Tag Futebol

Neymar has taken a clear swipe at France Football while raging over Raphinha's final Ballon d'Or position. The Brazil and Barcelona winger finished fifth in the final vote, while Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele scooped the main prize ahead of second placed Lamine Yamal. Raphinha played a key role for Barca alongside Yamal as they won three domestic titles last season.

• Raphinha was among frontrunners to win Ballon d'Or

  Raphinha was among the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or this year, but when the results finally came out, the former Leeds United attacker finished fifth in the list. Dembele bagged the Golden Ball for the first time in his career ahead of Yamal, with Vitinha and Mohamed Salah completing the top five.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Neymar takes swipe at France Football

  As per , Raphinha's finish outside the top three enraged his Brazil national team colleague Neymar, who, in reply to an Instagram post, wrote: "Raphinha in 5th is too much of a joke."

• Raphinha beat Messi's Champions League record

  During the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, Raphinha registered 12 goals and eight assists as he surpassed Lionel Messi's club record goal contributions tally of 19, which the Barca legend achieved in the 2011-12 season. The Brazilian also scored 18 league goals as the Catalan side won the La Liga title. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Barcelona vs PSG looming large on horizon

  Barcelona will close out the month with La Liga games against Real Oviedo and Real Sociedad before their attention turns back to the Champions League. Raphinha will come up against Dembele when Barca host reigning European champions PSG in a blockbuster clash on October 1.

يخوض منتخب إنجلترا مساء اليوم الخميس، مباراة أمام نظيره اليونان، ضمن مواجهات بطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

وتقام المباراة على الملعب الأولمبي في آثينا، ويتنافس منتخب إنجلترا واليونان ضمن المجموعة الثانية في المستوى الثاني في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

ويتواجد منتخب إنجلترا في وصافة المجموعة الثانية برصيد 6 نقاط، وبفارق الأهداف عن منتخب اليونان متصدر المجموعة الذي يملك نفس العدد من النقاط.

ويقود المنتخب الإنجليزي المدير الفني لي كارسلي، والذي سيترك المهمة في يناير المقبل للألماني توماس توخيل.

ويفتقد كارسلي إلى 8 لاعبين كان قد استدعاهم، هم ديكلان رايس وبوكايو ساكا، وليفي كولويل وكول بالمر، وفيل فودين وجاك جريليش، وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد وحارس ساوثهامبتون أرون رامسديل. موعد مباراة إنجلترا واليونان اليوم

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة العاشرة إلا ربع مساءً بتوقيت مصر، الحادية عشر إلا ربع بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة إنجلترا واليونان في دوري الأمم الأوروبية

تذاع المباراة عبر قناة beiIN SPORTS HD2. معلق مباراة إنجلترا واليونان اليوم

يعلق على المباراة، جواد بدة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.

Whilst rumours over Alexander Isak's Newcastle United future have continued to steal the headlines, his exit could at least hand the Magpies a welcomed boost coming in the other direction, according to reports.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have wasted no time before getting their transfer business underway, with reports suggesting that they've reached an agreement to sign Lloyd Kelly on a free deal upon the expiry of his Bournemouth contract at the end of the season. The defender, who can play both centre-back and left-back, should significantly boost Eddie Howe's defensive depth and cover for injuries to both Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman.

Newcastle hit gold signing PL icon who'd be worth more than Mbappe in 2024

He went on to be one of the Premier League’s best-ever players.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 11, 2024

Meanwhile, further reports have also indicated that Tosin Adarabioyo could follow suit in another free deal for those at St James' Park. The Fulham defender could join Kelly to start Newcastle's summer transfer window in the best way possible. It seems clear so far that the taste of top-four failure is not one that PIF are keen to experience on a consistent basis in the Premier League. But it's not all good news.

According to Sport in Spain, Barcelona are eyeing up a move for Isak in a deal that could see Andreas Christensen move to Newcastle in the opposite direction, presumably alongside a fee as well. Whilst adding Christensen to Howe's side would solve any strength in depth problems in his backline once and for all, losing Isak would be a major blow.

The Swedish forward, nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award, is fairly irreplaceable and keeping hold of his far outweighs the need to welcome a player such as Christensen.

If the Magpies could find a way to sign the Barcelona defender without Isak involved, however, then it is a deal they would be wise to pursue in the coming months.

"Fantastic" Christensen would be major upgrade on Lascelles

Signing Christensen could suddenly leave Newcastle with three solid centre-back options, with arguably one more needed to truly cover for any future injury issues. The arrival of the Dane may also put an end to any reliance on Lascelles, who is a drop-off from Fabian Schar and Botman's quality and may not return to his best form after suffering an ACL injury.

League stats 23/24 (via FBref)	Andreas Christensen	Jamaal Lascelles
Progressive Carries	23	8
Progressive Passes	107	31
Tackles Won	14	9
Ball Recoveries	96	53

A former Chelsea player, Christensen was particularly impressive under Antonio Conte, who once told Sky Sports: "Christensen is having a fantastic season and he is showing great maturity. His performance was wonderful. I trust Christensen. I think this player is the present and also for the future for Chelsea. He can also become the captain of this team."

Since enduring a mixed spell at Barcelona, the Dane could now get a Premier League return through Newcastle, who would need to negotiate terms to meet his hefty reported salary of £173k-a-week.

On the final day of the Premier League season Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard and manager Mikel Arteta were both pretty insistent that this was only the beginning for this project.

Yes, Arsenal may well be without a trophy for a good few years now but the progression on the field and off it has been remarkable.

Arteta has steered the Gunners to consecutive title challenges, with the 2023/24 campaign proving to be particularly impressive.

They won 28 games, their most in a single Premier League season so how do they begin to bridge that two-point gap to Manchester City?

Well, they need to raise the floor of the squad.

Arsenal's summer transfer plans

What Edu and Co achieve behind the scenes this summer remains to be seen but one of the biggest priorities should be shifting dead wood from the squad.

That could mean an exit for a certain Thomas Partey. The midfielder has just a year left on his current deal at the Emirates and his wretched injury history suggests he's not someone to rely on.

2020/21

33

0

3

21

2021/22

26

2

1

19

2022/23

40

3

0

6

2023/24

16

0

0

26

Total

15

5

4

72

Speaking about the Ghainain's future in London, Fabrizio Romano recently stated: "They have several players lined up. There is a good chance they will bring in a new midfielder, Thomas [Partey] will leave, Jorginho has extended."

So who could replace him? Romano continued: "There are several players in the list. One player they’ve always appreciated is Douglas Luiz, but negotiating with Villa is never easy."

With Unai Emery's men now a Champions League outfit, trying to prise anyone away from Villa Park will be particularly troublesome, especially when Luiz is rumoured to possess a £100m asking price.

How Douglas Luiz compares to Thomas Partey

Partey had a rather bizarre campaign in north London this time out. Starting the season as a right-back – one of Arteta's strangest decisions yet – he quickly picked up an injury and he didn't seem achieve consistent minutes again until the run-in.

That said, he was clearly a player that the manager trusted. The £200k-per-week star started all of the last five league games, including the massive clash with Spurs on the road. There is a reason Yaya Toure described him as "unbelievable."

Were his performances always 'unbelievable', though? Perhaps not. Against Manchester United, in particular, he was clumsy in possession and fortunate not to give away a penalty. Versus Everton on the final day Partey was constantly bypassed by a central trio of Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

When he signed from Atletico Madrid this was an exciting acquisition, one which in truth, has improved the squad.

Yet, with progress as a club, comes the requirement for upgrades. That's precisely what Luiz would be.

Hailed as a "box-crashing 8" by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Villa star has been tracked by Arsenal for a while. They wanted him in 2022, only to be met by a series of rejected bids before he penned new terms in the Midlands.

They will now have to pay a premium but it could be worth it. After all, he looks like the perfect replacement for a certain Granit Xhaka, and the most ideal of midfielders to partner Declan Rice and Odegaard. He's a lot more dangerous in the final third than Partey, possesses immense composure and has that typical Brazilian flair. What's not to like?

So, how do the numbers stack up? Well, it's actually closer than you'd imagine, although the former Manchester City gem does come out on top in a number of areas.

Goals

0

9

Assists

0

5

Games missed via injury

21

2

Pass success

90%

86%

Progressive passes*

8.18

5.05

Progressive carries*

1.70

1.80

xG*

0.05

0.21

Key passes*

0.69

1.59

Shot-creating actions*

2.84

3.51

Tackles*

1.59

1.74

% of aerials won*

46.7%

58.1%

Luiz would be a substantial upgrade when it comes to contributing in the final third but Partey is still the better passer, breaking lines with ease and completing more per 90 minutes. That said, it's the Brazilian who's more likely to make something happen with his passing, hence a greater number of key passes.

It's pretty close defensively. Arsenal had the best defensive record in the division this term but Luiz still attempted more tackles and impressively, won a higher % of his aerial battles.

Pivotally, however, is the manoeuvrability. Partey looked pretty sluggish towards the end of the campaign but the Villa star is someone who can get about with great purpose.

After the addition of £105m Rice last summer, another hefty signing in the middle of the park may not be totally necessary but Luiz is certainly an upgrade on the partners the club's record signing has had so far.

Arsenal eyeing their next Aubameyang in free-scoring £120m "animal"

The incredible forward has been in red-hot form this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 24, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

da mrbet： O intervalo do Flamengo sem jogos chega ao fim da maneira como o clube não esperava. Isso porque as duas semanas cheias para trabalhar serviriam para descansar, treinar e preparar o elencopara as partidas dos últimos meses do ano. No entanto, a realidade é que o Rubro-Negro convive com pelo menos oito baixas e dúvidas para a partida contra o Palmeiras, neste domingo.

RelacionadasFlamengoVeja quantos títulos David Luiz, novo reforço do Flamengo, conquistou na carreiraFlamengo10/09/2021FlamengoCom ingressos de R$ 100 a R$ 900, Flamengo abre vendas para jogo contra o Grêmio, pela Copa do BrasilFlamengo10/09/2021FlamengoEleição do Flamengo: Marco Aurélio Assef, da Chapa Azul, oficializa candidatura à presidência do clubeFlamengo10/09/2021

da esport bet： A primeira baixa veio com Bruno Henrique, que teve uma lesão na coxa direita ainda na partida contra o Grêmio, válida pelo jogo de ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. O camisa 27está em recuperação de lesão muscular no CT, massegue como desfalque para o time de Renato Gaúcho.

> Entendacomo o Flamengo teve um final feliz com David Luiz

Rodrigo Caio também não estará à disposição de Renato Gaúcho, conforme informou inicialmente o site “ge”. O zagueiro, vale lembrar, realizou primeiro treino completo junto ao elenco do Flamengo na última quarta-feira.

No entanto, a comissão técnica que a volta do jogador, que se recupera de uma lesão no joelho, quando ele estiver 100%.Sem atuar desde 25 de julho, Rodrigo Caio chegou a realizar, segundo o clube, um trabalho de reequilíbrio biomecânico e muscular após uma série de lesões.

> Veja a tabela do Brasileirão

Na última quinta-feira, Filipe Luísrealizou exames que constataram lesão na panturrilha esquerda.As dores no local, inclusive, fizeram com que o lateral-esquerdo trabalhasse à parte do grupo ao longo da última semana.

No dia seguinte, o Flamengo informou que Diego estácom um edema na panturrilha direita. Assim, o Rubro-Negro perdeu mais um jogador para a partida contra o Palmeiras.

Já no último sábado mais uma baixa surgiu.Gabigol se reapresentou no Ninho do Urubu com dores musculares e, assim, sequer viajou com o grupo para São Paulo, conforme informou primeiramente o UOL.

Kenedy ainda segue de fora. O atacante já foi apresentado e teve o nome publicado no BID (Boletim Informativo Diário) da CBF, mas cumpre etapas para o recondicionamento físico. Ainda vale lembrar que o jogador chegou a testar positivo para Covid-19 antes de ser liberado para viajar ao Brasil.

Já o lateral-esquerdo Renê segue em recondicionamento após uma lesão muscular e, também, por ter testado positivo para o novo coronavírus. Dessa forma, a tendência é de que o jovem Ramon ganhe a titularidade diante do Palmeiras, neste domingo.

Outra baixa é Piris da Motta. O paraguaio ainda está no processo de recondicionamento físico após problema no tendão de Aquiles. Segundo o UOL, ele antecipou a volta da seleção paraguaia e também está vetado para o jogo contra o Alviverde.

Vale destacar que outros problemas ainda podem aparecer.Arrascaeta e Isla, que defenderam as seleções do Uruguai e do Chile, respectivamente vão direto para São Paulo e lá serão avaliados. A dupla é considerada como dúvida para a partida.

Dessa forma, com oito baixas confirmadas e com duas dúvidas, o Flamengo chega para enfrentar o Palmeiras, às 16h, no Allianz Parque. A partida, que será válida pela 20ª rodada do Brasileirão, terá transmissão em tempo real do L!.

علّق رودريجو، لاعب فريق ريال مدريد، على الإصابة التي تعرض لها في مباراة الأمس ضد بوروسيا دورتموند، قبل أيام قليلة من معركة الكلاسيكو ضد برشلونة.

وخاض ريال مدريد مباراة مثيرة في دوري أبطال أوروبا، أمام بوروسيا دورتموند، في الجولة الثالثة على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.

وفاز حامل اللقب، ريال مدريد، بخمسة أهداف مقابل هدفين، بفضل تألق فينيسيوس جونيور.

وشهدت المباراة تعرض رودريجو لإصابة أجبرته على الخروج في الدقيقة 85، وأثار المدرب كارلو أنشيلوتي القلق بشأنه (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

من جانبه، كتب رودريجو عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع إكس: “شكرًا لجميع رسائل الحب والدعم! سأجري الفحوصات غدًا”.

وأضاف: “مع الإيمان، لن تكون هذه الإصابة مشكلة كبيرة، سنظل أقوياء ومتحدين سويًا، هلا مدريد!”.

Gracias por todos los mensajes de cariño y apoyo! Mañana haré pruebas y, con fe, esta lesión no será gran cosa. Seguimos firmes, siempre con vosotros a mi lado. ¡HALA MADRID! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/H72xpAKACY — Rodrygo Goes (@RodrygoGoes) October 22, 2024

ويستضيف ريال مدريد نظيره برشلونة، في مباراة الكلاسيكو الأولى في الموسم الحالي من الليجا، يوم السبت المقبل.

Arsenal could be set to lose one of their young talents after it emerged that he wants to leave the club this summer, with the Gunners potentially set to receive nothing for him.

Arsenal set for big summer

Though they are currently leading the Premier League, Arsenal still have clear areas to strengthen under Mikel Arteta. Am out and out striker is desperately needed, but so too is a midfielder with Kai Havertz looking more comfortable higher up the pitch and the Gunners yet to truly replace Granit Xhaka after he departed last summer.

Arsenal eyeing £26m Partey replacement who could make Rice even better

The Arsenal target would only cost the club £26m.

ByTom Lever Apr 26, 2024

Meanwhile, Thomas Partey has struggled for fitness this season, making just his sixth Premier League start against Spurs. Elsewhere, Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny are both out of contract, while decisions will have to be made on Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira, neither of whom have kicked on this campaign.

Arsenal's midfield options

Player

Contract until

Jorginho

2024

Mo Elneny

2024

Thomas Partey

2025

Declan Rice

2028

Martin Odegaard

2028

Emile Smith Rowe

2026

Fabio Vieira

2027

It is certain that once more, the club will spend big in central midfield this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes among those that they are considering. But they won't have it all their own way.

Midfielder could leave for free

That comes as it seems that they are set to lose a talent for nothing in the shape of academy man Charlie Patino. The midfielder has spent successive seasons out on loan in the Championship, but after a strong start to his time at Swansea he has fallen down the pecking order, and hasn't started a game since New Year's Day.

With the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly now having moved ahead of him in the Gunners pecking order at academy level, and it seems a departure is likely. In fact, Patino is desperate to make one happen, with Italian media claiming that he has "no intention of staying at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta".

He has drawn admiring glances from both AC Milan and Roma, while the idea of the Serie A is said to "fascinate him". But there is yet no winner of the race, largely because the pair are also battling it out for scout Michele Fratini, who is perhaps the biggest proponent of Patino's talents in world football.

"He’s one of the greatest midfielders around. Left-footed, has innate class and is complete, as he’s adept at recovering balls as well", he told the media last year.

“Plays long balls well and has an excellent long range shot. I put five stars on him. He’s a diamond. I saw him two years ago, but now he’s consecrating himself by taking over Arsenal, one of the biggest teams in England. For him, if I were a chairman, I’d do crazy things.”

Therefore, whoever wins that battle is also likely to win the services of Patino, who will be available on a free transfer this summer with his contract up in north London. Despite his clear talent, it will not be a loss that Arsenal feel too keenly at this moment in time.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet7： Na noite deste domingo, Red Bull Bragantino e Fluminense empataram por 2 a 2, no estádio Nabi Abi Chedid, em partida válida pela terceira rodada da competição. Lucas Evangelista e Artur marcaram para a equipe paulista, e Caio Paulista e Abel Hernández deixaram tudo igual. Atrás do placar, o time misto de Roger Machado foi para cima do adversário, pressionou, e, nos acréscimos, conseguiu garantir um ponto.

O Red Bull Bragantino volta a campo na próxima quarta-feira, às 20h30, quando enfrenta o Corinthians, na Neo Química Arena. Já o Fluminense recebe o Santos na próxima quinta-feira, às 19h, no Maracanã.

RelacionadasFluminenseLuccas Claro vê Fluminense bem fisicamente, admite maratona pesada e exalta Nino: ‘Melhor do BrasilFluminense11/06/2021FluminenseNenê comemora quarto gol de falta pelo Fluminense e destaca: ‘É muito treino, toda semana’Fluminense12/06/2021FluminenseConheça os possíveis adversários do Fluminense nas oitavas de final da Copa do BrasilFluminense11/06/2021

da brdice： > Relembre momentos importantes de Fred com a camisa do Fluminense

MARCOS FELIPE FALHA, E LUCAS EVANGELISTA APROVEITA

O Red Bull Bragantino começou melhor e criou a primeira boa chance da partida. Logo aos quatro minutos, Lucas Evangelista enfiou boa bola para Ytalo, que invadiu a área pelo lado direito, passou pela marcação e cruzou para a área. Para sorte do Fluminense, Egídio apareceu na hora certa e fez o corte providencial que afastou o perigo – Artur estava livre para finalizar.

Contudo, um minuto depois, o RB Bragantino abriu o placar. Marcos Felipe saiu mal jogando com os pés, e a bola caiu no pé de Lucas Evangelista já no campo de ataque. Em rápida troca de passes, o camisa 8 tocou para Claudinho, que passou para Ytalo abrir o jogo para Lucas Evangelista. O volante encheu o pé e não perdoou o erro do goleiro tricolor.

NA TRAVE!

O Fluminense não sentiu o gol e foi para cima da equipe paulista. Praticamente durante os 12 minutos até os 20, o Tricolor ficou no campo de ataque em busca do empate. A melhor chance, porém, só veio aos 39 minutos. Depois de cobrança de escanteio de Egídio, Abel Hernández subiu mais alto que todo mundo e cabeceou no travessão. No rebote, Caio Paulista tentou uma bicicleta, mas não tinha ângulo para mandar a bola na direção do gol.

>Começou o Brasileirão! Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

FLU FALHA DE NOVO, E O RB BRAGANTINO AMPLIA

O Fluminense cometeu mais erros bobos na partida, que permitiram a equipe de Bragança Paulista chegar ao ataque com mais efetividade. Aos 25 minutos, Nino saiu mal, e a bola sobrou para Claudinho, que lançou Artur. O camisa 7 encontrou Aderlan sozinho, que bateu forte, mas sem direção.

Aos 47 minutos, o Flu cometeu mais um erro e, dessa vez, o Red Bull Bragantino aproveitou. Caio Paulista se enrolou sozinho com a bola, e Jadsom recuperou a posse para a equipe paulista. Depois de uma rápida troca de passes, Ytalo lança Artur, que venceu Marcos Felipe e ampliou a vantagem.

FLUMINENSE VOLTA LIGADO

Logo depois da volta do intervalo, aos três minutos, o Tricolor das Laranjeiras criou uma grande chance para diminuir o placar. Depois da cobrança de falta de Egídio, Abel Hernández apareceu sozinho e cabeceou a bola no travessão do goleiro Cleiton. No entanto, o bandeira levantou a bandeira e invalidou o lance.

Poucos minutos depois, foi a vez do RB Bragantino dar bobeira. Claudinho errou o passe e perdeu a posse. A bola cai nos pés de Abel Hernández, que consegue finalizar, mas parou nas mãos de Cleiton.

JOGO ABERTO

O Fluminense conseguiu construir mais uma boa chance aos 20 minutos da etapa final. Caio Paulista lançou Bobadilla em profundidade, o centroavante ficou cara a cara com Cleiton, tentou o drible, mas não conseguiu. No rebote, Abel Hernández apareceu e tentou a finalização. Mesmo sem goleiro, a bola saiu por cima do gol.

Minutos depois, o Red Bull Bragantino conseguiu a resposta. Wellington perdeu a bola na entrada da área, Helinho recuperou e enfiou para Claudinho. O camisa 10 do time paulista invadiu a área pela esquerda e tentou encobrir Marcos Felipe, mas a finalização saiu com muita força e a bola passou por cima do gol.

SAI O GOL DO FLUMINENSE

Depois de inúmeras tentativas, o Tricolor finalmente encontrou o caminho das redes. Após cobrança de escanteio de Egídio, Bobadilla desviou e deixou Caio Paulista numa boa para fazer o gol do Fluminense. O escanteio, inclusive, surgiu depois de uma finalização do próprio camisa 70.

NO APAGAR DAS LUZES, O EMPATE

O Fluminense, que tanto pressionou, foi premiado com o gol do empate. Aos 46 minutos do Nenê enche o pé da entrada da área e a bola bateu na mão de Fabrício Bruno.Leandro Pedro Vuaden marcou o pênalti, e, na cobrança, Abel Hernández garantiu o empate do Tricolor Carioca.

FICHA TÉCNICA
RED BULL BRAGANTINO 2 x 2 FLUMINENSE

Data/Hora: 13/06/2021, às 20h30
Local: Nabi Abi Chedid, Bragança Paulista (SP)
Árbitro: Leandro Pedro Vuaden (RS)
Assistentes: Jorge Eduardo Bernardi (RS) e Jose Eduardo Calza (RS)

Gols: Lucas Evangelista (1-0; 05’/2ºT), Artur (2-0; 47’/2ºT); Caio Paulista (2-1; 30’/2ºT);Abel Hernández (2-2; 48’/2°T)
Cartões amarelos: Natan, Jadsom (BGT), Luiz Henrique, Roger Machado (FLU)
Cartões vermelhos: –

> Veja a tabela do Brasileirão

RED BULL BRAGANTINO
Cleiton; Aderlan, Léo Ortiz, Natan (Fabrício Bruno 18’/2ºT) e Luan Cândido (Weverson 00’/2ºT); Jadsom (Raul 18’/2ºT), Lucas Evangelista e Claudinho; Artur, Helinho (Cuello 38’/2ºT) e Ytalo (Ligger 38’/2ºT).Técnico: Maurício Barbieri

FLUMINENSE
Marcos Felipe; Samuel Xavier (Calegari 34’/2ºT), Nino (Manoel 46’/2ºT), David Braz e Egídio; Wellington (Nenê 34’/2ºT), Yago Felipe e Ganso (Bobadilla 17’/2ºT); Caio Paulista, Luiz Henrique (Kayky 17’/2ºT) e Abel Hernández. Técnico: Roger Machado

Leicestershire secure first win of Vitality Blast to leave Durham rock-bottom

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2020Leicestershire 177 for 6 (Delany 68, Lilley 50) beat Durham 147 for 8 by 30 runsLeicestershire chalked up their first win in this year’s Vitality Blast, half-centuries from Gareth Delany and Arron Lilley helping them on their way to a comfortable 30-run victory over a Durham side which has now lost all three matches played.With this year’s Vitality Blast being a ten-game competition – Leicestershire’s first two games, against Derbyshire and Lancashire, were rained off, while Durham lost to Lancashire and Nottinghamshire – there was already something of a ‘must-win’ feel about the match.Batting first after winning the toss, Leicestershire quickly lost Harry Dearden, caught at cover after skying an attempted drive at Paul Coughlin, but Ireland international Delany, regularly clearing his front leg and targeting the off-side, hit the ball cleanly from the start.He was fortunate not to be stumped when he advanced down the wicket to left-arm spinner Liam Trevaskis, wicket-keeper Stuart Poynter failing to gather the ball cleanly, but otherwise gave no chances in going to his half-century off 35 balls, including six fours and two sixes. He had made 68, from 45 deliveries, before Trevaskis finally got his man, top-edging a straightforward catch to Scott Steel short fine leg in the 13th over.The momentum was maintained by Lilley, and in some style. The Lancastrian also had a moment of fortune, on 17, when Rimmington at mid-off was unable to hold a hard-hit drive off the bowling off Brydon Carse, but hit two sixes and five fours in going to his 50 off 33 balls as the Foxes posted a challenging 177 for 6.Needing nine runs an over, Durham struggled from the start. Leicestershire’s seamers judged the wicket well, taking the pace off the ball, and the spinners, led by left-armer Callum Parkinson, maintained the pressure. The key wicket was that of Alex Lees, and while the big left-hander could consider himself unlucky when having made 36 he pulled a delivery from Will Davis straight into the hands of George Rhodes at deep square leg, the pressure was already beginning to tell.Parkinson, Leicestershire’s top wicket-taker in last season’s T20 Blast, picked up three wickets, the last a brilliant caught and bowled to dismiss Carse, and having impressed with the bat, Delany also demonstrated his all-round abilities with some useful leg-spin.

The focus is on winning the trophy, but the players haven’t lost sight of the bigger picture

Andrew McGlashan in Sydney06-Mar-2020Sunday at the MCG will not be an ordinary day or an ordinary cricket match. It remains to be seen if the world-record crowd for a women’s sporting event is broken, but the match-up of Australia against India means there’s a great chance of it happening – after more than two years of hype and talk, the most anticipated day in the history of women’s cricket has almost arrived.”Thank goodness it’s here,” Australia captain Meg Lanning said with a smile in the aftermath of the tense rain-affected semi-final against South Africa in Sydney.

No rain threat for World Cup final

After all the rain-related drama of the semi-finals in Sydney, there doesn’t seem to be any such concern for the final at the MCG, with Melbourne forecast to be dry and sunny on Sunday. As the southern hemisphere is now heading into autumn, the evening may get a little chilly but there is very little threat of rain. And, unlike the semi-finals, there is a reserve day for the final on Monday.

For the two teams involved, holding aloft the trophy on Sunday evening will dominate their thoughts over the next many hours, but even those involved in the cut and thrust of elite sport can see the bigger picture to what will take place in Melbourne.”It was about showing there’s a pathway, there’s female role models out there for young girls to look up to, and really creating and inspiring young people to be involved,” Lanning said. “Not just young people in Australia, but around the world, that cricket is a really powerful sport and platform.”I think it’s been a great tournament so far. There’s been amazing games. There’s really great people involved. It seems like it has sort of fallen into place a little bit, and Sunday is going to be massive. We’re really pleased we get the opportunity to be a part of it. So hopefully there is 90,000 people there. Everything’s been done that could possibly be done, and we’re just really pumped we get to be out in the middle and play in front of everyone.” The Australians have seemingly accepted that the sporting cliché of treating a big match as just another game probably needs to go out of the window. “Definitely not,” Megan Schutt said when asked if would be like a normal game. “It is just another cricket match in a way but at the same time this country needs a bit of joy and to want to set a new world record is a cool thing to be a part of. Hopefully we can play our best cricket but if that doesn’t happen so be it.””I’m excited about the opportunity to be part of a pretty life-changing experience for the global game,” Beth Mooney said. “Cricket’s been a part of the Australian public’s life for a very long time and they have a knack of getting behind us, when there is adversity thrown at us and things like that so it’s really exciting to think the MCG could be full of people, some cheering for us, some cheering for India, but also cheering for the game and wanting to be part of something pretty special.”Delissa Kimmince will be the one surviving member of Australia’s 2009 World Cup side, the last time they staged a home women’s tournament, to take the field if she plays on Sunday – after the injury that ended Ellyse Perry’s tournament – and admitted her mind was drawn to the comparisons. She played two matches in the 2009 event, where Australia did not make the final, but this time against South Africa, she bowled her three overs for just 16 runs and claimed the key wicket of Mignon du Preez.”I was only thinking that today, it’s been nearly 12 years since that World Cup. It wasn’t a great one for me, bad memories all round,” she said. “When I look back on my career, I’m very grateful for these moments and what I’ve been able to achieve, the resilience I’ve had to show – I’ve had injuries, I’ve lost contracts – to come back and play a crucial role tonight it makes it all that more worthwhile and enjoyable.Beth Mooney steers into the off side•Getty Images

“At the end of the day, I’m just grateful to be here. Sunday will be a great opportunity, I have no doubt they’ll be a lot of nerves, but you just have to go out and enjoy those moments – they only come once in a lifetime.”As captain, part of Lanning’s job would be balancing the need to embrace the occasion while also keeping a focus on what happens in the middle. “It will be different, no doubt about that,” she said. “I’ve been to the MCG when there’s 100,000 fans there, and I’ve been in the stands, and the atmosphere is absolutely incredible, and I’ve sort of had goosebumps watching. To think that we’ll be out in the middle experiencing that, that’s going to be really exciting and such a great thing to be a part of.”Even the captains who had their hopes shattered on Thursday – one by rain and another by defeat – were able to acknowledge the larger impact of the tournament.”For girls, it’s an equal billing to the boys which has been outstanding,” Heather Knight said after England were eliminated following a washout against India. “Obviously today is disappointing but it won’t take too much shine off where the sport has gone. And you see if the money’s put into publicising it and putting it out there, that people do want to come watch it.”South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk said, “I know it’s going to be a cracking final. I wish I could be there in front of 90,000 people. I really hope you get the 90,000 people. Women’s cricket deserves it. It’s been there for a long time. It’s now the time for us, and obviously women’s sport, to rise.”