Tag Futebol

GOAL takes a look at what to watch for in these two friendlies against South Africa as the U.S. begins the preparing for the Olympics and beyond

The 2023 World Cup is now over for the United States women's national team. The tournament will be remembered as a failure, but perhaps a failure that served as a reboot point for a program that probably needed it.

But as we enter this first post-World Cup camp, it is fair to say that that reboot is on hold, at least for a little while. The USWNT is a team in transition, yes, but that transition hasn't quite happened yet. Instead, the U.S. has a squad full of World Cup veterans for these two friendlies against South Africa, including two legitimate legends that will be saying goodbye.

These games will serve as the swansongs for Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz, two historic figures for this program. They'll be surrounded by many of the players they competed with this summer as they prepare to say goodbye and move onto the next stage.

While those two will get the headlines, though, this camp is about more than just that. The farewells are nice, yes, but there are several new faces in this camp that could be very, very important as the U.S. puts this World Cup behind them and begins looking ahead to the 2024 Olympics, as well as the 2027 World Cup.

• Getty Images
  

  New coach bounce?

  The Vlatko Andonovski era is over, and the (temporary) Twila Kilgore era is now beginning. Kilgore is serving as the USWNT's interim coach for now as the federation searches for Andonovski's replacement. Technical director Matt Crocker says that U.S. Soccer is hard at work with that task and that a new hire should be in relatively soon, but for now, this is Kilgore's team.

  Kilgore has been with the U.S. Soccer program for some time, having started with the Under-20s before serving as both Andonovski's assistant and U.S. U23s coach. Her tenure in charge may not last long, but it certainly will be interesting.

  Will Kilgore institute any changes? Will she abandon any of the concepts that, ultimately, led to failure at the World Cup? Or will she know her place as a more transitional coach and simply try to keep things together rather than reinvent things overnight?

  Either way, it'll be intriguing to see someone different at the helm and to find out what that means for a USWNT that is in transition.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  A shot of Coffey

  One of the biggest 'what ifs' from the 2023 World Cup centers around Sam Coffey. What would have happened if she wasn't overlooked? How would that midfield have performed with Coffey involved? Well, we'll get a pretty decent look during this window.

  With the bulk of the World Cup squad hanging around, the introduction of Coffey will give us something of a look into what this team could have looked like with the midfielder involved. A No.6 that is capable of disrupting play and moving the ball, the fact that Coffey never got integrated to the team was one of Andonovski's biggest failures.

  She'll now get a chance to prove herself, though, as she looks to make an impression early on the road to 2027.

• Getty
  

  How does Shaw fit?

  One of two uncapped players in the squad, Jaedyn Shaw is a player that should be an intriguing one for the USWNT. She can either play out wide or centrally, making her a dangerous weapon that gives the U.S. tactical flexibility whenever she's in the XI. And she's just 18 years old, so this is all just beginning.

  Shaw was U.S. Soccer's Young Player of the Year last year and already has plenty of NWSL experience under her belt for the San Diego Wave, despite her youth. Talent-wise, she's as promising as it gets, and her positional flexibility make her an even more interesting talent for a USWNT that remains loaded with young attackers.

  With players like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson all just getting started, how does Shaw fit in, especially in a fully-fit squad? Hopefully this camp offers an early idea.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Fishel steps up

  To begin her career, Mia Fishel took the road less travelled, and that road has led her right to the USWNT anyway. From UCLA to Tigres and, now, a historic move to Chelsea, Fishel has forged a reputation as a goalscorer. She scored boatloads at Tigres, and it's her ability to put the ball in the back of the net that has her in the USWNT picture.

  However, the U.S. has several other goalscorers around the team. Smith, Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson (when healthy), all score plenty. So how does Fishel fit? Can she unseat one of the team's regular stars?

  We'll learn the answer to that in the coming years, not the coming days, but Fishel will no doubt be looking to make a good first impression.

The Gunners winger has made 78 consecutive Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta's team, and he has looked tired in recent weeks

Arsenal spent a lot of time last summer looking to bring in some cover for Bukayo Saka on the right side of their attack. Raphinha was the player they wanted, and they did make a bid for the Leeds United winger. But when that bid was rejected and Raphinha’s determination to seal a dream move to Barcelona became abundantly clear, Arsenal took a step back.

At that point you thought the Gunners would move on to other targets. Moussa Diaby, the Bayer Leverkusen winger, is a player they are known to have admired for some time, and there was a feeling the north London club could make a move for the 23-year-old. But they never did.

And when the transfer window closed at the end of the summer the only right winger who had arrived at Arsenal was Marquinhos, the 19-year-old Brazilian who had come in from Sao Paulo.

The capture of Marquinhos was seen as one for the future. He was talented, but he wasn’t a player who was expected to immediately challenge for the first-team. In fact, the expectation was that he would head out on loan almost immediately. So that left Mikel Arteta once again relying almost purely on Saka on the right hand side of his front-line. 

GettyA player in need of protection

Saka’s durability is one of his biggest strengths. No matter how many games he plays and how many kicks he takes, he always seems to be available. And for Arsenal, that has been hugely important during the past two seasons, because they haven’t really had anyone around who could fill in for him, should he be absent for a sustained period of time.

Reiss Nelson is one possibility, but Arteta has always seemed to prefer using him on the left on the odd occasion he has been handed any game time during the past couple of campaigns.

The fact Saka hasn’t picked up any sort of serious injury seems more down to good fortune rather than anything else, given the treatment he receives on a weekly basis from defenders. His team-mates and Arteta have long called for the winger to be given more protection from referees, but so far those appeals have fallen on deaf ears.

AdvertisementGetty Images78 consecutive league appearances

Saka has featured in every single Premier League game for Arsenal this season. The only game he didn’t start, against Leeds, he was introduced as a second-half substitute despite the fact he had been ill and hadn’t been able to train the day before.

In fact, Saka has made an appearance in Arsenal’s last 78 Premier League fixtures. The last game he missed was against Newcastle in May 2021, when he was an unused substitute. That’s currently the longest run of consecutive league appearances in the league (David de Gea is second with 75).

Since the start of the 2021-22 campaign, Saka has featured 74 times – again, more than any other player in the league. Of those 74 appearances, 71 have been starts. For a 21-year-old, those are remarkable numbers, especially when you factor in the games he has played for England during the same period of time. 

They are also numbers, however, which show how important it is that Arsenal finally bring in some much-needed cover for Saka this summer.

Getty ImagesOne goal in eight games

Saka may have the capability to consistently be available, but his performances in recent weeks suggest the incredible workload he has had to take on has started to catch up with him. Since scoring twice against Crystal Palace on March 19, the winger has started eight times for Arsenal and has struggled to find the same level of performance that he had produced during the earlier part of the campaign.

In those eight games, Saka has managed just one goal and one assist. Previously, he had been averaging 0.82 direct goal involvements per 90 minutes, but since the win against Palace that has dropped sharply, falling to just 0.29.

Saka is now taking fewer shots per 90 minutes (2.3 compared to 2.6), creating fewer chances (1.6 compared to 2.3) and having fewer touches (53.3 compared to 59.6). He also missed a crucial penalty during that run, firing wide in the 2-2 draw at West Ham.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyArteta's need to rotate

When you consider the amount of football Saka has been asked to play, both for his club and his country over the past two years, it is no surprise that physically he may be beginning to struggle a bit as the season comes to a close.

And that doesn’t just go for him when you are looking at the Arsenal team. Up to this point of the campaign, Saka, Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes have all featured in every league game this season for the Gunners. Saka has clocked up 3,041 Premier League minutes this season. For comparison, Bernardo Silva at Manchester City has 2,119, Jack Grealish has 2,063, Riyad Mahrez has 1,669 and Phil Foden has 1,612.

Pep Guardiola’s embarrassment of riches in the attacking areas means he can pick and choose who he wants for games, safe in the knowledge that the drop off in performance will not be vast. His players now look as sharp as they have all season as a result.

Arteta doesn’t really have that luxury. The core group of his team have started almost every game when available, and that has to change if Arsenal are going to take another step forward next season and compete not just for the Premier League, but also in the Champions League.

Arsenal remain keen on bolstering their threadbare backline, and one move might allow Edu and Mikel Arteta to once again emulate the success of their Premier League rivals…

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Arsenal?

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners remain keen on a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, among others of England's elite.

He wrote on Twitter: "Premier League clubs are now tracking Edmond Tapsoba ahead of the summer transfer window — he’s one of the CBs to keep an eye on.

"Arsenal and Tottenham scouts have monitored Tapsoba in recent games but the race is absolutely open — Bayer will only sell for huge bid."

Given that the German outfit demanded a fee of around €70m (£61m) back in 2021, it can be expected that this remains in line with the "huge bid" they will demand in the upcoming window. Edu will be keen to do his due diligence before sanctioning such a large outlay.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

The 24-year-old has been around the German top flight for many years now, and as such, his experience is far beyond many others of his age. For a central defender, this instantly puts him at a higher level than most.

With 136 games already played for his current club, and the expectation that the 6 foot 4 titan will be a key defensive pillar they can build Xabi Alonso's new regime upon, it is no surprise to see they are so wary to lose him.

After all, the Burkina Faso international has once again proved himself a dependable defensive asset this campaign, having averaged 1.1 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and three clearances per game, via Sofascore.

However, the peak of his powers undoubtedly came during the 2020/21 term. Whilst these defensive figures remained the same, his pass accuracy rocketed to 90% and he was successful in 65% of his dribbles. Despite his youth, Tapsoba established himself as one of Europe's top ball-playing defenders on his way to a 7.17 average match rating, via Sofascore.

It was just before that year when journalist Dominic Fifield lauded him as an "outstanding young talent" before the defender went on to prove he was more than just a prospect. He was already a star.

Having launched his career from humble beginnings, he revealed in an interview with The Athletic exactly who he had modelled his game around: "John Stones, at Everton. I really enjoyed watching him, he made a huge impression on me.

"His manner on the ball, and the way he played with the ball. I loved that. I still go back to Stones when it comes to playing in a certain style."

When harking back to those aforementioned statistics, it is clear to see how the England international has influenced Tapsoba. His remarkable pass accuracy and ability to glide with the ball out of defence is akin to the 28-year-old, who has just helped Manchester City win yet another league title. FBref showcases this, as when compared to others in his role across Europe, the former Vitoria Guimaraes ace ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 7% for successful take-ons.

For comparison, this season has seen Stones maintain a 93% pass accuracy and an 86% dribble success rate. He is far beyond that of his alternative; however, putting this growing star into Arsenal's impressive team could fast-track his growth towards that level.

Given Arteta is in desperate need of additional centre-backs to compete with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, they could do much worse than a defender who has aspirations of emulating the five-time league winner.

Leeds United have a "problem" with midfielder Weston McKennie at the moment, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.

How is McKennie doing at Leeds?

The American made the move to Elland Road during the January transfer window, deciding to fight for a place as a standout star instead of staying put as a rotational player at Juventus. He was seen as an exciting signing at the time, given his pedigree and performances in the World Cup, but he hasn't necessarily been a success so far.

McKennie has made 15 Premier League appearances for Leeds, but he hasn't yet registered a single goal contribution for the Whites, not enjoying the influence in the middle of the park that many hoped for. He needs to up his game in the coming weeks, as the relegation battle reaches its conclusion.

There are numerous players not pulling their weight, with goals being conceded at an alarming rate game after game, but he has arguably been a standout poor performer.

Are Whites fans happy with McKennie?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said that McKennie has become something of a boo boy among Leeds fans, presenting an immediate problem upon Sam Allardyce's arrival:

"When things aren't going well, it seems like he's not really somebody that rises to the challenge and that's absolutely not what Leeds are going to settle for at the moment. I know a lot of the fans have got a problem with McKennie. Not personally, but as a player in the team at the moment. I think they'd rather he wasn't there."

In truth, this is a fair assessment of McKennie, with the 24-year-old someone who should be dragging Leeds through these must-win matches, instead of being ineffective in them. He arrived with the reputation of being a midfield battler, but that has been nowhere to be seen too often.

On this evidence, the Whites would be wise to steer clear of signing him permanently in the summer transfer window, and if they are relegated and he continues to play badly, he is a player who will forever be held in low regard by the fanbase. Now is the time for the 42-cap USA international to change their perception of him.

This is someone who is established footballer at both club and international level – he has made 96 appearances for one of Europe's biggest club in Juventus, which is no mean feat, and been hailed as "excellent" by journalist Adam Pope – but there has been nowhere near enough quality and influence on show.

Gary Ballance took his century to 132 on a largely uneventful day at Scarborough

David Hopps04-Jul-2016
ScorecardAndrew Hodd was struck on the helmet by Steve Finn•Getty Images

Shortly after half-past four, bad light at Scarborough brought a sudden exodus. The bulk of the spectators tramped for the exit, in no mood to kill time in the hope of more play. “Seen enough,” said one Yorkshire supporter implacably, a self-appointed spokesman for the determinedly departed. Down North Marine Road they stampeded, faces set, for the warmth of the guest houses or the nearest pub.It has been that sort of summer. It has been that sort of Championship season. The first week of July and it has still to come to life, even in Yorkshire where the White Rose is seeking a hat-trick of titles. Middlesex 130 for 2 in reply to Yorkshire’s 406 and, after Gary Ballance’s century on the first day, not much to reflect upon.First the spectators prematurely called off play for the day, then the Yorkshire PA announcer sounded as if he had done the same. The umpires, stoutly awaiting a break in the weather, must have wondered what was going on. Never call off play while you can still see the Scarborough windmill.A former Yorkshire secretary, Joe Lister, used to make the PA announcements himself, in between fielding correspondence and making his daily run to the bookmakers’ tent. “The umpires have called off play for the day,” he would say, making huge play on the word “reluctantly”, even though everybody knew he wanted rid of the crowd as soon as possible.One day, he inadvertently left his microphone on. Having issued his edict, he added: “Thank heavens for that, time for another gin and tonic.””Gerr’em out there Bird,” came a traditional cry from the tiny minority who were prepared to hang around in the hope of more play: they were rewarded with 21 balls, thoroughly inconsequential.Dickie Bird stood in his last Test 20 years ago, but the call still goes out in Yorkshire in celebration of his well-worn tale about how he was once barracked entering a Headingley Test during a stoppage for a wet outfield, complete with the punchline: “I wasn’t even umpiring”. It is good to imagine that the shout will be heard as long as county cricket is played.The morning had been taken up by the dregs of Yorkshire’s first innings, Ballance, 106 not out overnight, moving on to 132 before a checked drive fell into the hands of the bowler, James Franklin. Azeem Rafiq, caught at the wicket later that over, made nought on his Championship return before a spirited counter-attack brought 72 for the last two wickets in 15 overs.Andrew Hodd, who led the resistance, was struck on the helmet by Steven Finn during Yorkshire’s rally, with no ill effects. Steven Patterson was bowled by Finn stepping outrageously to leg, slapping his bat in the crease in self-admonishment, before last man Jack Brooks gained dressing room bragging rights by hooking Finn for six into the pavilion seats.This is an okay pitch: slow – how can it not be after all this rain? – but with a little in it for the bowlers. For Middlesex, Sam Robson played attractively for his 40 as Yorkshire’s attack began moderately, well enough to believe reports from those who have watched him more regularly that he is a better player than the timid debutant who made the last of his seven Test appearances against India two years ago.Brooks dismissed him attempting a swivel pull, but top-edging to midwicket. Nick Gubbins fell lbw to a fullish ball around leg stump in Will Rhodes’ first over.

ESPN pundit Steve Nicol has suggested that Real Madrid could part ways with Carlo Ancelotti if they fail to win the Champions League – and that the Italian would be perfect for the Brazil job if he is available.

What's going on with Real Madrid and Ancelotti?

The Italian has been criticised at times despite his recent success with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos 12 points behind their rivals Barcelona, but they could still retain their European crown in the Champions League.

However, failure in Europe could spell the end of Ancelotti's second reign in charge, but the 63-year-old has been linked with the vacant Brazil role and this could be an option for him.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Nicol claimed that the Brazil job would be perfectly suited to Ancelotti's style of management.

"If they don't win the Champions League, then it seems likely that Real Madrid would move him on, and if that was the case, then I really don't see a better fit from a manager and a team's point of view than Ancelotti with Brazil," he stated.

"I mean, it seems like a match made in heaven. The guy who undoubtedly, in world football, would be the man to take over a team with established players, established stars, mature players.

"From my point of view, it just seems the perfect fit, Ancelotti with Brazil – he would go in there, all he would have to do is look after all the big stars, all the big egos. It wouldn't be about tactics or getting the team going, any of that stuff. It would be completely and utterly, in my opinion, about man-management. And I don't think there's a better man-manager in football."

Should Ancelotti take the Brazil job?

Given all he has accomplished at Real Madrid, and indeed in Europe, having won all the top five leagues as well as multiple Champions Leagues, this could be the perfect opportunity for Ancelotti to venture into international management.

Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao all play for Brazil, and with superstars such as Neymar and Casemiro in the side, Ancelotti can use his experience in managing big names.

He has won titles with the likes of AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, having had to manage world superstars at many of his clubs, and if he can get the best out of the Brazil squad, he can help return glory to a nation which has disappointed on the big stage in recent years.

Everton's season has been poor. Few people would debate that statement. But that is not to suggest that certain individuals have not performed well amidst the chaos and dogged relegation scrap.

For a period their defence was one of the best in the Premier League, and if not for a brutal mid-season collapse under Frank Lampard, they surely would have upheld this had Sean Dyche replaced him sooner.

The former Burnley boss did not waste time outlining the issues at the club, packing out the midfield to protect the back four which has resulted in a few vital wins to lift them out of the relegation zone.

In fact, since he joined the club the Toffees sit fourth in the form table, with only Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur above them.

His impact has been borderline revolutionary and has finally seen the best of James Tarkowski once again, although his levels have never really dropped despite the rest of his team's failures.

It was therefore a huge disappointment to see him omitted from Gareth Southgate's most recent England squad, although it hardly came as a surprise.

Should James Tarkowski be picked for England?

Back in 2017, Gareth Southgate proudly proclaimed: "I never pick on reputation — form has to come into it."

However, it is quite clear that since then he has developed certain favourites who maintain their place within his squad regardless of club form.

Until recently, Conor Coady was a mainstay within the England squad despite seldom actually playing. Whilst this was likely due to what he could offer within the dressing room, the continued selection of the likes of Eric Dier, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips have all raised eyebrows.

The latter two in particular, given how neither plays regularly for their clubs.

Meanwhile, Tarkowski has played every minute of their albeit poor Premier League campaign thus far, yet without him their situation would look considerably more dismal. For comparison, the Manchester United defender has started just five times in the league for his club.

The fact that the Toffees' stopper has also maintained a 7.19 rating throughout a tumultuous campaign too, the highest rating of any of his teammates to feature over five times, further exacerbates his importance. The 7.00 average rating of Maguire is also somewhat gratuitous given his far smaller sample size within a squad boasting far more quality. However, it still does not compare to the former.

It is no wonder that other pundits were pleading with Southgate to take the £100k-per-week titan to the World Cup, with Danny Mills even telling Match of the Day (via the Daily Star): "He's [Tarkowski] the best English centre-half we have that's playing regularly. He's been that good."

Whilst his level hasn't dropped from that period, it feels like his opportunity to feature for his national team dwindles with each passing break.

Evertonians are seldom surprised to see their top players snubbed, so Tarkowski will have to do something truly exceptional to add to the two caps earned back in 2018.

The future of West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal has taken a twist as an update emerges on a potential new deal in east London.

Latest West Ham news

David Moyes and his Irons side have enjoyed an absolutely terrific start to the new Premier League season, coming after they sold former superstar Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105 million in the summer transfer window.

The departure of Rice was seen as a major worry for West Ham, but so far, they have shown that the absence of their ex-powerhouse is proving little issue.

Summer signing Edson Alvarez has excelled in the 24-year-old's stead, impressing national media with some of his displays in claret and blue.

West Ham have also bolstered their coaching department with the appointments of John Heitinga, Mark Robson and Henry Newman, who will assist Moyes behind-the-scenes at Rush Green.

“I would like to welcome John to West Ham United and also welcome Mark and Henry into the first-team group," said Moyes to the club's official website.

“John is someone I have known for a long time. He has gained some very good experience since beginning his coaching career in the Ajax Academy and working his way up to their first-team. Mark and Henry are both already familiar to everyone here at the Club and have deserved the opportunity to step up within our structure.

“John, Mark and Henry will each bring experience in different areas and complement the strengths we already have in the coaching team alongside Billy, Kevin and Xavi. I look forward to working with them and building on the positive start we have made to the new season.”

It is also believed that the Hammers are eyeing up former star Jesse Lingard to further reinforce their ranks ahead of a tough and congested campaign of fixtures.

Their promising start to the 2023/2024 season has also seen some members of the West Ham squad thrive compared to last term, like striker Michail Antonio and Coufal.

Concerning the latter player, there has been a very interesting update on his future.

Will Vladimir Coufal leave West Ham?

Indeed, the Czech Republic international has seemingly re-established himself as Moyes' preferred right-back, coming after he was usurped in favour of Thilo Kehrer over 22/23.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke, writing for Football Insider, has now claimed that initial talks have been opened over extending Coufal's stay at the club.

The 31-year-old's current terms are set to expire at the end of this season, and while they have the option to extend by a further 12 months, it is believed West Ham are plotting to reward his exceptional performances thus far.

Coufal "could even land a new deal" following his "impressive" start, with the full-back having "turned his career around" under Moyes.

He is currently preferred over fellow right-back Ben Johnson, who is yet to play a single second in the top flight.

While Johnson's contract is also set to expire at the end of the current campaign, it appears Coufal is the one currently in line for fresh terms as things stand.

It will be very interesting to find out the conditions of this potential contract for Coufal, who was also a "key member" of the Conference League-winning squad.

South Africa’s head coach Ottis Gibson was steadfast in his defence of Quinton de Kock ahead of an ICC code of conduct hearing on Wednesday

Firdose Moonda07-Mar-2018South Africa insist Quinton de Kock only acted on provocation in the Durban stairwell dispute, even though he has been found guilty of breaching the ICC’s code of conduct.De Kock did not contest the charge at a hearing on Wednesday evening, though he aimed to lessen the sanction that applies to a Level 1 offence. Although he was unsuccessful in the endeavour and admitted he had said “something” to Warner, the South Africa wicketkeeper maintained he was not the instigator.CCTV footage of the passageway leading to the dressing rooms showed David Warner being physically restrained and shouting at de Kock, who did not respond. Warner was charged with a Level 2 offence on Tuesday evening, and fined 75% of his match fee. Though he has accepted those sanctions, Australia claim Warner was responding to a jibe from de Kock, and they say it was “personal.”South Africa, however, have denied de Kock provoked Warner in any way. “We are appealing Level 1 because we think Quinny didn’t do anything,” the head coach Ottis Gibson said. “Quinny wasn’t aggressive. You saw some footage, and the footage showed Quinny walking up the stairs and somebody else being restrained, and then Quinny gets a Level 1. That doesn’t seem fair.”Gibson would not comment on whether de Kock was entirely silent, and neither would several team sources, only for the man himself to admitt he had answered back.”Quinny would not have said anything had something not been said to him in the first place. But I wasn’t out there. Faf was there. Faf probably knows what was said,” Gibson said. “But there’s one guy walking up the stairs going back to his dressing room, there’s another guy having to be restrained. If I am walking, trying to get back to my dressing room and somebody is being restrained, how can you fine me for something?”Asked if de Kock said anything about Warner’s wife, which is what Australia are alleging, Gibson chose to focus on the undefined line and called for clarity. “I wasn’t there. I can’t categorically speak for another person. There’s this thing and I have seen it recently now about the line. They are saying they didn’t cross the line, but where is the line, who sets the line, where did the line come from? When you are saying you didn’t cross the line but we didn’t cross the line, you went very close to the line… whose line is it?”South Africa would really like the umpires to start answering that question. Du Plessis called for them to step in immediately after the end of the first Test. But Kumar Dharmasena and S Ravi have made no reports of anyone breaking the code of conduct and Australia subsequently used that as part of their defence. Gibson, however, believed that the umpires must have heard something.”The match officials are there to do a job and to govern the game on the field, and off the field I guess,” he said. “If they hear things on the field, they should clamp down on it. It becomes unfortunate when everybody else hears stuff and the match officials say they haven’t heard anything. They are there to do a job and they must do their job.”If things are happening in the game and things are being said, and if it’s within earshot – if the player is standing at point or wherever he is fielding, surely the umpires can hear. Maybe the umpires need to stand up and take control of the game.”Unhappy might not be the right word. We just feel that the umpires are there to do a job and they must do their job. When they hear things, they must take charge and don’t leave it to: ‘oh, we didn’t cross the line.’ Can you say whatever you want, and then when something is said, it’s offensive. You didn’t tell us where the line was. Let’s be clear where the line was.”With tension escalating on both sides, the umpires’ roles will be in sharp focus once again in Port Elizabeth. Dharmasena will be the on-field official again on Friday and he will be joined by New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney.”I am happy with aggression being shown on the field if it’s coming from the bowler,” Gibson said. “If a fast bowler is bowling bouncers and trying to intimidate batsmen, to me that’s aggression. When everybody else is chirping or sledging the batter as he is trying to bat, that’s not aggression in my book. That’s how I grew up, playing the game in the Caribbean. But, obviously, things change.”Gibson recalled the West Indies greats of the past, who “didn’t have to (say anything) because they were aggressive with the ball and their body language, and that’s what aggression is. When a batsman is trying to take his guard and people are standing around and saying whatever they want to say, I’m not sure that it’s necessary.”If a bowler has tried everything he can to get a batsman out and he can’t get him out because a batsman is playing well, and then they have to revert to that, then is it aggression? I don’t think that it is.”That was the case at Kingsmead, where de Kock scored 83 and partnered Aiden Markram for a sixth-wicket stand of 147 which stalled Australia’s victory push and dragged the match into the fifth day. De Kock had not struck a half-century in 15 Test innings before that, and there were questions over his form. But Gibson believed the Durban knock showed what de Kock is capable of, both with bat and in his conduct.”It takes a strong character to stand up and bat for three hours when everybody on the field is saying whatever they want to say to you. But then, as soon as you respond, then it’s a different thing. The game should be about cricket on the field. I feel like everybody needs to focus on cricket. Calm down and get back to cricket.”

Ivan Toney made the perfect return for Brentford on Saturday as he fired in a free-kick just 19 minutes into his first game back from suspension.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Toney back from eight-month suspensionBrentford star scored from free-kickMade gesture with shirt in celebrationGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The striker returned from an eight-month suspension for breaching betting regulations. After Nottingham Forest took the lead just three minutes in, Toney smashed in a low free-kick to bring his team level and paid his respects to his uncle by holding up a shirt in his celebration.

The shirt read: "For you, Uncle Brian."

AdvertisementWATCH THE GOALGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The game is Toney's first of the season after he was hit with a lengthy ban. The 27-year-old scored 20 goals in 33 matches in the Premier League last season and has attracted interest from Arsenal, but Brentford hope to keep their star forward and it is reported they will have to pay around £80 million ($102m) to get him this month.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

Toney has now scored three direct free kicks in the Premier League since the start of last season – and from just 10 attempts, according to . The only player to match that record in the same timeframe is James Ward-Prowse, who scored three from 25 tries.