Naomi Girma is back, Rose Lavelle is fresh off an NWSL Championship win and new faces arrive: Five keys to the USWNT’s final camp of 2025 vs Italy

With Rose Lavelle flying, Naomi Girma healthy again and new faces pushing in camp, Emma Hayes gets a final 2025 look at the USWNT against Italy.

The U.S. women’s national team has one final test to close out the year: a pair of friendlies against No. 12 Italy.

The USWNT and Italy have met 15 times, with the Americans holding a 10-4-1 edge. Emma Hayes’ squad opens the series Friday in Orlando before shifting south to Fort Lauderdale for the second match. The team is already in Florida, with several players joining camp straight off their NWSL Championship celebrations. Rose Lavelle, Lilly Reale, Emily Sonnett, Jaelin Howell, and Jaedyn Shaw all arrived fresh from Gotham FC’s title parade – and Hayes made sure they received a proper welcome.

“I think it’s the right test,” Hayes said. “The key for us is we have to play our game and know that no matter what the opponent throws at us – whether they change shapes in the game or are very clever in the way they defend – we have to stick to our task and our game.”

This camp reflects Hayes’ now-familiar balance of new faces and established leaders, with a few notable tweaks. Naomi Girma has returned to the roster, while two players earned their first senior call-ups. With the final window of 2025 underway, Hayes will use these friendlies as another step toward shaping the squad she wants representing the United States at the 2027 World Cup.

GOAL looks at five keys for the USWNT against Italy…

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    'I'm very excited to be here'

    The backline has been missing one major piece in recent matches: Naomi Girma.

    "I'm very excited to be here. Yeah, I'm happy to be back on the pitch and two good games for us, so I'm looking forward to it," Girma said at pre-match availability. 

    The defending hasn’t been disastrous by any means, but the inexperience has shown,  particularly against Portugal. The USWNT had never conceded to Portugal until their most recent meeting, a surprising loss that included two goals surrendered on set pieces. The team corrected course in the rematch and then dominated New Zealand, but the defensive lapses were still jarring for a program that prides itself on stability at the back.

    With Girma out, Hayes has relied on a rotating center-back pairing: sometimes Emily Sonnett and Tara McKeown, other times Jordyn Bugg and Emily Sams. For the first match against Italy, though, it feels almost certain Girma returns to the XI now that she’s fully recovered. In fact, she’s already making her presence known – U.S. Soccer’s camp video showed her jokingly celebrating being “first down for breakfast,” a small but telling indicator of how eager she is to be back in the mix.

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    Plenty of midfield choices

    The USWNT's midfield is absolutely stacked, from veterans Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps to young stars like Lily Yohannes and Claire Hutton, Hayes is going to have a hard time deciding who her starting three will be. And those aren't even the only four, there's also always reliable Sam Coffey and recent call-ins Jaelin Howell and Croiz Bethune. 

    The midfield is essential to how the USWNT plays, and historically it's usually a mix of one shutdown defensive-minded midfielder, like a Coffey paired with duo of creative magicians when it comes to combining and seeing the field. 

    Fresh off scoring the game-winning goal against the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship, Lavelle was smiling ear to ear when she spoke to reporters on Wednesday. 

    "Happy to be back in camp, always fun when we can be back together and be together," she said. 

    Whatever trio is charging the midfield will be solid, and Hayes will most likely showcase two different lineups against Italy because they have two games to try out different lineups and rotations. 

    Howell hasn't been called up to the senior team in more than three years and was instrumental in Gotham FC's championship and postseason run. Hayes pays attention to all the leagues and players playing, so she was clearly impressed with Howell's season and contribution in the midfield. Another player back in the mix is Bethune, who has had a long journey back to health after unluckily injuring her knee last year while throwing out a first pitch. 

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    Chelsea FC trio

    The 'Triple Espresso' trio of Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman may not be fully back yet, but a new trio of force is here to stay, and that's out of WSL side Chelsea FC: Girma, Catarina Macario, and Alyssa Thompson. 

    All three players have a massive role on this USWNT roster. Girma, the centerback that keeps it all together, Macario, the composed and strong ball holder and handler in the No.9 spot, and Thompson, the fearless attacking winger who will take on anyone at any time. 

    Chances are high that all three will be on the field at once for these upcoming friendlies, which will be exciting and all the credit to . Three other players on this roster are currently playing professional soccer overseas. Heaps and Yohannes play for OL Lyonnes in UEFA Women's Champions League, and then there's Emily Fox, who plays for Arsenal FC, which is currently mid-table in the competition at 10th, and marks the fourth U.S. player to be competing in England. 

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    Battle of the keepers

    It’s the never-ending battle for the No. 1 shirt – a competition that truly began when longtime USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced her retirement earlier this year. Since then, Emma Hayes has tested just about every option available, from Houston Dash standout Jane Campbell to North Carolina Courage keeper Casey Murphy, Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and several others.

    For this camp, Hayes stuck with two familiar faces in Mandy McGlynn and Claudia Dickey, but, in classic Hayes fashion, added a newcomer to the mix: Jordan Silkowitz. This is only Silkowitz’s second-ever international call-up, following her summer trip to Germany with the U-23s. She spent this past season with Bay FC in the NWSL and has quickly played her way into the senior conversation.

    Hayes recently told reporters she is “likely” to lean on the same three goalkeepers she used against Portugal – Dickey, Tullis-Joyce, and McGlynn. Silkowitz is here to gain experience and push the group, but the battle for the top spot remains very much between the established trio.

'Frustrated' Ruben Amorim admits Man Utd are still 'far from perfection' & issues clear warning to players

Ruben Amorim has moved to temper the growing optimism around Manchester United as he insisted that the club’s recent upturn in form is no cause for complacency. The Portuguese coach stressed that his team remain "far from perfection", even though they are currently on a five-match unbeaten run and showed signs of improvement before the latest international break.

  • A measured rebound, not a revival

    United headed into the international break riding a five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, a sequence that featured a statement victory over Liverpool at Anfield. However, two back-to-back draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur have provided a reality check that there is still enough room for improvement and consistency. Reflecting on the team’s progress, Amorim explained that confidence, born from hard-earned results, has been central to recent performances. Yet his frustration simmered beneath the surface when revisiting their most recent league outing against Spurs.

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    Amorim is cautiously optimistic

    In an interview with Amorim said, "We are playing better, but we are playing better because we have more confidence, and that starts with good results, for example, against Liverpool. We are getting better, but I can share my feeling: when we finished the game against Tottenham and I was coming back to Carrington, I was watching the game and my feeling was frustration, that we are far from perfection. We are far from being the team that can win every game. So I think we have a lot to do."

    The United boss, who is now more than a year into one of the most scrutinised managerial spells in Europe, again pushed back against familiar criticism of his 3-4-3 structure. The formation, he argued, is a convenient scapegoat, one that distracts from the real shortcomings.

    "I've been saying this for many months, that the formation is not the problem," he claimed. "The formation is the start of something, then it's the dynamic, the confidence, the way we play, how competitive we are. If you look at the games we struggled in this season, it was not about the formation for me. It was the lack of intensity. We need to be perfect in this league to win a lot of games."

  • Ratcliffe’s support helps, but doesn’t change him

    United slumped to a dismal 15th-place finish in the previous Premier League campaign and were branded directionless. Early in this campaign, the pressure returned after an embarrassing League Cup exit to League Two Grimsby Town. It was an upset that revived doubts about his suitability for the job. Yet Amorim has held onto the backing of senior club figures, most notably part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. While the coach acknowledged that Ratcliffe’s public vote of confidence was vital for the club’s wider stability, he insisted that such endorsements have little bearing on his own approach.

    "It's always really important, but it's more important for the fans to understand that we have a clear path, and we are going to do everything and continue that path no matter what," he said. "To be honest, it doesn't change much for me, because I'm not worried about losing my job. I always have that feeling. But if you remember when Jim gave that interview, it settled down a lot around the club. The noise changed completely. That was really important for the team, and if it's important for the team, it's important for me."

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    A legends’ reunion: Cantona, Beckham, Scholes and Co.

    As United attempt to build momentum, Amorim is preparing an unconventional move to deepen the club’s cultural grounding. According to sources close to the manager, he intends to bring club icons like Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke into the fold to offer guidance to younger members of the squad.

    The source, speaking to , said: "Throughout his own career, Ruben always loved when former players and legends of the clubs he played for would interact with the team, sharing knowledge, stories, and advice about what it means to represent the club. Coming from Benfica, he understands what real pressure feels like and how to use it to grow, as a man, a player, and now as a leader. He believes these exchanges can help the players make the most of their time at United, both on and off the pitch."

    United currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, only two points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots. After a season without European football, the push to return to continental competition remains a priority. Their campaign resumes next Monday night at Old Trafford, where they host Everton. 

Haider Ali under criminal investigation in the UK, suspended by the PCB

The incident that caused the probe happened during Pakistan Shaheens’ tour of the UK

Danyal Rasool07-Aug-2025

Haider Ali was interviewed by the Greater Manchester Police•Getty Images

Pakistan batter Haider Ali has been placed under criminal investigation by the Greater Manchester Police, and has been provisionally suspended by the PCB pending the outcome of the inquiry. While no details about the nature of the criminal offence have been released, ESPNcricinfo understands Haider is not currently in custody in the UK, but was interviewed under caution by GMP.The PCB issued a statement it had been “made aware” of the investigation, with the incident in question occurring during Pakistan Shaheens’ recent tour of England, which concluded on Monday. The PCB has confirmed it is providing Haider legal support “to protect his rights throughout this process”.”The PCB has been made aware of a criminal investigation currently being conducted by the Greater Manchester Police involving cricketer Haider Ali,” the PCB statement said. “The investigation pertains to an incident that reportedly occurred during the Pakistan Shaheens’ recent tour of England.”The PCB fully respects the legal procedures and processes of the United Kingdom and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course. Accordingly, the PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Once the legal proceedings are concluded and all facts have been duly established, the PCB reserves the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary.”Haider, 24, has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan, and was a senior player on the Shaheens’ UK tour. He played all three 50-over games against a first-class XI, as well as two three-day games.

Gio Reyna, Ricardo Pepi headline returners as Christian Pulisic is left out of Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT squad for November friendlies vs Paraguay, Uruguay

Gio Reyna, Joe Scally and Ricardo Pepi are back in the U.S. men's national team squad for upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay. Mauricio Pochettino on Thursday announced his roster for the final two friendlies of 2025, and it doesn't include Christian Pulisic, who headlines a list of USMNT stars who have been dealing with injuries.

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    Some major returns

    Pochettino's 25-man squad for the November matches features 11 players that were not in the October camp, headlined by the returns of Reyna, Scally and Pepi. Reyna and Scally are back in the team for the first time since the Nations League collapse in March, while Pepi and Auston Trusty return to the USMNT squad for the first time since last November – Pochettino's second camp after taking over the team.

    Reyna's return comes on the heels of a move to Borussia Monchengladbach, where he reunited with longtime friend and former NYCFC youth team teammate Scally in the Bundesliga. Pepi, meanwhile, is back from injury and scoring again for PSV, having recently netted in three of his last four games, including Champions League matches against Napoli and Olympiacos.

    Trusty rejoins a central defense pool that includes Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream and Miles Robinson following the team's recent switch to a three-centerback system.

    There are 11 MLS players, overall, on the roster, and nine are still active in the playoffs.

    Sebastian Berhalter and the Vancouver Whitecaps have already advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, while Ream (Charlotte FC), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Max Arfsten, Patrick Schulte and Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew), Roman Celentano and Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) and Matt Freese (New York City FC) will all play decisive Game 3 matches this weekend.

    New England Revolution goalkeeper and former USMNT starter Matt Turner was not called-in for this camp.

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    Injury absences

    The team has been hit by something of an injury crisis in recent weeks, leading to several notable absences. Pulisic is chief among them, as a hamstring injury sustained in last month's friendly against Australia kept him out of action for AC Milan and, ultimately now, the USMNT. Interestingly, Pulisic has reportedly resumed training and is expected to return to Milan’s squad for Saturday’s Serie A trip to Parma.

    Star attacker Tim Weah is also out, having recently sustained an injury with Marseille, while Cameron Carter-Vickers will be on the shelf for a several months due to an Achilles issue.

    Pochettino opted to leave out several players who have either recently returned or are nearing a return. Those players include Malik Tillman and Johnny Cardoso, while Antonee Robinson, who has battled injury issues for most of 2025, is also out.

    Also missing are regulars Chris Richards and Weston McKennie, who were not named to the squad.

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    Squad in full

    GOALKEEPERS: Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew) 

    DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse FC), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Auston Trusty (Celtic) 

    MIDFIELDERS: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Gio Reyna (Borussia Monchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew) 

    FORWARDS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Haji Wright (Coventry City) 

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    What Pochettino said

    "As we continue to develop our squad and build on the culture we have created, this is another great opportunity for the players selected for this roster to prove they deserve to be on the final list for the World Cup,” Pochettino said. “It's important that they come into this camp prepared to show their qualities on the field and their commitment to being a good teammate. We will keep working on the competitive details in training and have the opportunity to challenge ourselves against two high-quality opponents from South America.”

    Ahead of next year's home World Cup, Pochettino is tasked with helping drive the growth of the sport in the U.S., telling BBC Sport this week that "the motivation is massive. Sometimes you feel that people don't understand too much.

    "You find some coaches that say, 'Oh you know, you need to know the culture of the American player.' I say 'No, I know the most important thing is the culture of football and soccer. We need to translate the culture of football to the American player.' I think after one year we are making great progress.

    "We are building with people that the language of football is only one, and it doesn't care if you are American, Brazilian or English. Our football is to compete in the way that you need to compete, if you want to win."

Fewer touches than Pope: Howe must bin Newcastle star who won just 3 duels

Newcastle United won their second Champions League game in a row on Tuesday night, beating Portuguese giants Benfica 3-0 at St James’ Park.

It was a clinical display from Eddie Howe’s men, which helped the Englishman to his first win over a Jose Mourinho side since 2015, as per Transfermarkt.

The performance itself was sensational from the Magpies. Benfica played well in the early stages, with Dodi Lukebakio posing a real threat down the left-hand side. Yet, Anthony Gordon’s opener just past the half-hour mark put the Magpies ahead. The England star got on the end of Jacob Murphy’s low cross across the penalty area.

It was second-half substitute Harvey Barnes who added the second and third goals for Newcastle. His first was a superb strike after getting on the end of a huge throw from Nick Pope. Barnes carried the ball into Benfica’s penalty area and smashed home via the post.

His second strike was another well-worked goal. A slick one-two from Gordon and Nick Woltemade created space for the England international to drive into. He played Barnes in behind, with the substitute striking the ball first time and bagging his second of the night.

It was an excellent win from Newcastle, with midfield pair Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley particularly shining.

Guimaraes and Miley’s performance vs. Benfica

It was a hardworking performance from the two Newcastle midfielders against Benfica. For Guimaraes, he simply maintained a standard expected of him now, having garnered a reputation as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League.

The Brazilian was everywhere against Mourinho’s side, winning four duels and making seven recoveries. In possession, he was constantly picking the ball up and driving forward, causing real issues carrying from deeper areas.

He also played a wonderful pass to Murphy, which led to Gordon’s goal.

The role Miley had was arguably harder. He was filling in for Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, both of whom are key players in the Magpies’ midfield. The homegrown star coped well with the pressure. He was metronomic in midfield, completing 37 from 41 passes and creating one chance, as well as working hard without the ball.

Scott Wilson, chief sports writer at the Northern Echo, noticed their top performances. He gave them each an 8/10 for their efforts on Tuesday night, explaining that Guimaraes put in a ‘fine midfield display’ and Miley ‘deserves more game time’ after that showing.

However, the other man in Newcastle’s midfield struggled more than their pivot.

The Newcastle midfielder who struggled vs Benfica

Howe’s side were certainly hamstrung by the lack of midfield firepower at St James’ Park. Tonali was only a substitute after suffering from illness in the past few days, and Joelinton was rested following several starts.

That gave an opportunity to summer signing Jacob Ramsey to play from the start. It was the 24-year-old’s first start at St James’ Park, after a few injury issues derailed his start to life in the North East.

It was certainly a tough night at the office for the former Aston Villa star. Unlike his midfield partners, Ramsey struggled to get into the game, unable to get a real grasp and create things in a fairly advanced midfield role.

Wilson was certainly a little more critical of the Magpies’ number 41. He gave him a 6/10 rating for his efforts, explaining that he ‘wasn’t really able to dictate play’. although he did note he brought ‘plenty of energy and effort’ to the middle of the park.

Indeed, some of his stats from the game show how disappointing a performance it was from the 24-year-old. He had fewer touches than Newcastle goalkeeper Pope, with 32 compared to the shot-stopper’s 39.

Ramsey lost the ball seven times and only won three duels.

Touches

32

Passes completed

18/19

Opposition half passes completed

12/13

Number of times ball lost

7

Ground duels won

3/7

Chances created

1

Next up for Newcastle is a tough assignment at home against a well-drilled Fulham side. With Tonali and Joelinton both potentially back in contention to start, it will be interesting to see if Ramsey is kept in the starting lineup by Howe.

His struggles against Mourinho’s side on Tuesday might well mean the Newcastle boss brings back one of his first-choice midfielders, who can help control the game more. It was certainly something Ramsey struggled with at times in the Champions League.

There are options waiting in the wings if Howe decides to go down this route. It is certainly a big call ahead of a must-win game in the top flight.

Newcastle superstar is starting to emulate Shearer & it's not Woltemade

Newcastle thrashed Benfica at St. James’ Park in the Champions League.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 22, 2025

موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة بعد التعادل مع بتروجيت في الدوري

انتهت مباراة الأهلي أمام منافسه بتروجيت بالتعادل الإيجابي، 1-1 في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

وأقيمت المباراة بين الأهلي وبتروجيت، على أرضية استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الـ12 من الدوري.

بهذه النتيجة يحتل الأهلي المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري ولديه 22 نقطة من الفوز بـ6 لقاءات والتعادل 4 مرات وتلقى هزيمة وحيدة.

طالع | ترتيب هدافي الدوري المصري بعد هدف جراديشار في مباراة الأهلي وبتروجيت

ويواصل الأهلي مشواره في بطولة الدوري المصري، بمواجهة قوية في الجولة القادمة أمام المصري، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الـ13 من الدوري المصري. موعد مباراة الأهلي والمصري في الدوري

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي أمام المصري، على أرضية استاد برج العرب، يوم الأحد 2 نوفمبر المقبل، في تمام الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت مصر (بعد تطبيق التوقيت الشتوي)، السابعة مساءً بتوقيت السعودية.

IPL chair Dhumal: Saudi want to invest in cricket – but we've had no proposals

Also supports IPL teams owning franchises elsewhere, but does not expect Indian men’s players to feature anytime soon

Matt Roller30-Apr-2025

Dhumal (left): ‘There’s a lot of aspirations and demands from those guys that more cricketing activity should happen there’•BCCI

Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, expects Saudi Arabia to step up investment in its cricketing infrastructure but has insisted that the league has not received any concrete proposals about a ‘Grand Slam’ T20 circuit or direct investment into the IPL.The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) has gradually grown ties with the IPL over the past three years. State-backed Saudi ventures including Aramco, Visit Saudi and Neom have signed sponsorship deals with either the IPL itself or its franchises, and the BCCI chose to stage November’s mega-auction in Jeddah, the country’s second-largest city.The World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) are understood to be involved in talks regarding the creation of a global circuit of T20 tournaments, a concept which reportedly has backing from SURJ, the sports subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Other reports have previously linked PIF with a multi-billion-dollar direct investment into the IPL.Related

ILT20 games in future seasons could be held in Saudi Arabia

World Club Championship is 'on the cards', says ECB chief executive

Saudi Arabia dipping its toes into cricket might be the start of something big

Is cricket ready for a Saudi-backed Grand Slam circuit?

Dhumal, also the ex-BCCI treasurer, told ESPNcricinfo that he is yet to receive any concrete information around any Saudi plans to disrupt world cricket. “It can’t be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ because there is no proposal to be discussed; it is just media speculation,” Dhumal said. “There’s nothing that we can do about media speculating.”While the SACF plans to build an international-standard stadium in Jeddah, there is minimal cricketing infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Dhumal said that the idea behind staging the mega-auction there was to encourage the Saudi regime to invest in cricket, and claimed that it reflected the BCCI’s commitment to growing the sport worldwide.”Saudi Cricket as such is part of ICC,” Dhumal said. “They’re wanting to make some investments in cricket so that cricket becomes more relevant in that part of the world, given the diaspora from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh… There’s a lot of aspirations and demands from those guys that more cricketing activity should happen there.”There has been a lot of speculation as to any talk between IPL and BCCI and Saudi Cricket with regard to their interest in IPL. I would want to categorically deny any of that. The idea was to give them a flavour of what IPL is all about. When you see the kind of numbers that happened there with regard to this mega-auction, everybody was startled as to how big this game is.”So it’ll give the confidence for the government there to invest more in the cricket infrastructure so that the players out there get more opportunity. We’ve seen how cricket has grown in UAE over the last few years with the kind of infrastructure they have created. They have started their own league. [Saudi Arabia] will have to create some infrastructure.”Our duty as the BCCI is to go to all these different places and give them the flavour of the sport… Going forward, in case cricket has to grow through the length and breadth of the whole globe, it is paramount that we take it to different landscapes, different territories and showcase what this game is all about. That was the intent.”Dhumal suggested that he was open to the idea of the IPL staging some exhibition matches overseas, but that the idea has not been actively discussed. “If that makes sense, for the purpose of growing cricket and giving them the flavour of the IPL, it can be thought of,” he said. “But [there is] no discussion as of now.”He is also open-minded about the possible return of the Champions League T20, which has been defunct since 2014. “It was done before the opportune time for that kind of event,” Dhumal said. “I would not say no to anything but everything depends on whether we have an availability of time… If it creates value for cricket at a global stage, definitely we can look at that.”Eight of the ten IPL franchises have interests in overseas leagues, with four owners in the process of finalising their investment in teams in the Hundred in England and Wales. Dhumal said that the IPL’s leadership is supportive of its franchises’ growth, but does not expect it to prompt a change in the BCCI’s policy on Indian men’s players playing in overseas leagues.”We are very happy with the contributions that our franchises, enterprises and companies have done to grow this game across the globe,” he said. “India being in this leadership position and cricket being a religion for Indians, it is our paramount duty to make sure that India’s contribution in terms of growing the game across the globe remains. We are very happy with that.On the prospect of Indian players featuring in other short-form leagues, Dhumal said: “IPL being a premium tournament, that exclusivity would definitely be there… There is nothing that has been discussed so far. Going forward, in case there’s scope, then before we arrive at some decision we have to take all of these considerations and then take a call on this.”

Dorival mostra preocupação com Alan Franco e comenta lesões do São Paulo: 'Precisamos de um benzimento'

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo venceu o Palmeiras por 1 a 0 na noite desta quinta-feira (5), no Morumbi, pelas quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. Em entrevista coletiva após o Choque-Rei, o técnico Dorival Júnior se mostrou preocupado com a situação do zagueiro Alan Franco. O argentino deixou o campo chorando no segundo tempo após sentir o tornozelo. O treinador afirmando que só nesta quinta será possível saber a gravidade da lesão, mas que foi uma ‘torcida muito forte’.

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+ Veja tabela da Copa do Brasil-2023 clicando aqui

– Beraldo eu acho cedo, dificilmente o teremos nessas próximas uma ou duas semanas. O pé até hoje tá bem inchado, só pra vocês terem uma noção. O Alan só amanhã nós teremos uma posição mais segura, mas sentiu alguma coisa, deu uma torcida muito forte quando ele desceu, foi mais ou menos a mesma lesão do Beraldo. Naturalmente, nós não sabemos o grau, cada lesão é uma, mas ele saltou e quando ele desceu, ele desceu em cima de alguma coisa e deve ter torcido o pé nesse momento – disse Dorival Júnior.

Dorival ironizou dizendo que a equipe está precisando de um ‘benzimento’ devido às recorrentes lesões. Ainda, o técnico reiterou que ainda não teve a oportunidade de treinar alguns atletas que ainda se recuperam e lamentou a frequência com que o Tricolor perde jogadores por esse ‘terrível’ problema.

– O São Paulo precisa de um ‘benzimento’ forte (risos) porque as coisas não estão legais não. Toda partida um ou dois jogadores de fora, e isso é terrível. O que vem acontecendo e da forma que vem acontecendo, porque são todas as lesão muito sérias. Dificilmente nós temos uma lesão que leve uma rapidez para que atletas retornem. Tem atletas que desde a minha chegada, eu ainda não pude tê-los, como o Erison, Thales, está voltando agora, Moreira, voltando agora. Naturalmente eram lesões um pouco mais sérias, nós temos que reconhecer, mas até agora eu não os tive em campo.

– Então até isso tem acontecido, estamos na torcida para que recuperemos rapidamente todos eles. O Departamento Médico tem feito um ótimo trabalho nesse sentido – concluiu o treinador do São Paulo.

+ ATUAÇÕES: São Paulo se organiza, e Rafinha garante vantagem contra o Palmeiras na Copa do Brasil

Com o resultado, o São Paulo fica com uma vantagem de 1 a 0 no agregado e pode até empatar por qualquer resultado no Allianz Parque, na quinta-feira (13), às 20h, que ainda assim levará a vaga para a semifinal. Antes disso, pelo Brasileirão, o Tricolor vai até Bragança para enfrentar o Bragantino, no domingo (9), às 16h.

New Zealand, India through to Champions Trophy semi-finals

New Zealand’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday confirmed this; that means Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan are out of contention

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2025

Against Bangladesh, Michael Bracewell was New Zealand’s hero with the ball•ICC/Getty Images

New Zealand and India are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy from Group A, following New Zealand’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday. The two will face each other on March 2 in Dubai for top spot in Group A, but regardless of the result in that game, India will play the first semi-final in Dubai on March 4, while New Zealand play the second semi-final in Lahore on March 5.Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan are out of the running. The two will play each other for consolation points – both are winless after two games each – in Rawalpindi on February 27.New Zealand leave for Dubai on Tuesday morning, captain Mitchell Santner confirmed after the Bangladesh match. He lauded Player of the Match Michael Bracewell for setting up the victory over Bangladesh. “We knew Bangladesh would be a tough challenge on this wicket and I think the way we were able to pull it back with the ball in the middle [overs] was pleasing,” Santner said at the post-match presentation. “That’s probably the hardest thing in one-day cricket, to take wickets in the middle, and I think Bracewell was outstanding.”Bracewell bowled his ten overs on the trot to finish with figures of 4 for 26 – 43 dots included – as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to 236 for 9, and then the chase was directed by centurion Rachin Ravindra, who stroked 112 off 105.Bangladesh had been 45 for 0 when Bracewell came on in the ninth over, but he struck straightaway, and by the time he was done in the 27th, they had fallen to 119 for 5. Bracewell said he was happy to contribute to sealing the semi-final spot, and the experience he gained from the preceding tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa helped.”It’s awesome to contribute to a win. The main focus was coming here and getting the win and securing that semi-final spot, and we were able to do that today,” Bracewell said, adding about his learnings from the tri-series: “I think just keeping the stumps in play as long as you can [is important]. Looks like if you give a little bit of width [on these pitches], guys can free their arms and score pretty freely, so [I was] just trying to bowl as straight as I can, bring in that little bit of variable bounce [which the pitch offered].”Australia and South Africa, who play at this same venue on Tuesday, might be taking note. They are in a tussle in Group B, which is still wide open. Both teams as well as Afghanistan and England are still in contention for a semi-final spot, although Afghanistan and England have little room left for error, both having lost their first game.

Presidente do Fortaleza projeta duelo com o Palmeiras na Copa do Brasil: 'Favoritismo é deles'

MatériaMais Notícias

O Fortaleza volta a São Paulo, desta vez para encarar o Palmeiras, no Allianz Parque, nesta quarta-feira (17), pelo primeiro jogo das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. Recentemente, o clube esteve na capital e empatou em 1 a 1 com o Corinthians, na Neo Química Arena, mas pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. O presidente do time cearense, Marcelo Paz, deixou o favoritismo na conta do Alviverde e comentou o trabalho feito em seu clube.

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+ Veja tabela da Copa do Brasil-2023 clicando aqui

Toda vez que sai de Fortaleza, Marcelo Paz é elogiado por torcedores de outros times e até mesmo jornalistas pela forma como vem conduzindo o Leão. Nos últimos anos, o clube tornou-se referência no mercado com resultados dentro e fora de campo (ver números abaixo) e enaltecido pela boa gestão.

– Esse reconhecimento do trabalho atual é reflexo do que foi feito há muitos anos, passo a passo, tratando tudo sempre com profissionalização e governança, sequência de trabalho de treinador e junção com o torcedor. A nossa torcida é muito importante neste processo. O Fortaleza hoje tem essa referência, sobretudo na área de gestão. Do ponto esportivo, em nível regional, temos tido bons resultados, começando a participar de competições sul-americanas, gradativamente buscando espaços maiores na Série A, em um cenário de competidores muito fortes, mas é um reconhecimento que nos deixa felizes, em saber que estamos no caminho certo, mas que é preciso cuidar. Futebol não dá para cochilar e achar que já chegou, é preciso estar toda hora se provando – explicou.

Para se ter uma ideia desse sucesso, nos últimos cinco anos, o Fortaleza aumentou a sua receita em mais de 1.100%. Em 2017, no início da gestão do atual presidente Marcelo Paz, temporada em que o Leão disputava a Série C, o faturamento foi de R$ 24 milhões. Já em 2022, com o clube consolidado na elite do futebol brasileiro, este número saltou para mais de R$ 267 milhões.

A receita operacional bruta alcançada no ano passado, inclusive, foi a maior da história do Nordeste. Nunca um clube nordestino chegou a faturar R$ 267.851.201,44. O valor superou as próprias expectativas do Fortaleza, que projetava R$ 141 milhões no orçamento.

Além desse eficiente trabalho de administração e gestão do clube como um todo, os resultados dentro de campo contribuíram muito para esse sucesso. Na temporada de 2021, por exemplo, o Fortaleza terminou na quarta colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, o que permitiu uma vaga direta na Copa Libertadores da América, feito inédito na história do clube. No mesmo ano, a equipe também foi semifinalista da Copa do Brasil.

Em 2022, o Tricolor avançou da primeira da Libertadores e disputou as oitavas de finais do torneio, outra façanha inédita. Desde o acesso para a primeira divisão, em 2018, a equipe disputa a elite do futebol brasileiro pelo quinto ano consecutivo. Nos últimos cinco anos, o time também consolidou uma hegemonia regional. Foram cinco títulos consecutivos do Campeonato Cearense e duas Copas do Nordeste.

No ano passado, o clube anunciou que a dívida com a Justiça do Trabalho havia sido zerada. Em 2017, ano em que Marcelo Paz assumiu a presidência do Leão, o déficit era de R$ 5 milhões.

Para o duelo com o Verdão, no Allianz Parque, é preciso dizer que as duas equipes são as duas únicas invictas no Campeonato Brasileiro.

– É interessante o confronto entre duas equipes que estão invictas na Série A, embora seja um recorte não tão grande, mas já são seis jogos. O Palmeiras com um aproveitamento melhor, mas nós consideramos o nosso aproveitando bom, e é curioso que os dois se enfrentem agora – apontou Paz.

Marcelo Paz mantém a humildade e indica que o Palmeiras é favorito no confronto, apesar de considerar o bom momento de seu plantel na temporada.

– O favoritismo é do Palmeiras, pela grandeza, pelas ambições deles que são de títulos muito grandes, então tem essas similaridades. Mas nós sabemos que tem também uma certa distância que iremos tentar diminuir, em campo, com estratégia, com garra, com entrega e com inteligência para, quem sabe, fazer um ótimo confronto.

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