Germany came from behind to record a vital win over Denmark in the European Championship group stages, albeit in controversial circumstances.
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Lancashire bowled out for 204 with no one making fifty, Surrey reply at 83 without loss
ECB Reporters Network22-Aug-2024Rocky Flintoff made a creditable 32 on debut, as Lancashire’s youngest first-class cricketer at the age of 16 years and 137 days, but it was champions Surrey who ruthlessly took first-day honours at the Kia Oval.Put in, Lancashire were bowled out for 204 inside 59 overs, with no one making it to 50, and Surrey then replied with 83 for no wicket before bad light ended play 15.4 overs early. Skipper Rory Burns was 44 not out, including straight driving George Balderson’s medium pace for successive fours, and Dom Sibley unbeaten on 37.Jordan Clark (4 for 57) and Dan Worrall (3 for 31) continued their fine red-ball seasons by spearheading a five-pronged seam attack in which Conor McKerr also took two wickets and Sam Curran one in what was, for both, their first Vitality County Championship appearance of the summer.Matty Hurst, with 46 from 64 balls, played Lancashire’s best and most assertive innings, while Balderson’s 33 and Josh Bohannon’s 26 were other worthy efforts in seam-friendly overhead and pitch conditions.But most eyes were on Flintoff, who made 167 runs in seven Metro Bank One-Day Cup innings after becoming his county’s youngest player in any format last month, and who came in at 33 for 2 in the 11th over after both Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings had fallen to the new ball.Wells went in the fourth over for 9, dragging an attempted off drive into his stumps against Clark, while Jennings looked aggrieved to be given out leg-before for 12, pushing forward to an inswinger from Worrall.Off the mark first ball, clipping Worrall confidently for two off his pads, young Flintoff was soon living up to his reputation as one of the best players of his age to emerge in recent decades – on a day when most 16-year-olds around the country were more concerned about getting their GCSE results.Uncannily like his father Andrew in build and mannerisms – the former England captain and television celebrity was watching proudly from a hospitality box – the young Flintoff saw off Worrall’s fine opening spell of 7-3-9-1 and helped Bohannon to add 40 for Lancashire’s third wicket in tough, overcast conditions.He did have some moments of good fortune, being dropped at third slip on 13 when he edged Tom Lawes and later also flailing a returning Worrall just over the cordon for four as lunch approached, but otherwise he looked comfortable at the crease and mature beyond his years as Lancashire reached lunch on 98 for 3.Bohannon had gone by then, chopping on to McKerr for 26, and unfortunately for Flintoff he sliced a drive at the first ball after lunch, and his 64th – from Clark – and saw Sai Sudharsan dive forward at backward point to scoop up a brilliant catch.Jordan Clark celebrates a wicket•Getty Images for Surrey CCC
Hurst played some superb shots but was dropped by Clark from a skier on 45 before McKerr dived to his right to hold a magnificent low catch at leg slip in Curran’s next over and from 155 for 4 the Lancashire first innings fizzled out as Worrall, McKerr and Clark combined to overpower the tail.Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, on his Championship debut, played one memorable cover drive before optimistically jumping down the pitch to swing at Worrall and edge behind while Balderson, playing defensively, nicked the same bowler to first slip.McKerr’s pace and lift did for Tom Hartley, caught at the wicket for 5, and only some defiance from Tom Aspinwall – who hooked McKerr for six and extra cover drove him for four in a bright 23 not out – took Lancashire past 200 before they lost both Josh Boyden, who lifted a simple catch to mid off on 5, and Will Williams, caught behind, from successive deliveries from Clark.
Leeds United are interested in signing ex-Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares this summer, two months after his exit from the Gunners was confirmed.
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Tavares joined Lazio permanently this summerLeeds interested in Premier League returnWas previously on loan at Nottingham ForestFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Per Calciomercato, Leeds are interested in signing Tavares this summer as they prepare for a return to Premier League action. The left-back left Arsenal for the Serie A side on loan last summer, and the move was made permanent just two months ago. Now, though, Lazio are said to be willing to do business at around €25 million (£21.5m/$29m).
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West Ham are also said to have an interest in the full-back, who made just 28 first-team appearances for the Gunners. He has been on loan at Marseille and Nottingham Forest before heading to Lazio, where he enjoyed a standout season last term. He made 23 appearances in the league, providing eight assists.
DID YOU KNOW?
Leeds have already strengthened their backline this summer, bringing in centre-backs Jaka Bijol and Sebastian Bornauw from Udinese and Wolfsburg respectively. They have also signed forward Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg on a free transfer.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Leeds and West Ham may look to formalise their interest in Tavares in the coming weeks. It remains to be seen if he would be willing to move, however, having only just confirmed his transfer to the Italian giants.
Kumar Sangakkara, Brad Haddin, Alec Stewart and Alex Carey talk about Adam Gilchrist’s influence on cricket and their own careers
05-Nov-2019Kumar Sangakkara
Not just me, he influenced selectors as well to look at wicketkeeping from a different perspective completely – to understand that a wicketkeeper has to be highly skilled, but at the same time, if he can’t contribute with the bat, then picking him becomes quite difficult. So he challenged wicketkeepers to improve their batting, to understand how to bat with the tail.He defined a role for a batsman-wicketkeeper or a wicketkeeper-batsman, whichever way you describe it. You become a true allrounder: you have exceptional skills both with the gloves and with the bat.The unique thing about his batting was just that kind of abandon and freedom he played with. He assessed situations really well. He was a very high-quality batsman in terms of adapting to pace and spin and different types of wickets. Freddie Flintoff had him in trouble a few times coming around the wicket and making him edge the ball to the slips, but apart from that, he really decimated bowling attacks.He was never afraid of getting out: it was a case of imposing himself and taking the game away from the opposition. Many times he walked into tough situations and made a huge impact, to take Australia into a winning position.In 2007, Gilchrist smashed Monty Panesar for 24 in an over on his way to the then second-fastest Test century, off 57 balls•Getty ImagesAnd his glovework, keeping to Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill, was absolutely exceptional.A lot of specialist wicketkeepers won’t like Adam much because he sounded the death knell for that specialist’s role. But people like us, MS Dhoni, would be grateful for that change of mindset he influenced.He was awesome to watch. He was a wonderful cricketer and a wonderful ambassador for the game.Brad Haddin
He definitely changed the role of the wicketkeeper-batsman. Before Gilly came along, the batting was a bonus. But the way he revolutionised the role, you had to become an allrounder and contribute more with the bat.Everyone knew the talent he had for a long time; he had played a lot of one-day cricket before he got the chance to play Tests, and it was just refreshing to see how he came straight in and put his mark on the game and didn’t take a backward step.I was pretty content with who I was, and if I had tried to be an Adam Gilchrist, I would have ended up in a quiet corner of the room. I’d seen it happen a lot with people trying to follow Shane Warne. But these guys were greats of the game, so it was really important for me that I took Gilly out of the equation and just tried to be the best cricketer I could.
“Whether he went in at 180 for 5 or 350 for 5, he would play the situation, and that is cricket intelligence”Alec Stewart
Adam can come up in a conversation over a couple of beers as one of the greatest to ever play the game. Following him, you just had to be really conscious that you were comfortable being who you were and not try to do things that others tried to do. You had to make sure you brought to the table what you were strong with.One thing for a keeper is understanding what your role is, and that’s to change the momentum in games and get through some tough situations. Adam was one out of the hat: he could do things that no one else could. So you’ve just got to be sure you understand the role. Yes, you have to contribute with the bat these days – we’d all love to contribute Adam’s way.Alec Stewart
Before Gilly arrived, in a way, I might have started the batsman-wicketkeeper phenomenon. I was the reserve wicketkeeper to Jack Russell when I started my England career. But I was in the team primarily as an opening batsman. Andy Flower and Kumar Sangakkara did similar roles. We were all specialist batsmen, playing in the top six in the batting order and doubling up as keeper in the team.But Gilly took it to another level because of how he played. He had taken the place of Ian Healy in Australia, the best wicketkeeper I had played against. So Gilly came in as a lesser-quality keeper, but as a better, and game-changing, batsman. Even in Australian domestic cricket, he had replaced Tim Zoehrer at Western Australia, where he had moved to further his career. So big gloves and shoes to fill, replacing Zoehrer, and an even bigger place replacing Heals in Australia.Because of the way he batted, Gilly silenced the majority of his doubters straightaway. He was an unbelievable batsman, probably the best I have seen at No. 7 [in Test cricket] and opening in ODIs. Apart from being a wonderful timer, his shot selection and the ability to put the bowlers on the back foot so quickly was, in my opinion, his biggest strength. He imposed himself straightaway.Gilchrist’s talent as a batsman almost made it easy to forget he kept wicket to some of Australia’s most formidable bowlers•Getty ImagesWhether he went in at 180 for 5 or 350 for 5, he would play the situation, and that is cricket intelligence. But he would also turn the scoreboard around more times than not in the space of a session. One-eighty for 5, you would think could you roll the side for 280, but he would get them to 350-400 because of the quality of the player he was.Coming to his wicketkeeping, you wouldn’t put him in the Ian Healy class. I am not being rude here, and I hope Gilly would agree with me. Having said that, Gilly was a very, very efficient wicketkeeper. Put that alongside his world-class batting and you had a game-changing allrounder.Although a few of us I mentioned earlier had already influenced the selection of wicketkeepers with our batting, the arrival of Gilly and his instant success meant that the policy of selecting just the best gloveman regardless of him offering next to nothing with the bat was over. The wicketkeeper now has to do both to the right standards in international cricket, and that is thanks to Gilly. I am a massive fan of his and what he has done for the game of cricket and how he played.Alex Carey
Gilly was always my hero growing up. I was a wicketkeeper and a left-hand batter all through my junior ranks. I couldn’t wait to get the Greg Chappell cricket catalogue and buy Gilly’s gloves – the orange ones that he had.He was one guy who went out and changed the wicketkeeping mould for a lot of us, and he’s just one of those exciting players that everyone loved watching. There were a few favourite innings. I still go back to watch the Ashes Test at the WACA Ground where he was dancing down the wicket and hitting Monty Panesar miles, and scoring that unbelievable hundred. That’s one that stays with me.
“The strength of Gilly is to make sure that everything off the field is going well and you can go out and play with a big smile on your face”Alex Carey
I love how he took the game on, batting at No. 7. As a wicketkeeper our job hopefully is to come in and do some damage at the back end of an innings. In the shorter format he was pretty aggressive at the top. There were lots of exciting packages to watch from Gilchrist, along with his keeping too: some of those hangers he takes, the old throw-the-ball-up-with-the-left-hand, legs in the air – he was amazing.I’m fortunate enough to put on the green and gold and play some Big Bash and to have formed a relationship with Adam Gilchrist. Whenever I see a message from him, it always makes me pretty excited. It probably started with him as a commentator and myself getting into the Strikers team. The funny thing with Gilly and I is, we don’t really talk a lot about cricket when we catch up, which I think is a good thing as well. We have a great relationship away from the game, talking about footy, talking about family, rather than the skill sets on the field.There are times when I might need some advice from him, and he’s more than willing to do that. We had a quick catch-up in Manchester going back 12 months, which was fantastic. I think the strength of Gilly is to make sure that everything off the field is going well and you can go out and play with a big smile on your face.A bit of advice he gave me is making sure that every time I go out and play, it’s [about keeping in mind] what the team needs from me to help win a game of cricket. That’s something that has stuck with me through all three formats.
There was pace and bounce to contend with as well as a bout of cramps, and wickets kept falling around him, but India’s captain, as always, found a way to score runs
Sidharth Monga in Cape Town08-Feb-20182:23
Cullinan: Textbook construction of an innings from Kohli
Virat Kohli is tired, finally. He has reached 150, and he hardly celebrates. Just a limp raise of the bat. This is the last over of India’s allocation. This is his longest innings in ODI cricket. As it turns out, he is tired only for a couple of balls, and smacks a six and a four to end the innings. This is Kohli’s innings, this is Kohli’s series, this is Kohli’s tour, and this is Kohli’s India. Like it or not, question him or not, there is no ambiguity: this is his team, he will run it his way, and he will have no regrets about it.For if you have regrets, it is not possible to have the kind of tour Kohli has had: he has scored 604 out of India’s 1928 runs. As Bhuvneshwar Kumar added 67 with Kohli following a middle-order stumble, you wondered what would have happened if he had not been left out for the second Test. You wondered what might have happened had Ajinkya Rahane played the entire Test series. Not Kohli. He made decisions he felt were best for the team and he moved on; if he keeps revisiting them, he won’t be able to bat with the clarity he has displayed through the tour.When others were losing their heads in Centurion, it was Kohli who held India together and helped them compete. At every careless dismissal, he hit his pad with his bat in frustration, and threw his arms up. In the Johannesburg Test, it was Kohli who began to take the bowlers on and showed India that runs could be scored on that surface. He corrected his mistakes as captain. He was there calming down the chase in Durban, especially after having been involved in Shikhar Dhawan’s run-out.As India slipped in Cape Town, Kohli was there again, making sure he batted through the innings. The innings almost didn’t take off. Kohli clearly didn’t feel he had edged the ball when given out lbw on nought. The review was more in hope than conviction. If ever there was any doubt as to who the best batsman in the side was, Dhawan recommending a hopeful review cleared it. The pace and the bounce when the pitch was fresh was difficult to adjust to, as Rohit Sharma found out. There were a few inside-edges at the start of Kohli’s innings, there were times when he couldn’t time the spinners perfectly, but he is so addicted to making runs he found a way.BCCI”Some runs might come on more batting-friendly pitches, but I think with their attack, and the pace and bounce they were getting initially, you had to adjust your game,” Kohli said of his innings. “Then the wicket got considerably slower after the 30th over, so you had to again adjust your game, and make sure… with wickets falling also… it was pleasing from the point of view that we want someone to bat through the innings. And I was able to do that today. That feels really good that we could get to 300-plus compared to 275-plus. That is psychologically a big pressure thing for the opposition knowing that we have those two wristspinners as well.”It wasn’t easy as wickets kept falling on a pitch that slowed down. This was a time to reassess the target, to go for 300 and not end up with 250 while trying to go for 350. “I was pleased from that point of view that I was able to bat through because I was struggling with a bit of cramp around the 90s. Then wickets kept falling, I decided to hit out, because I thought I might not have enough energy left. Then amazing things can happen when you are thinking team all the time. You can push your body beyond limits that you might not push yourself otherwise. I experienced that today, and that was an amazing feeling.”Kohli had to run 100 out of his 160 runs in the dry heat of Cape Town. He didn’t tire. He doesn’t tire of scoring runs. He has made that sure with his improved fitness. “I am going to be 30 this year,” Kohli said. “I wanted to extend the quality of cricket that you want to play at an older age as well. I want to play this kind of cricket even when I am 34-35. That’s why I train so much. Because I am a guy who likes to play with intensity. Once that is gone, I don’t know what I am going to do on the field. I try to protect that. I try to train as much as I can. Keep a check on my diet. Those things pay off on days like these.”When the team needs it, and you stand up, and you are able to pull through. Amazing things happen when you are thinking of the team throughout. As an athlete you crave for days like these. These are the days that give you satisfaction. As a batsman as an India player, I am really happy I was able to contribute to the mood in the change room.”This was a day when Kohli batted with a control rate of under 80%; JP Duminy and Aiden Markram were well over 80. South Africa bowled decently to him, making him flick balls as opposed to his favourite drive. It wasn’t a pretty innings. This hasn’t been a pretty tour. It was Kohli’s innings, this has been Kohli’s tour.
Turning their attention towards the summer transfer window and navigating any PSR concerns, Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race to sign a South American wonderkid.
Aston Villa facing PSR concerns
As successful as the Villans have been on the pitch, that success may well come at a price amid concerns over profit and sustainability. Those at Villa Park haven’t been afraid to spend big in recent seasons, but after making losses of more than £105m across the last three campaigns, they are in danger of breaching PSR rules, according to reports.
After Chelsea decided to sell their woman’s team to a sister company in an attempt to comply with the rules and find a loophole, Aston Villa seem to have taken note and are now looking at selling similar stakes. Whether criticised or not, it would be quite the way to avoid any punishment.
Amid such problems, meanwhile, Champions League qualification may prove to be more important than ever if Villa want to ease their concerns and avoid having to sanction frustrating sales.
Aston Villa make contact to sign fast African attacker who loves an assist
He’s a youngster in demand.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 5, 2025
The Midlands club already sold Jhon Duran for big money during the January transfer window before welcoming Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on loan, but should look to avoid a repeat of such a departure this summer.
Whether that’s in their hands remains to be seen, however. What hasn’t helped ease their concerns is David Ornstein’s recent report that Morgan Rogers is among those attracting big admirers ahead of the summer transfer window. It’s a narrative that Aston Villa must put to bed as soon as possible before turning their focus towards signing one particular star.
Aston Villa set sights on South American talent Rayan
Whilst Aston Villa must spend wisely if they are to spend this summer, one young forward slots into the category of players they should be able to afford in the coming months and one they should do everything to avoid missing out on. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Rayan from Vasco da Gama.
The 18-year-old winger has attracted plenty of attention from interested parties in the Premier League, with Villa joined in line for his signature by Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Described as a “physical, bulldozing forward” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Rayan is still just 18 years old and a player who looks ready to complete his first move into European football.
Unai Emery rarely needs to convince players about his Aston Villa project these days, and Rayan should be no different. Like others before him, the forward would thrive under the Spaniard.
One area West Ham United have struggled in this season, even with the improvements made under Graham Potter, has been the construction of their midfield and lack of mobility in central areas.
Adjustments such as the pressing scheme and triggers under Potter have helped to cover those deficiencies, but this is clearly an area they should be prioritising in the summer.
Current midfield options include Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Carlos Soler, Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse.
Since Ward-Prowse returned from his Nottingham Forest loan, Potter has favoured starting him alongside either Alvarez or Soucek, bringing more quality on the ball in those deeper areas for progression.
However, his return has not helped add mobility in the middle of the park, something they have lacked since Declan Rice was sold to Arsenal back in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, for a whopping £105m.
Declan Rice's record at West Ham
Rice made 245 appearances for the Hammers first team in his ten years at the club, scoring 15 goals, providing 13 assists and totaling 20,580 minutes.
He also captained the side to their first European trophy since 1965 under David Moyes, winning the UEFA Conference League in the 2022/23 season, a campaign that would prove to be his last year with the club.
Towards the back end of his time at West Ham, Rice was lauded as a “monster on the pitch” by teammate Mark Noble, with the big-money move coming as no real shock.
Since Rice joined Arsenal, the club have been looking to replace his attributes in the middle of the park, signing a multitude of players, all of whom can offer different attributes, but all of whom have failed so far to replicate anything close to the performances Rice was delivering week after week.
Perhaps, the Hammers could well be regretting letting Rice 2.0 leave for a bargain price…
West Ham have already sold Rice 2.0
Moyes and co sold midfielder Josh Cullen to Anderlecht in 2020, for a fee of just £500k. The then 24-year-old became a key figure for the Belgian outfit, working under Vincent Kompany, who he then went on to work with once more at Burnley years later.
Goals + Assists
0.08
0.16
Progressive Carries
0.50
2.45
Progressive Passes
5.12
6.59
Pass Completion %
87.8%
86.5%
Passes into Final Third
5.32
6.40
Key Passes
0.76
1.02
Shot-Creating Actions
2.28
2.75
Tackles + Interceptions
2.09
3.94
Ball Recoveries
5.73
9.18
Aerial Duels Won
1.14
1.02
When comparing Cullen’s underlying metrics from this season against Rice’s underlying numbers from his last West Ham campaign, you can clearly see Rice ranks much higher in many metrics.
But the tenacity in midfield shown by ball recoveries, aerial duels won and tackles and interceptions is still there, and he would have eased the loss of Rice’s on-ball progressive impact, as Cullen also thrives in this department.
Kompany described Cullen as the “ultimate player” praising his effort and labeling him as a shining example for his fellow professionals.
This is the exact sort of character West Ham could have used after losing Rice, not only replacing many attributes they lost when he walked out the door, but also bringing that sense of calm and leadership to the team.
Whilst it’s hard to compare Cullen and Rice on talent alone, the hard-working culture they share in their respective midfield roles does draw comparisons, both willing to do the hard yards for their side, which is exactly what West Ham have been missing since Rice left the club.
Mark Noble discussing cheap West Ham transfer to sign "sensational" forward
West Ham could finalise a bargain deal ahead of next season.
BySean Markus Clifford Mar 21, 2025
Real Madrid have announced Xabi Alonso as their new manager, replacing Carlo Ancelotti in the Bernabeu hotseat.
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Real Madrid announce Alonso as managerReplaces AncelottiWill be unveiled on MondayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Alonso, who played for the La Liga giants between 2009-14, leaves Bayer Leverkusen after achieving extraordinary success, notably beating Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title last season. He now succeeds Ancelotti, who has departed to take on the Brazil national team job after a trophyless campaign at the Bernabeu.
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A Real Madrid statement said: "Real Madrid CF announces that Xabi Alonso will be Real Madrid's manager for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. Xabi Alonso is one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football. Now he returns to Real Madrid as one of the best coaches in the world, after making history at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the League, Cup, and German Super Cup in three seasons."
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Alonso will be unveiled at an event in Madrid on Monday before getting to work. He will be tasked with unlocking the potential of a squad featuring global superstars Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to become his first signing.
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Alonso will not have long to get his feet under the table, with Real's Club World Cup campaign beginning against Al-Hilal on Wednesday June 18. He will also hold his first press conference on Monday May 26.
The Blaugrana came from 2-0 down to be on the verge of a famous victory, only to concede twice in devastating fashion and lose in extra-time
Barcelona were beaten 4-3 by Inter on Tuesday in an exhilarating Champions League semi-final that ended with the Italian side winning 7-6 on aggregate despite Hansi Flick's side being seconds away from securing a spot in the final.
The hosts raced into a two-goal lead via strikes from Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu, before Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo drew Barca level shortly after the break.
Raphinha then seemed to have booked his side's place in the final with an 87th-minute strike, only for Francesco Acerbi to equalise in added time. Davide Frattesi then struck in the first half of extra-time to settle this epic tie.
GOAL rates Barcelona's players from the San Siro…