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Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal machine, has rapidly risen to prominence in the early stages of his career, captivating fans worldwide with his remarkable talent and goal-scoring prowess.

Born on July 21, 2000, Haaland made his professional debut with Norwegian side Bryne FK in 2016. He began to show just how prolific he was in front of goal during two seasons with Modle in Norway. However, it was his move to Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019 that truly marked the start of his meteoric rise.

During his time at Salzburg, Haaland shattered records and etched his name in football history. In the 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League campaign, he became the first player to score in his first five consecutive appearances. His exceptional form earned him a move to German giants Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, where he continued his goalscoring exploits.

Haaland's combination of speed, strength and clinical finishing has resulted in astonishing statistics. His tally of goals in his late teens and early twenties is unparalleled, even drawing comparisons to some of the game's greatest legends. The striker's ability to find the net consistently has propelled him to multiple awards, including the 2020 Golden Boy Award.

Erling Haaland at Molde

Haaland's football journey took a significant step forward during his time at Molde FK in Norway. Joining the club's youth ranks in 2017, he quickly made his mark on the senior team. In his debut season in 2017, he showcased his potential with four goals in his first three appearances.

However, it was in the 2018/2019 season that Haaland truly made waves, finishing as the top scorer in the Norwegian top-flight league, Eliteserien, with 12 goals in 25 appearances. His exceptional performances earned him a move to Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019.

Haaland's time at Molde was instrumental in his development as a goalscoring phenomenon, and his achievements there laid the foundation for his subsequent successes.

Erling Haaland at RB Salzburg

Haaland's tenure at RB Salzburg from January 2019 to January 2020 saw him get better and better. The young Norwegian striker made an immediate impact, showcasing his extraordinary talent on the European stage.

In the 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League campaign, Haaland's remarkable feat of scoring eight goals in his first six group stage matches garnered attention worldwide. His blistering pace, physicality and clinical finishing left opponents stunned. This accomplishment, coupled with his earlier achievements, earned him the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2020.

Beyond the Champions League, Haaland's domestic performances were equally impressive. During his time at Salzburg, he scored a total of 29 goals in just 27 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga. This incredible scoring rate emphasized his prolific nature and established him as one of the hottest young prospects in world football.

One of the most memorable moments of his time at Salzburg came when he scored a hat-trick against Genk in the Champions League, becoming the third-youngest player to achieve this feat in the history of the competition. His time with the Austrian club served as a springboard for his subsequent move to Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

Haaland's Honours at RB Salzburg

Austrian Bundesliga (1)

2018/2019

Austrian Cup (1)

2018/2019

Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund

Erling Haaland's arrival at Borussia Dortmund in January 2020 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his burgeoning football career, and the Norwegian sensation continued to build on his already impressive reputation.

Haaland's debut for Borussia Dortmund was nothing short of spectacular, as he scored a hat-trick against FC Augsburg just 23 minutes after coming on as a substitute. This stunning introduction set the tone for his time at the club, as he consistently found the back of the net with astonishing regularity.

In the second half of the 2019-2020 season, Haaland scored an impressive 16 goals in just 18 Bundesliga appearances. His combination of physical strength, lightning-fast pace and clinical finishing made him a nightmare for defenders. He continued to shine in the UEFA Champions League as well, finishing the season with a total of 10 goals in the competition.

The 2020-2021 season saw Haaland's star continue to rise. He maintained his exceptional goal-scoring form, netting 27 goals in 28 Bundesliga matches and 10 goals in the Champions League. His performance against Sevilla in the Round of 16, where he scored both goals in a 2-2 draw, showcased his ability to thrive in high-pressure situations. He ended that season with 41 goals in as many first-team appearances. The following season, he continued his outstanding rate of scoring with 29 goals in just 30 appearances in all competitions.

Haaland's achievements at Borussia Dortmund are highlighted not only by his goal-scoring prowess but also by the numerous records he set during his time in Germany. He became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to reach 25 goals and the quickest to score 20 goals in the competition. His consistency and impact on the team's success earned him the nickname "The Terminator" among fans.

Apart from his individual accomplishments, Haaland's presence and contributions helped Borussia Dortmund secure top-four finishes in the Bundesliga and make notable progress in European competitions. Despite his individual successes, though, he was only able to help Dortmund to one DFB-Pokal trophy during his time at the club.

As one of the most sought-after talents in world football, Haaland's time at Borussia Dortmund was a pivotal phase in his career, so it was no surprise when it was announced he would be joining legendary manager Pep Guardiola at Premier League giants Manchester City in the summer of 2022. He ended his Dortmund career with an astonishing 86 goals in 89 first-team appearances.

Haalands Honours at Borussia Dortmund

DFB-Pokal (1)

2020/2021

Erling Haaland at Manchester City

Haaland joined Man City in July 2022 after the Premier League champions activated his £51.2m release clause.

On his Premier League debut in August, the Norway international scored both goals in a 2-0 win over West Ham and by the end of the month, he already had two hat-tricks to his name after bagging trebles against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest. By then, it was clear the Premier League had a goalscoring phenomenon on their hands.

Haaland then scored a brace on his Champions League debut for Manchester City, before becoming the first Premier League player in history to score a hat-trick in three successive home games. In doing so, he also set the record for the fastest player to three Premier League hat-tricks, which he achieved in just eight games. The previous record was held by Michael Owen, who reached that milestone in 48 games. By the end of 2022, Haaland already had 20 goals in just 14 Premier League games.

In March 2023, the explosive striker scored five goals in a Champions League clash against RB Leipzig, becoming only the third player to do so after Lionel Messi and Adriano. It was a haul that also took him to 39 goals in all competitions, which broke Man City's club record for most goals scored in a single season, which had been held by Tommy Johnson since 1928/1929.

By the end of his first season in England, Haaland had more records under his belt. His 36 Premier League goals set a record for the most goals scored in a single season, while he also broke the record for most goal contributions (goals & assists) in a single season, previously held by Thierry Henry. On top of all that, the striker won the European Golden Shoe and the Premier League golden boot.

It would prove to be the dream first season for Haaland in England as, on top of all of his personal records, milestones and a record of 52 goals in 53 games, Man City went on to win a historic treble – the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

At the beginning of his second season at Man City, Haaland netted a brace against Burnley on the opening day of the new Premier League season before Manchester City beat Sevilla on penalties to win their first UEFA Super Cup title, taking Haaland's trophy count to four since his signed for the club 13 months earlier.

To-date, his career record at the age of just 23 is an astonishing 209 goals in 256 first-team club appearances.

Haaland's Honours at Man City

Premier League (1)

2022/2023

FA Cup (1)

2022/2023

UEFA Champions League (1)

2022/2023

UEFA Super Cup (1)

2023

Erling Haaland with Norway

Erling Haaland's international career with the Norwegian national team has been characterized by his prolific scoring and potential to become a footballing icon for his country.

Making his debut on September 5, 2019, he swiftly asserted his impact by becoming Norway's youngest-ever scorer in a European Championship qualifier against Sweden.

Haaland's scoring prowess continued to shine as he netted crucial goals during the UEFA Nations League and World Cup qualifiers. His remarkable record includes becoming the first teenager to score in five consecutive UEFA European Championship qualifiers.

Since his 2019 debut, Haaland has netted 24 goals in just 25 appearances for Norway.

Erling Haaland's Personal Accolades & Records

Erling Haaland's remarkable football journey is punctuated by a slew of personal records and prestigious awards that underscore his extraordinary goalscoring talent.

His rapid ascent began with becoming the youngest player to score a hat-trick on his Bundesliga debut in January 2020, a feat achieved within just 23 minutes for Borussia Dortmund.

In the 2019-2020 UEFA Champions League, Haaland set a new record by becoming the fastest player to reach 10 goals in the competition, a milestone accomplished in just seven appearances. This astonishing form led to his inclusion in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season.

The coveted Golden Boy Award, bestowed upon him in 2020, marked his status as the best young footballer in Europe. His prolific goal-scoring continued, with records like being the youngest player to score 20 goals in Bundesliga history.

Haaland's legacy also extends to his national team, where he became the youngest player to score for Norway in a European Championship qualifier. These records and accolades are a testament to his immense talent and his potential to shape the footballing landscape for years to come.

Haaland's Personal Honours

European Golden Shoe (1)

2022/2023

Austrian Footballer of the Year (1)

2019

Bundesliga Player of the Season (1)

2020/2021

Bundesliga Team of the Season (2)

2020/2021, 2021/2022

FWA Football of the Year (1)

2022/2023

Premier League Player of the Season (1)

2022/2023

Premier League Young Player of the Season (1)

2022/2023

Premier League Golden Boot (1)

2022/2023

Golden Boy

2020

Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year (1)

2020

UEFA Champions League Team of the Season (2)

2020/2021, 2022/2023

UEFA Champions League Top Scorer (2)

2020/2021, 2022/2023

UEFA Nations League Top Scorer (2)

2020/2021, 2022/2023

FIFA FIFPRO World XI (2)

2021, 2022

Manchester City Player of the Season (1)

2022/2023

Karim Benzema appears to have deleted his Instagram account after Al-Ittihad were thumped 5-2 by Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.

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Al-Ittihad thumped by Al-NassrBenzema failed to scoreInstagram account has disappearedWHAT HAPPENED?

Al-Ittihad were thumped 5-2 by Al-Nassr, with Ronaldo scoring a brace of penalties, Sadio Mane also scoring twice, and Anderson Talisca on the scoresheet as well. Benzema did provide an assist in the game, but he has only scored once in his last four outings, with Al-Ittihad only winning one, and slipping to sixth in the Saudi Pro League as a result. The former Real Madrid ace has now seemingly purged his Instagram account.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Benzema's page on the photo-sharing website had 76 million followers, but it has now either been suspended or deleted – as per . In terms of footballers, only Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe have more followers than the 36-year-old.

DID YOU KNOW?

Benzema has made a total of 20 appearances for Al-Ittihad and has scored 12 goals. He has yet to win any silverware with the Saudi club, as they were eliminated from the Club World Cup at the second round stage by Al-Ahly, although they remain in both the AFC Champions League and the King's Cup.

The Saudi media has also criticised Benzema on a regular basis. One of the country’s most popular sports journalists, Walid Al-Faraj, recently singled out the 36-year-old on his platform Acton Avec Walid, stating: "The gap between Benzema and the public is growing day by day. He never managed to make a difference. And above all, he doesn't make any effort. It’s as if he's saying to the audience: ‘I'm just having fun with you.’

“When Ronaldo arrived in January, he showed signs he wanted to play, but Benzema has offered nothing. It's like the team doesn't like him. He is uncomfortable. I don't know the reason.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BENZEMA?

Benzema's move to Al-Ittihad has seen a flurry of goals but the team have yet to truly catch fire with the Real Madrid legend leading the line and are now 22 points behind leaders Al-Hilal. They are next in action against Al-Tai on Saturday.

Manchester United are tracking an exciting young striker in the Premier League, but a reliable journalist has revealed that he isn’t the only option being considered.

How have Man United started the season?

The Old Trafford outfit haven’t made the best start to the new top-flight campaign as they find themselves sitting 11th in the table having picked up just six points so far from a possible 12, securing two victories but also suffering the same number of defeats.

Despite capturing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta earlier in the summer, Erik ten Hag will still be looking to bolster his ranks at centre-forward with the future of Anthony Martial looking extremely uncertain, and the boss already seems to have set his sights on a potential candidate he’d like to recruit.

At Brighton and Hove Albion in April, Evan Ferguson signed a new contract which isn’t set to expire until 2028, but having firmly established himself as Roberto De Zerbi’s top-performing offensive player so far this term, he’s caught the eye of the manager in M16.

Back in May, Melissa Reddy credited the Red Devils and Tottenham Hotspur with an interest in the 18-year-old who she claimed had been earmarked as the perfect attacker to lead the line in the long-term future, and a new update has now emerged regarding the club’s pursuit of the Republic of Ireland international.

Are Man United signing Evan Ferguson?

According to The Daily Mail's Mike Keegan during a live Q&A, Man United do hold a concrete interest in Ferguson, but there are also other mystery stars who the hierarchy are looking at. He said:

“United have been watching Ferguson and monitoring his progress but the same could be said of dozens of players. They are already working two windows ahead, which is pretty commonplace across the rest of the Premier League. For each position they ideally have three or more players on a list which they scout and regularly update."

How many goals has Evan Ferguson scored?

For Brighton since getting promoted to their senior fold, Ferguson has posted 18 contributions (14 goals and four assists) in 33 appearances which shows how prolific he is, and the striker poses a constant threat in the final third.

The 6 foot 2 colossus, who pockets £20k-per-week, has recorded a total of 13 shots so far this season which is more than any of his fellow teammates, via FBRef, but he also has strong link-up play with his peers in the opposition’s half, ranking in the 97th percentile for pass completion.

Furthermore, Ferguson, who has been dubbed the “complete package” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a versatile operator with his ability to play in five positions, including all across the frontline and even in attacking midfield, so this is another attractive attribute for Ten Hag and one that will be useful for him to have in the building should any unexpected injuries occur in other roles where cover may need to be provided.

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has denied claims that he told Moises Caicedo he could leave this summer amid links to Chelsea.

What's the latest Moises Caicedo transfer news?

It's no secret that the Ecuador midfielder is much-wanted by the Blues right now and they've actually already made an attempt to sign him.

Indeed, as per Sky Sports, Chelsea tabled a bid of £70m for Caicedo but it was rejected out of hand by the Seagulls as they now value their asset at around £100m – which is in the same bracket as Arsenal's record-signing Declan Rice.

No doubt fans of the West London club will be concerned that they might be priced out of a move but there have been some suggestions that De Zerbi gave his midfielder his word that he would be sold this summer.

Indeed, when the player signed a new four-year contract toward the end of last season Fabrizio Romano reported that De Zerbi told Caicedo: "Stay here with us until the end of the season, and we will sell you in the summer."

The journalist added: "This was the plan, this was promised to the player."

However, now refuting these claims, the Brighton manager has insisted that no such promise was made.

Indeed, De Zerbi recently explained to the press the club's current stance, saying: “At the moment Moises is a Brighton player. I spoke with Tony Bloom and he told me if the conditions don’t change, Moises stays with us.

“For me it should be great news because it is difficult to find another player like Moises.”

He then denied talk of there being a verbal agreement to let his midfielder for a certain price, saying: “It is not true. I am coach, not owner, I’m not a sporting director. I’m only a coach. Believe me, it is difficult to be a coach.”

What did De Zerbi say about Colwill and Caicedo?

These claims from the Brighton boss will likely annoy many Chelsea fans who may feel as though this potential summer transfer is slipping through their fingers.

To make things worse, De Zerbi probably then upset even more Blues supporters when he suggested that Caicedo may even play for the Seagulls with their very own Levi Colwill next season.

The Chelsea defender spent last term on loan down on the south coast and is still wanted by Brighton, and they've already had a £30m bid rejected with Mauricio Pochettino keen on keeping him around.

De Zerbi also proposed a possible swap deal as a compromise. In full, he said: “There are two questions. Not only about Caicedo, also about Colwill, and maybe it can be [a swap].

“I would like to play with Caicedo and Colwill together but at the moment I can only speak about Caicedo as Colwill is not one of my players.”

It remains to be seen where the two players end up at the end of the transfer market but at the moment it feels as though any outcome could end up happening.

Perhaps both will stay put at their current clubs, perhaps both will play under De Zerbi for the Seagulls next term, and perhaps both will end up with Pochettino at Chelsea.

England’s most prolific bowling pair will hope to stay together for some time yet, but in a sign of Joe Root starting to think further ahead into his captaincy tenure minds have been cast to the future

Andrew McGlashan at Seddon Park14-Mar-2018England have begun their succession planning for life after James Anderson and Stuart Broad with Mark Wood given the chance to open the bowling against the New Zealand XI in Hamilton.Wood shared the new ball with Anderson, bowling a three-over spell, before being replaced by Broad who struck with his first delivery to remove Jeet Raval. Broad took the second new ball under the lights in the evening – when he again dismissed Raval with batsmen able to return in somewhat farcical scenes. England’s most prolific bowling pair will hope to stay together for some time yet, but in a sign of Joe Root starting to think further ahead into his captaincy tenure, minds have been cast to the future.”Yesterday, we had a bowlers’ meeting, and he pulled me in at the end and said that – further down the line – if the two guys finish at around the same time, we don’t want two fresh opening bowlers. So it’s a chance in a practice game to give different lads a chance,” Wood said.”I was a bit surprised when he told me, but it was obviously a huge honour to open the bowling for England – especially with Jimmy. I was shocked, to be fair, because they’re a prolific opening partnership. But it was a chance for me to try to impress.”Though Broad, who sits on 399 Test wickets, struggled in the Ashes to cap a disappointing 2017, there is no suggestion that his position is under threat for this series – and he looked in decent shape on the opening day at Seddon Park – but there is something of a neat symmetry that the future of England’s attack is being considered where their two most prolific bowlers first joined forces in 2008.’Guess it showed we were getting under their skin’

Kyle Jamieson had a day to remember in Hamilton as he scored 101 and found himself being giving a “few words” by James Anderson as he flayed England around Seddon Park.
Jamieson, who has a highest first-class score of 40 – although has a one-day fifty and had more pretensions as a batsman when a youngster – brought up his century off 110 balls.
“It’s still sinking in a wee bit, just came out and tried to counter-attack and to end up on a hundred is pretty surreal,” he said.
On the exchange with Anderson, he added. “He had a few nice words to say to me, just telling me to keep going. It was just a great experience for myself to have a guy of that experience having a few words. I guess it showed we were getting under their skin a bit.”

After the first Test in Hamilton, where England crashed to a 189-run defeat, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard were dropped by captain Michael Vaughan for the next match in Wellington with Broad and Anderson taking their place. Though Harmison would play again, and it was a little while until Broad and Anderson consistently shared the new ball, it was the beginning of an alliance that would carry England through the next decade.Nothing as dramatic is expected on this tour, but there remain question marks over the make-up of the England attack for the first Test with three bowlers missing the two-day pink-ball match with niggles. Ben Stokes (back), Chris Woakes (hamstring) and Craig Overton (quad) were not considered while Mason Crane (back spasm) joined the list having initially been included in the 13.It is hoped all four will be available for the second two-day game, which will be played with the red ball, although Stokes’ back will be monitored after his exertions on returning to international action in the ODIs. If they are fit, Woakes and Overton could get a chance with the new ball in the second match and it also raises the possibility that the Anderson-Broad new-ball partnership in Tests could be split while both remain in the team.Given Wood’s own injury record, it remains to be seen what sort of Test career he can put together but this was a chance for him to impress. He was even regularly jumping wide in his delivery stride which is a sign the ankle is holding up well. Though figures of 2 for 80 don’t stand out, there were times when he bowled with decent pace as Root used him in short bursts throughout, his longest spell four overs. He found the outside edge of Colin de Grandhomme in his second spell and then claimed Doug Bracewell, shouldering arms, after lunch before the rollicking 163-run stand between Tom Blundell and Kyle Jamieson changed the look of the day.”At times, it was a little bit up and down for me personally,” he said. “At times, I felt I bowled really well – and then other times not so well. I think they should burn that top end, so I don’t have to bowl from there anymore. It was hard going, especially from that end for some reason for me.”I guess it was rhythm. At times, I almost felt I tried too hard, got a bit tense and tried to bowl too quick – then when I let it flow, it seemed to come out better. It was nice having the experience of Jimmy and Broady next to you. They know me well, so they can say where I’m going wrong and what I’m doing right.”If all England’s pace-bowling options are fit, Wood believes he still sits some way down the pecking order. He played the last of his 10 Tests against South Africa at Trent Bridge last July but was already suffering a heel problem by then caused by wearing the wrong insoles. Overall he has 26 wickets at 40.65.”I think the main four are Jimmy, Broady, Woakesy and Stokesy – your four lead bowlers. I’m trying to push my way in, but they’re four quality bowlers. It’s hard to get in – especially with Jimmy and Broady’s unbelievable record. Woakesy’s been in unbelievable form, Stokesy balances the team – so it’s hard to see where you’d fit in.”Craig [Overton] obviously did really well in the Ashes, and he offers something different. So I guess it depends on the pitch and conditions and what the captain wants.”

Kusal Perera and Asela Gunaratne are also expected return to the national set-up when Sri Lanka fly to India for a full tour

Madushka Balasuriya31-Oct-2017Angelo Mathews will be fit for Sri Lanka’s tour of India in November, while Kusal Perera and Asela Gunaratne are also expected to return to the national set-up.SLC to name head coach by end of the year

Sri Lanka Cricket expects to announce a new head coach by the end of the year, though it is unlikely to happen prior to Sri Lanka’s upcoming tour of India in November.
SLC confirmed that they were in conversations with a couple of coaches about the vacant position. Interim coach Nic Pothas, who has been in charge since the abrupt departure of Graham Ford in June, is also in the running.
“We are discussing with about three or four coaches, including Nic Pothas. We hope to finalise the decision by the end of the year,” SLC CEO Ashley De Silva said.
“When it comes to recruiting a new coach, we have to be sure to select the right one, therefore it takes some time. As for the names, some of them are still working in other places so if it gets leaked they won’t be happy. We’ll reveal it when the time is right.”
It means that Sri Lanka will head into arguably their toughest tour this year without a permanent head coach. De Silva refused to confirm if Pothas would retain his role as interim coach for the tour of India.

All three were unavailable for the recently concluded Pakistan tour, but will be welcomed back warmly following Sri Lanka’s recent struggles in limited-overs contests. Sri Lanka have lost their last 16 white-ball matches, including both ODI and T20I series whitewashes against Pakistan and India.Their next assignment is a full tour of India starting with the first of the three Tests on November 16 in Kolkata, followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is.”Angelo and Kusal Janith [Perera] have both recovered and they will be considered for selection for the Indian series. Asela Gunaratne is fit as well,” SLC CEO Ashley De Silva said.Sri Lanka’s interim head coach Nic Pothas, who was speaking alongside Sri Lanka’s three captains for the Pakistan tour, hinted that after a string of such negative results change in personnel might be the best way forward.”It’s pretty obvious what the mood will be like when you’ve lost 16 games,” Pothas said. “With respect to new faces, that’s a conversation that we need to have with the selectors. But I think it stands to reason that in any walk of life, when you’ve had negative results for a period of time you need to see some change somewhere.”While Sri Lanka ended the series with eight straight defeats, they had started it on a much more promising note, becoming the first team to win a Test series against Pakistan in the UAE, since Australia in 2002. Pothas was keen to point this, as he stressed on the other positives derived from the tour.”On the Test series, let me remind you that we made history,” he stated. “We did something that no other nation has ever done in the UAE. It tends to have been forgotten due to the fact that ODIs follow the Tests. But we have to give huge credit to the team and to the captain.”Overall across the whole tour we can certainly glean a lot of positives. The fielding has improved out of sight and certainly was one of the shining lights throughout the month that we were out there. And the bowling as well was of a very high standard; the execution of the plans was very pleasing.”Obviously, some of the batting didn’t go according to plan, but that’s the cricket world and other teams are allowed to play well. It was also one of the best bowling attacks in the world so it’s always going to be tough, but I think on the whole the series started off very well with that Test win. Certainly the attitude, the character and the fight shown by that team was very, very pleasing.”The tour also saw a Sri Lankan team return to Pakistan for the first time since 2009, when their team bus was attacked by armed gunmen in Lahore. The decision to play a match in Lahore resulted in several players pulling out of the game, but also provided opportunities for several fringe players.Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga was among those that pulled out, which gave Thisara Perera the opportunity to captain the T20 side. Despite losing all three matches, Perera was full of praise for his young charges.”In truth when speaking about the Lahore visit, it was a much changed team to the one we initially expected to take part,” Thisara said. “Even though it was a young side, when captaining them I realised that they were much more mature than I had thought. The support they gave, their attitude, as a captain it was a great help in terms of handling the team.”The team didn’t have many players with international experience. Most were inexperienced, including me as captain. Nevertheless the players had the drive to play and win. Although it was a youthful side, a lot of them had experience playing domestic cricket. Their attitude was also right. That’s the attitude we need in the team. Although we didn’t perform as we would have liked with the bat, the bowlers did us proud.”The second match, we had the match in our hands till the last ball, I think we lost the victory as we didn’t have the experience to handle it. If these players are given a chance they can do a lot more for Sri Lanka cricket.”

There was plenty of love for Gio Reyna as he embarked on a surprise new chapter in his career with a loan move to Nottingham Forest.

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Reyna joins Forest in loan switchUSMT star seeks minutes after Dortmund strugglesPulisic and Bellingham among well wishersGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

There was plenty of love for Gio Reyna as he embarked on a surprise new chapter in his career with a loan move to Nottingham Forest.

The 21-year-old sealed a loan deal to Nuno Espirito Santo's side until the end of the season having been restricted to just 280 minutes of Bundesliga action this season after falling out of favour at Borussia Dortmund.

Sitting just two points above the relegation zone and with a potential points deduction hanging over them, Forest will be hoping that Reyna will provide a spark to fire them to safety.

AdvertisementWHAT GIO REYNA SAID

Posting a picture of himself arriving at a deserted City Ground, Reyna posted: "So excited to be here! Can’t wait to get started! Let’s gooo."

Quick to reply were Pulisic with a motivational "Let's get it bro."

Former Dortmund team-mate Bellingham chimed in with a simple: "Brother," alongside a heart emoji.

Timothy Weah, Matt Miazga and Folarin Balogun all wished their USMNT team-mate good luck with the move.

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In what's turned out to be a quiet winter transfer window, Reyna's switch is one of the more intriguing moves. Whether the American can find the continuity he craves at a club where ambitious recruitment has seen vast numbers of players arrive and leave in the past number of windows remains to be seen. If Reyna can dovetail effectively with the talented Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga then Forest may have pulled off something of a coup. If not, they are under no obligation to sign the player on a permanent basis.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Reyna can seek advice on life in the Premier League from a familiar source. His father Claudio enjoyed six seasons in the English top flight after joining Sunderland in 2001. After two years on Wearside he moved on to Manchester City before returning to his native New Jersey.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the hunt to sign a proven international defender this summer; however, transfer insider Dean Jones is 'sceptical' about how the Old Gold will go about pulling his signature off.

What's the latest news at Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Truth be told, Wolves have endured an extremely frustrating transfer window and their squad is in need of some replenishment following the departures of many key assets this summer, including Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez, Nathan Collins and Conor Coady, as per Transfermarkt.

Financial Fair Play restrictions have hampered their ability to attract players to Molinuex over the course of the window, with only Matt Doherty and Tom King entering the fold in the West Midlands, both on free transfers.

Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui left the club under a cloud in the week leading up to the opening fixtures of the Premier League campaign and was subsequently replaced by former Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil, as per The Guardian.

Despite spirits being low around the Old Gold, Wolves turned in an encouraging performance in their first competitive match of the campaign away to Manchester United at Old Trafford, losing 1-0 courtesy of a Raphael Varane header in an encounter they should've taken at least a share of the spoils from, as per BBC Sport.

Controversially, Wolves were denied a penalty in the dying embers of proceedings as Amadou Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic in the box, something which O'Neil has since received an apology for, which he revealed in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, stating: "We have just spoken to Jon Moss and fair play to him for coming straight out and apologising and saying it was a blatant penalty and should have been given."

What has Dean Jones said about Nico Elvedi?

Last month, Football Insider claimed that Wolves were close to completing a deal to sign Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi, who earns around £49k per week, in a deal worth around £7 million.

Nevertheless, things seem to have gone a little quiet with regard to the £49k-a-week earner's proposed arrival at Molineux, though transfer insider Jones thinks that there is still 'potential' for a deal to be done if Wolves can somehow evade their financial restrictions.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones stated: "I still think there is potential around this deal. But it's difficult to know how likely it is to come off, purely because of this financial standpoint we're at with Wolves.

"If it is a one in, one out policy, then they've got to weigh up whether it's worth making the change or it's going to be detrimental to have another new face in and another old face going out.

"You're losing a lot of the identity of this team from recent times. That's not a completely bad thing because, for a lot of last season, things weren't going well. There's a lot to be said for changing the narrative around the club once you've come through a storm and managed to weather it a little bit.

"While Elvedi would be a good signing, I'm just a bit sceptical about how on earth they actually make it happen."

What now for Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Wolves take on Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend at Molinuex and will be hoping to claim their first three points of the campaign despite a backdrop of uncertainty at the club, as per Sky Sports.

In terms of recruitment, West Ham United forward Michail Antonio has emerged as a target to strengthen offensive depth at the Old Gold and it is believed that his current employers would be willing to let him go if they can secure a suitable replacement at the London Stadium, according to TEAMtalk.

Daniel Podence could recoup some funds for Wolves to spend in the transfer market and is wanted by Scottish champions Celtic in a deal that may net the Old Gold £12 million, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Athletic report that Wolves remain interested in experienced West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell; however, their efforts to land the former England international have proved unsuccessful as of yet.

After beating a host of big names to the 2023 women's award, the Madrid CFF star's career looks set to explode in the coming years

The 2023 Women’s World Cup belonged to Spain, who beat England 1-0 in the final in Sydney back in August – but, in another way, it also belonged to Africa. For the first time in tournament history, despite off-pitch obstacles suggesting that the odds were against them, three African nations made it through to the last 16 of the competition.

For Morocco, it was a reward for the excellent work the federation has done investing in women's football, following up the team's run to the final of a home Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2022. But for Nigeria and South Africa, it was a message sent to their federations that they deserve that investment and made many ponder what both nations could achieve with more. After all, eventual finalists England needed a penalty shootout to beat an impressive Nigeria side, while South Africa posed the Netherlands plenty of problems and created tons of chances despite the final result being a 2-0 win for the Dutch.

There was history for Zambia, too, the Copper Queens completing the quartet of nations representing Africa in Australia and New Zealand. Pooled in an extremely tough group in which eventual champions Spain only finished second, behind a Japan team that thrashed them 4-0, Zambia couldn’t secure their spot in the knockout rounds but they did secure a first ever Women’s World Cup win, on their tournament debut.

The team’s 3-1 win over Costa Rica was a memorable one for a team packed with talent, the Copper Queens backing up their fantastic achievement of qualifying for the Olympic women’s football tournament in 2021 with even more history at another huge international event.

With a third-placed finish secured at WAFCON last year, too, it’s clear that this team is one with a very bright future, the average age of their World Cup squad coming in at just over 23 years. From China-based superstar Barbra Banda to talented midfielder Grace Chanda, there are so many quality players to note in this team and prime among them is Racheal Kundananji, this year’s GOAL50 women’s winner and the first ever GOAL50 winner, men’s or women’s, from Africa.

GettySlowly but surely

Kundananji’s rise to the top of the women’s game, with her catching everyone’s eye last season thanks to a remarkable 25 goals in just 29 league games in Spain, didn’t come overnight. Having shone in Zambia’s domestic league as a teenager, the forward caught the eye of Kazakhstani club BIIK Kazygurt during a national team camp and was soon on her way to Europe.

Though boasting one of Europe’s lower-profile leagues, playing in Kazakhstan was that first step towards where she is today and it gave her a taste of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, too, with Kundananji scoring four goals in 11 appearances in the competition.

“The coach believed in me that I could improve, especially in front of goal,” she recalled earlier this year, in an interview with . “They believed in me and gave me a chance. When I received the contract, I was very happy. It has been my dream to play in Europe and that was a big motivation for me. When I went to Kazakhstan, I worked so hard to improve myself in every way. I know I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to perfect myself. From the day I moved there to where I am now, I’m just trying to perfect myself. No one is perfect, no one is the best they can be, but I work hard every day to make sure I can do the best I can.”

Kundananji’s hard work paid off when, in 2021, she was spotted by Spanish side Eibar and earned a move to one of Europe’s biggest leagues. Again, it wasn’t easy when she got there. The club was battling relegation and would eventually succumb to that fate – but the Zambian forward’s eight goals in 21 appearances for a struggling team meant she would get a chance to stick around in the top tier…

AdvertisementGettyMarvellous in Madrid

A move to the Spanish capital beckoned in the summer of 2022 when Madrid CFF, an independent women’s club, came calling. Given the team is not attached to a successful (and rich) men's side, things are not easy for Madrid CFF. Indeed, it was long thought that the club would be taken over by Real Madrid when Los Blancos eventually decided to get involved in the women's game. However, that wouldn't prove to be the case. Real targeted another independent club, CD Tacon, and Madrid CFF have continued to impress over the years.

The club has been in the top tier in Spain ever since promotion as champions of the second division in 2017 and they have had some memorable campaigns, most notably the 2020-21 season, in which they registered a seventh-placed finish in the league and reached the semi-finals of the Copa de la Reina.

But, having finished 13th the following year, Kundananji’s arrival ahead of the 2022-23 campaign would eventually propel them to a best-ever place of fifth, the Zambian star netting 25 times in 29 Liga F outings. Only Alba Redondo, the Spain international at Levante, bettered those numbers, scoring 27 to win the Golden Boot.

GettyA joy to watch

To watch Kundananji play is to watch someone who absolutely loves what she does. The delight with which she races into her trademark knee slide celebration never fails to put a smile on your face – and it is something we have seen plenty of since she moved to Madrid.

As well as being blessed with great pace, Kundananji has a fantastic understanding of the game, great awareness and an enviable ability to use both feet. It means she's capable of scoring such a variety of goals – be they tap-ins that showcase her great instincts, technically stunning strikes or composed finishes when there is only the goalkeeper to beat.

The 23-year-old can just about do it all and she does it with infectious energy, your eye drawn to her ability to constantly be a threat to the opponent. She is a delight to watch when she is in full flow, and she usually is.

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Giant-killer

Despite spending the 2022-23 season scoring for fun, the final weekend of the Liga F season felt like a big moment for Kundananji. Everyone had seen her numbers and understood what she could do but when Barcelona came to town on May 21, she put an exclamation mark at the end of it all.

The Catalans had won the league on April 30, with four games to spare, and were bidding to make it an invincible season. They had won every single league game on their way to that title and their only dropped points had come two games later, away at Sevilla on May 10. But Madrid weren’t there to simply roll over and let that happen. Instead, two first half goals, within seven minutes of each other, saw Kundananji set her team on their way to a shock victory.

The Zambian star was a serious threat on the counter and complemented her pace with her clinical touch to not only spoil Barca’s chances of an unbeaten season, but to condemn the Spanish – and soon-to-be European – champions to a first league loss in 65 games, ending a streak that had gone on for two years.

On a day when he paired with Tim Southee to ensure New Zealand’s domination, Trent Boult said better pitches would help solve the problem of making Test cricket appealing

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-20170:37

‘Take a lot of pride in my batting’ – Boult

New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult is of the opinion that the introduction of four-day Test cricket is not necessary to make the format more appealing. Instead, Boult asked for better pitches that would create a more even contest between bat and ball and make the games more attractive to watch.The inaugural four-day Test will be played between South Africa and Zimbabwe on Boxing Day, with the ICC approving its trial to run through until the 2019 World Cup. At the time of approving the trial, in October, ICC chief executive David Richardson had pointed out that four-day Tests would be helpful for lower-ranked Test nations and the new teams, Ireland and Afghanistan. Cricket Australia chairman David Peever had said the trial was “very sensible” with fans eager to see results in the format.Getty Images”I love Test cricket, so I’d love to see it stay as it always has,” Boult was quoted as saying by . “In terms of shortening it to let it become more aggressive, I don’t think there’s any need. There’s other formats for that sort of thing. You want to have an even competition or contest between bat and ball. There’s some good wickets going around at the moment and the balls aren’t moving, so that’s what I’d love to see [a contest] – I wouldn’t want it any shorter to encourage aggression.”Boult was speaking after a day of “good fun” against West Indies in Hamilton. Boult and his new-ball partner Tim Southee, added 61 crucial runs for the last wicket, and then combined to take four wickets between them, with each also executing a spectacular catch. Boult’s stunner came when he dived to his left to hold on to a return catch offered by Shimron Hetmyer. By stumps, West Indies were still trailing by 158 runs with only two wickets in hand, having already conceded a 0-1 lead in the two-Test series.When asked if West Indies had not shown enough application with the bat, as they slumped to 215 for 8, Boult said it had not been easy to take wickets.”I can’t talk on behalf of their batsmen but I can tell you for free that they are probably not very happy with being eight down. That’s Test cricket – you can put pressure on the best players in the world and they can fail. From our point of view, we are just trying to be as accurate as we can, build enough pressure.”Boult’s 61-run partnership with Southee came at a brisk clip, with the pair scoring close to 7.5 an over. Boult was particularly aggressive, hitting five fours and two sixes in his 37 not out off 27 balls.”Believe it or not, I take a lot of pride in my batting. Any contribution, not just from myself but the lower order, is very pivotal,” Boult said. “In terms of the game the first innings is the one where we want to go big and get as many on the board as we can. A combination of runs as well as keeping their bowlers and fielders out there. As a bowler you know when the tail comes out and gets a few away, hits a few boundaries, it can become very frustrating.”