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Frenkie de Jong's fortunes at Barcelona have turned around after becoming a regular under Hansi Flick and all that remains now is signing a new deal.

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De Jong pondering over future at BarcaHas found a spot in Flick's XIArsenal reportedly targeting the Dutch midfielderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A few months ago, De Jong seemed closer to the exit door at Barcelona. That seems to be a distant memory now that the Dutchman has nailed a spot in Flick's XI. With his recent resurgence and a rise in the quality of performances, the Catalans are eager to secure De Jong's future. According to SPORT, Barca sporting director Deco met the player's entourage in February to discuss details regarding a new deal.

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After usurping Marc Casado from the XI and reinstating his prominence in Barcelona's midfield, the club's sporting management is adamant about keeping De Jong in Catalonia beyond the summer of 2026, when his contract expires.

Contrary to reports that Barca would discuss De Jong's future with his camp after the ongoing season ends, mentioned that Deco met with the Dutchman’s agent, Ali Dursun, on February 19 to present a new contract offer, as the previous proposal had expired. The new offer is a three-year extension with a salary similar to De Jong's current earnings, around €18-19 million gross annually. The renewal does not include any of the deferred salary payments from the pandemic period agreed upon in 2020.

DID YOU KNOW?

With Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, showing interest, the club is hopeful of finalising De Jong’s renewal soon. The Dutch midfielder, who has overcome past injury issues, is seen as a central figure in Barcelona’s future. The club remains optimistic about retaining him, especially after De Jong’s reconciliation with president Joan Laporta.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR FRENKIE DE JONG?

The 27-year-old will next be seen in action on Saturday, March 8, when Barcelona welcome Osasuna for a LaLiga encounter. The Blaugrana currently find themselves at the top of the league, one point clear of Atletico Madrid and three points above arch-nemeses Real Madrid.

Mohamed Salah’s social media activity after returning to action with Liverpool has gone viral, with the Egyptian superstar considered to have offered a nod towards his future plans on Merseyside. In the wake of an explosive outburst against the Reds, which led to him being dropped, Salah stepped off the bench to a warm reception as Arne Slot’s side beat Brighton at Anfield.

Explosive outburst: What Salah said before recall against Brighton

After being named among the substitutes in three successive matches, Salah felt the need to air his grievances in public after seeing no minutes during a dramatic draw with Leeds. He accused Liverpool bosses of 'throwing him under the bus' during what has been a difficult defence of the club’s league title in 2025-26.

He also admitted to seeing his working relationship with Dutch tactician Slot break down, while suggesting that certain individuals on Merseyside were trying to force him out – a matter of months after signing a two-year contract extension.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALCriticism and transfer talk: Salah dominates headlines

Salah was criticised by many – including Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher – for speaking out against the team that he has represented with such distinction across eight memorable years. Two Premier League titles have been captured alongside a Champions League crown and 250 goals.

Carragher claimed that the passionate fanbase at Anfield would side with Slot when it comes to any internal disputes, with no player bigger than the club. The feeling among many was that Salah may have played his last game in the iconic red jersey, with another transfer window set to swing open in January.

There was talk of long-standing interest from the Saudi Pro League being rekindled, with lucrative offers being readied in the Middle East. Slot did, however, reveal ahead of a meeting with Brighton that he was planning to sit down with Salah and thrash out any differences.

Those talks appear to have been productive, with an apology potentially being offered, as Salah returned to Liverpool’s matchday squad against the Seagulls. He had been left out of the travelling party which picked up a battling 1-0 win over Inter at San Siro in Champions League competition.

Salah looked emotional after outing against Brighton

Salah had to settle for a support role again when Brighton headed to Anfield, as he took up a place on the bench, but an unfortunate injury suffered by Joe Gomez led to changes being made inside 26 minutes.

Slot opted to send Salah on in place of stricken right-back Gomez, as he tinkered with his tactical set-up, and saw the 33-year-old cheered onto the field. The ‘Egyptian King’ of Anfield went on to claim an assist in a 2-0 victory – as he swung over the corner that allowed Hugo Ekitike to nod home on the hour mark and complete his match-winning brace.

Salah came close to scoring himself, as a couple of chances dropped his way, and was all smiles at the final whistle. He was serenaded by those in the stands when walking around the pitch and applauding at the end of an intriguing contest.

He has chosen to share a video of those celebrations on his social media channels, with Salah looking quite emotional as support from the crowd washed over him. His post has clocked up 6.4 million views on X, earning 170,000 likes and well over 5,000 comments.

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Goodbye or see you again soon? What next for Salah?

Plenty of reading between the lines has been going on, with some suggesting that Salah was bidding farewell to his adopted home, as he is set to head off on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Another transfer window will have opened by the time that tournament comes to a close.

Others believe the experienced forward is pledging his allegiance to Liverpool and wants to showcase how much the club still means to him. Only Salah knows what happens next, with some big decisions about to be made on Merseyside.

He clearly still has plenty to offer the collective cause, as the reigning PFA Player of the Year, but is the video that he has shared on social channels a message of “goodbye” or “see you again soon”?

Was it the last time at a World Cup for some of New Zealand’s greats? “Don’t think anyone’s making any decisions now,” says captain

Firdose Moonda26-Mar-2022Have we seen the last of Katey Martin? Or Suzie Bates? Does she have the desire to add to her 5045 ODI runs? And does Amy Satterthwaite have the drive to keep chasing her?Just some questions swirling around a disappointed host nation, whose World Cup campaign ended with a victory over Pakistan, but it was too little to see them progress to the knockouts.But it might not just be the end of the World Cup for them. The match against Pakistan had all the elements of a farewell, too, from Martin’s tears as the national anthem was sung to the standing ovation Bates got from the Hagley Oval crowd after she was dismissed for 126. Like some of us, they might have been wondering, was this the end of an era?Related

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Bates ton, Rowe five-for help NZ seal win over Pakistan

“I don’t think anyone’s going to be making any decisions now,” Sophie Devine said afterwards.She described the day as “emotional” for everyone involved because “playing in a home World Cup is probably not going to happen again”. But she could not reveal whether some of those who wore their hearts on their sleeves had already made decisions about their futures in the game. “I’m sure everyone will take some time away. It’s obviously been a pretty full-on last sort six to 12 months leading into this World Cup.”Martin, who is 36 and has been playing internationally since 2003, was the most demonstrative, breaking away from the team huddle to wave at the crowd after the match. It looked like a goodbye, but Devine wasn’t sure. “Marty can’t keep her emotions in check, which is her to a tee, and that’s why we absolutely love her.”And the adoration flowed. Devine heaped praise on young quick Hannah Rowe, who came back from an opening spell that cost 27 runs in three overs to take a career-best 5 for 55, and on Bates, who brought up 5000 runs in this match and scored her 12th ODI century.”Suzie Bates is going to be one of our greatest-ever players produced from New Zealand, and I’ve just had a front-row seat for most of my career,” Devine said. “I think the greatest thing about Suzie is [she’s] absolutely a world-class player but she’s just a bloody good human and the way that she inspired other people and even now, she’s like a young kid out there. I think you probably saw her running around and joking with everyone – her energy is infectious and I think that’s probably something that I’m most proud of, not just the runs that she scored.”

“Obviously, results haven’t gone our way but I’ve just got so much love and I feel like I’ve still got more to give to this group. So I don’t want to make any decisions at the moment”Sophie Devine

Ultimately, although this New Zealand side wanted to win, they also wanted to leave a legacy and when Devine looked around the full grass embankments, she could see that they indeed had done so.”It’s certainly something that we’ve spoken about as a group before this tournament, that we want to inspire that next generation. It was really nice to see a packed embankment over there. It’s a beautiful cricket ground and to see it filled up with plenty of fans there, it certainly makes me extremely proud.”That crowd was treated to a New Zealand celebration anyway, as the champion team from 2000 was honoured by the ICC. Though Devine would have loved to replicate what that team had achieved, she was satisfied that her team had given their all. “We’ve obviously been on the wrong side of a couple of results, but we’ve fought throughout this tournament. We want results to go the other way but the heart and character, I hope everyone sees it. We’ve played with absolutely everything we’ve got.”It wasn’t enough, which is a bitter pill for Devine to swallow, but it’s left New Zealand with some time away with the possibility of returning to a new-look set-up. Coach Bob Carter’s contract ends with the World Cup and though Devine said he had been “fantastic for this group”, she could not say whether he would continue.”‘I’m sure everyone will take some time away. It’s obviously been a pretty full-on last sort six to 12 months leading into this World Cup”•AFP/Getty Images”I know that there’ll be a process that will be followed by New Zealand Cricket and whether he’s the right man, I guess that’ll be decided,” she said. “But what he’s offered this group has been outstanding. We’re seeing players coming through and starting to have a lot more consistency with their performances.”Devine also indicated she may want to continue as captain. “It’s probably too early to say at this stage. I certainly need to take some time away and just reflect,” she said. “I’m certainly really passionate about this team and I feel like we’re in a really good space. Obviously, results haven’t gone our way but I’ve just got so much love and I feel like I’ve still got more to give to this group. So I don’t want to make any decisions at the moment, but I still feel like I’ve got a bit left in the tank.”As for the other five members of the current squad who are over 30 – including Lea Tahuhu, who missed the final match with an injury, and Frances Mackay, who finished as their joint-leading wicket-taker with Tahuhu – time will tell. For now, Devine will enjoy the rest of the tournament with her feet up, believing “Australia are certainly beatable and South Africa are a real threat”, but that the overall calibre of cricket has been high as the women’s game continues to grow.”I’ve been so impressed with the standard of competition, and I think the quality of the wickets have played a massive part in that,” she said. “I think the run scoring has been a real feature of this World Cup and I’m excited to see what the next couple of games holds.”I really urge any Kiwis or anyone out there to get along to the remaining games because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a 50-over World Cup here in New Zealand and I’m just so proud of the way that we’ve been able to show that to the world.”

It’s been just under a year and a half since Ange Postecoglou was named the new Tottenham Hotspur manager, and to say a lot has changed would be a massive understatement.

The Australian has brought back the entertaining and attacking football that Spurs used to be known for back in the day, and while success is yet to come, it feels like the club is moving in the right direction.

Moreover, the former Celtic boss has welcomed a plethora of talented new faces to the club who have already become core members of the first team.

That said, not all of his signings have been hits, and there is one player in particular, who he was excited about securing, who should be axed from the team.

Postecoglou's best signings

Okay, before we get to the negative stuff, let’s look at a couple of Postecoglou’s best signings since taking the reins in North London last summer, starting with Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch defender joined Spurs from VfL Wolfsburg in a £43m deal last summer and has already become arguably the most important player in the team, in no small part thanks to his incredible pace.

The 23-year-old became the fastest player in Premier League history last season when he clocked an incredible sprint speed of 37.38km/h against Brentford.

This supreme gift, combined with his footballing intelligence, allows the manager to play a higher line than most, safe in the knowledge that the Wormer-born titan will get back in time to stop counter-attacks.

Moreover, his blistering pace has also helped the team in attack more than a few times, as even with the ball at his feet, the ten-capped international can outrun most opposition players and either get a shot off himself or play the perfect pass to his teammates.

Speaking of goals, though, another of the Australian’s best signings is Brennan Johnson, who, after a slow start to the season, has become an invaluable provider of them.

The Welshman has racked up an impressive tally of nine goals and one assist in 19 appearances, equating to a goal involvement on average every 1.9 games.

However, his effectiveness off the right highlights the ineffectiveness of another Postecoglou signing on the other flank.

The Ange signing who must be axed

So, with the signing primarily playing off the left, it should come as no surprise that it is German winger Timo Werner.

The former Chelsea ace first joined the Lilywhites on a six-month loan deal from RB Leipzig in January, and while fans were understandably unsure at the time, the manager wasn’t, telling the press after the attacker’s debut for the club that he had the potential to be “really exciting for us once he get to understand our game.”

Unfortunately for all involved, that did not end up happening last season, and by the end of the campaign, he had scored two goals and provided three assists in 14 appearances, which wasn’t abysmal, but it was pretty far from “exciting.”

That said, the club opted to bring the 28-year-old back to N17 on a season-long loan this year in a deal that includes an option to buy for around £8.5m, and while that’s not a lot of money, the club should not exercise that option.

We say that because in 15 games so far, the Stuttgart-born flop has scored one goal and provided two assists, which just is not good enough, not for a back-up winger and certainly not for someone who could start an increasing number of games as Son Heung-min continues to age.

Appearances

14

15

Goals

2

1

Assists

3

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

0.20

Moreover, once the incredibly exciting Mikey Moore has recovered from the virus that has seen him sidelined this month, Postecoglou should axe the £165k-per-week flop from the team altogether, as using the academy graduate as the go-to back-up for Son would be far more beneficial to the club, both now and in the future.

Ultimately, while Werner has shown glimpses of real quality in a Spurs shirt, they have been just that, glimpses, and have been vastly overshadowed by countless frustrating displays in which he’s lacked any real attacking threat.

Therefore, Postecoglou must not exercise the option to buy in the summer and must minimise his game time for the rest of the season.

Spurs wasted £37m on awful AVB flop who earned more than Solanke

The veteran striker couldn’t adapt to life at Spurs.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 28, 2024

Everton are on red alert as a player they tried and failed to sign in the summer has now become available in January, according to reports.

Everton transfer news

Everton’s Premier League campaign has been disappointing. Despite beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 last time out, the Toffees still have only 14 points from their opening 14 fixtures and sit precariously in 15th place, just five points clear of the relegation zone.

As such, manager Sean Dyche is expected to prioritise reinforcements during the January transfer window as he looks to revitalise the squad.

Everton interested in signing "dangerous" striker with 31 goals last season

The forward is thinking about leaving his club this January.

2 ByDominic Lund Dec 10, 2024

Among the potential targets is Fenerbahce winger Oguz Aydin, who Everton recently sent scouts to watch, as well as Botafogo forward Igor Jesus. The 22-year-old, who has netted eight goals in 30 appearances for the Brazilian club since switching from UAE Pro League club Shabab Al Ahli earlier this year, is viewed as a possible replacement for the outbound Beto.

The Portuguese striker has struggled for form and minutes at Goodison Park since moving from Udinese last summer and now appears poised for a return to Serie A, with discussions underway with Torino over a £16.5 million deal.

Ernest Nuamah now available

Another player on Everton’s radar is Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah. The 21-year-old had agreed terms to move to Goodison Park in the summer, but the deal stalled, and he ended up staying put in France after a move to Fulham also fell through.

According to Foot Mercato, however, the Toffees remain keen on the 21-year-old, and Lyon are now ready to let him leave for the right offer. Lyon are currently in a financial crisis and will be demoted to Ligue 2 at the end of the season if they do not improve their situation. They have also been banned from signing players in January, so to balance their books, the seven-time French champions are likely to have to sell several players after the New Year.

Foot Mercato claims Nuamah is one of them, and would be allowed to leave the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in the event of an offer somewhere in the region of the £20.6 million they paid RWD Molenbeek for him in 2024, although that number could well be whittled down given their situation.

Nuamah is a Ghana international who has been capped 12 times by the Black Stars, scoring three goals. In the past, he’s received praise from the likes of Ghana’s all-time top scorer Asamoah Gyan, who called him the country’s “next big thing,” and former Lyon and Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien.

Meanwhile, Nuamah’s former FC Nordsjaelland coach, Flemming Pedersen, once said of him: “Ernest is first and foremost a dribbler. He is incredibly fast, has a huge acceleration, and good agility. He is primarily left-footed, but can also use the right. He is a great individualist with tremendous power, who has great potential to also become a skilled team player.”

Supporters showcase ultimate fan commitment with marathon road trip to away match, travelling 2,530 miles

Fans travel 2,530 miles round trip to support teamJourney highlights passionate USL Championship fanbaseIndy Eleven face Lexington SC next on the roadWHAT HAPPENED

A dedicated group of Indy Eleven supporters completed an extraordinary 2,530-mile round trip to support their team in an away match against Miami FC in their opening league game of the 2025 USL Championship season.

The fans shared their journey on social media, with Indy Eleven shocked at their dedication. The USL Championship club said in a post, “Things you absolutely LOVE to see”.

AdvertisementWHAT INDY ELEVEN POSTEDGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Indy Eleven defeated Miami FC 3-1 in their USL Championship season opener. Jack Blake opened the scoring with a penalty in the third minute, Aodhan Quinn scored in the 18th minute, and Pat Hogan added the third goal in the 35th minute.

Kevin Hoyos scored a consolation goal for Miami FC in the 65th minute. Indy Eleven dominated the first half, scoring three goals before Miami FC even managed to lay a finger on them although they did respond late in the match.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Following their 3-1 win over Miami FC, Indy Eleven face Lexington SC on the road on March 22 before returning home for back-to-back home games against Colorado Spring Switchbacks FC and North Carolina FC on March 29 and April 5, respectively.

England captains past and present named in Yorkshire and Durham squads for latest round

Andrew Miller04-May-2022Joe Root and Ben Stokes, England’s past and present Test captains, will both return to action for the first time this season in the latest round of LV= County Championship matches on Thursday.Root, who stood down last month during an extended break following England’s series loss in the Caribbean, has been named in a 14-man squad for Yorkshire’s trip to Essex, where he is set to come up against his own predecessor as Test captain, Alastair Cook, as well as Essex’s attack-leading spinner, Simon Harmer – a player he can expect to face again at Test level this summer following Harmer’s successful return to the South Africa set-up.Stokes, meanwhile, has been named in Durham’s squad for their trip to face Worcestershire at New Road, having sat out the opening rounds of the season while managing a knee injury that he aggravated while bowling 99 overs during the three Tests against West Indies – the heaviest workload among England’s seamers.Related

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He was officially unveiled as England’s 81st Test captain during a round of media interviews at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, during which he confirmed that he would lean on Root’s support as he gets to grips with his new responsibilities.”Joe will be a senior player, he is a senior player in this group, and he always will be going forward,” Stokes said. “He will always be someone that I look to for advice, he’ll always be someone that players will turn to and look to for advice as well, because he’s captained the team for six years so it’d be stupid not to consider him as someone to go and ask for advice from.”Root himself returned to training last week, linking up with Yorkshire’s new batting coach, Ali Maiden, at Headingley during Yorkshire’s last home Championship game against Kent. After thriving with the bat in the Caribbean, with centuries in each of the two drawn Tests in Antigua and Barbados, Root may find Essex’s conditions similarly conducive to run-scoring after a pair of stalemates to open the season at Chelmsford.Maiden, who joined the club in February as an assistant to the new head coach, Ottis Gibson, told Yorkshire’s club website that he was already relishing the chance to work with Root, a man who was last month named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for 2021, following his immense haul of 1708 runs at 61.00 in 15 Tests.”I had one session with Joe last week, and he was amazing really,” Maiden said. “I threw at him for an hour and we chatted about his batting. Then we had a competition, which he set, and the loser had to make a brew for the other person.”It was first to 10. If he gets one wrong or miscues one, I get a point. If he executes his shot correctly, he gets the point. He smashed me. I lost, and we sat together for about an hour again and chatted about batting. He was fantastic and just as enthusiastic about it as I was. He’s a legendary bloke and a legendary player.”Root’s mindset will nevertheless be under close scrutiny in the wake of his England resignation, which came after he had indicated a willingness to carry on in the role, in spite of a run of results – one win in 17 Tests – that has left England with their lowest ICC ranking since 1995.His support for his friend, Stokes, will be unequivocal, however. After the appointment was confirmed, Root tweeted a picture of the pair in a post-match embrace, with the message: “Always got each other’s backs. Congratulations mate, I’ll be right with you every step of the way.”Yorkshire are set to be without their international pair of fast bowlers, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf – who sustained a niggle during the Kent fixture – and Matt Fisher, who debuted in the Caribbean but has been sidelined for four weeks with a stress reaction in his back. Essex, meanwhile, will once again be missing Dan Lawrence following his hamstring strain.Neither James Anderson nor Saqib Mahmood will feature this week for Lancashire, as they take on Warwickshire at Emirates Old Trafford. Anderson is rested after back-to-back games while Mahmood is undergoing treatment after a shoulder injury he suffered over the winter. Chris Woakes might return next week after injury, but Ben Foakes is back for Surrey after missing the draw in Bristol with a minor back injury.Ollie Robinson, the England seamer who missed all three Tests in the Caribbean following a back spasm, is also expected to make his first appearance since the Hobart Test in January, after being named in Sussex’s squad for their home fixture against Middlesex. That match will also be notable for the potential clash between the Pakistani pairing of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan.

Manchester City slumped to yet another defeat at home to bitter rivals Manchester United to leave them 11 points off leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table.

The 2-1 defeat represented Man City’s fifth league defeat in their last seven games with many pundits believing that the champions are now out of the race to defend their crown once again. Their current form is a far cry from their scintillating displays that led the club to four Premier League titles in a row.

It has been a season of ill fortune for the club thus far, Ballon D’Or winner 2024 Rodri has been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season with a ruptured ACL injury and talisman Kevin De Bruyne continues to struggle for fitness and form.

Unfortunately for boss Pep Guardiola, it seems the bad news may not end with his side’s poor run of form-in fact, it could be about to get worse.

Man City star being targeted by Barcelona

Barcelona currently sit at the top of the La Liga table approaching the festive break and striker Robert Lewandowski has been in devastating form with 16 goals in just 17 appearances for the Catalan club so far this season.

However, with the striker having just turned 36, it seems that Barcelona are starting to plan for life after the Polish striker in order to continue their recent upturn in form both domestically and in Europe.

According to reports in Spain, via SportWitness, Barcelona are lining up a sensational summer move for Erling Haaland and the player is believed to be open to the move.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is believed to be in constant contact with Haaland’s agent and it seems next summer is the moment that the Spanish giants could activate the Norwegian’s release clause. Haaland has become disgruntled at City’s recent form and believes a move to Spain could be the next progression in his fledgling career.

The move would come as a huge blow for Pep Guardiola, who would be losing his focal point of attack having scored a staggering 108 goals for the club in just 121 appearances.

The impact of Haaland departing Man City

Despite City’s notable downturn in form this season, Haaland has still amassed 18 goals in all competitions and is currently the Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer.

The £123m rated forward has been involved in 50% of Man City’s goals this season and his departure would leave a gaping hole in the forward line at the Etihad with other performances in that department lacking.

Goals

13

2

0

0

0

xG

0.81

0.1

0.2

0.11

0.27

Shots

4.32

2.18

3

1.68

2.52

Shots on target

52.2%

26.7%

12.5%

33.3%

35%

Aerial duels won

46.7%

0%

20%

16.7%

0%

It is clear that Haaland would be irreplaceable at City having scored more goals this term than the four other forward players combined. In addition, the powerhouse striker has the highest expected goals, most shots and highest shots-on-target percentage out of the attacking options Guardiola has at his disposal.

Being the focal point in City’s attack is a crucial role in how Pep likes his teams to play and with Haaland also winning the most aerial duels, he has more than proven his worth to the side in recent seasons.

Manchester City’s season may not be done and dusted yet. However, should Barcelona get their way with the Norwegian come the summer, it could leave a gap that even Guardiola would struggle to fill.

Man City must regret selling their dream Rodri replacement for just £10.5m

Man City made mistake selling their dream Rodri replacement for just £10.5m

ByConnor Holden Dec 18, 2024

Declan Rice lavished praise on his Arsenal team-mate Myles Lewis-Skelly after the 18-year-old scored to make history on his England debut.

Article continues below

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Lewis-Skelly took just 20 minutes to scorePut in a stellar display throughout the match Rice labelled him as "fearless" after victory over AlbaniaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 18-year-old full-back found the net just 20 minutes into the match against Albania, helping England secure a 2-0 victory at Wembley in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier. It was a routine win for Thomas Tuchel's troops on his managerial debut with Harry Kane sealing the three points with a poacher's finish in the 70th minute.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lewis-Skelly, one of Arsenal’s brightest young talents, seized the opportunity when Jude Bellingham played him through on goal. With remarkable composure, the teenager calmly slotted the ball between the legs of the Albanian goalkeeper, sending the Wembley crowd into a frenzy.

WHAT DECLAN RICE SAID

Arsenal midfielder Rice was full of admiration for his young club team-mate, highlighting his maturity and confidence despite his tender age.

“He [Myles Lewis-Skelly] is fearless. He does everything right off the pitch and he is only 18," he told Itv after the match. “I knew he was going to play like that tonight because of the confidence he has. He has kept his feet on the ground and it is only the start for him."

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

At 18 years and 176 days, Lewis-Skelly broke a record that had stood since 2016, surpassing Marcus Rashford, who was 18 years and 209 days old when he scored his first England goal against Australia.

Royals, meanwhile, will be hoping for a repeat of 2008, when they won the inaugural edition of the IPL

Shashank Kishore23-May-20221:47

Should either team look to make changes to their XI?

Big pictureAnd it’s over to Eden Gardens in Kolkata for Qualifier 1. Two teams with similar approaches will want to give themselves a few extra days of rest ahead of the grand finale. For Gujarat Titans, it’s the opportunity to play in front of a capacity home crowd in Ahmedabad. For Rajasthan Royals, this is a chance to pay a perfect tribute to Shane Warne, who led them to their only title in 2008.Royals have never finished in the top two since the playoffs came into existence in 2011. Meanwhile, Titans have exceeded expectations and pre-tournament billing to get here. Both sides have punted on their six-batters and five-bowler strategy to the hilt. Their unshakable faith in this core philosophy has brought them much success. That said, not everything is similar. Their approaches have varied. Titans have hit 69 sixes, the least for a team this season. Royals have hit 116, the most.Live in the USA

If you’re in the USA, you can watch the match live on ESPN+

Titans were written off by many even before a ball was bowled. Their auction strategy was scrutinised. They wondered if Hardik Pandya, fighting his own battles with form and injury, can inspire the new entrants. One of their openers pulled out of the tournament and their middle order had two rookie batters and an overseas batter who had racked up poor numbers season after season. Yet, nearly seven weeks later, they became the first team to enter the playoffs.Royals have traversed a slightly trickier path. The early pacesetters had a mid-season wobble but gathered their wits towards the end to seal the top two following a nervy win late last week against Lucknow Super Giants. Their spin base is covered by potentially two of India’s best, their top order has revolved around orange-cap holder Jos Buttler, whose late-season slump hasn’t affected dynamics much because the others have stepped up. Ashwin has played finisher and anchor all while delivering his overs tactfully, while the pace battery has been operating at the kind of level expected of them.David Miller has had his most productive IPL season since 2013•BCCITitans won the only outing between the two sides in the league phase. Hardik struck a bruising 87 to set up the game, before their pace battery of Yash Dayal and Lockie Ferguson snuffed out the Royals. It’s payback time now. But without too much pressure, because both sides know there is a second chance.Related

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In the newsWriddhiman Saha tweaked his hamstring in the final league game and didn’t return to keep wickets. But the Titans have been given a major boost with the keeper-batter confirming his availability.Likely XIsGujarat Titans: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Matthew Wade, 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 R Sai Kishore, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Yash DayalRajasthan Royals: 1 Jos Buttler, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 4 Devdutt Padikkal, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Trent Boult, 9 Obed McCoy, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Prasidh KrishnaSanju Samson completed a stumping against Deepak Hooda•BCCIStrategy punt Miller has had his most productive season since 2013. He averages 83.5 against spin, this season, but against Royals, he will have a challenge after having been dismissed by Chahal and Ashwin a combined five times. So Samson will do well to keep a few overs of both his trump cards for the back end. Buttler has been dismissed four times by Rashid Khan in seven innings, while managing a strike rate of 60 in the five overs he has played off him. Overall, he has struck at 131.16 in the powerplay but is coming into this game on the back of three single-digit scores. It may be worth playing on his ego and bringing in Rashid early to test the waters.Stats that matter Titans have successfully chased down targets six times out of seven. The only instance where they missed out was when Daniel Sams defended nine off the final over for Mumbai Indians. Titans’ run rate of 11.6 between overs 16-20 in a chase is the highest this season. Essentially, it means they’ve backed themselves to score big in the final few overs. Royals run rate of 8.3 is the lowest. Saha missed the first five games, but since his entry into the season, only Buttler (357 runs) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (333) have scored more than his 312 runs. Royals are the only team to have three batters (Buttler, Samson, Hetmyer) to have hit 20 plus sixes this season. Samson’s eight wins after losing tosses is the most for a captain in a season.