Tag Futebol

Scotland will host Pakistan for a two-match T20I series in Edinburgh next year. It will mark the first face-off between the two sides in the 20-over format since they met in the group stage of the 2007 World T20 in South Africa, where Shahid Afridi’s all-round performance eased Pakistan to a 51-run win.The series, set to be played in the same week that England arrive for an ODI, also at The Grange, will be the first instance of Scotland hosting a Full Member for a T20I. The fixtures against Pakistan will be held on June 12 and 13.Pakistan’s last visit to Scotland was in 2013 for a two-match ODI series, where they defeated the home side by 96 runs before the second game was abandoned due to rain.Weighing in on the significance of the series, Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer said: “To have the opportunity to take on a hugely talented Pakistan team at home in two T20Is is wonderful news for both the players and our supporters.”With these matches taking place in the same week that we host England in an ODI in Edinburgh it gives us a great chance to show how far we have come as a group in both of these formats of the game.”It also means that, having defeated Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka this year, we have another great chance to take some more Full Member scalps. As a squad we want to test ourselves against the world’s best and, in Pakistan and England, we have two of the current top sides in the world coming to Scotland next summer. Along with the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier taking place in 2018, the year is really starting to look like an exciting one for everyone involved in Scottish cricket.”Like many of the Associate nations, Scotland have struggled to arrange fixtures against Full Members. They face a challenge if they are to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, which has been reduced to 10 teams, but could target the next World T20, in three years’ time, as another opportunity to further their cause.

If the answer to what you were doing at 16 isn’t stealing the show in a pre-season friendly for Arsenal, then we’re simply going to have to give the win to Ethan Nwaneri.The teenager, who recently signed a scholarship deal at the North London club, made it look easy up against players supposedly in their prime, who, unlike the youngster, aren’t straight from the classroom.It’s some way to spend your summer, isn’t it? Called up the Arsenal pre-season, working with players you’ve likely spent watching in the last few years. To put it simply, Nwaneri is living the dream.He could even steal the show entirely in the build-up to the Premier League season. The footage of his skill against Nurnberg certainly showed that he’s more than capable of doing exactly that in the next month.

Nwaneri stars in Arsenal pre-season friendly

As the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw in their first pre-season game following Kanji Okunuki’s goal to cancel out Bukayo Saka’s early opener, the result became somewhat of an afterthought when Nwaneri stepped onto the pitch.

Impressing many in his cameo, one particular highlight came when he rouletted past two Nurnberg defenders, leaving them utterly bamboozled and embarrassed.

The Nurnberg defenders could quite easily be the first of many to suffer the fate of humiliation by a player who is yet to even reach adulthood.

But this isn’t the first we’ve seen of the teenager either. Last season, he became the youngest-ever Premier League player, when he came on off the bench in a 3-0 win over Brentford.

Speaking on that moment, Mikel Arteta said: “It was a pure gut feeling, I met the kid and I liked what I saw.

“But I think it sends a strong message about who we are as a club. I told him yesterday he would be with us and he had to be ready. He is ready. When he went on I said ‘congratulations and enjoy it.

“I don’t know what it is. When I met him, when I looked at him, I had that feeling.”

With that in mind, it’s no wonder the Gunners were so keen to keep him around and fans would have been delighted to learn that he snubbed interest from the likes of major rivals such Chelsea and Manchester City to commit his future to the club earlier on in the summer.

Where does Ethan Nwaneri play?

As things stand, Nwaneri is a midfielder, which is likely ideal for Arteta’s current system, given the offensive nature that he expects some aspects of his midfield to play.

The arrival of Kai Havertz is likely to highlight that, with rumours suggesting that the German could be utilised in midfield for the first time, despite playing as a forward at Chelsea – and this was where we saw him play against Nurnberg.

Nwaneri will watch on as the likes of Havertz and Martin Odegaard play the role that he dreams of playing. And, given that he’s already impressing in pre-season, we may just see the teenager make a few more appearances in the Premier League next season.

He’s certainly one to keep an eye on, such is the clear potential and talent on show. At 16, he is living a dream that is only just getting started. Beginning with a record break, in an ideal world, the only way is up for Nwaneri.

Fans took to Twitter to react to the academy star’s performance in the pre-season friendly against Nurnberg, some of which you can see below:

Afghanistan A will join South Africa A and India A to play a seven-match, 50-over tri-series starting on July 26 in Pretoria.Cricket South Africa (CSA) had extended an invitation to the Afghanistan Cricket Board after they were informed that Australia A, who were originally scheduled to participate in the tri-series, pulled out over a long-standing pay dispute with their board.

A team series schedule

• Jul 26 – Afghanistan A v India A

• Jul 28 – South Africa A v India A

• Jul 30 – South Africa A v Afghanistan A

• Aug 1 – Afghanistan A v India A

• Aug 3 – South Africa A v India A

• Aug 5 – South Africa A v Afghanistan A

• Aug 8 – TBA v TBA

• Aug 12-15 – South Africa A v India A

• Aug 19-22 – South Africa A v India A

“We are very pleased to accept Cricket South Africa’s invitation to participate in the upcoming triangular series,” Afghanistan Cricket Board’s chief executive Shafiqullah Stanikzai said. “This will be our first-ever visit to South Africa and I am certain that this will give Afghanistan A team very good exposure to competitive cricket.”This came on the back of Afghanistan securing Test status at the culmination of the ICC board meetings in June and CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat congratulated them on their rapid rise. Afghanistan also made their debut at Lord’s last week against MCC, but persistent rain led to play being called off midway.”Afghanistan were deservedly granted Full Member status at the ICC annual conference last month after showing impressive growth in recent years,” Lorgat saidThe ACB tweeted their squad for the tour and it features 11 men who have already played international cricket including the likes of openers Usman Ghani and Javed Ahmadi, middle-order batsman Najibullah Zadran and wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai.Ihsan Janat, Younas Ahmadzai, Nawaz Khan, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai are the only uncapped players in the 15-member squad.Afghanistan A: Usman Ghani, , Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Younas Ahmadzai, Nasir Jamal, Najibullah Zadran, Shafiqullah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fareed Ahmad, Ihsan Janat, Younas Ahmadzai, Nawaz Khan, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai

Aston Villa have reached an "agreement" to bring Villarreal defender Pau Torres to the Premier League, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Is Pau Torres joining Aston Villa?

Quique Setien’s academy graduate will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the ongoing transfer window is his club’s final opportunity to cash in should they not want to lose him for free, and 90min have claimed that he’s told them that he’s ready to leave.

The Yellow Submarines centre-back has reportedly been made a top target by the Midlands outfit with Unai Emery a “big fan” of the 26-year-old having managed him for 105 appearances during his time in his homeland.

The La Liga star’s deal has a £55m release clause included but Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that NSWE and Monchi will pay "way less" than that, and if the following update is anything to go by, the conditions of the deal have already been addressed.

Taking to Twitter, Ornstein revealed that Aston Villa have finalised a deal for Torres with the defender having given the green-light to complete a summer move to the Midlands. He wrote:

"Aston Villa have now reached an agreement with Villarreal to sign centre-back Pau Torres. Personal terms are also in place for 26yo Spain international defender to join in what’s another big coup for #AVFC + manager Unai Emery."

Is Torres a good signing for Villa?

Aston Villa will already be aware of what Torres is capable of due to Emery’s existing connection to the centre-back, and having also been dubbed an “extraordinary talent” by his former coach Javier Calleja, he would be a fantastic acquisition for the boss.

The Spain international averaged 4.1 clearances, 1.7 aerial wins and 1.3 tackles per league game last season, via WhoScored, so is a real rock at the heart of the backline, but he also likes to push his team as high up the pitch as possible having ranked in the 99th percentile for most progressive carries by centre-backs.

Torres, who stands at a staggering 6 foot 2, also knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the level that the Villans are looking to achieve having previously won the Europa League back in 2020/21, so he could inspire the rest of the squad to give it their all on the bigger stage next season in their first campaign in the Conference League.

Celtic are edging closer to appointing former manager Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead and his prospective return to Parkhead 'might be able to work', according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Brendan Rodgers?

According to The Guardian, Celtic are close to appointing Rodgers as their new manager in what would be a headline-grabbing return to the scene of some of his finest former glories.

The report states that discussions between the 50-year-old boss and Celtic majority stakeholder Dermot Desmond have 'progressed positively' to the point where his appointment is all but confirmed.

The Daily Mail have detailed that Rodgers has pitched an exciting vision regarding how to make Celtic a 'competitive force' in Europe, with a focus on improving the playing squad and infrastructure surrounding the club.

Rodgers is already in the process of assembling a backroom team to take on the challenge of trying to maintain the Hoops' domestic dominance and it is said that attempts to keep hold of assistant manager John Kennedy, who is wanted by Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, are already underway.

Ex-Norwich City boss Daniel Farke, Bodo/Glimt's Kjetil Knutsen and Manchester City assistant Enzo Maresca were among the alternative names that were considered for the role, though it now looks like Rodgers is in pole position to take over at Celtic.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Rodgers returning to Celtic could work out for both parties after hearing the recent reports.

Jones told FFC: "There are definitely a few concerns about whether he'd want to go back to Celtic, but the fact that you hear that he is keen to talk is definitely interesting and it's perhaps the safest bet. If he could actually go back, if he was willing to get his head around that, it might be able to work."

Would Brendan Rodgers be a good appointment by Celtic?

Judging on his time previously at Celtic, there is no doubt that Rodgers, on paper at least, would be a sensible appointment by the Hoops as they look to continue to topple Rangers at the summit of the Scottish Premiership and make advances in European competition.

During his first spell in charge, Rodgers swept all before him domestically, winning seven trophies from seven available and laying down a marker of dominance in Scotland, as per Transfermarkt.

His acrimonious exit to take the reins at Leicester City in 2019 was received badly in the east end of Glasgow; however, at the Foxes, Rodgers in the main did a commendable job, recording two fifth-placed finishes in the Premier League, winning an FA Cup trophy alongside a FA Community Shield and taking the East Midlands outfit to a Europa Conference League semi-final.

Nevertheless, his credentials to return to Celtic more than stand up to scrutiny and he now looks to be odds-on favourite to be installed as their new boss, which is a turn of events that nobody would've been able to predict even just a couple of weeks ago.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale is making moves in the summer transfer window to alter his playing squad at Ibrox ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland have all been confirmed to be joining the Gers next month and with new signings could come more departures.

One player who could be on his way out of Glasgow is winger Scott Wright, who is reportedly free to leave if an acceptable offer comes the club's way in the next few months.

Who could replace Scott Wright at Rangers?

Beale could ruthlessly ditch the forward by securing a deal to snap up Bright Osayi-Samuel, whose arrival would open up the space for the Scottish giants to sanction a transfer for the ex-Aberdeen man.

Turkish outlet Sporx recently claimed that the Light Blues have submitted an offer to sign the Fenerbahce gem, who is said to be keen on a move away from his current club.

The ace is reportedly available for a fee in the region of €10m (£8.5m) but it remains unclear as to how much Rangers have offered or how much they are willing to go to.

Osayi-Samuel has mainly played as a right-back this season for the Turkish side but his natural position is on the wing, like Wright, and his form as an attacker in England with Queens Park Rangers indicates that he has the potential to be a big upgrade.

He is an exciting player who could get supporters off their feet with his former boss, Mark Warburton, describing him as a winger who "terrifies defenders" with his "sheer pace" and is a "handful" to deal with.

The 25-year-old Nigerian caught the eye with his performances in the Championship in 19/20 and 20/21 with QPR. He racked up eight goals and ten assists and created 13 'big chances' for his teammates in 58 outings during that period, showcasing his creativity with five 'big chances' provided in the Super Lig from right-back in 21/22.

Wright, however, has struggled badly in the Scottish Premiership over the last two seasons. The attacker has scored four goals and assisted two from six 'big chances' created in 42 appearances in the division in that time.

As a result, Beale must ruthlessly jettison the dud as his lack of production in the top flight suggests that he does not have what it takes to have a big role in the squad next term.

He doesn't offer much in the way of goals or chance creation and Osayi-Samuel could come in and offer more on both fronts, whilst also having the versatility to be able to play at right-back if needed.

Although he might face criticism if he fails in Hamilton, New Zealand’s Ross Taylor felt confident in playing the upcoming Test after he was diagnosed with an eye condition that required an operation.

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Nov-2016He has been cleared to play in Hamilton, and doctors are confident he will recover well, but Ross Taylor admits the experience of going into a Test match with doubts over his vision was a galling one. Taylor had received news that the pterygium on his left eye had worsened the day before he went out to bat in the previous Test.A batsman who has had his run of form – he averaged 14.83 in the Tests in India and scored only three runs in three Test innings in South Africa – may have had doubts about his game in any case; the optometrists’ diagnosis only added to them.”When you play and miss your first couple of balls after seeing an optometrist, there are some interesting things that go through your mind,” Taylor said. “Finding out during the Test match was a little bit distracting mentally. Eyes are pretty important. Hopefully I can come back and get back to the form I was in a few years ago.”Taylor has had the pterygium – a growth on the tissue that lines the eyelids – for “five or six years”, but has seen it deteriorate over the past few months. He had initially noticed it hindering his play in a Test in Brisbane last year. Having received eye drops on that occasion, he went on to score a career-best 290 in Perth. He will now require surgery to remove the pterygium, however, and a recovery period of four to six weeks will follow.”The surgery involves cutting your eye, and cutting the growth,” he said. “Then they’ll take a little bit from under the eyelid and glue it in so the growth doesn’t come back.”With any operation there’s always a chance that things don’t go as well as possible. The surgeon I talked to last night was pretty confident that the recovery time is as we had said. After four to six weeks there could be a period when it does deteriorate a little bit, but hopefully I can get it back after a little while.”Taylor is confident his vision remains good enough to play the Hamilton match, though he does expect criticism of the decision should he fail.”All the tests said I had very good vision – I guess the growth was just coming across. I prepared to play, even before I saw the specialists. I am looking forward to this Test. I can’t say I’m looking forward to the operation, given what it entails, but I’m sure I’ll get over it.”Among the challenges Taylor will have to overcome will be swing and seam movement, given the colour of the pitch the teams will play on, and the wet forecast for the first three days. With New Zealand surfaces having become increasingly seam-friendly over the past few years, the hosts’ batsmen have begun to relish playing on them, Taylor said.”There’s been a mindset change in the team. In the last three or four years we’ve always played on green seamers, or wickets that have got a little bit in it for the seam bowlers. The way the guys train – a few years ago no one would have wanted to go and bat in the green net. But now, in the green net in Hamilton – all the boys want to go and bat in that to test themselves out. There’s no use going to bat on a flat wicket when you know the ball’s going to do a bit out there on day one and two.”

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Everything you need to know about the Inter Miami kits for 2023

Inter Miamilook set to be thrust even closer to the summit of sporting recognition in the football world, with the news that World Cup champion Lionel Messi will continue his career in Major League Soccer with the Floridian outfit starting in July. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s arrival at DRV PNK Stadium will not come a moment too soon for a team currently in free-fall following a dismal campaign to date.

With the capture of one of soccer’s all-time greats, however, anticipation and demand is expected to be through the roof for Miami’s 2023 season kit, developed by Messi’s long-term commercial partner adidas, with the German sportswear giant anticipating record-breaking numbers when the Argentina star makes his official debut.

So, what kits are Inter Miami wearing in 2023? GOAL takes a look at the jerseys that are already sported by the team, including star players Corentin Jean and DeAndre Yedlin, while we also give you the lowdown on how to buy them online.

• Inter Miami 2023 kits

  Inter Miami 2023 home kit, release date & price

  Inter Miami CF$89.99 at the MLS store

  With the 2023 MLS season already well underway, Inter Miami’s home kit for the season has long been available for supporters to purchase, with adidas sticking close to the traditional club colours favoured by the David Beckham-owned team.

  Having once played in white, the Herons’ home strip – dubbed The Heartbeat Kit by the club’s official channels – is now a full-bodied pink number with smart dark accents.

  The candyfloss-hued shades have been a regular fixture for the past few campaigns, but it has seen a slight update for the 2023 campaign, with a marginally sharper contrast between the two colours.

  Black accents over the shoulders and a hollow-back club crest complete a smart, snappy look topped off with a traditional polo-shirt collar finish from adidas.

  The kit is on sale now and can be purchased from the MLS store, where it retails at $90.00, with an authentic jersey option available at $130.00.

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• Inter Miami 2023 away kit, release date & price

  Inter Miami CF$89.99 at the MLS store

  Much as with the home kit, Inter Miami’s 2023 away strip keeps matters relatively simple, with adidas effectively delivering one of the most simple jersey reverses seen in recent memory.

  Whereas their home effort offers pink with black accents, their change option simply flips the board and delivers a jet-dark number tinged with pastel-coloured decal effects.

  Like their first choice strip too, it also has an official club name, dubbed as La Noche, which translates from Spanish as The Night – an effectively cool moniker for such a slick number.

  There are some minor changes; the shoulder piping is more elongated on the away option, and the Herons have also added a narrow pink band above the sleeve cap to offer further contrast. In addition, the neckline is a flat, rounded collar rather than a polo-style cut.

  As with the home option, the kit is on sale now and can be purchased from the MLS store, where it retails at $89.99, while the authentic jersey option is available at $159.99.

• Inter Miami 2023 third kit, release date & price

  Inter Miami CF$89.99 at the MLS store

  Unlike the majority of major European teams, multiple MLS sides utilise only two specific strips across the course of a campaign, often simply stopping at home and away when it comes to their kits.

  However, Inter Miami have indeed debuted a third-choice strip this season, known as the One Planet kit, an oceanographic-inspired effort that is intended to highlight the club’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

  An acid-mint wash main body is decorated with a jazzy blue pattern and black accents, while a narrow V-neck cut allows for added breathability while offering a close fit around the back and shoulders.

  The kit is currently available to order through the MLS store, with adult sizes retailing from $89.99.

  In addition, there may be the possibility for a further kit launch to commemorate Messi’s arrival at the club. If such a celebration strip is released, GOAL will have all the details right here.

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• Inter Miami 2023 training kit, release date & price

  adidas$69.99 at the MLS store

  In addition to their regular matchday strips, Inter Miami have also gone all out on their pre-game training range this term, with their effort also showing support for a worthy cause.

  The club have a Pride-themed pre-match number they use for warm-ups and training, marrying a full-bodied white effort with the kaleidoscopic colour swirls of the Pride flag across the sleeves and sponsorship logos, finished with black trim and a V-neck cut.

  The kit is currently available to order through the MLS store, with adult sizes retailing from $69.99.