The Football Association (FA) has reversed its long-standing policy and will no longer allow transgender players in the women's game in England.

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FA ban transgender players from women's footballPreviously allowed trans women with low testosteroneChange announced after Supreme Court rulingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The FA has so far refused to bow to criticism from ministers and protesters and has allowed transgender women to play on women's teams on an individual basis. The FA had previously permitted transgender women to participate in amateur women's competitions if they had seen a decrease in testosterone levels for a minimum of a year, but the FA was still able to disqualify anyone for safety or equity reasons.

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The FA has now declared that, effective from next season, transgender women would not be allowed to play women's football in England. This important policy shift comes after the Supreme Court's recent ruling that women were only legally defined by their biological sex. Some transgender athletes had hoped that football would continue to be more inclusive, but this reversal has happened.

WHAT THE FA'S STATEMENT SAID

On their website, FA announced their decision and wrote: "This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football, then we would review it and change it if necessary.

"The Supreme Court’s ruling on 16 April means that we will be changing our policy. Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women’s football in England, and this policy will be implemented from 1 June 2025.

"We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game."

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The ban on transgender women in English football also follows the Scottish Football Association (SFA) announcing the same set of rules in Scotland regarding the involvement of transgender women in women's football. The ban in England will be applicable starting on June 1.

Newcastle United have reached their second League Cup final in three years following their 4-0 aggregate win over Arsenal in the semi-finals.

Eddie Howe will be hoping the outcome is different this time compared to the 2023 final, which saw the Magpies lose 2-0 to Manchester United at Wembley.

In the final, they will face Arne Slot’s Liverpool juggernaut, which doesn’t appear to be slowing down for anyone, and it will prove to be a difficult task to end their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.

Howe will take solace in the fact that his side drew 3-3 with the Anfield outfit back in December as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored during the Premier League clash.

Isak, in particular, has been in wonderful form over the previous few months, and if the Toon are to claim the trophy in March, Isak will have to be at his very best.

Alexander Isak’s stats this season

Isak scored 25 goals throughout the 2023/24 season, although it wasn’t enough to lift the club back into the top four of the Premier League table.

They missed out on Champions League qualification, but given how impressive the Swedish striker has been so far this term, Howe’s men could be in for a swift return to Europe’s premier club competition.

In 27 games for the Magpies this term, Isak has scored 19 goals – well on course to break through the 25-goal barrier. He also has recorded five assists, proving he is more than capable of creating chances for his teammates.

Towards the end of last season, Alan Shearer, who knows a thing or two about scoring for the club, waxed lyrical about the Swede, saying: “He is just a constant threat all the time. His finishing is excellent and his penalty-taking is as good as they come.

“He is confident and cool and believes in everything he is doing.

“We know that once he gets away over the top, he is going to cause you an absolute nightmare. His ability to link up and his understanding [is brilliant].”

He has been even better during the current campaign. When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Isak currently ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals (0.75), the top 10% for shot-creating actions (3.48) and in the top 7% for successful take-ons (1.63) per 90, indicating how good he is compared to others on the continent.

The longer Howe is able to hold onto the former Borussia Dortmund striker, the better chance Newcastle will have of ending their trophy drought and returning to play in the Champions League.

The St James’ Park side has seen some wonderful strikers grace the pitch over the years. From Jackie Milburn to Shearer, Andy Cole to Isak.

Back in 2018, the club sold a player to a current Premier League rival, and he has since embarked on an impressive career – one that has culminated in him scoring more goals than Isak for his current club this term…

Why Newcastle sold Aleksandar Mitrovic

Aleksandar Mitrovic signed for the Toon in the summer of 2015, but his nine Premier League goals were powerless as the club were relegated from the top flight.

He netted just four times in the Championship the following season, failing to showcase the potential that saw him shine on occasion the year prior.

Mitrovic spent the second half of the 2017/18 season on loan at Fulham, leading them back into the top flight after four years away, signing for the Cottagers that summer for a fee in the region of £22m.

The Serbian failed to perform on a consistent basis for the Magpies, but since leaving, his goalscoring abilities have been on full show.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is outscoring Isak this season

The 30-year-old enjoyed a productive spell in west London with Fulham. Across 206 games in all competitions, Mitrovic scored an impressive tally of 111 goals, chipping in with 21 assists. This works out as a goal contribution every 1.5 matches.

Season

Games

Goals

2023/24

44

40

2022/23

28

15

2021/22

46

43

2020/21

31

4

2019/20

41

26

2018/19

39

11

2017/18

27

14

2016/17

29

6

2015/16

36

9

2014/15

51

28

2013/14

45

19

2012/13

36

15

Marco Silva heaped praise on the centre-forward after Fulham enjoyed a great start to the 2022/23 season, saying: “The numbers of Mitrovic are unbelievable, they are outstanding. Since I arrived in this football club, in 57 games, he scored 52 goals. It is an unbelievable number for a striker.”

Despite netting 14 goals that term, he was surprisingly sold to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023 in what Fulham said was a club-record transfer fee.

His antics in front of goal certainly haven’t slowed down since making the move to the Middle East. If anything, they have improved. 60 goals in just 67 matches for the club is a sensational record.

The 2024/25 season has seen the former Newcastle striker score 20 goals in 24 matches for Al-Hilal, which is currently one more goal than Isak’s tally.

In the Saudi Pro League, Mitrovic scores a goal every 98 minutes, while he has registered 3.7 shots per game, has a 25% conversion rate and succeeds with 50% of his dribble attempts domestically.

Of course, the league isn’t as strong as the English top flight, but these numbers prove that the Serbia international still has what it takes to be a reliable threat in front of goal for any club.

Did Rafael Benitez sell Mitrovic too hastily? Perhaps, but receiving a fee upwards of £20m was always going to be difficult to turn down for a relegated club, especially considering his record for the Magpies wasn’t exactly great.

However, the previous seven years have shown that all he needed was regular game time and some trust in him to demonstrate his true potential.

Howe will be hoping that Isak can continue his recent form. If so, the Magpies have a genuine chance of winning their first trophy since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

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Philippe Clement’s time at Glasgow Rangers has come to an end. The news was announced on Sunday evening, although the damage had already been done.

Trailing Celtic by 13 points in the Scottish Premiership means the Gers will miss out on the title for a fourth season in a row. Having also lost to their rivals in the League Cup final as well as suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup a few weeks ago, their weekend loss to St Mirren proved to be the final straw.

The next permanent manager at the club must be the correct choice. Celtic are racing further and further away domestically and have earned millions from their Champions League run this season too, and it is clear Rangers are well behind.

Barry Ferguson has since been named as interim boss, but whoever takes over at Ibrox full-time has plenty of work to do. There are certainly a few talented players in the squad, but the right style is required to bring out the best in them.

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We have taken a look at six things the new manager must have on his to-do list ahead of next season.

Manager

Games

Points per game

Philippe Clement

86

2.09

Michael Beale

43

2.26

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

68

2.01

Steven Gerrard

192

2.15

Pedro Caixinha

26

1.81

1 Reduce the wage bill

While Clement failed to impress many this term with poor results on the field, he did manage to get rid of a few players last summer.

Indeed, John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe and Jon McLaughlin all left once their contracts expired, reducing the wage bill significantly.

However, there are several players on high wages still at the club. Kieran Dowell is earning £16,000 per week, while James Tavernier is earning nearly double this. Moving on those who are earning significant amounts while failing to contribute should be a priority for the new manager.

2 Implement a clear style of play

During his 18-month reign, Clement failed to develop a style of play that could allow players to perform at their very best.

During the 2020/21 campaign – the last time Rangers won the league – Steven Gerrard implemented a 4-3-3 system that brought out the best in several players, especially the front three.

Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe, Ianis Hagi, Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo notched up 64 goals and 53 assists between them that season as they stormed to the domestic title under Gerrard’s attacking philosophy.

Whoever takes the job must spend time working on a system that fits the current players at the club, and one that could see them finally emerge from the shadows and start challenging for the league title again.

3 Win against Celtic

Clement’s record against Celtic was dismal. Across seven matches against their Old Firm rivals, the Belgian manager led the Gers to just one win – a 3-0 victory at the start of 2025.

Before that, he had suffered four defeats from five in the top flight, with only the 3-3 draw last April halting that losing run.

In the League Cup final in December, the Ibrox side arguably should have claimed the trophy, playing extremely well. The tie eventually went to penalties, where the Bhoys prevailed.

This record was hopeless, and not since Gerrard was in charge has a manager regularly got the better of Celtic.

Whoever ends up with the permanent job must ensure they start on the right foot during their first Old Firm clash, or they could go the same way as Clement and Michael Beale.

4 Recruit well in the transfer window

Clement did have one philosophy, and that was signing young players who had high ceilings for development. The likes of Clinton Nsiala, Jefte, Hamza Igamane and Oscar Cortes could all develop into wonderful players over the next few years.

There were a few howlers, however. Robin Propper failed to live up to the reputation he secured during his spell in the Netherlands, while Fabio Silva scored just six goals for the Light Blues during a six-month loan spell last term.

Across the other side of the city, Celtic have made incredible profits on Matt O’Riley, Jota and Kieran Tierney in recent years, allowing them more flexibility in the transfer market.

The new manager must be willing to take some risks in the window, but the priority will be to move players on when the iron is hot, therefore making a solid profit.

5 Utilise the academy

Giving Rangers’ academy products a chance is something Clement failed to do until it was necessary. Ross McCausland was given plenty of game time last term by the Belgian, but this was due to a lack of depth on the right wing.

This season, there have been a few players who have emerged from the academy who perhaps should have played more. Bailey Rice and Leon King are two names that stand out, though the duo have only played 217 minutes between them all season.

Whoever takes charge next should be turning to the academy in order to bulk up his first-team squad.

6 Make progress in Europe

One of Clement’s only saving graces at the club was leading them into the last 16 of the Europa League. During the league phase, Rangers won four of their eight matches, losing just two as they nabbed the final qualification spot courtesy of a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise last month.

A tie against Fenerbahce awaits, but the new manager should be looking to steer the club into the revamped Champions League, where plenty of riches await.

For playing 10 games in the final tournament this season, Celtic earned nearly £40m in prize money – an astronomical amount, especially in Scottish football terms.

This, in turn, will allow the club to bring in better-quality players, which could see them continue to perform well on the biggest stages.

Rangers have missed out on this for the previous two seasons, and the money that can be won would be vital for the new manager. Doing well in the Europa League is all fine and well, but it is in the Champions League where Rangers belong.

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ByRoss Kilvington Dec 25, 2024

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O personagem central da vitória do Coritiba por 2 a 1 sobre o Fortaleza, neste domingo (3), certamente foi o atacante Zé Hugo e seu choro copioso após marcar o segundo tento do Verdão já aos 49 minutos do tempo complementar.

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Na entrevista depois da partida, o atleta de apenas 22 anos de idade relembrou a sua trajetória onde o aspecto da superação é elemento marcante. Especialmente, quando se analisa o panorama vivivo ainda no ano de 2020.

– Não foi fácil chegar até aqui. Pulei da Série D para a Série A, jogava na várzea. Há dois anos atrás, eu estava desempregado, jogando na várzea. Então, esse gol aqui é pra coroar um trabalho, um esforço grande. Agradeço a todos os meus companheiros e a essa torcida maravilhosa que nunca para de cantar, de apoiar. É isso, é emoção demais e gostaria de dedicar o gol para minha mãe.

Reforço contratado pelo Coxa junto ao Azuriz, Zé Hugo tem no currículo passagens por alguns clubes no futebol nacional (Farroupilha, Botafogo-PB, São Gabriel e Nova Mutum) antes de chegar ao clube gerenciado, entre outros integrantes, pelo lateral-esquerdo Marcelo, ex-Real Madrid.

Até o momento, o jovem avante tinha feito apenas quatro partidas pelo Coritiba. Sendo que, desses compromissos, iniciou como titular apenas frente ao América-MG, no último dia 15 de maio, quando o clube do Alto da Glória venceu por 1 a 0 pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

Next month, Liverpool have the opportunity to retain their Carabao Cup trophy, with Arne Slot’s rip-roaring start to life in the dugout taking him to Wembley, where Newcastle United await.

What to say about Liverpool’s campaign? It’s been brilliant, with Slot inheriting a talented team from Jurgen Klopp but keeping the quality intact, advancing it and bettering it.

There are strong title-lifting hopes for both the Premier League and the Champions League, but clinching a domestic cup would be a nice tone-setter for the final phase.

Liverpool have a team plenty strong enough to get the job done, win the trophy in succession. Last season, to be fair, Klopp had to make do with a depleted crop – but the youngsters pulled through.

Liverpool's best youngsters

Klopp’s Kids. Liverpool’s iconic German gaffer was confirmed to be stepping down from his long-time position, but through a strong influx of youth, there was hope for the future.

Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah had established themselves in the first team and retain such positions to date, joining the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott as regulars.

But it was the younger, less experienced members of Anfield’s wider brood that saw Liverpool conquer Chelsea’s ‘billion-pound bottle-jobs’, as pundit Gary Neville so scathingly put it.

James McConnell, Bobby Clark and Jayden Danns were brought on in the later stages. Trey Nyoni, then 16, sat in the stands in what showcased the potential of that young midfielder.

Injury-hit Liverpool endured, proved they have a new-found academy strength that can rival even Cobham’s imperious rate of production.

However, Liverpool’s brightest star wasn’t even in the matchday squad that day, for he was sidelined along with many more senior teammates.

In fact, the young man in question hasn’t returned to Liverpool action since, one year later. That’s because Ben Doak has been competing in the Championship on loan with Middlesborough, exhibiting his elite-class potential.

Ben Doak's 24/25 season in numbers

Doak, 19, featured five times for Klopp’s Liverpool last season, making exciting headway before a cruel injury ruled him out from December 2023 until the end of the campaign.

His goalscoring Boro teammate, Tommy Conway, has praised him for his uncanny ability to “cause carnage on the pitch.” Goals and assists are great, but Doak is young and has ample time to build up his potency.

But the raw underlying data bespeaks stardom. As per Sofascore, Doak has started 21 Championship matches this season, scoring three goals and registering seven assists.

Market Movers

Expand Collapse

He’s also crisp, completing 84% of his passes, making almost two key passes (1.9) every game. Mohamed Salah, for context, averages 2.2 for Liverpool this term.

Compare his Championship metrics with those of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in the Premier League this season and you see that he’s got something special to bring to the table, something worth Slot’s time.

Cody Gakpo – Luis Diaz – Ben Doak (2024/25)

Stats (per 90)

Gakpo

Diaz

Doak

Goals scored

0.53

0.51

0.15

Assists

0.20

0.11

0.35

Shots taken

2.76

4.11

1.37

Shot-creating actions

3.94

4.29

4.15

Pass completion

76%

84.1%

84%

Progressive passes

2.82

4.17

2.83

Progressive carries

2.50

3.67

6.78

Successful take-ons

1.64

1.86

1.77

All stats via FBref

He’s a real player, this young Scotland star. See the table. See Doak’s ball-carrying threat, his creativity and the artful insinuations that they carry.

To think that Liverpool snapped Celtic’s youth player up for just £600k – a compensation fee for the then-16-year-old – only underscores the success, with Klopp leaving the Merseyside outfit in a far better condition than the dilapidation he walked into back in 2015.

Ben Doak's soaring market value

Doak has been in fine fettle this term, praised curiously as a ‘whirlwind dervish’ by BBC Sport writer Tom English.

Senior reporters such as The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe had “rejected a £15m bid from Crystal Palace” in January, holding out for a £30m figure for the wideman.

With Ipswich Town going one better – literally – and offering £16m, £1m more than the Eagles, Liverpool chiefs surely recognised that they have a banker on their hands. Former Scotland manager Craig Levein has claimed: “this kid could be a world-class player.”

This whole ordeal was met with dismay by many of a Liverpool persuasion. Doak has been tearing it up in the second tier and could become a major player in Liverpool’s first team over the coming years – especially when considering his right-sided placement would be perfect to compensate for the ostensibly outgoing Salah, out of contract at the end of the season.

Slot could make good use of his skills, but given that Doak is already worth so much more than the nominal fee paid for his services, it’s hard to argue that Liverpool haven’t already hit the jackpot on the player.

To be sure, Doak’s stock could rise higher and higher over the coming campaigns, but his financial skyrocket to at least £30m already marks a 4900% increase from that one-time £600k payment.

Energy, combativeness and dynamic ability sit within a vibrant skill set that has already tempted two Premier League outfits into making their moves – Liverpool must consider their options carefully, but given the need for strengthening across a number of areas this summer, surely Doak’s inclusion in Slot’s second season would only be a good thing?

Whether FSG decide to bite the bullet and cash in on their top talent this summer, or indeed allow him to graduate from the fringes and into the first-team ascendancy, remains to be seen.

But whichever way you look at it, Liverpool have hit the jackpot on this profitable and powerful winger, whose name will only gain steam over the coming years.

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Arsenal have now identified a “superstar” as their top striker target for the summer, and there is a belief a deal could be done for £55m, according to a report.

Gunners keen on a new striker

The Gunners attempted to bring in a new striker during the January transfer window, but they were unable to get a deal done for a reasonable price, with Aston Villa demanding a fee above £80m for Ollie Watkins.

Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko are also well-known targets for Mikel Arteta, but the former was understandably unavailable in the January transfer window, with Newcastle United not yet in a position where they have to sell the Sweden international.

On the other hand, a report has revealed the north Londoners have already started work on securing a pre-summer deal for Sesko, as the Slovenian has a gentleman’s agreement to leave RB Leipzig either this year or in 2026.

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The Sunday Mirror have now dropped a new update on Arsenal’s striker pursuit (via Football London), reporting Isak and Sesko are at the top of their wish list for the summer transfer window.

However, it is the Leipzig star who is viewed as the ideal target, with a deal deemed more of a realistic possibility as there is a belief he has a £55m release clause included in his contract with the German club.

Not only is Arteta keen to bring in a new striker, he is also set to sign a back-up goalkeeper and central midfielder, with Spain international Martin Zubimendi wanted from Real Sociedad.

Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures	Date
Leicester City (a)	February 15th
West Ham United (h)	February 22nd
Nottingham Forest (a)	February 26th
Manchester United (a)	March 9th
Chelsea (h)	March 16th

Sesko on fire in the Bundesliga

It is little wonder Arsenal are so keen on the Slovenia international, given that he is in fantastic form in the Bundesliga, picking up six goals and one assist in his last eight outings.

Such is the 21-year-old’s ability, he has been lauded as a “superstar” by HITC’s Graeme Bailey, so it is exciting news the Gunners are now positioning themselves to get a deal done in the summer.

Although Leipzig crashed out the Champions League, the starlet also put in some impressive performances in the competition this season, bagging four goals in eight group games.

Given the youngster’s potential, a fee of £55m seems reasonable, so the Gunners should continue to monitor Sesko’s performances between now and the end of the season, before launching a move.

Although Kai Havertz has impressed at times this season, there are justified concerns about whether Arteta’s side can go all the way in the Premier League and Champions League without an out-and-out striker, and Sesko certainly fits the bill in that regard.

Vivrant Sharma was at an Ahmedabad hotel, packing after a deflating loss to Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy. The IPL auction had been running in the background on TV, but it was only when the capped players’ sets finished that it registered that his name would be up soon.As the 23-year-old allrounder from Jammu & Kashmir watched, he saw Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders battle it out for his services. A base price of INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000 approx.) zoomed past a crore within no time. When the hammer finally went down a few minutes later, he’d been signed up for INR 2.6 crore (USD 317,000 approx.), a sum he certainly “did not expect”. All he had hoped for was to be picked. This was “unimaginable”.Related

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Vivrant’s first move after that was to ring up his elder brother Vikrant, who inspired him to become a cricketer. Vikrant aspired to be fast bowler and even represented his university, but stepped aside to manage the family’s chemical business following the death of their father Sushant Sharma in 2020.Vikrant’s focus alongside the family business was to ensure Vivrant lived his passion. That dream began to take shape in February 2021, when he made his List A debut for his state side. Earlier this month, an anticipated Ranji Trophy debut materialised. On Friday, he took the next step up.”My cricket would have come to a halt but Vikrant ensured that it continued non-stop as he took over the family business and started living his dreams through me,” Vivrant told PTI. “It’s all because of my brother’s sacrifice. I would not have been here otherwise. I was not good at studies, but Vikrant ensured I continued to focus on cricket and kept making progress.”This won’t, however, be Vivrant’s first brush with the IPL. Earlier this year, on Abdul Samad’s recommendation, he was a net bowler for Sunrisers, bowling handy legspin. It was there, during a training session, where reserve players were range hitting, that Vivrant gave glimpses of his big-hitting abilities.He provided further proof of his abilities during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy domestic T20s in October, when he made 128 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 145.45. There was one particular knock, against Karnataka, that he picks out as a turning point.In a chase of 148 on a sluggish surface in Chandigarh’s Mullanpur stadium, Vivrant found himself batting with the lower order as J&K sank to 31 for 6. Vivrant launched a fierce counterattack to make a 46-ball 63 with six fours and two sixes. J&K lost the game, but Vivrant had made a mark. With the ball, overall, he picked up six wickets at an economy of 4.80.He followed that up with solid returns at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he was the team’s second-highest run-scorer with 395 runs in eight innings at an average of 56.42 and strike rate of 94.72. This included a 124-ball 154 against Uttarakhand that powered J&K into the preliminary quarter-final. He also picked up five wickets in the tournament.Given these numbers, he held on to hopes of an IPL deal, but “I never expected such an amount. I was just hoping someone would pick me.”Vivrant is a die-hard Yuvraj Singh fan. He’s also thankful to Irfan Pathan, the former India allrounder who was a mentor to J&K for two seasons, for his support. “Being a left-hander himself, Irfan too has influenced me a lot,” he said. “He is a player’s coach and is still in touch with us. I’m sure he will be very happy today.”Come the IPL, Vivrant hopes to pick Brian Lara’s brains at Sunrisers. But, for now, his focus is on churning out good performances for J&K in the Ranji Trophy. “There are a lot of expectations [from me]. I just want to stay grounded and keep learning.”

أعلن كلاودييو رانييري، مستشار نادي روما، موقفه النهائي من تولي مسؤولية تدريب منتخب إيطاليا خلفًا لـ لوتشيانو سباليتي، بعدما تمت الإطاحة به قبل يومين.

كان الاتحاد الإيطالي لكرة القدم قد قرر الاستغناء عن خدمت سباليتي، بعد الهزيمة بثلاثية نظيفة من النرويج في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

وتولى سباليتي مسؤولية قيادة منتخب إيطاليا في مباراته الأخيرة أمس أمام مولدوفا، في إطار التصفيات نفسها (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وتحصل كلاوديو رانييري على عرض لتدريب منتخب إيطاليا، خلفًا لـ سباليتي، ولكنه رفض تلك الفرصة.

وقال رانييري، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “فوتبول إيطاليا” اليوم: “أشكر رئيس الاتحاد الإيطالي على تلك الفرصة، إنه شرف عظيم بالنسبة لي”.

وأضاف: “ومع ذلك، فقد فكرت مليًا وقررت الالتزام التام بدوري الجديد في روما، منحتني عائلة فريدكينز (مُلاك روما) دعمًا كاملًا وساندتني بغض النظر عن قراري بشأن المنتخب الوطني، هذا قراري”.

كان كلاوديو رانييري عمل مدربًا لـ روما لمدة 6 أشهر، حتى نهاية الموسم الماضي، قبل أن يتولى منصبه الجديد في النادي نفسه.

Also, there will be no overthrow runs if an “intentional” run-out attempt results in the ball deflecting off the stumps

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-20230:54

Morkel: ‘We can now see what combinations the other team is going with’

Team captains – for the very first time in a premier T20 competition – can select their playing XIs after the toss is conducted. On the day before the inaugural SA20 competition begins in Cape Town, the organisers said that this possibly revolutionary tweak, among a few other additions, has been included to “improve the quality of the product” while “preserving the sanctity” of the game.Essentially, captains must nominate 13 players before the toss, and after the coin flip, are allowed to reduce their team size to 11. The two players left out will become the substitute fielders.Another unique change to their playing conditions is that there will be no overthrow runs if an “intentional” run-out attempt results in the ball deflecting off the stumps. The organisers said this was to encourage “positive and attacking fielding.”There will also be a bonus point up for grabs in every game. Beyond the four points for a win, if a team can win with a run rate that is 1.25 times their opponents’, they will earn a fifth point. Another change they’ve introduced is that there will be no run off a “free-hit” delivery if that ball hits the batter’s wicket.Among all these changes, the choose-after-toss rule will steal the spotlight. Never before has a reputed T20 competition made such a change to one of the fundamental laws of cricket. However, more recently leagues have not shied away from experimenting with changes to how the T20 game is played. The Big Bash League in Australia introduced “Power Surge” (powerplay overs split into 4+2), “Bash Boost” (bonus point for better score at halfway stage) and “X-Factor” (substitute player at over 10). Similarly, the IPL is introducing the “Impact Player” rule into the competition after completing a trial run in their domestic T20 tournament.The SA20 competition starts January 10 with MI Cape Town playing at home against Paarl Royals. The 33-match six-team competition is part of a star-studded T20 line-up in January that includes the Emirates T20 League, the Big Bash and the BPL in Bangladesh.

Liverpool put paid to Arsenal’s hopes of staging a comeback in the Premier League title race after capitalising on their rivals’ shock home defeat against West Ham United by blowing Manchester City away at the Etihad.

Social media and punditry seemed to subscribe to the idea that Liverpool are the Champions Elect in February, but skipper Virgil van Dijk will no doubt have barked pragmatic orders at his teammates in the dressing room post-match. There’s football still ahead.

Still, Arne Slot’s side boast an 11-point leaad at the top of the table with as many matches to play. There’s an undeniable air of authority about this side, meeting challenge after challenge and coming out on top.

Dominik Szoboszlai is earning his flowers after his recent performances, but then the Hungarian has been one of the Reds’ unsung heroes all year.

Dominik Szoboszlai's amazing form in 2024/25

Jurgen Klopp coordinated a comprehensive midfield rebuild in 2023, with Szoboszlai’s £60m release clause at RB Leipzig activated in July.

He ebbed and flowed last year but has been nothing short of exemplary for the Reds this year, so consistent and influential through his energy and industrious work ethic.

Having bagged a goal and an assist against fallen City, the 23-year-old raised his haul to six goals and six assists across 35 matches in all competitions. This doesn’t seem great, but direct involvements hardly tell the tale of Szoboszlai’s brilliance.

The attacking midfielder-turned-false nine was hailed as an “absolute monster” by Liverpool content creator Asim Mahmood after his performance against Pep Guardiola’s men, awarded an 8/10 match rating by The Liverpool Echo and hailed for his all-encompassing display, excelling both offensively and with ‘defensive endeavour’.

Szoboszlai’s output could ​​​​​​improve, but he’s still an immense player.

There is, however, a former Liverpool ten who’s vastly outperforming him in front of goal this term – his name’s Xherdan Shaqiri.

Xherdan Shaqiri's prolific season in 2024/25

Liverpool snapped Shaqiri up from Stoke City for a sharp £13.5m fee in 2018 after activating a relegation clause in the Switzerland international’s contract.

A clutch player, Shaqiri embraced his super-sub role and indeed came up trumps when whipping a delightful delivery in for Gini Wijnaldum during Liverpool’s unforgettable 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the 2018/19 Champions League semi-final, going on to lift the trophy.

He departed in 2021 taking fond memories and an appreciative fanbase’s support with him, signing for Lyon for £9.5m in 2021, marking good business from FSG.

20/21

22 (7)

1

4

19/20

11 (2)

1

0

18/19

30 (15)

6

5

A footballing nomad, he wound up over the pond with Chicago Fire, and having left the MLS to re-join FC Basel last summer, Shaqiri has proved that he’s still got the knack for incisive contributions, posting ten goals and 12 assists across all competitions.

This is quite the haul, standing head and shoulders above Szoboszlai’s six goals and six assists apiece for Liverpool this term, albeit with the caveat that he’s playing at a lower level.

However, the 33-year-old is also averaging just 0.2 tackles, 0.7 dribbles and 2.4 successful duels per game in the Swiss Super League, as per Sofascore, with such underlying metrics highlighting the stark contrast that would see him drifting in the outer rim of Slot’s first-team squad.

We can all agree that while Shaqiri is plying his trade prolifically in his homeland, Liverpool wouldn’t swap him in for a player of Szoboszlai’s ilk.

In fact, given the no-frills, all-efficacy graft that the Hungarian puts in, so distinctive in his role for Slot, there’s little basis for the argument that he should be swapped out for anyone across the continent right now.

He left in 2021: Liverpool flop sold for £12m is now outscoring Nunez in PL

He could have played a part for the Anfield side over the past few years.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 17, 2025