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Despite the occasion being Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge of West Ham United at the London Stadium, the Monday night affair between the Hammers and Brentford had a subdued feeling from the get-go.

Planned protests against Hammers chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karen Brady meant sections of West Ham’s ground were sparsely filled throughout, with the feeling around their home stadium only worsening by the full-time whistle, as a 2-0 defeat kept the East Londoners deep in the Premier League relegation mix.

Nuno is clearly still getting used to all the new players at his disposal, as some surprising alterations were on show for the clash with the Bees. Most notably, Malick Diouf sat on the bench alongside the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Guido Rodriguez.

Unfortunately, none of those changes worked, with Mathias Jensen’s late strike condemning Nuno’s side to a miserable sixth league defeat of the season already, which also leaves the ex-Nottingham Forest boss still searching for a first win in the Hammers dug-out.

West Ham's biggest underperformers vs Brentford

Truthfully, although it took until the 94th minute for Jensen to seal the win for Keith Andrew’s visitors, Brentford should have had the game tied up long before this last-gasp stunner.

Indeed, the Bees would tally up a mammoth 15 shots just in the first half, as the ropey centre-back duo of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo were continually caught out by the physical approach of Igor Thiago, with a long ball over the top late into the first half catching Kilman out, before Thiago eventually bundled home the opener.

19-year-old Oliver Scales also noticeably struggled on a surprise start, with just one of his aerial duels being won before being hauled off on the 46th minute mark.

Another intriguing selection decision by Nuno in handing Andy Irving a first Premier League start of the season also fell flat, as the Scotsman gave up possession ten times as an unassured body in central midfield.

Even Jarrod Bowen was quiet to further add to the misery on display, with the usually dependable Hammers captain only managing to tally up a lacklustre xG of 0.08 come the full-time whistle, firing a few chances off target.

He wasn’t the only first team regular who decided to put in a no-show against Brentford, however.

West Ham star has regressed under Nuno

While Graham Potter was deservedly sacked after collecting a dire four defeats from five Premier League games at the start of the season, at least Lucas Paqueta stood out as a bright spark during those tough times.

The Brazilian certainly lived up to his previous “explosive” billing – as he was once labelled by Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp – when collecting two goals across this choppy patch of matches, with a kiss of the badge after confidently tucking a penalty away at Forest cementing his reputation as a fan favourite.

However, he hasn’t looked quite so razor-sharp in front of goal since Nuno entered the building, with only a meagre four efforts attempted by the enigmatic Brazilian across his new manager’s first three league games at the helm. That must be particularly worrying considering that he operated as a false 9 in the absence of the injured Niclas Fullkrug on Monday.

In particular, Paqueta’s ongoing regression under his new manager was clear for all to see against Andrew’s away side, as the hot-and-cold number ten failed to be a feared forward presence in the same manner the hard-to-contain Thiago managed to be for the Bees.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

61

Shots

1

Accurate passes

26/42 (63%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/2

Possession lost

23x

Successful dribbles

0/1

Total duels won

7/20

Instead, Paqueta was often seen giving up the ball time after time, with possession squandered a costly 23 times. Having amassed three key passes against Arsenal in their last away outing, this was a notable drop-off.

Only winning 35% of his duels, too, on top of only testing the Bees goalkeeper with one shot, Nuno might well be prepared to boldly drop the 28-year-old in games to come, as the already under pressure Hammers boss tries to get a tune out of his demoralised side no matter what.

Branded as a “shocking” mess of a situation post-match by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, Nuno will have his work cut out for him to get the sinking ship back on course, with the 51-year-old desperately needing Paqueta to get back to his best, and sharp.

Nuno suggests West Ham could be about to rely on "very aggressive" young star

The Hammers boss clearly loves what he can offer.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 19, 2025

Aston Villa will be looking to pile on the Manchester City misery when the two sides face off in the Premier League this coming weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s men are going through an unusual crisis at this moment in time, with eight defeats picked up from their last 11 outings in all competitions, as Unai Emery’s men now wait eagerly to try to add insult to injury by inflicting another loss onto the reigning top-flight champions just before Christmas.

Emery will likely stick with Jhon Duran as the lone striker for this big clash at Villa Park, safe in the knowledge that the potent Colombian could cause the leaky Man City defence all sorts of bother.

Duran's continued Villa heroics

After all, the Villa hotshot has started his side’s last two Premier League clashes after only being utilised as an impact man off the substitutes bench prior.

He has justified those starts, with two goals picked up from his last two top-flight contests, which included this consolation header finding the back of the net last time out in a slender 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

As is stated above, that took Duran’s goal total for the season all the way up to 11, as Ollie Watkins begins to worry his once concrete first team spot is no longer so solid with the clinical 21-year-old around.

Amazingly, despite the ex-Chicago Fire striker’s value increasing all the way up to £33m off the back of these heroics – as per Transfermarkt – one former Villa man’s value stands higher than that right now, despite failing to settle in his fresh environment.

The former Aston Villa man now worth more than Duran

The player in question here is Douglas Luiz, who sealed a move away from the Villans this summer when Serie A giants Juventus forked out in the region of £42m to land his services.

Arsenal were also known admirers at one point looking at the Brazilian, but Thiago Motta’s men would be the side to cough up that sizeable fee in the end, after he had become a reliable mainstay at Villa.

He would instantly fit in at Villa Park after a spell in Spain with Girona, with three goals and three assists picked up as a daring midfield option during his debut season on English shores.

The 18-time senior Brazil international would only get better from this point on, with a further 19 goals and 17 assists accumulated across his lengthy 204 game stay in the West Midlands, as Emery even singled out the star as being “amazing” last year when rumours begin to circulate he could leave Villa behind.

Yet, despite the Spaniard waxing lyrical, Emery would have to deal with the heartbreak of losing his midfield ace when Juventus eventually came calling.

Now, with hindsight a very fine thing, Luiz should have stayed put at a club that clearly adored him, as he’s found his transition to playing in Turn extremely choppy.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Luiz

Games played

8

Games started

2

Minutes averaged*

37 mins

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

2

Ball recoveries*

1.8

Total duels won*

2.6

Stats by Sofascore

Only starting two games for Juventus in league action so far, it’s clear from the table above the high standards Luiz was playing to at Villa have now escaped him, with injuries also troubling him in Italy to date.

Villa are the clear winners here overall, having banked that £42m wisely, with the likes of Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana all also shining in central midfield in their former star-man’s absence.

The South American’s value still stands high above even Duran at the £37m mark, so not all hope will be lost that he can return to his tenacious best soon for Juventus, but he certainly would have envisaged the start of his career at the Old Lady to have gone smoother.

Aston Villa want to sign Duran replacement who's a "monster in the making"

Aston Villa would need a new striker if Duran leaves

ByJoe Nuttall Dec 18, 2024

The U.S. beach squad, a mixture of ex-pros and futsal stars led by an Irish coach, now on the brink of a fourth straight World Cup

You can see them in a strip of beach in Miami, every Saturday, rain or shine – kicking a soccer ball around on the golden sand. It’s thick and deep. You can’t really run. Sometimes it’s just 10 players. Other times, the numbers reach 20. The rules are simple: five a side, goalkeepers get involved in the play, no offsides.

The goals fly in as the sun rises. There is always music blasting, maybe a swim at the end, and then it’s back to normal life. Remove the sand, swimming and sunrise, and it’s the kind of pick up soccer that happens anywhere and everywhere, on pitches, courts and grassy fields around the globe.

But for Nico Perea, defender for the U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team – and two-time national player of the year – it’s the perfect way to stay sharp. He is one of a select few athletes in the U.S. who compete in beach soccer at an elite level. He has 34 caps for the national team, in fact, and has played in the World Cup – yes, there’s a World Cup for beach soccer – and is a mainstay at the back for the reigning CONCACAF Champions.

Still, this is a wild bunch, a mixture of ex-pros, indoor stars, and soccer-lovers – some with no apparent background in beach football whatsoever – piecing together a squad capable of competing for the United States.

“I didn’t even know this was a ‘thing’ at first,” Perea told GOAL. “But you’re telling me I can represent my country at it? It’s a dream come true.”

• United States Soccer
  

  Where they come from

  Beach soccer is not a full-time profession in the United States. Some of the players also compete in professional indoor soccer. Others have normal day jobs and then train by themselves. Perea works a corporate job in Miami, then spends his nights working on his passion.

  Alessandro “Sancho” Canale, the second-all-time leading beach goalscorer for the U.S., has his own clothing brand, advises other brands, plays for an indoor team in Washington, and also finds time to kick a ball around on the beach.

  The national team players are paid a daily rate – a relatively recent development, at that – but rely on income from elsewhere to pay the bills.

  “Probably half the time that I've been on the team, we weren't getting paid, and maybe the first four years, or five years,” Canale said.

  But make no mistake, there is a real professionalism here. Beaches are rented for a minimum of four camps per year. And the new United States Soccer training center in Atlanta will feature separate facilities for the sport on sand.

Advertisement

• US Soccer
  

  How it all works

  Beach soccer differs from the beautiful game in its traditional format. There are five players on each team, including the goalie. And that’s more or less where whatever similarities end.

  There is no half time – games are played in three 12-minute periods. There is no offside, and throw-ins can be kicked off the ground. Everyone is barefoot. Bicycle kick goals are so common that a rule had to be implemented preventing defenders from touching opposing forwards when they are off the ground (it makes the highlights immaculate viewing.) The ball is in the air a lot of the time – passing on uneven sand is largely unpredictable.

  In most cases, the pitch has to be cleared of pebbles and shells before kickoff to prevent injury. Goals are smaller than usual, just six yards across. The pitch is tight, too, roughly 40 yards long and 30 wide. Substitutions are done on a rolling basis, making this thing look far more like shifts in ice hockey than soccer. No one can run on sand for a full game. In a matchday squad of 12, most – except the backup goalie – can expect to play.

  A baseline of skills are applicable from 11v11 soccer, but the best players tend to be experienced in futsal or small-sided soccer. Still, this is its own thing.

  “It is unlike any other sport – and unlike outdoor soccer, it's unlike indoor soccer,” Canale said.

  And the sport is global. Beach Soccer Worldwide was founded 1994, and sponsored, officially, by FIFA in 2005 – 142 different countries have registered national teams. A World Cup has been held every other year since FIFA’s endorsement. The best teams are who you might expect: Brazil, Portugal, Spain. But Russia, Japan and Italy are all strong in their own right.

• US Soccer
  

  'I was just looking for a team'

  The U.S. team, meanwhile, are ever-improving. The last FIFA rankings had them at No. 15. Part of their challenge is that there is no professional infrastructure for the game in the United States. Perea’s pickup may be a scenic, idealized version of the game, but for a long time, it’s how many learned to play.

  But the lack of an official organizing body – outside of the U.S. national setup – has given rise to some wonderful stories, and unique talents. The U.S. national team consists of a group of former USL players, ex-college talents, and futsal stars.

  Perea, for one, stumbled across the game when his career had reached a dead end. He was a part of USL Championship side Indy Eleven in 2019, and still looking for a club when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered sport around the world. With nowhere to play, he moved back to his native Miami. And there, an opportunity arose.

  “I was just looking for a team, talking to my agent, trying to feel out the situation. And then the pandemic hit. Everything shut down. As you know, there was not much to do. The league was in a pause, and I was back home in Florida,” Perea said.

  He reverted back to all of the things he had done as a kid – running on the beach, training on the sand. He used to go out to the ocean with his father in his youth, practicing headers into the water and working on his touch as the waves broke. A friend introduced him to beach soccer in full. Perea was told there would be a training session on the beach. Perea agreed to attend – without the crucial clarifying detail as to what exact sport he might be playing.

  As it turned out, the session was run by the then-beach national coach Francis Farberoff. He was using the games as a quasi-scouting session. There were players from all over the world, Perea said, including Europe, Latin America and the U.S. But the man on the sidelines paid special attention to the Americans. Perea, a commanding center back with an excellent first touch, was swiftly invited to play for the team.

  “Once they told me about the opportunities, like, ‘Hey, we travel, we play important competitions, you get to be home,’ I was just like, ‘Let's just try this beach thing out,’” Perea said.

  For Canale, things were more complicated. The forward was at a crossroads in his career, soon to transfer from Santa Monica City College to UC San Diego to pursue 11v11 soccer. Upon the recommendation of a friend, he was introduced to Eddie Soto – then the U.S. beach head coach.

  Soto told Canale that he needed extra players for a scrimmage in Seal Beach – two hours away from his native Venice. Canale, ever desperate to kick a ball, made the drive on the promise of a couple of hours of fun. This was not, Soto insisted, an official invitation to the camp.

  Still, Canale impressed in the first scrimmage, and stayed the night before playing in the second. By his third day with the team, he was wearing a U.S. national team training shirt and in Soto’s plans for the squad.

  There were issues, though. College soccer season was approaching. Canale was still enrolled at UCSD and had a winter of 11 a side ball to play. He managed to negotiate around it, and represented the U.S. at the beach World Cup that winter.

  “I wasn't really sure if it'd be the best move for me to go,” Canale admitted. “But at the end of the day, like it didn't make sense to not. It was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up.”

  Back to front, the whole thing took three months before Canale was kicking a ball in Tahiti.

• Getty Images
  

  'I was delighted to have the opportunity'

  Beach soccer really wasn’t a thing where Ian Carry was raised. He grew up in Ireland, and played at a professional level in Scotland before going into coaching. Stints in indoor football followed, with a few caps for the Irish National Team as a goalkeeper.

  In 2007, Carry returned to Ireland with a promise that, this time, he would stay.

  “I moved from Scotland back to Ireland in 2007 and was never, never, ever going to move again. This is it. Final stop,” Carry said.

  So much for that. A friend in the game invited him to coach college kids in America over the summer. Given his coaching career in the Celtic, Carlisle United and Dundee United senior setups, as well as a variety of academy age groups for the Irish national team, it made sense – if only for a summer holiday.

  Then, a job opportunity arose: head coach of Central Michigan University women’s team. Carry broke his own promise, moved to America, and hasn’t looked back since. Jobs at the University of Kentucky and Charlotte Soccer Academy – where he is currently in a full-time role – followed.

  Beach soccer happened by chance. In November 2022, Stuart Sharp, an old friend who works for U.S. soccer, told Carry that the Beach team needed a goalkeeping coach. Carry’s response? Why not? There was, admittedly, one problem: Carry had never played beach soccer in his life.

  “I was like, awesome. I was delighted to have the opportunity,” Carry said.

  He worked his way through the ranks from there, served briefly as interim head coach, and after changes at the federation, was invited to apply for the role full time in early 2024. His club coaching career needed to be negotiated. But he figured everything out with his other job, and after impressing in his interviews, was named head coach in July of that year.

  “Not everybody gets the opportunity to say that coach of a national team, let alone, the U.S. national team,” Carry said.

  For Carry, there was an issue with the competitiveness around the team. He wanted to foster a sense of intensity among the group – which he believes has the talent to compete at the World Cup. His immediate solution was to gameify everything. Soccer trivia is a staple of his camps. Players are required to rank each other player from most to least competitive.

  For Canale, Perea and co., it’s a driving force.

  “I love the fact that he brought that in,” Perea said. “It brings the competitiveness out of everybody to know that in every single situation, every single play, every single moment, you should be going 100 percent.”

  When they go home from camp, and are sent training regimens, they are required to match – or, ideally, beat the statistic set from previous meetups collected by the team’s performance scientist.

  “With a staff that ticks every single box there's no stone unturned,” Carry said. “We just need to put these guys into the best possible physical shape and mental state. And then technically and tactically, from the coaching standpoint, we go to give them the best opportunity to be successful.”

قرر أحد أعضاء الجهاز الفني لـ نادي الزمالك، الرحيل عن الفريق الأبيض بقيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف، وذلك قبل المباراة المرتقبة أمام زيسكو الزامبي ببطولة الكونفدرالية.

ويستعد الزمالك لملاقاة زيسكو في الجولة الأولى من مباريات دور المجموعات لـ الكونفدرالية، والمقرر إقامتها في التاسعة مساء يوم الأحد الموافق 23 نوفمبر الجاري على استاد القاهرة الدولي.

وتقدم محمد علاء محلل أداء الزمالك باستقالته من العمل في الجهاز الفني لأحمد عبد الرؤوف.

طالع | أحمد عبدالرؤوف يتخذ قرارًا بشأن مران الزمالك اليوم

ويأتي الزمالك على رأس المجموعة الرابعة في كأس الكونفدرالية، والتي تضم معه أندية المصري البورسعيدي وكايزر تشيفز الجنوب أفريقي وزيسكو يونايتد الزامبي.

ويأمل فريق نادي الزمالك في استغلال فترة الراحة القصيرة لتحفيز اللاعبين وتجهيزهم بدنيًا وفنيًا، لضمان تقديم أداء قوي في مواجهة زيسكو الزامبي، وبدء مشوار البطولة بشكل مثالي.

Pakistan opener’s 117 helps make light work of Lancashire’s paltry total of 294

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 12-Aug-2025

Yorkshire 295 for 3 (Imam 117, Luxton 77, Shetty 1-35) beat Lancashire 294 for 7 (Jones 102, White 2-66) by seven wickets Group B leaders Yorkshire maintained their 100 percent winning start to this season’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup as they confidently chased 295 to beat Lancashire by seven wickets at Clifton Park in York thanks to a second successive century for in-form overseas opener Imam-ul-Haq.The White Rose won their third successive game, beating the previously unbeaten Red Rose, who had won one and had the other washed out.Lancashire posted a 294 for 7 total thanks largely to an entertaining opening 102 off 88 balls from Michael Jones in front of a sell-out 4,500 crowd.But Imam was the cornerstone of Yorkshire’s reply with 117 off 124 balls and shared a defining 153 for the second wicket with Will Luxton, 77 off 63. They won with 19 balls remaining.Classy Pakistani left-hander Imam is now the leading run-scorer in this season’s One-Day Cup with 331 having hit 10 fours and five sixes. He hit a career best 159 in victory at Northamptonshire last Friday.Ormskirk-born ex-Red Rose Jones posted his first century since rejoining from Durham over the winter. Inserted, Lancashire started well as Jones reached a 33-ball fifty and helped them to 100 for one in the 18th over.Either side of losing George Bell lbw playing to leg against two-wicket seamer Jack White – 43 for 1 after seven – Jones hoisted three sixes over long-on and long-off and hit one arrow straight off Ben Coad’s seam.He later pulled successive sixes off Matthew Revis towards the latter stages of a 92-run stand with his captain Marcus Harris, who was the first of two wickets to fall in as many overs as the score fell to 136 for 3 in the 24th.Harris was caught behind driving at Revis for 32 before Ben Coad trapped Josh Bohannon lbw without scoring. Jones reached his century off 79 balls and hit seven sixes in all. But the visitors were checked impressively through the middle of their innings.They were limited to 40 runs from the end of the 25th over – 143 for 3 – to the end of the 35th, where they reached at 183 for four having lost Jones slicing White out to deep cover.Replays suggest George Balderson was reprieved on 18 as he pulled Dan Moriarty for four. Him stepping on off-stump in the process went unnoticed by the umpires. Balderson made a dynamic 70 off 48 balls as Lancashire fell just short of 300 in excellent batting conditions.Tom Bailey had Adam Lyth caught behind driving early in Yorkshire’s chase, which fell to 16 for 1. But Luxton kicked things into life by taking three fours and six – all through leg – off Will Williams’ first four balls, in the 11th over, as the score moved to 57 for one.From there, Luxton and Imam cruised along against a Lancashire attack lacking depth, understandable with half a dozen bowlers on Hundred duty.By the time Luxton reached his fifty off 42 balls, Yorkshire were 107 for one after 20 overs. Imam’s third in as many matches – this off 72 balls – followed shortly afterwards.When Luxton miscued Charlie Barnard’s left-arm spin to long-on, Yorkshire were still a long way ahead at 169 for two in the 30th over.Imam reached his latest hundred off 118 balls by pulling Bailey for his third six before falling caught at midwicket on the pull against Arav Shetty’s spin – 220 for three in the 37th. This was the fourth time in his career he has scored List A centuries in successive matches.James Wharton and Revis wrapped things up with 41 apiece in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 75.

Reyna had a chance to build bridges with U.S. teammates and staff, but declined 'to take all the blame' for 2022 antics

Gio Reyna just had to speak. 

The smart move, in the Reyna cinematic universe – one of opinions, ego, controversy yet undeniable talent – is generally to keep quiet. In fact, given Reyna's recent record of injury, underperformance and selected absence, it would be rather prudent of the American to keep his head down, play soccer and not say anything controversial.

Interviews should be tame and full of platitudes. Reyna's brand, at this point in his career, should be that of the guy who wants another chance, who knows that he is good enough to deserve one.

He should take responsibility for his well-documented 2022 World Cup antics. Ultimately, Reyna should disappoint the hungry Twitter merchants, just be a stream of agreeable cliches and let his game do the talking. 

So much for that. Reyna, in a quite remarkable display of poor PR, took the opposite approach earlier this week. His interview with the Associated Press was pretty short, all said. But he did offer a glorious sound bite. When asked to explain the temper tantrum at the 2022 World Cup and subsequent benching, Reyna distanced himself from responsibility.

"I'm not just going to sort of sit here and take all the blame for something that was made out to be completely my fault, which I believe it wasn't, and also my family's, too," he said.

Well done, Gio. There are hundreds of better replies. Most of them would probably start with some version of "I'm sorry." Or at least don't take the bait, pass on the answer. But once again, he pinned the blame elsewhere. This was a chance to close a chapter of sorts, to look towards the future, for a great talent of U.S. soccer to rebuild his image.

Instead, Reyna only reinforced the public perception – fair or not – that this is a character who lacks the maturity and accountability. Not the spot to be in with the 2026 World Cup less than eight months away.

GettyVery few words that say a lot

This may seem like an awful lot of extrapolation from very few words. And that's a fair point. After all, this is American soccer, a world often constructed on tension and insecurity, with a need to make the most out of very little. There have been times – especially in recent memory – in which many have read into things too much (just ask Christian Pulisic what he was up to last summer). 

But Reyna isa special case. To understand that quote, it is worth examining Reyna, the character. It isn't particularly outlandish to suggest that the attacking midfielder is the most naturally gifted player in the pool at the moment. He was thrust into the Borussia Dortmund side at a young age, and after a series of impressive performances, held in high regard.

It helped, of course, that he was the son of Claudio, a U.S. legend in his own right. But Gio was . And for a while, for both club and country, he proved it. 

However, 2022, was a strange year. He was performing effectively for Dortmund, but his relationship with then-U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter was difficult. At the time, with no context, it was a puzzling thing. Reyna was an immense talent. But Berhalter largely froze him out at the 2022 World Cup, allowing the Dortmund player just two appearances, both of which came off the bench.

It was later revealed that Reyna was nearly sent home from camp due to fractious relationships with his teammates and a poor attitude in training. Put simply: Reyna had all the talent in the world. But he rather got in his own way. And Berhalter knew it.

AdvertisementAFPA subsequent scandal

And after the World Cup, as has been well chronicled, things got even worse. The Reyna and Berhalter families fell out publicly and in quite unhealthy terms. There were allegations and denials and decisions about the coach's standing with US Soccer.

The bad blood stemmed from Berhalter's handling of Reyna at the 2022 World Cup, Reyna's response – for which he was nearly sent home – Berhalter's role in revealing the incident and the subsequent disclosure of a decades-old domestic violence allegation to US Soccer by Reyna's mother, Danielle. Berhalter was rehired by U.S. Soccer following an investigation.

After the World Cup, Berhalter – speaking at what was presumed to be an off-the-record leadership summit – was later quoted as saying, “We had a player that was clearly not meeting expectations on and off the field. One of 26 players, so it stood out. As a staff, we sat together for hours deliberating what we were going to do with this player…

"We were ready to book a plane ticket home, that's how extreme it was. And what it came down to was, we're going to have one more conversation with him, and part of the conversation was how we're going to behave from here out. There aren't going to be any more infractions."

The day after Berhalter's comments went public, Reyna posted a message on social media calling the reports of nearly being sent home from the World Cup "highly fictionalized," adding he was disappointed that details regarding his participation in Qatar were not kept "in house."

Three years on, Reyna had the chance to set the record straight. He was given the chance to perhaps outline why he was almost removed from the camp. 

Getty ImagesA misguided interview

His comments to AP have made the rounds on social media, and don't read kindly for Reyna's image.

"At the end of the day, I was just upset that, you know, I wasn’t really playing," he said. "I was playing at Dortmund. I thought that I wanted to play at the World Cup and ultimately in the end, I didn’t do that, and that’s really what it stemmed from. I guess the frustration and the disappointment was just wanting to play and help my country."

Lack of apology notwithstanding, there isn't much accountability, either. Berhalter was a limited coach, but he was by all accounts a vibes guy who created a strong culture. Reyna's actions tainted the harmony. His words, published on this week, could have at least acknowledged that he was part of the problem.

And even if he didn't do that, Reyna must, deep down, know that he has bridges to build with people inside US Soccer.

Sure, he has been injured, absent, and unavailable for selection. But almost getting kicked out of a World Cup camp takes some flagrant effort. And yes, this is soccer, where everyone reads everything. Reyna, we are safe to assume, still has teammates to deal with.

This was as much about symbolism as sincerity. Even if Reyna didn't mean it, he could have, at least, offered a casual "my bad." 

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Getty Images SportMauricio Pochettino, the culture guy

When the U.S. hired Mauricio Pochettino last fall, they thought they were getting a masterful tactician with a certain aura – a man manager, yes, but mostly a head coach who would earn the respect of his players on resume alone. Pochettino isn't a soccer nerd. But he wasn't supposed to be hardline, authoritarian, Jose Mourinho-lite.

And while he hasn't followed "the special one" with quite the same vigor, Pochettino has proved to be far more of a culture guy than many might have expected. 

The tactics here are what they are – and may yet develop. But Pochettino's calling card with the USMNT, so far, can best be summed up by a lengthy soliloquy given after being peppered with questions about Pulisic's absence from the Gold Cup squad. It was a wonderful thing, Shakespearean, even.

But the quote that has stuck is a simple: "I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin.” And that sums it up nicely. You will not walk all over him. You won't really question him, either. He doesn't like excuses, and he certainly doesn't feel the need to offer explanations.

It is in that light, then, that Reyna's comments look even more misguided. He has pointed out repeatedly that he wants to be on the World Cup roster next June. He has even been selected by Pochettino before (managing little more than a forgettable cameo in a Nations League third place match dead rubber in March).

But his recent comments suggest he just doesn't understand the vibe of the new manager. Of course, Pochettino wasn't head coach three years ago. The news may well have passed him by (he was probably more focused on his beloved Argentina than the state of a U.S. team that got knocked out in the last 16). 

But in the here and now, Reyna – already struggling for playing time at the club level in Germany – did himself no favors with the new coach.

Newcastle United’s transfer window has been one of the most eventful in the Premier League.

The Magpies, fresh from a fifth-place finish last season and preparing for a Champions League campaign, have already been among the busiest clubs in the market.

Their recruitment strategy has been clear: target young players with scope to grow.

Jacob Ramsey arrived from Aston Villa to add drive to midfield, Malick Thiaw was secured from AC Milan to bolster the back line, and Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale have added depth in attack and the goalkeeping department respectively.

Yet, for all the excitement surrounding these signings, Newcastle’s summer has been dominated by uncertainty around Alexander Isak.

The Swedish striker has been at the centre of intense speculation, refusing to train with the squad and missing the opening fixtures against Aston Villa and Liverpool.

The absence of a recognised number nine left Eddie Howe short of attacking options, with Anthony Gordon even forced to operate as a makeshift forward before his red card compounded matters further.

A sudden £69m agreement with Stuttgart for Nick Woltemade has steadied nerves, but it has not distracted from Newcastle’s wider concerns in midfield.

Injuries to Sandro Tonali and Joelinton – even if not serious – have exposed how dependent Howe’s side can be on certain personnel.

It is within this context that the Magpies have begun exploring additional midfield reinforcements.

While one target in particular has caught their attention, prising him away from Inter Milan will be anything but straightforward.

Newcastle table approach for Serie A star

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Newcastle United have lodged a proposal for Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi, with talks continuing over a potential late move.

Their initial suggestion involved a loan deal with an obligation to buy, but the terms of that arrangement are far from guaranteed.

The Nerazzurri value the midfielder at around €40m (£35m) and would only sanction an exit if the structure of the deal was near-certain – either through a permanent transfer or a cast-iron obligation to purchase.

Frattesi is far from surplus to requirements at San Siro.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Although Inter’s midfield remains one of the deepest in Europe, manager Cristian Chivu considers the Italian international an important part of his side.

Indeed, the 25-year-old former Sassuolo man has carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic midfielders in Italy.

Fabrizio Romano recently described him as “one of the best midfielders in Serie A,” a testament to his all-action playing style.

For Newcastle, the pursuit of Frattesi appears to be linked directly to the fitness issues of Joelinton and Tonali.

While neither is expected to face long-term layoffs, the scare was enough to prompt the club to consider adding extra depth.

However, with Ramsey already added this summer and Inter proving resistant to complex proposals, it remains to be seen if a deal will be struck.

Even so, the very fact they made the enquiry highlights how highly they regard Frattesi and how keen they are to ensure their midfield remains among the strongest in England.

Why Frattesi represents an upgrade on Joelinton

From a tactical standpoint, the Italian midfielder offers a profile that differs significantly from Joelinton.

At 29 years old, the Brazilian is approaching his peak years and has been a vital part of Howe’s project, not least for his versatility in operating as both a box-to-box midfielder and an occasional forward.

Last season, he contributed 4 goals and 3 assists in 29 Premier League appearances, while also ranking well for defensive metrics such as tackles (2.14 per 90) and blocks (1.39 per 90).

His combative style and physical presence have long made him a fan favourite. Frattesi, however, provides a more modern interpretation of the central midfield role.

His ability to break forward into advanced areas is reflected in his statistical profile.

Matches Played

28

Goals

5

Assists

5

Progressive Carries

23

Progressive Passes

31

Shot-Creating Actions

19

According to FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty expected goals per 90 (0.37), the 95th percentile for total shots (1.91), and the 93rd percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (3.08).

Few midfielders in Serie A can match his late runs into the box or his instinct for goal-scoring opportunities.

Compared to Joelinton, he registers a higher volume of shots per 90 (2.06 vs 1.69) and demonstrates greater efficiency in getting into dangerous positions, even if his shot accuracy (25%) lags slightly behind the Brazilian’s (28.9%).

Defensively, the comparison tilts back towards Joelinton.

The Brazilian remains stronger in duels, tackles, and blocks, highlighting his value in regaining possession and providing cover in midfield.

Frattesi, by contrast, is less imposing in pure defensive numbers, averaging 1.25 tackles per 90 and 0.88 blocks – a reflection of his role in a side where he is tasked with progressing the ball and supporting the attack rather than anchoring.

Where the Italian really shines is in transitional play.

His 1.70 progressive carries per 90 underline his ability to drive the ball forward, while his off-the-ball movement allows him to destabilise defensive lines and create space for teammates.

Comparisons have even been drawn with Scott McTominay of Napoli and Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli – midfielders who combine stamina with attacking intent.

In a Newcastle side often reliant on the directness of Joelinton and the passing range of Bruno Guimarães, Frattesi’s blend of dynamism and goal threat could provide a new dimension.

Crucially, the 25-year-old is also a player for the long term.

With a market value of €35m (£30m), as per Transfermarkt, he offers both current quality and future resale potential, aligning with Newcastle’s strategy of recruiting players with prime years still ahead of them.

While Joelinton has been integral to the club’s rise, the Italian’s ceiling appears higher, particularly in terms of end product.

For Howe, the question is whether depth or evolution is the priority.

If the aim is to simply safeguard against injuries to Tonali and Joelinton, then Newcastle’s midfield may already be well-stocked.

But if the ambition is to add a midfielder capable of pushing the side towards the next level in Europe, Frattesi represents a compelling option.

Amazing with Woltemade: Newcastle made move to sign "best 9 in the world"

Newcastle could have landed the perfect partner for Nick Woltemade…

1 ByWill Miller Aug 30, 2025

After the early fall of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, the responsibility piled on KL Rahul and he responded well

Nagraj Gollapudi06-Jun-2025

He committed the first mistake after 273 minutes. Leaning into the ball, but playing away from the body, KL Rahul went swinging at a good-length delivery from England Lions quick George Hill. The ball was seaming away after starting well outside off stump, and the thick outside edge was pouched brilliantly with a reverse cup by Emilio Gay at second slip.Rahul cursed his ill judgment as his first lapse in concentration brought to an end what was otherwise a carefully crafted century on his first day of the English summer.After his impressive performances during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Rahul has been locked in to start as one of India’s openers alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal for the Test series in England.Related

Gill and Sai Sudharsan to miss second Lions vs India A game

In 2021, Rahul had started the tour with a century in the warm-up match against County Select XI. Although he had scored that century while batting in the middle order, Rahul would end up opening with Rohit Sharma and playing a significant role in India’s success across the initial two Tests, including getting his name on the honours board at Lord’s, where he won the Player-of-the-Match award for his first-innings century.Four years on, Rahul has once again started an England tour with a century, this time as an opener. After the early dismissals of Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, the onus was on Rahul after Lions captain James Rew had put India A in to bat for the second match in a row. However, unlike in Canterbury, where the ball had to be “smashed in” (in the words of Lions’ centurion Tom Haines) to the pitch to get any purchase, the pitch in Northampton was green, offering good carry, and the conditions were overcast.The Lions fast-bowling pair of Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue shared the new ball after they were added to the squad to test their fitness with an eye on the first Test, starting in Leeds on June 20. While Tongue was wayward in his first spell from the David Capel End, Woakes used the conditions to his advantage. His spell of 6-2-8-2 was incisive, allowing no respite to the batters. He found sharp movement in the air and off the seam as he kept the batters on high alert at all times.2:40

Kumble picks India’s starting XI for England

Rahul, though, met discipline with discipline. Playing late, keeping the bat close to the body, meeting the ball under the eye, not rushing into strokes – all these are the nuts and bolts of Rahul the Test batter, home or away, seaming or spinning pitches. The cover drives and pulls were the standout strokes for Rahul, who also played with soft hands to steer, flick and glance to thwart the bowlers.But there is no respite for a batter in proper English conditions.After lunch, he had survived a probing spell from Tongue, who rushed Rahul first with a delivery that kicked up. Rahul defended uncomfortably as the inside edge trickled to fine leg. In the same over, Tongue nearly induced an edge from his hanging bat but Rahul had kept his eyes on the ball all the way and survived.With ten minutes to tea, Rahul charged Lions offspinner Farhan Ahmed, brother of England legspinner Rehan, for the first six of the match. The century soon followed with Rahul upping the scoring tempo as he punched cover and square drives, and stepped back swiftly to play the cut.Rahul is the most experienced batter in Shubman Gill’s India. With the retirements of Rohit and Virat Kohli, he has a big responsibility, not just as part of the leadership group, but also as the batting pivot. The century will no doubt boost his confidence. But as he found out on the day, he needs to make sure there’s no lapse in concentration.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is readying an offer for their potential seventh signing of the summer, which is expected to be placed in the next few days, according to a new report.

Arsenal reach part £30m "agreement" to sign player who Arteta really wants

The Gunners are making progress.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2025

Following another season of near-misses, the Gunners have committed to backing Mikel Arteta once again, and their business so far reflects a side serious about ending their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

The blockbuster, headline-grabbing signing has been that of Viktor Gyökeres, who’s widely seen as the final missing piece of their jigsaw.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Arsenal finally secured the Swedish striker from Sporting CP in a deal worth up to £64m, including add-ons, with Gyokeres making his long-awaited debut against Tottenham in the first overseas north London derby ever on Thursday.

Berta has been a long-time admirer and sees him as the clinical, physically dominant number 9 which Arsenal have seriously lacked. The 53-year-old apparently pushed to sign the 27-year-old over fellow top striker target Benjamin Sesko (Simon Phillips), with Berta finally getting his wish last weekend.

Gyökeres arrives off the back of another phenomenal season in Portugal, scoring 54 goals in all competitions, and he could be the difference between success and another ‘close but no cigar’ season for Arsenal.

Despite spending upwards of £200m already on fellow new arrivals Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera in that order, Berta’s business may not be done.

Talks continue with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and his representatives, as per Fabrizio Romano, with Arteta keen on the England international who could provide more creativity, ball progression and a serious goal return from midfield.

Arsenal missed the deadline to trigger Eze’s £60m release clause, which expired on Friday at 11:59pm, but it was never their idea to activate it anyway, as Berta looks to strike a cheaper deal for him.

Arsenal poised to make "formal" Eberechi Eze bid early next week

Football Transfers have an update on the matter, after the outlet’s previous claim that Arsenal have agreed to pay £30m on a ‘first down payment’ for Eze.

Arsenal are now stepping up their pursuit of Eze, with FT reporting the club are preparing a “formal” £51m bid to tempt Palace, which would be made up of the £30m down payment and a further £22m to be paid over the next two years.

Berta’s offer for Eze will apparently be submitted “early next week”, so in the next few days, with talks intensifying behind the scenes and the Gunners ready to make their move.

Eze would be an ideal fit for Arsenal as a central playmaker, and a different threat to captain Martin Odegaard.

The “unique” forward racked up eight goals and eight assists in just 34 Premier League appearances last season. That’s a goal involvement every other game, and his creativity went even deeper than that.

Eze also ranked in the 94th percentile for key passes and expected assists, with 2.06 key passes per match (Footy Stats) – dazzling around the box and completing over two successful dribbles per game too.

Arteta’s side often struggle against teams in the low block, as evident by their goalscoring record in 2024/2025, but Eze’s proven creativity could seriously help to solve this glaring issue.

Plays of the Day from the IPL game between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils in Dharamsala

Sriram Veera15-May-2011A sacrificial lamb that escaped
When Paul Valthaty tapped the ball to point and didn’t respond to Adam Gilchrist’s call for a single, it looked a run out was inevitable. Gilchrist had charged too far across and even slipped when trying to turn. Yogesh Nagar had the ball and Irfan Pathan was near the stumps at the non-striker’s end. It should have been a dead ringer but Nagar fired the throw really hard and on the bounce at Irfan who couldn’t collect it. Meanwhile, Valthathy had decided to sacrifice his wicket and crossed Gilchrist. Both escaped.Revenge is best served cold
When Shalabh Srivastava took the wicket of Naman Ojha, who had tonked him for a few sixes, he should have been screaming in joy. Instead, there was no reaction. No, he wasn’t trying to be cool. He didn’t even realise he had got his man. He turned back after Glchrist collected the ball and saw that the umpire had ruled it out. He swung around in delight but by then Ojha had turned and disappeared from the scene.Leap, pouch and land safely
When Travis Birt pulled a delivery to deep midwicket, he must have thought he had hit a six. And he should have but Ryan Harris intervened in some style. Harris leaped, arched back in the air, put one hand up, plucked the ball and landed safely inside the playing arena. It was a classic Youtube moment.Clanger – 1
Dinesh Karthik waited at the deep midwicket boundary to intercept a lofted hit from Venugopal Rao. He pouched it and stepped back but he realised he was not to going to complete a legal catch as the boundary rope was too near. He tried to throw the ball back into play to avoid a six but just before he could do it, his back foot touched the boundary line. He earned some brownie points in the fair play award as he immediately signalled a six.Clanger – 2
Karthik fluffed his second chance at redemption. When Nagar pulled a short ball from Praveen Kumar to deep midwicket, Karthik stationed himself under it, swivelled towards his right and went with both hands but spilled the ball.