تلقي منتخب العراق هزيمة قاسية أمام كوريا الجنوبية بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

وأقيمت مباراة العراق وكوريا الجنوبية على أرضية استاد البصرة، في إطار الجولة التاسعة من عمر منافسات المجموعة الثانية لتصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

ويتواجد منتخب العراق، في المجموعة الثانية، بالمرحلة النهائية من تصفيات كأس العالم، بجانب منتخبات فلسطين والأردن وكوريا الجنوبية والكويت وعمان.

وسجل كيم جين كيو الهدف الأول لصالح كوريا الجنوبية في الدقيقة 63، بينما أضاف أوه هيو جيو الهدف الثاني بالدقيقة 82 من عمر اللقاء. أهداف فوز كوريا الجنوبية أمام العراق في تصفيات كأس العالم 

وبهذه النتيجة حافظ منتخب كوريا الجنوبية على صدارة ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 19 نقطة حاسمًا تأهله إلى النسخة المقبلة من كأس العالم.

بينما يحل منتخب العراق في المركز الثالث بجدول ترتيب المجموعة ولديه 12 نقطة، ويحتاج للفوز بمباراته المقبلة أمام الأردن لحسم المركز الثالث.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة الأردن وفلسطين في تصفيات كأس العالم بعد الفوز على عمان والكويت

وحال تأهل العراق إلى الدور الرابع، سيتم تقسيم المنتخبات إلى مجموعتين، يتأهل متصدر كل مجموعة إلى كأس العالم، وفي حال عدم التأهل، سيكون هناك فرصة أخيرة عبر الملحق العالمي لتحديد ممثل قارة آسيا في البطولة.

Harmanpreet says Rodrigues will remain in the team’s plans, but having Harleen in the mix provides India with flexibility in terms of options

S Sudarshanan21-Dec-20222:16

India’s bowling depth a concern

Greater depth in the seam-bowling department is key going forward, Harmanpreet Kaur said after India lost their home T20I series against Australia 4-1. Quick bowlers will come into sharp focus when India fly to South Africa for a tri-series – also featuring West Indies – next month, and then play the T20 World Cup, also in South Africa, in February.With Pooja Vastrakar out injured, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh and Anjali Sarvani were the main quicks in the Indian team. Renuka and Sarvani played all five games, but Meghna was dropped after conceding 41 runs in three wicketless overs across two games.Related

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“In South Africa, seam is going to have more effect than spin bowling,” Harmanpreet pointed out after the 54-run loss in the fifth T20I on Tuesday. “That is why we started with Meghna, but sometimes the player is not able to perform as expected.”Pooja will join the team [upon recovery], and she will fill that area. Her one or two overs are important. In this series, we had called up extra medium pacers, who we were watching closely. We are working on those, and will try to cover those areas.”India also had left-arm quicks Monica Patel – who played two ODIs against South Africa last year – and Sraddha Pokharkar, apart from right-armers Arundhati Reddy and Simran Bahadur, as net bowlers during the series.But they were without a bowling coach during the series, after Ramesh Powar – the former head coach, who also looked after the bowling – was moved to the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy. It was a high-scoring series in which Australia crossed the 170-run mark in each match. India also topped 150 in all but the last game, where they were bowled out for 142. A total of 47 sixes were hit overall – a record in a bilateral women’s T20I series – in the five games.A pattern to emerge was that India largely kept Australia in check up to 12 overs, but lost control after that. Their economy rate in the last eight overs in the series was 12.26, compared to Australia’s 9.37.”We are doing well in the first ten overs and not giving them easy runs. But after the tenth over, suddenly things are changing,” Harmanpreet said. “We did plan a lot of things, but were not able to execute them. Earlier, the first six overs was the area we wanted to improve as a team. Now we are getting results in the first six.”We will now analyse who can bowl after ten overs and in the death overs. We discussed it in team meetings, but when you are in a series, you don’t get that much time to execute those things.”Renuka, who has been a powerplay success story with her ability to swing the new ball, was used in the death overs against Australia. Her economy rate in that phase, where she got just one wicket, was 10.87. The most, though marginally, for Indian bowlers to have sent down a minimum of 24 balls in that period.”[Renuka] is someone who brings in a lot of confidence to the side,” Harmanpreet said. “Whenever the team needs her, she is always ready; and we have always seen her doing well in the first six overs. She really enjoys bowling at the death, and you need a person to raise your hand and say, ‘I like to bowl in the death overs’. She is working hard on her death bowling, and is starting to get the experience now.”Harleen Deol scored a quick 24 after being drafted in for the final game•BCCI

With the bat, Jemimah Rodrigues, who made a comeback after being dropped earlier this year, scored just 28 runs in the first four matches. After she was dropped for the final game, Harleen Deol came in and hit 24 off 16 balls from No. 3 before being run-out.”Harleen is someone who is always ready – be it batting at any spot or just for fielding,” Harmanpreet said. “Last match [in the fourth T20I], she did not get to bat despite being ready from the start but she was not upset, and was [instead] positive. She was like, ‘whenever I get the opportunity I want to go there and execute’.”We all thought that we should give Jemi a break because we know how important she is. Going forward, it is important that we keep her in that frame. Batting line-up is something you cannot fix in T20s. I know Jemi was batting at No. 3 for a long time.”But I feel if the batting line-up is flexible, that is good and then you have more options to try things. Today, that was the reason we wanted to see how Harleen can bat at No. 3. She was there, and was getting the momentum. Really happy to see her approach with the bat.”

Captain countenances innings forfeiture if play at Multan is limited by the weather

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Dec-2022At around 1pm at Multan’s Ramada Hotel, a handful of England players (those who weren’t off to play golf with head coach Brendon McCullum) were milling around as a group of Pakistan players were getting a tune-up at the onsite barber. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes was holding court.It was, for all intents and purposes, a run-of-the-mill press engagement. The first of this week’s duties ahead of the second Test, which begins on Friday. A chance to look back on the brilliant win in Rawalpindi and to ask where England go from here.But then the session morphed into a series of hypotheticals to establish something that many inside and outside English cricket have been wondering. We are all onboard with the idea that Stokes and McCullum have got these players performing beyond previous limits in unimaginable fashion. But where, now, is the line? How far off is the cliff face? Like Truman Burbank, at what point in this courageous foray into unchartered waters will our protagonists finally hit the wall?One particular scenario was proposed:It’s the last over of a Test match. You’re nine-down, 20 away from your target. James Anderson is on strike. Would Stokes want him to go for the win? “Yes,” replied England’s Test captain, without hesitation.A mixture of silence and laughter greeted the response – both reactions a mixture of disbelief and knowing that he was deadly serious. Sure, there may well be a multiverse where Anderson pulls out five perfect reverse sweeps to take the target down. Even that tongue-in-cheek suggestion was greeted with a “why not?” shrug of the shoulders from Stokes.So a draw is not considered a good result under any circumstance? “Do I need to answer that?” he responded with a smirk. Not long after, Stokes floated the idea of one day forfeiting an innings to speed the match along. Because, heck, why not?The manner of that victory over Pakistan in the first Test – the batting, the bowling, the field settings, the work ethic and the unwavering belief – reaffirmed that we are in new territory with this Test side, and perhaps the format itself. All associated with the English game are having to recalibrate. And Stokes’ answers were welcome because who knows how far this could go. Why put a cap on something bringing equal amounts of glory and joy?There is, however, a caveat that needs to be added here. These were not just wild shots blazed in the air by Stokes, which admittedly seems to be his approach with the bat nowadays (albeit even that comes from a good place). It was simply a reinforcement that nothing is off the table. No ideas are too crazy. If Anderson has a shot at an unlikely victory in, say, a deciding Test of a series, why should he not go for it? This is all just a game. And at the very least, he could get a single and get the guy at the other end on strike.Stokes has been instrumental to England’s optimistic approach in the field•AFP/Getty ImagesThe way the first eight Tests of Stokes’ tenure have panned out – seven wins, five brilliant chases, one by an innings and this week’s last-gasp thriller – have created a domino effect that is hard to fully grasp. This week Pakistan have been implored to try and follow England’s lead and adopt their positivity. In a country enamoured with their own cricketers but constantly wrestling with philosophies of style, England are endearing themselves to the locals.It bears repeating: this is more or less the same group of players who went one win out of 17 before the summer of 2022. That they seem so liberated on the field, and so shorn of the conservative whims of the format and the nation’s history therein, is down to Stokes. Someone who, for all his portrayal as a great renegade of our game, has been around the England dressing-room for the best part of a decade, and for most of that period has had a voice that was worthy of being heard.But given the changes he’s overseen: from the style of play to the intuitive fields, to giving the players ownership over their preparation, and the optional training sessions, the later call times to prevent unnecessary waiting around… it all begs the question: why had he not mentioned any of this sooner?”It wasn’t a case of, as soon as I got the job, to do it this way,” he explained. “The way in which things are operating now has always been something that I’ve thought could work, and why not. But whilst Joe [Root] was in charge, it was Joe’s team, and I stood by him every single minute of his time in charge of the team. But when I got the opportunity to lead England out, I wanted to do it in a way which I thought could work, and the lads have responded really well to that.”Test cricket has been pigeon-holed for so long, for such a long time as to how it should be played, how you need to operate, whether that be on the field or off the field … how you prepare. [But] everyone’s played enough cricket and understands their game enough, that if you just give the responsibility to the individual to get ready, why can’t that work? Why not?”There have been moments when Stokes has spoken his mind under previous regimes. He was a regular voice in debriefings, whether at the end of a day’s play or after a match, criticising but – more importantly – offering solutions. Perhaps the best recent example was after defeat at Adelaide during last winter’s Ashes, when he lamented how meek England had been in the face of an onslaught from Australia’s quicks. The feeling at the time was the batters – himself included – needed to give the opposition bowlers something to think about instead of simply allowing themselves to get washed away with the tide. That approach has become the most prominent pillar of Stokes’ team now.Harry Brook and Ben Stokes walk off after England scored 506 for 4 on the first day of the series•Getty ImagesHe admits he had not spoken of this ethos to the same extent when he was vice-captain, or even as a senior member of the dressing room for so long. But he maintains the fundamentals of enjoying the moment and the grind were central to any of his previous call-to-arms when in the ranks.”I’ve always tried to get across ‘remember what we’re doing, remember where we are, walking out for England with three lions on our chest’,” he said. “It’s an amazing opportunity. You’ve got to have as much fun as we possibly can while we’re doing it, because in the click of a finger it could all be gone. But in terms of all the other messaging and the language that we speak, no, I don’t think so.”The collective buy-in, he believes, has a lot to do with England’s white-ball grooving. On the face of it, the influences are pretty clear: scores of 657 and 264 for 7 in the previous Test, at strike-rates of 6.50 and 7.36 respectively, set in motion by four centurions on day one who all consider themselves to be multi-format cricketers to varying degrees. Such a regular diet of limited-overs cricket, in Stokes’ opinion, lends itself to wanting to reach a satisfying end-point. And crucially, not simply valuing your wicket but seeing it as an opportunity to add value.”You look around the whole squad and pretty much everyone at some point plays all three formats around the summer, and in the winters as well,” he said. “Playing those different formats where you’re always focussing on pushing the game forward and trying to make a result out of that, I guess that helps.”As it happens, Pakistan may be the best place for this England team. The lack of recent, relevant history for touring teams means conclusions from a small sample size aren’t very helpful. But at the same time, pitches here are seemingly so unpredictable that even PCB chairman Ramiz Raja and home skipper Babar Azam have been caught cold.”I see Babar said he wanted a pitch that spun [in Rawalpindi] and it didn’t spin – so I’ve got no idea,” Stokes said. And so, no matter how refined and dexterous England may be, going into these matches without pre-conceived ideas has aided the clarity of thought.”You associate the sub-continent with spin coming into the game a lot more but, as the first Test got further and further in, as that day five got deeper and deeper, it was pretty obvious that seam was going to be the threat with reverse-swing,” he said. “If you look at the attack we had in that first innings, we had all bases covered. We had three seamers and three spin options to go to.”Related

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This next assignment in Multan will require something a little more outrageous than what we’ve seen over the last six months if England are to go 2-0 up. Early-morning smog is a cause of concern, not just for health reasons but with visibility so bad that the daily start time of 10am is looking optimistic. England have already fallen victim to the smog on Tuesday when their flight from Islamabad was delayed by three-and-a-half hours before it cleared.Coupled with the early sunsets, time lost from both ends of the day will make raging against the draw much trickier. While Stokes may seem a dreamer, he is fundamentally a realist with grand ambitions. He knows a draw is coming for his CV, and it may be on the horizon given the various elements at play. But he will do everything within his capacity to make sure that is not the case. Even if it requires something outlandish, such as foregoing an entire innings.”There’s obviously going to be some point along this road where it’s virtually impossible to get a result,” he said. “If it rains for four days, good luck trying to get a result out of a Test match over one day, or two days, but if you get a good amount of time out of a Test match, I’ll always be trying to plan, and talk to Baz about ways in which we can try and force a result, either way. Especially in England with the weather that’s around, you might see something even more out-there, even more than you’ve seen here. I might declare without batting one day, who knows?”We might see that, actually, in this Test, if it does pan out the way that it could, potentially with the late start and early finish. We could end up having only 300-350 overs in the Test match. We might have to get even a bit more adventurous with what we do. We’ll see.”

Lecce chief Sticchi Damiani has now revealed how Manchester United forced the club into selling Patrick Dorgu in January, with the Premier League giants offering a brutal promise to both club and player.

Dorgu becomes Amorim's first major signing

Though money was tight in Manchester in January, Ruben Amorim was finally handed the first major signing of his Old Trafford reign in the final days of the winter window as the club agreed a deal to sign Dorgu from Lecce days after the arrival of Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.

After they reportedly demanded €40m initially to allow the Dane to leave midway through the league season, a deal was eventually agreed for a base fee of €30m plus a further €5m in performance-based add-ons which are thought to be relatively easy to achieve (£29m total).

Dorgu has penned a five-year deal at Old Trafford with the option for a further 12 months should he impress at the Theatre of Dreams, and is expected to be an instant starter for Amorim’s side at left wing-back, replacing Diogo Dalot in the role.

Appearances

23

Goals

3

Assists

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Yellow Cards

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“I cannot wait to work with Ruben Amorim. His vision for this team and the future of the club is incredibly exciting. There is a clear plan set out for my development, and I feel that Manchester United is the perfect place to fulfil my potential and complete my huge ambitions,” Dorgu explained upon his signing being announced.

And now, one Lecce chief has revealed exactly how Manchester United landed their man despite Lecce’s misgivings.

Man Utd hand Lecce brutal ultimatum

Speaking to Italian media, Damiani revealed that Amorim’s side served the Serie A minnows with a simple three word ultimatum that ultimately made them decide to cash in on their star for a record fee – now or never.

“On January 17th, 2025, we wrote to Manchester that the January transfer operation was not of interest to us. We are not talking about figures, but because this is the club’s policy,” he explained.

However, instead of deterring the Red Devils, this only made them push more forcefully for a deal, warning that this would be the only time they would try to sign Dorgu.

“There was a sort of ultimatum, now or never, also giving this message to Dorgu”, Damiani added. “The situation led us to think that, from an element of coherence, digging in our heels would have become stupid and would have done damage to a club that has become sustainable.”

Man Utd now identify £24m South American gem as top summer transfer target

Man Utd have added a 21-year-old to their summer transfer wishlist, as Ruben Amorim eyes more additions.

1 ByBrett Worthington Feb 6, 2025

As a result, not only were United able to get their man, but they were also able to negotaite the fee down from the initial asking price. This is a tactic that the Red Devils are seemingly becoming regular users of. Indeed, they used the exact method on current coach Ruben Amorim, as he revealed after joining the club.

“I never discussed anything with the president. For three days I said I wanted to stay until the end of the season, but then I was told it was not possible,” Amorim explained on his arrival at Old Trafford. “It was now or never, or Manchester would go for another option. So, I had three days to make my mind up, to make a decision that changes radically my life.”

Now, Dorgu’s arrival has followed the same pattern, suggesting that when United knock, teams are forced to listen.

Freya Kemp, the 17-year-old allrounder, has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the back, after flying home early from England Women’s tour of the Caribbean.Kemp was given her international debut in the summer and soon made her mark against India by becoming the youngest England player, male or female, to make a T20I half-century. She went on to be named the Women’s Young Player of the Year by both the PCA and the Cricket Writers’ Club, and was recently handed her first England central contract.Although the ECB said in a statement that there is no specific timeframe for Kemp’s recovery, she has already been ruled out of the T20 World Cup, which gets underway in South Africa in February.”After receiving further exploratory scans in the UK, it has been confirmed that England Women and Southern Vipers all-rounder Freya Kemp has sustained a stress fracture in her back,” the ECB said.”Although the timescale of Kemp’s return is to be determined, she will not be available for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February 2023.”She will now begin rehabilitation in partnership with the England Women and Southern Vipers medical teams.”Kemp was not involved in any of England’s three ODI wins over West Indies prior to her departure, after suffering with back pain from the outset of the trip.She joins her fellow teenager Alice Capsey in returning home early, after Capsey suffered a broken collarbone during a fielding accident in the opening ODI.

The club leadership criticized both the Mexican top flight and its governing body following its removal from the Club World Cup

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• Club León’s spot at Club World Cup will go to América or LAFC
• James Rodríguez returns ahead of crucial clash
• La Fiera trails 3–2 on aggregate against Cruz Azul

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The legal battle involving Club León, FIFA, and eventually the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has become one of the most talked-about controversies in recent Mexican football history. León were excluded from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup due to violations of the tournament’s rules on multi-club ownership. The decision left León’s president, Jesús Martínez Murguía, deeply disappointed—not just with FIFA, but with Liga MX and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), who, he says, left the club to fend for itself.

  “It’s clear we were left on our own—by our league and by our federation,” Martínez Murguía told Tubi in a recent interview. “CONCACAF stood by us until the end, and a few clubs publicly supported us, which we appreciate. But overall, we felt abandoned. Still, that hasn’t stopped us. We’ve always worked with the goal of building up this club with dignity.”

  Martínez pointed to León’s significant investments in infrastructure, marketing, and sporting development – efforts, he stressed, made without institutional backing. “This was a chance to show unity, and we didn’t get it. I know there are eight clubs, including us, pushing to correct poor decisions made within Liga MX and the federation. We want a league where everyone has a voice – not an exclusive club. Hopefully, some real changes will come during the next owners’ assembly.”

  He declined to go into specifics about whether León’s World Cup exclusion will be officially discussed during the May 27 meeting of Liga MX club owners but suggested important issues would be on the table. Martínez also hinted that his father, Jesús Martínez Patiño, would soon speak publicly to defend himself against accusations linked to the multi-ownership controversy.

  “There’s been widespread abandonment, but there are some major clubs standing behind these decisions – even if they can’t say so openly. I believe two or three key issues will be addressed, and my father will definitely share his side of the story soon," he said. "He’s been unfairly targeted, and it pains me because he’s only ever given his full support to this club and its group.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The long-running saga between Club León and FIFA has officially come to an end after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of the global governing body, upholding its decision to exclude the Mexican club from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The verdict marks the conclusion of one of the most high-profile legal disputes in the modern history of Mexican football.

  León's exclusion from the tournament brought renewed attention to the long-standing issue of multi-club ownership within Liga MX – a practice that remains common despite efforts to eliminate it. Several ownership groups currently control multiple clubs in the league, and while authorities have pledged reforms, real change appears distant.

  “This situation will go down as one of the most publicized in Mexican football,” said León president Jesús Martínez Murguía. “We’ve reached out to many local investors, but unfortunately, there hasn’t been much interest. These are companies in different industries, and we respect that. So, the most viable option now is to seek an investment fund.”

  Despite the setback, Martínez emphasized the club’s continued growth. “This club has grown tremendously—we now have our stadium, La Esmeralda [our academy], which keeps producing young talent, and we’ve built a strong squad.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT JESÚS MARTÍNEZ SAID

  One of the major questions circulating among fans is why FIFA excluded León but not Pachuca, considering León had qualified earlier by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Martínez Murguía acknowledged the confusion and said they’ve asked FIFA for a formal explanation.

  “We’ve been clear with our fans – we always speak truthfully. We've already reached out to FIFA to ask why León was left out while Pachuca remains eligible. There are all kinds of theories floating around, but many are inaccurate,” he explained. “We’ve been part of this institution for 15 years, working hard to grow in every aspect. We never chose between León or Pachuca, and my father would never make that kind of decision. We’re still waiting on a clear answer from FIFA and will make it public as soon as we have it.”

  Martínez added that all requested documentation had been submitted to FIFA, which included evidence that León operates independently of other clubs owned by the same group. “What hurts most is that a regulation was added after we earned our spot on the field. That’s what’s difficult to accept. All the documents we’ve provided demonstrate that this club runs on its own.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CLUB LEÓN?

  Despite the off-field turmoil, León’s focus now shifts back to the pitch. will visit Cruz Azul this Sunday for the second leg of their Liguilla quarterfinal clash. Eduardo Berizzo’s side trails 3–2 on aggregate and must win by at least two goals to advance to the semifinals.

  The good news for León is the return of James Rodríguez. The Colombian star is eligible to play after serving a one-match suspension and could play a key role in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.

He maintains that Test cricket is still the pinnacle and is currently not fully swayed into the pull of franchise leagues

Vithushan Ehantharajah15-Feb-2023The eve of the first Test of the home summer is rarely the best time to be addressing cricket’s existential matters. But here was Tim Southee at the Bay Oval, just two matches into his captaincy, talking about the players not here – one in particular – and what it might mean for the game beyond Thursday’s first Test against England.In terms of the members who were present, all of the squad had finally congregated on Wednesday after Cyclone Gabrielle eased in the Bay of Plenty. Marooned members of the original squad – Tom Blundell, Blair Tickner, Will Young and Henry Nicholls – made it through after their travel plans were disrupted. The reinforcements Jacob Duffy and Scott Kuggeleijn arrived on Tuesday evening to swap in for the injured Kyle Jamieson and the expecting Matt Henry. Both uncapped bowlers – Kuggeleijn also offers something with the bat – will be vying for the final spot in the XI. Southee confirmed 29-year-old Tickner will make his debut.”He’s been around the group for a while now and had a taste in the one-day and T20 formats,” Southee said of Tickner’s international experience so far, which amounts to 9 ODIs and 17 T20Is. “It’s exciting for him and his family for what should be a very special occasion.”Related

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Tickner will be something of an unknown, having played a second-string England team twice during a white ball series at the end of 2019, taking 2 for 25 in the third T20I and 0 for 50 in the following game. Ben Stokes, however, remembers him from a small stint of domestic cricket in New Zealand while suspended by the ECB at the end of 2017 after his streetfight in Bristol.”I played out here for Canterbury a few years ago and played against Tickner, he’s a big fella. Runs in and hits the deck hard. Yeah, I think he loves to get into the contest.”

“The times are changing and more tournaments popping up around the world, but for me at the moment I see Test cricket as the pinnacle. I’m loving it and as far as I’m concerned my focus is solely on the two Test matches coming up and trying to perform for New Zealand.”Tim Southee

It did not take long for the conversation to turn to Trent Boult. Head coach Gary Stead revealed on Tuesday that no approach had been made to the fast bowler despite the fact he has returned home after a stint in the ILT20. Having stepped back from his national contract last August, New Zealand Cricket’s understandable approach has been to give preference to domestic players, at least until Boult shows some willingness to return to the longest format.Stead was unequivocal in his belief that this is not the end of Boult’s career. But the fact that hosts go into this two-match series with an inexperienced seam attack when one of their best players of the modern era is 20 minutes up the road speaks of a problem. Even Stokes, who usually keeps out of opposition matters, saw the advantage England carry as a result: “Any team without Trent Boult playing against you gives you a little bit – we know he’s a quality performer.””I think if you ask the majority of people they still see Test cricket as the pinnacle,” Southee said. “Credit to Ben and Brendon (McCullum) and the way they’ve turned things around and made it exciting for people to come and watch and be part of it.”Just look at the ticket sales for this series, there’s still plenty of interest in Test cricket and that’s exciting. For me it’s still the pinnacle of the game. Times are changing with franchise cricket and short-format cricket, but the majority of players still see it as the pinnacle.”The 34-year-old is no stranger to the franchise world, particularly in the IPL where he has enjoyed stints at five teams and is currently with Kolkata Knight Riders. Perceivably he, too, could follow Boult’s move and fill up the rest of his time while keeping a toe in international waters. That, however, does not appeal to him just yet.”It’s something most people are looking at and weighing up, there’s so much cricket. The times are changing and more tournaments popping up around the world, but for me at the moment I see Test cricket as the pinnacle. I’m loving it and as far as I’m concerned my focus is solely on the two Test matches coming up and trying to perform for New Zealand.”By Thursday at least, there will be actual cricket to talk about. Even England have found themselves a bit stir-crazy. “I feel we’ve been here for ages,” Stokes said, raring to go having been in New Zealand for the last three weeks. As for the hosts, a challenging build-up in more ways than one is something they’re happy to roll with.”[It’s been] A little bit disjointed,” Southee said. “But like we have done for a long time, in true Kiwi style.”

In what would be a major blow for those at Ibrox, Sevilla chief Victor Orta now reportedly wants to sign one of Rangers’ best players in a summer swoop when the transfer window swings open.

Rangers transfer news

Whilst there’s no doubt that the Gers have had a season to forget given that they’re sitting as many as 16 points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, the Europa League could yet salvage things.

Having defeated Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 in midweek, Rangers will now welcome the Turkish giants to Ibrox with one foot in the last eight.

Their success on the European stage may not come without consequences, with the transfer window approaching and certain stars already emerging on the radar of several sides.

Following such a frustrating campaign on the domestic front, which ultimately brought Philippe Clement’s tenure to an end, the last thing that the Scottish giants need is a major departure on the pitch. However, reports suggest that they could be getting exactly that.

According to reports in Spain, Sevilla chief Victor Orta personally wants to sign Hamza Igamane for the Spanish club this summer following his excellent campaign in a struggling Rangers side.

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With Sevilla joining Everton in the race to secure the winger’s signature, the Gers are set to face quite the battle if they want to keep hold of their star man this summer, especially after the season they’ve had.

Whilst those around him have struggled, Igamane has scored 13 goals in all competitions, including three in the Europa League as Rangers have progressed out of the league phase and are one game away from a place in the last eight.

Rangers must keep "brilliant" Igamane

Whilst there may be some temptation to cash in on their star man to boost their finances this summer, Rangers should do everything to keep hold of Igamane for the sake of their new manager next season.

The forward is still just 22 years old and approaching the peak of his powers with every game, which means that he’s ready to make an impact on the pitch.

If the Gers are to consider their finances, then waiting another campaign to sell Igamane could be their answer. At such a young age, there’s every indication that he’s yet to reach his best in a Rangers shirt. Only then should Rangers should consider cashing in.

For now, the likes of Derek Ferguson should continue to enjoy his talents. The former Rangers midfielder was full of praise for Igamane earlier this season, telling BBC Sportsound (as per The Scotsman): “Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant.

“He is off the cuff and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

Leeds United are keeping a close eye on a “beautiful” £20,000-a-week player ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

Leeds transfer news

Daniel Farke’s side have been one of, if not the strongest teams in the Championship this season, and if they continue their current form, they should once again be a Premier League team come the end of the campaign.

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There looks to be an expectation that they will be in the English top flight next season, as the players they are hoping to sign in the summer are not players looking to drop into the second tier.

The Whites are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder James McAtee and have held internal talks over a possible move in the summer, as he continues to struggle to nail down a starting spot in Pep Guardiola’s team.

As well as looking to find a number 10, Farke and the Leeds board are also looking at improving their defence for the next season. It’s been reported that they are interested in signing Koni de Winter from Genoa but face strong competition from West Ham, Wolves and Serie A giants Juventus.

De Winter is not their only option for a new centre-back, as Conor Coady of Leicester City is also a player Leeds may consider signing, as he struggles for game time at the King Power Stadium and will enter the final 12 months of his contract in the summer.

Leeds keeping an eye on Walker-Peters

Farke doesn’t just want to add a new centre-back to his ranks – he also wants to improve his full-back options, and according to TEAMtalk, Leeds are keeping an eye on Kyle Walker-Peters, who is out of contract at Southampton in the summer.

The Whites were interested in signing the full-back during the January transfer window, but the Saints wanted £7 million to part ways, and that was deemed too high for someone set to become available for free so soon.

Indeed, Walker-Peters looks unlikely to sign a new contract at St. Mary’s Stadium and, therefore, will be a free agent come July – that has alerted Leeds, as well as teams such as Leicester City and Everton.

Walker-Peters, who earns £20,000 a week at Southampton, has been with the Saints since January 2020, having joined them initially on loan from Tottenham before joining on a permanent basis. The 27-year-old has been an ever-present for the Saints since and has established himself as a very attacking, modern-day full-back.

The Southampton defender has shown great versatility in recent seasons, operating on both the right and left-hand sides of defence, as well as playing as a wing-back if it is required. Former Southampton manager Russell Martin described Walker-Peters as a “beautiful” footballer, and given the pace he offers and his ability to take players on, it doesn’t come as a surprise.

All these factors are why Farke would love to make him part of his Leeds team, as he would bring real quality and Premier League experience to their backline; Leeds just need to get promoted to the top flight now to make the deal happen.

MatériaMais Notícias

O zagueiro paraguaio Fabián Balbuena chegou ao Brasil na tarde da última sexta-feira (15), para acertar o seu retorno ao Corinthians.

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Aos 30 anos de idade, o defensor retorna ao clube alvinegro quatro anos mais velho e tendo a experiência de ter atuando em uma das maiores ligas do mundo.

Ainda que Balbuena venha do Dínamo de Moscou, da Rússia, o zagueiro deixou o Timão em 2018 para vestir a camisa do West Ham, da Inglaterra, que disputa a Premier League.

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Há quatro temporadas, o clube inglês pagou diretamente ao Corinthians a multa rescisória do atleta, que era de 4 milhões de euros (R$ 18 mi, na cotação da época).

Na equipe de Londres, no entanto, Balbuena nunca foi o cara. Ele chegou fazendo jus ao investimento dos hammers, foi titular durante quase todo o primeiro turno da Premier League, mas uma lesão no joelho sofrida ainda no primeiro tempo de um jogo contra o Watford o tirou de combate por dois meses.

O paraguaio perdeu 14 jogos na sua primeira temporada no West Ham por conta dessa primeira lesão e retornou no time sub-23 para recuperar a sua forma física.

Quando voltou à ‘equipe de cima’ comeu banco em três partidas, mas foi titular dos últimos seis jogos no Campeonato Inglês, atuando em todos durante os 90 minutos.

RECOMEÇO NO WEST HAM

A temporada 2019/20 trazia forte expectativa para Fabián Balbuena, que pretendia se firmar no West Ham, livre das lesões. No entanto, logo a primeira rodada da Premier League derrubou o castelo de areia construído pelo defensor paraguaio.

O zagueiro foi pivô da goleada por 5 a 0 sofrida pelo Manchester City, em pleno London Stadium. Balbuena não jogou bem e na rodada seguinte foi substituído pelo italiano Angelo Ogbonna.

Por volta da décima rodada da competição nacional, o então ex-corintiano retomou a posição, primeiramente colocando Ogbonaa novamente na reserva e depois formando dupla com o italiano, tirando o espaço do francês Issa Dioup.

Foram nove jogos consecutivos disputado por Balbuena como titular, sendo oito da Premier League e um da FA Cup, até que o espanhol Manuel Pellegrini foi demitido do comando do West Ham no fim de 2019.

No lugar, foi contratado o inglês David Moyes, que, após o seu terceiro jogo à frente dos hammers, barrou o defensor paraguaio, que voltou à reserva.

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ÚLTIMO ANO NA INGLATERRA

Na sua última temporada de contrato com o West Ham, Fabián Balbuena até recuperou o prestígio com Moyes, retomou a titularidade logo no início do ano esportivo, mas na virada entre 2019 e 2020 voltou a ficar no banco de reservas.

Já era sinal de que o time de Londres havia decidido não estender o seu vínculo.

Balbuena ficou cerca de seis meses podendo assinar pré-contrato com outro clube. No período, foi titular em um jogo da Copa da Inglaterra, entrou no segundo tempo de uma partida contra o Leicester, pela Premier League, e chegou até compor o time sub-23 dos hammers.

A despedida foi melancólica foi pela 33ª rodada do Campeonato Inglês, em uma derrota como mandante para o Chelsea em que o defensor foi expulso nos 10 minutos finais. Foi a última partida de Fabían pelo West Ham.

FUTURO NA RÚSSIA

Inicialmente, o paraguaio, então com 29 anos, gostaria de se manter em um grande centro do futebol europeu, mas não conseguiu.

A proposta mais vantajosa à época foi do Dínamo de Moscou. Naquele momento, os primeiros flertes para um retorno ao Corinthians já havia iniciado, mas o atleta optou por jogar mais um tempo na Europa.

Ao jogador foi apresentado um projeto de equipe que gostaria de brigar pelo título russo e disputar os torneios continentais nos anos seguintes. O contrato firmado com o Dínamo foi até junho de 2025.

Em sua primeira, e então única, temporada pelo clube russo, Balbuena foi titular em boa parte da temporada e esteve ativo nas campanhas do vice-campeonato da Copa da Rússia e terceira colocação na Liga Russa.

Segundo Fábio Aleixo, jornalista brasileiro radicado na Rússia e que acompanha o futebol local, Balbuena estava bem no Dínamo, e o clube disputou a taça com o campeão Zenit até as rodadas finais, perdendo força quando o título já estava decidido, terminando na terceira posição.

– Muito boa a passagem do Balbuena no Dínamo. Chegou com status de titular e foi titular sempre. Era peça central na zaga. O Dínamo foi um time que até cinco temporadas do fim brigou pelo campeonato com o Zenit. Terminou em terceiro mais porque na reta final perdeu a motivação depois que o campeonato – comentou Aleixo em contato com o LANCE!.

O jornalista salientou que as qualidades do defensor na época da primeira passagem pelo Corinthians, entre 2016 e 2018, seguem a mesma, principalmente na parte do jogo aéreo, mas deixou claro que a velocidade contra jogadores mais velozes acaba comprometendo o zagueiro.

– Continua sendo muito seguro, muito firme, bom no jogo aéreo, tanto defensivo, quanto ofensivo, mas se pega um atacante com um pouco mais de velocidade ele sofre, não no mano a mano, mas principalmente em contra-ataques. Não pode deixar ele muito exposto – disse Fábio Aleixo.

Em relação a parte física, Aleixo acredita que Balbuena chega em forma, já que fez 31 jogos pelo Dínamo de Moscou na última temporada e também realizava pré-temporada com o clube russo.

– Chega em ótima forma, terminou bem o campeonato, fez as férias, mas estava treinando atpé a semana passada com o Dínamo. Mas chega totalmente em forma, fazer uns treinos para se acostumar ao esquema de jogo, mas já chega para brigar por posição de titular, com condições totais para ser escalado. Uma boa contratação do Corinthians – destacou o jornalista.

O motivo da saída de Balbuena do Dínamo de Moscou foi a guerra entre Rússia e Ucrânia, que ocorre desde fevereiro. A família do defensor o pressionou para a saída, e o atleta utilizou de um mecanismo inserido pela Fifa que permite que jogadores que atuem nos países da zona de conflito suspendam os seus vínculos e acerte com outros clubes até junho de 2023.

O paraguaio atuará pelo Timão durante o período. Após o fim deste vínculo, a diretoria corintiana terá que conversar com a equipe russa caso queira ter o zagueiro em definitivo.

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