The Italy under-21 side were left absolutely furious with the referee during their match against France after their would-be last-minute equaliser was not given despite the ball seemingly crossing the line.

What happened between Italy U21s and France?

This week, the European Under-21 Championship began in Romania and Georgia and the Azzurrini played their first game on Thursday night.

Taking on a talented French team, the Italians initially fell behind when Arnaud Kalimuendo opened the scoring after just 22 minutes.

Still, they were back level before halftime thanks to Pietro Pellegri who headed in a free kick from Newcastle transfer target Sandro Tonali.

After the break, though, Les Bleus restored their lead when Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie lost the ball cheaply inside his own box, allowing Bradley Barcola to fire in what turned out to be the winner.

However, the game probably should have ended 2-2 when Raoul Bellanova had a header cleared off the line by French defender Castello Lukeba.

In reality, it looks as though the ball actually hit the post and then crossed the line before being cleared, but without VAR in use or any goalline technology, the goal was not given.

You can see an image of the incident shared on Twitter below.

While a full replay was uploaded to Reddit.

Understandably the Italian players were incensed, protesting widely with the referee. While their manager Paolo Nicolato proved how enraged he was after the game with some fiery comments.

Indeed, the Italian coach told RAI Sport, as per Football Italia: “Honestly, I struggle to talk about the game today.

“It’s not possible to see refereeing like this and I have the impression it affected the result far too much. We were also unlucky, even if we lost to a great team.

“It was a good performance, we deserved more.”

Fans on social media were equally as baffled. Here are some of the best Twitter reactions…

One fan even pointed out the ball may have then been cleared with the use of a hand too.

Crystal Palace have placed Mike Tresor on their transfer radar this summer, according to a report from Het Laatste Nieuws, via Sport Witness.

Is Mike Tresor joining Crystal Palace?

The 24-year-old currently plies his trade in Belgium and has produced some incredible goal contribution numbers for Genk over the course of the 2022/23 season. Playing in 34 league games this campaign, he managed a haul of eight goals in total. What's extraordinary however is his assist total, which stands at 21 and means that player managed 29 goal contributions in just 33 starts for the club. Despite his expert ability to tee up his teammates though, his side could manage only a second-place finish in the Belgian league this season.

Playmaking seems to be the specialty of the forward too, with Tresor producing a further seven last season, although he bagged no goals. Back when he played for Wilem II in the Netherlands as well, he managed a haul of 14 assists in 44 starts and had a further two in ten for NEC Nijmegen before that.

His displays have now led to interest from both the Premier League and Ligue 1. According to a report from Het Laatste Nieuws via Sport Witness, Tresor is on the radar of both Crystal Palace in England and Lille in France and both could make moves to land the player this summer.

No official bids have been made as of yet, but it looks like any potential move for the player would cost an interested suitor around 25 million Euros (or £21m). Whilst Genk would also no doubt like to hold onto their leading assist maker, the report adds that they seem resigned to losing the attacking midfielder during the transfer window, with the Eagles shopping for a replacement for Wilfried Zaha.

When does Mike Tresor's contract expire?

Tresor has a deal with the Belgian side that currently expires in 2025 and the club would no doubt like him to see out the remainder of that deal with them. However, his performances mean that he may now end up at another club this summer.

He's certainly caught the eye of the football world now, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig stating that the player has managed "crazy numbers" and also adding that he has had an "absolutely sensational" campaign for his club.

Crystal Palace then could do a lot worse than replacing Zaha with a player like Tresor, who is young, relatively proven and may not break the bank for someone with remarkable end product.

Everton will be looking to make improvements to their attacking threat this summer and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target who could be on their way to Goodison Park this summer.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Crysencio Summerville?

According to the Daily Mail, the Toffees are interested in signing Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.

As per the report, the talented forward is one of the many Leeds players that Everton are keen on bringing to Goodison Park this summer, with his west Yorkshire teammates Tyler Adams and Wilfried Gnonto also named as potential targets too.

It was claimed by Dutch news outlet 1908.NL last week that Summerville has a release clause in his contract, but Leeds could command as little as €12m (£10m).

Who will Crysencio Summerville replace?

There is no doubt that strengthening the forward line will be a top priority for Sean Dyche this summer, especially with Anthony Gordon and Richarlison departing over the last 12 months and now Demarai Gray is also being linked with a move away from Merseyside.

Earlier this month, Sky Sports reported that Fulham are interested in signing the Everton dynamo this summer as he has only one year left on his contract with an option to extend for another and it could be an opportunity for the club to make a huge profit on their £1.7m signing should an offer be tabled.

As a result, the signing of Summerville could spell the end of Gray's stint at Goodison Park and provide Dyche with a fresh attacking perspective to inject into his forward line alongside Dwight McNeil in the wider forward roles.

Over 33 appearances in all competitions, the 21-year-old – who was once hailed as a "runaway train" by journalist Beren Cross – scored five goals and registered six assists with a goal contribution every 166 minutes played, which would be a much-improved output compared to the current goal-scoring options at Everton.

Across all competitions, Gray only offered a goal contribution every 387 minutes, McNeil every 264 minutes and Neal Maupay every 631 minutes, so it is clear that Summerville would offer the Merseyside club a more consistent output in front of goal.

The Dutchman has been subjected to high praise over this short time at Elland Road with Leeds' U23 coach Andrew Taylor giving an analysis of Summerville's best assets:

"He works hard defensively and then his ability going forward is sensational. He just needs to keep doing that, keep performing.

"He’s such a danger, he’s such a threat, an outlet for us, but he doesn’t stop there – he gets back, he gets into position."

With that being said, if Everton can strike a deal for Summerville ahead of next season it would put them not only in a great position to improve the threat in front of goal but will put the club in a comfortable position to accept an offer for Gray should they be approached this summer.

تحدث مصدر مقرب من عبد الله بن سعد بن عبد العزيز، أحد أمراء المملكة العربية السعودية، عن أسباب مهاجمته للاعب الزمالك الحالي محمود عبد الرزاق “شيكابالا”.

وكان الأمير السعودي كشف عن غضبه الشديد بسبب عدم حضور شيكابالا بطولة الأمير عبد الله بن سعد، رغم استلام لاعب الزمالك مقدم العقد للمشاركة في الدورة.

وقال المصدر لـ”بطولات”: “سمو الأمير عبد الله اعتاد على تنظيم هذه الدورة الرمضانية في كل عام”.

إقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | إشارة مثيرة للجدل من شيكابالا لجماهير الأهلي.. ماذا يقصد؟

وأكمل: “هذه البطولة تقام بشكل منتظم كل عام، ويشارك بها لاعبون معتزلون وما زالوا يمارسون كرة القدم”.

وأضاف: “سمو الأمير لا يعرف عنه التحدث بهذا الشكل عن اللاعبين؛ ولذلك من المؤكد أن فعلًا شيكابالا خالف اتفاقه معه”.

واختتم: “بطولة سمو الأمير عبد الله من أشهر الدورات الرمضانية في الممكلة، وتًلعب في جدة، ويشارك بها كل عام لاعبون كبار على رأسهم محمد نور وأيضًا فهد المولد، ويطلق عليها بطولة (الحواري) وسبق وأن شارك بها أحمد حسام ميدو”.

وكان الأمير السعودي عبد الله بن سعد بن عبدالعزيز هاجم شيكابالا وكتب من خلال حسابه عبر منصة “إكس”: “للأسف لاعب غير مسؤول ولم يحترم الاتفاق اللي كان بيننا”.

وأكمل: “استلم مقدم العقد في بيته في مصر وضل يؤكد حضوره لغاية أمس بعد الحجز له ولسبعة مرافقين”.

وأتم: “لم يحضر اليوم حسب الاتفاق، إن شاء الله راح أتخذ معه إجراء قانوني”.

Alex Hales sustained a fractured hand in the defeat in Cuttack and England have called up Jonny Bairstow to replace him in the T20 squad

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-20172:08

‘Haven’t produced near our best this series’ – Morgan

Alex Hales has been ruled out of the rest of England’s tour of India after scans revealed he had sustained a fractured hand in the defeat in Cuttack.The opener travelled with the rest of the squad to Kolkata but will return to England on Saturday and may require surgery. Jonny Bairstow, who was due to leave India after the third ODI, has been asked to stay back and be part of the squad for the three T20Is.*Hales injured his right hand when diving to attempt a catch off MS Dhoni in the second ODI, which India won to take the series. He opened the innings as planned although could be seen taking his hand off the bat on occasions before being dismissed for 14 as England fell short of chasing 382.Bairstow could also be in the running to break into the one-day XI but England might prefer Sam Billings at Eden Gardens considering he opened against Bangladesh, in Chittagong, in October, when Jason Roy was injured, and made a career-best 62. He also scored 93 in the first of England’s warm-up matches in Mumbai earlier this month.Meanwhile, England have been fined for a slow over-rate in the Cuttack ODI. They were ruled to be one over short as India piled up 381 for 6. Captain Eoin Morgan, who pleaded guilty, has been fined 20% of his match fee, while the rest of the players have received 10% fines.*0720 GMT+1 day – This story was updated with the inclusion of Jonny Bairstow into the T20 squad

Duanne Olivier was in debutants’ heaven. He was picked to play his first Test at the Wanderers, as part of an all-pace pack, in a week when the sky was curtained in cloud, the air was heavy with moisture and the opposition would obviously have preferred to be somewhere else.But then his captain won the toss and decided the bowlers would have to wait. And then his team-mates batted so well, they ensured the bowlers would have to wait even longer.Olivier was in danger of doing nothing all day until eight balls before close on the opening day, when JP Duminy edged to second slip and a nightwatchman was needed. The team management decided it was a chance to get the new man in the game, even though it was something he had never done before.”They (Faf du Plessis and Russell Domingo) asked if I wanted to do it. And I decided why not. It’s an opportunity. It was scary because I don’t even bat as high for the franchise but it was exciting,” Olivier admitted.Frustrated after a long day with scant reward, Lahiru Kumara bounced Olivier first-up. He ducked, and made a mental note to dish out some of the same treatment later. Olivier faced only three more balls that evening, including one that seamed and bounced and beat his outside edge, but finished his first day as an international fully satisfied. “I was nervous going out there, batting with a guy like Hashim but it was an unbelievable experience for me.”It was only midway through the following day that Olivier got to do what he had been picked for and then, the nerves came back. “My hands were sweating and I didn’t think straight,” he said, when asked to recall how he felt as he bowled his first ball, to open the 10th over: a 136kph length delivery on off stump. The bouncer followed, some late swing came, the yorker was attempted and then, the chance for his first Test wicket.Kusal Mendis chipped a drive back to Olivier who jumped late and, despite going with both hands, could not hold on. “I was disappointed but it was only my own fault,” he said. “But I knew there was a lot in the wicket so if I just bowled according to plans and did what Faf told me to do, I would get rewarded.”Olivier had to wait for his second spell before that happened, deep into the Sri Lankan innings, but it was worth it. A throat-high bouncer had Rangana Herath top-edging a pull and Stephen Cook’s catch at short leg completed the job. Olivier was off the mark and he didn’t want to stop.He took one more wicket in that innings and three in Sri Lanka’s second innings, with a noisy Wanderers crowd cheering him on. What’s not to love? “When I play four-day cricket, there is no one watching but here, it feels like there are 20 million watching,” he said. “It’s intense, it’s crazy, you need to concentrate, you need to be on the ball, you can’t wander off and watch at the screen. The level is so much different to domestic cricket, you can’t compare. At the end, their No. 8, 9 and 10 batsmen can bat. That’s not to say our franchise players can’t but you feel like you have a chance with franchise players.”Olivier quickly realised the step up to international cricket will demand a lot from him, especially as he tried to find a place as the third-seamer in South Africa’s XI. They are looking for someone who can do a dual job of containing and attacking, for someone who can complement the seam movement of Vernon Philander and the pace of Kagiso Rabada. Someone who generates good bounce is an obvious choice and Olivier does that, but so does Morne Morkel. And there are other options like the left-arm angle of Wayne Parnell, which means Olivier is in a queue.After a decent outing, he may have to wait again but, for now, he doesn’t mind. “I know there are players coming back. If I get the opportunity to play again, of course I want to play. Who doesn’t want to play for the country? But I do also understand they have been performing well for the last 10 years so I can’t be like I must play. I am not too fazed. If I don’t play it’s not the end of the world for me. I will keep working hard at franchise level until I get another opportunity. I will get my opportunity and I will wait for it, whenever it comes.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:13

Chappell: There was no inspiration from Misbah

For Australia, a quadruple triple. For Pakistan, a wretched dozen. Steven Smith’s men completed another crushing victory over the crestfallen visitors on a balmy day at the SCG, making it 12 consecutive wins for the Australians in home Tests against Pakistani touring teams – four clean sweeps in a row dating back to 1999.There never seemed much doubt over the result when the final day began, and even less when Josh Hazlewood struck twice in the first half hour to maintain his outstanding record this summer. From there Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe worked their way through the Pakistan line-up, with Hazlewood returning to claim the final wicket on the stroke of the tea break.Ahead of the Test team’s next job in India, the use of spin on a wearing wicket gave Smith and the coach Darren Lehmann some idea of where Lyon and O’Keefe sat. Lyon bowled some beguiling spells, notably to Younis Khan, but O’Keefe finished the day with the superior figures – 3 for 53 as opposed to 2 for 100.The match played out in an agreeable atmosphere, as a decent crowd of 17,583 filed in for the price of a gold coin donation to the Jane McGrath Foundation. They saved some of their biggest cheers for the substitute fielder Mickey Edwards, a seam bowler from the Manly grade club who sported a surfer’s mane of hair in weather that could scarcely have been more beach-friendly.Hazlewood set the tone in the first over of the day, accepting a return catch from Azhar Ali, and followed up by claiming Babar Azam lbw for the second time in the match. Lyon’s teasing spell to Younis was rewarded when the batsman lost patience and skied an attempt to hit over midwicket. A leading edge was accepted comfortably by Hazlewood at mid-on. Younis finished the Test on 9977 runs.The nightwatchman Yasir Shah had offered considerable resistance to Australia, but was defeated by an O’Keefe delivery that turned and bounced enough to catch the edge and was taken low down at second slip by the substitute fielder Jackson Bird. Misbah did not look at ease at any stage of his innings, but found a way to survive to lunch in the company of the more proactive Asad Shafiq.On resumption Shafiq got as far as 30 before Starc found a hint of reverse swing into the right-hander from around the wicket to bowl him off an inside edge. Sarfraz continued in a similarly positive vein opposite Misbah, the pair adding 52 in only 13.3 overs. However, Australia broke through when Misbah aimed an extravagant heave at O’Keefe and was caught attempting to slog a spin bowler for the second time in the match.Wahab Riaz fell next, apparently mystified as to how the umpire Richard Illingworth’s not-out verdict could have been overturned. Matthew Wade heard the faintest of sounds as O’Keefe spun the ball past the bat, and his appeal was backed up by the merest possible spike on Snicko for the third umpire Ian Gould to rule in the bowler’s favour.Mohammad Amir’s stay was ended by a wretched run-out, and Smith took the second new ball minutes before the scheduled tea break to allow the excellent Hazlewood to claim the last wicket with extra bounce and another catch to Bird – his four snaffles equalling the world record for a substitute.In recent years, beating Pakistan down under has been one of the least challenging tasks Australia can contemplate; their next assignment, facing up to India in India, is by far the most difficult.

Following his record-breaking opening stand with David Warner, Travis Head is hoping to get more chances up the order

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2017Travis Head, who hit his maiden ODI century against Pakistan in the fifth ODI in Adelaide after being pushed up to open, hopes to get more chances at the top of the order.”As a batter I would love to bat as high as I possibly can, if there’s that opportunity as there was in this series,” Head, who put on 284 with David Warner, said after Australia’s 57-run win. This was the second time Head has opened in his young ODI career of 20 games. The first of those chances to open came in the first ODI of the series, in Brisbane, where he was out for a run-a-ball 39.”I got the opportunity at the Gabba and felt like I was in good form, but I wasn’t able to get a massive score,” he said. “I was very disappointed after that, then going back down the order, that I wasn’t able to capitalise.”So it was nice to get out there today, get first crack at it and get runs. But I’m happy to do the job wherever is needed in the side. I’m happy to go game by game and just be in the side. The preparation for the Champions Trophy, I think we’re playing the right brand at the end of this series. So wherever I fit, it’s fantastic.”With David Warner guaranteed to open, barring injuries, the search is on for a second opener for Australia leading up to the Champions Trophy in England in June. Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch have been tried there. Khawaja opened in the middle three ODIs of the Pakistan series. Finch, who was dropped for the series against Pakistan, has been recalled for the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand.Head too is part of the squad, and hopes to find himself among the runs to merit automatic selection. “I felt like I’ve been in good form in the series but I just haven’t been able to get a big score, and it’s probably been like that since I debuted,” he said. “It’s nice and satisfying to get runs, but the head moves quickly to New Zealand and try and back up the good form and keep the ball rolling.”Head said batting with Warner, who now has six tons in 11 ODIs and was battling a cold and later on fatigue in this game, made his job much easier. The pair set a new Australian ODI partnership record – beating the 260-run second-wicket stand between Warner and Steven Smith against Afghanistan in the 2015 World Cup. They missed the all-time ODI opening partnership record by two runs.”He [Warner] told me he was going for 200, so I don’t think his mind was set on coming off [due to health issues],” Head said. “He was pretty fatigued, we did a fair bit of running. But I don’t think that hindered him in any way, he just got on with the job. He was struggling a little bit but he was definitely focused on getting a few more runs. It’s easy at the other end – he makes it easy for me. He does it consistently, backing up massive scores and it’s another match-winning effort from him.”

Nottingham Forest have reignited a target from the January window, if reports are to be believed as we head into the madness of the summer transfer period.

Steve Cooper will hope to strengthen his side during the break ahead of another busy Premier League season, in the hope to push on from near survivors to an established club in the top-division once more.

The latest talent linked with a move to the City Ground is a familiar face to England, and one that could form a strong partnership in the Welshman’s plans.

What’s the latest on Romain Saiss to Nottingham Forest?

As reported by Turkish outlet Sabah Spor this week, Forest are interested in Besiktas defender Romain Saiss.

The report claims that the Premier League outfit are getting closer to reaching the club’s €4m (£3.4m) price tag of the centre-back, with the Moroccan having his ‘mind set’ on a return to England.

Forest were in contact with the Turkish side in January over the availability of the 33-year-old, according to reports.

What could Romain Saiss offer to Nottingham Forest?

Having been lauded as “incredible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers commander could bring talent as well as a host of experience to Forest’s back line.

The 33-year-old titan made 206 total appearances for Wolves, gaining a heap of Premier League experience and impressing during his stay in England.

Last season, the Morocco star was monstrous at Molineux before making the move to the Super Lig where the colossus has continued to show his worth in central defence.

Despite finding his form towards the end of the season in Istanbul, the Morocco captain is reportedly eyeing a move back to the comforts of the Premier League, where he could prove to be a powerful introduction at the City Ground.

Predominantly lining his central defenders in a back three, Cooper could bolster his defensive ranks by securing the signature of Saiss, who could form a fearsome partnership alongside the talents of Joe Worrall.

The 26-year-old made 21 starts this campaign for the Tricky Trees and could cement himself as one of Cooper’s untouchable defenders in accommodating the arrival of Saiss.

When comparing the duo via FBref, the numbers suggest that due to their opposing strengths in playing at centre-back, the pair could form a strong in-play bond that could higher the level of performance in defence.

The Englishman comes out on top in terms of typical defensive attributes such as tackling and duel winning, averaging 2.14 tackles per 90 to the 33-year-old’s 1.33 in the Premier League last season, as well as winning 61% of his total duels this campaign to Saiss’ 57%, with an average of 3.8 won per game.

However, the experienced defender could provide Worrall with a composed outlet to induce progressive play in the back line, as hinted by his 4.56 progressive passes per 90 to the Nottingham-born gem’s 2.71, via FBref, meaning he could provide a fresh approach at the back.

Having a ball-playing defender is essential in the Premier League, with a lot praised by teams playing out from the back to build wave after wave of attack.

Cooper could, therefore, add another dimension to his defence by placing an colossal individual as savvy on the ball as Saiss to play alongside Worrall.

Talk of a potential Harvey Barnes move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer "will grow legs over the coming weeks", believes journalist Ben Jacobs.

Barnes could end up being a key signing in Ange Postecoglou's new-look Spurs side going forward.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – Harvey Barnes

With Leicester City's relegation from the Premier League this season, stars such as Harvey Barnes are expected to leave the club to remain in the top flight.

The 25-year-old made 187 senior appearances for the Foxes, scoring an impressive 45 goals and earning 32 assists, so it isn't surprising that he is a wanted man.

According to the Telegraph, West Ham United are currently leading the race for the once-capped Englishman's signature.

The publication have reported that the Hammers could start the bidding war at around the £30m mark.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa have also been linked to the player by the same report, a move that would see him link up with former teammate Youri Tielemans.

However, the Daily Mail have reported Newcastle United won't be pursuing the Leicester man due to their belief in recent signing Anthony Gordon to come good eventually.

What has Ben Jacobs said about Harvey Barnes to Tottenham Hotspur?

Jacobs was straight to the point, explaining that a move to Tottenham will become more likely for Barnes as the window goes on.

Speaking on the podcast The Last Word on Spurs, he said: "I think Harvey Barnes to Spurs is going to grow legs though over the coming weeks."

Would Harvey Barnes be a good transfer for Tottenham?

Despite getting relegated with the Foxes this season, the Burnley-born forward has had a solid year himself, being one of the few bright sparks in the club's dreadful season.

According to WhoScored, Barnes averaged a fairly respectable rating of 6.66 across his 32 Premier League games, hardly the form of a player deserving of relegation.

His goal return has also been Impressive, netting 13 times and creating one assist for his teammates.

With numbers like that, in a team as dysfunctional as the Midlands club have been this year, it is no surprise then that Jurgen Klopp hailed the England international as 'unbelievable' back in 2021.

If Spurs can get this deal done, they would have a great player on their hands, and at a good age as well.