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The tournament will also be aired on pay television starting this season

Firdose Moonda06-May-2020The third edition of the Mzansi Super League, South Africa’s premier T20 domestic competition, will feature eight teams and be screened on pay television, marking a significant shift from the first two seasons.ESPNcricinfo has learned that the six existing franchises will be joined by teams based in Bloemfontein and East London and that Cricket South Africa (CSA) is in negotiations with to air the tournament, which was previously on the public broadcaster, The rights deal will aim to secure highlights’ packages for the SABC.For the first time since launching the MSL in 2018, CSA is in a position to recoup some of the costs of staging the tournament, which has lost more than R200 million (US$10.8 million) in two years.The television rights to both previous editions went unsold after who have the deal to broadcast all other cricket in South Africa, refused to bid for the competition, believing it fell under the original contract they had with CSA. However, since the MSL was a new addition to the South African cricket scene, CSA sought an additional broadcast deal but was unable to secure one.The full competition was therefore aired on the SABC, who did not pay anything but have a much wider reach than their satellite counterparts. CSA is mindful of capturing the interest of as many people as possible and so, hope to continue offering the SABC some content that is most likely to come in the form of highlights.With two additional teams, the extra player contracts and new venues as well, the next MSL season may be the most expensive one yet for CSA. A limited player draft is expected to be held to allow the new franchises to acquire squads.The eight-team model is being considered as a solution for South Africa’s domestic system as well, which currently operates in two tiers, but is expected to be changed ahead of the 2020-21 summer.For the last 16 years, South Africa’s system has had six franchises playing four-day, one-day and T20 cricket and 14 provinces playing three-day, one-day and T20 cricket, which has created a significant cost. The most well-known proposal involves a 12-team provincial structure, but there is opposition to eliminating the franchise tier. An eight-team system is one solution and the MSL may be used to trial it.The MSL is scheduled for December 2020 but with uncertainty around when live sport can resume due to the coronavirus pandemic, it could be moved to later in the summer. A window in March 2021 is also being considered.CSA suspended all cricket activity for 60 days, on March 16, bringing the season to a premature end. Ten days later, South Africa went into a 35-day lockdown during which time all outdoor activity was prohibited. Since May 1, the lockdown has been eased to allow individual exercise between 6am and 9am but all group activity and organised sport is still not allowed.With the country anticipating the number of Covid-19 cases to peak in September, there is still no way to know if the cricket season will start on time. CSA is currently planning based on four scenarios which include the return of sport behind closed doors, the return with fans, an allowance for domestic travel only and an allowance for international travel, and hope to have more clarity in the next few months.

Aston Villa have reportedly stolen a march on Arsenal, Chelsea & Bayern Munich to snap £50m-rated Everton star Amadou Onana.

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Villa swoop in for OnanaReady to shell out £50million for the BelgianHave agreed personal terms with the playerWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the 22-year-old Belgian is on the brink of completing a move to Villa Park, with the transfer fee expected to be around £50 million ($65m). Personal terms have already been agreed upon, paving the way for a long-term contract with the Midlands club.

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Onana has emerged as a crucial target for Villa manager Unai Emery, who is keen to bolster his squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season. The young midfielder is said to be excited about the prospect of working with Emery and joining his ambitious project at Aston Villa.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since he arrived from Lille in the summer of 2022 for £30 million ($39m), Onana has become a pivotal player for Everton. He has made 72 appearances for the club, including 37 in the previous season across all competitions, which highlights that he is one of the most trusted lieutenants of Sean Dyche. His consistent performances have not gone unnoticed, attracting interest from several European giants like Arsenal and Bayern. However, the French outfit are entitled to 20 per cent of the profit from any future sale, which means the Toffees will not have the entire pie to show in their accounting books.

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WHAT NEXT?

Villa have been active in the transfer market, particularly in strengthening their midfield. The club has already signed Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus and Ross Barkley from Luton Town. However, the impending signing of Onana is set to be another major coup as they aim to compete among the best in Europe next season.

A "senior" Arsenal source has described a striker who Edu is targeting as "phenomenal", with the Gunners planning to bring in a new number nine for Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal's plan to sign forward despite scoring spree

The north Londoners, in terms of going forward, have arguably been 2024's best side – having bagged 33 goals in their last eight Premier League matches.

Edu prepared to pay release clause as Arsenal ready double-money offer

The Brazilian is moving with intent.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 15, 2024

Regardless, it is still believed that Arsenal are very much intending to sign a striker, with the likes of Napoli star Victor Osimhen and Brentford striker Ivan Toney regularly linked.

"It's no great secret that Arsenal want to sign a striker this summer," said journalist Charles Watts recently.

"When the window opens it will be the priority, along with a midfielder and potentially another wide attacker.

Bukayo Saka

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Declan Rice

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Martin Odegaard

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Gabriel Martinelli

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Gabriel Magalhaes

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"It will be interesting to see whether they move for Victor Osimhen. He, like Toney, is a player they like and I know that his representatives have visited Arsenal's training ground for talks with Edu. Those talks took place in the summer when Arsenal eventually signed Gabriel Jesus. Jesus was always the priority that year, but Osimhen was definitely a player they viewed as a serious alternative.

"That interest will remain, but the Nigerian could prove to be too costly an option in a summer given Arsenal want to spread their budget around as they look to take the squad to the next level."

Arsenal do have alternative options to the Napoli star and Toney. Indeed, reports have suggested Edu has an eye on RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko as one option, with another being Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres.

Senior Arsenal insider blown away by "phenomenal" Gyokeres

The Swede has been in excellent form this term, bagging 19 goals and assisting nine others in 23 appearances.

Edu and co are said to be considering a move for him as a result, and a "senior" Arsenal source has described Gyokeres as "phenomenal" to Football Insider.

Both the north Londoners and Chelsea want to sign a centre-forward, with Mauricio Pochettino's side also in the hunt for Gyokeres who has come on leaps and bounds since swapping Coventry City for the Primeira Liga.

His transformation really has been something to behold, and Arsenal will have to invest significantly to bring him back to England.

"I know him well. We went to school together. He is incredibly strong and good at winning duels. It's nice to play with him," said Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski on Gyokeres.

"He's really good and I'm happy for him that things are going well at Sporting. He takes a lot of duels and then you yourself can focus on not taking the duels, but playing football, finding passes and teammates. He is really strong and fast. He is good in depth. A complete player."

Nottingham Forest have had a tough time in recent seasons trying to replace a club legend who left the City Ground after promotion back in 2022.

Brice Samba played a pivotal role in helping Nottingham Forest end their 23-year Premier League exile, with his most impressive performance in a Forest shirt coming in his penultimate game for the club during the play-off semi-final victory over Sheffield United.

Samba made three crucial saves during normal and extra time, before making himself a hero during the penalty shootout. He saved spot kicks from Oliver Norwood, Conor Hourihane and now Forest player Morgan Gibbs-White, sending the club to Wembley and subsequently winning promotion.

However, after the play-off final, Samba decided he wanted to return to France, with the 'keeper departing and joining Ligue 1 side Lens for £4m – an absolute bargain for the French side.

The club made two loan signings for the goalkeeper position for the Premier League campaign, with Dean Henderson and Keylor Navas arriving on loan but not staying permanently.

Nottingham Forest will rue losing one GK who's a bigger talent than Samba

Nottingham Forest will regret not signing this goalkeeper.

ByTom Lever Feb 15, 2024

This left them short in the goalkeeping department, with the club dipping back into the market last summer.

Matt Turner's record at Nottingham Forest

The Reds decided to buy goalkeeper Matt Turner during the summer from fellow Premier League side Arsenal for a deal rising to £10m with add-ons.

Turner, a USA international, has made 21 appearances for the club since his arrival, conceding 31 times with multiple errors coming from the 'keeper himself.

His mistake against Tottenham for Dejan Kulusevski's goal is just one of a number of errors he's made, with the former Arsenal man struggling to nail down the Forest starting position.

That was one of three mistakes leading to a goal that the USMNT star has made in 2023/24, a figure that puts him close to the top of the tree in the top flight.

#1 Wes Foderingham

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His errors saw the club buy goalkeeper Matz Sels on deadline day in January, with Turner back down to the number two role – just as he was during his time at the Emirates.

How much Matt Turner has cost Nottingham Forest

On top of his £10m transfer fee, the club also paid for Turner's weekly wages. The 29-year-old signed a four-year deal last summer, with the American being handed a weekly wage of £40k – a figure higher than impressive teammates Murillo and Anthony Elanga.

Should the former Arsenal 'keeper see out his whole contract at the City Ground, the club will have paid him a staggering £8.3m in wages – a ridiculous amount for a goalkeeper who has been poor since his arrival.

#1 Divock Origi

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#2 Morgan Gibbs-White

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#3 Felipe

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The deal for Turner at the time certainly raised eyebrows, with the Reds spending a decent chunk of money on a player who had never previously been a consistent number one in England's top flight.

Overall, the deal for the USA number one has been a failure, with the 'keeper already dropping down the pecking order just seven months after he arrived on Trentside.

The club should be looking to cut their losses on Turner this summer, selling the former Arsenal man and reevaluating the goalkeeping situation throughout the transfer window.

Emiliano Martinez has been lauded as “an animal in goal” for Argentina, with the Aston Villa shot-stopper producing more penalty shootout heroics.

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World Cup winner starring for his countrySaved two spot-kicks against EcuadorAlbiceleste into the last four on U.S. soilWHAT HAPPENED?

Having previously helped the Albiceleste to Copa America and World Cup glory with his ability to win spot-kick mind games, Martinez is in the process of chasing down another continental crown. He repelled two efforts from 12 yards as Argentina battled past Ecuador in a 2024 Copa quarter-final.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT DE PAUL SAID

Rodrigo De Paul has said of having Martinez between the sticks in the most pressurised of situations: “We have an animal in goal. What he is doing is crazy. He deserves it. He loves these colours. He gives us a lot of security and peace of mind. We try to do the same for him but in these important moments he is always there.”

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Argentina almost threw the game away against Ecuador, as Lisandro Martinez’s opener was cancelled out in the 91st minute, but they held their nerve despite seeing talismanic captain Messi clip a Panenka penalty against the crossbar. De Paul added on reaching the last four: “We knew that the match was going to be difficult. We would like to play better with the ball sometimes. Although we always have to be self-critical, there are many things that are not allowing us to play our game and everything we have been showing. But the team ran and scored. There was a great effort from everyone. I am very happy to be playing in the semi-finals again. In the last four tournaments we have reached this stage, almost until the last day. I think we have to be proud of everything we are achieving.”

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Argentina are waiting to discover whether they will face Canada or Venezuela in the semi-finals. They are guaranteed of at least a shot at a bronze medal, in the third place play-off, but collective focus is locked on defending a title that was recaptured back in 2021.

Former allrounder and Rohit Sharma discuss the importance of guiding youngsters properly

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2020Former India allrounder Yuvraj Singh believes the big difference between players of his generation and the ones today is how they dealt with seniors in the team, specifically in the “sense of respect towards seniors” and appreciating their work.”The youngsters say anything to anyone now,” Singh told Rohit Sharma, India’s white-ball vice-captain, during an Instagram chat hosted by the latter on Tuesday.According to Singh, the other key difference between the two generations is that the current India team has a very small group of seniors – captain Virat Kohli and Sharma in the main – so the youngsters “have very less guys to look up to”.Singh opened up on the subject after Sharma asked him for an appraisal of the current Indian team, not as a player but as someone watching from the outside. “Can you tell us what you find that we are doing good, what we are doing bad, where we can improve as a team,” Sharma asked.Singh, who retired last June, was blunt in his assessment: “See, I will tell you the difference what I felt in this generation and our generation. I felt that our seniors were very disciplined. Obviously, at the time there was no social media, so there were very few distractions. There was a certain behaviour that we boys had to carry watching our seniors – how they play, how they work hard, and how they actually talk to people, how they talk to the media. Because they were great ambassadors of India.”So I learned a lot that way. And that’s what we tried to do and that is what we told you guys that if you have to play for next ten years, after playing for India you have to be more careful about your image.

“[It’s the] starting of their [young players’] careers, they are not even playing for India and they are getting such big contracts. So they don’t know how to handle the money so they’re easily distracted.”Yuvraj Singh

“But I feel in this generation, I feel the seniors that are there are only you and Virat Kohli are there, who are playing three formats. I just feel there are very less guys to look up to. And I feel that the sense of respect towards seniors to say something or that respect of how these players have become great, like it has become a thin line now, (the youngsters say anything to anyone now).”As a consequence, Singh said, incidents like the one that led to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul being suspended in 2018 took place, because there were not enough seniors to guide the younger players. “Because of social media and party scenes and the incident that happened with KL and Hardik, these kind of things during our time we could not even imagine of such things happening during our time because we respected the seniors a lot. We knew that if we did some mistake our seniors would tell us ‘, don’t do these things, this is not nice’. I feel the atmosphere is not the same. The boys (juniors) do what they want to now.”Singh, however, didn’t want to blame the youngsters entirely, saying that they did not know how to “handle” the fame and money that came on the back of big IPL contracts. During his time, seniors like Sachin Tendulkar were in his ear, to caution him at the right time, something that might not be case right now.”Even after a little bit of success, it’s not their fault also because at a young age you get distracted (and) because IPL contracts are so big,” Singh said. “[It’s the] starting of their careers, they are not even playing for India they are getting such big contracts. So they don’t know how to handle the money so they’re easily distracted.””So you need seniors, you need coaches, you guys (seniors) have to talk to the youngsters and explain to them what is important to them – playing for the country and working hard on the field and then all these things follow. Tendulkar always told me that, ‘if you perform on the field, everything will follow’.’They don’t want to play Test cricket’Singh suggested that some of the younger lot were too keen on the limited-overs formats, and not interested in long-form cricket at all. “I was at the National Cricket Academy (in Bengaluru) recently. I was observing (some) boys there don’t want to play Test cricket,” Singh said. “They don’t want to play four-day cricket for their own state. They are happy playing one-day cricket because of IPL.”Except you guys, I don’t think the second generation really wants to play Test cricket. And Test cricket is the real test of a cricketer. So I want the next generation to tell them these things.”Sharma agreed with Singh, recollecting his early years with the Indian team when barring a few youngsters like Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla, the dressing room was full of seniors. He did, however, point out that he was doing his bit to help the newbies, and presented a recent example of putting an arm around young Rishabh Pant’s shoulders after the youngster came under intense scrutiny for his performances in front of and behind the stumps since the 2019 World Cup.Rishabh Pant exchanges notes with Rohit Sharma in the nets•Getty Images”I keep trying to talk to the guys as much as I can. I talk a lot to Rishabh Pant,” Sharma said. “He came under a lot of scrutiny recently. He’s just 20 and he became really worried. Apart from Pant, there are five-six people I regularly talk to about these things. This (criticism) will be there as long as you’re playing, it’s not going to go anywhere.”‘Every innings should be the like the last of your career’The two players also spoke about how they developed the mindset to dominate opposition for longer periods of time, to convert their starts into big scores and play in the zone where they stood out for their excellence. Sharma wanted to know from Singh, the Player of the Tournament at the 2011 World Cup, how he developed that mindset.”To come into that zone, you need to go through a lot of experience in games. You need that experience,” Singh said. “Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, [Shreyas] Iyer and whoever comes as soon as they come we expect them to play like we did, because we have learnt early. That won’t happen. It has to be over time when they play certain amount of games. Then they fail, they play domestic cricket and they come back and they play a number of games and with that experience when they have a few knocks like that they get into that zone where they know how to make a big score. Like you and Virat probably know how to convert 60s into hundreds. It will not happen with a lot of younger guys because they don’t have that experience.”Whenever they are not playing international cricket they should be playing domestic cricket or they should be playing any form of cricket where they keep on getting experience of playing a lot of games getting into different kind of situations on different wickets.”Singh called Sharma a good example for the youngsters to follow: “When you were playing in the middle-order, you had some exceptional innings of 70, 80, 90 not out, 65 not out. People were saying, ‘wah, Rohit was very good’. But after now that you are opening you have made 200 not out, 260, 200 and 150… so you have taken your game to the next level. That has happened after you playing seven-eight years of international cricket.”Although he agreed with Singh, Sharma stressed that he didn’t want the young players to “lose those seven-eight years, and, which is why I keep talking to them and make them understand that you should start learning these things now itself. I make them understand to try and make sure that every innings you play should be the like the last one of your career.”

The hosts completed a handsome 19-run win as the Stars’ wait for the crown continued

The Report by Andrew McGlashan08-Feb-2020The rain clouds parted in the nick of time and the Sydney Sixers took the Big Bash title without it being handed to them in a washout courtesy of a handsome 19-run victory over the Melbourne Stars in a 12-over contest, which meant the Stars’ wait for the crown will enter the tournament’s tenth edition.After two days of heavy rain, gaps in the weather teased for a while on Saturday afternoon before clearing to allow a reduced match, but not the complete lottery of a five-over game that the Sixers had feared. Josh Philippe anchored – if there can be such a term in a shortened hit – the Sixers’ innings, while there was useful striking from Steven Smith and Jordan Silk either side of the Stars’ spinners putting a hold on the innings.The key period, however, was the first three overs of the Stars run chase, which saw them lose their two big guns – Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell – for a combined total of 15 off eight balls either side of Josh Hazlewood taking 1 for 1 in his first over. Even in the reduced match, the result was clear well before the finish as the Sixers claimed their first BBL title since the inaugural season in 2011-12 and no one will be able to say they didn’t do it properly.Philippe keeps his cool
Philippe has been very impressive in the latter part of the tournament as he overcame a run of low scores to string together three half-centuries in his last four innings. This one was another very mature display because he did not lose his head under the pressure of the final and also when he wasn’t getting much of the strike. It meant he was still there at the end of the innings, able to deposit Adam Zampa over the deep-midwicket boundary to reach another fifty.Josh Philippe mistimes a pull•Getty ImagesSilken finish
After six overs (not the Powerplay, that was just three overs), the Sixers were 2 for 60. However, they then entered a period of 26 deliveries between boundaries as the Stars spinners – Zampa and Maxwell – proved difficult to hit. A very pumped-up Maxwell had cut off Smith’s promising innings when he was caught in the deep for 21 and also got Daniel Hughes lbw when the left-hander missed a pull. Moises Henriques was beaten by a Zampa delivery that slid on and the Sixers were scoring in ones and twos – acceptable for the middle overs for a full T20, but a problem in a shortened game. Silk had reached 12 off ten balls when he broke the boundary-less streak with a mow over midwicket and managed 15 off his last five deliveries.Stars’ top order blown away
Stoinis, the competition’s leading scorer by a distance, clubbed an early four and a six off Nathan Lyon, who was given the first over, and then could not believe it when he picked out deep square-leg. He could barely haul himself off the ground. Still, in a short chase, the Stars might have been able to compensate for one of their key figures going early. But it didn’t stop there for them. The horribly out of form Nic Maddinson faced three dot balls against Hazlewood before lobbing a slower delivery to cover but the worst blow came next when Maxwell was given lbw sweeping at Steve O’Keefe. When Peter Handscomb was run-out in a horrible mix-up, as he jogged a single but Nick Larkin wanted two, you just knew this was going to be added to the list of nights where it went wrong for the Stars.Sixers wrap it up
The back of the Stars’ batting was well and truly broken and it would have taken something miraculous to turn the chase around. When O’Keefe bowled the final ball of the fifth over to Larkin, it meant a completed match. The Sixers just had to avoid any slip-ups. Ben Dunk, who had been brought into the side for Clint Hinchliffe when the match was reduced, managed one six before being lbw to Lyon. After all the talk that the weather would cause the damp squib it was the Stars’ limp batting that made for a subdued finish despite a late flurry from Larkin and Nathan Coulter-Nile – the latter suggesting he could have been used earlier. Not that anyone in magenta – or the majority of the 10,121 crowd that had ignored the weather forecast – was worrying about such things.

Los Cafeteros are out to prove their form is no fluke – and a Copa America result against Brazil would do just that

The Colombia men’s national team is the unexpected gem of international soccer at the moment. Luis Diaz is beyond exceptional, James Rodriguez is undergoing a resurgence of outstanding form and bright up-and-coming stars such as Jhon Duran and Yaser Asprilla are bursting onto the scene in Europe.

They overcame a disastrous 2022 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying cycle, at which they missed out on playing in Qatar, and now are the hottest team in the world. Truly, there is not one team that can touch their form at the moment.

Los Cafeteros have not lost an international match since February 2022. They’re riding a 25-match unbeaten streak, including brilliant victories over Spain, Brazil, Germany, the USMNT and results against Uruguay and Ecuador. They’ve been the most dominant side in international soccer over the past two years — and yet, what do that have to show for it?

Copa America can change that.

They have a chance to prove their form isn't just lucky circumstance, a chance to show that this generation of players is here to compete for every title in every competition they play in.

Up next? Brazil, again.

They clash with the Selecao Tuesday night in their third and final group stage match of the 2024 competition. A win or a draw and they top Group D, and officially claim a spot as true and fair title contenders.

GOAL examines what makes this Los Cafeteros side so special, and how they are poised to make a deep Copa America run.

Getty ImagesA disaster in 2022

Colombia’s last loss came at the hands of Lionel Messi’s Argentina. LA Albiceleste’s current Copa America hero, Lautaro Martinez, bagged the lone goal in a 1-0 victory against Los Cafeteros on Feb. 1, 2022.

The result doomed this team. They finished sixth in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, trailing Peru by one point, and by three to Ecuador, who automatically qualified for the marquee event in Qatar. By just one point Colombia missed out on competing in an eventual intercontinental playoff between CONMEBOL and Oceania, a match that featured Peru vs Australia, with the latter coming out on top 5-4 in penalty kicks. It was a devastating blow to the program, but with it came monumental change. Just more than two months after that loss to Argentina, manager Reinaldo Rueda was sacked and current boss Nestor Lorenzo was appointed. And since?

Clearly Los Cafeteros took that result against La Albiceleste personally, and their opposition has paid the price since.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRedemption

With a remarkable stretch of 25 matches unbeaten, Colombia have not found themselves on the negative side of a result since that fateful match against Argentina. They’ve won 20 of those 25 contests, and have climbed to the 12th overall spot in FIFA’s men’s international team rankings.

In international friendlies, they’ve beaten the likes of Spain, Germany and the USMNT, out-scoring those three nations – all of whom are ranked higher than Los Cafeteros by FIFA – by a combined score of 8 to 1.

In CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying for the 2026 edition of the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, Colombia sits third – only trailing the likes of Uruguay and the reigning World Champions, Argentina.

The only unbeaten team in qualifying, they’ve obtained 12 out of a possible 18 points, with La Albiceleste just ahead with 15, and Uruguay at 13. Colombia have yet to face Lionel Messi and Co. in qualifying, but they managed a brilliant 2-2 draw against Darwin Nunez and La Celeste last fall.

As impressive as that result was, it didn’t compare to the emotional evening on Nov. 16, when Luis Diaz bagged a four-minute brace to secure an astonishing 2-1 victory over Brazil on the road at Estadio Metropolitano – the first time they had ever defeated them in WCQ.

The emotions on the night arrived through Diaz, who was in tears at full-time celebrating with his father watching on from the stands. Just days before the match, his father was freed by Guerillas after he was kidnapped in the north of the country in late October. Held captive for nearly two weeks, upon being free, Diaz’ father came to watch his son make history for Los Cafeteros.

Getty ImagesSuperstars leading the way

Diaz isn’t the only superstar leading the sudden charge from Colombia. They are a well-oiled machine which operates as one brilliant unit from one end of the pitch to the other.

Of course, it helps having stars.

The biggest and boldest name from the country over the past decade was James Rodriguez. A wonder-goal at the 2014 World Cup set his career ablaze, and since, he’s captained his country across rocky terrain in South America. Of late, he’s had a resurgence of form, and the 32-year-old is playing like he’s in his early 20s again.

He netted a goal and notched an assist last fall in that incredible draw against Uruguay, and followed it up with the game-winning assist on Diaz against the Selecao.

Fast-forward to 2024, and he’s been their best player at Copa America 2024. With three assists in just two matches, he’s had a sensational return for Los Cafeteros, helping them to an unbeaten start to the tournament.

A hard-fought 2-1 victory over Paraguay opened their Copa run, and they followed it up with a hammering of Costa Rica, defeating Los Ticos 3-0. Rodriguez found himself on the scoresheet in both matches, while Diaz shined on matchday two with his first goal of the tournament.

Their star duo have turned up to the U.S. with vigor, and they look like the side most to be reckoned with through the group stage. They have one foe left yet, though, and it’s a familiar one: Brazil.

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Getty ImagesA dance with the Selecao

The Selecao are out to prove something to CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and the footballing world at Copa America 2024. Without Neymar available due to injury, Brazil have been tasked with finding a new identity this summer. Newly appointed manager Dorival Junior is trying to lead his nation back to glory, and back to the top of the Copa America podium.

It hasn’t quite gone to plan.

The Selecao were held to a 0-0 draw by Costa Rica in their opening match. Against Paraguay, the flood gates eventually opened, but it was a rather unconvincing 4-1 victory even with the scoreline in their favor. A result against Colombia would change that.

Defeating Los Cafeteros would indicate that this current, young, crop of Selecao footballers – Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick – have what it takes to become the kings of CONMEBOL once again. Following Los Cafeteros victory against Costa Rica, manager Nestor Lorenzo shared that there is a real sense of excitement behind their current run of form, so much so that it even has him buzzing.

"I know our fans are excited," he said, "and who am I to give advices to people's emotions. We are also excited, so let's enjoy it.”

Brazil’s Bruno Guimares, meanwhile, views Colombia as a real threat as the Selecao look to earn the top spot in Group D on matchday three.

"Colombia are a stone in our shoe which we're going to try to get it out of our way in the next game," Guimaraes said Sunday. "They have a lot of players who can decide things individually, they're a very physical team, good to play against. This is the Brazilian national team shirt we are talking about.

"It's going to be a great test for us, a great game that we want to win to finish first (in the group). That's what is required when you wear Brazil's shirt."

Liverpool have reportedly identified a "top target" to bring to the club in the summer transfer window, with the player compared to current superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Liverpool transfer news

Jurgen Klopp's reign is slowly nearing its conclusion, which is still hard to fathom for many Reds supporters, and their next manager will no doubt eye up new signings, with Benfica's Roger Schmidt recently name-checked as an option for the job.

While Liverpool's next boss may not be confirmed yet, the Merseysiders continue to be linked with additions at the end of the season. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is another individual who has been backed to move to Anfield, with the Slovenian likened to Erling Haaland in the past.

The Reds could do with defensive reinforcements in the summer and Barcelona centre-back Andreas Christensen is also a player who is believed to be on their radar, as he looks for a potential return to the Premier League.

Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has also been linked with Liverpool, with the young German seemingly a player with a massive future, as he edges closer to inspiring his side to Bundesliga title glory this season.

Luis Guilherme a "top target" for Liverpool

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, Liverpool have made Palmeiras teenager Luis Guilherme a "top target" this summer after missing out on him in January, with the attacker labelled as the "next Kylian Mbappe".

"Liverpool have made the “next Kylian Mbappe” – Palmeiras teenage sensation Luis Guilherme – a top target ahead of the summer window, sources have told Football Insider. The Reds considered a formal January move for the 18-year-old but eventually decided against firming up their interest.

"A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Liverpool are now plotting a summer swoop for Guilherme. Sources say the Merseysiders consider him a “top target” ahead of the off-season."

Admittedly, not a huge amount may be known about Guilherme as a player, given his age and the fact he isn't playing in Europe currently, but being compared to someone as iconic as Mbappe is a good place to start.

While the Brazilian may still be just 18 years of age, only celebrating his milestone birthday earlier this month, he has already picked up 32 appearances for Palmeiras. No goal contributions have come his way in that time, which is a little disappointing, but it is clear that he is already a trusted squad player.

Guilherme is also a Brazil international at youth team level, winning five and four caps for his country's Under-20s and Under-17s respectively, scoring twice for the latter. He is capable of playing in attacking midfield or out wide.

Jamie Carragher says he’s “heard” about 56 y/o becoming Liverpool manager

His football is “similar to Klopp’s style”.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 19, 2024

There is something about signing a young Brazilian starlet that always feels exciting, given the manner in which the likes of Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar have burst onto the scene in the past, and if Liverpool feel Guilherme can explode in the future, they could do all they can to snap him up this summer.

Liverpool have been dealt another injury blow ahead of the EFL Cup final clash with Chelsea, with a "fantastic" player now ruled out this weekend.

Liverpool injury news

The Reds are trying their utmost to battle across four different competitions this season, but injuries are making it increasingly difficult to shine in all of them.

Jurgen Klopp is currently with a host of brilliant players all over the pitch, with the influential Alisson missing in goal because of a hamstring issue. Trent Alexander-Arnold is also absent at right-back, while backup left-back option Kostas Tsimikas is still missing with a shoulder problem.

Meanwhile, Curtis Jones went off injured in last Saturday's 4-1 away to Brentford in the Premier League, as did Diogo Jota, while midfield trio Thiago, Dominik Szoboszlai and Stefan Bajcetic are all out, too. There are even some concerns about Darwin Nunez's involvement after he was replaced at half-time, but that may have been more precautionary than anything.

On Sunday, Liverpool head to Wembley to take on Chelsea in the EFL Cup final, and it has now been confirmed that one player is definitely out of proceedings.

Curtis Jones out of EFL Cup final

According to a report from The Daily Mail, Liverpool midfielder Jones has been ruled out for the EFL Cup final through injury, joining Jota and others on the sidelines.

"Jota and Jones were withdrawn in the first half of the 4-1 win at Brentford on Saturday with respective knee and ankle injuries. Liverpool will await further tests before putting a timescale on their recoveries but there are concerns Jota faces up to two months out with his knee injury."

This is an enormous blow for Liverpool, considering what an excellent season Jones is enjoying in the midfield, really coming of age as a player and looking like a key figure.

Appearances

17

Starts

12

Goals

1

Assists

1

Pass completion rate

90.8%

Tackles per game

1.2

Minutes played

959

While other injury problems have limited him to 12 starts in the Premier League, he has shone across 17 appearances in total. Jamie Carragher has lauded him, calling him "fantastic", and the hope is that his absence isn't too lengthy.

Not having both Jones and Szoboszlai in the middle of the park against Chelsea weakens Liverpool significantly, given the technical quality and work ethic they provide, and it looks likely that Wataru Endo will anchor the midfield with Alexis Mac Allister as a No.8, assuming both stay fit this week.

Ryan Gravenberch and Harvey Elliott could then battle for the remaining spot, and with the former doing well when he came on at Brentford – he won six out of nine duels – and the latter better as an impact substitute this season, the Dutchman getting the nod may make the most sense.

Jamie Carragher says he’s “heard” about 56 y/o becoming Liverpool manager

His football is “similar to Klopp’s style”.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 19, 2024

Liverpool desperately need these unavailable players back as soon as possible, though, or they could start running on empty with so many matches arriving across various competitions.