انتهت قمة مباريات الجولة السادسة من بطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية، بالتعادل الإيجابي 1-1 بين البرتغال وكرواتيا، على ملعب بولود، بمدينة سبليت الكرواتية.
تقدم للمنتخب البرتغالي في ظل غياب كريستيانو رونالدو، جواو فيليكس في الدقيقة 33، بعد تمريرة رائعة من فيتيسنها، وضعها مهاجم تشيلسي في مرمى المنتخب الكرواتي بطريقة مثالية.
طالع أيضًا.. ألديرفيريلد: اعتزلت دوليًا خوفًا من الموت
انتهى الشوط الأول وكان المنتخب الكرواتي يفقد السيطرة لصالح الضيوف، رغم تسديد كرة في القائد عن طريق إيفان بيريسيتش.
في الشوط الثاني، كان المد الهجومي حاضر للمنتخب الكرواتي، وتألق خوسيه سا أمام العديد من فرص أصحاب الأرض، قبل أن يسجل جوفسكو جفارديول هدفًا ألغاه الحكم بداعي التسلل.
بعد أقل من 10 دقائق، عاد جفارديول واستغل خطأ في تمركز الحارس خوسيه سا، وسجل التعادل لـ كرواتيا، واحتسبه الحكم هذه المرة.
المنتخب الكرواتي كان الأقرب للفوز في الشوط الثاني، بعدما تصدى الحارس خوسيه سا لفرصة أمام سوتشا، وكذلك جفارديول في دقيقة واحدة، بالإضافة للقائم الأيسر الذي أنقذ البرتغال من هدف ثانٍ عن طريق أنتي بودمير.
هذه النتيجة قادت المنتخب الكرواتي للدور ربع النهائي رفقة البرتغال، حيث كان يحتاج أبناء العاصمة زغرب، لنقطة واحدة من أجل التأهل، دون النظر لنتيجة أسكلتندا وبولندا.
وفاز منتخب أسكلتندا في المباراة الأخرة لنفس المجموعة على بولندا 2-1، لكن الأمر لم يكن كافيًا، فقد تأهل منتخب كرواتيا بفارق نقطة، برصيد 8 نقاط خلف البرتغال أصحاب الـ14 نقطة. أهداف مباراة البرتغال وكرواتيا في دوري الأمم الأوروبية
Chief executive Tom Harrison admits 2020 season is “massively under threat”
George Dobell and Matt Roller31-Mar-2020
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison•Getty Images
The ECB has announced a £61 million financial support package in a bid to ensure that cricket can withstand what chief executive Tom Harrison has described as “the biggest challenge” the governing body has faced in its history.Around £40 million will be made available immediately, with a further £21 million to follow in interest-free loans with a particular focus on ensuring that the game can survive at a recreational level.Harrison warned that there would be “more pain ahead” if the coronavirus pandemic caused the majority of the summer to be wiped out, and also confirmed that: Players with central contracts will not be furloughed or asked to take a pay cut ECB exploring the possibility of furloughing some staff He has volunteered a pay cut believed to amount, in pro rata terms, of over £100,000 a year It is “not impossible” that two different England teams (Test and limited-overs) will play simultaneously if fixtures can be squeezed into the back end of the season The feasibility of playing behind closed doors in “bio-secure environments” is being explored in talks with the government ALSO READ: Root expects ‘discussion’ on pay cuts as uncertainty rulesAs things stand, the entire English summer is in some doubt, with social distancing measures likely to remain in place in the UK for several months, and the start date of the county season has already been delayed by six weeks until May 28.Several options are currently being modelled with possible start dates ranging from June to August, as well as the possibility of the entire season being wiped out, while options for games played behind closed doors are being planned. As the most lucrative domestic competitions, the T20 Blast and the Hundred will be prioritised.”This is a real hammer blow to our plans. Our season is massively under threat now,” Harrison said. “It’s an incredibly difficult time for the country and the game.”Everyone will be impacted. Right now we are addressing the short term. There’s more pain ahead if we lose a substantial portion of the season. We are building scenarios where we can take further steps as needed. We don’t think this will be the end of it.”We won’t be playing until we know it is safe for players and eventually fans. We will then be prioritising the most valuable forms of the game: first international cricket, then the Blast and maybe the Hundred as and when we get there.”This money – £40 million in cash for immediate and then £20 million in interest-free loans – is to give certainty in these extremely difficult times. It’s to keep the lights on.”Around £40 million will be made available immediately, with measures including an early release of three months’ county partnership distributions, two years of facilities maintenance distribution, and the suspension of international staging fees – paid by clubs to hold England fixtures at their ground – for four months.A further £21 million will later become available to the recreational game – which is currently suspended indefinitely – through a club cricket support loan scheme, grants through a ‘return to cricket’ scheme, and a 12-month holiday on loan repayments.The ECB also confirmed that international staging fees will be waived if a fixture is not played as scheduled due to COVID-19.The effects of the pandemic have been particularly severe for larger counties with diversified sources of revenue, because a smaller proportion of their income comes from guaranteed ECB funding. The suspension of staging fees, therefore, will come as a relief.Citing contract confidentiality, Harrison declined to provide an update on negotiations with broadcasters and the prospect of their withholding payments. 2020 is the first year in a five-year broadcast deal worth £1.1 billion, which Harrison hailed at the time as a “game-changer”.He accepted the pressures upon broadcasters, however, saying: “All of them are facing challenges themselves. The impact is cross-sector.”But this comes down to relationships and we have very strong relationships with our broadcasters. The best relationships are the ones [in which] you don’t have to pull a contract out. You sit down and you work things out together. That’s what we’re doing.”Getty Images
On the subject of the Hundred, Harrison conceded that the new competition’s inaugural season could yet be delayed until 2021, adding that the ECB was already in discussions with the government about the feasibility of getting crowds back into stadiums before the end of the English season, or failing that, the logistics involved in playing behind closed doors.”Playing behind closed doors – in a bio-secure environment – throws up some challenges,” said Harrison. “David Mahoney [ECB FOO] is leading the cross-sports work with government on this so that we know what behind closed doors means from their perspective and so we can get permission [to play behind closed doors] as soon as we can. The government will control all big events so we will need DCMS approval for any cricket we want to play.”We also need to know what behind closed doors looks like from an event perspective. Do we need to charter flights and book hotels. Whatdo we need to make a sterile environment? It’s more complicated for players coming from overseas and what quarantine restrictions theremight be.”As reported by ESPNcricinfo, it is possible that two different England squads – one Test, one limited-overs – could play in different places at the same time if it allows games to be squeezed in at the end of the summer. Only a handful of players are first-choice across formats, and Australia set a precedent for such a move in 2017.The ECB’s financial relief package made no mention of possible wage cuts for players, and Harrison confirmed: “We are not seeking pay cuts from England players”.ALSO READ: PCA seeks collective solutions as players face prospect of pay cutsCounties were sent advice at the end of last week regarding the furloughing of employees. PCA chief executive Tony Irish said on Monday that he was expecting recommendations or proposals would be presented this week, which would be worked through with players and the ECB in the hope of finding collective agreement.The ECB’s most recent set of accounts identified the “loss of cricket due to events outside of cricket’s control” as a “major risk”, and revealed that the governing body’s cash reserves were down to £11 million, from £73 million in the 2015-16 financial year.But Harrison dismissed criticism of the ECB’s forward planning.”You can normally make business models and forecasts where you might get a 15-20% fall in revenue,” he said. “There are very few businesses that would put a complete drop in revenues to zero on a risk register.”I don’t think there is a big enough reserves pot to anticipate this sort of challenge. And it is important to base any judgement on our reserves policy against the money that has gone into the network: we have a thriving network, a high-performing sport and well-paid players.”
شارك المصري محمد صلاح في مباراة فريقه ليفربول أمام ريال مدريد بمنافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
والتقى الفريقان على ملعب “آنفيلد” معقل فريق ليفربول، ضمن مواجهات الجولة الخامسة لمرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا.
تغلب ليفربول على ريال مدريد بهدفين دون مقابل، وأهدر محمد صلاح ضربة جزاء لفريقه في الدقيقة 70.
وحصل محمد صلاح على تقييم 6.9 من 10 بحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور”، ولمس الكرة 52 مرة.
بلغت دقة تمريرات صلاح 80% بواقع 28 تمريرة من أصل 35، ومرر تمريرتين مفتاحيتين.
سدد صلاح تسديدة بعيدة عن المرمى، وتسديدة ارتطمت بالقائم، وتحصل على ضربة جزاء، وأهدرها.
في التحامات الكرات الأرضية فاز بـ 4 من أصل 9، وفقد الاستحواذ 17 مرة، وتسبب في خطأ، وتم ارتكاب خطئين ضده، واستخلص الكرة مرتين. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وريال مدريد
O São Paulo terá adversários duros pela frente no Campeonato Brasileiro sub-20.Nesta quinta-feira (15), a Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) definiu a tabela das rodadas 7 a 12 da competição.
São Paulo comemorou 16 anos do tri da Libertadores: veja onde estão os principais jogadores daquela conquista
O Tricolor enfrentará Bahia, Santos, Internacional, Cruzeiro, Fortaleza e Palmeiras nesses confrontos. Sendo assim, a equipe comandada por Alex terá dois clássicos nos próximos seis jogos. Vale ressaltar que o São Paulo enfrentou o Corinthians em Cotia e empatou por 1 a 1 nesta semana.Dos próximos seis jogos, quatro serão no CFA Laudo Natel, em Cotia.
VEJA A TABELA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO!
RelacionadasSão PauloDupla é desfalque, e São Paulo deve escalar ‘mistão’ contra o FortalezaSão Paulo16/07/2021São PauloCasares presta homenagem a Hernanes, que está de saída do São PauloSão Paulo16/07/2021São PauloSão Paulo não recebe resposta sobre Calleri e se distancia da contrataçãoSão Paulo16/07/2021
Após cinco rodadas, o São Paulo ocupa a quarta posição do Nacional com 13 pontos somados, mesmo número dos líderes. O time vem fazendo ótima campanha, com 13 pontos em cinco partidas e está invicto, com quatro vitórias e um empate.
VEJA OS PRÓXIMOS JOGOS DO SÃO PAULO NO BRASILEIRÃO SUB-20 7ª rodada: 25/07, às 15h – São Paulo x Bahia, no CFA Laudo Natel 8ª rodada: 28/07, às 15h – Santos x São Paulo, em São Bernardo do Campo (SP) 9ª rodada: 01/08, às 16h – São Paulo x Internacional, no CFA Laudo Natel 10ª rodada: 08/08, 16h – São Paulo x Cruzeiro, no CFA Laudo Natel 11ª rodada: 15/08, 15h – Fortaleza x São Paulo, em Maracanau (CE) 12ª rodada: 22/08, 15h – São Paulo x Palmeiras, no CFA Laudo Natel
Crystal Palace have issued a brutal response to alleged interest around recently-hired coach Oliver Glasner, as they look to build a new era under the Austrian manager's tutelage.
Palace flying under new boss
Crystal Palace have been a side reborn under the leadership of Glasner, with the Eagles having won five of their last six Premier League games, including a 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United.
Led by the impressive Michael Olise and rejuvenated striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, the south Londonders have shot well clear of relegation, and can finish as high as 11th should they beat Aston Villa on the final day of the campaign.
Crystal Palace star is becoming Glasner's best player alongside Olise & Eze
The incredible ace has been in superb form this season.
ByJack Salveson Holmes May 9, 2024
There is expected to be plenty of change to the playing personnel this summer, with Olise, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton all among those coveted by traditionally bigger clubs, but there is the hope that this late-season renaissance is just the beginning of a period of prominence for the Eagles. And they are beginning to flex their muscles.
Parish gives brutal response to Bayern interest
Such has been Glasner's success at Palace that Bayern Munich have reportedly come knocking, with the Bavarian side on the hunt for a new manager after confirming Thomas Tuchel would leave the club at the end of the season.
So far, they have seemingly been beaten to the punch on several options, including Xabi Alonso, Ralf Rangnick and most recently Julen Lopetegui, who is thought to be set to take over from David Moyes as West Ham coach.
Now, reports in Germany have revealed that the Bundesliga giants had approached Palace to see if they could poach Glasner from Selhurst Park, having had good conversations with Glasner himself.
And indeed, they were told that they could by Palace chairman Steve Parish, provided that they paid a small fee of 100m euros (£86m). For their part, Bayern were willing to offer 18m euros (£15.5m) to prise him away from south London, but were astonished at the 100m demand.
Any such move would make Glasner the most expensive managerial appointment by a country mile, with the £86m asking price almost 6x the current record, which Chelsea shelled out to bring Graham Potter to Stamford Bridge from Brighton in 2022.
For added reference, it is the same fee that Manchester United shelled out for Antony (though Bayern could probably be confident of landing better value for money), a transfer which ranks joint 17th among the most expensive player transfers in history.
Most expensive fees for a manager
Manager
Club
Year
Moved to
Fee
Oliver Glasner*
Crystal Palace
2024
Bayern Munich (rumoured)
£86m?
Graham Potter
Brighton
2022
Chelsea
£15m
Julian Nagelsman
RB Leipzig
2021
Bayern Munich
£15m
Andre Villas-Boas
FC Porto
2011
Chelsea
£13m
Brendan Rodgers
Celtic
2018
Leicester City
£9m
Ruben Amorim
Braga
2020
Sporting CP
£8.6m
It is claimed that though Glasner was keen on the switch, and had been "hoping" an agreement would be reached, he has now "accepted" the decision made by Palace and is expected to see out his contract until 2026 at the very earliest.
Na manhã deste sábado, no Ninho do Urubu, o Flamengo fez o segundo treino após o compromisso pela Libertadores e finalizou a preparação para o jogo contra o Bahia, a ser realizado neste domingo, às 18h15, em Pituaçu. E o clube já divulgou a lista de 24 relacionados para a viagem (um será cortado do banco), com cinco desfalques, além da volta de Diego Ribas.
O camisa 10 retorna apósestiramento e edema ósseo eentorses no tornozelo e joelho da perna esquerda. Diego não atuava desde o jogo contra o Cuiabá, no dia 1º deste mês. Por outro lado, Renato Gaúcho estreará pelo clube no Brasileirão com cinco desfalques, sendo dois informados via assessoria de imprensa do Rubro-Negro neste sábado: Thiago Maia e Piris da Mota.
-O atleta Thiago Maia segue a programação de retorno gradual. Realizará trabalho de reforço no joelho, no CT – disse o Fla, antes de externar a situação do paraguaio:
-O atleta Piris da Motta sentiu dores no tendão de Aquiles do tornozelo direito. Iniciou tratamento.
Os dois volantes se juntam a Rodrigo Caio, Bruno Henrique e César no departamento médico do Flamengo, que totalizada cinco baixas para o duelo deste fim de semana. O camisa 33, no entanto, não preocupa para o jogo da volta das semifinais da Libertadores, na quarta, contra o Defensa y Justicia.
+ Veja a tabela do Brasileirão
O Flamengo enfrenta o Bahia pela 12ª rodada no Campeonato Brasileiro. O Rubro-Negro ocupa atualmente a 8ª posição na tabela, com 15 pontos conquistados em nove partidas.
Everton will be looking to make it five Premier League unbeaten when they host already relegated Sheffield United at Goodison Park this afternoon.
Sean Dyche's side drew 1-1 against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road last time out, ending the Toffees' three-game winning run which secured their top-flight status for another season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's first-half penalty was cancelled out by Elijah Adebayo's impressive strike, with neither side able to find a winner in the second 45.
With just two games remaining in the 2023/24 campaign, Everton are just playing for pride, but it could give the boss an opportunity to shuffle the pack and take a closer look at certain players ahead of next season.
Ahead of the clash against Chris Wilder's side, Dyche should drop one player and replace him with a talent who could potentially be featuring for the final time at Goodison.
Why Doucoure could make way vs Sheff Utd
Although midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has been impressive for the Toffees this season – scoring six goals, the second most of any player in the Everton squad – he's failed to find the back of the net once in 2024.
During his display against Rob Edwards' side last Friday, Doucoure only managed a 74% pass accuracy, completing just 17 out of the 23 passes he attempted that night.
He had a quiet game by his usual standards, managing to achieve a tally of just 28 touches, a figure of one every just under two minutes, but failing to create any real clear-cut chances in the process.
Doucoure's stats against Luton Town
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
54
Pass accuracy
17/23 (74%)
Touches
28
Duels won
2/4 (50%)
Possession lost
6x
Stats via Sofascore
The former Watford midfielder also only won 50% of the duels he contested and gave possession away six times before being replaced in the 54th minute by Andre Gomes.
The fact he was hooked before the hour mark is evidence of his poor display, with Dyche potentially needing to replace him if the club are to continue their excellent recent form in the Premier League.
The man to replace Doucoure against Sheff Utd
Despite not starting any of the last four Premier League matches, midfielder Amadou Onana could have tempted boss Dyche to recall him to the starting lineup against the Blades this afternoon.
The "incredible" talent, as described by French football journalist Julien Laurens, has been excellent since his £33m move to the club from Lille, but has failed to nail down a regular starting spot in recent weeks.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
Belgian midfielder Onana, who earns £100k-per-week as per Capology, has been linked with a move away from the Goodison as the club attempt to avoid any further punishment for breaching the PSR rules.
This afternoon could potentially be his last display in front of the Everton faithful, with the young "powerhouse" – as hailed by scout Antonio Mango – wanting to leave a lasting impression on the loyal fanbase.
Moving away from his potential departure, the Belgian deserves a recall, replacing Doucoure with the Malian international failing to take the opportunities handed his way over the past couple of months.
Latest Everton injury news, return dates and suspensions
FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Everton news involving injuries.
أكد وائل جمعة مدافع الأهلي ومنتخب مصر الأسبق، أن مشاركة المارد الأحمر في كأس العالم للقارات للأندية (الإنتركونتيننتال) يعتبر إنجازًا آخر يُحسب للنادي المصري ويعزز مسيرته الحافلة بالبطولات، منوهاً بأن التواجد في بطولة مرموقة بهذا الحجم مصدر فخر واعتزاز للفريق وجماهيره، وإنجاز آخر في تاريخ نادي القرن.
وأشار جمعة إلى أن البطولة تعد امتدادًا للإنجازات التي حققتها دولة قطر في استضافة البطولات الكبرى، موضحًا بأنها تمثل منصة لإلقاء الضوء على الأندية العربية وجذب مزيد من الاهتمام بها، كما تشكل حافزًا لتطوير كرة القدم في العالم العربي، مع تنافس الأندية لتحسين مستوى أدائها سعيًا للمشاركة في الأحداث الدولية والعالمية أسوة بغيرها من الأندية.
وأضاف جمعة في تصريحات خلال لقاء في استاد 974 المونديالي: “تمكنت دولة قطر من الوصول إلى العالمية بعد الاستضافة المبهرة لكأس العالم 2022 وتحقيق نجاح من الصعب تكراره في النسخ المقبلة من الحدث الكروي”.
شادي محمد: كهربا أبعد نفسه وكولر لم يظلمه.. وأحترم عقلية لاعب الأهلي
الجدير بالذكر أن استاد 974 المونديالي سيستضيف مباراتين من ثلاث ستقام في الفترة من 11 إلى 18 ديسمبر المقبل.
وأعرب جمعة عن أماله بأن يقدم النادي أداءً يلبي تطلعاته الطموحة، وأن يكون الحظ حليفاً له للعبور إلى المواجهة مع النادي الملكي ريال مدريد حامل لقب دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويعتبر القائد السابق للنادي الأهلي ومنتخب مصر، واحداً من أفضل المدافعين في القارة الأفريقية، وتشمل قائمة إنجازاته مع النادي المصري الفوز بدوري أبطال أفريقيا ست مرات، وببطولة الدوري المصري سبع مرات. وقد أطلقت عليه جماهير المارد الأحمر لقب “الصخرة”.
وعند الحديث عمّا يعنيه النادي الأهلي بالنسبة له، أوضح أن الأهلي أكثر من مجرد نادٍ، مشيراً إلى أنه يشكل ظاهرة اجتماعية ومنظومة متكاملة تحمل الكثير من المعاني الجميلة لدى الجماهير في مصر والعالم العربي، ويتجسد ذلك في فكرة وطريقة إنشائه، فهو نادٍ شعبي قائم على الشعب.
وأضاف: “الأهلي كل شيء جميل في حياتي، هو الماضي والحاضر والمستقبل، اللحظات الجميلة التي عشتها والتي سأعيشها، وبوابة السعادة لي ولأسرتي ولكل مصري”.
وعن دور المشجعين في دعم ناديهم، قال جمعة الذي يقيم حالياً في قطر ويعمل محللاً في إحدى القنوات الرياضية، أن الأهلي يمتلك قاعدة جماهيرية ضخمة في قطر، وأن المشجعين يتطلعون لتقديم كل الدعم والمؤازرة للمارد الأحمر. وأضاف: “جماهير الأهلي هي المحرك لجميع النجاحات التي يحققها النادي، وهي الدافع الذي يحفز اللاعبين لتقديم أفضل ما لديهم من أداء. من أرض قطر أوجه دعوة للمشجعين لدعم ومؤازرة الأهلي في هذا المحفل الرياضي الدولي”.
وتعتبر كأس القارات للأندية قطر FIFA 2024 بطولة سنوية تتنافس فيها الأندية الفائزة من ست قارات على لقب أفضل نادٍ في العالم. وتشهد البطولة المنتظرة تنافس أربعة أندية على ثلاثة كؤوس تشمل ديربي الأمريكيتين وكأس التحدي وكأس القارات للأندية. ويشارك نادي ريال مدريد في المباراة النهائية التي يحتضنها استاد لوسيل الأيقوني في 18 ديسمبر، بعد عامين على استضافة الاستاد الذي يتسع لـ 89 ألف مشجع للنهائي التاريخي لكأس العالم.
وكان الأهلي قد تأهل للمشاركة في كأس القارات للأندية FIFA قطر2024 بعد تتويجه بلقب دوري أبطال أفريقيا للمرة الثانية عشرة في تاريخه. كما تغلّب على نادي العين الإماراتي، ليحصد بذلك لقب كأس أفريقيا وآسيا والمحيط الهادئ، والتي تعد واحدة من أربع كؤوس تتنافس عليها الأندية في بطولة كأس القارات للأندية.
وسيلعب الأهلي في كأس التحدي يوم السبت 14 ديسمبر في استاد 974، الذي سيجمعه مع الفائز في ديربي الأمريكيتين والذي سيقام في 11 ديسمبر في نفس الاستاد المونديالي، ويشهد لقاءً بين نادي باتشوكا المكسيكي وبطل كأس ليبرتادوريس.
On his 25th birthday, can Tendulkar end Australia’s unbeaten run and take India to glory?
The RetroPreview by Sidharth Monga23-Apr-2020
Shane Warne greets Sachin Tendulkar•AFP
Big pictureIt is said often that cricket is an individual pursuit masquerading as a team sport.On April 22, Sachin Tendulkar proved and disproved it at the same time. Having fielded and bowled in the crazy heat of a Sharjah April afternoon, Tendulkar dipped his feet in ice to manage the blisters, laced up, went out, scored 143 of the 242 that came while he was at the wicket, and dragged, like a lioness does her young cubs, the Indian team into the final. And yet Australia remained unbeaten in the league stages – India threatened to win, but achieved only the bare minimum to qualify: a higher net run rate. And yet it was clear Australia would much rather they faced New Zealand in the final than a genius at his physical and technical prime masquerading as a team.Who really won on April 22 then? The individual or the team?The answer, we will only be able to find out on April 24. This has been a weird old month for these two teams. Just before they flew into Sharjah, India and Australia participated in a tri-series in India where India won all the league games but lost to Australia in the final. Now they are looking to pay back in kind. These two teams have played each other so often in the last month – and have been around when the other team is playing the third side in the competition – that they must have sussed each other out thoroughly. Australia have repeatedly got the better of the kinds of Ganguly and Azharuddin, but there is a genius yet to be tamed.If he is not scoring runs, he is taking wickets; if he is doing neither, Australia win. The only time Australia won despite Tendulkar scoring runs – and it was his personal best in ODIs – was on April 22. Did they really win, though? While it will now give them confidence that they can beat India even if Tendulkar fires, do they really want to face Tendulkar one more time? On his 25th birthday, in a tournament final.Form guideAustralia WWWWW India LLLWL In the spotlightHe is an ODI revolutionary. Having started off as someone unconventional who was deployed in the latter stages of ODI innings, Michael Bevan has now begun to present himself as a more complete one-day batsman. Starting last April, he has scored three centuries, which is a significant achievement for someone who doesn’t bat in the top four. He has been in red-hot form this April: his lowest score has been 15 not out, and he has crossed 50 in six of his nine innings, including a hundred in his last.Michael Bevan plays a shot•AFP
Tendulkar might have put every Indian player to shade in the last few years, but with 14 wickets in six matches, Ajit Agarkar promises to be a valuable player in one-day cricket. He has not yet fully recovered from the injury that kept him out of the last league match, but the word is that India will play him in the final.Team newsAustralia were rattled by the Tendulkar onslaught, but they are not the ones to change their winning combination so easily. They will back their side although bowling back-up won’t hurt them.Australia (probable) 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Mark Waugh, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Michael Bevan, 6 Steve Waugh (capt), 7 Darren Lehmann, 8 Tom Moody, 9 Shane Warne, 10 Michael Kasprowicz, 11 Damien FlemingAgarkar is likely to replace Harvinder Singh for India, and India might look to the left-arm spin of Rahul Sanghvi after the young offspinner Harbhajan Singh went for 63 in his eight overs in the last league game.India (probable) 1 Sourav Ganguly, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Mohammad Azharuddin (capt), 4 Ajay Jadeja, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Hrishikesh Kanitkar, 7 Nayan Mongia (wk), 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Rahul Sanghvi/Harbhajan Singh, 11 Venkatesh PrasadPitch and conditionsIt is hot and dry in Sharjah as expected for the month of April, and the pitch is likely to be just as flat as it was in the last league game. Expect heat, runs and no respite for the bowlers. Which makes it an interesting choice for the captain winning the toss: India will be emboldened to chase after the dew came to their aid in the last game, but this is the final and runs on board always matter.Stats and trivia India have met Australia in six tournament finals, winning only once. That win, though, came in Sharjah, back in 1985. Australia have never beaten India in a final in Sharjah. With a one-wicket lead over Steve Waugh, Anil Kumble is the seventh-highest wicket-taker in the history of ODI cricket. No spinner has taken more than his 185 wickets. With eight catches this month, Mohammad Azharuddin has gone past Australia’s current manager Allan Border’s record of 127 catches in ODIs. Only Azharuddin, Border and Viv Richards have taken 100 catches or more among non-wicketkeepers. RetroLive
Chelsea chiefs are under the belief that a £6 million manager has the skills to replace Mauricio Pochettino, even if he would be a "risky" appointment.
Chelsea draw up managerial shortlist after Pochettino exit
The Blues' Pochettino succession planning will now come into effect in the very near future, as they now officially begin the hunt for his replacement after the controversial decision to part company.
After a brilliant end to the 2023/2024 campaign, and one which saw them qualify for Europe, Chelsea's announcement of Pochettino's departure was met with both surprise and criticism from sections of the media.
Indeed, just as things seemed to be turning a corner in west London, both Pochettino and Chelsea amicably agreed to part ways – with the Argentine leaving by mutual consent.
Chelsea's biggest wins under Pochettino
Chelsea 5-0 West Ham (Premier League)
Chelsea 6-0 Everton (Premier League)
Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (EFL Cup)
Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea (Premier League)
Chelsea 4-0 Preston North End (FA Cup)
Chelsea won their last five Premier League games on the spin, with their form really turning a corner by mid-February, but it appears chairman Todd Boehly and co would rather start from scratch and elect to usher in a new managerial era yet again.
Fabrizio Romano says Chelsea are internally discussing the appointment of Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca, but the Foxes manager is just one option on their list. As well as the ex-Man City employee, Brentford's Thomas Frank and Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna are being talked about behind-the-scenes (Fabrizio Romano).
The latter, still very young in managerial terms at 38-years-old, has done phenomenally at Portman Road and lead Ipswich to their second-successive promotion last term. They'll be playing Premier League football next term, and the "phenomenal" McKenna's success is said to have turned heads at Stamford Bridge. The Englishman would apparently cost £6 million to prise away from Suffolk.
Chelsea chiefs believe McKenna could fit the bill
Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones has claimed Chelsea chiefs believe McKenna has all the skills to succeed in replacing Pochettino, even if it would represent a "risky" move on their part.
"As soon as the news broke that Mauricio Pochettino was leaving, Kieran McKenna was the name that was being most regularly mentioned among people that I speak to that are typically in the know," said Jones.
"It would be a huge leap from being at Ipswich but, of course, he does have big-club experience from his time at Manchester United, so it might not feel as daunting to him as it might to any other 38-year-old rising boss.
"When you look at what this Chelsea ownership want – a smart thinker who develops talent – he has already shown he can do that and is good at it. He has literally had Chelsea’s Omari Hutchinson for the season, and he had a very good campaign. I personally think it is a risky move if they go for McKenna, but I can also see that he has so many of the traits they are looking for when they outline what they want as their next head coach.
"Chelsea have one of the best young squads in world football. They just need someone to bring it altogether, and they believe that McKenna has the skills to do that."