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Well, that was all a little bit special, wasn't it? England have had to work hard during this tournament, they've had to dig deep, face questions, face a barrage of quite unnerving criticism at times.

Was that all deserved? It's hard to dispute that question. Yet, here they stand, here we stand as a proud nation on the verge of something remarkable.

For the first time in English football history, they are through to the final of a major tournament on foreign soil. They will face Spain on Sunday, hoping to become Euro 2024 champions. They will have to do it against the competition's best side.

However, very rarely do the best team win in tournament football. It's becoming all the more apparent that knock-out games are about moments. Special moments. Oh so special moments. We have lived and breathed them over the last few games.

Truth be told, Gareth Southgate's men should be back at home. Though, they have Jude Bellingham's overhead kick against Slovakia to thank. They have the heroes of the penalty shootout on Saturday to thank and they now have Ollie Watkins to thank too.

The Aston Villa star had played just 20 minutes at the Euros this summer against Denmark in the group stages but came up with a simply astonishing moment of individual brilliance in the 91st minute.

Turning on a dime, Watkins swivelled and then struck the ball past Bart Verbruggen, sparking euphoria among England's players.

Still, there is one last job to do against Luis de la Fuente's Spain side this weekend. Can they? The nation will hold a collective hope.

Before that, let's attempt to do each player justice after Wednesday night's efforts. Here are our player ratings.

1 Jordan Pickford – 6

The Everton goalkeeper was one of the heroes last weekend, saving Manuel Akanji's penalty against the Swiss. Didn't have much to do on this occasion and was beaten by Xavi Simons' rasping first-half strike.

2 Kyle Walker – 6

Better from the full-back tonight after a few rather inconsistent games at this tournament. Made a fabulously well-timed tackle on Cody Gakpo to stop a run in behind during the second half.

3 John Stones – 6

Another decent performance from one of England's most consistent players at this tournament. Didn't have a huge amount to do but stuck with Wout Weghorst and Co well late in the game.

4 Marc Guehi – 7

Very good again from a man who could well go down as England's Player of the Tournament.

5 Kieran Trippier – 5

Same problems as The Three Lions have had all tournament on the left-hand side. Not high enough and as a result stifled England's attacking threat. Did okay defensively.

6 Kobbie Mainoo – 7

Brilliant. Southgate deserves praise for finally picking him and the Manchester United teen has repaid him excellently. Ended the game having completed 86% of his passes and won 100% of his duels.

7 Declan Rice – 5

Dispossessed for the goal and made a number of lapse passes. Not the Arsenal man's finest performance for his country.

8 Jude Bellingham – 6

Struggled again truth be told and was probably lucky not to be hooked when Cole Palmer came on. Still, you know he's capable of golden moments and he helped England get up the pitch in the second half.

9 Bukayo Saka – 7

Not as bright as he was against the Swiss but still England's best-looking forward player of those who started. Constantly drove at Nathan Ake and was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside in the second period.

10 Phil Foden – 7

Much better from Foden on Wednesday. The system change has really helped him pick up more pockets of space in the centre of the pitch. Almost scored a beauty from range that struck the post.

Real Madrid have prepared a four-man shortlist to bolster their backline backline in the January transfer window.

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Real looking to bolster their backlineHave prepared a four-man shortlistLos Blancos have conceded 11 goals in La Liga this seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Los Blancos made two major additions to their attack this summer as Kylian Mbappe joined them from Paris Saint-Germain for free and Endrick arrived from Palmeiras. The club, however, did not make any major defensive signings despite Nacho and Rafa Marin's departures from the club. They were chasing Lille's Lenny Yoro closely, but the young French defender eventually moved to Manchester United.

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The reigning Spanish champions' defensive woes got further exposed during their recent El Clasico encounter as their arch-rivals Barcelona scored four goals past them. Carlo Ancelotti's side are currently trailing the Catalan giants by six points in La Liga and have already conceded 11 goals in as many appearances.

DID YOU KNOW?

Amid their defensive crisis, now reports that Real have prepared a shortlist of four centre-backs for the upcoming January transfer window to bolster their backline. The first name on the list is Palmerias sensation Vitor Reis, who is also wanted by Premier League giants Chelsea and Arsenal. They are also keeping an eye on Bundesliga defenders Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig's Castello Lukeba. The final name in their shortlist is Al-Nassr and former Manchester City star Aymeric Laporte.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

The Spanish champions were supposed to take the field in La Liga on Saturday against Valencia, however, the match got postponed due to flash floods which tragically claimed at least 95 lives. They will next face AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Stand-in captain Peirson’s quickfire 69 was in vain as Strikers defended 17 off the last two overs

Alex Malcolm23-Dec-2020The Adelaide Strikers have survived an extraordinary innings from Jimmy Peirson to pull off a nail-biting win at the Gabba and ensure the Heat remain winless after three games.The Heat were 8 for 68 needing 83 to win from 40 balls. But Peirson nearly stole the game, smashing 69 not out from 36 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He got great support from Mujeeb Ur Rahman but when Mujeeb fell he had no margin for error.Peirson and Ben Laughlin needed just 17 runs off the last two overs but faced eight dot balls between them as Laughlin couldn’t get off strike in the penultimate over and Peirson was unwilling to risk him getting on strike in the last.The result came at a huge cost for both clubs with Chris Lynn and Rashid Khan suffering hamstring injuries. Lynn damaged his left hamstring running to catch a high ball during the warm-up and was unable to play. The injury occurred after the toss but the Strikers allowed the Heat to change their team as per the BBL guidelines. Simon Milenko came into the side and Peirson took over as captain for the first time in his T20 career.Rashid injured his right hamstring chasing a ball in the 18th over and limped off in some discomfort having earlier taken 2 for 30.Renshaw returns
Matt Renshaw was one of a number of players who left the Heat during the off season and he returned to have an impact early. He entered at 1 for 2 in the first over after Jake Weatherald fell. The standard of umpiring in the lack of DRS in the BBL has been a significant issue this season and Weatherald’s dismissal only added to the dismay. Batting well out of his crease against Xavier Bartlett, he was struck well above the knee roll and was adjudged lbw. Ball tracking had it going well over the stumps. Renshaw and Phil Salt put together a 60-run stand which took 53 balls. But in the context of the game on a two-paced surface, it was a significant stand. Salt nearly ran himself out three times but Renshaw looked composed punishing anything short. But both men fell to Mark Steketee in consecutive balls in the 10th over to leave the Strikers vulnerable.Adelaide Strikers celebrate after Jimmy Peirson’s stunning knock nearly stole the game•Getty ImagesUnderstudy Nielsen steps up
Harry Nielsen only got his opportunity because Alex Carey was ruled out due to the Queensland border closure. But he played a brilliant innings to help the Strikers reach 150. He found the rope more than any other Strikers batsman, hitting three fours and a six on the Gabba’s expansive boundaries. Nielsen and Jonathan Wells combined for 57 in just six overs including 25 off the Power Surge overs. Nielsen holed out in the 19th over to Jack Wildermuth and Wells fell in the 20th to Bartlett. The Heat quicks completed outstanding spells taking 4 for 49 from their combined eight overs and conceding just one boundary each.Heat horror show
It was always going to be a challenge without Lynn but the Heat top order did themselves no favours as they collapsed to 8 for 68. Sam Heazlett guided a catch to backward point second ball to start the rot. Daniel Worrall had the ball swinging late away from the right-handers but stand-in captain Peter Siddle turned to his spinner Danny Briggs for the second over, despite the fact he had been subbed out of the last two games. Briggs bounced back in a big way. He picked up Milenko before Rashid Khan completely deceived Max Bryant and Dan Lawrence with neither able to pick him. Briggs picked up two more in the collapse although one would have been overturned had there been a DRS in place. Tom Cooper was given lbw when he got a huge deflection from a reverse sweep onto his pad. The decision could be the most definitive case yet for the introduction of the DRS in the BBL.Peirson Power Surge pyrotechnics
All hope looked lost for the Heat when they took the Power Surge in the 15th over but Mujeeb did what the top order of his side could not, clobbering Rashid Khan for two reverse-swept fours and a six. Peirson then clubbed Siddle for 23 with two attempted yorkers sailing over fine leg’s head into the crowd. Suddenly the Heat needed just 37 from 24. Peirson should have been run out diving for two but a poor throw and the rule change that allows for the bat to bounce once it had been ground behind the line meant he survived. He clubbed two more boundaries off Wes Agar to reach 50 and reduce the equation to just 23 from 18 balls. But Siddle made up for his mistakes in the Power Surge nailing a yorker to clean bowl Mujeeb.That left Peirson will no room for error. A well-placed two off the last ball of the 18th over was the nail in the coffin. Ben Laughlin faced five dot balls in the 19th over from Agar. It left Peirson needing 13 in the last to win. He paddled Worrall’s first ball for four and found a gap at midwicket to run two and leave just seven to get from four balls. But Worrall hit three yorkers in a row that Peirson hit straight to fielders in the deep. He turned down the single on each occasion knowing that an attempt at two would have resulted in a certain run out. It meant he needed six off the last ball to send it to a Super Over but could not get any elevation, slumping to his knees after finding the rope to leave the Heat two runs short.

Paul Pogba has sent a message to his supporters and the game of football as he counts down the days to ending a doping ban and returning to action.

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Sidelined since September 2023Lengthy ban reduced on appealWill be free to return in March 2025Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The World Cup-winning Frenchman has been stuck on the sidelines since September 2023. He was initially stung with a four-year suspension from all football-related activity, but has seen that sanction reduced to 18 months on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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Pogba is still some months away from getting the green light to resume his playing career, with the 31-year-old midfielder having to wait until March 2025 before finding himself in a position to kick a competitive ball in anger again.

WHAT POGBA SAID

The former Manchester United star is, however, chomping at the bit and looking forward to rejoining training sessions and putting himself in contention for game time. He has posted on social media as fans prepare for his return: “I miss you.. a lot!! I’m getting ready to come back. I promise.”

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WHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen when and where Pogba’s next appearance will come. He is tied to a contract at Serie A giants Juventus through to 2026, but there has been talk of those terms being cut short – which would allow the France international to find a new club as a free agent.

Philippe Clement knew the size of the task awaiting him at Glasgow Rangers this summer, but is it looking like a job that could stretch into future transfer windows?

Releasing five players at the end of their contracts in May was good progress, shaving thousands off the wage bill in the process, yet this won't be enough to fund future arrivals.

Indeed, players such as Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Scott Wright could all be sold in the coming weeks, yet the trio are all still at Ibrox.

Might it be a player who has contributed so much to the club in recent years who is the first to be sold this summer? As a fresh update has been given regarding his future.

Rangers could cash in on their top scorer from last season

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Rangers captain James Tavernier could be set for a move to join Turkish side Trabzonspor.

On Thursday evening, the respected insider revealed that the Super Lig outfit have lodged a "formal proposal" for the Englishman, and while a further update revealed that the offer has been rejected, they could return with "improved terms".

It hasn’t been the first time the right-back has been linked with a move away from Ibrox this summer. A few months ago, Steven Gerrard, now manager of Saudi outfit Al-Etiffaq, was linked with a move for his former player, according to reports from the Middle East (via Football Scotland).

Another former Rangers manager, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, was also looking to take Tavernier away from Glasgow in a bid to bolster Besiktas, meaning the captain has had no shortage of admirers this summer, that’s for sure.

Could this fresh rumour regarding interest from Trabzonspor be the most realistic of the lot? And will Clement cash in on the defender in order to raise precious funds? Only time will tell.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

58

24

12

2022/23

55

18

12

2021/22

58

18

17

2020/21

46

19

17

2019/20

46

3

16

2018/19

57

17

20

2017/18

46

9

9

2016/17

44

2

7

2015/16

50

15

23

If his nine-year association with the Glasgow side does come to an end this summer, he will depart with the best wishes from the Ibrox faithful.

Might his exit be as sad as when Gerrard left suddenly in 2021 to take over at Aston Villa?

Steven Gerrard’s record as Rangers manager

The former Liverpool icon arrived in Glasgow back in May 2018 with one aim, to stop Celtic in their tracks.

His first two seasons saw plenty of progress on the pitch but were certainly a learning curve in how best to return the Ibrox side to the summit of Scottish football.

The summer of 2020 proved to be the turning point. Buoyed by Celtic’s complacency, the Gers went through an entire league season undefeated, securing their first title in a decade, all while preventing their arch-rivals from winning the much coveted tenth title in a row.

This should have been the beginning of a new era for the Light Blues. With Gerrard’s pulling power at the helm, they should have bolstered their squad that summer, yet failed to do so, which led to the club failing to qualify for the Champions League group stages.

Following a stuttering start to the 2021/22 campaign, Gerrard joined Villa in mid-November, thus ending a three-and-a-half-year stint at Rangers.

It took a while for the supporters to get over Gerrard leaving. Might it be the same if Tavernier did likewise?

James Tavernier’s season in numbers

The Englishman finished as the club’s top scorer for the second season in a row last term, netting a staggering 24 goals from right-back in all competitions, pipping Cyriel Dessers to top spot by two goals.

Add in 12 assists, and it is clear to see exactly what the club will be missing should the 32-year-old finally leave this summer.

It wasn’t just his goal contributions which saw him rank highly in the squad last term. Indeed, when compared to his teammates, Tavernier ranked first for big chances created (19), key passes per game (3) and for goals and assists (27) in the Premiership, showing how crucial he was in the final third for Clement’s side.

His goal contributions tailed off towards the end of the season and his mentality was poor during the final weeks, as the Gers suffered defeats against Motherwell, Ross County and Celtic, which saw the league title slip away.

Tavernier's impact at Rangers

While the time may be right for both parties to go their separate ways, it is clear that Clement will have an impossible job of replacing the numbers to which the captain contributes from right-back.

Across 460 games for the Gers, Tavernier has scored 125 goals while registering 129 assists, staggering numbers.

This total of 254 goal contributions for the club works out as a ratio of one goal involvement every 1.8 matches, a stat which would be impressive for a centre-forward, never mind a defender.

Kris Boyd lavished praise on the player in 2022, saying: "Since signing in 2015, Tav has been a key figure in Rangers' recent journey.

"People will rightly point to title No 55 and the part he played in that. They will also look at his role in helping Gers to reach last season's Europa League final. But he's delivered a helluva lot more than that.

"He's become a proud ambassador for the club. As captain, he sets an example for others to follow. His numbers, in terms of goals and assists, speak for themselves. But it's the way he has carried himself that has been so impressive.”

If Clement can sell him for a decent transfer fee, the move will give him some flexibility in the transfer window in terms of new signings.

With the first match of the new season just two weeks ago, it is clear several new players are required to freshen up the starting XI.

Will Tavernier be in the squad for the clash against Hearts at the start of August? It remains to be seen, but the Ibrox faithful must be careful what they wish for.

Rangers could finally axe Dessers by signing £5m Scotland international

Philippe Clement has shown interest in a current Scottish international…

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 17, 2024

Club and ECB appeal to CDC after reduction of matches from 14 to ten in 2021 season

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2021Somerset’s points handicap for next season’s County Championship has been reduced to reflect the competition’s remodelled format, after they were sanctioned by the Cricket Discipline Commission in 2019 for breaching the ECB Pitch Regulations with their spin-friendly surfaces for home fixtures.The club was originally handed a 24-point penalty for the 2020 season – of which 12 were suspended – after being deemed to have prepared a substandard pitch for their Championship decider against Essex at Taunton in September 2019, a match in which Essex held on for a draw to secure their second title in three seasons.The deduction was initially rolled over into 2021 when the onset of Covid-19 led to the cancellation of last summer’s County Championship and the introduction of the Bob Willis Trophy, a competition in which Essex and Somerset once again played off for the title in the final at Lord’s, with Essex again taking the title after a hard-earned draw on the final day.But now, with the Championship divided into three initial groups of six to mitigate against further Covid disruption in 2021, a joint petition from Somerset and the ECB has resulted in the CDC adjusting their penalty to reflect the competition’s reduction from 14 matches (in an eight-team first division) to ten.Related

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Somerset will now begin the season with a direct eight-point penalty in the Championship’s group phase, but if they commit any further breaches of the pitch regulations in 2021, they could face a further sanction, in addition to the suspended element of their punishment, which will be revisited when the format for the 2022 County Championship is confirmed by the ECB.However, the amended sanction comes just days after Somerset’s former spin pairing of Dom Bess and Jack Leach combined with 14 wickets at Galle – including a five-for in either innings – to set up England’s seven-wicket win in the first Test against Sri Lanka.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo in the wake of that victory, senior figures at Somerset said that their overwhelming feeling was one of pride at the achievements of their spinners, with both Jason Kerr, the head coach, and Tom Abell, the captain, feeling that the club deserved recognition for the role it plays in preparing English cricketers for facing spinning conditions overseas.”Surfaces need to be good enough for four-day cricket, definitely,” Kerr said, “but ultimately you want to encourage skill development and make sure that batters are prepared to go to somewhere like Sri Lanka, and perform as well as they do in Australia or anywhere else in the world. Yes, we want to win competitions, but to me, domestic cricket is there to help make the England team as strong as possible.”

The West Indies batsman added his name to record books against Akila Dananjaya who had just taken a hat-trick

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-20210:25

Pollard on six sixes in an over: ‘An achievement that’s right up there’

5.1 Dananjaya to Pollard, SIX runs Pollard goes down on one knee and slogs this length ball over long-on. There was a shout of catch it but Pollard cleared the boundary by some distancePhilip Spooner/CWI5.2 Dananjaya to Pollard, SIX runs This time muscles it into the sightscreen. Too full from Dananjaya this time and Pollard just latched onto thisPhilip Spooner/CWI5.3 Dananjaya to Pollard, SIX runs Another hat-trick of sixes. Fuller and a touch wider but it makes no difference to Pollard, who smashes it over wide long-off. Pollard isn’t worried by those quick wicketsPhilip Spooner/CWI5.4 Dananjaya to Pollard, SIX runs Make that four in a row! What a bizarre day for Akila Dananjaya, who has been clubbed for four successive sixes after a hat-trick in the previous over. Was a length ball around off and Pollard slogged it over deep midwicket. He hit it with the spin and it keeps sailingPhilip Spooner/CWI5.5 Dananjaya to Pollard, SIX runs Whoa! Five sixes in five balls for Kieron Pollard. This is carnage. A length ball outside off, Pollard rocks back and uses all his power to launch it straight over the bowler’s headPhilip Spooner/CWI5.6 Dananjaya to Pollard, SIX runs no, it doesn’t. Kieron Pollard has smashed six sixes in an over here. Yuvraj Singh has got company. Fired in on to pads and a chip, just a mere chip and it flies over the deep midwicket boundary. A bow from Pollard to acknowledge the applause from his team-matesPhilip Spooner/CWI

Crysencio Summerville is a huge talent who has been on the radar of Newcastle United in the last couple of months, hardly a surprise given his excellent form from last season.

The Dutch winger registered a total of 28 goals or assists, but it wasn’t enough to secure an immediate Premier League return for Leeds United as they suffered defeat in the play-off final.

As a result, it’s all but guaranteed that Summerville will depart Elland Road ahead of the upcoming campaign, with Newcastle battling the likes of West Ham United, Chelsea and Fulham for his signature.

Any deal would cost upwards of £30m, a fair price in today’s market, but a huge risk on a player who’s previously only scored four goals in England’s top flight.

He’s not the only forward on boss Eddie Howe’s radar, with the Magpies submitting a bid to sign a star who has enjoyed huge success during the off-season.

Newcastle make £26m bid to sign attacking talent

According to Spanish sources, Newcastle have submitted a €30m (£26m) bid to sign Barcelona forward Ferran Torres this summer.

The 24-year-old has scored seven goals in his 29 LaLiga appearances this season, with his goalscoring exploits potentially able to complete the Magpies’ frontline in 2024/25.

Barca desperately need to raise funds this summer to help combat their current financial issues, with Howe’s side needing to take advantage and sign the former Manchester City ace.

Torres was a part of the Spain squad that won Euro 2024 this summer, making five appearances, while scoring one goal in the 1-0 victory over Albania in the group stage.

The 24-year-old has previously starred at St James’ Park, scoring a hat-trick against the Magpies during City’s 4-3 on Tyneside back in 2021, with the Spaniard a much better addition than Summerville for Howe’s side this summer.

Why Torres would be a better signing than Summerville for Newcastle

It may be a bold statement to say Torres is a better signing for Newcastle than Summerville, especially considering the fact the Leeds talent registered 19 more goals or assists last season, but the Spaniard’s stats in attacking areas could see him thrive in England once more.

When comparing the pair on FBref, it’s clear that Torres is a better option in the final third, being more clinical than the Dutchman, despite his significantly lower goal tally.

The “exceptional” Barca forward, as described by Pep Guardiola in the past, averaged a slightly higher goal per shot average last season, whilst registering more goals per 90 – having only featured for a combined 1211 minutes compared to Summerville, who managed a total of 3498.

He also produced a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate than the in-demand Leeds ace, allowing the Magpies to recruit a player who needs fewer chances to produce the goods in front of goal – a crucial feature if Howe’s side are to increase their goal tally in 2024/25.

Games

29

43

Goals + assists

9

28

Goals per 90

0.52

0.49

Shot on target rate

40%

37%

Pass accuracy

78%

78%

Goals per shot

0.2

0.1

Torres also is predominantly a right-sided attacker, whereas Summerville featured on the left in the vast majority of his appearances under Daniel Farke last season – a role he simply wouldn’t be able to dislodge Anthony Gordon from after his tally of 21 league goal contributions in 2023/24.

The Spaniard has been unfortunate in his move to the LaLiga giants, finding himself behind Lamine Yamal after the youngster’s impressive breakthrough season, with a move needed for him to regain his excellent form that saw the Catalan outfit fork out over £50m for his services.

His stats produced this season with limited minutes prove that he’s an excellent option in the final third, providing an added cutting edge in attacking areas for Howe’s side this season.

After the disappointment of missing out on European football last season, Torres' experience of featuring consistently in those competitions could give the Magpies the difference in front of goal that they’ve been hunting for the majority of the transfer window.

Bye-bye Trippier: Newcastle want Olympic star who'd be perfect for Isak

He’s set for a summer transfer ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 26, 2024

Brazilian giants Palmeiras' president mocked Neymar's injury struggles at Al-Hilal as she ruled out possibility of signing the Brazil icon.

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Palmeiras won't sign NeymarClub president mocked Brazil icon's injury strugglesNeymar could exit Saudi Pro LeagueFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Neymar has struggled with fitness ever since he moved to the Saudi Pro League to join Al-Hilal last summer. In October 2023, he ruptured his ACL while on international duty and stayed sidelined for nearly one year. He briefly returned to action for his club last month, however, he once again suffered a hamstring injury which will now keep him out of action for four to six weeks.

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There have been talks of the 32-year-old exiting the Saudi Pro League club as early as January 2025 amid interest from his boyhood club Santos. The Brazilian side are reportedly preparing a concrete offer to bring Neymar back to his homeland, however, Palmeiras have ruled out the possibility of signing the ex-Paris Saint-Germain star as their club president mocked the player's injury struggles.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Speaking to , Palmeiras president Leila Pereira said: "Great player, but he's going to Santos. I don't know, you have to ask Santos, but not here, he wouldn't come. I want to invest in someone who can come in immediately, who can start tomorrow if the coach decides. Palmeiras is not a medical department. I do not accept that a player signed by Palmeiras is not ready to play immediately."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

For now, the Brazilian star will focus on fully regaining his fitness and hope to make an appearance for Al-Hilal in January 2025. Depending on his fitness, the club will decide on whether to register him in the Saudi Pro League in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.

“To create that rhythm again we would definitely need some time,” ODI vice-captain says

Annesha Ghosh07-Mar-20211:49

Harmanpreet Kaur: We didn’t get much time to prepare as a unit in the last year

Harmanpreet Kaur, the India ODI vice-captain, has admitted that the lack of any opportunities to “spend some time in the field” as “a unit” since the T20 World Cup in March last year, especially in the lead-up to the South Africa series, contributed to the eight-wicket hiding they got from the opposition in the series opener in Lucknow on Sunday. Captain Mithali Raj, who on match eve had said the Indian squad hadn’t been feeling “rusty” going into their first assignment in a year, too, stressed on the dearth of “game time” as a cause of their defeat.”We didn’t get any international cricket for a year and during that time we played only three IPL (Women’s T20 Challenge) games [in November]. Apart from that we didn’t get much time where we can work as a unit,” Kaur, who became the first India Women’s batter to appear in 100 ODIs and as many T20Is, said at a press conference after the match. “When you play any format, as a team you need to spend some time in the field and get ready for a series. But we are one of the sides who like to learn from their mistakes and I hope we learn from our mistakes and try to improve ourselves in the next game.”Over the past few years we had created a rhythm but [we are playing] after a long time. To create that rhythm again we would definitely need some time and from the next game we’d do what we, as a unit, want to do.”Related

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India women just lost a year, but not all the blame goes to Covid

India women: a year of cricket lost while other major teams played

Kaur echoed Raj, who, in her post-match chat with broadcaster Anjum Chopra, acknowledged the importance of game time in developing confidence going into a series. “It seems like the batters were in good form,” Raj said. “[A] Few of them got starts but couldn’t convert. The bowlers need to be more consistent with lines and lengths, maybe they weren’t consistent because they’re coming back after a long break. A lot goes into game time. If you play games, it shows in your confidence.”Kaur admitted that after South Africa opted to bowl, India’s batters who got starts “threw our wickets away”. Smriti Mandhana began with a flurry of fours early into the innings when her opening partner Jemimah Rodrigues struggled for timing and placement. Mandhana’s fluent knock, however, didn’t last long as she bottom-edged a wide, away-going Ayabonga Khaka delivery to wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty for 14 off 20. Rodrigues followed suit, an athletic diving catch from Lizelle Lee sending her back for an 11-ball 1. First-drop Punam Raut then got out on a 29-ball 10, hurriedly pulling Ismail to Khaka at fine leg.”We didn’t try much in our batting combination because we wanted to go in with the same [opening] combination we fielded one year ago, when we last played ODIs [in November 2019],” Kaur said when asked about the opening pair. “Punam at the time was also batting one-down. But, unfortunately, we didn’t get a partnership going [at the top] today.”Raj top-scored for India, keeping the innings from unravelling with a gritty 54th ODI half-century at No. 4, with Kaur joining her when India were 40 for 3 in the 14th over. The pair strung a 62-run stand off 72 balls, but Kaur, who completed 12 years in international cricket on the day, fell for 40 after picking out Ismail at long-off while trying to keep up her brisk hitting.No. 6 Deepti Sharma too got her eyes in, scoring 27 off 46 balls on what appeared to be a good batting strip, but got out playing a sweep. From 155 for 6 in the 40th over, they could only crawl to 177 for 9 in the face of a disciplined showing from the South African bowling and fielding units.”Nowadays everybody is looking for good totals,” Kaur said about India’s scarce scores in the region of 240-250 since 2017. Raj, on match eve, had touched upon that if conditions at the Ekana Stadium were conducive to batting, the hosts would aim for a similar total in the series when batting first.