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Watching Hayden bludgeon both pace and spin around the park, you cannot help but wonder – will the Mongoose make its way onto the international scene?

Jamie Alter at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi19-Mar-2010File under “Sights I Never Expected to See”: Matthew Hayden, post international retirement, clobbering bowlers all around an international stadium with what looked like a baby’s brass rattle in those paws of his. Here’s introducing Matt the Bat, now with a longer handle, aka the Mongoose bat.For the uninitiated, the Mongoose is a something of a miniature version of a normal cricket bat, but it has two distinguishing features: the handle is as long as the blade and the splice, which normal bats have in the blade, is built into that handle to guarantee a clean hitting surface on the bat. Its USP – if you’ve been following events in the build-up to the IPL – is that it essentially allows a batsman to hit harder and further without changing the way he plays. On the basis of what Hayden achieved at the Feroz Shah Kotla today, the Mongoose suits Twenty20 to the T.Its short, stocky frame – the base is reportedly five centimeters – allows for sweet timing and that was as evident as crystal. The first sign that Hayden, after two poor games, was roaring back in to form came in the second over when he slammed three boundaries in four balls.The Mongoose made its debut in the second ball of the fourth over, after Hayden had already muscled some good shots with his normal blade. He’s has always wielded the bat like a club, but here was Hayden with a big handle and small blade. To the naked eye, the Mongoose looked silly in his bear hands. In fact, at first it just didn’t look right. Surely he would mishit one, inside-edge one onto his stumps, fail to reach out to a spinner, or be caught short of his crease while putting in a dive? None happened.The first shot Hayden played with the Mongoose was a letdown. He went for an ugly heave and got a streaky single to the leg side. You can’t time a cricket ball at pace with that toothpick, was the common assumption. Then Rajat Bhatia came in to the attack for some military medium stuff, only to feel the full effect of what Hayden and his buddy could do. Bhatia to Hayden was never going to be a key contest, but this was too one-sided. Hayden swept four to fine leg, slammed a straight six, tickled another off the pads for four, and slogged four to long-on. Bhatia was nonplussed.Right, so this thing can do a bit, you started to think. But what about against spin, when the pace is taken off and the pitch plays a bit slow and low? The answer came all too soon, as Tillakaratne Dilshan was called on for some offspin in the eighth over. Hayden was back at his furious best: Dilshan tossed it up and the punishment was immediate – three sixes stung Delhi and sent the crowd into raptures. The second was a mishit but still soared into the stands. You marveled at the distance the ball travelled after it struck the blade of the bat.The Mongoose didn’t restrict Hayden in any way, as you might have expected it to. What it lacks in reach, it more than makes up for with effect. Length balls were swatted over the infield nonchalantly; those that hit the edges ran away to fine leg or third man; two balls that came off the toe end sped past extra cover; those that hit the sweet spot just disappeared. A low full toss from Dirk Nannes – and it’s for this specific delivery and the yorker that the Mongoose could prove to be most crucial – was sent speeding past short fine leg.The Mongoose didn’t require Hayden to change his grip or style, but it did allow him to smack the ball harder and further. It was the perfect remedy for Hayden to strike form and Chennai to canter home. On the evidence of what we saw this evening, its power really is phenomenal.Watching Hayden in full flow is one of the more delightful viewing experiences today, his brute force and style elevating him above many currently active hard-hitting batsmen in international cricket. But watching him with that little thing in his hands was something else. Cricket has traditionally been averse to change and innovation, but watching Hayden bludgeon both pace and spin around the park, you cannot help but wonder – will the Mongoose make its way onto the international scene?In 1983, Tony Montana blasted through a door firing his automatic machine gun and screaming six words that went on to become part of cinema lore – “Say hello to my little friend!” Twenty-seven years later, a man who has already etched his name cricket’s history with a pivotal role in how openers approached the game unveiled a small piece of willow that threatens to further revolutionize batting. Talk about creative mojo.

Delhi Capitals, on a run of four defeats in five before the game, ended Lucknow Super Giants’ stranglehold on 160-plus defences

Alan Gardner12-Apr-20242:01

‘Kuldeep bowled the perfect ball to Pooran’

Delhi Capitals ended Lucknow Super Giants’ stranglehold on 160-plus defences and lifted themselves off the bottom of the IPL 2024 table with a six-wicket win in Lucknow on Friday. Kuldeep Yadav provided the inspiration on his return from injury before a sparkling half-century on IPL debut from Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk saw them reel in their target with 11 balls to spare.After choosing to bat, LSG produced a stuttering innings that still finished above the 160-mark – from which they had never lost when batting first. KL Rahul gave them a fast start with 39 off 22 before Kuldeep ripped out the guts of their line-up in the space of his first nine balls. Rahul’s dismissal by Kuldeep left LSG 77 for 5 and their position got worse before it got better.With the score 94 for 7 after 13 overs, DC appeared to be on course for a walkover. But Ayush Badoni’s 31-ball fifty and an unbroken stand of 73 with Arshad Khan – an IPL record for the eighth wicket – at least gave LSG’s vaunted spin attack something to bowl at.DC, on a run of four defeats in five, might have wondered if their chance had gone. Prithvi Shaw gave the chase a punchy start to settle some of the nerves and then it was over to Fraser-McGurk, the 22-year-old from Melbourne, to provide the fireworks. His first scoring shot was a wallop for six over deep midwicket and he cleared the ropes four more times to raise his half-century from 31 balls. He and Rishabh Pant departed after a stand of 77 off 46 but by then DC were well on track.Rishabh Pant and Jake Fraser-McGurk set up the chase for Delhi Capitals•Associated PressFraser-McGurk continues stunning riseIt is only six months since Fraser-McGurk grabbed headlines worldwide by breaking AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest List A hundred when he reached the mark off just 29 balls while batting for South Australia. Remarkably, that was his first century in professional cricket, but he enjoyed a breakthrough summer that culminated in him being capped during Australia’s ODI series against West Indies. He hit his third ball on debut for four, his fourth for six, and then was out to his fifth.Coming in at No. 3 in Lucknow, following the dismissal of David Warner by Yash Thakur, he stayed true to first principles. His second ball was swatted insouciantly off the front foot over midwicket – a shot his DC coach, Ricky Ponting, would doubtless have enjoyed – and he then launched an even bigger hit over wide long-on from his fifth.Another slash for four took him to 16 off seven (with three scoring shots) before the arrival of the LSG spinners to present a new challenge.A slowdown duly followed, with nine runs coming from his next 16 balls. But just when the game appeared to be back in the balance, Fraser-McGurk let loose against Krunal Pandya, carting him over midwicket, extra cover and long-off for three consecutive sixes that effectively put a nail in the home side’s chances.Pant leads from the frontAmid Capitals’ struggles, Pant has carried a particularly heavy burden: captain, wicketkeeper and star batter, and all this after more than a year out of the game after a car crash. His anguished chat with umpire Rohan Pandit during the LSG innings, having unsuccessfully tried to review a wide – Pant seeming to say he hadn’t reviewed it in the first place – summed up how things have been going.But after Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Shaw, via a superb diving catch in the deep from Nicholas Pooran, Pant played an astute hand. After ticking along initially, and with Fraser-McGurk becalmed, he skipped out to his 12th delivery to launch Bishnoi down the ground for an enormous straight six, following it up with a smash through the covers for four. Two more boundaries came in Marcus Stoinis’ over, including an audacious reverse-scoop, to keep DC up with the rate before Fraser-McGurk unleashed.The requirement was below a run a ball by the time Fraser-McGurk carved to deep third and although Pant was stumped in the next over, charging at Bishnoi, the hard work had been done.ESPNcricinfo LtdRahul rules early exchangesLSG have a tried-and-trusted template for batting first and looked to be well on track at the end of the powerplay. Quinton de Kock took a brace of fours off the opening over, Rahul’s third ball was emphatically thrashed over cover for a flat six, and although Khaleel Ahmed hit back to remove de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal – who extended his run of single-figure scores in an LSG shirt to five – there was no sense of panic in the stands (although things might have been different if Khaleel had held on to a sharp return catch off Stoinis’ first ball).Rahul responded by punching Khaleel back down the ground for four, before finding the boundary twice more off Mukesh Kumar as LSG ended the powerplay comfortably on 57 for 2. Ominously for DC, Rahul’s 30 off 14 represented his joint-highest six-over score for LSG.Kuldeep back with a bang-bangCapitals’ premier wristspinner had missed their last three games with a groin injury but he immediately grabbed the LSG innings by the throat. Stoinis was unable to make the most of his early reprieve, slicing a googly to backward point to give Kuldeep a wicket with his third ball. The next delivery was even better, another expertly disguised wrong’un duping LSG’s leading run-scorer Pooran, who played all around the ball to lose his off stump.In his second over, Kuldeep snuffed out Rahul’s punchy knock, too – a review confirming a thin edge behind as the LSG captain attempted to cut a quicker, wide delivery. With impact sub Deepak Hooda top-edging tamely to point and Krunal gloving a Mukesh bouncer behind, LSG had slumped to 94 for 7 and were seemingly in deep trouble.2:37

Jaffer: Badoni continues to surprise us

Badoni finishes like DhoniThe LSG innings went six full overs without a boundary as the middle order crumbled, but Badoni and Arshad steadily resurrected their chances. Badoni ended the drought with back-to-back fours off Mukesh, pulled fine and slapped over backward point, but otherwise focused on hoovering up ones and twos against the spin of Kuldeep and Axar Patel.With the return of pace for the 18th, Badoni decided it was time to go. Khaleel was duly smoked over deep midwicket for six, before Arshad followed suit by muscling his first boundary over mid-off. The No. 9 was dropped by Shaw off the final ball of the over, to compound Khaleel’s pain. Badoni lofted and then swept Mukesh on the way to a 31-ball fifty in the 19th, as the eighth-wicket pair successfully drove LSG above the 160-mark. This time, however, the magic deserted them.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has revised its financial distribution model and increased the share for cash-strapped Afghanistan from Asia Cup earnings. Afghanistan became a Full Member of the ICC in 2017, but had been earning a lower share from the last two Asia Cups held in 2018 and 2022, with other Full Members in Asia divvying up the earnings equally.But with a new distribution model now in place, all Asian Test-playing nations including Afghanistan will be getting equal amounts from the ACC – that will effectively raise Afghanistan’s share from 6% to 15%. The other Full Members of the ACC – Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – will be getting a lesser share than before to accommodate the rise in Afghanistan’s revenue. Thus, the five Full Members will be getting 15% each, with the remaining amount to be distributed among Associates and Affiliates.”The increase in our ACC funding will greatly benefit the technical as well as the administrative aspects of Afghanistan Cricket,” Mirwais Ashraf, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman told ESPNcricinfo. “We are grateful for the support of the ACC and its member countries, and look forward to utilising these resources for taking Afghan cricket forward.Related

• Women's cricket in Afghanistan: Lack of progress 'a concern' for ICC

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“This is a major move in our favour, and we are confident that this increased funding will contribute significantly to the continued growth and success of this game in our country.”The increase, agreed upon at the recent ACC meeting in Bahrain, could not have come at a better time for the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board). Last October, after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, the ACB had plunged into a financial crisis as cash flow from their ICC revenue share hit a snag because of international sanctions. As a result, the ACB hasn’t been able pay full salaries to its staff for two months, and has also had to cancel a domestic regional one-day tournament.However, it found local sponsors and government funding, and managed to get back on its feet with cash starting to flow in December. The ICC also pays Afghanistan’s operational costs (from their share of ICC funds) incurred outside Afghanistan by mainly paying players, and also vendors engaged in hosting their games in the UAE. The ACB has also come under increased scrutiny and pressure for having made no progress with women’s cricket – a functioning women’s cricket team is a requirement for Full Member status with the ICC. Discussions on that are expected at the next ICC board meetings in March.

Afghanistan seek more bilateral cricket

What will also help is more bilateral cricket, and the PCB has reaffirmed its commitment to play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in March. That series came about after Australia’s pullout of three scheduled ODIs to be played against Afghanistan in the UAE in the same window.In an ACC meeting in Bahrain last week, the Afghanistan delegation led by Ashraf and ACB’s CEO Naseeb Khan discussed the possibility of playing more bilateral cricket. Pakistan was the first country to accept playing a series, although it is believed the PCB had to persuade its government to give the go-ahead, given the complex geo-political ties between the two countries at the moment.The other lingering concern was over the crowd hostility during matches between the two nations. The last few games between the two sides – including those at the 2019 World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the Asia Cup last year – has seen unprecedented disturbances break out among the spectators.The idea of playing Afghanistan was raised last month, with the PCB chairman Najam Sethi asserting that “politics and cricket shouldn’t be mixed up” after Australia’s withdrawal from playing Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s “further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education” in the country. Thus, the PCB and ACB instead found a window to play in, with both countries to equally share broadcast revenue.

تحدث ألكسندر تشيفرين، رئيس الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، عن أزمة دوري السوبر الأوروبي ومباراة برشلونة في مدينة ميامي الأمريكية.

ولم يتردد رئيس “يويفا” في طرح أسئلة رياضية خلال مقابلته مع صحيفة “بوليتيكو” والتي تعتبر أبرز وسائل الإعلام في الاتحاد الأوروبي وتناول مجددًا خطة إقامة مباراة ميامي بمزيد من التفاصيل كما حلل مجددًا مشروع دوري السوبر الأوروبي.

وقال تشيفرين، في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لسنا راضين ولكن على الرغم مما تحققنا منه قانونيًا ليس لدينا مجال كبير للمناورة إذا وافقت الاتحادات، لكنني أعتقد أنه سيتعين علينا مناقشة هذا الأمر بجدية بالغة مستقبلًا، لأن كرة القدم يجب أن تُلعب في أوروبا، ويجب على الجماهير مشاهدتها في منازلهم، إذ لا يمكنهم السفر إلى أستراليا أو الولايات المتحدة لمشاهدة فرقهم”.

وأكمل: “سنبدأ أيضًا هذا الحوار مع الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم وجميع الاتحادات، لأنني لا أعتقد أنه إيجابي، إذا كان استثناءً فلا بأس، وإذا كان هناك سبب فلا بأس ولكن من حيث المبدأ، يجب أن تلعب الفرق الأوروبية في أوروبا لأن جماهيرها تعيش في أوروبا، إنه تقليد عريق”.

اقرأ أيضًا | تشيفرين: ما يحدث في غزة يؤلمني.. ولم يكن لمحمد صلاح تأثير بشأن لافتة نهائي السوبر الأوروبي

وأضاف في حديثه حول إقامة مباراة برشلونة وفياريال بمدينة ميامي بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: “اليوم فقط كنا نعلق على أنه سيتعين علينا فتح هذا الحوار مستقبلًا”.

وبخصوص اجتماعه مع لابورتا أوضح: “إذا كان الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم يتفاوض مع مُروجي دوري السوبر، فإن رئيسه لا يعلم بذلك وبدون علمي لا معنى لذلك، هذا غير صحيح”.

واستطرد: “بالطبع تواصلنا ليس معي شخصيًا، بل مع الناديين الإسبانيين كما التقيت بـ لابورتا، وكان كل شيء على ما يُرام، لكن هذا ليس تفاوضًا، من الواضح أن نظام دوري أبطال أوروبا وشكله الجديد لن يتغير، سيظل كلا الناديين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة موضع ترحيب دائم في عائلة كرة القدم الأوروبية، حيث ينتميان دائمًا”.

وأتم: “الإنجازات؟ أظهرت كرة القدم الأوروبية وحدة مذهلة في إيقاف دوري السوبر، لأن تلك المسابقة النخبوية كانت في رأيي المتواضع ستُدمر كرة القدم”.

تحدث حلمي طولان، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر المشارك في كأس العرب، عن تقييمه لأندية الدوري المصري الممتاز، بعد مرور 3 جولات من الموسم الجديد.

وقال حلمي طولان، ضيف برنامج “الكورة مع فايق” على قناة “إم بي مصر 2”: “الدوري (مش حلو)، المستوى الفني ليس أفضل شيء، النتائج مهمة لكل الفرق لأن هناك 4 أندية ستهبط”.

طالع | حلمي طولان: 7 مفاجآت في قائمة منتخب مصر لـ كأس العرب.. و”مش عايز أعشم الناس”

وتابع: “لم أر كل صفقات الزمالك، اللاعب الذي لفت نظري الجناح البرازيلي (خوان ألفينا) نوعية جديدة ويمتلك قدرات عالية، يشبه مصطفى فتحي، وهذا كان ينقص الزمالك”.

وكشف: “أريد أن أوجه رسالة لوزير الاسكان، نادي الزمالك ملك 50 مليونًا وخلفه 50 مليون صوت، وهذا يمثل نصف مصر”.

واختتم: “هل من السياسة أن تغضب 50 مليون شخص مصري منتمي للزمالك في قرار بهذا الشكل، شيء غير منطقي وغير معقول بالمرة”.

سوف يعود نادي ريال مدريد إلى التدريبات من جديد اليوم الإثنين، استعدادًا للموسم الجديد تحت قيادة المدير الفني الواعد تشابي ألونسو، إذ ينطلق الموسم في غضون أسبوعين من الآن.

وتحدثت إذاعة ”كادينا كوبي” عن موقف نادي ريال مدريد من الدخول في سوق الانتقالات الصيفية مجددًا وضم لاعبين إلى صفوفه.

طالع .. رسالة هامة من رودريجو إلى ألونسو قبل بداية موسم ريال مدريد

وأشارت الصحفية بكادينا كوبي، آرانشا رودريجيز، المقربة من ريال مدريد، إلى أن الفريق الملكي لن يقوم بإجراء أي تعاقدات جديدة فيما تبقى من الميركاتو الصيفي.

وأضافت رودريجيز، أن إدارة ريال مدريد أرسلت رسالة إلى مدرب الفريق تشابي ألونسو، تفيد أن التشكيلة مكتملة حاليًا ولن تكون هناك أي تعاقدات جديدة قبل إغلاق سوق الانتقالات.

وأوضحت آرانشا، أن ألونسو سوف يتعين عليه التكيف مع تشكيلة ريال مدريد الحالية، حيث ينتظر المدرب الإسباني تحدي إعادة الفريق الملكي إلى الواجهة خلال الموسم الجديد.

ريال مدريد أبرم أربع صفقات خلال فترة الميركاتو الصيفي، حيث ضم دين هويسن من بورنموث، ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد من ليفربول، فرانكو ماستانتونو من ريفر بلايت، وأخيرًا التعاقد مع ألفارو كاريراس من صفوف بنفيكا.

دافع أسطورة نادي برشلونة الإسباني، ريفالدو، عن أحد لاعبي الفريق بعد التركيز على حياته الشخصية بشكل أكبر خلال الفترة الأخيرة، من جانب وسائل الإعلام والصحافة.

وبدأ برشلونة جولته الآسيوية الاستعدادية للموسم الجديد 2025/26، تحت قيادة المدرب هانز فليك، حيث فاز أمس على فيسيل كوبي بثلاثة أهدف مقابل هدف.

ويأمل برشلونة استمرار نجاحه في الموسم الجديد مع المدرب الألماني، بعدما تمكن من تحقيق الثلاثية المحلية الموسم الماضي.

وكان لامين يامال عنصرًا أساسيًا في نجاح برشلونة الموسم الماضي، حيث لعب دورًا بارزًا داخل الملعب، ولكنه تعرض لهجوم كبير على المستوى الإعلامي، مؤخرًا، بسبب حياته الشخصية.

ووجهت انتقادات لاذعة إلى لامين يامال بسبب احتفاله بعيد ميلاده رقم 18، ولكن ريفالدو يرى أن الأمر لم يكن عادلًا مع الإسباني الشاب.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ريفالدو عن لاعب برشلونة الجديد: صفقة ممتازة ولكن لن يشارك أساسيًا الموسم المقبل

وقال ريفالدو، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “ياهو سبورتس” العالمية: “لامين يامال لاعب شاب، يمتلك عقلًا ذو تهيئة جيدة، ذكي ومدرك تمامًا للوقت الذي يعيشه”.

وأضاف: “عندما تكون شابًا ومشهورًا بالفعل، فإن أي تصرف صغير قد يكون له تأثير أكبر بسبب التغطية الإعلامية”.

وواصل: “نحن من يحب كرة القدم نريد رؤيته متألقًا، يلعب جيدًا ويبتعد عن الجدل الذي قد يضر بمسيرته، المهم ما يقدمه على أرض الملعب، وهو رائع بكل بساطة”.

واسترسل: “نأمل ألا تنتشر المزيد من الشائعات لأنها محبطة ومحزنة، هو يستحق أن يُذكر فقط بفضل أدائه الكروي، نأمل أن يتمكن من التفكير في كل ما حققه حتى الآن والابتعاد عن أي تشتيت، لديه مستقبل باهر، يجب الاحتفاء به”.

GOAL US presents CWC XI: Key observations from first week of the tournament, including uneven MLS play and American no-shows

We are one Matchday into the Club World Cup, and things haven't quite taken off. FIFA's flagship tournament has operated on a gentle simmer for a week. There have been some moments that show promise, such as Boca fans going wild and Real Madrid being not-that-good. But otherwise, it's been a tepid affair, 32 teams pretty much just feeling this competition out.

But that does not mean that we are devoid of talking points. Even with the CWC overall yet to take off, the group stage has already yielded some interesting drama. The South American clubs, for example, have been the early stars of the show. MLS have been a bit mixed – although Miami picked up a massive win against Porto on Thursday. PSG had no issues in the first game, but then were stunned by Botafogo Thursday night.

There are moments of promise. Fundamentally, this isn't just a kickabout in blistering heat in front of five very rich fans. And that's certainly a good start for a tournament that is very much in its embryonic phase.

GOAL US presents the Club World Cup XI, with key observations from the first week of matches.

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  1The South American sides are here to play

  It has always made sense, in some way, for the best teams in the world to play each other in some sort of organized competition. There is heritage here, too. The Intercontinental Cup brought about some famous fixtures, and was dominated by South American sides in the 1980s.

  That spirit has survived to an extent, and has already been clear at this year's CWC. South American teams are undefeated at the tournament thus far – with Palmeiras and Boca Juniors both feeling as they should have beaten Champions League caliber opposition.

  Flamengo, meanwhile, dispatched ES Tunis with ease thanks to Giorgian de Arrascaeta's star showing. The fixtures get trickier from here, but deep runs are certainly on the cards.

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  2MLS Clubs are alive and (sort of) kicking

  What were reasonable expectations for MLS clubs heading into this thing? Some told GOAL that they expect to get out of their groups. Seattle Sounders suggested that they are just happy to be here. Well, so far, they've won just one of four. Miami grabbed the sole victory, albeit it an impressive one, with a Lionel Messi free-kick sealing three vital points against Porto.

  But performances have been pretty encouraging. Miami really should have won the group by now, having hit the post twice late against Al Ahly (more on them later.) Seattle Sounders gave Botafogo a good game, and a more attacking setup from the opening whistle would have gotten them at least a point.

  LAFC turned in a good performance against Chelsea – and will certainly have hope heading into their clash with ES Tunis, especially if Denis Bouanga wakes up. All three will need to avoid losing from here on out to get out of their group. There's always hope.

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  3Real Madrid aren't all that (not yet, at least)

  What did you want? A fully functioning 3-4-2-1 with meticulous build up, a fearsome press, and a line so high even Hansi Flick's Barcelona would be terrified? Of course, Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid are going to need time to settle into things. Even long time goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois admitted that they still play a bit like a Caerlo Ancelotti team. Old habits die hard, it seems.

  But Los Blancos were pretty poor against Al Hilal. "Trent" – as he has now been rebranded due to the famous Spanish difficulty of double-barrel last names – had a tough debut. Vinicius Jr needed treatment on his back before the game and didn't look himself.

  Jude Bellingham berated a linesman for no apparent reason. Take all of that into consideration, and a 1-1 draw isn't the worst thing. But this is Madrid, and results count. It seems that a bit of process-trusting is necessary in the meantime.

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  4No one knows what's happening with ticket sales

  FIFA emphatically claimed that they had reached 1.5 million ticket sales for the Club World Cup, with buyers from 130 different countries purchasing a spot to see this thing play out in the United States. And, well, that runs counter to the eye test. At least at some matches.

  While the Rose Bowl and Hard Rock Stadium both drew big crowds for the big teams, elsewhere, things have been pretty sparse. It is entirely possible, of course, that prospective ticket buyers have seen the quality of football on display will be motivated once games start to mean more. Until then, what the eyes can see and what FIFA claim are in contrast.

Visitors bowled out for 92 in a session to confirm crushing 399-run defeat

ECB Reporters Network27-Jun-2023James Rew notched his fourth LV= Insurance County Championship century of the season to help Somerset complete a 399-run rout of Nottinghamshire inside three days at Taunton.The 19-year-old wicketkeeper hit a career-best 123 not out as his side ran up 514 for 8 declared in their second innings to set their opponents an unlikely victory target of 492. George Bartlett, unbeaten on 109 overnight, fell for 134, just three short of his career-best score, while Kasey Aldridge weighed in with 50. Lyndon James had the best bowling figures for Notts with 2 for 64 from 18 overs.The visitors then slumped to 92 all out in their second innings, Josh Davey taking 4 for 17, to suffer the heaviest Championship defeat by a margin of runs in their history. They took three points from the game, while their opponents claimed 19.Somerset began the day on 268 for 4, knowing that the second new ball was just an over away. Any hopes Notts had of using it to reestablish their first day advantage soon disappeared.Bartlett and Rew, who set out on 17, batted confidently through the opening hour, taking few risks and eliminating the errors that had cost Somerset dear in their first innings. They had taken their fifth-wicket stand to 89 and the total to 320 when Bartlett, who had begun his innings with his team 43 for 2, was bowled by Dane Paterson, having faced 265 balls and hit 14 fours and a six.Rew has demonstrated a passion for batting long in red-ball cricket since first breaking into Somerset’s side last season. The young left-hander reached a typically unflurried fifty off 105 deliveries and played through the morning session without alarm.By lunch, he had moved to 60 and the lead was 342. Aldridge was on 17 and the afternoon session saw the pair build another substantial stand. Rew unleashed sixes over long-on and midwicket off Matt Carter, whose offspin posed as little threat as the seamers on what was looking a very flat pitch.Aldridge took the lead past 400 with a cover-driven boundary off Brett Hutton before Rew brought up the fifth first-class hundred of his short career off 172 balls, with 10 fours and 2 sixes.Aldridge has grown in confidence with the bat this season. He went to fifty off 88 balls, but was then bowled by James, having hit 5 fours. By then Somerset had posted 447 for 6 and their lead had grown to 424.It was then just a case of when skipper Tom Abell would choose to declare. By the time he did, Craig Overton and Matt Henry had warmed up for their bowling duties with some lusty blows, Henry clearing the ropes twice, while the ever-vigilant Rew had extended his rock solid innings to span 216 balls and just over four-and-three-quarter hours.Tea was taken before Notts began their mammoth task. It became even more mountainous when Haseeb Hammed was run out without scoring, sent back attempting a single to backward point and undone by Bartlett’s direct hit.It was 2 for 2 when Henry, bowling around the wicket, jagged one into left-hander Ben Slater’s pads to pin him lbw and 10 for 3 when Matthew Montgomery edged a defensive shot off Overton to Aldridge at second slip.Notts captain Steven Mullaney found himself walking to the crease at 14 for 4 after Joe Clarke had been snapped up at second slip by Overton to give Henry his eighth wicket of the match.The extra pace of Somerset’s opening bowlers was making the pitch look very different. And when Josh Davey replaced Overton, his first over saw James edge a drive to Tom Lammonby at third slip. Henry, whose bowling on the second morning had changed the course of the game took a rest having taken 2 for 19 from eight overs and his replacement, Aldridge, soon had Mullaney caught behind for 23 to make it 62 for 6.Hutton sportingly walked when inside-edging Davey to wicketkeeper Rew, who claimed another victim when Tom Moores, on 24, nicked a ball from Aldridge. Davey then cleaned up Jake Ball and Dane Paterson to spark joyous celebrations among home supporters.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo tem somente até esta terça-feira (26) para inscrever novos jogadores para a Copa do Brasil. Sem Giuliano Galoppo e nenhum outro reforço anunciado até o momento sem ser o atacante Marcos Guilherme, que não pode atuar na competição por já ter defendido o Santos, o Tricolor não contará com novidades para as eventuais próximas fases da competição. Um risco em meio ao elenco extremamente pouco volumoso e comprometido pelo grande número de contusões e suspensões.

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GALERIAS
+ Veja as notas da equipe do LANCE! para os jogadores do São Paulo no duelo com o Goiás

Marcos Guilherme defendeu o Peixe nos duelos ante Salgueiro e Fluminense-PI. Assim, de acordo com o regulamento, não poderá disputar mais a competição por uma equipe diferente, só ficando disponível para Copa Sul-Americana e para o Campeonato Brasileiro.

Sem o anúncio oficial de Galoppo até o momento, apesar do jogador já estar no Brasil desde a última sexta-feira (22), há risco de que a sua situação não seja regularizada a tempo, deixando-o também de do mata-mata nacional. A expectativa é que o argentino de 23 anos seja contratadopor cerca de US$ 6 milhões (aproximadamente R$ 33 milhões)junto ao Banfield e apresentado em breve.

Sem mais reforços próximos, o São Paulo chegará para a próxima etapa da Copa do Brasil – e para as futuras, caso avance – com carências em determinadas posições.

Uma delas é no gol. Jandrei foi desfalque nos últimos jogos, após uma pancada nas costas contra o Fluminense. Na segunda-feira (25), realizou um treino leve e sem impacto, assim, é uma grande incerteza para o jogo de quinta-feira (28), contra o América-MG, pelas quartas da competição.

Desta forma, quem assume seu posto é o jovem Thiago Couto, que vem sendo contestado pela falta de experiência.

As opções para a posição são extremamente restritas. Há também Young, do Sub-20, porém, o jogador não tem experiência no profissional. Recentemente, John – do Santos – surgiu como uma opção. Mas o ritmo das negociações torna pouco provável que ele seja regularizado a tempo até terça mesmo se o Santos aceitar cedê-lo.

Conforme levantado pelo LANCE!, o jogador teria pedido para deixar o Peixe e interessado o São Paulo, porém, baixas são as chances de um acordo se encaminhar a tempo também.

Fora isso, o clube também corria atrás de outras posições, como zagueiro, porém nada em mente ainda. No último sábado (23), após o empate em 3 a 3 do Tricolor com o Goiás, Rogério Ceni chegou a admitir que a prioridade para a janela era por um defensor desde que Arboleda passou por cirurgia após contusão no tornozelo, em junho. Mas explicou que não há opções baratas no mercado. Uma realidade atual do Tricolor, que sofre com dívidas.

Galoppo será uma espécie de ‘presente’ do misterioso investidor que bancará a contratação ao clube do Morumbi e não foi revelado até o momento. Seria recompensado em uma venda futura, prioritariamente para a Europa.

O São Paulo vai a campo pelo jogo de ida nas quartas de finais da Copa do Brasil na quinta-feira (28), contra o América-MG, às 20h (de Brasília), no estádio do Morumbi. A competição é de suma importância para o Tricolor, porque além do título inédito, a premiação seria de bom grado.

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