low note, but Smith had personal success in his maiden series: he hit 84 runs off 47 balls across three innings – surprisingly held back to No. 10 – and chipped in with three wickets.He was also involved in the series’ viral moment, when he hit Josh Little for six over cover only to see it land on the roof of his team-mate Sheldon Cottrell’s bright-blue Range Rover. “I was praying for that ball to go over the car,” he laughs. “He made a post about it, but you can’t park there. It was just unfortunate… he’s not going to make me pay.”
Don’t park your car too close when a West Indian is batting pic.twitter.com/Qpd2WEs5ah
— Sheldon Cotterell (@SaluteCotterell) January 8, 2022
Smith was part of the West Indies Under-19 squad that won the World Cup in 2016 but has only burst onto the scene in the last six months, a period which has represented a breakthrough in his career. He impressed for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) – Smith finished as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in 2021 – and came into consideration for the T20 World Cup squad, reportedly missing out on fitness grounds.Related
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Brandon King has his sights on 2022 T20 World Cup
'It's hurting badly' – Pollard blames batting group after Ireland defeat
“I had put in a lot of work going into that CPL, so I was quite confident,” he says. “That was a big part of why I did well: I was very confident in my body, physically, and that’s where it all started. I just went out there and expressed myself.”Fitness is something I’ve worked a lot on. I’m quite a powerful guy but you need to do a lot of running in this game, so that’s somewhere I’ve done a lot of work – not so much on being strong, but just trying to get a lot of miles in the legs. Once I’m fit and feeling well, I’m going to perform at the highest level. Nobody has to tell me that – I know it already.”Ian Bishop was impressed by what he saw while covering the CPL as a broadcaster. “He needs to refine his skillset – a couple of yorkers here and there, refine that slower ball,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “And refine his batting, because his batting is still raw – but it is powerful as heck. If someone gets a hold of him and refines his game, he’s a very exciting prospect.”Late in the CPL, a call came through from Sunil Narine, asking if Smith would be interested in joining Kolkata Knight Riders’ camp in the UAE as a net bowler; he jumped at the chance.”It was a very, very good experience,” he says. “I knew I wasn’t going to play but it was an opportunity to train with a lot of experienced guys. After the first training session I didn’t bowl much because I had hit somebody – it was Ben Cutting – on the head, so they had to rub my name off the board. After that nobody wanted to bat against me, but the coaches were very helpful, especially with my bowling.”He also had the chance to catch up with Russell, who has acted as something of a mentor for him. “He’s always been my idol in cricket,” Smith explains. “We can do similar things: he hits the ball a long way and bowls fast, and I can do that. He’s a busy guy – he’s doesn’t really answer messages – but whenever he’s around, he’s somebody that I talk to, somebody I look up to and somebody that in the future I’d hope to be like.Andre Russell (centre) and Odean Smith were part of Deccan Gladiators side that won the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10•Abu Dhabi T10″I’m somebody that learns by looking. I watch what he’s doing and I’ll try it for myself. [I watch him] hitting sixes, getting a good base at the crease, trying to stay as still as possible, keep his eyes on the ball as long as possible. That’s something I’ve seen him do and tried for myself in the nets.”They were reunited a month later at the Abu Dhabi T10, playing in Deccan Gladiators’ title-winning side. Smith’s role – “just to express myself” – suited him well: he hit 139 runs off 49 balls across the tournament, and felt as though his death bowling improved immeasurably in the face of ultra-attacking batters.From there, he travelled to Pakistan – where he had made his T20I debut as part of an under-strength side in 2018 – for the T20I series, where West Indies felt as though they made strides despite losing 3-0.”There’s a few new faces [in the upcoming England series], and they’ve trying to figure out where everyone fits,” Smith says. “The guys need games together… we haven’t played much T20 together, so these five games are going to be very important.”Phil Simmons and Kieron Pollard, West Indies’ coach and captain, have been publicly supportive. “We’ve seen what his strengths are: he has a lot of pace when he bowls and he’s getting his yorkers in a lot more, and it’s something we’re working hard on with him,” Simmons said. “And he can change a game with the bat for any team he’s playing for.”
“I’ve watched a lot of IPL games. Mumbai [Indians] was one of the teams that I really liked growing up”Smith hopes he too can play in the IPL
“I’m very, very proud,” Pollard said of Smith and Romario Shepherd, his friend and CPL team-mate. “They have come in and they have shown that they want to be at the international level. Obviously they are a bit rough on the edges […] but you can see the raw talent.”After the England series, Smith can expect to be part of the squads for the limited-overs tour to India, which will be interrupted in the middle for the IPL auction. He has put his name forward, and will be watching nervously on February 12 and 13.”I’ve watched a lot of IPL games. Mumbai [Indians] was one of the teams that I really liked growing up – I like someone that hits the ball, and I’ve seen Pollard, who hits the ball real far. Then when Andre Russell came through, I went over to [support] KKR. It’s a league I’ve always wanted to play [in], but you have to be really up there to get into it.”Smith is clear, though, that international cricket is his priority. “When there’s no West Indies cricket, I’m available for other leagues and I’ll definitely play in them. But if I have to choose, I’m going to choose international cricket. Playing for my country, my region, is always going to come first.”My ambition is to be one of the top allrounders in the world,” he says. “Hopefully, I could play some Test cricket also – I don’t see why I shouldn’t be able to – but my aspiration is to be one of the best allrounders going around, in all aspects of the game: T20, 50 overs and Test cricket.”
Cedanne Rafaela's clutch walk-off triple to bring in Romy González gave Boston a 4-3 win over the Tigers and clinched the Red Sox' first postseason appearance since 2021 in dramatic fashion. The party started immediately on the field to celebrate Rafaela's big moment that returned the storied franchise to October as they officially claimed one of the AL's wild-card spots.
Champagne bottles and goggles awaited the group in the locker room to continue the well-deserved celebration. Before the champagne showers began, though, Red Sox manager Alex Cora made sure to give an absolutely electric message to exclaim that his team was only getting started.
"You could feel the energy in that game," Cora said during his postgame speech to his team. "I want to thank you for the effort, I want to thank you for everything that you guys have done. But, you guys know, we didn't come here to play only 162. We came here to win the World Series."
What a perfect message to start the absolute chaos that ensued.
Cora's squad is currently set for a wild-card series with the AL's first wild card, which will be whoever falls short of the AL East crown between the Yankees and the Blue Jays. Boston has won five of their past seven games and seems to be hitting their stride at the right time as they march toward October.
Pelo mundo de novo! O Flamengo venceu o Pyramids (EGI) por 2 a 0, neste sábado (13), e está na final da Copa Intercontinental contra o PSG. Léo Pereira e Danilo, com dois passes de Arrascaeta, fizeram os gols da classificação rubro-negra no Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, em Doha, e consagraram a equipe como campeã da Copa Challenger. Assim, o Mais Querido segue vivo no sonho do bicampeonato mundial.
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O Flamengo assumiu o controle da partida desde o início, sustentando a posse de bola e ocupando o campo ofensivo com frequência. Na primeira etapa, equipe de Filipe Luís concentrou suas ações pelos lados, sobretudo pelo corredor esquerdo com Cebolinha, enquanto o Pyramids adotou uma postura reativa, com linhas baixas e foco quase exclusivo em proteger a própria área e buscar transições rápidas, que pouco se materializaram na maior parte do primeiro tempo.
Apesar do domínio territorial, o Rubro-Negro encontrou dificuldades para transformar volume em chances claras. A melhor oportunidade em bola rolando surgiu quando Cebolinha apareceu livre dentro da área, mas teve a finalização travada na pequena área pela defesa egípcia. Com espaços reduzidos e pouca mobilidade do adversário, a solução veio na bola parada. Aos 24 minutos, Arrascaeta cobrou falta para a área, Léo Pereira se antecipou à marcação e cabeceou no canto para abrir o placar.
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Após o gol, o Flamengo reduziu o ritmo e passou a trocar passes no campo defensivo com a intenção de atrair o Pyramids e explorar eventuais brechas. O plano, no entanto, teve pouca resposta, já que o time egípcio manteve a marcação recuada e deixou para reagir apenas no fim da etapa inicial. Primeiro, em uma finalização perigosa de Ziko dentro da área. Depois, já aos 45 minutos, Mayele ficou frente a frente com Rossi, que venceu o duelo e evitou o empate com uma defesa decisiva.
A equipe egípcia voltou do intervalo mais agressiva. Logo na saída de bola, Mayele recebeu lançamento na grande área e bateu firme, mas longe do gol de Rossi. Três minutos depois, foi a vez de Zakara dominar dentro da área e bater rasteiro, acertando a rede pelo lado de fora.
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Não demorou muito para o Flamengo dar um banho de água fria na pressão do Pyramids. Em mais uma jogada de bola parada, Arrascaeta cobrou falta na segunda trave e Danilo, o herói da Libertadores, voou mais uma vez — contando com falha do goleiro El Shenawy — para marcar o segundo rubro-negro em Doha.
Com a vantagem confortável no placar, o Rubro-Negro passou a ter menos a bola, mas sem sofrer investidas perigosas do adversário. A melhor chance dos egípcios veio de fora da área, mais uma vez com Mayele, e Rossi saltou para encaixar a bola. Bruno Henrique, que entrou no segundo tempo, também teve boa chance ao tentar driblar o goleiro El Shenawy, que levou a melhor no duelo.
O jogo ganhou clima quente na reta final. Zalaka reclamou de pênalti após se acertado no rosto por Erick Pulgar, mas a arbitragem mandou seguir. O lance gerou revolta do lado do Pyramids, e os jogadores de ambas equipes começaram a se entranhar em campo.
Nos minutos finais, o Flamengo ainda contou com a volta de Pedro após 52 dias afastado por lesão. O camia 9 substituiu Carrascal aos 40 minutos da segunda etapa e teve chance de marcar ao receber de Bruno Henrique, mas parou no goleiro. Ele ainda arriscou chute de fora da área, e mais uma vez ficou em El Shenawy. No fim, vitória tranquila do Rubro-Negro para seguir em busca do bicampeonato mundial.
O que vem por aí?
O Flamengo volta a campo na próxima quarta-feira (17), às 14h (de Brasília), e decidirá o título da Copa Intercontinental contra o PSG. O duelo acontece, mais uma vez, no Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, em Doha, no Catar.
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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA FLAMENGO 2 X 0 PYRAMIDS COPA CHALLENGER / COPA INTERCONTINENTAL 📆 Data e horário: sábado, 13 de dezembro de 2025, às 14h (de Brasília); 📍 Local: Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, no Catar; 🥅 Gols: Léo Pereira, aos 24’/1ºT (1-0); 🟨 Cartões Amarelos: Marrie, Atef e Zalaka (PYR); 🟥 Cartões Vermelhos: 🏟️ Público: 8.368 pessoas.
⚽ ESCALAÇÕES FLAMENGO (Técnico: Filipe Luís) Rossi; Varela, Danilo, Léo Pereira e Alex Sandro (Ayrton Lucas); Pulgar, Jorginho (De la Cruz) e Arrascaeta (Luiz Araújo); Carrascal (Pedro), Plata e Cebolinha (Bruno Henrique).
Martin O’Neill has confirmed that Celtic’s clash with Dundee at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night will be his final game as the interim manager.
The experienced Northern Irish coach has revealed that Wilfried Nancy will take charge for the clash with Hearts at the weekend, ending his time in the dugout.
Speaking after the 2-1 win over Hibernian, O’Neill said: “He (Nancy) is the man that will be coming in. I thought it was over on Sunday, but there’s some paperwork still to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be my final game.
The interim boss has won six of his seven matches in his second spell with the Hoops, winning all four of his league games, and there have been several players who have been big winners from the change in manager.
The biggest winners from Martin O'Neill's time as interim Celtic manager
Callum Osmand, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, was one of the early winners from Brendan Rodgers’ departure, after he scored one goal in three games for O’Neill, having not played a single minute under the previous boss.
On the topic of strikers, Johnny Kenny was another winner of O’Neill’s tenure because the Ireland international scored four goals in the manager’s first four matches in charge, per Sofascore, which has shown that he can deliver quality at first-team level for the Hoops.
Reo Hatate has also improved under the interim boss. He has provided two goals and three assists in seven games for the Northern Irishman, per Sofascore, after a return of one goal and no assists in 13 games for Rodgers.
The biggest winner of O’Neill’s tenure, however, has been centre-back Auston Trusty, who has played every single minute of the seven games, having only made two appearances as a substitute in the league for the last manager this season.
Why Wilfried Nancy may drop Auston Trusty
Despite playing every single minute of the last seven Celtic games, the USA international is one of the players who could be on the chopping block when Nancy finally comes through the door.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Trusty has been playing as a right-sided centre-back because of the injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers, and the French tactician may want a naturally right-footed option in that position.
If Nancy wants that natural balance at the back, whether that is by signing a centre-back in January or giving a chance to another player in the squad, then Trusty could have to compete with Liam Scales for a starting berth as the left-sided centre-back.
Appearances
28
39
Clean sheets
13
22
Dribbled past
11x
8x
Error led to shot
5
2
Error led to goal
1
0
As you can see in the table above, the Ireland international has been the more reliable performer for the Scottish giants at the heart of the defence in the Premiership since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
Trusty, who was hailed as a “powerful” player by Rodgers, made an error leading to a shot with a loose pass on Sunday, and that was his fifth in just 28 league games for the club.
He has also been dribbled past three more times than Scales, despite the Irishman playing 11 more games, which shows that opposition players find it easier to play against him than his fellow left-footed defender.
Trusty, to his credit, has been solid in his duels in the Premiership this season, winning 62% of his physical battles, per Sofascore, but his errors over the past 18 months or so and the fact that he is currently a left-footer playing on the right may come into consideration ahead of the January transfer window.
Nancy may want to bring in a naturally right-footed player to start games in that role, leaving Trusty and Scales to compete for one place. That is why he may end up dropping the American, who has been the biggest winner from O’Neill’s tenure, once he has a right-footed defender available to select.
His performances at Premiership level since his £6m move from Sheffield United suggest that Scales would be the better option for the new boss at left-centre-back, but we will have to wait and see how it plays out in reality.
Celtic flop who was "really shaky" v Hibs is the first player Nancy must bin
This Celtic flop is the first player who should be sold by incoming manager Wilfried Nancy in January.
Arsenal are now the last team with a perfect Champions League record this season after they beat Bayern Munich 3-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Gunners have recorded five wins from five and kept up their 100 percent start by ending that of the Germans' in the process. Jurrien Timber put Arsenal ahead in the first half, while Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score.
Midway through the first half, Arsenal broke the deadlock. Bayern's terrible record on set pieces was emphasised before the game, and the hosts took full advantage from a corner, with Timber getting in front of Manuel Neuer to nod in a Bukayo Saka corner.
That lead should have been doubled soon after when Eberechi Eze played a neat one-two with Mikel Merino to set himself in on goal, but Joshua Kimmich made a brilliant recovery challenge to deny the derby-day hero. And that missed opportunity came back to haunt Arsenal as Bayern levelled the score seconds later. Kimmich's delectable ball over the head of Myles Lewis-Skelly found Serge Gnabry, whose first-time cross picked out teenager Lennart Karl to thunder in at close range.
After the break, Mikel Merino spurned a free header after an excellent cross from Saka to the back post, while Karl went down the other end in search of his second but his tame shot was held by David Raya. Merino then headed wide from a wicked Declan Rice corner and Neuer kept out Cristhian Mosquera from a few yards out shortly afterwards in a manic 15 minutes following the interval.
An almighty scramble saw Rice force Neuer into a low save with his foot, and the rebound didn't fall kindly for Saka to be able to convert, with the Bayern goalkeeper able to sweep up the loose ball, much to the frustration of a brooding home crowd.
With 20 minutes remaining, Arsenal went back in front. Riccardo Calafiori, just on as a substitute, drilled in a low cross right through the Bayern box, and Madueke arrived ahead of Konrad Laimer to tap in his first goal for the Gunners.
Bayern nearly pulled level again when another straight ball over the defence found former Gunner Gnabry, but he couldn't make contact with his acrobatic effort and Arsenal were let off the hook.
The hosts wrapped up the points in the final quarter of an hour after another howler from Neuer. Eze's dink over the top found Martinelli, who still had 50 yards to go to goal, only for the German keeper to try and meet him halfway, fluffing his clearance and allowing the winger to roll the ball into an empty net.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Emirates Stadium…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (6/10):
As has been the case for much of the season, the Spaniard had very little to do.
Jurrien Timber (8/10):
Got Arsenal off the mark with his third goal of the season, heading in Saka's corner. Scarcely troubled with his defensive duties despite Gnabry's fine performance, with the German winger having to vacate that flank to get most of his joy. Afforded a rest with White taking his place.
William Saliba (7/10):
Nearly cost his side when a clearance hit Zubimendi straight in the backside, but Raya was on hand to clear up the mess. Otherwise dealt well with Kane, who offered very little.
Cristhian Mosquera (7/10):
Similarly didn't allow Kane to have a sniff, allowing home fans to gleefully chant, 'Harry, what's the score?'.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (4/10):
A testing night for the teenager, who was continually targeted by Bayern's attackers, including in the build up to Karl's equaliser. Mercifully taken off for Calafiori.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield
Martin Zubimendi (7/10):
Positionally and technically fine again, though his contributions paled in comparison to the scorers and midfield partner.
Declan Rice (8/10):
Ran through Bayern in the second half like they weren't even there. Unfortunate not to have grabbed an assist for himself with his tremendous set-piece deliveries.
Eberechi Eze (7/10):
Technically set up Martinelli though you could probably chalk that one down as a Neuer assist instead. Didn't look out of place on this Champions League stage. Subbed for the returning Odegaard.
Getty Images SportAttack
Bukayo Saka (7/10):
For the most part a thorn in Bayern's side, coming up with the assist for Timber from a corner, but Arsenal fans may be worried about his rusty physicality. Taken off for Martinelli.
Mikel Merino (6/10):
Led the line well and had some opportunities to get on the scoresheet with a couple of headers, but lacked that scoring touch this time out.
Leandro Trossard (5/10):
Was set through on goal in the opening exchanges but completely fluffed his lines when faced with the onrushing Neuer. Substituted before half-time with an injury.
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AFPSubs & Manager
Noni Madueke (8/10):
Replaced the injured Trossard before the break. Took it upon himself to constantly get at the Bayern defenders and was eventually rewarded with a goal.
Gabriel Martinelli (8/10):
Similarly got what he deserved for showing enthusiasm and personality, racing beyond Neuer to add Arsenal's third goal of the evening.
Riccardo Calafiori (8/10):
Made an instant impact in place of Lewis-Skelly, putting in a cross that Madueke couldn't miss.
Ben White (N/A):
A late replacement for Timber.
Martin Odegaard (N/A):
Made his return from injury in place of Eze.
Mikel Arteta (8/10):
Credit to the Arsenal boss again. His side drifted to the end of the first half before they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, and his substitutions were pivotal to that.