أكد كريستيان كيفو، مدرب نادي إنتر ميلان، اليوم الإثنين، أن منافسه ليفربول لا يتمحور حول محمد صلاح فقط، موضحًا أنه لا يعلم أي شيء عن ما قاله الدولي المصري خلال الأيام الماضية.

إنتر ميلان سوف يستضيف نظيره ليفربول يوم غدًا الثلاثاء على ملعب جوزيبي مياتزا، وذلك لحساب بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا من الجولة السادسة مرحلة الدوري.

ويسعى إنتر إلى تحقيق الفوز على ليفربول، من أجل مواصلة نتائجه الجيدة حقًا خلال هذا الموسم، حيث حصل النيراتزوري على 12 نقطة في مرحلة الدوري بدوري الأبطال.

ويريد إنتر استغلال الحالة السيئة التي يعيشها ليفربول هذا الموسم تحت قيادة المدير الفني آرني سلوت، خصوصًا بعد التصريحات النارية الي أدلى بها محمد صلاح.

واعترف محمد صلاح عقب نهاية مباراة ليفربول وليدز يونايتد، أن علاقته منهارة مع سلوت، مشيرًا أن ما يحدث معه ليس عدلًا في ليفربول.

أقرأ أيضًا .. وجهًا لوجه مع سلوت.. بالفيديو | أول ظهور لـ محمد صلاح في تدريبات ليفربول بعد تصريحاته النارية

لكن كريستيان كيفو خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص باللقاء، والذي نقلته صحيفة “توتو ميركاتو ويب”، أكد أن ليفربول لا يتوقف على محمد صلاح فقط، وإنما هناك العديد من الحلول.

وقال كييفو عن محمد صلاح: “لا أتحدث أبدًا عن مشاكل الفرق الأخرى، لدينا مشاكلنا الخاصة وأسئلتكم، من الواضح أن محمد صلاح لاعب من الطراز العالمي، وهذا معروف، ولكن هذه مشاكلهم، وليست مشاكلنا”.

وعن مستوى إنتر المميز خلال الفترة الأخيرة من هذا الموسم أضاف كييفو في حديثه: “يعتمد الأمر على المباراة التي تلعبها، ليست الأخيرة، بل المباراة القادمة هي التي تحدد إن كنت في أفضل حالاتك، نحن قادمون من سلسلة انتصارات جيدة، ونحن واثقون، ونحاول رفع مستوانا، بما أننا في ديسمبر”.

وعن مدافع إنتر ، مانويل أكانجي، أتم كيفو: ”لا أعلم، سنرى غدًا، لم يكن على ما يرام اليوم، فأرسلناه إلى المنزل”.

وتعتبر مباراة الغد قمة كبيرة، حيث يرغب ليفربول في تجنب أي مفاجآت وتحقيق الانتصار، بينما يعاني إنتر الأمرين في الجهة الأخرى.

Throughout much of the Yankees' 2025 campaign, one overarching question seemed to follow the club: What's wrong with Anthony Volpe? Volpe, one of the club's former top prospects and its starting shortstop in '25, regressed at the plate and in the field, frustrating fans and sparking plenty of questions from the media about his status as the starter. His struggles even prompted general manager Brian Cashman to acquire shortstop José Caballero at the trade deadline.

But after Volpe aggravated a torn labrum in his left shoulder on Sept. 7, it was revealed that he had been playing through discomfort since initially suffering the injury back in May, offering a potential answer to the above question.

However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone and Cashman, speaking to reporters at the Yankees' end of season news conference on Thursday, seemed to disagree on the impact Volpe's injury had on his play.

Boone, after citing the initial reluctance to undergo the shoulder surgery, as well as multiple instances where Volpe aggravated the injury, said he believed it did not affect Volpe's play.

"…I think for the overwhelming majority of the year [the injury] was not affecting his play," Boone said. "There were things like, he would dive on it a certain way, tick it off, aggravate it—I think in some ways, the injury probably got a little bit worse towards the end of the year based on a couple of episodes that happened. But I don't think it was impacting performance.

"And this is something that you can play with, play through. But the finality of getting it fixed now hopefully frees him up to really go dive on it the way he's going to dive on it and make those next level of plays that Anthony makes. And then hopefully because you're fixing something that is hurt on the body, that hopefully it does help performance to go to another level."

Cashman, on the other hand, seemed to once share Boone's sentiment on the Volpe injury, but no longer.

"I personally think now I'm starting to lean more into that yes, it was affecting him," Cashman said. "Because ultimately, he had to have the surgery. None of that was really on the table in-season…"

Cashman went on to explain that, because the injury kept popping up throughout the season amid Volpe's peaks and valleys in performance, and due to the "severe" clean-up needed in Volpe's shoulder that was noted by the doctor who performed the surgery, that he ultimately believed it was "probably" more of an impact than originally thought.

One thing both Cashman and Boone seemed steadfast on: Volpe will continue to be the club's starting shortstop in 2026.

The Yankees will need Volpe to more closely resemble the 2023 and '24 versions of himself than the '25 version to continue to justify their faith in the 24-year-old. After taking home a Gold Glove in '23 and rating as one of the bets defensive shortstops in '24, Volpe was among the worst shortstops in the Statcast metric, Outs Above Average, in '25. At the plate, he posted a wRC+ (an all-encompassing offensive metric) of 83, tied for the sixth-worst in MLB.

Volpe cannot begin hitting for four months, at which point, Boone said the club will reevaluate the shortstop's timeline. In the meantime, Caballero, and any potential infield additions the Yankees make this winter, will hold down the fort at short.

After initially going unsold, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim were picked up by Rangpur Riders and Rajshahi Warriors, respectively

Mohammad Isam30-Nov-2025

Mohammad Naim was the only player to fetch more than BDT 1 crore (USD 88,000 approx) at the BPL auction on Sunday, when Chittagong Royals signed him up for the upcoming season. Naim, the highest run-scorer in the BPL last season (511 runs at a strike-rate of 143.94), was incidentally the first player who went up for sale in the auction.Towhid Hridoy (USD 73,600) and Litton Das (USD 56,000) also went for big money, both signed up by Rangpur Riders.There were, however, no initial bids for veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, who were both in category B. Later in the day, after a request from BCB director and Rangpur chief executive Ishtiaque Sadeque, the auctioneer put up both players for sale again.Eventually, Rangpur took in Mahmudullah, while Rajshahi Warriors signed Mushfiqur, for their base price of BDT 35 lakh (USD 28,000 approx).Dasun Shanaka was the most expensive signing among the overseas players, going to Dhaka Capitals for USD 55,000. Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella were sold at their category A base price of USD 35,000, to Chittagong Royals and Sylhet Titans, respectively.Among the uncapped players, Habibur Rahman Sohan, who recently did well for Bangladesh A in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, was taken by Noakhali Express for USD 40,000.This was the BPL’s first auction since the inaugural edition in 2012. The rest of the editions have been done through the drafting process.During the auction, there were also a few Bangladesh cricketers who sat in the bidding tables, including Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.The BPL will be contested by six teams – Dhaka Capitals, Rangpur Riders, Rajshahi Warriors, Noakhali Express, Sylhet Titans and Chittagong Royals – with the tournament likely to start on December 26.

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has travelled to Tel Aviv on a "spiritual journey" to aid his physical and mental recovery following a difficult period at the club, a decision that has been fiercely defended by club legend Gerard Pique who has called for a radical change in how fans treat players after admitting the Uruguayan "raised his hand and said enough" regarding the abuse he receives.

• Araujo takes special break from Barcelona

  The Uruguayan centre-back has been absent from the first-team picture recently, missing the last three La Liga matches due to personal reasons. However, it has emerged that Araujo has been granted special permission by the club to travel to Israel, seeking solace and mental clarity as he attempts to reset ahead of the second half of the campaign.

  According to reports from , the trip is not merely for leisure but serves as a crucial component of his rehabilitation. A deeply religious man, Araujo felt the need to disconnect from the toxic noise surrounding Barcelona and reconnect with his faith. The pressure of wearing the captain's armband, combined with persistent injury setbacks and fierce criticism from sections of the fanbase, has reportedly left the defender "emotionally shaken," prompting the need for a total psychological reset.

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• AFP
  

  Pique praises Araujo's decision

  The decision to step away from the spotlight has been applauded by former Barcelona captain Pique. In a candid interview with , the retired defender praised Araujo for having the courage to prioritise his mental health over the demands of the fixture calendar.

  "Mental health must be taken care of. It is evident, not only in the world of football or sport," Pique stated. "In this case, Ronald has raised his hand and said 'enough' and I think the club does very well to listen to him, give him the necessary time, and I think that all football fans in Spain should reflect a little."

  Pique’s comments highlight a shifting culture within the club. Previously, players were expected to play through the pain, whether it was physical or mental. However, Hansi Flick and the Barcelona hierarchy appear to be taking a more modern, holistic approach with Araujo, recognising that a player cannot perform at the elite level if their mind is not at peace.

• No more free-for-all on abuse, says Pique

  Pique went further than just defending Araujo; he launched a scathing attack on the culture of abuse that permeates Spanish football. The World Cup winner believes that football lags woefully behind the rest of society when it comes to basic respect and human decency.

  "Sport has always been slower in all this," Pique argued, referencing the slow progress on other social issues. "I remember the era of racism, that of violence in stadiums… At the fan level, it is like in football we are always the last to adapt to the moments.

  "It is time for there to be respect towards the professional, it is time that we stop being a world of 'open bar' [free-for-all] where everyone can do and insult whatever they want."

  Pique spoke from a place of deep personal experience. During the height of the Catalan independence referendum and Spain's golden era, Pique was often the target of vicious abuse from his own countrymen while playing for the national team. He revealed the unhealthy coping mechanisms he was forced to develop to survive, mechanisms he implies Araujo should not have to rely on.

  "I remember that I, in my time, especially for a few years with the issue of the independence process, going to the national team I lived that," Pique recalled. "You have to build an armour and it reaches a point, which is not even healthy, that you don't care what they say or what people think.

  "But that is the only way to preserve your mental health and be well emotionally. Others may find it harder or do not want to adopt these measures that I took."

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• AFP
  

  What comes next?

  For Araujo, the immediate priority is finding peace in Tel Aviv. The club has set no specific date for his return to competitive action, prioritising his full recovery over rushing him back for La Liga duty.

  The hope within the Barcelona camp is that the defender returns revitalised, free from the "emotional shaking" that has plagued his season. 

He will remain with the team to continue his rehabilitation and has not been replaced in the squad

Andrew McGlashan02-Dec-20250:46

McGlashan: An unfortunate end if Khawaja’s Test career is over

Usman Khawaja’s international future is in doubt after he was ruled out of the second Test at the Gabba after failing to recover from the back spasms that he suffered in the opening match in Perth.Khawaja had batted for the first time since the injury on Tuesday during a 30-minute net session but did not come through it with a clean bill of health to be able available for selection. It will be the first Test he has missed since his return in early 2022.Related

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“Khawaja will remain with the team to continue his rehabilitation,” a statement said. “He has not been replaced in the squad.”The third Test begins in Adelaide on December 17 which gives Khawaja two weeks to recover although there will be questions over whether he can regain his place.Khawaja’s form was under scrutiny heading into the series – he is now averaging 31.84 since the end of the 2023 Ashes with one century in 45 innings – and coupled with the way Travis Head threw down the gauntlet as an opener and his public statements about being keen for the role, it had sparked a debate about whether now was the time to draw an end to Khawaja’s Test career.His absence opens the door for Head to continue the opening role he took on in the second innings in Perth where he carved his way to 123 off 83 balls although there are other potential routes Australia could take.Since Perth, Head has spoken about being willing to take on the role on a more permanent basis but there remains an ongoing debate about his value at No. 5. Coach Andrew McDonald has also floated the notion of flexible batting orders within a Test.Usman Khawaja was ruled out of the second Test•AFP/Getty Images

“I’m not sure about the middle-order part, but I’d probably expect Trav to open,” Scott Boland said. “It’s hard because obviously he’s put in a lot of work since the last game to try and get his body right but he hasn’t come up unfortunately. I thought he looked pretty good in the nets but he must’ve thought himself that he wasn’t ready to go.”Josh Inglis and Beau Webster are the spare batting options in the squad. Inglis, who made a century on Test debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year, scored a hundred against England Lions last week. Webster was unlucky to miss out on the XI in Perth having made four half-centuries in his first seven Tests alongside contributing handy wickets.Boland added losing Khawaja wasn’t ideal but was confident Australia would be able to adjust as they did in the first Test.”I guess it does [upset the balance of the team] a little bit because we probably planned to have Uzzie there the whole time,” he said. “But I think the best thing about our team over the last few years is that when someone has come out due to form or an injury or something like that, someone’s always stood up and done their job.”Trav did that last week and even without Pat [Cummins] and Josh [Hazlewood], some bowlers have come in and done a good job. We’ve obviously got huge depth in our squad and we can replace anyone if we need to.”If Head does take Khawaja’s role again and makes a success of it, and whoever comes into the XI performs well, it may be tough for Khawaja to return.Khawaja initially suffered back spasms on the opening day at Perth Stadium. England collapsed so quickly on the first afternoon that Khawaja was unable to open due to the time he’d spent off the field and when he emerged at No. 4 could only make 2 before gloving a short ball from Brydon Carse.On the second day Khawaja took his place at first slip, taking a catch to remove Harry Brook and then spilling a low edge offered by Jamie Smith. His back went into spasm while leaping for another edge provided by Smith, opening the way for Head’s remarkable century.

Any Glasgow Rangers fan who uses social media every day will likely have seen the clip going around of Hamza Igamane’s goal for Lille at the weekend.

The Morocco international, not for the first time this season, provided the Gers with a reminder of what they are missing with a brilliantly worked goal for the French side.

Igamane was sold to Lille for a fee of £10.4m in the summer transfer window, due to a release clause in his contract that existed before Kevin Thelwell’s arrival at Ibrox.

Ranking Rangers’ attempts to replace Hamza Igamane

It is fair to say that, on current evidence, have failed to replace the Moroccan star with the work that they did for Russell Martin heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Igamane, as shown in the graphic above, provided a big goalscoring presence as a maverick playmaker, who could play out wide on the left or through the middle as a centre-forward, in his one season with the club.

Rangers signed six wingers and strikers in an attempt to replace the mercurial talent in the summer, and Djeidi Gassama, with six goals, is the only one of them to have scored more than two goals so far this season, per Transfermarkt.

1

Djeidi Gassama

2

Mikey Moore

3

Thelo Aasgaard

4

Youssef Chermiti

5

Oliver Antman

6

Bojan Miovski

Thelo Aasgaard, in theory, should have been the Igamane replacement as he is a number ten with good technical ability and flair, as evidenced by his wonder goal against Dundee United at Ibrox, but he has only scored one goal all season.

In terms of the strikers, Bojan Miovski has scored two, and Youssef Chermiti has scored one, per Sofascore, but the latter is five years younger and could develop into a star in the future.

Meanwhile, we have ranked Mikey Moore in second place for now, but he could rise up to first if Danny Rohl unleashes him in a central position when he is back fit.

The new position Mikey Moore should be unleashed in

The 18-year-old starlet is currently out with a muscle injury, which he is set to return from later this month, so he will not be available for selection against Dundee United on Wednesday night.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, when he is back and available for selection, Rohl should unleash Moore as a number ten in the 4-2-3-1 system, which is the role that Thelo Aasgaard has played, as he has not had an opportunity in that position yet.

Per Transfermarkt, the only two matches that the Englishman has played as an attacking midfielder came against Hibernian and Roma as one of two 10s in a 3-4-2-1 system, which meant that he drifted wide more than being the central pivot of the attack.

Moore, as shown in the clip above, produced his best moment in a Rangers shirt against Dundee when he drifted into a central area from the right wing to spark an attack and score a brilliant goal, in Igamane-esque fashion.

Like the former Rangers playmaker, the teenage whiz has the technical quality, explosive burst of pace, and finishing potential to emerge as a real star for Rohl as a number ten or second striker.

The Spurs loanee, who was described as an “outrageous” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 24 matches for Tottenham’s U19s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the potential is there for him to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

However, the vast majority of his appearances for Rangers have come out wide, on the left or the right, and he has only scored one goal and registered two assists in 17 games, which is why Rohl should look to unleash him in a new position.

If Moore thrives in a central role and starts to display the kind of form that he did at U19 level for Spurs, Rangers will have a super talent on their hands and could finally say that they have replaced Igamane’s mercurical quality at the top end of the pitch.

A "spell on the sidelines" is needed for the "best player" at Rangers

This Glasgow Rangers star who was called the team’s best player should be dropped from the starting line-up.

ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2025

Would it be hyperbole to suggest that Kobbie Mainoo provided the best, or most significant, moment at Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era?

Faced with an imperious Manchester City side in the 2024 FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag’s men defied the odds to claim a richly deserved 2-1 win, a year on from having tamely been defeated by their neighbours en route to treble glory.

Alejandro Garnacho had pounced early on to open the scoring, before fellow academy graduate Mainoo popped up at the backpost to add a second, slotting home perfectly following Bruno Fernandes’ ingenious reverse pass.

The then-teenager, like the thousands decked out in red at Wembley, roared in celebration, revelling in the crowing moment of a stunning, six-month rise from relative obscurity.

The Old Trafford faithful have been wedded to United’s golden boy since then, although there has been no such warmth from new boss Ruben Amorim.

What Amorim said about Mainoo after West Ham

From the highs of that Wembley showpiece, and his subsequent role in England’s run to the final at Euro 2024, Mainoo’s impact has plummeted since then, having hardly had a look-in following an injury-hit start to 2024/25.

Seemingly fighting a losing battle from the off following Amorim’s arrival in November 2024 – having failed to start the Portuguese’s first game in charge against Ipswich Town – the Stockport native has drifted onto the periphery, with 2025/26 proving particularly frustrating thus far.

The forgotten man, Mainoo is yet to start a single Premier League game this season, playing just 171 minutes in all, having been an unused substitute for the fourth time against West Ham United in midweek.

Speaking after that dismal 1-1 draw, Amorim went on the defensive regarding his treatment of the youngster, while laughing off suggestions that the midfielder could have been an “offensive” alteration.

Asked if he understood why Mainoo’s status as a homegrown talent made him such a talking point for fans and pundits alike, the 40-year-old replied:

Mainoo, unsurprisingly, is seeking a January exit amid his bizarre fall from grace, although he surely isn’t the midfielder INEOS should be looking to move on.

Man Utd must sell flop who's getting the Mainoo treatement

Perhaps the biggest source of frustration regarding Mainoo’s situation is that Amorim isn’t exactly blessed with regard to midfield depth, with his current squad boasting just four recognised, senior midfielders to choose from.

For much of 2025/26, the ex-Sporting CP boss has selected ever-present skipper, Fernandes, alongside the ageing Casemiro, with both Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte limited to mere late cameos off the bench.

Like the FA Cup final hero, Ugarte has also become a notable talking point amid his limited role under Amorim, despite having previously worked with the 3-4-2-1 boss in Lisbon.

Indeed, it was reported last month that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man had been criticised by his manager in front of teammates at Carrington, following the Europa League final defeat.

Like Mainoo, who enjoyed just a mere last-gasp cameo in Bilbao, Ugarte was also something of an afterthought even as United toiled, having failed to even make it off the bench on the night.

Games

9

10

Starts

0

2

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Big chances created

0

0

Key passes*

0.6

0.1

Pass accuracy*

87%

86%

Total duels won*

36%

60%

Balls recovered*

1.1

2.0

Dribbled past*

0.1

0.4

Much like Mainoo too, the Uruguayan has been forced to settle for a watching brief for much of this season, starting just twice in the top-flight, while notably being hooked at the break following an “embarrassing” display against Grimsby Town, in the view of writer Alex Turk.

Of course, there isn’t the groundswell of support for Ugarte like there is for his midfield colleague, with the decision to fork out almost £50m on the 24-year-old standing out as one of the worst decisions of recent years at Old Trafford.

Whether the £120k-per-week talent, again like Mainoo, is being helped by his manager is another matter, however, with Amorim hardly backing his man after revealing that Ugarte is “struggling” to adjust to life in the Premier League.

Either way, if it comes down to choosing between which peripheral midfielder needs to be shown the door, it should surely be Ugarte whom INEOS cash in on, with the safe and steady asset doing little to warrant a third-season stay in Manchester.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

ByEthan Lamb 6 days ago

Three World Cup semifinals, breaking a streak, a famous farewell and more

Omkar Mankame31-Oct-2025

India won the semi-final after completing the highest chase in Women’s ODI history•Getty Images

India beat New Zealand by 40 runs2nd semi-final, Potchefstroom, World Cup 2005India stormed into their maiden World Cup final with a convincing 40-run win, knocking out defending champions New Zealand. Asked to bat first, India were rocked by two early wickets before Anjum Chopra and captain Mithali Raj steadied the innings through a 66-run stand. After Chopra’s fall, Raj continued undaunted and led India to 204 for 6 with an unbeaten 91.Mithali Raj’s knock took India into their maiden World Cup final•Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s chase unravelled swiftly. They lost two wickets for just 13 runs before Nooshin Al Khader struck twice in her very first over to deepen the crisis. Despite Maria Fahey’s fighting 73, India’s bowlers kept their discipline to script a historic entry into the final.India beat Australia by 36 runs2nd semi-final, Derby, World Cup 2017A rain-reduced semi-final. A Harmanpreet Kaur hurricane. A performance that transformed women’s cricket in India. In a 42-over contest, Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 171 off 115 balls was pure theatre – measured at first, monstrous later. She walked in at 35 for 2 and walked out with Australia shell-shocked. Her first fifty took 64 balls, the next two came in just 43 combined. India ended at 281 for 4; Harmanpreet had single-handedly redrawn the boundaries of what was possible.Harmanpreet’s epic 171 not out was studded with 20 four and seven sixes•Getty ImagesAustralia’s response was spirited. Elyse Villani’s fluent 75 gave them hope before a collapse saw them lose 6 for 43. Alex Blackwell’s late charge threatened a miracle, but Deepti Sharma bowled her for 90 off 56. The win sent India into the final at Lord’s and inspired a generation back home.India beat England by 1 wicket1st ODI, Nagpur, 2018The first meeting between India and England since their thrilling 2017 World Cup final ended in another nail-biter. England, batting first, slipped from 71 for 0 to 124 for 6 before Fran Wilson (45) and Danielle Hazell (33) took them to 207. Smriti Mandhana’s 86 set up India’s chase beautifully at 166 for 3, but a middle-order collapse left them teetering at 190 for 9.It took an unbroken last-wicket stand of 18 between Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav to steer India home with five balls to spare, sealing a thrilling win for the World Cup runners-up over the reigning champions.Jhulan Goswami celebrates the winning hit•Getty ImagesIndia beat Australia by 2 wickets3rd ODI, MacKay, 2021Big runs, baffling drops, bold catches, missed run-outs, a collapse, a front-foot no-ball ruling out a wicket, and… a record chase. India had come agonisingly close to snapping Australia’s record winning streak in the previous match, but faltered at the finish. This time, they held their nerve.Batting first, Australia rode on half-centuries from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney, plus a rapid 32-ball 47 from Tahlia McGrath, to post 264 for 9. In reply, Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia’s century stand powered India to 160 for 1 inside 30 overs. A fightback from Australia reduced India to 208 for 6, and the tension deepened when the equation came down to four runs off the final over with two wickets in hand. Jhulan Goswami’s lofted drive off Nicola Carey finally broke Australia’s 26-match streak – a moment to savour for the veteran.Deepti Sharma runs out Charlie Dean backing up at the non-striker’s end•Getty ImagesIndia beat England by 16 runs3rd ODI, Lord’s, 2022India’s first ODI series win in England since 1999 led to tears on both sides – the Indians over the end of Goswami’s exemplary two-decade career and Charlie Dean at the thought of taking her side so close only to be undone in this way. The anticlimactic finish occurred in the 44th over, when running in to bowl the fourth ball, Deepti noticed Dean backing up too far at the non-strikers’ end and ran her out to claim the final wicket.Earlier, fifties from Mandhana and Deepti had taken India to 169 after being reduced to 29 for 4 inside the first hour. In reply, England were four down inside 12 overs and writing was on the wall at 65 for 7. Dean stitched partnerships of 38, 15, and 35 with the remaining batters but she was caught short with England 16 adrift.Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur take a moment off during their big stand•BCCIIndia beat South Africa by 4 runs2nd ODI, Bengaluru, 2024Four centuries – a first in a women’s ODI – and 646 runs in total. The game had everything, and it ended with a last-ball finish that went India’s way. Asked to bat first, India piled up their third-highest ODI total – 325 for 3 – with Mandhana and Harmanpreet smashing 136 and 103 not out respectively. South Africa, reduced to 67 for 3, seemed out of the contest until Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp’s 184-run partnership took the game deep.It was down to ten required off the final over. Pooja Vastrakar conceded five off her first two balls and then struck twice in the next two. With five needed off the last delivery, Wolvaardt, finally back on strike, was deceived by a back-of-the-hand slower one.Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues kept India going•ICC/Getty ImagesIndia beat Australia by 5 wickets2nd semi-final, DY Patil, World Cup 2025India ended Australia’s latest World Cup juggernaut by producing the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history. Opting to bat, Australia were cruising towards 350, thanks to Phoebe Litchfield’s exuberant maiden World Cup hundred, and half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner. But India’s bowlers struck late, taking 8 for 118 to restrict them to 338.India were 60 for 2 after the powerplay when Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet began a yin-yang partnership that saw the team finding the fence regularly. Once the captain fell, Rodrigues carried on to an epic unbeaten 127, supported by quickfire cameos from Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, and Amanjot Kaur, to help India book their place in another World Cup final.

Chelsea are now the favourites to sign a Brazilian ace who’s also wanted by Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and a deal could be possible for a low fee.

Blues targeting another exciting Brazilian amid Estevao success

Estevao is enjoying an impressive debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, having established himself as an important player for the Blues, with the 18-year-old recently netting the second goal in the 3-0 Champions League rout of Barcelona.

It is clear to see the youngster has left an impression on Enzo Maresca too, with the manager saying: “I feel very lucky to be his coach because it’s exciting, you can enjoy. I’ve said many times that I think the fans pay for their tickets to see players like Cole [Palmer], like Estevao, this kind of player.”

The forward is an example of BlueCo’s recruitment policy of signing younger players paying off, and they are now looking to bring in another up-and-coming Brazilian ace, who has impressed the west Londoners’ sporting directors.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Chelsea are now the favourites to sign Santos defender Souza, despite rival interest from both Bayern Munich and Barcelona, with both European heavyweights already making contact over a potential deal.

The signing of the 19-year-old certainly wouldn’t break the bank at around just €15m (£13m), with the Blues looking to get the move over the line before his value increases considerably.

There is a belief the youngster could go on to become a top full-back or even left-winger, given that he is a very well-rounded player, who is also capable of contributing on the front foot.

Related Chelsea now ready to trigger £44m release clause for "unstoppable" striker

The Blues are looking to sign a new centre-forward, who has been in fantastic form so far this season.

Posts ByDominic Lund Nov 30, 2025 Souza emerging as key player for Santos

The teenager has already made 36 appearances for Santos at senior level, having established himself as an important player, and he has regularly impressed from an attacking point of view, chipping in with one goal and four assists.

Most recently, the starlet helped his side keep a clean sheet as they recorded a routine 3-0 victory over Sport Club do Recife, receiving a 7.7 SofaScore match rating courtesy of making a number of important defensive contributions.

Souza’s key statistics

Number completed

Duels (won)

9 (6)

Key passes

2

Clearances

3

Interceptions

2

With Souza yet to prove himself outside his native Brazil, he would very much be one for the future, and the aforementioned report makes it clear BlueCo are planning to loan the left-back to sister club Strasbourg initially.

During the January transfer window, it may be a better idea to focus on signing players capable of making an immediate impact, with a title race potentially on the cards, and amid Liam Delap’s slow start to life at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have now joined the race to sign “one of the best strikers in Europe”.

While the selectors named an expanded squad, barring injuries the final choice comes down to two players from three

Alex Malcolm05-Nov-20253:09

Australia’s Ashes squad: No Konstas, Labuschagne to open?

It all hinges on Green’s bowling capability

It was known from a long way out that Cameron Green and Beau Webster would be picked in the squad together. The two have played in the same XI in Australia’s last four Test matches. But Green was a specialist batter at No. 3, a spot he had only batted in once in first-class cricket prior, and was not bowling with Marnus Labuschagne opening in one of them before Sam Konstas replaced Labuschagne in the other three.Related

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• What does Pat Cummins' absence mean for Australia?

Green ended up playing very well in the last two Tests on very difficult pitches in West Indies and was arguably Australia’s best batter across those matches. But now that he’s back bowling, the need for two allrounders as opposed to a better structured batting line-up comes into question.However, Green’s bowling progression from back surgery has not quite gone to plan. He has been bowling in the nets since June without interruption, but has only sent down four overs in matches so far. Some minor side soreness saw him withdrawn from bowling in the last Shield game. He instead bowled in the nets and on the centre wicket post game in order to control the intensity.It is understood he has bowled up to 8-10 overs across multiple spells in singular net sessions already. Bailey confirmed he would bowl 15-20 overs in Western Australia’s next Shield game against Queensland at the WACA ground starting on November 11, which would equate to roughly 8-10 overs per innings. How he gets through those overs and how he bowls from a skill perspective could dictate the shape of the Test XI.If he gets through unscathed and bowls well, and the selectors are confident he can deliver the same if not more in the first Test, that will spell bad news for Webster if the selectors believe the sum of Australia’s parts look better with one allrounder and three specialist top three batters. Webster has done nothing wrong in his Test career so far. He’s made four half-centuries in 12 innings on difficult pitches, averaging 34.63 at No.6. By comparison, Green has averaged 38.72 in his last 12 Test innings with all bar one coming at Nos. 3-4 including his 174 not out in Wellington and his recent scores of 52, 46, and 42 on the nightmare pitches in the Caribbean.Webster also has eight wickets at 23.25 but has benefited from those same pitches with the ball. Green’s home Test record with the ball is far superior to even Webster’s Shield record. Green has 22 Test wickets at 25.63 in Australia, striking at 52.1 including dismissing Joe Root, Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes twice each and Ollie Pope once in the 2021-22 Ashes series.Jake Weatherald’s 94 against WA was his standout innings so far this season•Getty Images

Weatherald could complement Khawaja

The selectors have been desperate to find a solution at the top of the order since David Warner retired. If Green can bowl the requisite overs, and Webster is squeezed out, then Jake Weatherald will be the sixth different opener to partner Usman Khawaja in the last 15 Test matches since Warner retired.Unlike the elevations of Steven Smith, Travis Head and Labuschagne, and the selections of Nathan McSweeney and Konstas, Weatherald is clearly the best performed domestic red-ball opener in Australia over the last 12 months. He has scored 1391 runs at 53.50 in 26 innings since the start of last summer with four centuries and seven half-centuries for Tasmania and Australia A. The fact that Matt Renshaw was so highly fancied by many to pip Weatherald for selection when Renshaw has made 653 first-class runs at 34.36 with three centuries and one fifty in the same period was odd.Beyond the runs, Bailey was extremely complimentary of Weatherald’s style. He has made his runs at a brisk strike rate of 68.65. Khawaja’s Test career rate is 48.56 while Labuschagne struck at 41.47 in his last 14 Test innings before he was dropped. There were times against India last summer where the scoreboard was not moving and it led to Konstas’ inclusion. But Bailey noted that Weatherald’s repeatable method, his first-class experience and the fact his game does not change innings to innings was a big reason for his selection ahead of Konstas.Bailey cited Weatherald’s recent match-winning innings of 94 off 99 against Western Australia in a low-scoring Shield game in Hobart as an example of what he can bring.”That innings is a good example, I think, of what Jake does really well,” Bailey said. “I thought he counter-attacked. It was a wicket that had a little bit in it. Others around him were finding it challenging, and he put pressure back onto the bowlers. And the way he did that, he drove nicely, played off the back foot nicely, he was busy. I think that’s a good example of what he looks like at his best.”Marnus Labuschagne has made five centuries in his last eight innings•Getty Images

Labuschagne opens or bats at No.3

Despite Bailey saying that no decisions have been made on the XI with 16 days to go, it is clear Labuschagne is locked in to return. It would be ridiculous to leave him out after five centuries in his last eight domestic innings for Queensland when the selectors specifically asked him to go away and find his best game after axing him in the Caribbean.But the decision on Green and Webster will dictate where Labuschagne bats. All of his runs for Queensland have come at No. 3. Australia’s selectors do not direct state teams to bat players in certain positions. Labuschagne, as Queensland captain, has batted himself at No. 3 in all those games. It is his preferred position and where he has scored all 11 of his Test centuries. However, he does have two first-class centuries opening the batting and did open in the WTC final. Bailey stopped short of guaranteeing Labuschagne would return to No. 3.”No, not necessarily,” Bailey said. “I think Marn’s got a game that could sit anywhere. It could be three. I think I’ve said a lot in the past if you can bat in the top three, you’ve probably got a skill set that’s capable of opening the batting. I think a lot of those things will be determined by what other resources you need and the makeup of those around you, and is it complementary?”People clearly have spots where they’ve batted the majority of their career and they all have different records when they do change position. But he can bat three, he could open. He’s got the skillset for both, but he’s been looking pretty good of late.”The question of players complementing each other is the biggest hint Bailey could give as to the preferred order. It is clear that the selectors would prefer Khawaja and Labuschagne don’t open together. Labuschagne’s most prolific batting partnerships in Tests have come batting with Warner, Smith, Head and Matthew Wade. He’s averaged above 50 with all four who are busy and free-flowing players at their best and has had multiple century stands with each. He’s had 48 Test partnerships with Khawaja by comparison and averaged 31.61, albeit with two century stands. There is a thought within the Australian camp that Labuschagne is a batting chameleon of sorts in the way that he can mimic his partners style. Whether that is still the case with the remodelled Labuschagne, time will tell.But if Labuschagne is back to his best, then a return of a No.3-4-5 combination of Labuschagne, Smith and Head will certainly look more challenging for England’s attack to penetrate than any alternative.