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Australia vice-captain Pat Cummins feels he is as fresh as he has ever felt coming into a Test series, but says he would be surprised if the side persists with the same four-man attack through all five Ashes Tests, something they did against India last summer.Cummins returned to Australia and into hotel quarantine on the Gold Coast on Tuesday with the majority of the triumphant World Cup-winning squad to begin their Ashes preparation.He hasn’t played a first-class match since February. Cummins has also only featured in seven T20s since April having opted out of the limited-overs tours to the Caribbean and Bangladesh during Australia’s winter. He also missed the second half of the IPL prior to the World Cup to be home for the birth of his son.Australia will only have one three-day intra-squad match to prepare for the first Ashes Test starting December 8 but Cummins has no concerns about his personal preparation.”My body feels as good as it has in a couple of years. There’s no niggles,” Cummins said. “I think the first, I guess, benefit of the short spells is we’re all feeling really fresh. I always feel like it’s better to be underdone than overdone coming into a big Test series.”For now it’s just trying to work back from that day one, get a few good bowls in, I think. We’ve got access to quite a few centre wickets. So we’ll have three, four, five centre wickets where we try and have relatively big days, you know, bowl a couple of spells on those days. And we’ll be ready to go. And we had a similar prep last year and all felt really good going into that Adelaide first Test.”Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc played all four Tests against India last year, but the plan backfired as the trio tired on the final days in Sydney and Brisbane and were unable to bowl out India in either game as the visitors produced a famous come-from-behind series win.Australia rotated their bowlers heavily in the 2019 Ashes series using Peter Siddle and James Pattinson as specialists in those conditions. Cummins was the only one of the five Australian fast bowlers used in that series to play all five Tests and he expects that there will be some rotation again this summer.”When someone’s I guess rested it is normally more to it than just purely workload,” Cummins said. “There’s always niggles and small little injuries that we’re dealing with, basically after every single Test match.”The great thing is we’ve got a huge stable of fast bowlers. So yeah, I don’t think it’ll be a huge issue if someone’s not able to get up for a Test or someone’s just red-lining a little bit. Someone else can slot in.”I’d be surprised if the same four bowlers were used for all five Tests. That’s pretty rare, especially the five-Test match summer. But I certainly won’t be putting my hand up to be rested unless I’ve got something going wrong.”Pat Cummins hasn’t played a first-class match since February 2021•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

Jhye Richardson is firming as a certainty to play a part in this Ashes series having not played a Test match since 2019 when he dislocated his shoulder in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup and Ashes tour.Michael Neser has also been a constant presence in Australia’s Test squads in recent years and could also make his Test debut this summer despite coming off a hamstring injury.”I think both can slot in really well,” Cummins said. “It might be like-for-like maybe in some regards. I’d say probably Jhye, especially last week, I only saw a little bit but apparently, he bowled beautifully up here at the Gabba.”It’s really great to see him back around the squad. He was on the verge of a World Cup and an Ashes series a couple of years ago before having a shoulder injury, so it’s great to see him get back and bowling well, fully fit, and hopefully he kind of starts off where he left off against Sri Lanka a few years ago.”Chairman of selectors George Bailey confirmed Australia would have a squad mentality after announcing the 15-man Ashes squad for the first two Tests as well as an Australia A squad on Wednesday. Bailey was also impressed by Richardson’s form leading into the Ashes series following his Player of the Match performance for Western Australia against Queensland at the Gabba last week where he took eight wickets including 5 for 23 from 22.2 overs in the second innings.”Getting pretty excited by Jhye,” Bailey said. “One physically, I think he looks as strong as I’ve seen ever seen him.”He’s had a couple of niggles, and he’s worked his way back from those so he’s starting to build some resilience into his body, still a young body.”I think he’s worked his way into the last three shield games quite nicely, but one particular spell I think it was the morning of day [three], a really impressive spell early on, I think he ended up ended up getting the wickets of Marnus [Labuschagne] and Joe Burns, who both commented that it was it was impressive quality.”

MatériaMais Notícias

da fazobetai： O São Paulo consultou a situação do atacante David Neres, que está atualmente no Shaktar Donetsk, da Ucrânia, país sob ataque da Rússia. Quem revelou a conversa foi o próprio diretor de futebol do Tricolor, Carlos Belmonte, em entrevista a ‘Central do Mercado’, do ‘GE’.

RelacionadasSão PauloSão Paulo pede apoio a governo e se coloca à disposição para ajudar atletas na UcrâniaSão Paulo24/02/2022Fora de CampoEsposa de Maycon chora e fala de ‘situação desesperadora’ na Ucrânia: ‘Estamos presos no sótão do hotel’Fora de Campo24/02/2022Fora de CampoEsposa de Dentinho, ex-Shakhtar, desabafa sobre guerra na Ucrânia: ‘A gente sempre soube que ele poderia atacar’Fora de Campo24/02/2022

da casino： – Hoje mesmo, tem esses jogadores que estão na Ucrânia e provavelmente não vão ficar lá. A gente conversou com o David Neres. Uma consulta para entender o momento. A coisa ainda está muito crua, a informação é de uma venda. Se tiver intenção de que o Neres saia por uma temporada pagando parte do salário, a gente pode conversar. A gente não tem recursos pra contratar um jogador como ele, mas se for o desejo de colocar ele aqui por um tempo, estamos de portas abertas – disse Belmonte.

David Neres é um dos jogadores brasileiros que estão isolados no país europeu por conta dos conflitos. Nesta quinta-feira, o jogador repostou um vídeo em seu Instagram pedindo ajuda ao governo brasileiro.

Vale lembrar que o São Paulo enviou nesta quinta-feira (24), um ofício ao Itamaraty, direcionado ao ministro das relações exteriores, Carlos França, pedindo ajuda aos jogadores brasileiros que estão na Ucrânia, país assolado pela guerra com a Rússia.

A century stand between Josh Philippe and Hilton Cartwright had continued WA’s batting dominance

Andrew McGlashan25-Sep-2021

Jake Carder played solidly on his South Australia debut•Getty Images

Jake Carder marked his South Australia debut with a half-century against his former team-mates while Travis Head made a steady start to an important personal season as the home side put together a solid response to a hefty Western Australia total.On a surface that offered precious little to the quicks and only a modicum of gentle turn, Carder and Head took their third wicket stand to 96 by the close to give South Australia a good chance of avoiding the follow-on having been a little unsteady on 2 for 65.Left-armer Joel Paris had pinned Jake Weatherald lbw and Henry Hunt gloved a pull down the leg side having looked set for a significant score.Carder, given the No. 3 role after his winter move to Redbacks, was composed throughout while Head, who is probably the frontrunner for the No. 5 spot in the Test team, appeared in good touch although had been a little fortunate when an edge off Cameron Green flew wide of the lone slip.Green and Lance Morris had some issues with the frontline during their spells with 10 no-balls between them while Morris also twice conceded five wides in a wayward display.Western Australia had resumed on 4 for 324 after the opening-day centuries from Shaun Marsh and Green. They progressed at a good tempo as the Redbacks’ bowlers again struggled to make much of an impression on a docile surface.Josh Philippe led the way with a half-century off 76 balls which be brought up with consecutive straight sixes in Sam Kerber’s first over the day to follow his hundred in the Marsh Cup game. There was a century for the taking here, too, but in his eagerness to keep the innings moving he top-edged Lloyd Pope high to midwicket.Hilton Cartwright, part of a fifth-wicket stand of 109, took a leaf out of Philippe’s book by also reaching his fifty with the first of two back-to-back sixes off Pope and was annoyed when he missed another by picking out deep midwicket shortly before lunch.Pope, who was barely used by Head on the first day, took his haul to four wickets, the last of them bringing the declaration, although they were all largely donated by Western Australia’s push to score quickly.

And has anyone else made a fourth-innings hundred on the second day of a Test as Travis Head did?

Steven Lynch25-Nov-2025Mitchell Starc improved his best bowling figures in his 100th Test, against West Indies, and improved them in his 101st Test at Perth. Has anyone done this later in a Test career? asked Ekambaram Raveendran from India
Australia’s Mitchell Starc took 6 for 9 – his best figures at the time – as West Indies were skittled for 27 in Kingston in July. That was his 100th Test – and in the first innings of his 101st, against England in Perth, Starc took seven wickets in a Test innings for the first time, finishing with 7 for 58.Unsurprisingly, this is easily the latest stage of a career at which a player improved his best Test figures in successive matches. Two Pakistanis come next: Wasim Akram had best figures of 6 for 62 after 50 Tests, but took 6 for 43 against New Zealand in his 51st, and improved that to 7 for 119 in his 52nd, in February 1994. Abdul Qadir started his 48th Test with a best return of 7 for 142, but took 7 for 96 against England at The Oval in August 1987, and improved that with 9 for 56 in his 49th, against England in Lahore in November 1987.The latest a batter has improved his highest score in successive Tests was by Australia’s Ricky Ponting in December 2003. After 72 Tests his highest score was 206, but he scored 242 against India in Adelaide in his 73rd, and improved that with 257 against them in Melbourne in his 74th match. His successor as captain, Michael Clarke, improved his previous-best of 151 with 166 in his 58th Test, against Pakistan in January 2010, then made 168 in his 59th, against New Zealand in Wellington two months later.Travis Head scored a century on the second (last!) day in Perth. Has anyone else ever made a fourth-innings century before the end of the second day of a Test before? asked Martin Bennett from Australia
That stunning innings by Travis Head, which decisively wrenched the first Ashes Test Australia’s way in Perth, was indeed the first time anyone had made a century in the fourth innings of a Test by the end of the second day. The only other time a team has reached 100 in the fourth innings on the second day of a Test was at Headingley in 1912, when South Africa made 105 for 7 against England – but the highest individual score was Louis Tancred’s 38 not out (he was out for 39 next morning).Head reached his century in just 69 balls, the fastest in the Ashes apart from Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball hundred at the WACA in Perth in December 2006. The only other faster century for Australia in a Test was in 67 balls, by Jack Gregory against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 1921. David Warner also reached three figures in 69 balls against India at the WACA in January 2012.England faced only 67.3 overs in both innings in Perth. Have they ever been bowled out twice more quickly? asked Jon Morrison from England
England were bowled out twice in 67.3 overs – 405 balls – in the first Test in Perth. They have only been bowled out twice more quickly in Tests they lost on two occasions, the most recent of which was in March 1904, when they faced just 54.1 overs (325 deliveries) in being dismissed for 61 and 101 by Australia in Melbourne. Before that England were bowled out for 53 and 62 in 388 balls (97 four-ball overs) by Australia at Lord’s in July 1888.The fewest balls to be bowled out twice and lose by any side in a Test is 248 (49.3 five-ball overs) by South Africa (93 and 30) against England in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) in February 1896.With his 109 not out against New Zealand, Shai Hope now has hundreds against every Test-playing nation, albeit across formats•AFP/Getty ImagesShai Hope has scored international centuries against all 11 possible Test-playing opponents. Has anyone else done this? asked Marlon Hoyte from Barbados
Shai Hope’s 109 not out in an ODI against New Zealand in Napier last week completed this particular full set: he’s scored individual international centuries (in Tests, ODIs or T20Is) against his 11 possible Test-playing opponents. Hope has scored four against England and India, three against Bangladesh, two against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and one against Afghanistan, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Only three of his hundreds have come in Tests: two against England at Headingley in August 2017, and one against India in Delhi in October.Seven players have scored international centuries against ten of their 11 possible Test-playing opponents: Hashim Amla (no hundreds against Afghanistan), Shikhar Dhawan (none against England), Martin Guptill (missing Afghanistan), Mahela Jayawardene (Ireland), Virat Kohli (Ireland), Rohit Sharma (Ireland) and Marcus Trescothick (never played against Afghanistan).How many times in Tests have a team won the toss, decided to bat first, been bowled out on the first day, have a deficit on the first innings but gone on to win the Test against the host nation, as South Africa did in the first Test in India? asked Andre Terblanche from South Africa
That’s probably the most specific question I’ve ever received! South Africa did do all this in the first Test against India in Kolkata earlier this month, but actually it was the third time it had happened this year – Australia did it against West Indies in Bridgetown in June, and Ireland did it to beat Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in February. This particular set of circumstances appears to have happened 32 times in all in Tests now. The first time was in August 1882, when Australia beat England at The Oval in the match that spawned the Ashes legend.There’s also an update from a question a couple of weeks ago:
In this column I answered a question about the players with the best averages in their last 25 Tests. In calculating the answer we considered only players who had won at least 50 caps – but actually that probably wasn’t the right way to do it. Two or three readers pointed out that the great England bowler Sydney Barnes took 170 wickets at 16.49 in his last 25 Tests – but he hadn’t shown up in our searches as he played only 27 matches in all.And so… we widened the search to include everyone’s last 25 Tests, even if they only played 26 (or 27 like Barnes). The efforts of Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test against South Africa actually gave him a better average than Barnes ahead of the second match of the current series – 125 wickets at 16.38 – but that may change: and in any case there’s someone who beats both of them, as the England offspinner Jim Laker took 120 wickets at 15.93 in the last 25 of his 46 Tests. Alec Bedser (136 at 18.68) and Curtly Ambrose (99 at 18.78) are fourth and fifth.Among batters Don Bradman remains way out on top (3468 runs at 105.09), but the West Indian Clyde Walcott comes in second, with 2651 at 67.97 in the last 25 of his 44 Tests, ahead of Kane Williamson (currently 66.67), Kumar Sangakkara (64.05) and Andy Flower (63.83).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Former Arsenal youth star Chido Obi-Martin scored yet another goal as Manchester United Under-18s beat Everton 3-0.

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Obi-Martin in fiery formScored his four United goal against EvertonRed Devils maintain winning streak against Toffees Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 16-year-old wonderkid scored his fourth goal in as many appearances for the Manchester United U-18 side on Saturday as the Red Devils outclassed Everton 3-0. Obi-Martin opened the scoring for the club in the sixth minute with a clinical finish before Jim Alex Joseph Thwaites doubled the team's lead. Bendito Mantato then scored the third and final goal in the dying minutes to make sure his team walked away with full points.

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The former Gunners youth player has been in red-hot form since completing his transfer from north London to Manchester this summer. The forward netted a hat-trick in just his second appearance for the club against Nottingham Forest last month followed by an assist in the club's thumping 8-0 win over Leeds last weekend.

WHAT NEXT?

The United youth team currently enjoy a seven-point lead over rivals Manchester City at the top of the U-18 Premier League table and will next be seen in action against Leeds on November 23.

Celtic recently learned their schedule for the upcoming Scottish Premiership season as they plot to lift the title for a fourth successive campaign.

The Hoops will kick off the term with a clash against Kilmarnock at Parkhead at the start of August before back-to-back away games at Hibernian and St Mirren.

Their first meeting with their local rivals in the Old Firm will be at Paradise on the last day of the opening month, which will provide them with an opportunity to put an early marker down to assert their dominance in the derby once more.

Brendan Rodgers is yet to dip into the market to bolster his squad ahead of the new season, however, despite the summer transfer window having been open for business for a number of weeks now.

A replacement for Joe Hart is needed and Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka and Croatia star Dominik Livakovic have both been linked with moves to Glasgow to be the manager's new number one for the 2024/25 campaign.

The Hoops are also reportedly looking at other areas of the park and a new midfielder could be on the agenda amid links to one of Rodgers' former players.

Celtic offered chance to sign international midfielder

According to the Daily Record, the Scottish giants have been offered the opportunity to sign defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi on a free transfer this summer.

The report claims that there is a chance that the Nigeria international could arrive at Parkhead after his contract with Leicester City concluded at the end of last month.

His deal with the Foxes expired and the battler is now a free agent who can speak with any interested clubs ahead of signing a contract for the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.

The Daily Record states that the Premiership champions were 'made aware' on Monday night that the experienced star would be open to linking up with Rodgers, who he played under at the King Power, again.

It adds that Celtic have monitored his situation in previous transfer windows and could be willing to 'push the boat' out to secure his services if there is a real chance of bringing him to Glasgow this summer.

They would need to splash the cash to get a move over the line, per the report, as there is said to be interest from Premier League sides who could offer 'millions' in wages.

If they can add Ndidi to the playing squad ahead of next season then Rodgers could land a dream partner for Reo Hatate in the middle of the park.

Why Reo Hatate needs a defensive anchor

The Japan international, when fit, is a super talent who can cause havoc for opposition midfields and defences due to his dynamism and quality in possession.

He endured a rough 2023/24 campaign due to several injury issues that caused him to miss a combined 40 matches for club and country, with two calf injuries and a hamstring issue.

Hatate did catch the eye when he was available, though, as the central midfielder racked up three goals and four assists in just 12 Premiership starts last term – more than one goal contribution per start on average.

The 26-year-old maestro has the quality to make things happen at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis from a midfield position, which was also proven by his performances during the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

32

Goals

6

Assists

8

Big chances created

10

Key passes per game

1.3

As you can see in the table above, Hatate racked up 14 goal contributions in 32 appearances in the division that term, which further highlights the attacking threat he is able to provide in Scottish football.

However, his work off the ball does leave a lot to be desired. The midfielder lost 51% of his duels and only made 0.9 tackles and interceptions combined per match across his 16 outings in the Premiership last season.

Celtic's midfield magician also lost 67% of his duels and, staggeringly, failed to make a single tackle or interception in three Champions League starts.

Why Wilfred Ndidi would be perfect for Reo Hatate

The Nigerian colossus, who was once hailed as "genetically blessed" by Rodgers due to his physicality and recovery speed, would be perfect for Hatate as he can provide the strong play off the ball that the Japanese lightweight does not offer.

Ndidi is a player who can control games through his play out of possession, with Rodgers once describing him as a "controlling" defender through his pressing work, and that is backed up by his fantastic statistics over the years in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old battler has averaged an astounding 5.3 tackles and interceptions combined per game throughout his career at club and international level, whilst no Celtic player managed more than 2.5 per match in the Premiership last term.

This shows that the Nigerian ace has the athleticism and defensive quality to put himself about the pitch to consistently cut out opposition attacks to help out his team.

This is why he would be perfect for Hatate, particularly in the Champions League against tougher opposition, as his sublime work off the ball would allow the Japan international to go about his business in possession without worrying about letting the side down with his lightweight nature.

Appearances

27

32

Goals

0

4

Assists

0

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.7

2.0

Duel success rate

55%

49%

As you can see in the table above, his defensive work took a hit last season under Enzo Maresca in the Championship but that was down to the now-Chelsea boss often using him in a central midfield role, rather than a defensive one.

Ndidi was not played in his preferred role in the six position and, as you can also see above, he was much better off the ball when used as a defender in the 2022/23 Premier League season – being managed by Rodgers for the majority of the campaign.

Celtic could ease possible O'Riley exit with swoop for SPFL goal threat

The Hoops are facing interest from the Premier League in their star midfielder.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2024

Therefore, the impressive enforcer could be fantastic signing to anchor the Celtic midfield next season and beyond as a dream partner for Hatate.

أعلن الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، برئاسة المهندس هاني أبو ريدة، عن مجموعة من القرارات المهمة خلال اجتماعه اليوم، والتي شملت عدة ملفات، أبرزها تكليف وائل رياض بتولي منصب المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر للمحليين، والمشاركة في التصفيات المؤهلة لبطولة الأمم الأفريقية المقبلة للمحليين.

منافس مصر في تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين

كما أعلن الاتحاد عن تعيين أوسكار رويز، المحاضر الدولي في التحكيم، رئيسًا لـ لجنة الحكام الرئيسية اعتبارًا من الأول من مارس المقبل، وذلك في إطار خطة تطوير منظومة التحكيم المصري.

وأكد الاتحاد تشكيل منتخب محلي مكون من لاعبي دوري القسم الثاني وبعض لاعبي دوري القسم الأول، على أن تتولى لجنة المسابقات إعادة تنظيم المسابقة المحلية بما يتناسب مع مواعيد التصفيات الأفريقية.

كما قرر المجلس تكليف أحمد حلمي الشريف، عضو مجلس الإدارة، برئاسة بعثة المنتخب الوطني للمحليين خلال رحلته إلى جنوب أفريقيا، حيث سيخوض مواجهة هامة في تصفيات أمم أفريقيا.

وفي إطار دعم الاتحاد المصري لاستضافة البطولات القارية، وافق المجلس على التقدم بطلب رسمي إلى الاتحاد الأفريقي لكرة القدم لاستضافة بطولات كأس الأمم الأفريقية تحت 20 سنة لنسخ 2027، 2029، و2031.

وشملت القرارات أيضًا الموافقة على برنامج إعداد المنتخبين الوطنيين تحت 20 و17 سنة حتى مشاركتهما في نهائيات بطولتي الأمم الأفريقية، إضافة إلى تكليف الكابتن حمادة الشربيني برئاسة بعثة المنتخب الأول في رحلته إلى المغرب لمواجهة إثيوبيا ضمن تصفيات كأس العالم. 

ويأتي ذلك ضمن رؤية الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم لتعزيز مكانة الكرة المصرية على المستويين المحلي والقاري، ودعم المنتخبات الوطنية المختلفة لتحقيق أفضل النتائج في الاستحقاقات القادمة.

The midfielder has accomplished so much already, but there's still upside that has yet to be unlocked

It's hard to fathom considering how much the world has seen from him already, but Yunus Musah is just 21 years old. At an age where Musah should just be breaking into senior soccer, he already has several seasons at the top, top level under his belt. Let's not forget, he started all four of the USMNT's games during the 2022 World Cup.

Despite all he's already accomplished, Musah is still a developing player and, as he continues that development, there is still one question hanging over all: what kind of player is he going to be?

Right now, Musah feels like a player stuck between positions. He can dribble through just about everyone, but he doesn't yet provide the goals or assists required from a No. 8. He's strong and quick, but he doesn't yet have the defensive instincts of a No. 6. Because of that, Musah is very much a complementary player at this stage of his career, one who can help a midfield, but can't take it over.

The hope has been that his move to Milan would see him develop one way or another. He'd either become a marauding box-to-box monster who could dribble his way into multiple goals a season. Either that or he'd become a game-altering No. 6, one that can receive the ball in pressure and then put that very same pressure on any opposition players in his path.

Realistically, though, those sides of his game haven't emerged. He's still very much the same midfielder as he was at the World Cup in 2022. So, as he marches on in the early days of his career, the question remains: where exactly is Musah heading?

• Getty
  

  The move to Milan

  After years of being stuck out on the wing at Valencia, Musah's move to Milan felt like a gift. The young American would be taking a major leap up the ladder to one of the world's biggest clubs. He'd also be heading to Italy, a country he'd have no problem adapting to after spending part of his childhood there.

  His first season was largely productive. He appeared in 40 matches in all competitions, including nine in Europe. Musah got a taste of those big moments, stepping into major Champions League matches for a club that, despite falling on harder times over the last decade, always has sky-high expectations.

  This season, under new coach Paulo Fonseca, the minutes have been harder to come by. Musah has featured in five games so far this season, but just one was a start. Making matters worse: in those five appearances, he's totaled just 147 minutes of playing time. In Tuesday's match against Leverkusen, a 1-0 loss for Milan, Musah didn't make it off the bench.

  With Milan often playing a double pivot in midfield, Musah hasn't quite been able to lock down a role. There's an argument to be made that he isn't best equipped to play in a two-man setup, which is something we've seen with the USMNT.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Lessons from the USMNT

  Since his commitment to the USMNT, Musah has been the perfect piece. The MMA midfield fit together seamlessly. Musah was an ideal complement to Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie. Adams did the destroying, McKennie marauded and Musah got the U.S. out of difficult situations with his ability to receive and progress the ball.

  Without Adams and McKennie in the most recent camp, though, Musah was asked to do more and, at this point, he can't quite lead the midfield on his own.

  Against Canada, the Milan midfielder was played next to Johnny Cardoso, who had a rough game to put it lightly. Musah was generally OK, but the USMNT, as a whole, was swarmed by Jesse Marsch's team. Against New Zealand, though, Musah struggled. His passing was great, as he completed 59 of his 61 passes, but he was totally outclassed on the defensive side. He won just one of his seven duels before being yanked at halftime.

  You can't judge a player off of two games, particularly two friendlies. However, while Musah has the potential to be a star, the last few weeks have proved that the 21-year-old midfielder isn't quite there yet. He may be a piece, one that can make a difference in winning, but he has yet to prove that he can truly dominate a game regardless of who is next to him.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Fit as a No. 8

  There may not be a smoother player than Musah in the USMNT player pool. He glides with the ball at his feet. Regardless of where he receives it and how many players are around him, Musah always seems to advance the ball up the field.

  Over the last year, Musah is in the 96th percentile of the Big Five leagues when it comes to progressive carries. He's in the 91st percentile in successful take-ons. When Musah recieves the ball, he advances it safely.

  However, once gets the ball from Point A to B by dribbling, he struggles to really do anything with it. He had just two assists last season, although he did add a spectacular one to start this campaign. In terms of goals, he's yet to score for Milan, while he's in the 20th percentile for passes attempted and 37th percentile in progressive passes.

  "I have to say it’s a bit frustrating not having scored yet," Musah told SportMediaSet in a recent interview. "I’m working to increase the chances of it happening in a match."

  What do those stats show? They paint the picture of a midfielder that can get forward, but doesn't particularly do anything productive. He can beat a defender, but he can't create a goal. Moving the ball up the field is helpful, especially in a three-man midfield, but, players also have to be able to actually do something with it.

  That just isn't in Musah's game just yet and, if he wants to be an elite No. 8, he needs to find ways to really impact games with an occasional goal or assist.

• Getty
  

  Fit as a No. 6

  The stats paint a clear picture of what Musah needs to improve at on the attacking end. The defensive numbers are even more glaring.

  He's in the 20th percentile in tackling, 41st percentile in aerials won and, worst of all, seventh percentile in interceptions. Those numbers paint a clear picture of a player that doesn't quite yet have the defensive instincts required, particularly in a double pivot.

  Musah is not yet a natural defensive midfielder and, with Adams out, that fact is even more glaring with the USMNT. It's also why Fonseca tends to rely on Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana, who bring much more steel to the Milan midfield.

  Given the numbers above, you can see why Musah hasn't quite earned the trust of his new club coach, but that leads us to the important question: how does he earn it?

أصدرت رابطة الدوري الإسباني أول رد فعل على بيان نادي ريال مدريد ضد التحكيم، بعد ما حدث في مواجهة إسبانيول وعدم طرد كارلوس ألبيرتو.

ريال مدريد أصدر بيانًا الأسبوع الماضي، هاجم من خلاله رابطة التحكيم، وأكد على أنها تفتقد للنزاهة، ووجهت الرسالة إلى الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم.

وحسب ما أفادت إذاعة “كوبيه” الإسبانية، أن رابطة الدوري الإسباني برئاسة خافيير تيباس، تستنكر بيان ريال مدريد بسبب ذلك البيان ضد الحكام.

طالع أيضًا | سبورت: برشلونة يستعد لمكافأة نجم الفريق بعقد جديد

وأشارت التقارير إلى أن ذلك، كان بناء على طلب بقية أندية الدوري الإسباني، التي هاجمت ريال مدريد بشأن البيان الذي اعتبرته الأندية ضد كرة القدم الإسبانية.

وقدمت رابطة الليجا، شكوى إلى اللجنة التأديبية بالاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، بعدما أكد خافيير تيباس رئيس الرابطة في وقت سابق أنه سيدين ما فعله ريال مدريد بالبيان، وكذلك التقارير التي تم بثها عبر تلفزيون النادي الرسمي.

وبالتالي، سيتم فتح تحقيق بشأن البيان الصادر من ريال مدريد ورد رابطة الدوري الإسباني وكذلك الأندية بالليجا، وقد ينتهي الأمر بعقوبة النادي الملكي.

Sharjeel Khan’s 105 goes in vain in error-strewn match

Danyal Rasool24-Feb-2021Chasing 197 in the final over might suggest this game was something of a humdinger. In truth, it was an error-strewn, sloppy contest that few on either side deserved to win. As is often the case with games like these, Islamabad United so often find a way to get over the line, as they did on Wednesday, withstanding an astonishing 59-ball 105 from Sharjeel Khan.The Karachi Kings opener looked destined to have cost his side the game as he struggled, almost woefully, for fluency in the Powerplay, but 94 off his final 35 balls helped power his side to the highest first-innings total of the tournament. It was his opening partner Babar Azam whose 54-ball 62 ended up as the notable match-losing innings. He might have been the one keeping the run rate afloat while Sharjeel stuttered, but fell away badly at the death when a power-hitter’s presence might have propelled Karachi more than the 196 they ended up with.Islamabad responded by attacking from the outset, spearheaded by Alex Hales and Faheem Ashraf in the Powerplay, and even as the wickets fell, they continued to go after their shots, refusing to allow the asking rate get out of hand. An invaluable 94-run stand between Iftikhar Ahmed and Hussain Talat held things together through the middle overs, and while Karachi were never out of the game until the penultimate over, they never quite found an effective way of building any sort of pressure on the chasing side.It was a contest defined by, at times, shocking bowling and fielding, especially by Islamabad, who took no fewer than three wickets off what ended up being no-balls, and dropped three further catches, not taking a wicket until the 19th over. By that time, Karachi’s opening partnership had put on 176, the highest stand in PSL history. But Karachi would be equally profligate with the ball, leaking 14 extras. Mohammad Amir’s inaccuracy at the death would prove to be the final nail. Asif Ali smacked a knee-high full toss he bowled for six to level up the scores, and Iftikhar did the honours with five balls to spare.Star of the day
This man was almost nailed on to wind up in the column below – with the multiple dropped catches in the field – but by far the most significant reason Islamabad even got close in this game was a whirlwind of a cameo from Hales. Imad Wasim and Amir had helped Karachi put Islamabad against the wall before the chase had truly begun with the wickets of Phil Salt and Shadab Khan. But Hales’ approach to Aamer Yamin’s first – and, inevitably, only – over produced the first incipient signs that a remarkable chase was on. Aided by a no-ball, almost inevitably, Hales would go on to produce the most expensive over in the history of the PSL. Five fours and a six would help Islamabad get 29 off it, and suddenly, the asking rate was in control, and much of the Powerplay still remained.The opener was off and away, and played with the sort of abandon that fetched him such success in the Big Bash League, racing along to 46 off 21 before Waqas Maqsood finally got rid of him. But it wasn’t before he’d helped Islamabad plunder 77 off the Powerplay; Karachi, by comparison, had managed just 33. What might have been a rout would end up as a sensationally dramatic victory, and Hales was at its heart.Miss of the day
Sharjeel had struggled for any rhythm until Shadab brought himself in for his second over. He might have been unlucky that Sharjeel’s first swipe off him didn’t end up down long-on’s throat, but that was just the beginning of a contest that was less match, more fever dream for the Islamabad captain. He would follow that up with three abysmal balls that Sharjeel would put away for sixes much more decisively. Shadab lost any confidence he might have had after that, never to even consider bringing himself back on for another over even as the pacers offered full tosses and free hits like they were going out of fashion.When he came out to bat, he was beaten all ends up by an Amir inswinger at pace – his bat was nowhere near – and sent on his way for a golden duck. It was just the second time the allrounder has been dismissed off his first delivery, and he’d sent down his most expensive spell on the same day. His side might have sneaked home, but the memories from the day are more likely bitter than sweet for the Islamabad captain.Honourable mention
After an explosive start to his PSL career in the first game where Mohammad Waseem took three wickets, the 19-year-old backed it up with an equally stellar second outing. There might not be anything in the wickets column, but forced to come on and bowl his final two overs when Sharjeel was at his destructive best, Wasim allowed just six runs off his last over. The two overs either side of his, bowled by Faheem and Hasan Ali, leaked 17 and 13 respectively. In that context, four overs for 30 runs seems little less than heroic. Islamabad have some superstars in their line-up, but this emerging player truly appears to be living up to the name.