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First century against Australia in eight years was a remarkable display on a remarkable day

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Jun-2023The clenched teeth and pumped fists barely lasted an instant, concealed in a split-second gap for privacy in front of thousands before Ollie Robinson invaded his personal space with a bear hug. A look to the heavens followed, cheeks puffed, before the helmet went back on. He wasn’t looking for anyone in particular up there, though of course he was grateful for any intervention from above. It was merely a chance to exhale all the stress into the atmosphere, and expel a few demons too.It feels like a contradiction to describe a seventh century in the space of 18 months, and a 30th across a celebrated career, as “necessary”. But Joe Root’s reactions after nudging his 145th delivery of the day into the leg side suggest that the man himself might have believed it to be true.An unwanted streak had been broken. A first three-figure score against Australia since Trent Bridge in 2015, finally closing a sequence of 12 half-centuries in 16 matches in the interim. As a heritage batter in an England Test team that had flunked all too often in that time, and as captain for most of those games too, perhaps Root himself had framed that period as a dereliction of duty. On the opening day of this series at Edgbaston, he went some way towards making amends.This was as much a reiteration of his brilliance – a fifth consecutive fifty-plus score, a feat he achieved on one previous occasion when he managed six in 2014 and 2015 – as a clear indicator of his top-rank among high-flying renegades.England’s innings jagged chaotically like an MC Escher painting. The stairs were leading somewhere, but not all were going up. A fair few fell off altogether in their rush.Joe Root reverse-scooped Pat Cummins for six in one of his most jaw-dropping moments•ECB/Getty ImagesNo dramas, of course. England’s set-up is all about ensuring mistakes are made in the right way. This was just falling with style. But when 175 for 3 became 176 for 5 as Ben Stokes blazed the best-looking edge through to the wicketkeeper you ever did see, it did feel a bit much. And when the England captain’s next act was to call an end to the innings on 393 for 8, it felt just fine.Root’s sensibilities became an even greater virtue. The process of rebuilding the innings was diligent, particularly in a stand with Jonny Bairstow which came to an end on 121 from 140. Moeen Ali button-bashed, Stuart Broad pressed the wrong button altogether, and Robinson, eventually, opted to stick around. By then, Root’s status as the only adult in the room had been established.Except, well, to describe this knock as “mature” might give you the wrong impression. Because while it was crafted by a seasoned hand, none of the pitfalls associated with maturity – limited creativity, suffocating responsibility – were on view. He was also charging up and down those upside-down stairs, albeit while remembering to keep one hand on the bannister.Joe Root’s hundreds in Ashes•ESPNcricinfo LtdThe reverse-lap-scoop-jaw-dropper sweep, now as reliable a club in his bag as that dab that accesses the same part of third man (albeit on the ground rather than over), got two airings – first off Scott Boland, then Pat Cummins. Both went for six.In the 50th over, as Nathan Lyon threatened to get into a groove, Root unfurled three successive reverse-sweeps. The first beat Josh Hazlewood’s attempt in the deep to stop it from going for four. The second was scuffed off his glove onto his pad, meaning the lbw decision given against him was overturned on review. And yep, the third – more ramp than scoop, but very much from the same family, under the same roof – was nailed as an act of uncharacteristically showy defiance.”It takes a lot of skill, a lot of endeavour and patience,” Bairstow said afterwards, and he knows a lot about defiance.”The way he manipulated the strike, the tempo of going up and down, sucking up pressure to then put pressure back on the opposition, is a trait of his that a lot of people would like to have.”We’ve always known that Root could be one of the boys if he wanted to, particularly given all this is very ODI Root. But it took time for the man himself to work out just how he wanted to fit in in his post-captaincy era. And having overcome a period of unnecessary introspection during the second half of 2022, this was the clearest indication yet that his decision to assume a more outlandish streak has enhanced previous strengths rather than drowned them out.Related

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• Live Report: England vs Australia, 1st Test, Edgbaston

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• Jonny Bairstow feared he'd 'never walk again' after horrific leg injury

This is especially evident when you delve into the minutiae of this overdue Australian century. Coming into this Test, Root had hit five sixes against Australia. Two of them came in the 2013 home series, three in 2015. As captain in Ashes series – 29 innings across 15 matches – he did hit none. Today, he struck four.The last, skipping down to Lyon and depositing him over his head, was the most manufactured of them all, after news of the impending declaration had been passed on covertly. That jaws were still slack with surprise at the move meant Root’s ovation from the crowd was muted. But after taking a break for a rub-down as Australia’s innings began, he returned for the field for the final over of the day to lead England off on one of its most storied days.There’s another important nugget here. England have not lost to Australia in matches where Root has scored centuries. Given the hosts’ decision to advance the game, that already feels like a statistical quirk with less relevance. The game is still the same, but how it is being approached makes cues from history harder to gauge.Not unlike Root. He remains very much the same, certainly in the eyes of his teammates.”You see the smile on his face, you see the cheeky little grin that he has and when his legs bop around and runs through and what have you,” Bairstow said, recalling the moment Root reached three figures. Somehow he was still reminiscing about previous days, even while discussing this one.The Root of the past was great. The Root to come could be greater.

Thirty-five years on, a look back at the last-ball six that marked a high point in Pakistan’s cricket history

Osman Samiuddin18-Apr-2021The mid-pitch conference at Sharjah lasted at least twenty seconds. Javed Miandad, one hand on hip, one on bat, lush moustache dominating face, now remembers remarkably little of it. ‘It was one of those nothing ones, where you just hang around, catch a breath,’ he says. The conference the ball before had been, he believes, the crucial one. ‘That was when I had told him that we have to take a single, no matter what.”Him’ remembers it differently, as perhaps he would. Tauseef Ahmed–no off-spinner so resembled Lionel Ritchie–wasn’t even supposed to be there. The wicketkeeper Zulqernain had been sent above Tauseef, after Ramiz Raja told captain Imran Khan that he hit big sixes in club games in Lahore. He could, but he didn’t–despite Tauseef telling him to go for a single to get Miandad on strike just before he went out–and when he was bowled attempting one of those sixes, two balls were left, five runs needed.Tauseef’s memory is sharper, and in it, he inverts what Miandad wrote in his autobiography. Perhaps his children believe him. ‘I told Javed when I came out that we simply had to take a run no matter what, even if the ball went to the wicketkeeper. Javed asked me whether I was sure, and I said we don’t have a chance otherwise.’ So Tauseef bunted towards cover and ran. Mohammad Azharuddin, one of the world’s best fielders, ran in, picked up and missed the stumps from no more than four feet.Related

• Six and done – Javed saves the best for last

• Miandad seals it with a six

Then came the mid-pitch conference. ‘He came to me and asked me, “What do you think he’ll try to do?”’ continues Tauseef. ‘I said he’ll definitely go for a yorker. Javed said, “Yes, and that means it could also become a full toss if he doesn’t get it right.” In any case, Javed was standing out of his crease a little.’Chetan Sharma bowled perhaps the world’s best-known yorker gone wrong•Adrian Murrell/Getty ImagesNineteen years later, on a train ride from Visakhapatnam to Jamshedpur, a group of Indian and Pakistani journalists sat in a berth with Chetan Sharma, once cricketer of India and planner of that yorker, then reporter for Zee TV. The journey was twenty-seven hours in the middle of a hectic tour, so talk naturally could be of one thing alone. A few beers down, surreptitiously consumed as if he was doing so in a dorm at boarding school, Sharma was the entertainment. Story after story came out, achievements and disappointments, selectorial slights, a*****e teammates, of what is wrong with everything in Indian cricket, the media, the world. Journalists being journalists, especially Pakistani ones, and fond of dealing in misery, there was only one story everyone wanted to hear. It wasn’t about Sharma’s unexpected ODI century as a pinch-hitter against England. It wasn’t even about a World Cup hat-trick. After a cigarette break, it was decided that the question would finally be asked; having held out for five hours, the great, stinking big elephant in the room would have to be poked. Two hours in, an outsider walking by recognizing Sharma, had stepped in excitedly wanting to chat; the journalists felt could’ve been the moment but he merely asked about Sharma’s hat-trick and left.Finally, the man from Reuters asked: ‘Chetan bhai, tell us one thing… what were you…’ Sharma interrupted. He knew this question. He had probably answered it to himself a million times over. ‘Arrey yaar, I just wanted to bowl a yorker.’
He wanted to, but he didn’t. After the mid-pitch chat, Miandad stood at his wicket looking around the field. He needed four somewhere. He counted fielders around the ground–perhaps hoping it had swallowed a few–and took guard. Had Miandad successfully petitioned God for the ideal delivery, he could not have conjured up a better one; a thigh-high full toss, swinging in to his legs. He put it somewhere in the region of the stands at midwicket, arms raised almost in one motion from finishing the shot, and off he ran. Iftikhar Ahmed, the TV commentator, waited three seconds before concluding: ‘It’s a six … and Pakistan have won … unnnnbelievable win by Pakistan …’ He was calmer than many could hope to be and certainly more than the strangled screech heard just before his voice, a more manic subcontinent predecessor to Budweiser’s ingratiating ‘Waazzzup’; that it came from the short, round Mushtaq Mohammad, only nominally an impartial expert in the commentary box, is unsurprising.Like cartoons running away from a building on fire, Miandad and Tauseef hurtled to the pavilion from where a sizeable crowd was already pouring out. Smartly, Miandad–just behind Tauseef–curved away off-screen, while Tauseef went straight into the fans. He was greeted by fast bowling teammate Zakir Khan just before a , local police, seemed to knock him down with his baton, trying to control the crowd. ‘No, no, he didn’t hit me,’ Tauseef busted one enduring comic myth, ‘he just bumped into me and knocked me over.’Going downtown again: Miandad smacks one in a Benson and Hedges Cup game in Perth in 1987•Associated PressThat one shot was like a mince grinder in reverse. Into that burst went every strand of the transformation Pakistan had undergone over the preceding decade and half; the emergence of a superstar core, the spread of the game, the growing power of the player, the administrative vision of Abdul Hafeez Kardar and Nur Khan, the birth of departmental cricket, the rise of TV, more money. On the other side came out one solid lump of a golden age, the most golden age, in fact, Pakistan has ever had.Until came the logical conclusion in 1992 of the World Cup triumph, Pakistan were arguably the best side in the world alongside the West Indies. They lost just one Test series till 1993 (and only three in the decade between 1985 and 1995) and won a host of ODI tournaments, not least in Sharjah itself. Until 1999, by which time
they had fallen–but still only lost six series from thirty-six–they remained one of the top sides in the world.To Miandad, describing the innings is dependent on his mood and bearing. Sometimes it is a simple gift from God. ‘Let’s take it from the start,’ he begins, and he really does. ‘I believe in Quran and its verses. I read it right? So I used to always pray to God that in my own field, help me do this one big feat that will always be remembered. This was my prayer.
‘I saw there were bigger players before me, who weren’t remembered. So I always prayed that I do something big. I used to tell myself, even if I die in the field, I don’t care. It’s like a soldier dying on duty. It is (martyrdom). That innings was like a gift to me. I didn’t play cricket like that, ever. That match … it was like a film. When I dream, it was like a film whose story has been written and now the film is being made. You cannot imagine one of the best fielders, from a few yards away missing three stumps, that you went in such crisis, wickets are falling, you are saved from a run-out, one four is stopped in last over, last ball finish, where the match was and where it went. This is a gift. To describe it is impossible. This was a gift from God.’Sometimes he takes recourse in rationality. ‘When I started, we’d already lost a few wickets, so the plan was to bat till the end so that even if we lost, we did with some dignity. Gradually, I started taking chances. Mostly I took risks with the running, but I’d hit a boundary and then stop for a few overs, before trying it again. We got to the last 20 overs still needing 9 or 10 per over. That was when I started actively working it out in my head, what we needed every over, where to get it, who to work with. By the time the last ball was to be bowled, I had become a computer: I knew exactly what Chetan was going to do, so I stood well out of my crease. He tried a yorker but being that far out, it became a high-ish full toss and I just swung. As soon as I connected, I knew it was gone.’

Kyle Schwarber hit his 44th home run of the season during the Phillies' game against the Mariners on Tuesday night. In the process, he broke a Philadelphia franchise record by homering in 15 consecutive series.

Schwarber came to the plate to face Seattle's Bryce Miller in the bottom of the 1st with one out and no one on. Behind in the count, he chased a 1-2 fastball that was up and out of the zone and smashed it up and out of the park.

In addition to setting a new Phillies' record, Schwarber retook the National League lead in home runs. He also moved within three home runs of his own career-high as well as MLB leader Cal Raleigh, who played earlier in the day.

Schwarber has been putting on an absolute show this season. Between treating just about every fanbase he's seen to a long ball over the last two months, he also won the All-Star Game with three home runs on three swings.

The last team to keep Schwarber in the ballpark for an entire series was the Astros, who held the Phillies to just one run in three games. Schwarber went 2 for 11 with a walk in the series.

Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign an “agile” Emiliano Martinez replacement, who has been in impressive form so far this season.

Villa eyeing new goalkeeper amid Martinez uncertainty

Martinez is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but he has looked shaky at times this season, off the back of major interest from Manchester United during the summer transfer window, before they ultimately decided to bring in Senne Lammens.

The Argentinian was criticised for not doing more to prevent Lukas Nmecha’s goal in the 2-1 victory against Leeds United, although the performances against AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers were much more encouraging.

That said, with the shot-stopper now 33-years-old, and Villa willing to accept January bids, potential replacements are now being identified, including Manchester City’s James Trafford and Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin.

According to a report from Sky Sports, a Bundesliga star is also of interest to Unai Emery’s side, namely Borussia Monchengladbach’s Moritz Nicolas, who wants to move to a top club next summer, given his ambitions to play in Europe.

A number of clubs are in the race for Nicolas, who stands at 6’3, including Villa, who view the colossus as a successor to Martinez, although the Argentina international remains under contract until the summer of 2029.

Aston Villa plotting £18m bid for "tremendous" defender, Martinez is a big fan

The Villans are planning a move for a new centre-back, who is also being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 27, 2025

"Agile" Nicolas in top form in the Bundesliga

The 28-year-old was nominated for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Player of the Season award last season, as a result of being the second-best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga in terms of xG prevented, conceding just 25 from an xG of 33.5.

After the nomination, the Monchengladbach star received plaudits from board member Roland Virkus, who said: “Mo is very agile for his height and is also really good with his feet.”

Having averaged a save percentage of 74.8% per 90 over the past year, the German places in the 81st percentile, when compared to other goalkeepers, which suggests he could be a solid replacement for Martinez, with the Villa goalkeeper averaging 71.1%.

Not only that, but the former Roda JC man has already amassed five Bundesliga clean sheets this season, including three in his last four matches, most recently making four saves to keep RB Leipzig at bay in a 0-0 draw.

Nicolas clearly has the quality to be Martinez’s successor, but Aston Villa should look to keep hold of their goalkeeper if possible, given that he is already proven in the Premier League, showcasing his quality by making three saves from inside the box against Wolves last time out.

Everton have now reportedly joined the race to sign a Champions League goalscorer in the January transfer window who Erling Haaland loves.

Everton offered chance to sign Evan Ferguson

Thierno Barry may have broken his goal drought, but that won’t be enough to stop Everton from targeting another forward in the January transfer window, according to reports. The Toffees, with their European ambitions in mind, have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Evan Ferguson if AS Roma cut his loan spell short.

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Posts ByDominic Lund 5 days ago

Whether those in Rome do send the Republic of Ireland striker back to Brighton & Hove Albion is the big question, however. Just when the rumours began to arrive, Ferguson scored a brace against Celtic in midweek and Brighton released the news that Stefanos Tzimas has suffered an ACL injury.

That could see Everton drop down the pecking order in the race to sign the forward, who Roma may now want to keep and who Brighton may now need back at The Amex following Tzimas’ season-ending injury.

Following his brace against Celtic, Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini told reporters: “During the game he did what he often does in training. He’s a young lad and we have to be patient. His second goal was beautiful. His performance was great, and it’s important that he plays with this spirit and shows his qualities.”

With a deal for the Brighton forward becoming more complicated overnight, Everton could decide to turn towards Bodo/Glimt star Jens Pettter Hauge when the January transfer window swings open, according to reports.

Everton join race to sign Jens Petter Hauge

According to TeamTalk, Everton have now joined the race to sign Hauge after completing their scouting mission on the Bodo/Glimt winger. The 26-year-old has rediscovered his best form since returning to Norway and is now reportedly interested in a move to the Premier League amid interest from the Toffees, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Brighton.

After scoring in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund in midweek, it’s easy to see why Everton are interested and it’s easy to see why Haaland is such a big fan.

After disappointing stints at AC Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt, Hauge will be hoping to make it third time lucky if he secures another big move in the January transfer window.

With 11 goals and 11 assists to his name in all competitions in Norway this season, the talent is certainly there for all to see as Everton eye a potential 2026 move ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Dewsbury-Hall repeat: PL talent ready to leave his club with Everton keen

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph at the end of the 2024/25 campaign has brought added expectations, after finally ending their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware.

Ange Postecoglou’s triumph in Bilbao ended a generational wait for a trophy, but he was sacked after such victory, handing the responsibility to Thomas Frank in the process.

The Dane was handed a huge sum of money to try and build on the triumph, with the hierarchy backing the new manager after taking the reins ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Over £100m was spent on new additions, which has led to the Lilywhites already making an impact in the Premier League – as seen by their fifth-placed standing after the third international break.

Mohammed Kudus has already hit the ground running, registering one goal and one assist in the league, but the same can’t be said for one of their big-money summer additions.

How Simons compares to other PL midfielders in 2025/26

During the summer transfer window, Spurs forked out a total of £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, with the youngster joining the club from RB Leipzig.

The move ended their summer-long pursuit of a new attacking midfielder, with numerous options being targeted before completing a deal for the Dutch international.

Premier League options such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were both considered, but various factors saw the Lilywhites miss out on both of the player’s signatures.

As a result, Simons was the man chosen to fill the void, with such a move generating huge excitement within the fanbase – undoubtedly aided by the sizable transfer fee.

However, a couple of months on from his big-money transfer to North London, the 22-year-old has ultimately failed to deliver, as seen by his tally of just two assists in his first 14 outings.

His underlying stats further showcase his lack of quality, with the youngster being massively outperformed by numerous players also in a single position in England’s top-flight.

He’s only created an average of 1.01 chances per 90, with such a tally ranking him in the bottom 25% of all other midfielders in the league, with right-back Pedro Porro creating more chances in the same time period.

Simons has also been dispossessed an average of 2.1 times per 90, subsequently placing him in the bottom 18% of all players in the division for the same category.

He will certainly need time to settle into life in England after his big-money transfer, but there’s little denying that he’s been a huge disappointment in recent months.

As a result, he could find himself struggling to nail down a starting role in the near future, especially if one player continues his phenomenal development at the club.

The Spurs star who could end Simons’ Spurs career

Over the years, the Spurs faithful have been blessed with countless talents who have operated in the attacking midfield role – subsequently handing the fanbase moments to last a lifetime.

James Maddison was the latest player in the role before his ACL injury, with the Englishman achieving some phenomenal levels during his spell in the first team in North London.

He’s racked up 16 goals and 19 assists in his 75 appearances for the Lilywhites, with his tally of 12 goals in 2024/25 the highest he’s managed after his £40m switch.

Dele was another Englishman who filled such a role in the years prior, with the former first-team star managing to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award on two separate occasions.

However, whilst he failed to match the expectations over a sustained period, Frank could be about to rely on Luca Williams-Barnett during his spell in North London.

The 17-year-old has generated huge excitement over the last couple of months, with the youngster making huge waves within various age categories in the academy.

He’s been starring way above his age group over the last few seasons, with the youngster featuring in the U18s side for the vast majority of the previous campaign.

He ended the year with a staggering 23 goals and nine assists in his 24 outings for the Lilywhites, resulting in a jump up once again – now becoming a key member of the U21 side.

At just 17, he’s arguably made himself one of the age group’s biggest stars, with his numbers from the ongoing season further reflecting his star quality despite his tender age.

Most Goals and Assists – Spurs U21s (25/26)

Player

Tally

Luca Williams-Barnett

10

Rio Kyerematen

5

Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny

4

Tynan Thompson

4

Yusuf Akhamrich

4

Oliver Irow

3

Dane Scarlett

2

Dante Cassanova

2

Stats via FotMob

Williams-Barnett has made just eight appearances, but it hasn’t stopped him from catching the eye, as seen by his remarkable tally of seven goals and five assists.

Back in September, he registered three goals and an assist in the 6-3 victory over Leicester City – with such a display undoubtedly his best in the 2025/26 campaign to date.

As a result of his performances, the youngster was named in the England U17 World Cup squad, with the midfielder already scoring twice during the ongoing competition.

Williams-Barnett has also made his senior debut during Frank’s tenure, as he was brought on in the 87th minute of the Carabao Cup victory over League One Doncaster Rovers back in September.

His performances across various teams in 2025/26 has led to huge praise being directed his way, with analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him as “one of England’s best talents”.

At just 17, the club will certainly have to manage the expectations placed upon him, but it’s undeniable that the Lilywhites have a phenomenal young prospect on their hands.

It’s unclear what his route to first-team success would be, but the hierarchy need to prepare a plan to allow him to match the potential he currently possesses at present.

As for Simons, he will need to rapidly buck his ideas up after his big-money transfer, with his spell in North London certainly being one to forget in recent months.

His future at the club could be in huge jeopardy in the years ahead, especially if Williams-Barnett is able to continue on his current development path in the youth ranks.

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Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

Bryan Mbeumo cut a heartbroken figure after Cameroon's World Cup hopes collapsed in dramatic fashion, with the Manchester United star storming off alone after a stoppage-time defeat to DR Congo. The Indomitable Lions suffered a crushing 1-0 loss in the CAF play-offs, ending their bid to reach the 2026 tournament and leaving their talisman visibly emotional in the rain.

Cameroon knocked out of World Cup qualifying

Cameroon’s bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup ended in brutal fashion as they fell to a late 1-0 defeat against DR Congo in the CAF knockout play-offs. Having finished second in their group behind first-time qualifiers Cape Verde, the Indomitable Lions entered the play-offs as favourites but struggled to create clear chances in a tense, cagey encounter. One minute into second-half stoppage time, Chancel Mbemba headed home from a corner, crushing Cameroon’s hopes of reaching the expanded 48-team tournament across North America.

The late goal sparked despair among the Cameroonian players, many of whom fell to the turf in disbelief as DR Congo celebrated wildly. Manchester United winger Mbeumo, who had been one of Cameroon’s key performers throughout the campaign, reacted with visible frustration as he walked straight off the field. A video shared on social media showed him leaving alone in the pouring rain, needing to be consoled as he headed toward the tunnel after one of the toughest nights of his international career.

AdvertisementMbeumo cuts a heartbroken figure after the loss

AFPTurbulence surrounding the Indomitable Lions

The defeat marked the end of a turbulent qualification journey in which Cameroon won only five matches and struggled for consistency despite the presence of top talents such as Mbeumo, Andre Onana and Carlos Baleba. Their failure to top Group D, as they finished four points behind Cape Verde, forced them into the play-off path, where their hopes evaporated in the most agonising manner imaginable. It leaves a talented squad and manager Marc Brys facing intense scrutiny after missing out on a World Cup for only the fourth time since 1982.

Their elimination carries heavy symbolic weight, given their long-standing history as Africa’s most frequent World Cup participants with eight qualifications. The disappointment is amplified by the fact that the 2026 tournament will feature 48 teams and additional African berths, making this one of the most accessible routes to a World Cup in modern history. Yet despite the expanded format, the Indomitable Lions were unable to navigate a qualification campaign that exposed their tactical flaws and organisational instability.

The responsibility for the failure will fall not just on the players but also on the chaotic backdrop surrounding the national team setup. Brys’ appointment by the Ministry of Sports against the wishes of federation president Samuel Eto’o created internal tension from the outset, affecting preparation and harmony.

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AFCON: A chance for Cameroon to bounce back

DR Congo’s triumph sends them into the final stage of CAF qualifying, where they will face Nigeria in their own bid to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Cameroon must now regroup and confront the structural issues that contributed to their undoing in the qualifiers, starting with the uncertainty surrounding the head coach position. Brys’ tenure has been defined by controversy, and his future will likely come under immediate review following the failure to reach the World Cup, as the Indomitable Lions look ahead to the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

For Mbeumo, the focus shifts back to club football with Manchester United, but the emotional toll of missing a World Cup cannot be understated. As one of the squad’s leaders, he will be central to Cameroon’s rebuilding efforts. He has scored seven goals in 26 international appearances and is widely regarded as Cameroon’s attacking talisman, but he now faces the reality of missing out on the sport’s biggest stage.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Internacional anunciou a renovação de contrato do volante Gabriel nesta terça-feira (17). O vínculo anterior do jogador terminaria do fim deste ano. Agora, com o novo acordo, o jogador está comprometido com o Colorado até o final de 2025.

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– Depois de quase dois anos de clube, eu continuo com a mesma mentalidade de ganhar e ser campeão. Muito feliz. Espero continuar escrevendo a história. Tenho certeza que vamos chegar em coisas grandes. O próximo passo são as conquistas. O desejo de continuar da minha parte e desejo do clube de me manter aqui. Saber que eu tive uma temporada passada muito boa e ela foi interrompida por uma lesão que me tirou por nove meses. Isso me deixou muito mal em termos físicos e mentais, mais pelo fato de ficar fora. Fui muito forte e resiliente. Procurei fazer a melhor recuperação. O Inter cuidou muito bem de mim. Hoje, estou me sentindo muito bem. A próxima temporada vai ser ainda melhor – disse Gabriel em entrevista ao canal do Internacional no Youtube.

+ Transforme sua paixão pelo futebol em profissão. Descubra o caminho com o curso Gestor de Futebol!

Gabriel está no Inter desde fevereiro de 2022 e assumiu rapidamente uma posição de liderançã no time. Em outubro do ano passado, o volante sofreu uma lesão grave no joelho e ficou nove meses afastado dos gramados.

Desde o retorno, Gabriel fez apenas 12 jogos pelo Colorado. O jogador acabou perdendo espaço por conta do excelente momento de Jhonny, com quem disputa posição.

+ Desfalques por conta da Data Fifa viram ‘dor de cabeça’ para Eduardo Coudet no Internacional

A próxima partida do Internacional será nesta quarta-feira (18), contra o Bahia, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. O Colorado vive momento crucial para se afastar da zona de rebaixamento e ainda sonha com uma classificação para a Libertadores do ano que vem.

January 17th 2016 was the last time Liverpool lost a game of football at Anfield to their dear old rivals.

That day it was a Wayne Rooney strike that sealed the win for Manchester United over the Reds. How times have changed since then. Liverpool have won the league on two occasions; their friends across the way have not.

Ruben Amorim came into this clash with slim hopes. Yes, Liverpool were in a rough run of form but United’s own form has been troublesome ever since the Portuguese took over.

Yet, for the first time during his tenure, they were able to secure back-to-back league victories. Perhaps Amorim is the right man for the job?

Regardless of the feeling among the Red Devils, questions may now be emerging about Arne Slot’s position.

This 2-1 defeat was a really tough one to swallow. Liverpool hit the post on a few occasions and registered a higher xG (expected goals) tally but failed to take their opportunities.

Cody Gakpo equalised but a late Harry Maguire header condemned the hosts to a third straight league defeat.

They are now four points behind Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title. It’s worrying, certainly when you consider just how much they spent over the summer.

So, where did it all go wrong?

What went for Liverpool against Manchester United

Well, where to begin? When things aren’t going your way, curious things happen, and that was certainly the case for Slot’s charges on Sunday evening.

Before scoring from close range in the second half, Gakpo hit the woodwork a staggering three times, the most notable came in the opening 45 minutes when Liverpool surged forward on the counter-attack.

The Dutchman found plenty of room to surge towards the penalty area but bent his shot against the post.

Liverpool could and should have equalised sooner. On another day, they win the game, such are the slim margins of Premier League football.

It wasn’t just their lacklustre finishing that cost them, however. Last term, the Reds were resilient and rock solid at the back but they are really paying the price for not investing further in the centre-back pairing.

Milos Kerkez has signed but is still struggling to get going in Liverpool colours with Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo – the scorer of United’s first goal – running rings around him.

Yet, skipper Virgil van Dijk is perhaps the most worrying of the lot, given his experience. Not for the first time in a game this term he was caught out and should have done better for the opening goal.

Mbeumo was allowed to ghost in behind the big Dutchman and he got on the end of Amad’s cute pass to fire home.

Whether Van Dijk has regressed is very much up for debate but perhaps a more pressing matter is the form of the Premier League’s most expensive signing.

Liverpool's biggest problem after Man United defeat

In the summer, Liverpool looked as though they had won the transfer window. £116m for Florian Wirtz? Don’t mind if we do. £125m for Alexander Isak? Yeah, go on then.

The Swede was at the centre of an almighty saga. He refused to go on Newcastle’s pre-season tour and then trained away from the Toon’s first-team squad for a few months before finally getting his move to Anfield.

However, since heading to Merseyside, he has scored just once, ultimately battling with fitness having not featured at all during pre-season.

Well, heading into the game with United, Slot declared that now was the time to judge him. “Fitness-wise he is close to the level he should be and we can judge him in a fair way from now on.”

Judge him is exactly what we shall do. Unfortunately, it was not a great showing from the Premier League’s record man.

For the sixth straight game, the centre forward failed to find the net and arguably, he should have done inside Anfield this weekend.

Isak had two shots and missed one OPTA-defined big chance, one of which he stuck straight at Senne Lammens’ right boot. It was unsurprising he left the game with a 4/10 match rating courtesy of GOAL, who rightfully suggested that the striker will be “hugely disappointed with his performance.”

Isak vs Man United

Minutes played

72

Touches

19

Accurate passes

7/11 (64%)

Key passes

0

Shots

2

Shots on target

1

Expected goals

0.34

Big chances missed

1

Dribbles

0

Possession lost

8x

Stats via Sofascore.

At Newcastle last season, when the goals were flowing, he’d definitely have scored, such is his ruthless nature. You can point to a lack of sharpness but as Slot says, he’s now ready to go.

It’s incredibly difficult to leave your biggest signing of all time on the bench but Isak’s lack of form has had consequences, notably for Hugo Ekitike, arguably Liverpool’s player of the season so far.

He bagged five goals in his first eight games of the season for the Reds and registered an assist as well.

The Frenchman was ruthless in the final third; he was everything Isak has been over the last few seasons and he looked the full package doing it.

It’s perhaps no coincidence that since Ekitike became less of a regular starter Liverpool’s form has dwindled. During Isak’s three Premier League starts, Slot’s side have lost all three. It’s time for Ekitike to get a run from the start instead in the Champions League on Wednesday in Frankfurt.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mirassol e CRB se enfrentamnesta quinta-feira (28) às 19h, no Estádio Campos Maia, em Mirassol (SP) A partida é válida pela 30ª rodada doBrasileiro Série B e terá transmissão do Sportv e do Premiere (pay-per-view).

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ONDE ASSISTIR / TRANSMISSÃO: SporTV e Premiere (pay-per-view).

O time paulista ocupa a 10ª posição da Segundona, com 43 pontos somados em 29 jogos. Na última rodada, o Mirassol venceu a Ponte Preta, em Campinas, por 3 a 0.

Já os visitantes estão uma colocação acima, em nono, com 45 pontos. O CRB vem de vitória sobre o Guarani, em casa, pelo placar de 1 a 0.

+ Corinthians demite Luxemburgo! Veja técnicos brasileiros livres no mercado para o Timão

FICHA TÉCNICA
MIRASSOL X CRB

30ª rodada do Brasileiro Série B

Data e hora:28 de setembro de 2023, às 19 horas (de Brasília)
Estádio:Estádio Campos Maia, em Mirassol (SP)
Árbitro:Felipe Fernandes de Lima (MG)
Assistentes:Marcia Bezerra Caetano (RO) e Marcyano da Silva Vicente (MG)
VAR:Charly Wendy Straub Deretti (Fifa/SC)
Onde assistir: Sportv e Premiere (pay-per-view).

+ Qual vai ser a capacidade do novo estádio do Santos?

MIRASSOL (Técnico: Mozart Santos)
Alex Muralha; Lucas Ramon, Rodrigo Sam, Luiz Otávio e Guilherme Biro; Neto Moura, Danielzinho, Chico Kim e Gabriel; Negueba e Zé Roberto.

CRB (Técnico: Daniel Paulista)
Diogo Silva; Hereda, Ramon, Fábio Alemão e Guilherme Romão; Falcão, Lucas Lima e João Paulo; Léo Pereira, Renato e Anselmo Ramon.