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It feels like an absolute age since Thomas Tuchel was first announced as the England manager.

Truth be told, it is an age. On October 16th 2024, a year ago now, he was unveiled in front of the press.

This has been something entirely different for the German. He’s never managed at international level and since he began the job, he has still only managed eight games. It really is a struggle to gather any momentum or know truly what his Three Lions are capable of until the World Cup kicks off next summer.

Things started off pretty slowly in all honesty. Tuchel’s England laboured to a 2-0 win over Albania in his first game before beating Latvia 3-0.

His second international break at the beginning of the summer was even worse. They secured just a 1-0 victory over Andorra and then lost 3-1 to Senegal.

Fortunately, things have got better since then, putting five past Serbia in September and demolishing Wales 3-0 inside 20 minutes in October’s break.

Regardless of those results, England were always going to be one of the favourites in America next summer. But, the age-old question, who will be on the plane?

We asked AI to put together what they think Tuchel’s 26-man squad will look like and here was the outcome…

1 The goalkeepers

There are no prizes for guessing who AI reckons will be Tuchel’s no.1 next summer. That honour goes to Jordan Pickford who has cemented himself as one of his country’s finest goalkeepers in recent years.

The Everton man has been to every major tournament (4) since the World Cup in 2018 and according to AI, will be joined by Newcastle duo Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope. Ramsdale hasn’t appeared in any of Tuchel’s squad lists yet so will need to find a way to play some football before the tournament kicks off next summer.

At the moment, he is behind Pope in the pecking order but there’s no doubting that he’s a fine ‘keeper, someone who was seen as the future no.1 when at Arsenal.

Full list of goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale & Pope.

2 The defenders

AI anticipates that Tuchel will take four out-and-out centre-backs to the USA next year with John Stones set to partner Marc Guehi at the back, just as they did during Euro 2024.

While denied his move to Liverpool during the summer, Guehi has begun the season in fine form at Crystal Palace and really does look like England’s standout defender.

AI also thinks that AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori could be on the plane, set to earn his first minutes for his country since 2023. Note there is no place for Dan Burn who has been a regular in Tuchel’s first few England camps.

Levi Colwill is currently out with an ACL problem but is expected to be back for the latter stages of the season, potentially giving him the opportunity to make the squad.

At full-back, England are blessed with options. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento and Reece James have been picked on the right-hand side. James offers strong versatility and could be fielded at centre-back if required.

At left-back, there are places on the plane for Manchester City’s Rico Lewis and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. The England boss recently hinted that Lewis-Skelly would need to start playing more to earn his place in America.

Full list of defenders: Guehi, Stones, Tomori, Colwill, Alexander-Arnold, Livramento, James, Lewis-Skelly, Lewis.

3 The midfielders

To the joy of most supporters around the country, AI thinks that Jordan Henderson will miss out on this occasion. The Brentford midfielder has been recalled to the fray under Tuchel but despite his experience and leadership, could actually miss out.

There is also no place for Elliot Anderson who has impressed so much since earning his first England caps during the September international break. Perhaps he is going to pay the price for Nottingham Forest’s poor run of form.

Regulars such as Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze are included while there is a place for Jude Bellingham who was left out of the camp in October, allegedly due to fitness concerns and a lack of minutes for Real Madrid.

They are joined by some wildcard options in the form of Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton who gets in ahead of Anderson to fill the no.6 spot.

Kobbie Mainoo also makes the cut. Has Ruben Amorim been sacked? It’s likely if the youngster is playing enough minutes to be in the reckoning. The last name is arguably the biggest surprise of the lot with Everton’s James Garner on the plane. To his credit, he has started the season well under David Moyes, registering a goal and an assist in his first seven outings.

Full list of midfielders: Rice, Bellingham, Gallagher, Mainoo, Eze, Wharton, Jones, Garner.

4 The forwards

To the surprise of nobody, Harry Kane is the first name on the squad list. The England skipper is one of the best in the world after taking his game to a new level in 2025/26, putting his name firmly in the conversation to win the Ballon d’Or. Why? Well, in his first ten games of the ongoing campaign, he had scored a mind-boggling 18 goals.

Euro 2016

4

0

World Cup 2018

6

6

Euro 2020

7

4

World Cup 2022

5

2

Euro 2024

7

3

Joining him will be Ollie Watkins, who netted against the Welsh in October and Marcus Rashford who has rediscovered himself at Barcelona this season.

Further options include Bukayo Saka, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon.

Remarkably, there is no place for Chelsea star Cole Palmer. Currently injured at the moment, will he still be feeling the effects of that come next summer? There’s no room for Man City superstar Phil Foden either.

Full list of forwards: Kane, Watkins, Rashford, Saka, Gordon, Bowen.

His two-month stint includes six first-class matches and potentially ten List A games

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2025Khaleel Ahmed has signed a deal with Essex for the remainder of the County Championship and the entirety of the One-Day Cup. It will be Khaleel’s first foray in County cricket. The two-month stint goes on till late September and includes six first-class games along with eight List A games, which could stretch to ten if Essex progress to the final.Khaleel will join the squad in York and will be available for selection for the County Championship match against Yorkshire starting Sunday.”I have heard a lot about the rich history of the Club, and I’m excited to be part of it and will look to make an immediate impact,” he said. “I’m looking forward to playing at Chelmsford, meeting the loyal Essex Members and fans, and delivering performances they can be proud of.”Related

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Tilak Varma signs a short-term deal with Hampshire

Ruturaj Gaikwad to join Yorkshire for Championship, One-Day Cup

Essex’s director of cricket Chris Silverwood looked forward to the “new dynamic” Khaleel’s left-arm pace adds to the attack.”We were impressed with his performances for India A and firmly believe he can strengthen our already very strong seam attack,” Silverwood said. “As a left-arm seamer, he offers something different and will add a new dynamic to the squad in both the One Day Cup and the County Championship.”Khaleel has taken 15 wickets in 11 ODIs for India at an average of 31.00. He has played 20 first-class games and picked up 56 wickets at an average of 27.67. He was also part of the India A side that took on England Lions in June.Apart from Khaleel, Ishan Kishan (Nottinghamshire), Tilak Varma (Hampshire), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Yorkshire) and Yuzvendra Chahal (Northamptonshire) are the other Indians who have signed County deals.Essex currently sit at No. 8 in division one of the County Championship with one win in eight games.

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany is wary of the challenge posed by Paris Saint-Germain as his side prepare to face the French giants in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Belgian admitted that his team will need to play a "perfect game" in order to beat the defending champions. Meanwhile, PSG boss Luis Enrique is not too worried about Bayern's historic winning streak and remains confident in his team's ability.

Bayern make record-breaking start to the 2025-26 season

The Bavarian giants have been in red-hot form at the start of the 2025-26 season. After winning the DFL-Supercup in the curtain raiser, Kompany's men have been unstoppable, stitching a remarkable and historic 15-game winning streak, breaking AC Milan's long-standing record of 13 straight wins at the start of the 1992-93 season.

Kompany’s Bayern are beginning to resemble the dominant sides of the club’s golden years – relentless, fluid, and ruthlessly efficient. They have already netted 55 goals this season, averaging just under four per game, a testament to their attacking cohesion. Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka look revitalised this season, providing both energy and balance, while the front line – spearheaded by the prolific Harry Kane, who has scored 22 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions, and ably supported by Luis Diaz and Michael Olise – has developed a level of understanding and precision that can unsettle even the most disciplined defences.

AdvertisementAFPKompany wants 'perfect game' from Bayern

However, they face their toughest test of the season yet on Tuesday, as they take on PSG at the Parc des Princes. Speaking to reporters at the pre-match presser on Monday, Kompany said: “You have to believe you can do it. You also need a perfect game, we're playing against the Champions League winners and one of the favourites. It's an extra level of difficulty away from home. We have to believe we'll get our chances.

“I'm really impressed by the team spirit, the ability to win the ball back and the individual quality. At PSG, it's not enough to focus on one player. PSG have always had world-class players. We also have these great qualities – that's why it's such an exciting game.

“Luis Enrique said the same thing. We basically have similar prerequisites. It's not just about dominance. That's what people want to see tomorrow. We've already played each other twice, it was maximum intensity twice. If everyone is fit – which is almost everyone at PSG and us – then it will be a very interesting game.

"For us, a win means a big step towards the top eight – the same goes for PSG. The rivalry arises when clubs meet frequently. What's more, the last few matches have been very exciting for spectators. Hopefully we'll have the game we want tomorrow. But it's difficult to predict because the individual quality of both teams is so high."

Luis Enrique unfazed by Bayern's winning streak

Although Bayern Munich seem like nothing can get in their way at the moment, PSG boss Luis Enrique isn't giving too much importance to numbers. Instead, the former Barcelona coach believes that it will be a game decided by details, a game which they will aim to win with the support of their fans at the Parc des Princes.

"To know who the best team in Europe is, we have to wait until the end of the season," Enrique said on Monday. "We have to wait and see how many trophies the team wins. Right now, they are very strong, they always are. We know how difficult the match will be, but we are ready. There will be similar situations [as the Club World Cup game in July] with the same playing principles. It will be an exciting match.

"Winning 15 games in a row is incredible. They deserve a lot of credit, but tomorrow, at the Parc des Princes, with our supporters and this atmosphere, we have the confidence to try to improve our performance and overcome their pressure. It will be a match similar to the one in the summer."

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Getty Images SportOusmane Dembele's return a huge positive for PSG

Dembele has spent the majority of the 2025-26 season so far on the sidelines. playing just eight games and 400 minutes in total. After suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with France in September, he missed seven straight games, before returning as a substitute against Bayer Leverkusen in October. He has since made two more appearances off the bench and has been named in the starting XI once. 

"There's no risk with any player. But Ousmane is fit," Enrique revealed. "He's done all the training sessions these past few weeks, he's participated in the last two matches, and has improved his physical condition. He'll play tomorrow of course, I don't know how many minutes but he's ready for the competition. We'll decide how long."

Arne Slot gambled on Wednesday when he decided to exclude from his matchday squad the majority of his first-team Liverpool stars.

But the Dutch tactician didn’t gamble with his side’s chances of advancing against Crystal Palace to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. The result, plainly, always felt the probable outcome from the build-up, and Liverpool are now condemned to six losses from seven games.

Liverpool did not have the firepower to overwhelm Oliver Glasner’s side, and so he has rested his heavyweights in the hope that the Reds will see an upswing in form across the crucial coming period of football. Up next: Aston Villa and Manchester City in the Premier League, with the visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League in between.

With that in mind, the decision to field a second-string team was understandable, but there was a dearth of experience, and with the outcome almost pre-determined, unleashing the already under-fire Milos Kerkez has backfired.

Milos Kerkez struggles again

Since September 27th, Liverpool have lost more games than any other side across Europe’s top five leagues. Defensively, it’s been a bit lackadaisical and erratic.

In this regard, summer recruit Kerkez has really struggled. The Hungarian arrived from Bournemouth for £45m in July but is unrecognisable to the Premier League Team of the Year inclusion who inspired such awe on the south coast last year.

Slot and Kerkez will take solace in the 21-year-old having created two chances, finding his man with both attempted crosses and connecting well with the lively Rio Ngumoha. However, he also lost the ball 19 times and won only three of his nine contested duels (data via Sofascore).

It was a display that, once again, left plenty to be desired, and Liverpool still wait to see the left-back form into a worthy part of Slot’s project.

There is, however, time on his side. But the same cannot be said for another part of the Liverpool backline, a player who has been at the heart of a series of transfer sagas in recent years and may now be heading for the axe.

Slot must ditch Liverpool stalwart

Liverpool have undergone plenty of change this year, and there’s a sense that some of the veterans need to stick around. This isn’t true in every case, though.

For so long, Joe Gomez has been a part of the club, instrumental in the rise of Jurgen Klopp and the longest-serving active first-team player – and that even before Trent Alexander-Arnold packed and left.

The 28-year-old was part of a three-man backline in the cup, but Slot’s attempts to negate the Palace threat came undone when Gomez found himself at the epicentre of the deadlock-breaker. It was his loose touch that gifted Ismaila Sarr the first goal of his brace, ever the bane in Liverpool’s side.

Perhaps Gomez’s miscontrol was more unfortunate than clumsy, but there was still a flash of a chance to clear the danger and keep that elusive clean sheet.

Minutes played

90′

Goals conceded

3

Errors made

1

Touches

92

Accurate passes

69/76 (91%)

Possession lost

9x

Recoveries

5

Tackles

1/1

Interceptions

3

Clearances

8

Ground duels

1/3

Aerial duels

3/4

Moreover, Gomez’s errant pass led to the Eagles’ conclusive third strike, and Liverpool World saw it fit thereafter to hand the England international a 5/10 match rating.

After attracting interest from Newcastle United and, curiously, Palace over the past two summer transfer windows, Liverpool may come to regret not cashing in, especially if that had led to the likes of Marc Guehi, who remains under Glasner’s wing but could have been fielded for the hosts on Wednesday.

After such sweeping changes this summer, Liverpool were always going to need time to develop and reshape as a unit. But this feels messy.

We are not seeing a coherent squad ratcheting up the pace, but instead a sour situation that now threatens to spill over if form is not found before Aston Villa’s trip to Anfield on Saturday evening.

If Slot has learned anything new, it’s that Gomez cannot be placed into the starting line-up against Unai Emery’s well-oiled team.

Van Dijk's new Matip: Liverpool now chasing "sensational" Guehi alternative

Liverpool are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements in 2026.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

There’s however forecast for some showers on Sunday in Dallas

Deivarayan Muthu12-Jul-2025Big picture: A clash of contrastsThe reactions of captain Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard summed up MI New York’s path to the MLC 2025 final after they had been teetering on the brink, having lost six of their first seven games. Then they suddenly made the playoffs and peaked there, emulating their parent franchise Mumbai Indians in the IPL, knocking out San Francisco Unicorns and Texas Super Kings to set up a final clash with Washington Freedom, who have been the form team throughout the tournament, with eight wins in ten league games.It’s a clash of contrasts in more ways than one. While MINY have relied on T20 superstars like Pooran, Pollard, Trent Boult and Quinton de Kock, Freedom have found success with less experienced names after their own big players – Steven Smith, Travis Head and Marco Jansen – were unavailable for their title defence.Freedom also lost New Zealand quick Ben Sears to injury and his replacement Matthew Forde to the Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana along the way, but they found new heroes in allrounders Mitch Owen and Jack Edwards. Left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar has had another productive out-of-office stint.Lockie Ferguson has had his load managed upon his return from injury, but Ian Holland has stepped up with vital breakthroughs. After a crushing defeat to Unicorns – their margin of 123 runs in the biggest in the MLC – in their season-opener, Freedom have bounced back spectacularly under the leadership of Ricky Ponting and Glenn Maxwell.While Pooran and Pollard have made the headlines for MINY’s late dash, the team has also had contributions from the youngsters. Tristan Luus, who turned 20 last month, knocked Owen over with a 140kph dart on his MLC debut and went onto take out Faf du Plessis in Qualifier 2. Twenty-two-year-old Rushil Ugarkar, who was with MI at the IPL as a support player, has also thrived in MINY’s attack in this MLC.MINY’s attack was severely depleted by the absence of Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai and Naveen-ul-Haq, but they have dug deep for a tilt at another title.So, who will win their second MLC title on Sunday: MINY or Freedom?Form guideWashington Freedom:WWLWW
MINY: WWLWWRelated

Freedom in final after Qualifier 1 abandoned due to heavy rain

Pollard and Pooran knock Texas Super Kings out to put MI New York in MLC 2025 final

In the spotlight: Mitch Owen and Monank PatelMitch Owen has been among the most sought-after T20 players around the world after his 39-ball century in the BBL final earlier this year in January. He has since made forays into the PSL, IPL and more recently at the MLC, where he has been utterly dominant with both bat and ball. Apart from hitting 313 runs in ten innings at a strike rate over 195, he has bagged 14 wickets at an economy of 8.96. Beware of Mitch, MINY.Monank Patel hasn’t been as destructive as Owen at the top, but his stable presence hasn’t gone unnoticed. Patel currently has 450 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 143.31 and is 19 runs away from surpassing du Plessis as the top run-getter this season. There can’t be a better advertisement for the MLC than an USA batter topping the run charts.Mitchell Owen has starred with both ball and bat for Washington Freedom•Sportzpics for MLCTeam news: Ferguson set to playFerguson is being managed carefully by Freedom and New Zealand Cricket – he has also been rested for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe – but is likely to play the MLC final on Sunday.Washington Freedom (probable): 1 Mitch Owen, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Andries Gous (wk), 4 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Mukhtar Ahmed, 7 Obus Pienaar, 8 Jack Edwards, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Ian Holland, Saurabh NetravalkarThere’s no reason for MINY to make any changes unless there are any injury concerns.MI New York (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Monank Patel, 3 Michael Bracewell, 4 Nicholas Pooran (capt), 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Kunwarjeet Singh, 7 Tarjinder Singh, 8 Tristan Luus, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Nosthush Kenjige, 11 Rushil UgarkarPitch and conditions: Rain threat hangs over finalThere’s forecast for some showers on Sunday in Dallas, with a 60% chance of rain in the night. With rain in the air, expect the team winning the toss to chase. When the two teams faced each other in the league phase, Dallas had rolled out a batting-friendly surface, where Freedom chased 189 with four balls to spare.Stats and trivia: Sixy Pooran Pooran has clattered a chart-topping 73 sixes in 36 innings in T20 cricket in 2025. Owen is joint third on this list with 65 sixes in 29 innings.Pollard is currently the second-highest scorer in the history of T20 cricket with 13854 runs. Only Chris Gayle is ahead of him with 14562 runs.Besides being the top scorer among USA players in this season, Patel is also the top scorer among USA players overall in the league, with 646 runs in 25 innings at a strike rate of just under 130.Freedom have been the fastest-scoring team in the powerplay in this MLC, going at 10.44 during this phase. MINY are fourth at 8.02.Quotes”We went to Miami, and we forgot about cricket. That was the best thing for us and then we turned up and [did] what was in front of us. Miami was refreshing for us; guys went to shop and retail therapy.”
“We’ve been able to have even, consistent contributions throughout our squad and that’s probably been the most pleasing thing for me this year. We haven’t been relying on one or two people; it’s been the whole team that has stepped up.”

Anthony Volpe provided the New York Yankees with the offensive spark they'd been desperately seeking in Game 4 of the World Series.

After trailing 2–0 early, the Yankees scored a run in the bottom of the second before loading the bases for their shortstop in the third. On the first pitch he saw, Volpe laced a shot to left-center field and watched as it sailed over the wall to give New York a 5–2 lead with one thunderous swing of the bat.

No one was more elated than center fielder Aaron Judge, who awaited Volpe at home plate alongside his teammates with an absolutely massive grin on his face. Once Volpe crossed the plate, he and Judge leapt into the air and celebrated excitedly.

Judge's struggles have dominated headlines throughout the postseason, and although he wasn't the deliverer of the big moment on Tuesday night, he was overjoyed for his younger teammate who had just had stepped up in the biggest at-bat of his career.

The grand slam marked the first postseason home run of Volpe's career, and with the Yankees trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers 3–0 in the series, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Newcastle United are masters at adapting and overcoming adversity. Hurdles have sprung up and sent Eddie Howe’s side tumbling in recent years, but each time the Magpies get themselves airborne once again.

They must prove this mentality remains intact, having struggled to make things click in the Premier League this season.

One ray of light through this up-and-down period has been Nick Woltemade, who has swerved a number of those hurdles to establish himself as one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe.

Could he be the Toon’s most talented player?

Why Nick Woltemade is thriving at Newcastle

Newcastle signed Woltemade from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee in August before Alexander Isak had completed his record-breaking move to Liverpool, signalling in all but confirmation the Swede’s looming departure.

With Yoane Wissa also brought in but sidelined before he could make his bow with a knee injury, Woltemade, 23, has assumed quite the heavy load.

But this hasn’t thwarted him.

The striker has scored six goals from his first 13 matches in black and white. Rangy and seemingly a throwback type of frontman, the German is endowed with much technical grace, with reporter Andy Sixsmith hailing him for “mesmerising” link-up ability.

Woltemade is surpassing expectations at number nine for Newcastle, and he is indeed playing like a man in a contest with Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali for the crown as the club’s best player.

But there’s an up-and-coming prospect who might be the cream of the crop, albeit one who requires work over the next few years.

Newcastle's bigger talent than Woltemade

Newcastle have transformed their first team in the four years under Howe’s wing, but PIF have quietly been assembling a youth force to be reckoned with down the line.

And, right at the top of this pack is Vakhtang Salia, who joined St. James’ Park from Dinamo Tbilisi this summer despite rival interest from European heavyweights such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Injury has kept the 18-year-old from featuring for the Toon yet, but he played 57 senior matches for his former Georgian side, scoring eight goals and supplying four assists.

Salia hasn’t quite worked out his best position at this nascent stage of his career, but that’s okay. He is fast and has the mark of a clinical player down the line, and in this, he could one day surpass Woltemade.

This is a bold claim to make, but the respective forwards are at wholly different points in their careers, and his “very high work-rate”, as has been said by Genk scout Mikha Gabechava, suggests he has the drive to match his talent with a tenacious approach.

Left winger

27

5

1

Centre-forward

12

2

1

Right winger

1

1

0

Attacking midfield

1

0

0

Because, after all, the Georgia U21 star has been described as “one of the best teenage prospects in the world” by journalist Graeme Bailey, and this without yet proving himself in a top division. The hype is very much real.

The sales of prospects like Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson mark a cautionary tale for the Tynesiders as they look to go from strength to strength once again. Salia’s signature must be held onto, and he must be allowed to develop into a polished Premier League star.

With the right work over the coming years, he could even prove to be a bigger talent than Woltemade.

Newcastle star was set to be sold, now he's one of their "standout" players

This Newcastle star is still performing for Eddie Howe’s side.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

Unbeaten 70 from Australian opener proves decisive as Welsh Fire fall short of famous comeback

ECB Media09-Aug-2025David Warner made his first half-century in the Hundred to see London Spirit take the spoils against Welsh Fire in Cardiff, despite a thrilling, unbeaten 86 from Jonny Bairstow in response.Like a boxer on the ropes, Bairstow sat back and absorbed the blows as his Fire team fell to 55 for 6 at the halfway point of their reply, before launching a high-octane counterattack that took them close to a famous victory.Bairstow’s 50-ball innings contained six sixes, and saw 74 runs plundered from balls 66 to 95, leaving 17 required off the last five of the innings. As the Sophia Gardens crowd belted out “Wales, Wales, Wales!” it appeared that Bairstow – ably supported by Chris Green – would pull off the comeback but Luke Wood got Spirit over the line.Warner’s innings was a different affair, but was equally effective in driving the visitors – the Australian legend using his experience and nous to work out a defendable total on a track that had something for the bowlers.David Warner made his first fifty of the Hundred•Getty ImagesWith the ball, before the Bairstow show, Liam Dawson and Richard Gleeson were both parsimonious and though they may briefly have feared that their hard work would be undone it was runs on the board that emerged victorious in the end, Kane Williamson and Justin Langer getting off and running and consigning Fire to a second defeat in two.Warner, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “That got very close at the end, and credit to the way Jonny and Greeny batted. They were absolutely superb. The partnership they built was fantastic, and what it did do was what we’re trying to do here – entertain the crowd and hopefully everyone was excited by that game.”I think what the guys were saying there was that across the last 25-30 balls it wasn’t that stoppy. It skidded, but it was still slow in the wicket. We tried to execute as well as we could but Jonny was on fire there, he was hitting the ball cleanly and obviously we got over the line but it was a good effort by them.”When you’re out there batting, the five balls and then 10 balls from one end – you think you have to change ends as a batter. I’m getting used to it, but what I am loving is the crowds. It’s fantastic. It’s all about the kids, and us trying to put entertainment on the TV – credit to everyone who came out today, thank you.”This is a really important win for us. We lost our first game at home but we’ve got an away game in Manchester coming up, and hopefully we can tick that off.”

Napoli manager Antonio Conte is set for urgent, decisive talks with the club hierarchy in the coming hours to determine his future, following his scathing public criticism of the struggling Serie A champions. The meeting comes after Conte openly questioned his team's "chemistry" and "desire to fight" following their latest defeat, hinting at a potential departure.

Conte's future to be decided in decisive Napoli talks

Conte is scheduled for an urgent face-to-face meeting with the club's management in the coming hours to address his future and the team's dire start to the season. This crucial summit follows Conte's exceptionally candid and critical comments after Napoli's 2-0 Serie A defeat to Bologna on Sunday.

According to football journalist , a meeting between Napoli management and  Conte is scheduled for Monday afternoon as both parties aim to clarify how and whether to continue together. The meeting is a direct response to Conte's public questioning of his team's commitment and his own effectiveness as coach.

AdvertisementAFPScathing criticism from Conte after Bologna defeat

Conte did not hold back in his post-match comments after Napoli suffered their fifth defeat of the season against Bologna. Goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumi secured the win for Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, a result that further highlighted Napoli's struggles to replicate last season's Scudetto-winning form. Napoli registered only one shot on target compared to Bologna's four, despite having 51% possession.

Speaking after the game, Conte expressed profound disappointment. "We needed more energy in everything. What's disappointing is that they showed more positivity and desire than us," Conte stated, contrasting his team's performance with Bologna's. "It should make us reflect. It's the fifth defeat we've suffered this start of the year. It means we need to reflect, which we've already done. They played on Thursday and looked poisoned, we did our homework until the game was even."

Concerns over team chemistry and fighting spirit

The former Chelsea and Inter manager went further, questioning the very fabric of his squad. He highlighted a pervasive lack of unity and resolve, which he believes has plagued the team for months. "Three or four months have passed and there's no chemistry, no desire to fight together. I don't know if we'll be able to change the situation," Conte admitted.

His frustration mounted as he placed responsibility squarely on everyone involved. "Everyone has to take responsibility. I'm the first to be held accountable. Heart transplants aren't an option. Each of us needs to rediscover our spirit and our grit," he declared.

"I'm disappointed because I'm not finding the energy in the guys again; it means I'm not doing a good job."

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Napoli's Serie A standing and urgent need for change

The defeat leaves Napoli in fourth place in Serie A with 22 points from 11 matches, a significant drop for the reigning champions. Their recent form is alarming, with two losses in their last five league matches. Bologna, with 21 points, are now just one point behind them in fifth place, further highlighting Napoli's struggles. The team's inability to create clear-cut chances against Bologna, as evidenced by their single shot on target, is a major concern.

Conte also drew a parallel to past club history, stating: "We must never forget that in Naples, after a Scudetto, we finished 10th. I'm sorry to have to dig up the bones of the past. I'll talk to the club, who already knew what I thought." 

The New York Yankees reportedly have made the latest big move of the MLB offseason.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, New York traded for Chicago Cubs outfielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger on Tuesday. MLB insider Jon Heyman also reported the Cubs sent Bellinger plus $5 million cash to New York in exchange for pitcher Cody Poteet.

The 29-year-old outfielder and first baseman is a two-time All-Star, a World Series champion (Dodgers, 2020), a former NL MVP (2019), and also the winner of the NL Comeback Player of the Year after a bounce-back 2023 season with Chicago.

In 130 games last year with Chicago, Bellinger batted .266/.325/.426 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs while playing right field, center field and first base. He is under contract for $27.5 million next season and also has a $25 million player option on his deal for the 2026 campaign.

Poteet, 30, pitched five games for the Yankees last year, starting four times and recording a 2.22 ERA despite striking out just 16 batters in 24 1/3 innings.

The Yankees missed out in the Juan Soto sweepstakes earlier this offseason, coming up just short—one year and $5 million shy to be exact—of the 16-year, $760 million contract he signed with the Mets. They remained aggressive, and landed Bellinger as consolation.

According to Bob Nightengale, Bellinger will play center field for the Yankees, sliding slugger Aaron Judge over to right. As for his replacement in Chicago, former first-round pick Pete Crow-Armstrong is a likely candidate to start the season in his place in center field.