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England boss Gareth Southgate was asked if he had any advice for Sir Keir Starmer after the Labour leader became the UK's new Prime Minister.

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• Sir Keir Starmer becomes UK's Prime Minister
• Southgate quizzed on Labour's election win
• Starmer backing England to beat Switzerland

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Labour's triumph in the UK General Election was the topic of conversation as Southgate spoke to the media ahead of England's Euro 2024 quarter-final meeting with Switzerland. Starmer is a keen football fan – an Arsenal supporter – and, like Southgate, now finds himself in a position where a nation holds high expectations.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Starmer's Labour party secured a landslide election win to end 14 years in the political wilderness. Southgate has frequently shown a willingness to discuss non-football matters since he became England manager in 2016, so it was hardly a surprise that he was asked for his thoughts on Starmer's success.

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  WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

  Southgate knows what it's like to work in an extremely demanding job and the England boss joked that he isn't jealous of Starmer's new position.

  "I'm not envious of his job," Southgate said, per The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke. "No, I don't have any advice. When you're in a position of responsibility you realise that comes from every direction, everyone has a simple solution to complex problem, I'm sure he’s going to be inundanted with that."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Starmer is backing Southgate's men to overcome their quarter-final opponents on Saturday. "I think they'll beat Switzerland," he also told Virgin Radio.

  On what he would say to the players, he added: "I would say, 'just forget where you are in the competition. Forget all the noises off. I have to do this. Just go into a sort of tunnel. Know what you're trying to achieve and just don't listen'."

CricInfo16-Dec-2020Virender Sehwag (IND) 37 runs to complete 2000 ODI runs
Dinesh Mongia (IND) needs 87 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Javagal Srinath (IND) needs 118 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Anil Kumble (IND) needs 158 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Mohammad Kaif (IND) needs 184 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Chris Cairns (NZ) needs 134 runs to complete 4000 ODI runs
Scott Styris (NZ) needs 35 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Mathew Sinclair (NZ) needs 194 runs to complete 1000 ODI runsZaheer Khan (IND) needs 3 wickets to join the 100 ODI-wicket club
Harbhajan Singh (IND) needs 10 wickets to join the 100 ODI-wicket club
Nathan Astle (NZ) needs 5 wickets to join the 100 ODI-wicket club
Chris Harris (NZ) needs 5 wickets to join the 200 ODI-wicket clubChris Harris (NZ) needs 86 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Nathan Astle (NZ) needs 97 runs to complete 500 World Cup runsJavagal Srinath (IND) needs 8 wickets to join the 50 World Cup wicket-club
Chris Cairns (NZ) needs 7 wickets to join the 25 World Cup wicket-club
Shane Bond (NZ) needs 10 wickets to join the 25 World Cup wicket-club

Nottingham Forest have splashed the cash in recent years following their return to the Premier League, with owner Evangelos Marinakis getting the chequebook out on a regular basis.

But who tops the charts as the most expensive addition at the City Ground? Here’s Nottingham Forest’s 20 biggest signings in their history.

Weekly wages: Nottingham Forest FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

Football FanCast take a look at Nottingham Forest’s top ten biggest earners for the 2024/25 season.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 24, 2025

Here's a detailed look at Nottingham Forest's 10 biggest signings…

10

Neco Williams

£17m from Liverpool

Starting the countdown is attacking full-back Neco Williams, who arrived following Nottingham Forest’s promotion in 2022.

He left Liverpool after coming through the Reds’ academy and signed a new four-year contract at the City Ground in 2025.

9

Taiwo Awoniyi

£17.5m from Union Berlin

Taiwo Awoniyi was the player tasked with firing Nottingham Forest to safety following their return to the Premier League, and the Nigerian just done that to justify his £17.5m transfer from Union Berlin.

After that, though, Awoniyi fell down the pecking order at the City Ground, with Chris Wood becoming first choice.

8

Morgan Gibbs-White

£25m from Wolves

Morgan Gibbs-White has been Nottingham Forest’s standout performer following their return to the Premier League, and he nearly left in 2025 for Tottenham Hotspur.

Instead, the England international signed a new contract at the City Ground, and his initial £25m move from Wolves has proven to be a bargain.

7

Arnaud Kalimuendo

£26m from Rennes

Arnaud Kalimuendo scored 18 goals in 34 appearances for Rennes in 2024/25, something which caught the eye of Nottingham Forest in their search for another striker.

The Reds paid £26m to secure the Frenchman’s services, a fee which could be spread out over his five-year contract.

6

James McAtee

£30m from Man City

Another player to arrive in 2025 was James McAtee, with Nottingham Forest winning the race to sign the attacking midfielder from Manchester City.

McAtee was a wanted man across Europe and ended up costing Forest £30m, signing a five-year deal on £40,000-a-week.

5

Ibrahim Sangare

£30m from PSV

Ibrahim Sangare became Nottingham Forest’s record signing on deadline day in 2023, with those at the City Ground paying £30m to Dutch giants PSV.

Things haven’t exactly go to plan for Sangare, though, who has had his injury issues in the Midlands.

4

Dilane Bakwa

£30.5m from Strasbourg

A deadline day addition in September 2025 was winger Dilane Bakwa, who put pen to paper on a City Ground contract just before the window closed in a deal worth just over £30m.

After impressing for Strasbourg, Bakwa, a left-footed right-winger, signed a contract until 2030.

3

Dan Ndoye

£34m from Bologna

After qualifying for the Europa League, Dan Ndoye was Nottingham Forest’s first marquee signing in the summer of 2025, costing £34m from Serie A side Bologna.

A Switzerland international, Ndoye can play on either wing and is under contract until 2030.

2

Elliot Anderson

£35m from Newcastle

Elliot Anderson’s transfer from Newcastle went down as a £35m fee, and even if it was that, it has proven to be a great piece of business.

However, Forest and the Magpies made a deal at the same time which saw Odysseas Vlachodimos move to St James’ Park for £20m, so really, Anderson set them back just £15m.

1

Omari Hutchinson

£37.5m from Ipswich

Top of the charts as Nottingham Forest’s record signing is Omari Hutchinson, who arrived from Ipswich Town in 2025 at a cost of £37.5m.

The winger was a shining light at Portman Road in their only season back in the Premier League, which resulted in Forest swooping for the England U21 international.

U.S. men's national team winger Tim Weah has apologized for his inexcusable red card in the shocking Copa America loss to Panama

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• USMNT embarrassingly fall 2-1 to Panama
• Weah received 19th-minute red card
• Winger issues apology for recklessness

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After seeing red in the 19th minute of the USMNT's Copa America loss vs Panama, USMNT winger Tim Weah issued an apology via social media. After a very quick VAR review, the Juventus forward was deemed to have committed violent conduct, and was thus sent off.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Weah posted the apology to Instagram, where he stated he "let down" both his country and his team. After seeing red, the USMNT rallied behind a sensational strike from Folarin Balogun which saw them take a surprising lead. The eventual 2-1 loss has, however, put them in a position in which they will need three points against Uruguay in their final group-stage match of Copa America to avoid elimination.

• WHAT WEAH SAID

  "Today, I let my team and my country down," he posted. "A moment of frustration led to an irreversible consequence, and for that, I am deeply sorry to my teammates, coaches, family and our fans. Moving forward, I am committed to learning from this experience, not allowing an opponent to provoke me, and working to regain the trust and respect of my team and supporters.

  "No matter what I will always fight for my team and my country till the day I'm no longer needed or capable to!! Sincerely apologize to everyone. My love for this team goes beyond just football and I'm so sad and angry at myself for putting my brothers through what they went through tonight."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT

  The U.S. will take on Uruguay Monday night in their final match of the Copa America 2024 group stage. Their opponent, Uruguay, will be their toughest task yet having won both of their games so far – and now, it's win-or-go-home for Gregg Berhalter's side.

As Real Madrid president Florentino Perez looks to make room for even more stars this summer, Manchester City could reportedly take full advantage by welcoming an attacking talent of their own.

Man City "a thousand million points behind Liverpool" – Guardiola

It was around this time last year that Manchester City were on their way to securing a fourth consecutive Premier League title before squaring off against Manchester United in the FA Cup final. On a Wembley outing which ultimately ended in defeat, Pep Guardiola’s side could have been forgiven for their title hangover which allowed United to take full advantage.

A year on, however, they will not be handed that same forgiveness if they fall to defeat against Crystal Palace this weekend. The Citizens are no longer champions. It’s Liverpool’s crown to lose these days. Instead, Guardiola has endured his most difficult season in the Manchester City dugout and is yet to secure Champions League qualification with just two games remaining.

Guardiola even went as far as to admit that victory in the FA Cup final would not suddenly turn City’s season into a success, telling reporters: “The damage would be minimum. It’s not going to confuse [that] the season has been good. The club has to take the decision, the right ones, so next season will be better.

“We are a thousand million points behind Liverpool. I said many times the season hasn’t been good because we define if the season is good or not with the Premier League. This season it could not happen, at the same time we tried to avoid the damage. We have to be calm now and recover.”

Perfect Reijnders alternative: Man City preparing bid for "magic" £60m star

Man City could well be ready to step up their interest in an alternative to Tijjani Reijnders

By
Joe Nuttall

May 14, 2025

However, what such a difficult campaign has seemingly done is spark Manchester City into life in the transfer market. Already, names such as Florian Wirtz are threatening to steal the headlines and he could yet be joined by a Real Madrid star at The Etihad.

Man City in direct contact with Rodrygo

According to Sport in Spain, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now in direct contact with Rodrygo over a summer move. The Real Madrid winger is someone that Perez is reportedly willing to sell for the right price, whilst the Brazilian himself has grown discontent with his role towards the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure.

It’s not often that Madrid lose a Galactico, but as Rodrygo looks to become the main man, the Spaniards could do just that if Manchester City make their move in the coming months.

With 13 goals and 10 assists to his name this season, the Brazilian winger has impressed once again under Ancelotti, who has been a fan of his for some time despite the winger’s reported discontent.

The Real Madrid boss told reporters in 2022: “Both Valverde and Rodrygo are special players. And that’s what modern-day footballers have to be. They can play in different positions and they possess both technical and physical attributes.”

Simone Inzaghi reportedly told Inter bosses he no longer had the energy to continue after their crushing Champions League final loss.

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• Inzaghi leaves Inter after four years
• Italian won six trophies with Serie A club
• Set for massive Al-Hilal contract

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , the Inter boss met with club’s top management on Tuesday following their 5-0 Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. During that meeting, Inzaghi reportedly admitted he no longer had the energy to continue leading the team, despite having a contract until 2026.

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• WHAT INZAGHI SAID

  Inzaghi reportedly said: "I can't go on any longer, I'm tired, I think my cycle here has come to an end."

  The Inter boss met with club president Beppe Marotta, sporting director Piero Ausilio and deputy Dario Baccin in a private meeting, telling the trio he no longer had the energy to continue at the helm.

  "I no longer have the energy to continue."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Inzaghi’s departure marks the end of a successful four-year spell at Inter, where he delivered six trophies, including a Serie A title and two Coppa Italia crowns. He also guided the team to two Champions League finals in three years, though both ended in defeat. The Nerazzurri were chasing a European and domestic treble but ended the season trophyless after losing in two finals and seeing Napoli take the Scudetto on the last day of the season.

  The 49-year-old coach is now in talks with Saudi club Al-Hilal and is reportedly finalising a lucrative two-year contract.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR INZAGHI AND INTER?

  Inzaghi is set to take over Al-Hilal and could debut in their Club World Cup opener against Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Inter are actively searching for a new head coach, with names like Roberto De Zerbi and Cesc Fabregas reportedly on the shortlist.

ESPNcricinfo commentary of the final moments of their incredible game against Rajasthan Royals

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-202417.3 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, 1 run Short and wide outside off. Stops in the surface a little and Rashid cuts it towards deep cover point17.4 Avesh Khan to Tewatia, 1 run Slower bumper on middle and off. Tewatia waits an eternity for it before dragging it towards deep square leg17.5 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, 1 wide Short and too wide outside off. Rashid swishes and misses, and the umpire has no qualms in stretching out his arms17.5 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, 1 wide Well beyond the tramlines again, and some more exercise for the umpire17.6 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, 1 run What a save! Slower ball dug into the track outside off. Rashid stands up tall and slaps it flat towards long on. Buttler puts in a dive to his left and somehow manages to stop it on the half-volley. He went at it reverse-cupped and got the job done!18.1 Sen to Rashid Khan, 1 run Sizzling yorker, honing into the pads. Rashid whips at it and squirts it away towards short fine leg. Might have nutmegged himself too but the important detail is that it is just a single. By the way, had Avesh hit the stumps at the batter’s end, Tewatia was well out of his ground18.2 Sen to Tewatia, 1 wide, Full and angled across the batter well outside off. Beyond the tramlines too, and called a wide18.2 Sen to Tewatia, FOUR runs Gets it over! Rank wide full toss and Tewatia makes the most of it. Does not middle it but gets enough to clear extra cover. Buttler gives chase from mid off but cannot rein it in!18.3 Sen to Rashid Khan, 1 run Back of a length outside off. Tewatia sits deep in his crease and swings it away towards deep mid wicket 18.4 Sen to Rashid Khan, (no ball) FOUR runs, Shot! Goes for the wide yorker but errs on the fuller side. Rashid, sitting deep in his crease, gets under it and scythes it over extra cover. And, it gets worse for the Royals because Sen has overstepped…18.4 Sen to Tewatia, 2 runs Taken at deep square leg but it will not count! Banged into the track just outside off. Gets up very high and Rashid cannot control his pull. Skies it and deep square leg takes it running in. A brace to Rashid18.5 Sen to Rashid Khan, 1 wide Slower ball that goes wrong and slides well down leg. Another wide, and Sen might just be feeling the pressure now18.5 Sen to Rashid Khan, 1 leg bye Follows the batter well outside leg. Bowls it on a length and Rashid cannot connect with his swipe. The ball pings off the pads into the on side. Rashid livid with himselfRashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia were Gujarat Titans’ heroes•Getty Images

18.6 Sen to Tewatia, FOUR runs Four to finish the over! Shortish outside off and this sits up nicely to be hit. Tewatia opens up his stance and boshes it over mid off!19.1 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, FOUR runs Four off the first ball, oh my! Low full toss outside off. Rashid steps across his stumps and then shovels it over square leg. Deep mid wicket cannot get there either!19.2 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, 2 runs Almost a yorker, just outside off. Rashid sits deep in his crease and tugs it towards long on. They hare back for two and RR are lucky there was someone backing up at the keeper’s end. That throw was wild19.3 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, FOUR runs An outside edge but they all count! Oh my days, the drama in Jaipur! Nails the wide yorker but Rashid somehow gets this away. He swishes hard at it and squirts it off the outside edge past the keeper!19.4 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, 1 run Low full toss, following the batter on leg stump. Rashid can only dig it out towards extra cover for a single19.5 Avesh Khan to Tewatia, 2 runs, OUT Tewatia gets it over mid off, but it does not go for four! And there is a run out too! Short and wide outside off. Tewatia holds his nerve and slaps it over mid off. Buttler puts on his skates and pulls it back into play. The batters get across for two runs comfortably and then they decide to go for the third. Tewatia is always struggling to get there. The throw is accurate enough, and Avesh does the rest, with Tewatia well short. In the middle of all of that, there was a check for a short run. That has been sorted now, and GT need 2 off the last ball!Rahul Tewatia run out (Buttler/Avesh Khan) 22 (11b 3×4 0x6 42m) SR: 20019.6 Avesh Khan to Rashid Khan, FOUR runs Rashid wins it for the Gujarat Titans off the final ball! Oh my, this is some finish, and the Afghan Titan has come up trumps just when they needed him to! And the Royals, who looked so good for so much of the game, are no longer invincible! Short, wide and that is just begging to be hit. Not the best ball to bowl at this stage. Rashid lays back deep in his crease, brings those fast hands into play and thumps it over point. Speeds away to the fence and Rashid wheels away in celebration. He gestures to the dugout to not worry while he is there, and today, he has proven it!

Manchester City are now interested in a surprise move to sign a £35,000-a-week player from Chelsea, according to a new report.

Man City closing in on three new signings

As they did in January, City are expected to be very busy this summer, as Pep Guardiola eyes several incomings as well as outgoings. City have already announced the signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The deal is thought to be worth around £31 million with £5 million in add-ons, after Guardiola identified him as the player to solve their left-back problems.

After Reijnders: Man City to submit bid for Mahrez 2.0 "in the next hours"

Man City’s squad overhaul looks set to continue this summer, amid Tijjani Reijnders’ expected arrival.

By
Robbie Walls

Jun 4, 2025

And the Blues have also agreed a deal worth £46.3 million with AC Milan to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch international underwent his medical on Sunday, and he is now expected to sign a five-year deal before the Club World Cup.

The final player City are trying to get in before Tuesday’s deadline is Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki. It was claimed last week that discussions have been held over a deal, and they are now close to agreeing a deal for around £35 million. His potential arrival at the Etihad could see him become the man to replace Kevin de Bruyne, who has now departed the Blues.

Man City lining up surprise move to sign £35k-p/w Chelsea ace

While City work on deals to get players in before the start of the Club World Cup, they also have their eyes on players they would like to sign further into the summer transfer window. Now, according to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, City are lining up a move to sign goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea.

The Blues want to bolster their goalkeeper options for next season, given that Scott Carson is now leaving the club following the end of his contract. Bettinelli has been identified as a replacement, as City feel his character makes him ideal to be their third-choice keeper.

Leading up to the summer transfer window, there has been a lot of talk about the future of current number one Ederson, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. That has yet to progress, but it seems it could be all change in the goalkeeper department at the Etihad Campus.

The 33-year-old, who earns £35,000 a week at Chelsea, has been at Stamford Bridge since July 2021. He joined the club on a free transfer from Fulham, and in those four years, he has played just one game for the Blues, and that came in the FA Cup in the 2021/22 campaign. The goalkeeper is under contract until 2026.

Compared to their nearest competitors, this has been a quiet transfer window so far over at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal.

Did you expect anything less? While Manchester City have spent a shedload on Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders, Manchester United have added Matheus Cunha to their ranks.

Over in Merseyside, Premier League winners Liverpool have already confirmed the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold. Florian Wirtz is also set to arrive from Bayer Leverkusen in a British transfer record £116m fee too.

So, Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta better whack out the cheque book soon with plenty of new recruits needed, particularly in attack.

The latest on Arsenal's transfer plans this summer

Two of the biggest priorities at the Emirates are bolstering the wide positions and signing a brand new centre forward.

Out wide, we’ve seen notable links to the likes of Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

As for the striker position, it’s all about Benjamin Sesko. Arsenal reportedly opened talks regarding a deal for the Slovenian a few weeks ago. Now, according to German reporter Florian Plettenburg, there is a ‘positive’ feeling around the deal, but no agreement is in place yet over a deal that could reach £68m to £85m.

If a deal cannot be done for the RB Leipzig star, then it’s likely Arsenal will aim to conclude a deal for Sporting superstar Viktor Gyokeres.

The Gunners were interested in the Swede’s services last summer and that interest has remained over the last year. What’s the latest on this one? Well, amid interest from Premier League rivals, Manchester United, it appears as though Gyokeres would prefer the Gunners.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

That’s according to Saturday’s edition of Portuguese newspaper, Record. They suggest that north London and Arsenal is now a ‘dream’ destination for the 27-year-old attacker.

As a result, Record reveals that Man United are ‘no longer an option’ for the Sweden international. That’s despite the fact the Red Devils are now coached by Gyokeres’ previous manager at Sporting, Ruben Amorim.

According to previous reports, Arsenal have already lodged an offer worth £55m, of which £10m are bonuses.

What Viktor Gyokeres could bring to Arsenal

The great debate of the 2025 summer transfer window for Arsenal fans is whether Sesko or Gyokeres would be the better signing.

Well, as far as the raw numbers dictate, it would be the latter. There are few better finishers in the game right now than the Sporting sensation with the Swede scoring a ridiculous haul of 54 goals in 52 games throughout all competitions in 2024/25.

In the league alone, Gyokeres trumped Sesko considerably with the former now being described as “the best striker in Europe” by the Athletic, while former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot even posed the question: “Is he the best striker in the world right now?”

That question is a tricky one considering the level the big Swede has been playing at, but regardless of that, he’d surely be a sensational signing for Arteta’s attack.

They need goals and in the form of the Sporting star, they would find more of them. But, what qualities could be bring just outside of the goals?

Well, there are echoes of a certain Alexis Sanchez here. While the Chilean was certainly better on technique alone and he boasted better close control with the ball, they do have similar builds and running styles.

Indeed, one of the most notable traits Gyokeres can bring to the game is his bulldog-like style. His slightly stockier frame means he is a “human battering ram” in the words of the Athletic’s Mark Carey.

Outlining what makes him so difficult to deal with, Peter Kisfaludy, who was academy director at Gyokeres’s former Swedish club Brommapojkarna, once said: “He is a box player but he can also drive forward with the ball because he is fast and strong.”

What Arsenal have arguably lacked since the days of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sanchez up front is pace. Gyokeres would bring that, but like Alexis, he’d also bring the physicality to stand up to the test of rugged Premier League defences.

The Chile superstar has a similar bulldog-like approach, described by FourFourTwo as someone who “plays like he hates losing”, hassling defenders and never giving them a moment’s peace.

Ultimately diminutive in size, Sanchez has a compact build like the Swede and his muscular frame, particularly in the upper half of his body, meaning he could drive forward and burst past defenders with the same sort of power we see from Gyokeres.

There are obvious differences, we cannot deny that, but by luring the Sweden international away from Lisbon, Arsenal may finally find a ruthless centre forward with the same level of efficiency, one who’s capable of replicating the South American’s incredible impact at Arsenal.

Can you just imagine Alexis in this current Arteta side? We can only dream.

He's a dream for Rice: Arsenal are about to submit bid for £84m "magician"

The outrageously talented international would be game-changing for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 12, 2025

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays are out to change baseball, one stinking, annoying, pesky, skin-crawling, chalkboard-scratching, stone-in-my-shoe, please-make-it-stop foul ball at a time.

“That’s our goal,” says Toronto infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. “To change baseball. We’re doing something that’s not taught anymore. We’re trying to bring baseball back to … well, baseball.”

It is a lofty goal that is three wins within reach after such a pestiferous 11–4 World Series Game 1 victory Friday over Los Angeles that after it, Dodgers pitchers should have been reaching for calamine lotion instead of ice.

After five seasons in which only a top-four home run team has won the World Series, Toronto (11th in homers, first in lowest strikeout rate) wants to turn the baseball world upside down, if not back to the 1970s.

The Blue Jays scored their 11 runs on 14 hits, including three homers, while striking out just four times. Talk about retro. They turned the baseball clock all the way back to 1978, the time of bell bottoms, love beads and the only World Series game in which a team had so many runs, hits and homers with only four strikeouts: an 11–5 win for the Dodgers over the Yankees in 1978 World Series Game 3.

So artful was Toronto it had nearly as many hits as swings and misses (15). The Blue Jays fouled off 39 pitches, 19 of them with two strikes. Their turn at bat in the sixth inning played out like one of those floor-borne domino cascades in which the tiles topple over one-by-one in serpentine style; there was artistry in a chain reaction that seemed to go on forever.

Twelve batters against three pitchers in that inning saw 44 pitches, including 15 pitches with two strikes without a swing and miss, fouled 12 pitches, put nine balls in play, drew two walks, took a hit by pitch and hit two homers.

“The epitome of how we play baseball,” infielder Ernie Clement calls it. “That inning is pretty much all we do as a team, as a group.”

The Dodgers brought to the series the best swing-and-miss pitching staff in the National League, especially Game 1 starter Blake Snell, who had a 50% whiff rate in three postseason starts this year. Now they know they have a fight on their hands with the toughest team to put away in baseball, whether that refers to when the Jays trail (they scored 11 unanswered runs after falling behind 2–0) or when they have two strikes.

“He had his stuff tonight,” Kiner-Falefa says. “We did a good job of getting into their bullpen. The moment he came out of the game we took advantage. We wore him down as much as we could. And it’s tough to wear him down when he’s in the zone as much as he was.”