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With the last international break of 2025 underway, it remains to be seen whether or not Martin O’Neill will be in charge of Celtic for their next competitive match.

Football Insider recently reported that the experienced manager could see his interim time in the dugout end if the club are able to land a new boss during the break.

The Northern Irish head coach, in his second stint at the club, has enjoyed an impressive time as the caretaker manager, winning three of his four matches in all competitions.

Celtic have won both of their Scottish Premiership games by a 4-0 scoreline since he came in after Brendan Rodgers tendered his resignation, beating Kilmarnock 4-0 on Sunday in what could be his last match.

O’Neill has been a breath of fresh air for the Scottish giants after the end of Rodgers’ tenure, as evidenced by the two league results, and he has worked wonders for a few players.

Johnny Kenny, for example, has stepped up under the experienced manager and shown that he can be relied on as a regular starter for the Hoops, if required.

The Celtic players who have improved under Martin O'Neill

The Ireland international is the most obvious player who has improved since O’Neill came in as a caretaker manager, as he has scored four goals in four matches, per Sofascore.

Kenny had scored two goals in 17 first-team matches for Celtic in all competitions before this run of four goals in four games under O’Neill, per Transfermarkt, which perfectly illustrates his recent improvement.

The 22-year-old marksman, who has stepped up in the absence of Kelechi Iheanacho, is not the only Hoops player who has taken their game up a gear under the interim boss, though, as Arne Engels has done the same.

Celtic’s Belgian midfield maestro did not provide a single goal or assist in eight appearances in the Premiership under Rodgers, in what was a dismal start to the campaign for the £11m signing from Augsburg.

Since O’Neil came in, though, the central midfielder has scored his first goal of the season and delivered two assists in all competitions, including a goal and an assist in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Minutes

90

90

Sofascore rating

7.5

8.4

Tackle success rate

100%

100%

Clearances

5

7

Ground duels won

1/2

3/3

Aerial duels won

6/11

6/8

Dribbled past

0x

0x

As you can see in the table above, Auston Trusty has excelled under O’Neill at the heart of the defence in his two league matches in the dugout, after the USA international did not start a single league match for Rodgers this season.

With O’Neill’s future in the dugout in doubt, the Scottish giants are reportedly looking at another manager who could make Kenny unplayable for the rest of the season and beyond.

3-4-2-1 emerges as contender for Celtic job

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy has “emerged” as a contender to replace Rodgers and O’Neil at Parkhead.

The reporter claims that he is one of a number of names on the club’s shortlist as they look for a long-term successor to Rodgers, who won the Premiership title in both of his full seasons back in Glasgow.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Joseph adds that the Hoops have now drawn up their full shortlist of options and that Nancy is a “serious” contender to land the job before the end of the international break.

The 48-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation, is not the only manager on that list, of course, as Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen are also in the frame.

Why Wilfried Nancy could make Johnny Kenny unplayable

If Celtic decide to go through with a move for the French head coach, the Columbus Crew boss could help to make Kenny completely unplayable by carrying on O’Neill’s good work.

Nancy, who won the MLS Cup in the 2022/23 campaign, has won 81 of his 169 matches as a manager in the MLS, per Transfermarkt, and has won two trophies, one with Columbus Crew and one with Montreal, where he coached Alistair Johnston.

In his time with Columbus Crew, the French manager has shown that he can set up a team to consistently create chances for a striker like Kenny, as Diego Rossi has thrived under his management.

Like Kenny, the Uruguayan is a lean and diminutive forward who looks to score goals through clever movement and sharp finishing, as shown in his goal in the clip below.

Neither Rossi nor the Celtic striker are going to offer a towering presence in the number nine position and bully central defenders with their physical prowess; that is not a part of their game, but Nancy has shown that he can set a team up to create chances for their profile of forward.

Rossi has played through the middle as a striker on his own in a 3-4-2-1, as one of the two 10s behind a striker, and as part of a strike pairing in a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2 during his time under the Celtic manager target, and he has been a prolific scorer in those roles.

Appearances

48

37

Shots

112

123

xG

13.14

15.54

Goals

21

19

xA

5.60

6.46

Big chances created

14

11

Assists

7

5

As you can see in the table above, the Columbus Crew forward has scored 40 goals for Nancy since the start of the 2024 campaign, whilst also providing 12 assists for his side in that time.

These statistics suggest that Kenny, who is a similar profile of player to Rossi, could thrive under the Frenchman if Celtic decide to appoint him as their successor to Rodgers.

The Ireland international could thrive as the lone striker in a 3-4-2-1 on his own or alongside Iheanacho, when fit, in a 4-4-2, with his recent goal spurt showing that he can score goals on a regular basis at Premiership level.

Dream Knutsen alternative: Celtic want to interview "incredible" manager

Celtic want to interview a manager who would be a dream alternative to Kjetil Knutsen.

ByDan Emery Nov 11, 2025

However, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops will decide to make Nancy their number one option, or if they will go with another manager on their shortlist.

A “sensational” £100m midfielder has now emerged as Manchester United’s top midfield target ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, with Ruben Amorim personally keen.

Man Utd keen on new midfielder amid Bruno concerns

Amorim has been forced to find a way to fit talisman Bruno Fernandes into his system, but there are concerns about whether the Portugal international is suited to playing in central midfield, with ex-Chelsea man Craig Burley criticising his positional awareness.

Burley said: “They have got no legs in midfield, we’ve talked about this with Casemiro and Ugarte. Bruno Fernandes is playing there, but it’s not his position.

“He doesn’t understand the defensive aspects and the positional aspects of being a deeper-lying midfielder. And it also negates, which we’ve talked about at length, his ability to influence 30 yards further up the field.”

Man Utd submit offer to sign two "special" English midfielders in double swoop

The Red Devils have tabled a proposal for two midfielders.

ByDominic Lund Oct 15, 2025

Perhaps with that in mind, the Red Devils have set out to bring in a new central midfielder, and summer target, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, has remained on the shortlist, with a report from early September revealing plans to smash their transfer record in 2026.

However, according to a report from The i Paper, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has now overtaken Baleba as Man United’s top target in midfield, with Amorim personally keen, as the manager is a fan of his directness and willingness to pass forward.

The Brighton midfielder, on the other hand, has made a disappointing start to the season, which has caused United to think twice about pursuing the Cameroonian, with one insider saying: “A calming influence, a midfielder on a different level with the ball at his feet wouldn’t go amiss right now,”

“Baleba can get about the pitch more, but does he possess Wharton’s quality on the ball? The club could do with the latter.”

"Sensational" Wharton would be very different option to Baleba

The Palace star, who reportedly has a price tag of £100m, is a very different type of player to Baleba, posing more of an attacking threat, while, as previously mentioned, expressing a willingness to drive the ball forward, which is why he has caught Amorim’s eye.

Average per 90 (past year)

Adam Wharton

Carlos Baleba

Assists

0.15

0

Shot-creating actions

3.94

1.88

Progressive passes

5.98

3.33

Tackles

1.90

2.47

Interceptions

1.39

1.53

As shown, the Cameroon international excels more from a defensive point of view, which suggests he is more of a like-for-like replacement for Casemiro, although there have recently been widespread reports suggesting the ex-Real Madrid man could sign a new contract.

As such, Baleba may not be a necessary signing, and it is probably a wise idea to focus on signing Wharton, who has received very high praise from Sky Sports’ Nubaid Haroon in the past.

Northamptonshire take slender first-innings lead thanks to Justin Broad efforts

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Jun-2025Josh de Caires struck his highest first-class score, to put Middlesex in a strong position at the end of day three of this Rothesay County Championship match at Wantage Road. Playing his first game of the season, de Caires, who has batted at No. 7 for the last couple of years as a spinning allrounder, shared an opening stand of 89 with Sam Robson, the Seaxes finishing the day on 215 for 3, a lead of 193.De Caires’ 87, from 144 balls with 12 fours, helped wrestle back the initiative for Middlesex after allrounder Justin Broad hit 70 (81 balls, 10 fours) and combined with Lloyd Pope in a record 10th wicket partnership for Northamptonshire against Middlesex to earn a slender first-innings lead.Broad and Pope’s heroics came after Ryan Higgins’ hat-trick spearheaded a Northamptonshire batting collapse in the morning session. From a dominant 342 for 5, the hosts lost four wickets for eight runs in just 4.2 overs after Saif Zaib posted an excellent 102, his fourth century of the summer (170 balls, 13 fours), the first Northamptonshire batter since Ben Duckett in 2016 to reach that milestone.Higgins finished with figures of 3 for 48 while spinner Zafar Gohar took a further wicket to complete a five-for.Resuming on 308 for 5, Zaib and Lewis McManus looked to extend their defiant partnership which already extended into three figures.Zaib’s progress through the 90s was eased when sub-fielder Stevie Eskinazi’s misfield gifted him a boundary. He reached three figures by bottom-edging an attempted reverse sweep past the keeper for four, but the shot proved his undoing later in the over when he picked out de Caires who took a stunning flying catch at backward point off Gohar.That set in motion Northamptonshire’s collapse, as Higgins, employing a short-pitched tactic, had McManus fending a leg-side bouncer to the keeper with the final ball of the 103rd over. He struck again with the first two balls of his next over to complete his hattrick. Rob Keogh moved across his stumps and was bowled around his legs while Liam Guthrie upper cut a short ball straight to point.Broad was proactive from the outset, employing the sweep and reverse sweep against the spinners and muscling Gohar through midwicket.With Pope providing solid support, Broad cut Gohar for four to bring up the 50 partnership and take Northamptonshire to 400. He pulled Toby Roland-Jones to the ropes, but the Middlesex captain couldn’t hold onto a difficult diving chance at midwicket, the ball going for four to bring up Broad’s half-century.Middlesex targeted Pope with the short ball, but he was content to duck under the bouncers and take runs off the spinners and give Broad the bulk of the strike.Broad duly wiped out the deficit and took Northamptonshire into the lead just before the delayed lunch interval before falling shortly after the resumption when he stepped away to a Robson delivery which turned and hit leg-stump.With the bat, Robson took three boundaries off Northamptonshire’s seamers but the hosts soon turned to the spinners.While he bowled the occasional half-tracker which Middlesex punished, Pope obtained some sharp turn and bounce out of the foot holes, flighting the ball and finding some drift.Calvin Harrison bowled tidily, conceding just one boundary in his first five overs. He posed some tough questions for both batters, beating Robson’s outside edge before de Caires failed to pick the wrong’un as Harrison found some sharp bounce off a good length ball. He struck with another wrong’un soon afterwards, trapping Robson lbw as he moved across his stumps.De Caires drove Keogh both sides of the wicket off consecutive balls and slog swept Keogh before taking a single off Harrison on the cusp of tea to bring up his half-century off 84 balls.After the break, de Caires was harsh on anything loose from the spinners, pulling anything short to the boundary as well as sweeping sweetly.With de Caires and Max Holden extending their partnership to 65, Northamptonshire turned to Guthrie who made the breakthrough almost instantly, bowling a bouncer which lifted sharply to de Caires who could only fend to second slip.Max Holden (and Leus du Plooy then added a brisk 48 together. Du Plooy punched Guthrie off the back foot to get off the mark and whipped Harrison through midwicket, while Holden dispatched Keogh back over his head.Holden continued to accelerate, sweeping Harrison over midwicket and coming down the wicket next ball to power him over long-on.du Plooy’s departure came via a bizarre dismissal in the closing overs. Caught in two minds, he seemed to be considering whether to reverse sweep or the run the ball down to third man but instead guided the ball straight to the keeper.The day ended tantalisingly poised with Middlesex considering when best to time their day four declaration.

Jack Grealish peeled away in celebration. The joy on his face was palpable. Infectious. This was the moment, sending the roof off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Everton sealing a last-minute winner against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

19 games unbeaten. No more. The Eagles had been grounded and Everton had taken off. That’s 11 points on the board for the Toffees, and only seven matches played. Last year, 12 fixtures were needed to reach the same points total.

David Moyes’ squad are coming together, even with the centre-forwards still toiling. Beto is beginning to look rather stale, while £27m summer signing Thierno Barry hasn’t yet provided the quality or fluency to suggest he can lead the line.

It’s a familiar problem on the blue half of Merseyside.

Everton's striker issues

After Moyes’ appointment last winter, Beto came alive. He had previously laboured under Sean Dyche’s management, but scored five from four Premier League games to rebind the rigging and turn the ship away from relegation danger.

With one top-flight goal this season, things need to change if Beto is to retain his star spot as the frontman. Everton have been here before, with struggles at centre-forward a common theme since Farhad Moshiri first purchased a stake in 2016.

While Dominic Calvert-Lewin had some high points across his long stay in Liverpool, the tall and commanding star lacked control of his fitness levels and toiled over the final years of his Everton career.

Few and far between are the strikers who have left Everton with their heads held high, and Beto knows he needs an upswing in form if he wishes to edge away from an unwanted reputation when he does play his football elsewhere.

Beto

80

17

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

273

71

Neal Maupay

32

1

Moise Kean

39

4

Richarlison

152

53

Cenk Tosun

61

11

Salomon Rondon

31

3

Here is a list of differing fortunes, but there are more than a few strikers who will look back at their time at Goodison Park with regret.

Moise Kean, for example, arrived from Juventus as a teenage prodigy with a weight of expectation. But it didn’t work out in England.

Everton's new Moise Kean

Everton haven’t always hit the jackpot in the transfer market over the past several years, but recent additions certainly speak of greater accuracy and synergy when planning for the future.

Kean, who completed a £25m move to England in August 2019, was billed as a real coup for a first-class prospect, but he never managed to make it work on Merseyside and returned to his homeland, having scored only four times and completed a series of loan spells.

Now, Kean is a superstar in Italy with Fiorentina, prolific and powerful, and Everton might want to bear that one in mind when considering Tyler Dibling, who arrived from Southampton this summer for £42m but has endured a difficult start, used sparingly by Moyes and yet to show off the skills that caused such a furore regarding his services.

Sunday’s tie was considered a huge opportunity for the 19-year-old. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was suspended, after all. But he failed to take the opportunity, with the Liverpool Echo slapping him with a 4/10 match rating and saying he was ‘anonymous at times’.

Dibling is young and talented and has demonstrated his potential already in the Premier League, but he’s a work in progress. He was hounded out of any promising positions at the weekend, and it’s unlikely he has gained Moyes’ trust at this stage.

This “world-class talent”, as he has been described by Southampton youth coach Andy Goldie, may well reach the end of the campaign with little individual triumphs to boast about. Perhaps there will be scrutiny, and knots of adversity and frustration from which he must disentangle himself and keep his head down and work hard.

Minutes played

45′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

6/7 (86%)

Chances created

0

Dribbles

0/3

Tackles

1

Duels won

3/10

Dibling impressed with Southampton last year, a bright spark during a difficult year. Saints were doomed, and that was a fact long before the season curtailed. But Dibling shone, notching seven goal involvements across the term and impressing with his strength and pace and gusto.

The lesson here is that Everton have paid for a youngster who is anything but the finished product. Maybe it will take time, and maybe he will need a loan spell away to find his feet.

Perhaps he won’t. But Everton must keep the faith in a top prospect and watch him bloom into a star down the line, because Everton and Moyes know what they have paid for, and there is a lofty, grand-scale future for this one.

Moyes must ditch £56m Everton duo who have been holding Grealish back

Moyes’ Everton have made improvements but there are some stars who need to be dropped.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 2, 2025

Established by FIFPRO in 2005, the World 11 is the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers

The FIFPRO Men's World 11 is voted upon annually by the best players in the modern game. Dating back to 2005, the award celebrates footballing excellence on the global level.

The 2025 awards will mark the 21st edition, and will be announced on Nov. 3. The 11 players who receive the most votes at their position are selected for the FIFPRO World 11. Players from 70 countries have voted for the 2025 Men’s World 11 and Women’s World 11.

Here is a look back at every previous squad, with global superstars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Didier Drogba, Gianluigi Buffon and more all taking centerstage.

• FIFPRO
  

  2024

  Goalkeeper: Ederson (Manchester City)

  Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

  Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

  Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

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• FIFPRO World 11
  

  2023

  Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

  Defenders: Ruben Dias (Portugal), John Stones (England), Kyle Walker (England)

  Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (England), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Bernardo Silva (Portugal);

  Forwards: Vinicius Jr (Brazil), Kylian Mbappe (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

• FIFPRO World 11
  

  2022

  Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

  Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Portugal), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

  Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Casemiro (Brazil), Luka Modric (Croatia)

  Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Karim Benzema (France), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

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• FIFPRO World 11
  

  2021

  Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

  Defenders: David Alaba (Austria), Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), Ruben Dias (Portugal)

  Midfielders: Jorginho (Italy), N’Golo Kante (France), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

  Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Erling Haaland (Norway), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The Queensland government has confirmed its plans for the Olympic stadium with cricket having a key stake in the outcome

Andrew McGlashan25-Mar-2025

Brisbane will have a different home for international cricket after 2032•Getty Images

The Gabba will be demolished after the 2032 Olympic Games, and cricket will move to a new 60,000-seater stadium in the Victoria Park area of Brisbane, which will be built for the Olympics.Queensland’s premier David Crisafulli announced the latest plans for Olympic infrastructure on Tuesday, with cricket a pivotal figure in the outcome, having been impacted by the uncertainty over what the state would do after going through various proposals since being awarded the Olympics in 2021.When Cricket Australia announced its seven-year international venue allocation in 2024, the Gabba was only guaranteed international cricket until next summer’s men’s Ashes amid the wrangling over whether the ground would be redeveloped or replaced.Related

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Is this the end for the Gabba?

“This decision gives us certainty about venues and scheduling which in turn allows us to ensure Brisbane hosts the very best possible international and domestic cricket,” CA said in a statement. “We strongly advocated building a stadium in Victoria Park together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL and Brisbane Lions, and cricket will play a major role in ensuring this significant investment delivers long-term benefits for cricket fans and the people of Queensland.”On behalf of the cricket community we want to thank the Queensland Government for seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give the fans, the city and the state the stadium they deserve.”Cricket is returning to the Olympics for the 2028 edition in Los Angeles having only previously featured in 1900. Should it be retained for 2032, it is earmarked for Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena as well as the Gabba in what would shape as the ground’s final matches before it is knocked down.”Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final? The Gabba’s swansong,” Crisafulli said at an event in Brisbane.The Gabba was initially set to be demolished and rebuilt for A$2.7 billion under the Labor government for the 2032 Games before that was scrapped amid a backlash over rising costs. It was then set for a $600 million facelift under Labor before those plans were also abandoned under the new government.”The Gabba is at its end of life,” Crisafulli said. “It hasn’t been well maintained, and we do need a stadium to host this great show, and there is an opportunity for legacy play.”It became a choice between spending billions on temporary facilities and temporary stands that delivered no legacy, or securing the future of AFL [and] cricket at a new home.”Queensland Cricket welcomed the latest plans with the new stadium providing clarity over the future.”The Gabba has been wonderful venue for cricket for many years and has provided fans and players with countless memories – however the challenges the stadium faces are well documented, and we need to look to the future,” chief executive Terry Svenson said. “There is now the opportunity for Queensland to attract the world’s best cricket events, such as ICC events, men’s and women’s Ashes Series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India, as well has hosting the BBL and WBBL in a new purpose-built stadium.An artist impression of Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park for the 2032 Olympics•Queensland Government

“Thirty years ago this week, the Gabba was in the very early stages of its major redevelopment as the historic Sheffield Shield Final was being played, with many ensuing highlights following in the past three decades.”Today’s decision gives us certainty after many years without clarity. We now stand at the starting line as Queensland prepares to unveil a signature stadium that will be known the world over.”The Gabba hosted its first Test in 1931 and has staged 67 men’s matches alongside two women’s Tests with the most recent being the rain-affected draw in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.It became the traditional starting point for Australian Test summers although that had changed in recent seasons with Perth staging the opening game as it will against England in 2025-26. The Brisbane Test is the second of the series and will be a day-night encounter.While it remains uncertain what international cricket the Gabba will host after next summer, it will likely stage at least white-ball matches and could still hold Test cricket again before being consigned to rubble.There is likely to be another new international venue in Australia prior to 2032 with Hobart’s proposed stadium, which will include a roof, set to be ready by 2029 as part of Tasmania gaining an AFL team.

A close finish was in the offing. Gujarat Giants (GG) were stifled early in a small chase. Then came an expensive ninth over that went for three fours and a six as Ashleigh Gardner took on rookie Prema Rawat. It turned the scales the way of GG emphatically, as a tricky chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) turned into a canter.It left RCB winless at home in three games so far this season. It also meant three sides – RCB, GG and UP Warriorz – are now tied on four points. This lights up the prospect of a tight finish to the group stage next week in Lucknow and Mumbai.

Perry’s rare failure

She came into the tournament under a hip injury cloud, but her batting form didn’t seem to suggest any problem. Coming in on the back of 90*, 81, 7 and 57, Ellyse Perry was out for the first duck in her WPL career when she mistimed Gardner to Tanuja Kanwar at square leg off her fourth ball. That wicket, coming on the back of Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s lbw in the first over to Deandra Dottin, left RCB 16 for 2 in two overs.

Gautam sizzles; Mandhana fizzles

It was an uneasy stay at the crease for Smriti Mandhana, repeatedly squared up and beaten on the outside edge by 21-year-old Kashvee Gautam, one of the brightest Indian fast bowlers on show in WPL 2025. Mandhana struggled against late movement as Gautam’s first two overs went for just four. All that pressure led to a wicket at the other end when Mandhana was predictably out to spin yet again when she slog-swept Kanwar to Harleen Deol at deep midwicket for 10 off 20 balls.Kashvee Gautam has been the brightest young Indian fast bowler at the WPL•BCCI

Ahuja injects momentum

During the season spent away at rehabilitation after a back injury last year, Kanika Ahuja set herself clear goals. She didn’t want to be known as a “five-ball batter” in the WPL anymore. She worked hard on her power game, shades of which were on display on Thursday as she laid into Priya Mishra, the legspinner.She read the googly off the hand and her manner of stepping out to imperiously loft her twice in the over, including the first six of the innings, spoke volumes of her growth. Ahuja would repeat that two overs later when she stepped out to launch Gardner. Her 33 off 27 before falling to Kanwar led to another RCB slip-up. Georgia Wareham’s cameo of 20 then helped them to 125 for 7, their joint-lowest total in the WPL.

Renuka gives RCB hope

GG went with a third opening combination in five games. Dayalan Hemalatha, the latest to join the game of musical chairs, did little to repay the faith following scores of 9, 0 and 4 in her precious three innings. Having been reprieved early when Wyatt-Hodge misjudged a catch at mid-off, she was out stumped looking to heave Renuka Singh for 11. Mandhana’s decision to bowl Renuka out up top paid dividends when Beth Mooney holed out to deep midwicket as GG were reduced to 32 for 2 in the seventh.

Gardner tees off

A 19-run over off Rawat in the ninth turned the tide for GG as Gardner fed off Rawat’s inexperience, expertly using the depth of the crease to pull, while also showing her driving abilities when the ball was tossed up. The surge in momentum was such that even Deol’s brain fade in trying to hit out against Wareham didn’t lead to any panic.

Litchfield reverse-sweeps away to glory

Phoebe Litchfield, playing in only her second game of the competition, exhibited tremendous game awareness and played a succession of reverse sweeps to negate Sneh Rana’s threat to quickly offset any pressure, while ensuring the required rate swiftly went down. She was also aided by some luck when Richa Ghosh put her down on 11 off Rana with GG needing 39 off 42.This didn’t affect her tempo or her adventurousness, which also greatly helped Gardner, who hit Wareham for back-to-back sixes on her way to her third half-century of the season, this time off 28 balls. Gardner and Litchfield’s 51-run stand off just 36 ensured the match was won with 21 balls to spare, greatly helping GG boost their net run-rate even though they stay fifth.

Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade has revealed a heated on-field exchange with Arsenal defender Gabriel after what he described as a high elbow to the face during their 2-1 defeat at St James' Park. Woltemade insists he is 'not the type of player to fall down' for fouls, highlighting frustration over dangerous challenges and sportsmanship in the Premier League.

Gabriel and Woltemade's heated clash

Woltemade opened the scoring for Newcastle in the first half by jumping over the Brazilian defender, only for Arsenal to mount a dramatic comeback with a 96th-minute winner from Gabriel. After the opener, Woltemade appeared to be elbowed in the face by Gabriel, but the challenge went unpunished. The incident sparked a tense confrontation between the two, which referee Jarred Gillett had to intervene in to calm down.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWoltemade opens up on feud with Gabriel

Speaking to , Woltemade gave a detailed account of the incident: "After the goal, there was a situation where I felt his elbow in my face at two metres, so his arm had to be really high. I just said it to the referee that I felt something in the face, and I think it's not right to feel something in the face."

He continued on the confrontation: "Following that, he said sorry after, so I think he knew he hit me in my face. I didn't solve the situation to be honest. I don't like this. If you do some things in-game and then a few seconds later you say sorry, that's not part of the game. I like the situation where you can have a good battle, but it always has to be fair. His elbow should not be in my face."

Getty Images SportGerman striker not one to 'fall down' and engage in theatrics

Woltemade made clear his commitment to fair play as he refused to go down after Gabriel's apparent elbow: "I'm not the type of player to fall down for this. It's hard because sometimes maybe you have to do this, but this is not my type of football."I just stand tall, try to play my game, and I don't exaggerate challenges. Sometimes these situations happen in football, but it should always be safe and fair. I can't control what happens, but I can control how I react, and I want to play proper football without resorting to theatrics."

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Woltemade making a mark on struggling Newcastle

Newcastle will look to recover quickly as they aim to close their growing gap with the top half in the Premier League standings. Woltemade is expected to maintain his spot when the Magpies face off with Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ex-Germany defender Mats Hummels has sounded the alarm over football’s relentless calendar, warning that elite players risk being “worn down” by the strain. The ex-Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich star believes the workload has hit its “maximum,” raising concerns that big names could soon miss key matches due to fatigue and injuries.

Hummels warns of danger from packed calendar

Hummels has spoken out against the ever-increasing demands on top players, insisting that football’s fixture calendar is pushing athletes to their breaking point. The ex-Bayern and defender fears many stars could soon miss decisive games due to exhaustion and argued that players are being stretched beyond reasonable limits and that governing bodies need to address the issue urgently.

AdvertisementAFPWhat Hummels said about the 'maximum' workload

Speaking ahead of the Champions League season in his new role as a pundit for Amazon, the 2014 World Cup winner said: "This continues to be an issue that needs to be addressed in football. You can't completely overburden the players. The workload is at its maximum. I’m always very worried that in the coming years, many, many top players will no longer be on the pitch in important games because they will eventually be worn down by the strain.”

Despite his criticism, the 36-year-old also offered praise for UEFA’s revamped Champions League format, which now features a league phase. 

“I think the new version is really cool. There are many more different games, and that’s what I like,” he said, admitting he has revised his initial scepticism about the changes.

Player burnout debate intensifies

Hummels’ remarks add weight to a growing chorus of voices warning about fixture congestion. From Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp to players like Toni Kroos and Kevin De Bruyne, many within the game have criticised the expanding schedule, with domestic leagues, UEFA competitions and FIFA tournaments all increasing their demands. Most recently, Kylian Mbappe warned that the quality of matches will suffer because of the strain on players. The introduction of a revamped Champions League, a new Club World Cup, and international tournaments every summer means rest periods are becoming virtually non-existent.

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GettyWhat next for Hummels after retirement?

The former German international officially hung up his boots this summer, marking the end of a decorated career that included spells at Bayern, Dortmund and Roma. He bid farewell to Dortmund fans in a friendly against Juventus, where he received a standing ovation and a guard of honour. In total, he made 508 appearances for Dortmund, another 118 for Bayern, and 20 for Roma, while collecting five Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokal cups, and six German Super Cups during his career. Now, he has transitioned into punditry with Prime Video, covering the Champions League.

تلقى منتخب مصر الهزيمة أمام نظيره الياباني بهدفين نظيفين، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما، مساء السبت، ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للشباب.

والتقى منتخب مصر مع اليابان، على أرضية ملعب “الوطني” في مدينة سانتياجو في تشيلي، في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العالم للشباب.

طالع.. فيديو | منتخب اليابان يسجل الهدف الثاني أمام مصر في كأس العالم للشباب

ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى من البطولة رفقة منتخبات اليابان وتشيلي ونيوزيلندا.

وجاء هدف اليابان الأول في الدقيقة 29 عن طريق ريون إيشيهارا، من ركلة جزاء تم احتسابها بعد عرقلة من سيف سفاجا.

بينما هدف اليابان الثاني في الدقيقة 49، بعد قطع الكرة من سيف سفاجا لتصل إلى هيساتسوجو إيشي الذي سدد في المرمى.

وأصبح منتخب مصر في المركز الرابع دون نقاط، بينما يتصدر منتخب اليابان المجموعة برصيد 3 نقاط، وسيلعب منتخبا تشيلي ونيوزيلندا في نفس الجولة بعد قليل.

وسيلعب منتخب مصر مباراته القادمة في كأس العالم للشباب أمام نيوزيلندا بعد الخسارة أمام اليابان موعد مباراة مصر ونيوزيلندا في كأس العالم للشباب

ويلتقي منتخب مصر ضد نيوزيلندا، يوم الثلاثاء المقبل، الموافق 30 سبتمبر، في تمام الساعة 11 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، في الجولة الثانية بدورالمجموعات في كأس العالم للشباب.