Tag Futebol

“One of the best coaches ever” is now a front-runner to replace Ivan Juric at Southampton, who have already identified a number of managers as potential targets, according to a report.

Southampton part ways with Juric after relegation

The Saints’ relegation from the Premier League was finally confirmed on Sunday, following a 3-1 loss at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, although in truth the writing has been on the wall for quite some time, after a disastrous campaign.

Juric inherited a difficult situation at St. Mary’s, with Russell Martin being sacked in December, at which point his side were already nine points from safety, but there were very few signs of improvement after the 49-year-old’s arrival.

With just seven games left to go, the soon-to-be Championship side need to collect two more points to avoid breaking an unwanted record, with Derby County’s 11 points in the 2007-08 campaign currently the lowest total in Premier League history.

Related With Dibling: Southampton could sell "top" £15m gem as Euro giants circle

Their scouts are impressed.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Mar 28, 2025

Next season, the aim will undoubtedly be to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt, and the board have now started to identify managers who could give them a very good chance of doing exactly that.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Southampton have a number of options in mind, including Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, but Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior is believed to be one of the front-runners.

BlueCo may not make it easy for the Saints to snap Rosenior up, however, as they are determined to keep hold of the up-and-coming manager, with Strasbourg faring very well in their pursuit of qualification for the Champions League.

As such, Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl could be a more attainable target, given that the German coach has a relatively affordable £5m release clause included in his contract with the Owls.

Rosenior impressing in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg

It is little wonder Southampton are keen on appointing the Englishman, given the job he has done at Strasbourg this season, with his side currently in fourth place, just three points behind second-placed Marseille.

The 40-year-old has orchestrated a phenomenal turnaround, with Strasbourg finishing 13th under the helm of Patrick Vieira last season, and he has previously been hailed for his ability on the training ground.

Clinton Morrison praised the work the Strasbourg boss did during his time as Derby County’s caretaker manager, saying: “I actually think he’s a top manager,”

“I spoke to a few people at Derby. He was unlucky to lose his job, the players respected him. He’s one of the best coaches ever.”

Club

Matches

Points per match

Strasbourg

31

1.77

Hull City

78

1.40

Derby County

12

1.92

However, with Strasbourg on course to qualify for the Champions League, it seems unlikely that Rosenior would be willing to manage a Championship side next season, particularly with BlueCo so eager to keep hold of him, so Rohl could be a more realistic appointment for the Saints.

Managing director Vikram Banerjee on tournament’s challenges ahead of transformative sixth edition

Matt Roller28-Aug-2025The Hundred’s squads will be overhauled ahead of the 2026 season in a “reset” evoking the IPL’s mega-auction, marking the arrival of new investors in the eight franchises. Vikram Banerjee, the tournament’s managing director, expects the move to prove unpopular with coaches but believes it is necessary to maintain the league’s competitive balance.Teams were allowed to retain up to 10 players from their 2024 squads for the ongoing season, which concludes at Lord’s on Sunday. Women’s squads were overhauled between the second and third seasons but some men’s teams – most notably Oval Invincibles, who are hunting a third successive title – have kept a consistent core throughout the Hundred’s short history.The ECB have started to discuss retention rules with teams, with some new investors pushing for an auction model to replace a draft. The regulations are yet to be finalised, but Banerjee – who has spent every day of the Hundred’s fifth season at a match – believes the timing is right to refresh squads as he bids to “supercharge” the tournament in its new era.”I’d like next year to be a bit of a reset,” Banerjee told ESPNcricinfo. “All these leagues do it over time, and next year should be one of those. There are three things that are non-negotiable. You want to make sure whatever you do brings the very best players in; whatever the mix is between draft, auction, direct signings, retentions, the very best players in the world choose to play here.Related

ECB chair says crammed Hundred schedule is 'short-term issue'

End of the beginning as change looms for the Hundred

Jacks, Sowter clinch Oval Invincibles' Men's Hundred three-peat

Can anyone stop Oval Invincibles' charge towards a three-peat?

Hundred's 'transition' year is relying on Test star Steven Smith as headline act

“But you also need competitive balance… That ‘Any Given Sunday’ philosophy, that you don’t know who’s going to win this game, that’s a good thing. Coaches won’t like that, but from a league level, that’s an important thing. The third thing is that it has to work [for both] men and women, and that’s really important to us.”A handful of men’s players signed contracts this year aligning with new investors – such as Rashid Khan at the Invincibles (Reliance) and Steven Smith at Welsh Fire (Washington Freedom) – and that trend is likely to accelerate, with the four IPL owners involved seeking greater continuity across their global networks of franchises.The risk of a “reset” is that significant player turnover will further dilute the identities of teams that have only existed for five years. The Hundred will undergo significant change over the next 11 months, with centralised kit manufacture (New Balance) and sponsorship (KP Snacks) deals expiring. At least three team names are set to change, along with some colourways.But Banerjee believes the 2025 season has shown that the “tribalism” he hoped would develop around Hundred teams has started to emerge. “I stand by that objective,” he said. “I love the amount of yellow [in the stands] when I go to Nottingham, or green when I go down to Southampton… That fan affinity is something that we need to keep building on.”He was buoyed by the occasional needle between teams, most evident when Liam Livingstone, riled by Tom Curran allegedly calling him a “fat slob”, blazed a match-winning 69 not out: “I can’t condone the exact choice of words, but the fact that this means something to them is great… It’s so important for the high-performance element that this is the [league] that they love playing in.”The glut of flags in the Hollies Stand at Edgbaston has been a sign of the Hundred’s growing ‘tribalism’, according to Banerjee•Matt Lewis/ECB via Getty ImagesWhile new investors will not assume operational control of their franchises until October 1, they have all attended games this season: Sanjiv Goenka rang the bell at Emirates Old Trafford, the ‘Tech Titans’ posed for photos on the Lord’s pitch, and Akash Ambani visited the dressing room after an Oval Invincibles home win.”We take a lot of what we do for granted, but a full house at The Oval or Emirates Old Trafford, or 6,000 flags in the Hollies Stand, is something special,” Banerjee said. “We’re having some great conversations already about the tournament in general and while the 2026 season will come around fast, we’ve got a decent amount of time.”I would like us to be the unmissable event of the summer for families… If we can be that, then in season 20 – or whatever the number is, season 50 – I would love us to be standing shoulder to shoulder with all of the great sports brands… If I ask you what the very best sporting leagues are in the world, I would like us to be in that list [with] NFL, IPL, Wimbledon.”It is a lofty ambition, and one that many believe will only be possible if the Hundred becomes a T20 tournament. The 100-ball format does have some advantages – it suits the double-header model well, shaving an hour off each matchday, and fits into a tighter broadcast window – but has also proved unexpectedly bowler-friendly.While overwhelming support for a shift to T20 among new investors could, in theory, prompt the ECB to attempt to change ongoing broadcast contracts, a change appears highly unlikely for at least three more seasons. “People have bought into a product that is hugely successful,” Banerjee said. “[The format] allows it to go onto the BBC… It’s quite a complex conversation.”Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, set a long-term target to sell out a women’s Hundred match earlier this year, but the double-header model will remain for next season. Banerjee said he is “absolutely not” concerned that investors will only focus on the men’s competition: “The excitement, growth and equality that we’re trying to drive, they have all bought into that.”

I can’t condone the exact choice of words, but the fact that this means something to them is greatBanerjee on the ‘fat slob’ spat between Curran and Livingstone

Slow pitches remain a concern, with groundstaff stretched by the sheer volume of fixtures staged at major venues by the time the Hundred starts. “It’s easy for me to say, in my position, that I’d like, on every pitch, the ball to fly through at 90mph and scream into the middle of everyone’s bat so it goes flying out of the park,” Banerjee said. “They have a lot on their plate.”This season has been something of a holding year for the Hundred, the bridge between the tournament’s inception as a product run entirely by the ECB and its reincarnation as a league between privately-owned franchises from 2026. But Banerjee believes it has been the best edition yet, citing strong ticket sales and high attendances at women’s fixtures.”We were really keen that it wasn’t a transition year and it wasn’t a nothing year. Actually, I think this year has been the best year. It’s important that the tournament that people have bought into continues to grow, continues to be successful… It is a great tournament and it’s great fun to be at. I’m very pleased that it’s not really been a ‘transition’ [season]. It’s been a great start.”I see no reason why we can’t be that unmissable event of the summer… We need to be brilliant at knowing our fanbase on TV, digital, and in-bowl, and serving them brilliant cricket and brilliant entertainment… If we continue with our fan-first approach and philosophy and continue to invest in the things that are important to us, we can achieve that aim.”

“He might flunk. He might thrive. It could be galling. It could be glorious.”

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Jun-2023Whatever your views on plucking Moeen Ali out of Test retirement for the Ashes, we can all agree on one thing. It is one hell of a call.A cricketer who polarised opinion throughout his initial seven years in the format is back for one last job. Arguably the biggest of the lot.As soon as Jack Leach’s back stress fracture was discovered, the pull of a mercurial off-spinning allrounder was too great for Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Rob Key. Contact was made with Moeen on Sunday before news of Leach’s injury was made public that evening, just over 24 hours after the conclusion of the Ireland Test at Lord’s.On a roster of precocious, recently-capped and reliable spin replacements, it was no surprise the free-wheeling vibe merchants opted for someone of their ilk. What you can say about selection during the Stokes-McCullum era is they have got every marginal call right, most recently with opting for Josh Tongue over Chris Woakes against Ireland. This, however, is top-tier bombastic, even by their standards.The best of a 64-cap career – and, now, counting – featured glorious shot-making and magic deliveries among 2,914 runs and 195 wickets. Ahead of these five Tests against Australia, Moeen’s experience, both time around the traps and pull on the soul, sets him above the rest.Related

• Stuart Broad has no regrets over not walking at Trent Bridge

• Moeen replacing Leach makes England stronger, claims Swann

• Moeen Ali: 'When I was playing Test matches, I always felt like I was bowling well in white-ball cricket'

• Moeen Ali recalled for Ashes after agreeing Test comeback

• Stuart Broad: 'I've definitely changed. And in a good way'

It is no secret Stokes and others involved with this Test group are Moeen stans. He will fit into the dressing room culture seamlessly, still very much wired into the grander system of English cricket as Jos Buttler’s vice-captain in the limited overs set-up. And there’s something to be said for Stokes’ powers of persuasion. It is less than a year ago that Moeen spurned advances to get him on the tour of Pakistan. He made a note of saying Test cricket is “hard work”.It is by no means an opinion unique to Moeen, which formed part of the remit for Stokes and McCullum when they first came into their positions. Their success in stripping away the rougher edges of the format – on and off the field – means the culture Moeen walks into is one far better suited to his mercurial ways.This is no slight on previous regimes per se, but an important consideration in all this. For a player who has batted every position from opener to No.9, operated as the primary, secondary and tertiary spinner and was once “rested and rotated” out during the Covid-19 series against India at the beginning of 2021 after playing just one Test, role clarity would have been a key selling point in coaxing him back.Stokes will likely do with Moeen as he has done with Leach: sorting his fields on his behalf, which included either constant tweaking or refusing requests for a sweeper. That made Leach a braver bowler, casting worry from his mind, which is unheard of from an English Test spinner since Graeme Swann. That Leach wore his unusually high average in Stokes’s 13 Tests – 38.22 – as a badge of pride, alongside 45 wickets, speaks of a shift in mindset.There is no question a peak Moeen would thrive in this environment, geared towards doing what they can to bring an individual’s best to the fore. Whether with bat or ball, Moeen has always played the game like it was his duty to entertain, and when on song, there weren’t many more enjoyable to watch. The question is, what does the best of this Moeen look like?Well, who knows? The player himself certainly doesn’t. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo a couple of months ago, Moeen admitted his bowling had dropped off in red-ball retirement. The bank of work was not what it once was, partly because he hadn’t played a first-class match since his last Test cap against India in September 2021.While the intervening period has been packed with white-ball glory, with two IPL titles for Chennai Super Kings sandwiching a T20 World Cup, his bowling has been sporadic at best, making any extrapolation broadly meaningless. He bowled twice in six matches at the World Cup, sending down a single over each time. In the recent IPL, he operated as one of CSK’s supplementary slow bowling options, with most of his 26 overs coming in helpful conditions.Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali pose with their T20 World Cup medals•Associated PressThere are reasonable doubts about his durability, as much over the course of a Test as a series with five matches in seven weeks. Leach’s endurance was a vital tool in an attack constantly pressing for wickets. His 515.1 overs under Stokes reflects the scale of his workload, and even if the role Moeen undertakes will not necessarily be with a focus on controlling the scoring, you do wonder about his multi-day stamina.There is also Moeen’s spinning finger, which has caused him trouble in the past. He tore it open on the 2017-18 tour of Australia leading to a grim return of five dismissals at an average of 115 across five Tests. It is also part of the reason he was dropped after the first Ashes Test in 2019.Step back a bit and further quandaries emerge. Unless the next couple of months go spectacularly well, one imagines Moeen won’t tour India for that Test series at the start of 2024. Part of his motivation for turning down a Test recall last year was due to a packed winter schedule. This one coming up is almost identical, with a 50-over World Cup followed by those now regular franchise commitments with the ILT20 and IPL. Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed might also have an eye on that circuit too, given it has been made clear they are not as close as they think. All the more reason why the ECB have to ace their imminent revamp of central contracts and match fees.Moeen has always been a choose-your-own adventure cricketer, and perhaps it is fitting he returns in such a choose-your-own argument fashion.He averages 64.65 with the ball against Australia, but 33.28 against allcomers at home. He has been out of the game for too long, but long enough to feel refreshed. He could have been better under previous captains, but who knows how good he could be under this one?He is not Mr Right, but he is Mr Right Now. He might flunk. He might thrive. It could be galling. It could be glorious.What we know for certain is, should he get the nod at Edgbaston for the first Test, he won’t be Jack Leach – he will be Moeen Ali. And we’ll only know what that means when the Ashes are done.

The offspinner looks back at the Chennai Super Kings’ first IPL title victory

As told to Himanshu Agrawal26-May-2021Being in an IPL final is always good because you are going through that entire grind. There are a lot of games and ups and downs through the tournament, and 2010 was when I made my mark.I had been waiting in the wings for a good two years. I played two games in the 2009 IPL and did pretty well in the last game I played, but couldn’t play the semi-final.Then I got a start in the 2010 season but got left out after five games. When I came back, we were almost out of the tournament. From there on, I had a very impactful performance. It didn’t look like we would qualify [for the semi-finals], but in Dharamsala we chased down over 190 against the Kings XI Punjab before we went to the final.There weren’t any clear strategies for the final. MS [Dhoni] doesn’t discuss strategies elaborately. He likes to keep it really simple. He is one of those captains who plays the card in front of him, backs his players, and has his own set of plans for the particular day.Related

• Suresh Raina: Selfless, full of joy and a great team man

• Who is in our all-time Chennai Super Kings XI?

• 'It's about the skill and knowledge you acquire over time' (2015)

With regards to our score of 168, the difference then was the bats. We are talking of 11 years ago, when they were pretty good but still nowhere as good as what they are right now. The stadiums also weren’t made as ridiculously small as they are now. And there was a certain amount of grass always.Most of the tracks have changed since the IPL began. Most of the pitches [these days] play really well, making it difficult for the bowlers to restrict the batters. The bats are much harder now. But in 2010, and up to about 2012-13, it was a lot better for the bowlers than it is right now.The DY Patil Stadium [where the final was played] and the CCI [Brabourne Stadium] were also slightly bigger. With that score, the kind of bowling form we were in, and the way we were striking in the powerplay – Doug Bollinger and I had a really good combination at the back half of that season – we almost closed the game out against Mumbai at that stage.Yes, Kieron Pollard had that late blast, but I had bowled a maiden over [to Shikhar Dhawan] upfront and Dougie got an early wicket. Mumbai were sort of stuck at 30 or 40-odd at six runs an over and the [required] run rate shot up over ten. It was very difficult to imagine scoring over ten an over on those sort of surfaces with the bats of those days.Also, though Sachin Tendulkar was in great form that season, I wasn’t looking at who was in front of me but rather looking at the opportunity and relishing it. Only after the season was over did I look back and say, “Wow, that was good accomplishment”, because I had come across some of the greatest batters and got on top of them on many occasions.Suresh Raina was CSK’s leading run scorer in the 2010 IPL, with 520 runs at a strike rate of 142.85•Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty ImagesPreviously, Sachin <i<paaji used a lot of his sweep shots and slog sweeps [against me], but in the final he made a very concerted effort of trying to hit me straight down the ground. And ever since 2010 till whenever paaji played, he never really hit me across the line. It gave me a lot of confidence seeing him take calculated risks against me.When it came to our batsmen, a lot of them were worried about going after the bowling from ball one, but Suresh Raina wasn’t, because he really blossomed under MS. He didn’t have to think and wait for the 20th over – that was MS’s role.The immediate impact that I can remember is that almost zero legspinners or zero left-arm spinners could bowl at him; and if you were under 130 or 135 in pace, he would almost make mincemeat of you. He hit some extraordinary shots. One of the hallmarks of Suresh was the way he went over extra cover. It made the margin for error very small. A few catches were dropped by Mumbai, but he came out with a lovely knock.What really worked for Suresh in my opinion is the freedom with which he played under MS. He knew that MS could always cover up towards the back end, so he didn’t have to think about closing a game out. He was constantly looking to be the aggressor and take the challenge to the opposition. Whenever I saw him bat, I saw that sense of freedom. A total of 200 has almost become a par score in T20 cricket but to play with that freedom throughout an innings back then was something he set the trend for.Suresh has also bowled a lot, so it was not a one-off when he dismissed Harbhajan [Singh] in the final. He was a more than handy bowler for the early part of his career. He even got Virat Kohli out lbw in the 2011 final. In fact, I remember that in his Under-19 days, he bowled six to seven overs consistently for the India U-19 side, so him bowling in the final was not a surprise at all.Ashwin on Dhoni: “MS doesn’t discuss strategies elaborately. He is one of those captains who plays the card in front of him, backs his players, and has his own set of plans for the particular day”•Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty ImagesMS used Suresh in almost every game. If someone’s having a good day, MS backs him to do a lot more in that game. He might give that person the additional responsibility.Later in the game [in the 18th over] when Pollard hit Bollinger for 22 in an over, nobody had really done that with such élan before. We knew that one or two overs can happen like that but the game cannot be closed out. Those were the virgin years of T20 cricket – it was unheard of to knock off 50 or 60 runs in three or three and a half overs. So when Pollard hit Bollinger, we knew that the game could still come back into our bag and we were quietly confident. The surface and the bats back then made the game a lot more controllable for the bowlers.A lot of people acknowledged the fact that I was doing one of the hardest jobs. I had zero idea that I would go on to do the same thing for the next ten years – bowling in the powerplay as a spinner. But a lot of players – Albie [Morkel], Stephen Fleming [the coach], the trainer, and even Suresh – came up to me and said that it was an incredible tournament. What happened over the next 18 months was even more miraculous for me – the Champions League double [in 2010 and 2014], the 2011 IPL win, and the 2011 World Cup victory were a dream for me, starting from a really low point in 2010 when I got left out of the squad.All I can say is that it really set up a very, very memorable career if I look back at it now.The stability, in terms of the combination and the confidence one gives to the players, is what leads to an IPL title. In a lot of franchise cricket, people tend to get carried away with a group of results – after two or three games, they want to chuck a few players out and change the combination. That’s where the crux of it changes, because in cricket form can change overnight. If you know that someone’s got that ability then it’s important to back them. Those four or five years gave a blueprint to CSK in terms of how to back players in order to get championships.When it came to the celebrations of the 2010 victory – I have never really been a massive one for celebration, and CSK has also been like that. I have been in a few other franchises and celebration is one thing that happens very minimally at CSK. There is team bonding all through the year. There is fun and frolic, but it is not that people sit and harp on it and have a big night. People just caught up at the restaurant after the final. We had a chat and that was about it.Fleming brought in a culture where the big nights were a definite no-no, because in the IPL it’s very difficult to manage your time as it is, with the travel and the pressure. CSK treated a win just like they treated a loss. That’s one of the reasons why the team has got its laurels.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após o golaço de Luiz Henrique pelo Botafogo, os torcedores foram à loucura com o lance. Os internautas aproveitaram para provocar o rival e apelidaram o atacante de “caçador de urubu”. Confira abaixo.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoInternautas criticam nível do clássico entre Flamengo e Botafogo: ‘Assustador’Fora de Campo28/04/2024BrasileirãoFlamengo x Botafogo: Pedro e Júnior Santos fazem duelo de artilheirosBrasileirão28/04/2024GrêmioBahia x Grêmio: Renato explica ter se retirado de campo, cita Textor e cobra CBF: ‘Vergonha na cara’Grêmio28/04/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Flamengo

➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

Tudo sobre

BotafogoBrasileirãoFlamengoFora de campoFutebol Nacional

Pakistan, meanwhile, set a couple of follow-on records in a high-scoring second Test in Cape Town

Shubh Agarwal06-Jan-20257 – With the win at Newlands, South Africa have registered seven consecutive Test wins. It is their second-longest streak of wins behind their nine in a row in the 2002-03 season, which also involved two home Tests against Pakistan. On the flip side, this was Pakistan’s ninth consecutive Test defeat in South Africa – the longest streak for any team in South Africa. Bangladesh have lost all their eight Tests here while South Africa themselves lost their first eight Tests at home back in the 19th century.3 – It was only the third time in Test history that a team knocked off a first-innings deficit of 400 or more. The previous two instances feature Pakistan overcoming a 473-run deficit against West Indies in 1958 and South Africa getting past a deficit of exactly 400 against Australia in 2002.478 – Pakistan’s second-innings total is the second highest by any team following-on and ending up on the losing side. The highest is India’s 510 in the follow-on against England at Leeds in 1967.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1348 – The most runs scored in a Test match in South Africa since the Cape Town Test against England in 2016.145 – Shan Masood now has the highest individual score by a Pakistan batter in South Africa. He surpassed Azhar Mahmood’s 136 in Johannesburg in 1998.54 – Kagiso Rabada completed an unfortunate fifty on day four, bowling his 50th no-ball in this World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The next on the list is Alzarri Joseph with 35 no-balls. In the Newlands Test alone, Rabada bowled 17 no-balls with 13 coming in the second innings.4 – It was only the fourth time in the 21st century that three or more South African bowlers had conceded over 100 runs in an innings in a home Test. Rabada, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj all gave away over a 100 runs in the second innings. The last time this happened was also in Cape Town, against England in 2016. Overall, South Africa have suffered this fate 14 times in their 254 home Tests.

Big picture: England’s strong record vs SA

England have been South Africa’s banana peel in the Women’s ODI World Cup. They have a 6-2 superior record in the tournament heading into the clash in Guwahati on Friday. While South Africa beat England in the group stages in 2022, they lost to England in the semi-final. The result was the same in the 2017 semi-final as well.”I feel like we’ve beaten them in the group stages in the past World Cups and then lost to them in the semi-final. So we know as a group, we can beat them, especially in the group stages,” South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said on Thursday. “We have played some good cricket recently. We’ve been batting really well. We’ve been bowling better and better. I think all of us know that if we really stick to our plans and are really clear with what we want to do, we can beat them tomorrow.”South Africa enter the World Cup on the back of a solid run of games. They played a tri-series with India and Sri Lanka, then played Pakistan in Pakistan. They have been in action regularly with the same set of players, high on confidence. While the women made it to successive T20 World Cup finals in 2023 and 2024, the men ended the drought of ICC titles with the World Test Championship win this year.”It’s been amazing to see how the country has supported them and how excited everyone was back at home and united to support them in that trophy,” Wolvaardt said. “Hopefully we have the chance to do something similar to really get the country behind us in this tournament.”England have had a contrasting run in this regard. Their leadership group underwent a change after the Women’s Ashes. Under head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, England played just the two series – winning comfortably against West Indies and losing to India, both at home.Sciver-Brunt, however, was okay with the team’s preparation away from internationals. They had a ten-day camp in Abu Dhabi, where they acclimatised to the conditions they would encounter at the World Cup. Plus, there are eight players in the England squad with WPL experience.”We got some great time out in the middle in really hot, humid conditions where in England it’s not like that,” she said. “So preparing physically in that way was really good. That is going to be a massive part of our tournament, making sure that we are adapting as quickly as we can.”During the India vs Sri Lanka match at the ACA Stadium, spin played a part in the middle overs while it was easier to face pace at the start. That is a template that Sciver-Brunt backed England to follow.”That’s a blueprint that we work with, especially when we’re bowling, making sure the spinners in the middle are doing a really good job for us and making it really hard for people to get away. I think that has been a really good strength of ours for a number of years. We’ve got a brilliant spin attack.”

Form guide

England LWLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
South Africa LWWWW

In the spotlight: Nat Sciver-Brunt and Marizanne Kapp

In her first World Cup match as captain, the spotlight will be firmly on Nat Sciver-Brunt. She is England’s leading run-scorer since the 2022 World Cup and only Amy Jones has more than her so far this year. That is in addition to her 20 wickets in the last three years. With a view to manage her workload, she hadn’t bowled since the WPL but resumed duties with the ball at the warm-up games. With Heather Knight returning from a hamstring injury, Sciver-Brunt will draw from her WPL experience to navigate the side at the ACA Stadium, where the track could be slightly two-paced.This will be Nat Sciver-Brunt’s first World Cup as captain•Getty Images

A like-for-like, South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp is at the peak of her powers. Give her the new ball, she’ll dry up the runs and pick up wickets. Send her in with South Africa in a spot, she will not just arrest the slide but also transfer the pressure back on the opponents. A WPL regular for Delhi Capitals, Kapp is into her fifth World Cup and would want her team to cross the finish line this time. “The amount of experience that she has is invaluable,” Wolvaardt said on match eve. “She knows every player going around. She’s bowled to basically all of them.”

Team news

Sciver-Brunt will bowl at the World Cup, which means England could play an extra spinner or an extra seamer. But she said on match eve that she would “like to select seven batters to go into this tournament” which opens the door for Alice Capsey, who also bowls offspin.England (probable): 1 Amy Jones (wk), 2 Tammy Beaumont, 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 7 Alice Capsey, 8 Sophie Ecclestone, 9 Charlie Dean, 10. Em Arlott, 11 Lauren BellAyabonga Khaka bowled full-tilt on the eve of the game. She could shoulder duties with fellow seamers Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen. Karabo Meso had a long batting stint ahead of Sinalo Jafta, who is South Africa’s preferred wicketkeeper.South Africa (probable): 1 Laura Wolvaardt (capt), 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Sune Luus, 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Annerie Dercksen, 6 Chloe Tryon, 7 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 8 Nadine de Klerk, 9 Nondumiso Shangase, 10 Nonkululeko Mlaba, 11 Ayabonga Khaka

Pitch and conditions

Rain washed out England’s pre-game practice session, while South Africa managed to get theirs done under lights. Showers are expected on Friday as well with IMD issuing thunderstorm alerts. A washout isn’t on the cards, though.A fresh pitch will be used for the game. Expect spin to come into play as the game goes on, as was the case during the India vs Sri Lanka contest.

Stats and trivia

• No opening pair has scored more runs than Laura Wolvaardt-Tazmin Brits in ODIs since January 2023. They have 1536 runs at an average close to 60. The next best is Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal with 1316
• South Africa have won only two of their last six ODIs against England
• Marizanne Kapp has dismissed Heather Knight five times in 15 innings, Nat Sciver-Brunt three times in nine innings and Tammy Beaumont five times in 13 innings
• Charlie Dean has got Laura Wolvaardt out three times in seven innings for only 65 runs and Sune Luus three times in four innings for just 19 runs

Quotes

“She obviously has a lot of experience. I think it would be stupid of me not to listen to her. She’s a hugely valuable person in our side, whether it’s with the bat or just that tactical thinking. She’s got a brilliant brain for cricket. So, yeah, I’m encouraging her to be as vocal as she wants to be.”
“The biggest learnings in that series are probably just how to play spin, especially being nice and proactive with the bat against the spinners in that middle phase. We generally get off to good starts, and I think we had really good death overs with the bat in that series in Sri Lanka, but probably could have done a bit more in that middle phase.”

New Zealand 38 for 1 (Seifert 23*) vs England – match abandoned England claimed the spoils in their T20I series against New Zealand, after the third and final match at Auckland went the same way as the series opener in Christchurch – lost to the weather as steady early-season rain swept in to curtail the contest after just 3.4 overs.In the limited time available, Tim Seifert made the running for New Zealand with an enterprising knock of 23 not out from 11 balls. He launched his innings with two fours off Luke Wood in the three balls that were possible prior to the evening’s first hour-and-a-half-long delay. Then – after the match resumed as 14 overs a side – he struck two sixes off the extra pace of Brydon Carse, including an outrageous reverse-scoop over fine leg that was well caught in the crowd.Carse did hit back at the other end, removing Tim Robinson for 2 as Jacob Bethell clung on well to a top-edged pull at deep midwicket. Wood then bowled an effective over to the left-handed Rachin Ravindra, finding sharp late movement in the seam-friendly conditions. Ravindra got going with a pulled six off Carse, but moments after Seifert had landed the second of his sixes off the same bowler, the rain returned once more.Despite a planned resumption at 10pm local time – with the match further reduced to eight overs a side – the grim weather returned just as the players were preparing to take the field, and the match was abandoned soon afterwards.It completed an unsatisfactory early-season foray for New Zealand, whose curtain-raising series against Australia at the start of the month had similarly been affected by the weather. They had made the running in the series opener, limiting England’s hard-hitting line-up to 153 for 6 on a seaming wicket at Hagley Oval, but were blown away in the return fixture two days later, losing by 65 runs after England had smashed the ground record with their total of 236 for 4.England chose to bowl first having named an unchanged XI for this decider. Despite the grey weather and unusually short boundaries at Eden Park, they decided to trust the balance that had impressed in Christchurch, with Liam Dawson retained as a second spinner ahead of an extra seam option.New Zealand, meanwhile, made one change – Zak Foulkes coming in for Kyle Jamieson. But in the end, it was all academic, as attention now turns to the ODIs which get underway in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.”It’s very frustrating,” Brook said at the post-match presentation. “The weather hasn’t been ideal. But great for the boys to get some time out there.”It’s a great place to tour, we’ve had an amazing time so far. We’ve got the ODIs coming up and we’re looking forward to it. We’ve got a few big names coming back and hopefully we can keep that momentum in the next few weeks.”Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s captain, rued his team’s missed opportunities, both with the weather and their own performances: “I guess this time of the year it (rain) is always a potential. It’s always nice to play England, no matter what time of the year you play.”The way we bowled in that first game [was good], especially on a Hagley wicket that did give us a little bit. The second game, we were put under a lot of pressure on a good wicket, so when we come across that again, we’ll have learnings from that.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians venceu o Cruzeiro por 1 a 0 e sagrou-se campeão da Copinha 2024, nesta quinta-feira (25). O Timão contou com golaço de Kayke Ferrari no segundo tempo para derrotar a equipe mineira e comemorar o 11º título da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior diante do seu torcedor, na Neo Química Arena.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoFinal da Copinha: relembre revelações do torneio que atuaram por Corinthians e CruzeiroFora de Campo25/01/2024CruzeiroCom emoção e gol anulado, Cruzeiro vence o Villa Nova pelo Campeonato MineiroCruzeiro24/01/2024CorinthiansCorinthians divulga valores da venda de Moscardo ao PSGCorinthians25/01/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

A conquista marca o hendecacampeonato do Timão, maior vencedor da Copinha. A última vez que a equipe paulista havia conquistou a taça foi em 2017. Já a Raposa amarga o terceiro vice-campeonato na ,maior competição de base do Brasil.

⚽COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

Com o apoio da torcida, o Corinthians sentiu o nervosismo da decisão no primeiro tempo e só ameaçou a Raposa nos acréscimos, numa finalização de Kayke. O Cruzeiro controlou a posse de bola e teve ótima chance desperdiçada por Arthur.

continua após a publicidade

A equipe mineira voltou para o segunda etapa com maior ímpeto ofensivo e chegou a marcar com Tevis, mas a arbitragem pegou falta de ataque do time de Minas Gerais no lance. Os donos da casa não conseguiram resolver o problema de criação no meio-campo, mas na base do talento de Kayke Ferrari, que chamou a responsabilidade, o Timão marcou no fim e faturou o título.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

A equipe profissional do Corinthians volta a campo no sábado (27), contra a São Bernardo, pela terceira rodada do Paulistão, às 20h. Mais cedo, às 16h30, o Cruzeiro recebe o Athletic Club, pelo Campeonato Mineiro.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

CORINTHIANS 1 X 0 CRUZEIRO
COPINHA – FINAL

Local:Neo Química Arena, em São Paulo
Data e hora:Quinta-feira,25dejaneirode2024, às15h30(de Brasília)
Árbitro:Gabriel Henrique Meira Bispo
Assistentes:Robson Ferreira Oliveira e Izabele de Oliveira
Árbitro de vídeo:Daiane Muniz dos Santos
Público e renda:43.495 / R$ 1.215,586,00

Cartões amarelos:Vitor Meer, Léo Mana, Arthur Sousa (COR); Arthur (CRU)
Cartões vermelhos:-

GOLS: – Kayke Ferrari(1-0, aos 39′ do 2ºT)

CORINTHIANS
Felipe Longo; Léo Maná, Renato, João Pedro Tocha e Vitor Meer; Ryan, Breno Bidon e Pedrinho (GH, aos 26′ do 2ºT); Higor (Tomas Lisboa, aos 8′ do 2ºT), Kayke e Arthur Sousa.Técnico:Danilo

CRUZEIRO
Otávio; Carlos, Pedrão, Bruno Alves (Kelvin, aos 28′ do 2ºT) e Vitinho; Henrique (André, aos 28′ do 2ºT), Jhosefer e Xavier; Gui Meira, Tevis e Arthur (Juan Índio, aos 28′ do 2ºT).Técnico:Fernando Seabra

+ Corinthians

Tudo sobre

Copa São Paulo de Futebol JúniorCopinhaCorinthiansCruzeiro

Manchester City picked up another three points in the Champions League with a 4-1 home win over German side Borussia Dortmund.

Pep Guardiola’s side scored twice in either half to propel themselves up to fourth in the table and maintain their unbeaten record.

City got into their groove pretty quickly at the Etihad Stadium. It took just 22 minutes for them to take the lead, with Phil Foden firing home from outside the penalty area into the bottom left corner.

Just seven minutes later, City had their second, and to nobody’s surprise, it was Erling Haaland who bagged the goal. Criminally, the Norwegian centre-forward was given acres of space in the box by his old side, slamming home his effort after Jeremy Doku pulled the ball back across the box.

Foden had his second goal just before the hour mark, once again tucking his effort into the bottom left corner. Dortmund pulled one back in the 72nd minute, but Rayan Cherki’s stoppage-time goal off the bench sealed the win for the Cityzens.

It was a strong showing from City, with Haaland and Foden two of the standouts for Guardiola’s side.

How Haaland and Foden downed Dortmund

Is there anyone who can stop Haaland? Well, his former side couldn’t, as he scored his 18th goal of the season in just 14 games. The striker, who captained City on the night, has bagged five times in the Champions League already this term.

His performance clearly impressed Simon Bajkowski, chief City journalist for the Manchester Evening News. He gave the Citizens number 9 a post-match rating of 8/10, and said his night’s work was “brilliant again.”

As for Foden, his two goals, which were carbon copies of each other, perfectly encapsulated what makes him so good.

Operating in the right half-space, the England international showed great technical ability to carve out both chances, which he took with great poise.

His stats from the game are a great reflection of how well he played. City’s number 47 was constantly involved, having 71 touches and creating three chances. He also worked hard off the ball, making five recoveries.

The City duo were standouts for Guardiola’s side on Wednesday, but one of their teammates also shone.

Man City star is as important as Foden & Haaland

Guardiola will surely be pleased to see such a big win against an opponent who could have proved to be a tough test. The performances from Haaland, Foden and Cherki off the bench are encouraging signs for the Citizens.

It was not just those three who impressed, though. Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders put in a strong showing at the Etihad Stadium. He set up both of Foden’s goals, pulling the strings from an advanced midfield position.

The Dutchman also has some impressive numbers from the game. Like Foden, Reijnders created three chances and looked after the ball well in midfield with a pass accuracy of 88%. He also won two out of three ground duels and made things tough for the visitors when they had the ball in the centre of the park.

Reijnders vs. Dortmund

Stat

Number

Touches

41

Pass accuracy

88%

Passes completed

28/32

Opposition half passes completed

18/22

Ground duels won

2/3

Chances created

3

Assists

2

Stats from Sofascore

It was a superb performance from Reijnders, which stood out to Citizens fan page over on X, City Chief. They described it as a “masterclass” in the midfield, and said it was “easily his best performance in a City shirt so far.”

After a night’s work as good as that from the 27-year-old, it is easy to see why he can be as important as Haaland and Foden. He brings plenty of control and helps City sustain attacks.

On top of that, the Netherlands international has a good relationship with another great technical player, Foden. According to Squawka, it is the first time the England international has bagged twice in the Champions League match, and the first time Reijnders has assisted two in a game in the same competition.

That is surely no coincidence. That relationship, plus the creative influence and technical quality, Reijnders adds to the City side, makes him one of their most important players, as he showed against Dortmund.

Related Man City "monster" is closest thing Pep's had to Messi & it's not Cherki

Pep Guardiola has found his new Lionel Messi at Manchester City in pure “monster” and it is not Rayan Cherki.

Posts ByBen Gray Oct 30, 2025