Tag Futebol

Neither player entered tour bubble ahead of Sri Lanka series after two Covid positives detected

Firdose Moonda22-Dec-2020Beuran Hendricks and Keegan Petersen have been withdrawn from South Africa’s Test squad to play Sri Lanka.Neither player entered the tour bubble when the playing group convened on Saturday, after two positive Covid-19 results were detected last week. CSA cannot, for reasons of doctor-patient confidentiality, name who the infected players are.The other 17 squad members have tested negative on all three occasions, thus making the environment bio-secure. South Africa will not add any players to the squad for the two-Test series which starts on Boxing Day.Having cleared three rounds of testing, South Africa can begin training as a full squad on Wednesday after having staggered sessions so far. They will also no longer be confined to their hotel rooms at the Irene Country Club and can use communal areas, with social distancing rules in place, but will not come into contact with Sri Lanka, who are housed at the same venue. In addition, they will not be permitted to leave the venue except to travel to SuperSport Park and the Wanderers for the duration of the series.Related

Armed with a stronger seam attack, Sri Lanka look to beat the odds again

Should South Africa go short at SL's batsmen? Nortje isn't sure

Karunaratne on matching South Africa's seam bowling – "We're about equal if you look at pace"

The Galle demolition to the Durban miracle – Sri Lanka's recent dominance over South Africa

Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa set to go ahead as planned

Cricket South Africa have enforced stricter controls for this series than they did for the England tour – in which players were allowed to play golf at various courses around the Western Cape province – both at the behest of Sri Lanka Cricket and because the England tour was unsuccessful.Three South African players tested positive for Covid-19 – one before the tour, one after entering the bubble and one after the T20 series – as did two hotel staff, and the one-day series was postponed. Two members of England’s touring party also tested positive although, on verification, their results were confirmed as false positives. South Africa, who are also due to host Australia this summer, need the Sri Lanka series to take place without incident to get their international hosting back on track.For that reason, they pushed the final round of domestic first-class matches, which were due to start last Sunday, into next year following positive cases in two of the three matches that began on December 13. Hendricks, Petersen and eight other players in the national squad were part of two of those games.At SuperSport Park, the match between the Titans and the Dolphins was called off after the first day because a Dolphins’ players tested positive while in Bloemfontein, the game between the Knights and the Lions continued despite a Lions’ player testing positive on day three. Several more Dolphins and Lions players were also found to be infected.The impact has been felt by the national squad who have lost at least one certain starter for the Sri Lanka Tests. Hendricks, who has only played one Test, would most likely have been the third seamer in the absence of the injured Kagiso Rabada. Hendricks debuted at the Wanderers last summer and took six wickets in the match, including 5 for 64 in the second innings, and is familiar with conditions up-country, having made the Lions his domestic home. Instead, South Africa will rely on Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje for experience and could hand a debut to Glenton Stuurman, Migael Pretorius or Lutho Sipamla.Petersen was less likely to play than Hendricks but, after three summers averaging over 50 domestically, he made a strong case to be considered at No.3. He should also have been the next man in line after being a non-playing member of the squad last season but will have to make way for one of Sarel Erwee, Raynard van Tonder or Kyle Verreynne for now.Updated squad: Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, Glenton Stuurman, Sarel Erwee, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne, Migael Pretorius, Dwaine Pretorius, Lutho Sipamla, Raynard van Tonder

“Test wins never comes easy, you’ve still got to earn it,” says captain Quinton de Kock

Firdose Moonda29-Dec-2020South Africa have won more competitive Test matches against more competitive teams than this Sri Lankan one – albeit that their fight was dimmed through injury and not fault of their own – but they will still savour this victory like it was one of the best ones.”A Test win never comes easy. You’ve still got to earn it,” Quinton de Kock, their temporary Test captain, said. ” We fought hard with the bat. It was very difficult. It still feels good. Our bowlers came back really nicely in the second innings. They showed what proper Test cricket is all about.”ALSO READ: Mulder, Sipamla impress as SA bowlers seal innings winAfter the South African attack conceded the highest score by a Sri Lankan team in this country in the first innings, they rallied to dismiss Sri Lanka for 180 to secure an innings win. But this match was won by the batting line-up, who scored the most runs in an innings at SuperSport Park, and ended 15 months without an individual batsman scoring a hundred.Former captain Faf du Plessis was the player to break the century drought and fell one run short of his first double-ton in what he called a statement innings to disprove the doubters. du Plessis is the most experienced batsman in the team and is showing no signs of slowing down, instead setting as an example for the newcomers in the squad.”It’s important to have senior guys in the team, guys who are experienced. We always talk about youngsters coming through but you need to find that balance between experience and youngsters,” de Kock said. “Faf came out and showed his leadership out there. He has been in a lot of pressure situations in his life and there was no better person to handle it.”Similarly, du Plessis’ was one of the people de Kock turned to when he needed guidance in the field in his first red-ball match as captain.Although de Kock has led South Africa in shorter formats, he had never previously captained a first-class game, but found the experience of the longer format comfortable because he had plenty of support.”It was a little bit easier. You have more time to think than in the other formats,” he said. “It helps that I have good leaders in my team. When I do need help, I can go to them for advice – the likes of Dean [Elgar], Rassie [van der Dussen], Temba [Bavuma], Faf – they are a big help out there when I need them.”I’ve never captained a first-class game but I have been next to Faf most of my Test career and I have learnt a lot of stuff from them so I felt very much at home. It was pretty simple out there.”de Kock did not make any obvious errors, though some may question aspects of his decision-making in the first innings such as giving debutant Lutho Sipamla the new ball. Sipamla conceded heavily in his first spell, with three overs costing 28, but improved as the innings went on and finished with 4 for 76 in the innings and six wickets in the match to show that South Africa’s fast-bowling depth is still there.”It was just Test match debut and nerves. That’s all it came down to. We spoke to him and he came back really nicely. The way he bowled in the game is the way he has been bowling in the nets. That’s what we knew he could do,” de Kock said. “It was a great comeback from him with some great character shown. He’s an opening bowler on his debut Test, obviously there were going to be a bit of nerves but once he came back we saw what he can do.”The same can be said for much of the South African team, who had not played Test cricket since January and have endured one of their toughest winters, shrouded in administrative chaos and cultural wars. When this Test began, South Africa’s biggest opposition was from sections of the public who either objected to them raising a fist to show support for Black Lives Matter or who felt they should rather have taken a knee. By the time the match ended, the race debate had quietened (for now) and the old adage that the results will give people something else to focus on for a while came to the fore.So while South Africa have won more competitive Test matches than this, they had reason to celebrate the same. And they did.”Go have a beer,” was Mark Boucher’s instruction to de Kock as they changed seats for the post-match press conference. About two hours after the final wicket fell the whole team was doing that, with a fines meeting well underway complete with applause and singing. A victory is a victory, and South Africa will most definitely enjoy this one.

علق وائل جمعة، نجم الأهلي السابق، على مستوى الأحمر في الشوط الأول أمام شباب بلوزداد، ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وانتهى الشوط الأول بالتعادل بهدف لكل فريق ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع.. فيديو | وسام أبو علي يسجل هدف تعادل الأهلي أمام شباب بلوزداد

وقال وائل جمعة على قناة “بي إن سبورتس”: “شوط سيء من الأهلي يعكس المرحلة الراهنة والوضع غير المستقر، أخطاء كولر ظهرت في المباراة بسبب سوء مستوى اللاعبين. المدرب الجيد هو الذي يجيد استخدام اللاعبين في أماكنهم، وهذا لم نره”.

وتابع: “الأهلي سيء على كل المستويات، سواء من حيث الروح أو القتالية، وكل هذا لم نره،  معنى أن الفريق يمرر بالعرض هو أنه لا يستطيع أن يخترق”.

وأضاف: “عندما يجد المدرب أن الفريق لا يعرف إرسال الكرة للأمام، فلا بد أن يتدخل من خلال التغييرات والدفع بإمام عاشور”.

وواصل: “هدف الأهلي جاء بالصدفة، من تمريرة خاطئة من حسين الشحات اصطدمت بلاعب شباب بلوزداد ووصلت إلى وسام الذي سجل، الأهلي سيء على كل المستويات”.

The Red Devils' season is falling apart already, and the blame must be placed at their delusional manager's door

"[Manchester] United are going backwards. They are rock bottom right now," former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp told after Tottenham's 3-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday. "It's embarrassing. A club of this stature shouldn't be producing performances like that."

Redknapp's analysis was almost flawless, save for one key detail. United hit rock bottom nearly a year ago; this was just the latest horror entry in Erik ten Hag's ever-growing Hall of Shame. On October 3, 2023, Galatasaray secured their first Champions League win on English soil to leave the Red Devils bottom of their group with a record of six defeats from 10 games across all competitions at the start of the season.

Most clubs would have sacked Ten Hag at that point, but he's inexplicably held onto his post for another 12 months as United have continued to lurch from one disaster to the next. The INEOS group, who completed a minority takeover at the club in December, did interview potential replacements for Ten Hag after the Red Devils slumped to their worst-ever Premier League finish in May, including ex-Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, but couldn't agree terms with any of them, which led Sir Jim Ratcliffe to declaring that "the coach isn't the central issue".

Ten Hag was given a new two-year contract he simply did not deserve. And, inevitably, just two months into the 2024-25 campaign, fans and pundits across the country are calling for that agreement to be ripped up. INEOS have to listen this time if they want to stop United's slide; they've become a laughing stock under Ten Hag, and nothing will change until he is put out of his misery.

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty/GOAL'No identity, no culture'

The Red Devils' third Premier League defeat of the 2024-25 season leaves them languishing down in 12th in the table, six points adrift of the top four after just six games. That position is not at all misleading; United have been playing like a bottom-half club for some time now, and Tottenham were just the latest team to make Old Trafford their own personal playground for 90 minutes.

Spurs took the lead inside three minutes after Micky van de Ven was allowed to run around 55 yards unchallenged before squaring the ball for Brennan Johnson to score the easiest goal of his career. There was no reaction from the hosts, who could barely string two passes together and neglected to press as a team once again.

Bruno Fernandes' red card in the 42nd minute was a decisive blow, but Tottenham were already well on their way to a comprehensive victory. “It was an absolutely disgusting performance in that first half in effort, quality, everything you want in a football team," United legend Gary Neville said after commentating on the game for .

Former Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker went a step further, telling : "What can be said about them that has not been said before? They have no identity, there is no culture, and none of it represents what Manchester United once were as a club. That is the scary thing."

United's display was "disgusting", in both halves, but it wasn't a surprise. There have never been any clear patterns of play under Ten Hag and the players aren't doing the basics in or out or possession. Any half-decent team can play through the disjointed Red Devils. The word "scary" doesn't quite cut it; 'embarrassing' is more appropriate at this point.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRefusal to take responsibility

In his post-match press conference, Ten Hag addressed the mounting speculation over his future, telling reporters: "I am not thinking about this. We have to make some improvement in [the overarching] organisation, we still have some ­injuries, we need some time. We are all on one page or in one boat together, the ownership, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern."

How much time does he want?! We're fast approaching the half-way stage of Ten Hag's third season at the helm. There is no excuse for the lack of progress United have made in the last two-and-a-half years.

Ten Hag did admit he "has to look in the mirror as well" after his side's dismal draw with Twente in their Europa League opener last week, but they were empty words, because he would later insist that United are "on the right pathway". There has been no evidence of that since an all-too brief resurgence after the 2022 World Cup that saw the Red Devils flirt with a potential title challenge.

reporter Patrick Davidson asked Ten Hag if "familiar failings" are holding United back after the Spurs defeat, to which he responded: "I don’t think… I’m not aware what you are thinking. What do you mean?" Davidson then added: "I mean turning the ball over when you’re trying to play out, I mean the press not looking entirely coordinated…"

Instead of taking the chance to take some proper responsibility, Ten Hag continued to stumble over his words. "The press was no good in the first half, that I agree with," he said. "But how we concede some counter-attacks after we counter, we make very bad decision-making, we had a lot of space and that’s then also, I would say, the form of the day."

The United boss is still suggesting that the players are failing to execute his plan, ignoring the fact his plan – whatever that may be – is inherently flawed.

GettyTerrible transfers

Ten Hag has spent over £600 million ($805m) on 15 permanent signings since moving to the club from Ajax. Lisandro Martinez is probably the only one who can be considered a success, but even 'The Butcher' has had his share of poor performances, including against Tottenham at the weekend.

Antony has proven to be a complete waste of money at £85m ($114m), registering only 17 goal contributions across 84 games while looking physically well below the required standard for a Premier League player. United also blew £70m ($94m) on past-his-peak Real Madrid legend Casemiro, whose body has started to let him down at 32.

Elsewhere, persistent injury problems have prevented £135m ($181m) duo Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount from making any significant impact, and £48m ($64m) goalkeeper Andre Onana has been wildly inconsistent between the sticks. And then we come to the summer arrivals.

Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have settled in reasonably well, but they were both little more than back-up players at Bayern Munich, and United's £60m ($76.6m) investment was too steep. Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, might prove to be a snip in the long run at £36m ($46m), but it's already clear that the ex-Bologna forward is ill-equipped to solve the Red Devils' problems in front of goal.

Manuel Ugarte was the last man through the door as Paris Saint-Germain sanctioned his sale for £51m ($68m), and the Uruguayan made his first Premier League start against Spurs. It did not go well. Ugarte certainly didn't look like the accomplished ball-winner he's been built up to be as Ange Postecoglou's team dominated the midfield battle from the first minute.

Ten Hag has been free to build a squad in his own image, but United are still a complete mess. How can he be trusted heading into the January window with such a damning record? It's staggering that he's been allowed to have so much control for this long.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyInexcusable favouritism

Ten Hag's refusal to drop his favourites has also been a huge factor in United's downfall. Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Diogo Dalot are the three players who have racked up the most minutes during the Dutchman's tenure, with all of them practically guaranteed starting roles even when performing well below expectations.

It's true that Fernandes was the best of a bad bunch last season, but he's been nothing but a disruptive presence this term. The Portuguese is misplacing passes, rushing his shots and ruining United's shape while transmitting negativity to the rest of the team with his poor body language. Fernandes shouldn't keep being protected just because he's the captain. None of the risks he takes on the ball are paying off anymore and he's leaving United exposed defensively by constantly straying out of position.

Still, at least you could never question Fernandes' effort levels; the same cannot be said for Rashford. Since scoring 30 goals for the first time in his career in 2022-23, Rashford has been pretty much a complete waste of space. United fans have even turned against the academy graduate, with one even calling Rashford a "Championship player" on social media in response to him giving the ball away cheaply in the build-up to Tottenham's first goal on Sunday. On current form, Rashford wouldn't get in the starting XI at any other top club in Europe, but Ten Hag is still praying he will magically become the Red Devils' talisman again.

Dalot was the man who should shoulder most of the blame for Johnson's opener against United, though. He left the Spurs forward completely unmarked to tap home at the back post, never bothering to break into anything beyond a light jog despite the obvious danger. It was vintage Dalot, who has always been a poor defender and doesn't offer much going the other way, either.

Ten Hag is ensuring the continuation of mediocre standards by sticking with these players despite their obvious short-falls. He's also alienating those stuck on the bench waiting for their opportunity, potentially creating a discord in the dressing room because he's too stubborn to pick the team based on merit.

Derby County will hope they can make the jump-up to the Championship look effortless rather than a struggle, with Paul Warne eager to kick on from the dug-out too after finding the second-tier troubling previously in his managerial career.

With three relegations from the level on his managerial CV, the ex-Rotherham United boss will pray that his time with the Rams in the unforgiving division is different.

Derby will be abundantly aware also that improving the squad will stand them in better stead at staying put in the league, with the transfer rumour mill pointing in the direction that the attacking spots could be bolstered soon with this exciting new addition.

It would put a nail in Dwight Gayle's short-lived Derby career, with the 34-year-old scoring a handful of goals to play his part in Warne's men achieving promotion before injuries got in the way.

Derby looking at Championship star

According to a report by Sheffield Star journalist Joe Crann, the League One promotion winners are planning an ambitious swoop for Sheffield Wednesday star Josh Windass this summer to add quality to their ranks ahead of the step-up.

Derby aren't lone suitors looking at the 30-year-old attacker, however, with the likes of Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Hull City all preparing to lodge bids for the Owls gem with his contract expiring next month.

Scoring a screamer against Blackburn Rovers for Danny Rohl's men in the midst of a winning run that saw an unbelievable survival act become reality, Windass will now be assessing his options ahead of next campaign.

Derby would send out a statement to their new division if they could get a deal over the line for the mercurial Wednesday talent, which would also see them get over the heartbreak of not being able to secure a move for Owls man Michael Smith in the January transfer window.

Capable of playing both as a centre-forward, or as an attacking midfielder, Windass could also be viewed as an upgrade on Gayle with his recent heroics netting crucial goals for a team lingering around the Championship drop-zone sticking out.

Why Windass would be better than Dwight Gayle

Although Gayle previously had a reputation for being a lethal finisher in the second tier, with 62 goals bagged in the competitive league from 145 games in total, the ex-Stoke City man endured a torrid few seasons at the level with the Potters before moving to Derbyshire.

Gayle only helped himself to an abysmal three goals from 50 games at Stoke, so Windass' coolness in front of goal even when the tension was building in a dramatic bid to avoid dropping down to League One means he is the more reliable option out of the two in the here and now.

Season

Games played

Goals

Assists

2023/24

25

6

2

2020/21

41

9

6

2019/20

9

3

0

Half of Windass' strikes came right at the end of the campaign, with the ex-Accrington Stanley man living up to his billing as being a potential "game-changer" which was dished out to him by his manager Rohl way before this sequence of crunch games.

Warne will view Windass as a sensible purchase to make, therefore, if Derby find themselves staring the Championship trapdoor in the face next campaign.

Notching up 12 goals from the centre-forward spot during his time in South Yorkshire too, Windass will offer the Rams a fresher option away from the likes of James Collins and Conor Washington up top.

With failed past transfer target Smith bagging two fewer strikes this season when compared to Windass' numbers, the 30-year-old – who will be available on a free – should be at the very top of Derby's shopping list if they want to mean business after promotion.

Lionel Messi made yet more history with Inter Miami, after scoring a brace on his return from injury against the Philadelphia Union.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Messi inspires Miami to 3-1 winLuis Suarez also on scoresheetMessi sets new MLS recordWHAT HAPPENED?

Inter Miami have confirmed that Messi has set yet another MLS record after scoring twice in their 3-1 win over Union on Saturday evening. Those two goals took him to 14 goals and 14 assists for the regular season but also set a new record, as he became the fastest MLS player to reach 15 goals and 15 assists.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementIMAGOTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi set the record within 19 games, breaking the previous best set by Sebastian Giovinco, who managed to reach the same mark in 29 fixtures. Elsewhere, Luis Suarez, who scored Miami's third goal, set a record as he scored his 17th goal of the campaign, the most of any Inter Miami player in a single MLS regular season, bettering Gonzalo Higuain's record of 16 in 2022.

DID YOU KNOW?

Miami have been in remarkable form this season and are currently top of the Eastern Conference with 62 points. They are 10 points clear of second-placed Cincinnati.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

USA Today SportsWHAT NEXT?

Inter Miami play Atlanta United on Thursday in MLS before a clash with New York City next weekend. Messi will hope to make more history.

Sullivan, just 14, scored a long-range stunner in the Philadelphia Union II's MLS NEXT Pro clash with Columbus Crew 2

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Sullivan scores stunning goal
• 14-year-old made MLS debut earlier this summer
• Bound for Manchester City when he turns 18

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sullivan started Union II's match with Crew 2 on Monday, and it didn't take him long to make his mark. With the game still scoreless in the 29th minute, Sullivan unleashed a long-range goal, giving his side the lead in style.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• USA Today Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The goal is the 14-year-old's fourth of the MLS NEXT Pro season. Sullivan also contributed three assists so far this campaign. In addition, Sullivan made his MLS debut earlier this summer, becoming the youngest player to ever play in the league by smashing Freddy Adu's youth age record.

  “It was like… I've never been on the field with noise like that,” Sullivan told GOAL earlier this summer. "Obviously, I've been to European Games where the stands are cool and all, but especially hearing it … it was pretty cool. And having my name being the chant was even better.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• USA Today Sports
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR SULLIVAN?

  The American teenager already has his bright future mapped out, too, as he is set to join Manchester City when he turns 18. For now, though, Sullivan is continuing to push for more MLS minutes – and goals such as Monday's will help his case.

  "The future is always pretty exciting and nice to look at," he said this summer. "But as of right now, all my focus is on Philadelphia and making a playoff spot."

The outgoing captain says ‘there’s one less thing to worry about’ now

Mohammad Isam07-Mar-2020In his last ODI as captain of Bangladesh, Mashrafe Mortaza wanted to make sure he did not slip up even once, being aware that players are “vulnerable” to mistakes when they are ending a stint. Mortaza signed off as captain in style, leading Bangladesh to their 50th win under him in ODIs with a 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe in Sylhet. After Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal amassed big hundreds, Mortaza provided the first breakthrough in Bangladesh’s defence of 322 and remained in control of his emotions throughout the game.At one point he even allowed Mustafizur Rahman to keep a slip in the dying stages of the game, resulting in a catch the next ball. His open faith in his players, young and old, was one of the hallmarks of his captaincy.After the game ended, Iqbal picked him up on his shoulders for a lap of honour. The Bangladesh players wore special jerseys with his name and number at the back, and “thank you captain” written in the front. They presented him with a special edition jersey as well as a commemorative plaque. There are also strong rumours that Mortaza’s jersey may be retired by the BCB soon.After all the formalities, Mortaza cut a relaxed figure in the press conference, particularly candid when speaking about his experience as one of the most important figures in Bangladesh, for more than five years.”Now I am feeling relaxed,” he said. “There’s one less thing to worry about. It was a big responsibility. Usually at this time, some feel good some feel bad. I have mixed feelings too. To be honest, I am happy that I could finish well as a captain. I also ended on a win.”Our main focus was winning the game. We planned and thought about the match. We knew that everything would have been spoiled had we lost. We had a big score but I didn’t want to make a mistake today. When a person announces that something has ended, he is vulnerable to making mistakes. He knows there’s no one to answer to afterwards. I was really focused on not making any mistakes. Everyone assumed that this was a straightforward win, but I wanted to finish well.”Mortaza took four wickets in the three ODIs against Zimbabwe, a stark improvement from his last campaign – the 2019 World Cup – when he took just one wicket in 56 overs across eight matches. He said that wickets have obviously given him some confidence, and he wants to keep performing.Raton Gomes/BCB”I had a really bad World Cup, and the team struggled too,” he said. “I have turned around a bit. It is about time that I regained the confidence. Bowlers get confidence through wickets, notwithstanding how we bowl.”I have to perform. It will be up to the selectors. A player has to play well, and then he becomes the captain, which itself is a huge pressure. But now as a player, I have a lot of time to think about myself which will help me a lot.”Mortaza downplayed his performance as a captain and said that a Bangladesh captain has to deal with a lot more off-the-field issues with players. “I never evaluated myself, I think I am an average captain,” he said. “I have never given it any thought. For a captain in Bangladesh, though, there’s a lot more work off the field with players. Once you are in the field, there isn’t as much to do.”But players are disturbed in many ways: personal problems, being out of form, not going on well with the coach, fitness problems. Everyone has a different struggle. The captain has to be with the player during those times. The captain has to take responsibility of the whole team, regardless of the team’s result.”Mortaza also reiterated that a senior player should be given the ODI captaincy now, as he would have the prerequisite experience to handle high-pressure situations on and off the field.”Captaincy was a big responsibility but whoever comes in next, he has to be three times more sensible and thoughtful. It will be easy when he wins, but when you lose there is a lot of pressure from the media, board and spectators.”I have done it for six years, so I feel relaxed now. Which is why I said that one of the senior cricketers should take over the captaincy. They can face the media, and have played for a long time. They can better handle pressure.”Mortaza was hopeful that Bangladesh will keep improving beyond his stint as the ODI captain. He repeated what he had said at his last press conference in the 2019 World Cup, that with many of the current young players reaching a peak in four years time, Bangladesh could make it to the last four of the next World Cup.”It is hard to say but I believe Bangladesh will do well in the 2023 World Cup. I think I said it in the last press conference in England, after the Pakistan game, that we will play in the semi-final of the next World Cup. Most of the young players will have the peak of their career during that time, so there’s no reason that we cannot reach that far in Asia.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Quem esperava o Corinthians dando um espetáculo em Salvador no último domingo, certamente não vive na mesma realidade que nós mortais. Levando isso em conta, a equipe teve uma atuação honesta, dentro de suas limitações e mostra sinais de que, em algum momento, pode se tornar um time de verdade. No entanto, para isso, precisará contar com a participação ofensiva de Fagner.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO: Sylvinho ameniza pontuação baixa do Corinthians no Brasileiro: ‘Preocupação é construir o trabalho’Vídeo20/06/2021CorinthiansSylvinho elogia Vitinho e a evolução defensiva de Vital no Corinthians: ‘Ele sabe que é preciso fazer’Corinthians20/06/2021CorinthiansChuteira verde? Torcida do Corinthians ‘pega no pé’ de Jô e diretoria multa atacanteCorinthians20/06/2021

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
>Relembre o desempenho do Corinthians no Brasileirão por pontos corridos

Diante do Bahia, o Timão se mostrou bastante organizado, principalmente em comparação com os jogos anteriores. Seria mentiroso da minha parte afirmar que o time melhorou, ou que está bom, mas é inegável que houve uma evolução nesse quesito. Apesar de o Bahia ter feito uma partida terrível, os corintianos foram bem seguros defensivamente e muito compactos.

O problema mesmo aparece quando a bola vai do meio para frente, por conta da pobreza de criatividade do time, que para piorar a situação não tinha seu melhor jogador de ataque: Gustavo Mosquito, que perdeu o pai na última semana. Todos sabem que um sistema defensivo com Fagner, Gil, Cássio, Gabriel e Fábio Santos, uma hora vai se acertar e esse caminho parece traçado.

Se na defesa a tarefa é mais simples pelas peças disponíveis, no ataque o buraco e mais profundo, já que não há um leque de opções para o setor ofensivo e a busca é por alternativas para suprir essas lacunas. Tanto é que as jogadas partem de Cantillo, invertendo para Ramiro, com infiltrações de Roni e Gabriel, ou seja, somente volantes citados na construção que exemplifiquei.

Ainda que Jô tem trazido uma maior retenção de bola no ataque, maior poder no jogo aéreo, proporcionando que time ganhasse segundas bolas, ele pouco acrescentou perto do gol. Era ele o jogador mais ofensivo da equipe escalada por Sylvinho, especialmente no primeiro tempo. Na segunda etapa, isso mudou, já que Fagner passou a atuar muito mais do meio para frente.

O lateral, desde a chegada de Sylvinho, tem sido utilizado mais “preso” na defesa, já que o treinador considera essa sua melhor qualidade. No entanto, fica evidente o quanto Fagner muda as partidas quando tem mais liberdade para atacar. Contra o Bahia, ele foi essencial em três grandes oportunidades, duas com assistências e uma chutando de longe, exigindo grande defesa.

Dessa forma, apesar da preferência de Sylvinho, o Corinthians está em uma escassez tão grande de talentos ofensivos, que não dá para desperdiçar essa qualidade ofensiva de Fagner. Gostem ou não, ele é o melhor lateral-direito do país, um dos raros com poder suficiente para fazer a diferença em jogos por aqui. O crescimento do Timão passa por Fagner no setor de ataque.

continua após a publicidade

England coach must weigh up whether to pick a spinner for the second Test in Cape Town

George Dobell in Centurion30-Dec-2019

Chris Silverwood has insisted England “will not be afraid” to take tough selection decisions if necessary.Silverwood, the England coach, will have to weigh up whether or not his side should pick a spinner for the second Test in Cape Town starting on January 3. If they do, it could leave him and Joe Root, the two men who will select the team for that Test, with a tricky decision over which seamer to leave out.With Sam Curran having been the pick of the bowlers in the first innings and Jofra Archer having taken a five-wicket haul in the second, that may leave Silverwood and Root with the tough decision between selecting only one of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.ALSO READ: Silverwood defends Root’s decision to bowl first despite heavy defeatBut while Silverwood said he would not shy away from such a selection – and accepted that England’s bowling plans had gone “off-piste” for a while on the third morning – he underlined his faith in his senior players.”In Jimmy and Stuart we have a wealth of experience and we’d be really stupid not to take that into consideration every game,” Silverwood said. “It would be naïve of us not to do that.”But equally you do want your youngsters to come through and if we’re going to make room for a spinner then we’ve got to have a look at that.”We have to look at which seamers will be right for that particular pitch and choose from there. If there is a big decision to be made, we’re not afraid to make it.”We started off planning the bowl at the top of off [stump] on the third morning. Then the tailenders frustrated us and we went off-piste a bit at that point. We formulated a new plan and that worked well. We’ve got to make sure that when we’re bowling we’re very clear on what we have to do and we stick to the plan.”Any decision over Broad and Anderson is complicated by the context of the first Test. Broad was recovering from illness and will probably be back to full fitness next week, while Anderson was playing his first first-class game for many months and, again, may feel he is better placed for next week’s game.It is far from certain England will select a spinner in Cape Town. Spin was almost irrelevant in the last Test on the ground – South Africa picked an all-seam attack – and, with Jack Leach unlikely to be available, England may keep faith with the all-seam attack which claimed all 20 wickets in a Test for them the first time this winter.Dom Bess and Jack Leach could come into contention for the second Test•Getty Images

Silverwood also promised to keep faith with Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler. Neither man has made a Test century this year – Buttler has made just one in his 38 Tests and is averaging 25.10 this year with one half-century in his last 14 innings; Bairstow is averaging just 18.55 with one half-century in his last 16 innings – but Silverwood’s underlying confidence in them remains high.”We’ve just got to keep backing them as we know they’re both very fine players,” Silverwood said. “They’re an asset to a team.”Jonny wasn’t in the team going into New Zealand, but he did a lot of work behind the scenes. He was in Potchefstroom and then Cape Town with the fast-bowling group, facing the bowlers and working on his game. He worked particularly hard and earned his way back into this team.”He got his chance when Ollie Pope went down ill and took over the gloves when Jos went down. So he’s a great asset to have, somebody like that who can take over the gloves and is a fine player.””We know Jos is a fine player and we know he can hurt people. We’ve got to keep giving him the opportunity to do that.”Jos in in a position where he will sometimes have to marshal the tail as well. That’s the unique challenge of batting at No. 7. But equally he can go out there are really hurt people at times. At the moment, we feel he’s best suited to that position.”England travel to Cape Town on New Year’s Eve and will train at Newlands on New Year’s Day.