All posts by h716a5.icu

Will Wolves avoid Premier League relegation?

Recent victories over Aston Villa and Bournemouth mean Vítor Pereira’s team are currently five points clear of the drop zone.

However, a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Fulham means Wolverhampton Wanderers have lost six of their eight league outings since the start of 2025, meaning they very much remain in danger.

On Saturday night, the Old Gold will welcome Everton to Molineux, but will have to face that clash, as well as upcoming games against Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich without their star man, so will they be made to rue selling a player now starring in Serie A?

The latest on Matheus Cunha's ban

Matheus Cunha has scored 15 goals this season, 13 of which have come in the Premier League, meaning only six players have scored more than him, namely Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, Chris Wood, Bryan Mbeumo and Cole Palmer. Not bad company to keep.

During last weekend’s FA Cup tie at Bournemouth, however, in which Wolves were ousted on penalties, Cunha equalised with an absolute rocket, before being sent off right at the end of extra time for headbutting Miloš Kerkez, which Will Magee of the Guardian described as a ‘complete headloss’.

Cunha has already been sent off this season, dismissed after the full-time whistle for ‘scuffling’ with a member of Ipswich Town’s staff in December, infamously stealing his glasses, a ban reduced to two matches given that he ‘offered to pay for a new pair’.

Nevertheless, given that this is the Brazilian’s second red card of the campaign, Cunha is set for a four-match ban, thereby unable to feature until 12 April, which is a massive blow, considering his importance to Wolves.

Cunha has 17 league goal involvements to his name this season, Jørgen Strand Larsen has the next most of any Wolves player with nine, so how does he compare to the rest of the Premier League’s best?

Salah

25

17

42

63.64%

Isak

19

5

24

52.17%

Haaland

20

3

23

43.40%

Wood

18

3

21

47.73%

Palmer

14

6

20

36.46%

Mbeumo

15

4

19

39.58%

Watkins

12

6

18

45%

Cunha

13

4

17

45.95%

Kluivert

12

5

17

37.78%

As the table shows, only Chris Wood, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah, who Alex Keble believes is having ‘the best Premier League season in history’, have contributed to a higher percentage of their team’s goals than Cunha.

Thus, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Wolves struggle to score goals in the Brazilian’s absence, but did they have a ready-made deputy in their squad, allowed to leave in 2022?

Forgotten Wolves striker in form in Serie A

Back in the summer of 2019, having qualified for the Europa League, Wolves signed AC Milan striker Patrick Cutrone for a fee that could rise to £20m, a deal that then sporting director Kevin Thelwell described as an “exciting signing”.

Fair to say, this move did not go to plan, given that Cutrone scored just three goals in 28 appearances, quickly loaned out to Fiorentina before, following brief stints at Valencia and Empoli, joining Como, then of Serie B, on a free transfer in 2022.

Having been born and raised in Como, Cutrone described it as a ‘real honour’ to ‘play and represent the club of my city’ adding ‘as soon as I heard about Como, I had no doubts it was the right move’.

I Lariani finished mid-table during Cutrone’s first campaign at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, before gaining promotion to Serie A for the first time since 2003 last season, with Cutrone their top-scorer, bagging 14 goals.

Now, Cesc Fàbregas’ side are establishing themselves in the top flight; I Biancoblù currently sit 13th in the Serie A table, with Cutrone having scored seven times this season, most notably bagging a brace against Hellas Verona.

James Horncastle of the Athletic believes Cutrone has now rediscovered the form he showed back when he was a teenager who ‘burst on the scene’ at AC Milan eight years ago, so will Wolves live to rue letting the Italian striker go, especially at a time when they’re without Cunha? He may well have been the perfect deputy in his absence.

The original Cunha: Wolves struck gold selling "huge coup" for 275% profit

Wolves hit the jackpot when they paid just £12m to sign this impressive attacker.

ByDan Emery Mar 6, 2025

Sathya Sandeepani also returns as the team heads into the tournament without a head coach

Madushka Balasuriya01-Feb-2023Vishmi Gunaratne, fresh from captaining Sri Lanka in the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, will now link up with the senior side, as Sri Lanka announced their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup. Gunaratne’s inclusion is one of three changes to the squad that emerged runners-up in the Women’s Asia Cup last October, with veteran seamer Ama Kanchana and allrounder Sathya Sandeepani also earning recalls.Twenty-three-year-old Sandeepani was drafted in as an injury replacement for Hasini Perera, who misses out due to a finger injury sustained during practice. Kanchana, 31, who had been dropped for the Asia Cup, returns to add some experience to the camp. She replaces the young wristspinner Rashmi Silva, as Sri Lanka have opted to go with an extra seam option in the squad.Related

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Chamari Atapattu the only player in Grade A of SLC's contracts list

Gunaratne, the highly-rated 17-year-old allrounder, is back fit and firing after recovering from the back stress fracture that had kept her out of the Asia Cup. Making way for her is allrounder Madushika Mettananda.Chamari Athapaththu will lead a batting group that includes Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama – who was the second-highest run-scorer at the Asia Cup – Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Malsha Shehani, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Anushka Sanjeewani and Kaushini Nuthyangana. One of the latter two will keep wickets.Kanchana and Tharika Sewwandi make up the seam contingent, and the likes of Achini Kulasuriya, Shehani and de Silva are capable part-time operators. Inoka Ranaweera, the joint top wicket-taker at the Asia Cup, will lead Sri Lanka’s pack of spinners, which also includes Sugandika Kumari, Athapaththu, Dilhari and Ranasinghe.ESPNcricinfo LtdSri Lanka’s tournament preparations haven’t been the smoothest, however, with head coach Hashan Tillakaratne resigning following the Asia Cup – he has since taken up the role of head coach with Bangladesh Women. Sri Lanka remain without a head coach – the players have been training under Rumesh Ratnayake, who is part of SLC’s high-performance set-up.The team hasn’t played any international cricket either since that Asia Cup final defeat to India.Sri Lanka will begin their World Cup campaign with warm-up matches on February 6 and 8 against Ireland and West Indies, before their first match of the tournament on February 10 against South Africa.

The loan signing of Manchester United flop Antony has propelled Real Betis from mid-table to Europa League qualification.

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Antony signed for Betis on loan in JanuaryClub has transformed form since Brazilian's arrivalPlay Chelsea in Europa Conference League finalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazilian wide man was laughed out of the Premier League and labelled as the worst signing of all time before joining the Spanish club. In Andalusia, he has shown that maybe he was never the problem all along – scoring five goals and registering two assists in 17 La Liga appearances. The true scale of Antony's impact on Betis can be shown plainly by studying the league table before and after he joined. As per , only Barcelona (43) and Villarreal (33) have picked up more points than Betis' 33 points in those 17 games. Antony has loved his time in La Liga.

AdvertisementWHAT ANTONY SAID

Posting on Instagram, Antony said: "What an honour to compete in this season of La Liga. A competition I have always loved since I was a kid. Thank you very much everyone for the encouragement and unconditional support. We keep moving forward, we still have a goal to meet! Mucho Betis."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Antony joined United for £85 million ($109m) ahead of the 2022-23 season and when he scored on his debut against Arsenal, the Old Trafford crowd may have been already crowning him as their right-sided forward for the next decade. The United boss at the time, Erik ten Hag, had worked with the Brazilian at Ajax and stealing him away from the Dutch club was considered one of the summer's marquee signings. After eight goals in his debut season and just three more in his second campaign, Antony's career was beginning to spiral and he appeared to have no future at United – at least until this Betis spell.

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DID YOU KNOW?

While Antony has been a star in La Liga, his most impressive performances for Betis have actually come in the Conference League. In eight games, he has contributed four goals and three assists to help power the Spanish club to the final. The Brazilian has shown United some of the firepower that their European title charge was lacking.

“I just want to back myself, I’ve never tried to be someone else,” the Super Kings batter said after his 27-ball 61 vs Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-20233:48

Moody: ‘It was vintage Rahane on show tonight’

Ajinkya Rahane only found out that he was about to make his Chennai Super Kings debut “just before the toss” during their seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians on Saturday night. But he took advantage of the opportunity presented by Ben Stokes’ injury and Moeen Ali’s illness, hitting 61 off 27 balls to set up a cruise to victory with 11 balls to spare.Coming in at No. 3 after Devon Conway fell to Jason Behrendorff in the first over of Super Kings’ run chase, Rahane was the aggressor in his partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad and struck 23 runs off a single over from Arshad Khan, the fourth of the innings, to get his new franchise ahead of the required rate.”When we were bowling, we got the idea of how the wicket was playing and how the ball was behaving,” Rahane said. “When you’re chasing 150 or 160, it’s important to bat with intent in the first six overs. If you get a good start, it becomes really easy. When I went in, it was all about playing my normal game, backing my strengths.”Related

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Rahane had been a peripheral figure across the last two IPL seasons, playing twice for Delhi Capitals in 2021 and seven times for Kolkata Knight Riders last year, and had not made a half-century in the tournament since November 2020. Super Kings signed him for INR 50 lakh at December’s auction, and Rahane said that he had been encouraged by captain MS Dhoni to be himself.”Every player is different,” Rahane said. “I don’t want to be someone else; I just want to be Ajinkya Rahane. The way I know how I play, my strengths, my timing. I just want to back myself. I’ve never tried to be someone else. It’s all about trying to remind myself that if I can just be Ajinkya Rahane and play like Ajinkya Rahane, I think I’ll be fine.”The preparation we had as a team before IPL started… we came to Chennai on March 2. [Dhoni] was there and the instructions from him were pretty simple: back your game, play to your strengths rather than trying to do something else. It’s all about knowing your game and, when you get an opportunity, just back that game.”‘s instruction was completely clear, just play with intent, back yourself, don’t change anything else. If your intent is good, I have the shots that I can play at any ground so it was all about keeping it simple for me. I’m happy to bat anywhere. It’s all about your mindset and what you want to do for your team.”Ajinkya Rahane: “Whatever format I play, it’s all about giving my best every time rather than thinking ‘what if?’ or thinking about the future which is not in my hands”•Associated PressSpeaking on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time:Out, Tom Moody suggested that Rahane’s innings owed in part to the fact he had prepared for the IPL with a strong Ranji Trophy season, hitting two hundreds for Mumbai. “It’s a great story,” Moody said. “I think everyone enjoys when Jinks scores runs because he’s just one of those likeable characters.”He’s always got a smile on his face and he’s been a great servant to Indian cricket. In recent years, he’s had his ups and downs in IPL for whatever reasons. The thing that first came to mind was that I believe he’s had a very good first-class season leading into this, so he’s clearly got some good form behind him.”He was gifted a few balls early on which just lit the fire and he then just took it on from there. He wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary. He was just playing proper cricketing shots, cuts and drives and flicks off his pads. But it was vintage Rahane on show tonight.”Rahane has not represented India since the Test tour to South Africa in 2021-22, but his innings on Saturday night prompted suggestions that he could be in contention to play in the World Test Championship final in June, in the absence of the injured Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant.”Anything can happen… as I always say, I will never give up,” Rahane said. “For me, it’s all about playing with enjoyment, and playing with passion. Whatever format I play, it’s all about giving my best every time rather than thinking ‘what if?’ or thinking about the future which is not in my hands, not in my control.”For me, it’s all about, as a player, giving my best every time and trying to be as positive as possible and, whenever I get an opportunity, I should be ready for that.”

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are being tipped to break Wrexham’s transfer record "more than once" during the summer of 2025.

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Hollywood co-owners funding ambitious projectBig money being invested in the Red DragonsComings & goings expected before 2025-26Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Another recruitment window has swung open, allowing teams around the world to bolster their respective ranks. Movement in and out of SToK Racecourse is expected in the coming weeks, with Wrexham readying themselves for life in the Championship.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Hollywood co-owners have helped to fund a meteoric rise for the Red Dragons that has delivered three successive promotions. Phil Parkinson’s ranks now need to be freshened up ahead of taking aim at a place in the Premier League.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Various targets are being mooted for the Welsh outfit, with the free agent pool – which is littered with experienced performers that boast top-flight experience – being scoured. More money will, however, be spent in acquiring players with match-altering ability.

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WHAT FRANK SINCLAIR SAID

Wrexham’s record buy at present is £2 million striker Sam Smith, but former Red Dragons star Frank Sinclair – speaking in association with – told GOAL when asked if that spending bar will be raised a little higher: “It has to. Two million pounds, without being disrespectful to the money, doesn’t get you much for a Championship player in this day and age.

“I think they will break the record more than once in this summer transfer window. You can’t fault what they have done with the recruitment, it’s been spot on – improving the squad each time they have gone up to another level. I’m sure there will be faith from the owners in the recruitment department.”

With Arsenal’s domestic campaign pretty much over, the club can focus on two things: the Champions League and the summer transfer window.

The former could help turn what has been a pretty disappointing season into an exceptional one, while the latter could help define their next few years, especially if the board can hand Mikel Arteta a clinical forward.

The Spaniard’s side has been calling out for a prolific number nine for some time now, and once again, reports have started to link them with some of the most exciting names in the game, such as RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Napoli loanee Victor Osimhen.

However, recent reports have now linked an even more exciting striker with a move to N5, someone who outscored the Nigerian last term and is outscoring the Slovenian this year.

Arsenal's striker search

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are still incredibly interested in Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, the report has revealed that the Swede is now the Gunners’ ‘main target’ ahead of the summer transfer window with new sporting director, Andrea Berta, now prepared to make an enormous offer of around €120m, which is about £101m.

Understandably, the report claims that the Magpies will fight hard to keep their star striker at St James’ Park, but at the same time, the player himself could be keen to move should the proposal be ‘attractive enough.’

In all, it could be an incredibly complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Isak’s immense ability, one well worth fighting for.

How Isak compares to Sesko and Osimhen

Now, it’ll likely come as no surprise that Isak has outscored everyone at Arsenal over the last two seasons, with Bukayo Saka topping the list for the Gunners last term with 20 goals, while Kai Havertz is at the top of the list this year with the 15 he scored prior to his hamstring injury.

However, how does the Swedish phenomenon compare to the other striker options seemingly on the market this summer, like Sesko and Osimhen?

Well, when it comes to the former, the Toon titan is simply far more prolific.

For example, he was substantially more dangerous last year, racking up 25 goals and two assists in 40 appearances to his 18 goals and two assists in 42 games, and has been comfortably better this year as well, scoring 23 goals and providing five assists in 33 appearances to the Slovenian’s 17 goals and six assists in 36 games.

Now, when it comes to Osimhen, things aren’t quite as straightforward.

For example, last year, which was the last season the Nigerian played in a top-five league, the former Real Sociedad star came out way ahead, as the Lagos-born star scored 17 goals and provided four assists in 32 appearances.

Yet, while playing in Turkey this season, the former LOSC Lille dynamo has outscored the Gunners’ primary target, racking up a tally of 26 goals and five assists in 30 appearances, albeit in a far, far easier league.

Appearances

40

42

32

Goals

25

18

17

Assisrts

2

2

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.67

0.47

0.65

Appearances

33

36

30

Goals

23

17

26

Assisrts

5

6

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.84

0.63

1.03

However, even though he is playing in a weaker competition this year, the 26-year-old has still scored fewer goals than the Newcastle “nightmare,” as dubbed by Alan Shearer, has over the last two campaigns, racking up 43 to the Swede’s 48.

Ultimately, while Sesko could be a future star and Osimhen a fine addition for the here and now, Isak has proven himself as the best goalscorer of the lot despite playing in the toughest league.

Therefore, while he will cost a king’s ransom, Arsenal should do all they can to bring the Newcastle star to the Emirates this summer.

He's playing like Harry Kane: Arsenal must rue losing "goal machine" for £0

The incredible striker would solve Arsenal’s current problems.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 15, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have made Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola their top target to replace Ange Postecoglou, according to reports, and now speculation is already beginning to surround who the tactician could potentially bring in if he’s appointed.

Tottenham identify Andoni Iraola as leading managerial candidate

Postecoglou is under mounting pressure ahead of the conclusion of this Premier League campaign, with the Australian attracting fierce criticism after a dismal 2024/25 season.

52-year-old holds talks with Levy to join Tottenham as "rich offer" readied

The Lilywhites chairman personally met with him yesterday.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 28, 2025

Spurs are 14th in the league and have lost 15 games in the top flight alone. Only the division’s bottom four sides have tasted defeat on more occasions than the Lilywhites, which makes for very grim reading in the eyes of Postecoglou, who’s sweating over his future in N17.

“They play a high press game, which is probably detrimental to injuries anyway,” said pundit Martin Keown, questioning Postecoglou’s lack of tactical versatility.

“And the two central defenders, they don’t come up and stand sideways on ready to drop – they’re square on and it’s demanding. Van de Ven, the amount of times he’s pulled a hamstring doing that.

“When a manager is just hard-fast, seems stubborn, doesn’t want to adjust to any tactics… there’s got to be more than that to management. I’ve not done it myself so it’s easy sitting here saying it.

“But we do question it because we can’t believe that you don’t adjust.”

Chelsea (away)

April 3rd

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

His long-term stay at Tottenham is said to be in “serious doubt”, according to The Athletic, who also state that Iraola is the leading candidate to potentially replace Postecoglou.

The 42-year-old has guided Bournemouth through an impressive campaign, despite being hamstrung by their own injury problems, and there is still every chance that they can qualify for Europe.

Some reports have suggested that Tottenham have made contact with Iraola ahead of the summer, so his potential hire is gaining real traction amid doubts surrounding Postecoglou’s position.

Andoni Iraola could sign Justin Kluivert for Tottenham

Now, some pundits are starting to wonder who the Spaniard could bring with him to north London if he does end up stepping into the Tottenham dugout.

Speaking to Tottenham News, the club’s former scout, Bryan King, has claimed that Cherries winger Justin Kluivert could follow Andoni Iraola to N17.

The Netherlands international, rumoured to command a price tag of around £46 million, has bagged 12 goals and six assists in the Premier League – marking himself out as a star player – and King believes that Iraola may look to sign Kluivert for Tottenham if he’s appointed.

“If Iraola goes to Spurs, he could bring Kluivert with him,” King said.

“I think that is just common sense. However, if the manager is going, how many players are Bournemouth going to allow him to take? It is all hearsay at the moment. Until we know exactly what is happening with Postecoglou, we can talk all day. However, until a decision is made on Postecoglou, watch this space.”

The German needs to find solutions – and fast – if England are to meet their supporters expectations and mount a serious challenge in North America

It's getting serious now. We're exactly one year away from the start of the 2026 World Cup and, for Thomas Tuchel, time is fast running out to construct an England squad that he feels is capable of flying out to North America and bringing the trophy home. By his own admission, and the length of his contract, that's the target, but judging by the last international camp of the 2024-25 season, the Three Lions are a million miles off being capable of navigating that final step and getting over the line at a major tournament.

If Andorra was bad, Senegal was worse. After delivering so many high points and memorable moments during the Gareth Southgate era, you could forgive England for a wobble in a World Cup qualifier that they ultimately won. What followed a few days later, though, and after a proper public dressing down from their manager too, was unacceptable. Friendly or not, Tuesday's disastrous showing at the City Ground shows just how much work needs to be done to put things right.

Hopefully the first defeat of the Tuchel era is the sobering wake-up call and reality check that the players need. Talked up, and rightly so, as one of the favourites to win the World Cup after reaching another Euros final, England have regressed, and significantly. Make no mistake about it, play anything like they have over the last two matches and the Three Lions will be lucky to make it through the group stages.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from England's final camp of the 2024-25 campaign…

Getty Images SportWINNER: Harry Kane

On more than one occasion at Euro 2024, during another unsuccessful quest to finally win a first men's international trophy since 1966, the finger of blame was pointed squarely at Harry Kane. He dropped too deep they said, he'd lost his sharpness they said. Some went as far as saying he was finished, and that it was time for change and to give someone else a go.

The candidates to step in remain plentiful, but Kane's proved yet again during this international break that he really isn't the problem. Another incredible season at club level that saw him finally end his trophy curse provided further evidence that, in their record goal-scorer, England still possess one of the most lethal finishers in the business.

Granted, he wasn't at his devastating best against either Andorra or Senegal, but the service was severely lacking, to put it mildly. And yet, even feeding off scraps in the second game especially, Kane still managed to score his 72nd and 73rd goals for his country, becoming the first player in England history to score in four games in a row for a new manager. Kane is Tuchel's Mr. Reliable and he remains one of the first names on the teamsheet. One thing he's not is the problem.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLOSER: Kyle Walker

If Kyle Walker was clinging onto his international career beforehand, it's surely slipped from his grasp now. It would be wholly unfair to rip Walker to shreds, given the service he's given England over his 96 caps, and, at the peak of his powers, there was no better right-back in European football – and certainly not one who could rival his breakneck recovery speed that became something of a comfort blanket for England fans and all the managers he's worked under.

That legendary pace, though, just isn't there anymore at the age of 35, and Walker's dire performance against Senegal should be the straw that broke the camel's back. Switching off like he did for Ismaila Sarr's equaliser, as he failed to sense the obvious danger as Nicolas Jackson prepared to send over the cross, was simply inexcusable.

Tuchel jumped to the defence of the Manchester City defender in his post-match press conference, as he well might, but he'll be asking for big trouble if Walker remains in his starting XI come the World Cup. Take your pick between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James – and don't rule out Tino Livramento – for the right-back berth, but Walker must now be out of the running.

AFPWINNER: Jack Grealish & Phil Foden

Rewind only a year or so ago and the thought of BOTH Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, free of any injury issues, being left out of an England squad would've been unimaginable. Pie in the sky. Surely just a printing error. But when Tuchel named his 26-man travelling party for the games against Andorra and Senegal that was the reality – the Manchester City duo were nowhere to be seen, two of the more glaring omissions that also included another Southgate regular in Harry Maguire.

Given the disappointment of City's season, and the lack of meaningful contributions from the aforementioned, it must be said that fans weren't rushing to the German's door with torches and pitchforks. Based on form alone, there were simply more favourable options.

The drab showings in both matches have at least opened the door to Grealish and Foden winning back their places, not only in the squad but perhaps even the starting XI – of which there's surely now only a handful of guaranteed picks. For Grealish, let's be honest, he urgently needs to escape his current situation at City and ensure he's playing far more regularly over the next 12 months. Foden's position at the Etihad is far less terminal, but he won't need to be told that standards must improve. The challenge is on.

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Getty ImagesLOSER: Ivan Toney

As the second half ticked on against Senegal, the cameras kept panning to Ivan Toney, sat emotionless on the England bench. It was obvious why he was becoming the focus – the Three Lions were toiling in a home fixture against a nation ranked 15 places below them in the FIFA rankings and yet, repeatedly, Tuchel turned to other options.

Despite replacing Kane with 59 minutes gone, Al-Ahli striker Toney was overlooked, with Morgan Rogers becoming the most advanced player in a desperate and disjointed system despite the ex-Brentford man being the obvious like-for-like replacement. The 29-year-old was eventually brought on for Myles Lewis-Skelly with with a couple of minutes remaining; it was far too late.

It begs the question 'why'? Why call up Toney, who was an unused sub in Barcelona in game number one of the camp, if there was no real plan to use him, especially when the game was crying out for someone of his abilities.

The forward's prospects in an England shirt really don't look great. With Kane being Tuchel's undisputed leader of the attack, and the likes of Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins likely ahead of him in the pecking order – plus the expectation that Chelsea's new signing Liam Delap will soon come into the picture – there's even a possibility that's the last we'll see of Toney in a Three Lions shirt.

Pakistan seamer will provide fast-bowling cover with Naveen-ul-Haq still involved at the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff23-May-2023Leicestershire have signed Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah on a short-term deal for the start of the Vitality Blast.Naseem will act as cover for Afghanistan overseas Naveen-ul-Haq, who is currently involved in the IPL play-offs with Lucknow Super Giants. Naseem was due to arrive in England on Tuesday and be available for Leicestershire’s Blast opener against Lancashire on Thursday.”Having Naveen in the IPL play-offs meant we had to make a quick call and we are extremely excited to have secured someone of Naseem’s calibre,” Leicestershire Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, said.”He’s proven to be a world-class performer in T20 cricket, and we look forward to seeing him in a Leicestershire shirt shortly.”Leicestershire start their campaign with back-to-back games, away to Lancashire and then at home to Warwickshire, followed by a trip to Worcestershire on Monday. Should Lucknow reach Sunday’s IPL final, then it is likely Naveen would miss all three fixtures.Naseem featured for Gloucestershire in the Blast last season, taking five wickets in three games. He was also signed by Welsh Fire to play in the Hundred, but withdrew due to international commitments.Naseem said: “I’m very excited to be joining the Foxes for the start of the Vitality Blast. I can’t wait to meet my team-mates and help win games for Leicestershire.”

The Sri Lanka cricketer has been in Sydney since he was arrested in November last year

AAP18-May-2023Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has had three of his four sexual-assault charges dropped by the public prosecutor in his ongoing case in Australia.Gunathilaka, 32, was arrested in Sydney in early November last year, while he was with the Sri Lanka squad for the T20 World Cup. He has since been released on bail and had his bail conditions relaxed.The case has also been hit with delays, with Gunathilaka required to stay in Australia while the legal process is followed. The prosecution successfully applied for an adjournment last month, which took the hearing beyond the six-month requirement for charge certification. But Gunathilaka’s lawyer Alen Sahinovic opposed the delay, arguing his client was being subjected to undue hardship as a foreign citizen with limited familial and social support.Related

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Gunathilaka arrested in Sydney

Gunathilaka granted bail in assault case

Gunathilaka is due back in court on July 13 to enter a plea.The police facts sheet that was submitted with the original charges stated that the woman, whom Gunathilaka had met through the dating app Tinder, had “feared for her life” during their encounter. Having met at a Sydney bar, the pair had made their way to the woman’s home in the eastern suburbs, where the alleged sexual assault happened.The original charges included non-consensual choking, digital penetration, and “stealthing” – sex without a condom without the consent of the complainant – which is a criminal act under New South Wales law.Sri Lanka Cricket has not wanted to outwardly be seen as supporting Gunathilaka but has offered him significant assistance, including paying for some of his legal costs, though the board has said it was expecting this money to be recovered.Gunathilaka’s cricket career has been suspended since his arrest.