Jesse Marsch has explained how Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Neymar contributed to the biggest strength Mauricio Pochettino will bring to the USMNT.
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Successor to Berhalter being soughtArgentine expected to take the reinsWorked at Spurs, Chelsea & PSGGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
The Argentine coach is expected to become the United States’ next boss as a long-term successor to Gregg Berhalter is sought. The decision to make another change in the dugout was made following a disappointing group stage exit at the 2024 Copa America – an event that saw Marsch lead Canada to a fourth-placed finish.
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Marsch could soon be a direct rival of Pochettino, and he has told the of what the former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea boss will bring to another demanding role: “I think Pochettino is a good coach. One of his best things is that he's pretty malleable. He really is pragmatic and tries to get the best out of his teams, he's not married to one system – you can argue that's good and bad – but I think that his focus will be about how to get the best out of his best players which he had to do at PSG, he had to do at Tottenham, he had to do at Chelsea and typically that's been one of the things that he's done well.
“He's gotten really good performances out of his best players and that's helped his team win matches. It's yet to be known how it will all turn out but I would be optimistic that he would be able to have a positive impact on the team and on the sport in the country.”
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Marsch believes the right call has been made by the USMNT as they move in a different direction, with their exciting squad – which is brimming with potential – wanting to be challenged. The ex-Leeds and RB Leipzig manager added: “This sport and this world that you play in has to be about constantly being challenged to be your best. Period. Right? I don't care like who the coach is and, and there shouldn't be a comfortability. There should always be a drive to be better. And yeah, it's fun to be on teams, right? You want the process of growth and improvement to be an enjoyable one, but it has to be about demands, right? And this life should never be about complacency, right?
“If you want to be a good professional coach, a good professional player, a good professional team, this has to be about the drive and the obsession to be your best and the only way to do that is to constantly be challenged and to be put over your head, To be asked more, to have higher standards, higher demands, right? So I don't care if it's the U.S. team or it's any team. That's that's what professional football is.”
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WHAT NEXT?
The United States and Canada are counting down the days to the 2026 World Cup finals that will see them fill roles as co-hosts, alongside Mexico. Their next outing will be against one another, with a friendly date in Kansas City set to take place on Saturday.
As the summer approaches, reports suggest that Newcastle United have already started their search for a central defender in an attempt to replace the injured Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies have endured a season of injury blows, with Eddie Howe forced to juggle his options and somehow take his side into the Premier League's top six, on course to qualify for the Europa League. The latest news on that front is even set to play a part in next season, with both Lascelles and Botman suffering ACL injuries at similar times, to sum up Newcastle's like as of late.
In need of central defenders, those at St James' Park have already been liked with Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly and Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo in two deals that would undoubtedly provide Howe with a much-needed boost. And now, they're reportedly in pole position to land a potential game-changer.
According to Jornal de Noticias via Paisley Gates, Newcastle are leading the race to sign Ousmane Diomande alongside Liverpool this summer in a deal that could see the Magpies trigger the defender's hefty £69m release clause.
Newcastle struck gold offloading dud who rinsed the club for 7 years
He departed St James’ Park last summer.
ByEthan Lamb Apr 19, 2024
Having been linked with the Sporting CP man in the last few months, it's a positive sign that Newcastle now reportedly lead the race for his signature. But beating Liverpool in negotiations will be far from easy. The Reds could yet have the advantage of Sporting manager Ruben Amorim, who is the top candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield this summer.
Nonetheless, Newcastle's desperate search for a centre-back could create a convincing enough pitch to lure Diomande to St James' Park this summer.
"Elite" Diomande would fill Botman void
Whilst the likes of Kelly and Adarabioyo are solid options, it will arguably take a talent of Diomande's calibre to replace Botman in the first half of next season. The 20-year-old has played a key part for Sporting this season, helping his side remain on course to pick up a league and cup double and potentially earn a move to the Premier League along the way.
Progressive Carries
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Described as a player who was showing signs of becoming an "elite talent" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig at the end of last season, Diomande may well be at that elite level a year later, having starred for Sporting once again.
Newcastle will simply be hoping that they're the side who benefit from that talent, especially without Botman. In an ideal world, Howe will have his side back in the race to finish inside the Premier League's top four and qualify for the Champions League. The summer transfer window could play a vital part in that, however.
Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed that Brighton have held 'positive' talks with German defender Mats Hummels and 'conditions are right' over a transfer.
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New Brighton coach has history with Hummels family
35-year-old is available on free transfer
Decision now lies with ex-Dortmund star
WHAT HAPPENED?
Hurzeler worked with Hummels' father, Hermann, during his spell as a youth player with Bayern Munich and believes his strong relationship with the family has helped talks with Mats. The defender has already reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Serie A side Bologna but Hurzeler is hoping that Hummels will choose to continue his career with Brighton after holding "good discussions" with the veteran.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Brighton have brought in five new players this summer, the most expensive of which being Yankuba Minteh, who joined from Newcastle for €35 million (£30m/$38m) in June. However, with all of their arrivals so far being midfielders and attackers, the Seagulls are hoping to tighten up their defence with the signing of Hummels, having only kept six Premier League clean sheets last season.
(C)Taka Nishina
WHAT HURZELER SAID
"I have been in contact with the Hummels family for a long time, especially since my time at Bayern Munich," Hurzeler told "The basis for cooperation was always there when I had dealings with the Hummels. We value each other very much, had good discussions, but at the end of the day the player has to decide for himself whether he can identify 100 percent with the club.
"I can say that the conditions are right – otherwise we would not have pursued the personnel matter. The discussions were very positive, both on a professional and private level."
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WHAT NEXT FOR HUMMELS AND BRIGHTON?
Brighton will be hoping to have secured the signing of Hummels before they kick off their Premier League campaign with an away trip to Everton next week. However, having not played football since Dortmund's Champions League final loss to Real Madrid at the start of June, Hummels would likely take time to build up his match fitness before featuring for his new side.
It was a tale of two different front lines in Philadelphia as the Merseysiders beat the Gunners
Sometimes football is simple. One team converts their opportunities, and another one doesn't. That's ultimately what separated Liverpool and Arsenal when they faced off in Philadelphia on Wednesday as both teams' tour of the United States continued.
Liverpool had a clinical finisher in Mohamed Salah who could bury a chance at any given moment, while the Gunners could only count on a collection of hesitant forwards. It has long been a criticism of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal that they lack a true centre-forward, but at times it's a bit of a footballing cop-out, an oversimplification of something very complex. In this case, though it was clear as a more deadly Liverpool beat the Gunners, 2-1.
Arne Slot put out something nearing a full-strength side, relying on Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho to lead his forward line. And that trio made an impact, while the fresher Gunners trident of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz fell flat.
Liverpool opened the scoring after 13 minutes, Salah running onto Harvey Elliott's through ball before finishing into the bottom corner. Jota could have doubled the lead after 30 minutes, but smashed his shot off the post from close range. Carvalho made no such mistake five minutes later, though, volleying home from close range off a clever flick from Elliott.
Arsenal responded, as Kai Havertz bundled home from close range after a clever Martin Odegaard pass. They had further chances, but hesitance in the final third – and poor decisions inside the box – saw the Gunners rendered relatively toothless.
The rest of the game collapsed into a drab kickabout as the managers introduced fresh legs in the second half. Still, it was the key moments that illuminated it all, Salah and co burying their opportunities, while Arsenal's main men faltered.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Lincoln Financial Field…
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WINNER: Mohamed Salah
Salah was up for it from the first minute on Wednesday. The Egyptian has historically had fun playing against Oleksandr Zinchenko, and seemed to enjoy himself again here. He was in attack mode early on, running at the Ukrainian and asking questions of the Arsenal defence. He was rewarded for his efforts after 13 minutes, sprinting behind the back line before finishing past a helpless goalkeeper – a classic Salah goal.
Slot will be encouraged by what he has seen of his star forward so far. The Egyptian arrived back to pre-season early and looks in fine form. There will undoubtedly be questions about his future beyond the 2024-25 campaign as he enters the final year of his contract, but until further notice, he is a Liverpool player, and looks to be nearing his best once more.
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LOSER: Gabriel Martinelli
If one winger was at his brilliant best, then another endured a showing that looked a lot like his worst. Martinelli, in truth, has struggled for a while now. He never quite hit his usual levels last season, losing his spot in the XI to Leandro Trossard by the end of the campaign.
After a fruitless Copa America slate with Brazil, he was looking to rediscover some of his old self here, but he never really got out of first gear. Conor Bradley had him on straps for most of his time on the pitch, and in his one real decisive moment, Martinelli under-hit a square ball that would have surely seen his team find the net.
Once a crucial cog in this Arsenal machine, he now could be facing a bench role for the Gunners.
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WINNER: Arne Slot
Look, results here really don't matter. In a few months, no one will remember whether Liverpool beat Arsenal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Those who were at the game – and paid exorbitant prices to be there – might not even remember.
But for managers, these fixtures are key opportunities to try out new tactical systems, get a look at their players, and try to steadily piece together how their XI might look once the season starts in full. And if the first 45 minutes are anything to go by, then Slot might just have something special on his hands here.
His Liverpool team pressed well, were fluid in attack, and took their clear chances when they came. Arsenal put out a stronger side, but Slot's team rather nullified them. The creativity was there, while the defensive effort would have also encouraged the manager. Yes, there's a long way to go, but this was another solid showing from the Dutchman's new iteration of Liverpool.
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LOSER: Arsenal's striker options
What are the marginal gains Arsenal really need to win the league this year? For so much of last campaign, they matched Manchester City stride-for-stride, keeping pace with the eventual title winners. What they perhaps lacked, though, was an incisive cutting edge, the kind of player to guarantee 20 league goals from the top of the pitch. Thus far this summer, they have been reluctant to invest in that archetype, instead spending big on a centre-back in Riccardo Calafiori, and, if reports are to be believed, a central midfielder in Mikel Merino.
But on the evidence of this contest – and many last season – the Gunners sorely lack a focal point. The idea here was, presumably, for Havertz to be that guy, as Arsenal routinely knocked long balls to the big German through the middle. But he was rather bullied by the Liverpool centre-backs, and even though he found the net, there wasn't much of a spark to his play.
Football is more complicated than scoring goals, but Arsenal simply have to sign someone who can bang them in if they are to end their title drought.
يتطلع نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، إلى التسجيل في مباراة الغد ضد آرسنال في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، من أجل تحقيق رقمين مميزين.
ويستضيف ملعب “الإمارات” مباراة الفريقين في قمة منافسات الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2024/25.
ويحتل ليفربول حاليًا المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي، برصيد 21 نقطة، بفارق نقطتين عن مانشستر سيتي الذي تصدر مؤقتًا بعد فوزه الصعب اليوم ضد ساوثهامبتون بهدف دون رد في الجولة نفسها.
في حين يمتلك آرسنال 17 نقطة، حيث يحتل المركز الرابع في الوقت الحالي.
وفي حال تسجيل محمد صلاح هدفًا في مباراة الغد ضد آرسنال، فإنه سيجعله متقدمًا إلى المركز الثامن في قائمة هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي، على مر العصور.
اقرأ أيضًا | ليس الاتحاد.. نادِ سعودي يتمسك بضم محمد صلاح حتى لو جدد لـ ليفربول
وسيصل محمد صلاح، في حال تحقيق ذلك، إلى هدفه رقم 163، ليتساوى مع روبي فاولر.
وسجل محمد صلاح 9 أهداف في 15 مباراة في الدوري الإنجليزي ضد آرسنال، ويُعد روبرتو فيرمينو أكثر من سجل أهدافًا لـ ليفربول ضد الجانرز في البطولة بواقع 11 هدفًا.
مع العلم أن روبي فاولر سجل نفس عدد أهداف محمد صلاح في شباك آرسنال في الدوري الإنجليزي، برصيد 9 أهداف.
ومن ثم، فإن محمد صلاح يأمل تسجيل هدف لكسر شراكته مع فاولر، وربما هدفين للتساوي مع فيرمينو، ويستطيع كسر رقم البرازيلي حال تسجيله هاتريك.
Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma stifled South Africa women before the captain’s unbeaten 34 steered the tricky chase
ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2019Spinners Radha Yadav (3 for 23) and Deepti Sharma (2 for 19) stifled South Africa women before Harmanpreet Kaur steered the tricky chase to see India women home by five wickets in the additional T20I in Surat. Their victory ensured the extra game, scheduled to make up for two washed-outs, had no impact on the series result as India lead the now six-match series 3-0.After being put in, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could manage only 98 for 8. Six of their top seven batsmen reached double digits but none could cross 20. India though stumbled in what looked like a walk in the park and found themselves at 29 for 3 in the seventh over. However, Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 34 off 32 balls, during which she also became the second Indian woman to reach 2000 T20I runs, took the hosts to victory with 17 balls to spare.Earlier, South Africa’s stand-in captain Sune Luus promoted herself to open the innings with Lizelle Lee but the move didn’t pay off. Deepti and medium-pacer Shikha Pandey, who found some swing with the new ball, restricted the visitors to 13 in the first four overs. Lee tried to step it up with back-to-back fours off Deepti in the fifth over but Radha broke through by trapping Luus lbw with her first ball in the next.Lee didn’t last long either and fell to Poonam Yadav for 16 when she top-edged a slog to Smriti Mandhana at deep-backward square leg. Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk added 32 in 28 balls to take the side to 57 for 2 at the end of the 11th over. But both batters fell in successive overs. Wolvaardt missed a sweep against Harmanpreet and was bowled for 17, while de Klerk fell to Radha.The lower-middle order dragged South Africa to 96 for 5 before they lost three wickets in three balls while trying to accelerate. On the last ball of the penultimate over, Radha got debutant Anne Bosch while Deepti dismissed Shabnim Ismail and Lara Goodall with the first two of the 20th. Tumi Sekhukhune prevented the hat-trick but South Africa could manage only two runs from the final over and failed to reach even the three-figure mark.Shafali Verma started the chase aggressively by lofting Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka straight down the ground for fours before Ismail got her caught behind for 14. At the other end though, Mandhana once again struggled for the timing and took six balls to open her account and was eventually dismissed for 7 in the last over of the Powerplay. And when Jemimah Rodrigues too fell in the next over, it appeared South Africa had an opening.Harmanpreet though batted sensibly, nudging the ball in the gaps to rotate the strike while still putting away the loose deliveries. Along with Deepti, she took India to safety as the two added 50 in 49 balls for the fourth wicket.Ismail struck again to send Deepti back for 16 but Harmanpreet stayed till the end and finished the game with an imperious square drive.
The opener has had a troubled past but took his chance back in the ODI side
Danyal Rasool in Karachi03-Oct-2019
Danushka Gunathilaka plays a pull•Getty Images
Less than 15 months ago, Danushka Gunathilaka found himself banned from all forms of cricket, further action pending following the results of a Sri Lankan police inquiry. He had been suspended for breaching curfew during the middle of a Test, but far more gravely, the offence was linked to an incident of alleged sexual assault by an individual known to the batsman. While he was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, the incident saw him earn a harsh reprimand from his then-captain Angelo Mathews, who declared no indiscipline would be tolerated.It was only the latest disciplinary scrape Gunathilaka got into, and he was banned for half a dozen games. It wasn’t yet clear how much longer he would stay out of contention for the national team; occurrences like these can have career-altering implications. He was, to put it mildly, emphatically not in control.Those were matters off the field, and to get a sense of why Sri Lanka Cricket has arguably treated him with kid gloves for so long, you really need to watch him on it. Back into the team for a tour that saw his entry eased by the withdrawal of several first-choice players, Gunathilaka put on a show that emphasised control above all else.Dealing with the triple-left arm threat of Pakistan’s pacemen, he wouldn’t let himself be intimidated; he was never more ruthless than in dealing with the short ball. His control percentage for short deliveries bounced at him from Mohammad Amir, Usman Shinwari and Wahab Riaz was a spotless 100%. He began with a flick to fine leg off the first ball from Shinwari, a second boundary would be had courtesy a back-foot punch through the covers. Amir bowled just one short ball to him all innings, only to see the batsman swivel across and help it behind fine leg. He wouldn’t try that length to Gunathilaka all innings again.The other quicks found the short stuff just as ineffective against him. Nine balls around that length produced 13 runs with two boundaries, with the spinners finding it just as hard to work him out. Pakistan’s two lead spinners, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, conceded a combined 44 runs in 39 balls against him. He was in control for all but three of those balls – 92.3%. Across the 134 balls he faced for his 133, his control percentage registered at 88.7.”I think it was a good century for me, and I take a lot of positives from that knock,” Gunathilaka said. “I’m sure this’ll help me in the future. It comes right after my injury, which has kept me from playing any international game for the past five months. This was a good opportunity for me and I think I did really well. I was happy I was able to showcase my skills, and hopefully I can do this consistently now.”However, it isn’t numbers that have seen Gunathilaka work his way back into the team after breaking curfew in the middle of a Test match and risking opening himself up to a police inquiry. It isn’t his control percentage that won him back a place on the team after turning up to training without his gear.It was the manner in which he began that presumably has had SLC continue to invest in him. He asserted his authority on the game with those two boundaries in the first over, and finding four further exquisite ones before the field would spread out. Not that that mattered, though, as a reverse sweep in the 15th over indicated the boundaries would keep coming despite Pakistan’s best-laid plans. There was no telling where they’d go – his wagon wheel would reveal no cranny of the ground had gone unexplored – and the elegance of the shot-making would be the only predictable point of a relentless onslaught.When Nawaz dropped it short, Gunathilaka rocked back and slashed a beautifully timed square cut to the boundary. When he went full, he saw him charge and dispatch him back over his head. Even the slog was so brimful of easy power it looked sexy. When Wahab – who had the sort of day confirmation bias tends to set aside while he’s out of the team – went full and fast, Gunathilaka would clear his front leg, and, moments later, wide long-on with devastating efficiency. Wahab would try again. This time he went wider while keeping the same full length, as if Gunathilaka hadn’t spent all afternoon gloriously driving through the covers right in front of the Majid Khan enclosure. Parallels don’t come much sweeter than that.The flamboyance was shelved as he approached the hundred, a pragmatic single to the on side bringing up just his second ODI century, another indicator of unfulfilled potential. This tour, after all, has been all about getting the job done, and for a change, the tables had been turned. Repeatedly spurned by Sri Lanka for one reason or another, this was a tour the board needed its players to sign up to, and Gunathilaka, having played no international cricket since January, saw yet another opportunity to return.There’s little point claiming this must be a turning point – how can one possibly know? – and if history is any indicator, the road to redemption is rarely without its bumps. But on a day when Pakistan recalled two of their own problem children back into their T20I side, here was a reminder of why these men are able to walk back into their jobs after slip-ups that would see them sent packing in just about any other profession. Karachi cricket fans don’t have a reputation for applauding elegance as much as effectiveness, but for a few hours, he had them marvelling the art as much as the craft.It was almost midnight when he left the post-match press conference. This was a curfew Sri Lanka were quite happy letting him breach.
كشفت تقارير صحفية عن اجتماع مرتقب في نادي مانشستر يونايتد، في نفس الوقت الذي يتعرض فيه المدرب إريك تين هاج لانتقادات شديدة، في الفترة الحالية.
وعاد تين هاج إلى دائرة الانتقادات بسبب النتائج السيئة التي يحققها الفريق تحت قيادته، في بداية هذا الموسم.
ويحتل مانشستر يونايتد حاليًا المركز الثالث عشر في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي، بعدما حصد 7 نقاط فقط عقب خوض 6 مباريات.
ولم يتمكن مانشستر يونايتد من تحقيق الفوز في الدوري الأوروبي حتى الآن، حيث تعرض للتعادل في مباراتين متتاليتين.
ووفقًا لما ذكرته شبكة “ذا أثلتيك” العالمية، فإنه من المقرر أن يجتمع صناع القرار في مانشستر يونايتد، في لندن، في غضون 48 ساعة من مباراة الأحد ضد أستون فيلا.
ويلتقي الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي، على ملعب “فيلا بارك”.
اقرأ أيضًا | بشكل مثير.. راتكليف يراوغ بشأن مستقبل تين هاج مع مانشستر يونايتد
وأوضحت أن مسؤولي مانشستر يونايتد سيجتمعون يوم الثلاثاء، بحضور صناع القرار المختلفين في النادي.
وأفادت أن اللجنة التنفيذية لـ مانشستر يونايتد ستعقد اجتماعًا طويل الأمد، يوم الثلاثاء، والذي سيجمع بين المالك المشارك السير جيم راتكليف والسير ديف برايلسفورد، بالإضافة إلى الرئيس التنفيذي عمر برادة والمدير الرياضي دان آشورث والمدير الفني جيسون ويلكوكس.
كما سيصل المالك المشارك لـ مانشستر يونايتد جويل جليزر من الولايات المتحدة لحضور الاجتماع، كما تضم اللجنة التنفيذية أيضًا المدير المالي للنادي روجر بيل والمديرة التنفيذية للعمليات كوليت روش.
وكان الهدف منذ استحواذ راتكليف على أسهم في النادي يتمثل في عقد اجتماع مرة في الشهر، ومن غير المعروف في هذه المرحلة ما إذا كان أداء الفريق الأول سيكون بندًا على جدول الأعمال يوم الثلاثاء.
Carlo Ancelotti has explained why Real Madrid and other clubs will refuse to play in FIFA's expanded summer Club World Cup next season.
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Real invited to participateWon the Champions LeagueSet to refuse along with rivalsWHAT HAPPENED?
Real are set to refuse to play in the Club World Cup, according to Ancelotti, amid controversy over FIFA's revamped tournament. The competition is set to take place in the United States at the end of next season, with 32 teams from across the globe invited.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Italian, who guided Real to a double of La Liga and the Champions League this season, claims that FIFA undervalue the teams who have been invited, with Real offered around €20 million (£17m/$22m) for their participation. Ancelotti has also suggested Real will not be the only team rejecting FIFA's offer.
WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID
Ancelotti told : "FIFA forgets that player and teams will not participate in the new Club World Cup. A single Real Madrid match is worth €20 million and FIFA wants to give us that amount for the entire tournament. Negative. Like us, other clubs will refuse the invitation."
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Real are currently basking in the glow of their Champions League triumph ahead of the 2024-25 season. They have already taken some huge steps to improve, agreeing a blockbuster deal to sign Kylian Mbappe as a free agent.
England confirm three changes to their final World Cup 15, with James Vince also stepping up as a replacement for Alex Hales
Andrew Miller20-May-2019
James Vince, Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson have all been named in England’s World Cup 15•Getty Images
Liam Dawson has been called into England’s World Cup squad at the expense of Joe Denly, while David Willey is the unlucky seamer to make way for the inclusion of Jofra Archer, as England’s selectors unveiled their final 15-man line-up ahead of the tournament’s opening fixture, against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.James Vince has also been named in the 15 as a straight swap for Alex Hales, who was deselected earlier this month after failing two tests for recreational drugs, making a total of three changes from the provisional 15 that was named ahead of ODIs against Ireland and Pakistan this month.”It was a very difficult decision,” said Ed Smith, the national selector, at the squad announcement at Lord’s. “David Willey was very unfortunate in missing out, he could easily have been in this World Cup squad, but that’s sport. Sometimes there are more deserving people than there are places in the squad.”Dawson’s inclusion completes a remarkable return to prominence for a player who has not been in the England frame since the ODI tour of Sri Lanka prior to Christmas. A side strain suffered on that trip opened the door for Denly, who marked his first England appearance for almost ten years with a four-wicket haul in a one-off T20I in Colombo.However, having been earmarked as England’s spin-bowling reserve allrounder for the World Cup, Denly failed to cement his place during the Ireland and Pakistan series. He bowled just 11 overs in three matches – in which his solitary wicket came from a leg-side stumping – while his innings of 17 from 21 balls in England’s three-wicket win at Trent Bridge last week was not enough to convince the selectors that he has the batting prowess to be worth a place.Smith added that Denly’s focus would now be on playing four-day cricket for Kent, with a view to cementing his Test place ahead of this summer’s Ashes.”He’s very clear in his situation, there were two things that could have happened,” said Smith. “One, he would have been the World Cup squad. The other one is he goes back to Kent, has a good block of four-day matches before the challenges in the second half of the summer. So he was very clear that both avenues were possible to him.”Dawson, meanwhile, has been in impressive form for Hampshire in this season’s Royal London Cup. He has claimed 18 wickets at 20.33 en route to the final against Somerset at Lord’s this week, and he has also made 274 runs at 45.66, including a century against Surrey at The Oval. He is understood to have been withdrawn from Hampshire’s ongoing County Championship fixture against Nottinghamshire on the Isle of Wight, with Mason Crane deputising for him.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Dawson’s inclusion in England’s plans had been telegraphed earlier in the month, when the coach Trevor Bayliss hinted that he might be called up to the squad for the latter stages of the Pakistan series. Though that didn’t come to pass, it was clear that he and England’s captain, Eoin Morgan, were at odds with the chief selector, Ed Smith, a strong advocate of Denly’s credentials, and Smith himself admitted that the final decision had been a “consensus” call rather than unanimous.Bayliss ultimately conceded that the casting vote in the event of a selection disagreement would come down to the captain, Morgan, who had dropped a strong hint as to Denly’s lack of suitability for the back-up spin role by bowling him for a solitary over – containing three full-tosses – in the third ODI at Bristol.Smith described the role of the reserve spinner as a “very subtle balance issue”.”Do you tend towards someone who’s mainly a batter who also is a very handy bowler in Joe Denly,” he said, “or do you tend towards someone who’s tilted more towards the bowling side of it but is also a handy batter? It could have gone either way.”I would say that everyone in the room was comfortable with the squad that the selection panel has come up with,” Smith added. “And I think it was very important for me as a selector, that the captain feels comfortable with the squad he takes into the World Cup. Eoin has been captain for over four years, the England one day side has done extremely well, this is the culmination of a long campaign, a lot of planning, the culture of that team has been very strong under Eoin Morgan. He’s very comfortable with the squad, as we all are.”Archer, meanwhile, has completed a stunning rise through England’s ranks, having only received the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup when the ECB changed its residency rules from seven years to three late last year.Having made his name on the T20 franchise circuit, Archer showcased his value to England as a 90mph new-ball bowler in a sharp four-over spell in the rain-ruined first ODI against Pakistan at The Oval, then combined well with Mark Wood on a batsman-friendly surface at Trent Bridge the following week.”We’ve seen Jofra Archer playing for England over the last few weeks, and we’ve seen the skills and the quality he has,” said Smith. “It’s pretty straightforward isn’t it? He’s a very good cricketer, very talented, a very exciting player. He has pace, bounce, athleticism, skill with the bat, he’s an outstanding talent, that was clear to all of us. He’s made a very good start to his England career and long may that continue.”His inclusion is cruel luck on Willey, who had been outspoken about the threat posed to his place when Archer first became eligible earlier this year. Nevertheless, he seemed to have risen to the challenge posed to his place in the squad with an impressive showing in the second ODI at the Ageas Bowl, where he showcased his death-bowling credentials to close out a tight 12-run win.However, Willey was less impressive at other moments of the series – not least in being taken for 86 runs in ten overs at Bristol – and appears to have suffered, ultimately, from the lack of fallibility from his rivals for selection. Tom Curran impressed with bat and ball at various stages over the last two weeks, while Chris Woakes reaffirmed his status with a decisive five-wicket haul at Headingley.Liam Plunkett, meanwhile, remains England’s most prolific seamer since the 2015 World Cup, and the selectors are loath to go into the upcoming tournament without his experience. And Mark Wood, despite his injury concerns, was touching 90mph in what is so far his only spell of the summer alongside Archer at Trent Bridge.Bayliss, who will stand down at England coach after the Ashes later this summer, said: “I hadn’t seen [Archer] play live before but he’s certainly lived up to expectations. He’s got good control, good pace and he can bowl in all the three phases of the match.”It’s been a hectic last six months but the guys have come through and I fully expect them to play well,” he added. “For any team, knockout cricket is when the most pressure is. Our first job is to get through and qualify for the semi-finals. Get to a semi and anything is possible.”