Harry Kane has “no reason to bow out” of the England fold after gracing the 2026 World Cup, says Three Lions legend Stuart Pearce.
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Once Ireland’s free spirit, Stirling has churned out ODI runs by embracing responsibility
Matt Roller27-Jan-2021In 2019, Paul Stirling had a decision to make. When Ireland were awarded Test status in 2017, the ECB provided Irish internationals with a two-year grace period in county cricket, after which they would only be able to play as their side’s overseas player, rather than as locals – unless they quit international cricket.As a British passport-holder, Stirling admitted that he was “baffled” at the situation, but decided against a legal challenge and was left a choice between renewing his contract at Middlesex, where he had spent 10 years as a professional, and extending his international career.While some of his Ireland team-mates opted for the security and stability of a county deal, Stirling chose the other path. “When he texted me to say he had committed to Ireland and wasn’t going to continue with Middlesex, I was delighted,” Andy Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, recalled. “Every team around the world would want him.”It is easy to see why he was so enthusiastic. Once a dasher who would throw his hands at the new ball and hope, Stirling has become one of the world’s most consistent opening batsmen, especially in 50-over cricket, the format which comes most naturally to him. Since international cricket restarted in July 2020 after its Covid-enforced hiatus, Stirling has made four ODI hundreds in eight innings; Steven Smith, with two, is the only other batsman to have compiled more than one.ESPNcricinfo LtdWhile it had never been in doubt that Stirling was a player with bags of natural talent, there had been legitimate questions a decade into his international career as to whether he would reach his potential.Having made his debut at 17, Stirling’s ODI average was an impressive 42.48 after 32 innings, with a strike rate of 95.43 denoting his aggressive style at the top of the order. In his next 40 innings, he lost his way: he passed 50 only four times, averaging 24.82 across a six-year period which even included a fleeting shift down to No. 6 as a ploy to combat Afghanistan’s spinners.But in his 50 most recent innings, dating back to March 2017, he averages 49.22, with a more conservative strike rate of 84.57 demonstrating the extent to which he has reined in his instincts and adapted his game to perform the role of a senior batsman in a team in transition. Seven of his 12 ODI hundreds have come in that time, with his three in Abu Dhabi this month taking him past William Porterfield’s previous Ireland record of 11. He dedicated the most recent two, against Afghanistan, to the late Roy Torrens, whom he described as “an absolute hero”.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn particular, Stirling has been exceptional against spin, a quality that might not be obvious in a player brought up on green Belfast pitches. Since mid-March 2017, he has scored at a marginally slower strike rate against spinners (83.33) than seamers (86.11), but his average of 78.57 facing spin is up there with the world’s best, after honing his methods against Afghanistan’s ‘big three’ – Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman – and the best in the associate game.Essentially, Stirling realised in his mid-to-late 20s that it was no longer enough for him to swing through the line and hope. “You get bored of getting to 30, hitting it in the air and getting out,” he told ESPNcricinfo earlier this month. “From there you think, ‘actually, I quite like batting – maybe I’ll try and bat a little longer’.”I got off to a really good start in ODI cricket and I probably took it for granted a little bit. I think it’s my favourite format – it’s the one where I feel I can just bat. To me, that’s the most natural you can be. I can walk out there and not have to think too hard, and naturally strike the ball well and score at a strike rate that’s OK.”Stirling displayed his ability against spin during his 142 vs England and Adil Rashid in August 2020•AFP via Getty ImagesRather than any major technical changes, Stirling attributes his improvements over the last four years to a shift in mindset. He still attacks in the powerplay when he can, but not at the expense of throwing his wicket away. “It comes down to experience. I definitely had a shift. I think I was averaging 40-plus in ODI cricket and it slid down maybe even into the early 30s. That’s when I was like ‘right, it’s time to make some improvements here’. You ask yourself, ‘what do you want, to score quick 30s or make match-winning scores?'”In particular, he hails the influence of Graham Ford, who sat him down upon becoming head coach in December 2017 to tell him that he would not settle for sporadic brilliance. “He made his point very clear, which was that I’m here to score runs, not to score pretty 20s and 30s to stay in the team,” Stirling recalled. “I thought that was good. If he hadn’t done that, I could have just continued on my way, so he was certainly a big help.” When he became vice-captain last year, it seemed like a natural fit.As a result, Stirling’s recent record puts him in the company of the best in the game. Since the start of 2019, only Aaron Finch and Rohit Sharma have more ODI hundreds than him, and while their innings may have been against stronger opposition, they have not had to carry the rest of their respective batting line-ups in the way that Stirling has; in that timeframe, Stirling has scored 1351 ODI runs, while only one team-mate – Balbirnie – has breached the 500 mark.The upshot is that Stirling has levelled up by slowing down. Once Ireland’s free spirit, he has turned into a relentless run-scorer by embracing responsibility.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank is ready to tackle his first-ever campaign as a Champions League coach after finally sealing a high-profile move to a ‘big six’ side, with the Dane’s private assessment of his new squad now coming to light.
Following many productive years at Brentford, Frank sealed a switch to Spurs earlier this week as Ange Postecoglou’s immediate replacement, just days after the club announced chairman Daniel Levy’s tough decision to sack the Australian.
Thomas Frank "pushing" Tottenham to make "statement" £51m signing
Spurs are “ready” to back him.
By
Emilio Galantini
Jun 13, 2025
Postecoglou guided the Lilywhites to their first major trophy in 17 years by winning the Europa League on a famous night against Man United in Bilbao, but Spurs cited their woeful domestic form as the catalyst behind his dismissal.
|
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025 |
Average match rating |
|---|---|
|
Son Heung-min |
7.00 |
|
James Maddison |
6.98 |
|
Pedro Porro |
6.95 |
|
Dominic Solanke |
6.84 |
|
Dejan Kulusevski |
6.83 |
|
via WhoScored |
|
The north Londoners lost a record-breaking 22 Premier League games under Postecoglou last season and finished just one place above the relegation zone, with Levy showcasing ruthlessness over the emotion surrounding their European triumph by firing Frank’s predecessor.
Yet another new era has now begun at Spurs with Frank’s arrival, and the 51-year-old has now become their fifth manager since Mauricio Pochettino’s exit in 2019.
“Thomas is very personal with the players,” Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard told BBC Radio 5 Live, telling Spurs supporters what they can expect.
“He cares a lot about how we are and how we feel. It’s a very important quality for a manager to have.
“Not every manager has it, and the ones that do seem to have more success. He’s definitely a leader and someone who guides us. He’s done a fantastic job in the years that I’ve worked with him at Brentford.”
However, pundit Chris Sutton believes Levy has taken a major gamble on his appointment.
“Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish,” said Sutton.
“Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off. Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?
“The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy.”
Amid reports that Frank is looking to sign Bryan Mbeumo to upgrade his Tottenham squad, journalist Graeme Bailey has shared what the tactician really thinks of his current team.
According to the reporter, who spoke to The Boot Room this week, there is a feeling that Frank is privately thrilled with his options at Tottenham, even if they’re reportedly battling Man United for Mbeumo right now.
“Spurs think there is a need for another player on the right,” said Bailey.
“But, from what I am told, the belief at Spurs is that Frank is a fan of this squad. They think he will love working with it – someone like Brennan Johnson is going to love playing for Frank.”
The Scandinavian has bigger names to manage than ever before, and away from the lack of pressure at mid-table Brentford, far more eyes will be on how Frank does at N17.
Birmingham City’s summer spending has now officially kicked into gear.
A spree of new signings at St. Andrew’s has finally gone through after plenty of heated transfer conversation, with Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel both joining on free transfers, alongside James Beadle and Tommy Doyle entering the building on loan.
The pick of the bunch, however, was reportedly splashing out £10m to land former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes.
Still, there will be plenty of intrigue from Birmingham fans about the number of other signings made in quick succession away from just their new Japanese ace, with lots expected from Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Doyle in particular, who has excelled near the top of the Championship previously.
Why Doyle is an exciting signing for Birmingham
Indeed, Doyle – whilst he has found the Premier League to be his more recent permanent home with Wolves – has lit up the second tier regularly when competing there.
Playing for both Cardiff City and Sheffield United on loan, Doyle would let loose with an impressive tally of five goals and seven assists coming his way from 57 Championship outings, which included a fine free-kick being floated home to help the Blades in their pursuit of promotion during the 2022/23 campaign.
His standout Bluebirds loan stint would even see scout Jacek Kulig brand the 23-year-old as “superb” as the ex-Manchester City youth product now looks to dust himself down after an up-and-down patch of his Old Gold career to try and get back to his second-tier peak with Davies and Co.
He might well be joined by some additional competition very soon if rumours are to be believed, as Birmingham’s busy summer activity shows no signs of relenting.
Birmingham could sign another "special" star
All competition for places will be seen as healthy next season, with Davies wanting the best possible squad he can to ruffle some Championship feathers.
Landing the services of Lewis O’Brien would be viewed as a statement in the middle of the park for sure, with journalist Darren Witcoop revealing, whilst writing for TEAMTalk last week, that the ambitious Blues still are keen on adding the wantaway Nottingham Forest man to their ranks, even with Doyle now at their disposal.
A deal would have to be won right from under Wrexham’s nose, with reports suggesting that the Red Dragons had agreed a £5m fee for the ex-Huddersfield Town man’s signature, only for wages to be an unfortunate stumbling block.
This unforeseen hurdle for Phil Parkinson’s men could see Birmingham come out on top for the seasoned Championship professional instead, with O’Brien even more of a well-versed presence than Doyle as to what it takes to become a top battler in such a difficult and taxing division.
Games
38
42
43
23
16
Goals
2
3
3
0
1
Assists
4
3
3
1
0
Touches*
50.6
58.0
56.7
54.8
56.6
Accurate passes*
24.4 (77%)
30.8 (77%)
29.5 (78%)
36.8 (87%)
30.1 (76%)
Big chances created
5
6
4
2
2
Tackles*
3.2
2.0
2.2
1.7
1.9
Total duels won*
6.1
5.8
7.5
4.0
6.1
Looking at the table above, it’s clear that the Forest outcast excels when plying his trade in the Championship as a well-rounded presence in the middle, with O’Brien desperate to get back to his Terriers best if he dons Birmingham blue shortly, as seen in him winning an imperious 7.5 duels on per Championship clash during Huddersfield’s promotion near-miss during the 2021/22 season.
Like Doyle, he has the goals and assists to back up his tenaciousness, with 20 goal contributions and counting next to his name at the daunting level. His midfield counterpart can only boast 12, on the contrary.
Once even hailed as a “special” player by his former Huddersfield boss in Carlos Corberan, this might well be the signing that makes those tipping Birmingham for greatness more secure in the fact they can challenge for those promotion spots, as Davies aims to deliver back-to-back promotions to please the St. Andrew’s masses even more.
Even more exciting than Kyogo: Birmingham City set to sign "silky dribbler"
Birmingham City are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a star who is even more exciting than Kyogo Furuhashi.
2 ByDan Emery Jul 5, 2025
da roleta： Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin gets to have a first look at his players in the flesh this week as some of his stars have returned for pre-season testing.
da pinnacle： The new boss will also have the opportunity to speak with some members of the Ibrox squad in person, whilst the summer transfer window is in full swing.
In fact, journalist Scott Burns claims that the Rangers head coach is due to hold talks with central defender Robin Propper over his future at Ibrox beyond this summer.
FC Twente are eyeing up a move to bring him back to the Netherlands ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but he has returned to pre-season testing with the Gers for now.
Martin must, now, tell the Dutch defender that he is not a part of his plans for the upcoming season, because the Light Blues should be looking to part ways with him in the coming weeks.
Why Rangers must sell Robin Propper
The Gers manager should move on from the 31-year-old flop this summer after he endured a difficult first season in Scottish football after his move from FC Twente last year.
In December, the central defender was hauled off at half-time against St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership and was heavily criticised by pundit Derek Ferguson.
The former Gers man said: “Propper is struggling. He’s been pretty vocal over the last couple of weeks that he’s finding it tough in our league. He’s been asked the question early on. It’s quite worrying when you see him struggling as bad as that. Look at the body language – he’s looking for a way out already.”
Propper, who was dribbled past 11 times in 22 Premiership starts, failed to deal with the physicality of the league during his debut season, which led to him being a bit-part player by the end of the campaign.
Robin Propper’s last ten squad appearances for Rangers
Opposition
Game time
Fenerbahce
Unused substitute
Celtic
34 mins
Dundee
Unused substitute
Hibernian
Unused substitute
Athletic Club
13 mins
Aberdeen
90 mins
St Mirren
90 mins
Aberdeen
Unused substitute
Dundee United
Unused substitute
Hibernian
80 mins
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the experienced defender was far from a regular fixture in the starting XI for the Scottish giants, as he was an unused substitute in four of his last ten outings in the matchday squad.
Given that he is unlikely to have much room left for development at the age of 31, Rangers should move on from him this summer, amid interest from Twente, and their reported pursuit of an English star could send Propper packing.
Rangers in talks to sign English star
According to the Daily Record, Rangers are in ‘advanced talks’ with Leicester City to strike a deal for former England international Conor Coady this summer.
The report claims that the Light Blues have ‘ramped’ up their efforts to bring the central defender, who previously starred for Wolverhampton Wanderers, up to Scotland for the 2025/26 season.
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It states that the Gers are ‘pushing’ to get a deal done quickly for the experienced defender, now that the club are starting to ramp up their pre-season preparations ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next month.
The Daily Record adds that Coady, who has one year left on his contract at the King Power, is open to a move to Ibrox this summer to secure his long-term future.
However, the report does not reveal how much money it will take to agree a deal with Leicester, or if they would be willing to waive a fee for the 32-year-old in order to shave his wages off.
Why Rangers should sign Conor Coady
Rangers should sign Coady from the Championship side, who were relegated from the Premier League this season, because he could send Propper packing this summer.
A deal to sign the former England international in the coming days or weeks would provide Martin with a vastly-experienced right-sided centre-back, which would negate any need to keep hold of Propper, who currently fills that role in the squad.
Coady, who played 22 times in the Premier League this season for the Foxes, would arrive at Ibrox as a hugely experienced player at the very top level, with 198 Premier League appearances and ten caps for England under his belt.
He is, therefore, used to the physicality of British football and can deal with the brute strength and dynamism of attackers in Scotland next season, whereas, Propper had never played domestic football outside of the Netherlands and looked ill-prepared for the task at hand.
Conor Coady
22/23 (Premier League)
23/24 (Championship)
24/25 (Premier League
Appearances
24
12
22
Pass accuracy
85%
93%
91%
Dribbled past per game
0.3x
0.1x
0.1x
Duel success rate
54%
64%
45%
Error led to goal
1
0
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Coady has largely been reliable as a physical presence in England in recent seasons, particularly when it came to stopping attackers from dribbling past him.
As aforementioned, one of Propper’s biggest problems in the Premiership was that strikers found it too easy to get the better of him, as he was dribbled past 11 times in 22 starts. That would not be a problem for the English titan, who has been dribbled past three times in his last 34 league outings.
The Leicester ace also showcased his quality in possession in the Championship in the 2023/24 season, ranking in the top 1% of his positional peers for progressive passes per 90 (7.20). This suggests that he would also add value in possession as part of a team that dominates the ball and looks to play forward.
Coady, who was described as an “infectious” character by Gareth Southgate, may be approaching the latter stages of his career, at the age of 32, but he appears to have the requisite qualities to take Propper’s place and send him packing back to FC Twente.
A Colak repeat: Club now pushing to sign Rangers star in the next 48 hours
Rangers could repeat their Antonio Colak masterstroke by selling this star this summer.
ByDan Emery Jun 23, 2025
يخوض النادي الأهلي، مباراة قوية ضد نظيره الاتحاد السكندري، مساء اليوم الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
الأهلي يلاقي الاتحاد السكندري، في إطار الجولة الحادية عشر، من مواجهات بطولة الدوري المصري للموسم الحالي 2025-2026.
طالع | توروب يعلن تشكيل الأهلي أمام الاتحاد السكندري.. جراديشار يقود الهجوم موعد مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري اليوم في الدوري المصري
وتقام مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري، في تمام الساعة 5 مساءً من اليوم الأربعاء 22 أكتوبر الجاري، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.
ويحتل النادي الأهلي، المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 18 نقطة، بعد خوض 9 مباريات، فاز في 5 وتعادل في 3 وخسر في لقاء.
طالع | حكم مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري في الدوري المصري
بينما فريق الاتحاد السكندري، يتواجد في المركز السابع عشر بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 8 نقاط.
ومن خلال التدريبات الختامية للمدرب الدنماركي ييس توروب، وضحت ملامح التشكيل الذي يخوض به الفريق مباراة الاتحاد السكندري.
ويشهد التشكيل، تواجد المهاجم السلوفيني نيجك جراديشار في قيادة الهجوم بسبب غياب محمد شريف للإصابة، ويتواجد القوة الضاربة في خط الوسط بقيادة محمود حسن تريزيجيه ومعه أحمد سيد زيزو وأشرف بن شرقي ومحمد علي بن رمضان. تشكيل الأهلي المتوقع أمام الاتحاد السكندري في الدوري
حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.
خط الدفاع: محمد هاني، ياسر إبراهيم، ياسين مرعي وأحمد نبيل كوكا.
خط الوسط: مروان عطية، محمد على بن رمضان، أشرف بن شرقي، محمود حسن تريزيجيه وأحمد سيد زيزو.
خط الهجوم: جراديشار.
اختتمت منافسات الجولة الخامسة من عمر منافسات بطولة الدوري السعودي، بمواجهة نيوم أمام القادسية، مساء الأحد، حيث فاز الأخير بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف.
وبتحقيق فريق القادسية الفوز، أرتقي إلي المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، برصيد 13 نقطة.
وكان فريق النصر واصل انتصارته في الدوري السعودي هذا الموسم، بالفوز على الفتح، بخماسية مقابل هدف، ليواصل صدراته لترتيب جدول الدوري، بدون خسارة ومحققًا الفوز الخامس على التوالي.
وكان نادي الهلال انتصر على نظيره الاتفاق، بخمسة أهداف دون رد، ضمن منافسات نفس الجولة، من بطولة الدوري السعودي.
طالع | الهلال يسحق الاتفاق بخماسية في الدوري السعودي
وكان الاتحاد بطل الدوري الموسم الماضي، تعادل إيجابيًا مساء الجمعة أمام الفيحاء 1-1، ليتراجع إلي المركز الرابع. جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي
1- النصر، 15 نقطة.
2- القادسة، 13 نقطة.
3- التعاون، 12 نقطة.
4- الهلال، 11 نقطة.
5- الاتحاد، 10 نقاط.
6- الخليج، 9 نقاط.
7- الخلود، 9 نقاط.
8- الأهلي، 9 نقاط.
9- نيوم، 9 نقاط.
10- الفيحاء، 8 نقاط.
11- الاتفاق، 7 نقاط.
12- الحزم، 5 نقاط.
13- الشباب، 5 نقاط.
14- الرياض، 3 نقاط.
15- الفتح، نقطة واحدة.
16- ضمك، نقطة واحدة.
17- الأخدود، بدون نقاط.
18- النجمة، بدون نقاط.
يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب الدوري السعودي بشكل محدث باستمرار من هنا.
Khurram Shahzad has not fully recovered from the side injury he picked up during the Bangladesh series
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2024
Shan Masood will be able to call on Aamer Jamal’s services again•Getty Images and Cricket Australia
Pakistan have retained Shan Masood as their captain for the first match of their three-Test series against England, which begins in Multan on October 7. Aamer Jamal has found a place in their 15-member squad following his return from a back issue, while Khurram Shahzad, who took a six-wicket haul in the second Test against Bangladesh, misses out having failed to fully recover from an injury to his left side.Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who didn’t feature in the Bangladesh series, returns to the side as a second frontline spin option alongside Abrar Ahmed.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
There was some scrutiny around Masood’s position in the aftermath of the 2-0 home Test series defeat to Bangladesh earlier this month, but he retains the role for now, with Pakistan looking to overturn a run of poor results in the longest format. They have lost each of their last five Test matches, all with Masood in charge, and they are on a 10-match winless streak in home Tests.One piece of positive news for Pakistan is the return of the fast-bowling allrounder Jamal, their most impressive performer on their 2023-24 tour of Australia. Jamal has been dealing with lower-back issues over recent months, and didn’t take part in the series against Bangladesh. He has since returned to 50-overs action in the Champions Cup.This is counterbalanced, however, by the absence of Shahzad. He picked up the side injury during the second Test against Bangladesh, and was expected to be fit in time for the England series when a fracture was ruled out, but he hasn’t yet staged a complete recovery.Top-order batter Kamran Ghulam and fast bowler Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh series, have been left out. A PCB release said both “remain firmly in the selectors’ plans. However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket.”The players selected in the Test squad have been withdrawn from the Champions Cup playoffs to enable them to rest before the start of the England series. The squad will assemble in Multan on September 30, with their pre-series training camp starting on October 1.Pakistan squad for first Test against EnglandShan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Unfortunately for the Tottenham Hotspur faithful, last night was a return to what has become their new normal this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s side played host to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and found themselves two goals down within 20 minutes.
Now, Richarlison did manage to pull one back late on and, in all honesty, they created enough chances to turn the game around, but in the end, they fell to their 18th league defeat of the campaign and their eighth at home.
In all, it was just another disappointing night for the North Londoners, one in which most of the starters let themselves down, including one ace who should probably be dropped after yet another shocking showing.
So, before we get to the player in question, it seems only fair to go over some of the other Spurs players who let the manager and fans down last night, starting with Cristian Romero.
Player ratings via Sofascore
After his sensational showing against Eintracht Frankfurt last week, there was some hope that he’d carry that into the rest of his appearances this season, but it was very quickly evident that wasn’t going to be the case against Forest.
Not only did the World Cup winner look determined to get himself sent off, but he also lost track of Chris Wood for the striker’s headed goal, making the 4/10 match rating he received from Alasdair Gold more than fair, and his substitution at half-time the correct call.
However, the Argentine wasn’t the only dire defender, as it was also a first 45 to forget for the usually impressive Micky van de Ven.
Like his defensive partner, the Flying Dutchman came off second best for the Tricky Trees’ second goal as he lost the aerial duel with the free-scoring Kiwi and certainly warranted the 5/10 rating he received from Gold.
|
Van de Ven’s game in numbers |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
45′ |
|
Expected Assists |
0.01 |
|
Blocks |
0 |
|
Tackles |
0 |
|
Interceptions |
1 |
|
Duels (Won) |
4 (2) |
|
Long Balls (Accurate) |
2 (0) |
|
All Stats via Sofascore |
|
However, as poor as the two centre-backs were, another member of the back five was even worse and should, therefore, probably be dropped ahead of the game against Liverpool on Sunday.
So, even though there were a number of other starters who also endured a torrid time last night, such as Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr, when it came down to it, the worst performer for the hosts was Guglielmo Vicario.
It really was a night to forget for the Italian shot-stopper, as he probably could have done better for Elliot Anderson’s opening strike and then definitely should have done far better for Wood’s header.
In fact, had the former Empoli star not come rushing off his line to fly into thin air, there is a real chance that he would have been able to either parry the ball out of danger or perhaps even hold onto it. Instead, he gave the in-form forward practically an open net at which to aim.
Unsurprisingly, Gold was left unimpressed and awarded the 28-year-old a 3/10 match rating, which was more than justified by his stats, as in 95 minutes of action he made a single save, prevented -0.60 goals, made one error leading to a goal, made just 18 passes and failed in 100% of his long balls.
Now, if this display was a one-off, then suggesting he be dropped ahead of the game on Sunday would be unjust, but it’s not the only time he’s failed to perform in recent weeks, as he put on yet another horror show away to Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.
|
Vicario’s game in numbers |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
95′ |
|
Saves |
1 |
|
Goals Conceded |
2 |
|
Goals Prevented |
-0.60 |
|
Errors Leading to a Goal |
1 |
|
Passes |
18 |
|
Duels won |
0 |
|
Long Balls (Accurate) |
1 (0) |
|
All Stats via Sofascore |
|
In fact, that match saw Gold justifiably award him a 2/10 match rating, as he also made an error that led directly to a shot and, on top of that, managed to prevent -1.05 goals.
Ultimately, Vicario might be a better keeper than Antonín Kinský, but at the moment, he is a liability, so Postecoglou should be bold and drop him from the starting lineup for the next game.
Otherwise, it could be a third shambolic league performance on the bounce for the “unbelievable” Italian ace, as the legendary Gianluigi Buffon once described him.
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By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Apr 21, 2025
With 21 games left before the 2019 edition, the Sri Lanka series is as good a time as any to identify personnel and combinations
Firdose Moonda27-Jul-2018 Is a series in Sri Lanka a good starting point for World Cup preparation?Instinct would say no, but the answer is yes. The expectation of flat pitches with plenty of runs everywhere in the world for ODIs would say it’s as good as anywhere and batting coach Dale Benkenstein has come up with a reason. Given South Africa’s problems against wristspin and Sri Lanka’s team selection, Benkenstein sees the series as an opportunity for education. He hopes the batsmen will gain experience in picking the turn, something that they struggled with en masse against India earlier in the year and during the Tests. The results might not be pretty but it’s something South Africa have to go through if they are to improve.How much will South Africa miss AB de Villiers?South Africa’s performance in the Test series suggests that de Villiers’ absence is already glaring. However, they’ve been used to his absence for long periods anyway. De Villiers had never taken a similar sabbatical in the shorter formats, even after stepping down as ODI captain following the 2017 Champions Trophy. He was always identified as their talisman and their mascot; the man who wanted to win a World Cup more than anyone else.Now, South Africa have to go into the tournament without de Villiers, who decided to define his career on other things. South Africa may miss his reputation but a brief glance at his recent numbers suggest they aren’t missing much, runs wise. De Villiers scored only 20 runs in three Champions Trophy matches, then returned from injury to blast 176 against Bangladesh but had a quiet series against India, scoring 56 runs in three innings.JP Duminy gets down for a sweep•AFP Is JP Duminy really going to the World Cup? Since his Test retirement before the start of last summer, Duminy has faded from the selection debate, but is likely to come back as the World Cup approaches. We may not even want to talk about when Duminy last scored a hundred because he only has four to his name (answer: the 2015 World Cup against Zimbabwe), but it’s worth noting that he only has one half-century from his last 20 ODI innings. Duminy may get more opportunity to score bigger if he is promoted to de Villiers’ No.4 spot, but he will need to start showing he can put in telling performances under pressure if he wants South Africa to rely on him at the World Cup.Who after (or instead of) Imran Tahir? Officially, Tahir has been rested from the ODI series because South Africa know what he can offer. Unofficially, the selectors may be thinking ahead in case they need someone else Tahir’s form has dipped sharply in the 2017-18 summer, where he took seven wickets in seven matches at 42.50, including going wicket-less in three of the four matches against India. Tahir is finding form at Durham but the door is open for one of Keshav Maharaj or Tabraiz Shamsi to make a strong case to leapfrog Tahir in the World Cup squad.Shamsi has slightly more ODI experience – seven caps to Maharaj’s two – and was also named the domestic one-day cricketer of the year at the CSA annual awards but Maharaj’s excellent showing in the second Test suggests the pair could be set for a showdown over the course of the series.Is a Steyn-less attack enough? South Africa have travelled with an inexperienced pace attack to Sri Lanka, made even more green by the absence of Morkel and Dale Steyn. Between them, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder have 78 ODI caps, and 48 of those belong to Rabada. Steyn and Morkel have almost three times that number, 233, but the early indications are that neither will be at the World Cup.Morkel has retired and Steyn has not played an ODI since October 2016 and during the course of his recovery from a recent heel injury, Gibson indicated Steyn should focus on red-ball cricket. However, in a recent interview, Steyn has suggested he wants to be in contention for the World Cup squad, and if selected will use the tournament as a white-ball swansong.His offer is tempting for two reasons: South Africa could use his experience and they could also use the motivation of a marquee player to send off at the tournament. Though Faf du Plessis hinted the World Cup could mark the end for several seniors (Hashim Amla, for example), having Steyn – the bowler who sent down the ball the 2015 semi-final was last off – in the squad may serve as fuel to the Protea fire.