All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal are now considering a surprise move for PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, according to a recent report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Arsenal are still running the rule over a number of options to challenge for Bukayo Saka's spot at right-wing, with Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze being "monitored", amid "fierce competition" for his signature from Liverpool and Newcastle United.

Another attacking option for the Gunners is Fenerbahce's Arda Guler, having recently leapfrogged Newcastle in the race for his signature, with Dean Jones claiming that Mikel Arteta has "two more" signings up his sleeve this summer.

According to a report from Football Transfers, one of the club's more outlandish targets is Mbappe, with Arsenal, and by extension sporting director Edu Gaspar, currently weighing up whether to send a package to the representatives of the PSG forward ahead of what has been labelled a sensational 2024 move.

The Frenchman's contract is due to expire at the end of next season, so this summer may be the last chance PSG have to receive a transfer fee for their prized asset, who has also been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

At this stage, it is thought the La Liga side are leading the race for the 24-year-old, and they could make an offer this summer, should his current club reduce their asking price, but at the moment they are holding firm.

Arsenal are aware they are currently second-choice to Real Madrid, and they will have to hope the Spanish club fail in their pursuit of the attacker.

How much does Kylian Mbappe earn?

The France international is currently tied down to a huge £1.2m-per-week contract at PSG, so the Gunners will be well aware they must be willing to spend big if they are to secure his signature this summer

In truth, it does not seem very likely the Gunners will be able to compete for his signature, as while they do have Champions League football on offer next season, the PSG star will probably want to move to a side with a more recent history of winning major trophies.

However, if the former AS Monaco man is attracted by the prospect of being a part of the project at the Emirates Stadium, there is every indication he could be a fantastic signing, who could help take Arsenal to the next level.

Hailed as a "generational talent" by members of the media, Mbappe has recorded a remarkable 212 goals and 98 assists in 260 appearances for PSG, proving himself as one of the world's best players.

Daryl Tuffey cut down on pace, and concentrated on off-stump accuracy to embarrass India on the final day at Mohali

Dileep Premachandran11-Jul-2005When India’s batsmen emerged this morning, they would have expected Daniel Vettori to be the main obstacle between them and the follow-on target of 431. But as it turned out, he was relegated to bit-part status by a magnificent spell of controlled medium-pace from Daryl Tuffey, which pushed India over the edge and into the humiliating situation of following on in a home Test match.Tuffey never attempted to match the pace of Ian Butler, bowling most of his deliveries at around 125kph, but he compensated with an unerringly accurate line that gave the batsmen no room to take liberties. His spell in the morning – straddling two innings – produced 4 for 14 from 10 overs, and was characterised by his ability to put the ball on a spot just on or about off stump, while also obtaining occasional steepling bounce. Of the 60 balls he bowled, 55 pitched on or outside off stump, and all four wickets came courtesy of edges to the wicketkeeper or slip.LineBallsOutside off47off08Middle Off01Leg03Outside Leg01He started off by snipping off India’s excuse of a tail to enforce the follow-on. L Balaji and Zaheer Khan were both undone by deliveries that pitched bang in the corridor of uncertainty outside off stump. Two feathered edges did the rest.But Tuffey wasn’t done. Virender Sehwag, who lashed a cavalier 130 in the first innings, was tempted into slashing at one that was just a mite too close to his body, while Rahul Dravid played a more hesitant stroke to one that was pitched on off stump. Stephen Fleming took both catches, and Tuffey went to lunch well pleased.As if to prove that he wasn’t just a morning person, he came back after the interval to castle Sachin Tendulkar. Medium-pace bowling in Indian conditions doesn’t get much better than that.

Tottenham Hotspur have registered their interest over a potential move for Folarin Balogun from rivals Arsenal, however, a report has shared the other Premier League clubs who are also in the race for the forward.

Are Spurs signing a striker?

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy appear to be on the search for a new forward before the September 1 deadline after cashing in on Harry Kane earlier this month.

Those in north London sold the England international to Bayern Munich in a deal worth around €100 million (£86m) plus an extra €20 million (£17.2m) in possible add-ons.

Postecoglou has Richarlison as the only senior striker available to him, with teenager Alejo Veliz joining earlier in the summer.

A number of attackers have been linked with moves to Spurs, including KAA Gent’s Gift Orban and Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson. Another player who has been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Balogun, and an update has emerged.

According to The Daily Mail, Balogun has been deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal and is valued at £50m by the Gunners. The report claims that Tottenham are a side who have made an enquiry for the attacker, alongside both Chelsea and West Ham.

Balogun has spent time training away from Arsenal’s senior side this summer as the Gunners look to raise some funds late in the window, with Monaco, AC Milan and Inter Milan also keen on the striker’s services.

Who is Folarin Balogun?

Balogun is primarily a centre-forward who can also turn out on either wing if required. The 22-year-old, who has represented the USA at senior international level, appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation, a figure which has rocketed over the past 12 months.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

In total, Balogun, sponsored by Adidas, has made just 10 senior appearances for the Gunners in all competitions and has caught the eye out on loan. The forward spent last season in France with Stade Reims and contributed to an impressive 25 goals in 39 appearances.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has also praised Balogun in the past as a "special" striker and believes he's "really brave".

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave," said Arteta.

“We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special."

It could be a deal to keep an eye on, however, with Arsenal likely to inflate the price of the player to a direct rival, Spurs may well find it difficult to strike a deal for Balogun, meaning they may end up moving on to other targets such as Orban or Johnson.

Journalist Barry Anderson has shared some "fascinating" detail on West Ham United and their move for Austria Klagenfurt midfielder Andy Irving in the last 48 hours.

Who have West Ham signed this summer?

David Moyes had to wait a fair bit for his first signing of the summer transfer window, with Mexico international ace Edson Alvarez coming through the door in early August.

The midfielder, who has started life in the Premier League very brightly, was later joined by England international James Ward-Prowse, former Arsenal defender Konstaninos Mavropanos and Ghana star Mohammed Kudus.

The latter player's signing comes as a particularly major coup for West Ham and Moyes, with Kudus excelling for both Ajax and his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Mohammed to West Ham United,” said the Irons manager after Kudus' arrival.

“He’s a terrific young talent, who has already shone at the very highest level for Ajax in the Champions League and made well over 150 senior appearances at the age of 23 – so it was no surprise to see so many top clubs chasing his signature this summer.

“The fact we’ve been able to attract a player of his undoubted quality to London Stadium shows the pull West Ham have now – the Board and Tim deserve huge credit for getting this one over the line.”

West Ham also attempted a late move to replace striker Gianluca Scamacca, who joined Atalanta earlier in the window, but ultimately failed with a deadline day push to sign Paris-Saint Germain's Hugo Ekitike.

One transfer that has fell quite under-the-radar, though, is their capture of former Hearts midfielder Irving – who has apparently joined from Austria Klagenfurt.

Club insider ExWHUemployee backs this news, and he said on deadline day that the Scotsman has indeed signed but will return to Klagenfurt as part of an "affiliate arrangement agreed" with Hammers transfer chief Tim Steidten.

National World football writer and journalist Anderson, commenting on the move and sharing further background, says that Irving joins in a "big-money" deal and calls it "fascinating".

"Andy Irving's transfer to West Ham from Austria Klagenfurt is fascinating," said Anderson on X.

"He will become an #EPL player in a big-money deal two years after leaving Hearts thanks to a German data analyst. Good move for a player who worked hard to establish himself abroad."

How good is Andy Irving?

Following a 2-0 win over Morton in late 2020, former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson heaped praise on the midfielder's technical ability.

Irving, according to Neilson, can demonstrate exceptional passing ability in the final third.

“He’s got great passing ability, as you seen with the pass for the goal," said Neilson.

"It’s great to have him in. He’s still learning the game. I was really pleased with him. Obviously coming down here, we knew what the pitch was going to be like, we knew the physicality was going to be like, I thought Andy handled it very well.”

In time, perhaps Irving can showcase enough quality to get Moyes seriously thinking.

The prodigiously gifted left-winger is already making history and megaclubs across the pond are taking notice

Looking back at the moment itself just a few months later, Julian Hall admits he wasn't nervous. Even he is surprised by that fact. How in the world did he not feel a tidal wave of anxiety the moment he stepped onto the field?

You see, the moment in question came on September 30, 2023. With the New York Red Bulls down a goal, the club turned to Hall in the 80th minute. Nothing unusual, clubs turn to attacking players late in games all the time. The difference is that Hall is 15 years old. 15. The number bears repeating.

Too young to go get a driver's license, but old enough to play meaningful minutes in an MLS game for a club in a playoff race. By making his appearance, Hall became the second-youngest player in MLS history. The only one younger? Freddy Adu.

"I wouldn't say there were nerves," Hall told GOAL, "which is pretty surprising. I definitely just couldn't believe that I was on the field. It was really surreal to me. It took me a while to even feel like I was playing in the game. It was definitely one of the best feelings I've ever experienced and hopefully, I can continue with that."

The world is watching now. Clubs all over Europe have been linked, and they're big ones. Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich.. all have been linked with the rising 15-year-old starlet.

It's still wild to Hall, whose life has totally changed over the last year in ways he still can't quite fathom.

"I think it's all changed a lot after last year," he said. "I never really got the high school experience. I never really attended high school before, but there was a pretty big chunk of teenage life that got away a bit, but it's all been taken out for a good reason now: my development and for me to have a career in this sport."

What's next for the rising 15-year-old star? GOAL spoke to Hall to discuss his career so far and, of course, his hopes for the future…

Insta: julianhall_Where it all began

He doesn't remember the exact moment it happened, nor the real reason why. There was no wake-up moment for Hall when he was younger. At some point early on, he just really fell in love with soccer.

Hall played other sports, but, at one point, soccer became the one. And it didn't take him long to realize that he was actually pretty damn good at it.

"I wouldn't say I was ever the best player, that came at a later time," Hall said. "I started training from age or three years up, and that made me realize that maybe I had a chance to pursue this as a career. When I look at where I am right now, it makes me feel like I have a chance to go somewhere with soccer."

Growing up, Hall was inspired by those around him. He had the usual European influences, although those were only heightened by his Polish ancestry. He loved watching Manchester United, although he initially chose them as a kid mostly for the colors. The player he idolized most, though, was Robert Lewandowski, as anyone with a connection to Poland would.

Born in Manhattan, Hall embraced the uniqueness of the New York soccer scene, one that has always been a big melting pot of cultures. He came from a Polish background through his mother's side, but a quick walk around any New York City game will introduce you to any number of players from any number of different backgrounds.

"There were all sorts of cultures and people," Hall said. "Especially when I played on my local team, people were coming from all over the city. It's definitely thriving where I'm from."

By the time he was 12, though, Hall was ready to make the leap from New York to New Jersey. He joined the Red Bulls in 2020, and it didn't take long for him to prove himself at one of the best academies in MLS.

AdvertisementThe big break

Hall's early years with the Red Bulls youth teams? In a word: dominant.

In 39 matches, the forward scored 28 goals for the academy team, working his way up the ranks. His most notable achievement came with the Red Bulls U-15s at the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup, where he scored five goals to earn an MVP award and, more importantly, the tournament trophy for the Red Bulls team. He also won the Golden Boot award at the 2023 Generation adidas Cup, scoring five more goals, including two in a win over Chelsea.

Ahead of the 2023 MLS Next Pro season, Hall signed his first professional deal. He went on to make 10 appearances, scoring twice despite being among the younger players in the league. By September, those in charge had seen enough to offer him a three-year contract with the first team. And then, just 23 days later, he was on the field for that debut just over halfway into his 15th year on this planet.

"In terms of training with them and getting opportunities with the first team, because of that, [the debut] wasn't a surprise," he said. "I try to stay ready for anything. Anything can happen. But, with that, that was something that I couldn't believe happened in that moment"

He added: "Of course I see certain things going on. Of course, the accolades for the players that came before me, they were all important in making the history of the league. For me now, I think it's incredibly important to just stay focused, especially on myself."

In just a few years, Hall had basically speed-run the Red Bulls system. He made leap after leap after leap relatively quickly, going from academy to second team to first before his 16th birthday.

How it's going

The expectation is that Hall will be eased into the Red Bulls' first team. He's just 15, after all. There's so much maturing he needs to do, on and off the field, before he's ready to be a regular contributor at a top, top level.

If this preseason is anything to go by, though, Hall might not be too far away from his second MLS appearance.

"Julian is one of those players that, no matter what we put in front of him, he managed to have an impact and he managed to adapt," said Red Bulls academy director Sean McCafferty. "We'd be lying, though, if we said we'd expected him to adapt to first-team training as quickly as he has."

He added:" The best compliment I can give him is that every time you put him into an environment where you think he's going to struggle, he finds a way to make it work."

Hall got plenty of minutes during the Red Bulls' preseason run and, against St. Louis, he came off the bench to win a penalty for his team. He provided an assist against the Chicago Fire, too, teeing up Elias Manoel. It's the type of impact he can make, even at his age.

Still, the Red Bulls won't rush him. Hall will be given all the time he needs.

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Biggest strengths

Able to play across the attacking line, Hall is primarily a left-winger, one with the ability to beat a defender and, when the time comes, make things happen in the final third.

His goalscoring record on the youth level speaks for itself, as do his preseason contributions. Despite his age, Hall is confident and dynamic, a player who has an eye for goal at every level he's played at so far in his young career.

"I think being an attacking threat is a huge part of being an attacker, but I have so much to learn. I have great role models at the club to help me to keep improving every day. Nothing is final yet, of course, but there are always things that I can improve on."

At 5'10", Hall already has size, and he could still grow a bit considering his age. He has the pace and skill to beat defenders, helping him create the moments needed to contribute in the attacking third. In terms of physical gifts, they're all there, which is why he can play with players twice his age.

Hall has already found one heck of a role model with the Red Bulls: club legend Bradley Wright-Phillips. One of the most prolific strikers MLS has ever seen, Wright-Phillips has helped Hall adjust to life at this new level.

"I came into the team last year at a young age and it was a new environment for me," he said. "Bradley Wright-Phillips is someone with a great history in the league. The fact that he's still around the team and at the facility, he's available all the time to ask questions and get information from him."

"I think the things that he showed when he was in the league, there's that potential for myself, but I have a long way to go, but having him there is definitely a key aspect of my development."

Wright-Phillips said of hall: "I think he needs a lot more games at the MLS NEXT Pro level but I will say this – the way he’s matured, his body, everything… he’s ready to get minutes for the first-team — and if he does, don’t be surprised if he comes on and has an impact in some games.

"But I think with the young players, we don’t wanna go too fast. There are steps you have to take to adjust your game and I think Julian should take those steps and if he continues to do well at the NEXT Pro level… then he will get his chance."

Neal Maupay and James Maddison almost came to blows after the Brentford star mocked the Tottenham player's celebration on Wednesday.

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Maupay scored for Brentford against SpursCopied Maddison's goal celebrationAngry England star confronted opponentWHAT HAPPENED?

Maupay opened the scoring in the Premier League clash against Tottenham and copied Maddison's celebration of miming a darts throw. The England international came up to Maupay and gave him a few pats on the head and the Brentford star reacted with a few slaps back, sparking a tense moment.

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Maddison has been doing the darts-throw celebration ever since his time at Leicester. The 27-year-old, playing his first Premier League game since November, did not appreciate Maupay copying his antics in his own stadium and had a go at him. As a renowned troll, Maupay appeared to get the reaction he wanted out of the English playmaker.

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After the home match against Brentford, Tottenham will hope to boost their hopes of a top-four finish by beating Everton on February 3. Two days later, Brentford will face a huge test as they take on reigning champions Manchester City.

Constantly under scrutiny and perceived as a weak link in South Africa’s batting line up, Alviro Petersen made his fourth Test century proving his is a steady face among a fashionable order

Firdose Moonda at Headingley02-Aug-2012How different it would have been if Alviro Petersen’s edge off the third ball of the morning had gone to either third slip or gully and not the space in between them. He would have been out for second successive duck in the series and the gorgeous cover drive he played five overs later would never have made its appearance.How different it would have been if there had been a third slip when Petersen next edged in the 11th over. A catchable chance went to the boundary instead of to hand.And how different it would have been had Alastair Cook held on at second slip two balls later, or had Graeme Swann not been dropped and could have taken his usual position. Then Petersen would have been out for 29 and would likely have been criticised for attacking too early instead of being watchful.But none of those things happened.Instead, Petersen went on to record his fourth Test century in 15 matches and proved, once again, that pressure is his best trigger. That he was under pressure at all can only be gleaned from perception, not fact.Having not announced himself on the tour of England, Petersen was written up as being the weak link. He totalled 42 runs in four innings since the squad’s arrival on July 6, less than any of the other batsmen including Jacques Rudolph and JP Duminy, who did not get the opportunity to bat in the first Test. His duck in that Test throbbed in its neon obviousness that he had failed to cash in against conditions and an attack that others had feasted on.The reality is that Petersen had scored a hundred in the Test before the tour of England and was in no danger of losing his place. He was also not facing the chop when he scored his 156 in Wellington in March, having registered a century three matches before against Sri Lanka in Cape Town in January.Why Petersen always comes under scrutiny could have more to do with the people he bats with than who he is on his own. Four of South Africa’s top five are ranked in top ten Test batsmen by the ICC. Guess who is not?Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers have all scored runs in enough places for their positions not to come into question. They are the spine of South Africa’s line-up and it is easy to forget that for that spine to function properly, it needs all its vertebrae.Over the last few years, many different batsmen have been asked to slot in alongside the bigger names. Neil McKenzie did to acclaim for a while, Boeta Dippenaar never really fused with Smith the way he should have and although Ashwell Prince could do it, he simply did not want to play in that position. Unlike Matthew Hayden, Smith has never found his Justin Langer. The closest he came to that was Herschelle Gibbs and since the maverick opener’s retirement, no-one has really been able to call themselves his replacement.

Petersen has showed that the ocean floor is a lot lower than England thought and South Africa’s depth is multi-layered.

Batting with the ghost of opening batsmen of the past may have placed a subconscious burden on Petersen, especially when he was dropped after nine Tests having not done much wrong. Jacques Rudolph’s prolific form at Yorkshire and then the Titans forced his way back into the international game and the only way to include him in the starting XI at the time was to do away with Petersen. Ironic then, that Petersen has taken a big step to cementing his own position at the same ground which revitalised Rudolph’s career.What Petersen also showed is that the ocean floor is a lot lower than England may have thought and South Africa’s depth is multi-layered. He outbatted Graeme Smith to reach his first fifty in 78 balls. Despite the chances he gave and the number of times he played and missed, Petersen’s confidence did not appear to dip. He dug in and no matter how many times the ball beat his bat, he did not shy away.When England bowled the wrong line on his legs, he took advantage on his favoured on-side. When the short ball came, he pulled, twice to bring up his fifty and again to raise the hundred. In between that, he ground it out, particularly after lunch when England found an extra gear. Run scoring became almost as rare as England wickets, especially as Petersen eked over the 80s and into the 90s but his temperament remained solid.”He paced his innings so well,” AB de Villiers, who was with him when the century came up, said. “I found it really difficult out there for my 40-odd and he supported me. The way he played was inspiring.”If De Villiers found it difficult to face 107 balls, Petersen’s struggle can only have been magnified. He spent 266 balls at the crease in an all-day effort that was about batting ugly to usher the team through, not batting beautifully for personal glory. Convincing shots were not in abundance as he contended with old-fashioned line and length but hard fought ones were. Even right at the end of the day, Petersen did not look entirely control but until the last two wickets fell, he made sure South Africa were.

Sri Lanka’s inconsistent selection has had a “big effect” on the present state of the ODI team, according to cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha

Andrew Fidel Fernando31-Mar-2017Sri Lanka’s inconsistent selection has had a “big effect” on the present state of the ODI team, cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha has said, ahead of the third ODI against Bangladesh.Sri Lanka have rifled through 41 players – five higher than any other international side – since the 2015 World Cup. The team has been especially changeable since Sanath Jayasuriya’s selection committee took over following last year’s World T20: 33 players having played since last April – again comfortably the highest among international teams.Sangakkara also critical of instability in selection

Kumar Sangakkara has also voiced criticism of present instability in Sri Lanka’s ODI selection, speaking at a Dialog Change Forum event.
“One of the things that the current Sri Lankan team needs is to have some sort of continuity. If you’re not emotionally mature or mentally skilled enough, most people won’t thrive in an environment where there is insecurity, where either you’re looking over your shoulder, or above your head, waiting for that sword to fall.”
He also reiterated the widely-held view that Sri Lanka’s domestic structure is poorly equipped to identify and develop talent.
“We also have a structural issue with our first-class cricket that does not allow us to funnel the best of the best through. Let’s face it, not everyone can play cricket – only 11 can play, and it has to be the best 11. It’s about giving an opportunity to the best, and continuously to the best.
“Unfortunately through our first-class system we don’t get that. We have a huge churn rate of players. The more established international sides that have had those structural changes made – which includes India now – selection is consistent. They consistently have an underpinning structure that funnels the best of the best through.”

Gurusinha has only recently taken over the role of cricket manager, in which he acts as the primary contact between the selection committee and the team. He suggested it has very quickly become apparent that greater stability is required, as Sri Lanka build towards this year’s Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup.Sri Lanka have lost each of their last six completed ODIs, as well as five of their last six completed home matches.”I’ve been here only 20-odd days, but I’ve talked to the selectors and the coach, and my biggest goal is to keep about 20 players for Tests and ODIs together,” Gurusinha said. “Then the players also know they can stay in the team for a bit. If not, it’s hard to build a team. If you look at the best teams in the world, there aren’t many changes. The players also have a responsibility, but my biggest hope is that we can keep that group together.”Sri Lanka cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha has singled out Dhananjaya de Silva and Danushka Gunathilaka as players the side may do well to invest in•AFPGurusinha said that not only does stable selection breed greater security among players, who are likely to feel more confident about their position, but also allows coaches to work intensively with specific groups of players. He singled out opener Danushka Gunathilaka and batsman Dhananjaya de Silva as players Sri Lanka may do well to invest in. Gunathilaka averages only 22.70 from 17 ODI innings, but has nevertheless shown glimpses of potential in his outings so far.”Someone like Danushka is someone that I’ve been impressed with when he’s batting. I know he hasn’t scored runs, but my philosophy is to try and support people and have a stable squad. That’s what I’m focusing on. Have a stable cricket team and squad in the national team. That’ll give confidence to the players and confidence to everyone. That’ll help us to do better in our fielding as well.De Silva, meanwhile, has had a string of modest international scores across formats, despite having top-scored in the Test series victory against Australia last year. Though initially brought into the side as a lower middle-order batsman, de Silva had been moved to No. 4 during the recent Test series in South Africa, and has been deployed in various positions in the limited-overs formats as well.”Yes, Dhananjaya has to score some runs, but he’s got the talent,” Gurusinha said. “It’s up to us now to work with him and make him a better player from where he was. You all know how he batted against Australia last year.”Sri Lanka’s attack has also been in flux, with several players having been saddled with the death bowling role over the past two years, in which Lasith Malinga has been largely absent through injury. This was exemplified in the ongoing tour, where Nuwan Kulasekara and Nuwan Pradeep were added to the squad mid-series, and were immediately brought into the playing XI for the second ODI.Asanka Gurusinha (left): “If you look at the best teams in the world, there aren’t many changes. The players also have a responsibility, but my biggest hope is that we can keep that group together.”•AFP”We’re building up a bowling attack,” Gurusinha said. “Suranga Lakmal – what he’s done from the time I came, that’s when I saw him – he ‘s pretty good. We’ve got Lahiru Kumara who’s pretty quick for his age. He’s 20 years and still raw. We know you’ve got to work with people like that. In this one day squad we’ve got Nuwan Kulasekara in there and Nuwan Pradeep, and there are a few other young bowlers who are coming up.”It comes down again to having a stable squad, and giving them the confidence that they can play for a while. What I can say is that if that doesn’t happen? It’s very difficult for a coach.”Gurusinha used the example of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winning side – of which he was a part – to illustrate the benefits of consistent selection. That side featured perhaps the most experienced top order in the tournament, as well as a younger, but well-established attack.”Even with our team, when I was playing, it took us a while to get to that winning habit. It came with experience, and when you have experience you know how to win from difficult situations.”Bangladesh have some experienced players who know what to do. That’s what I’d like to build in this team. We’ve got to do it very soon. We’ve got to be able to win it from difficult situations. When we do that the players will be having a lot of fun in the middle, and we will go back again to those glory days of Sri Lankan cricket, which we had even when Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were playing.”

He will be Dinesh Chandimal’s deputy in Bangladesh, where the team will be play a two-match series starting on January 31

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Jan-2018Sri Lanka’s first Test squad of the Chandika Hathurusingha era features a more dynamic set of bowlers than they have recently fielded. It also sees the return of batsmen Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka.Sri Lanka squad

Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal (vice-captain), Dilruwan Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Lahiru Kumara
In: Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Kumara
Out: Vishwa Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Thirimanne

There is an emphasis on pace, with Dushmantha Chameera and 20-year-old Lahiru Kumara being picked. But it is the first-time selection of unorthodox offspinner Akila Dananjaya that is the strongest indication that the selectors and new coach are looking at taking Sri Lanka’s attack in a new direction.Dananjaya, who began as a T20 bowler, was thought of largely as a limited-overs option by previous selection committees. He has earned a Test call-up on the basis of decent ODI performances against India, however, and has a creditable first-class record (98 wickets at 28.31) behind him in any case. The prevailing thought about Dananjaya is that he is a player who raises his performance to fit the occasion. At the age of 19, he had been a steady contributor in Sri Lanka’s run to the 2012 World T20 final.Alongside the likes of Chameera, Kumara and Dananjaya are more experienced hands. Suranga Lakmal has been rewarded for a good 2017 with the team’s vice-captaincy. Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera head up the spin department, with left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan also included. Right-arm seam bowler Lahiru Gamage has been picked as well.There are notable omissions. Nuwan Pradeep has been left out, with the selectors seemingly now considering him for limited-overs duties alone, due largely to his propensity to pick up injuries in Test cricket. Allrounder Dasun Shanaka, who had some success with the ball against India, has been dropped, as has left-arm quick Vishwa Fernando. That batsmen Lahiru Thirimanne and Sadeera Samarawickrama were also dropped is little surprise, given their lack of runs in India, but more unexpected is the omission of allrounder Asela Gunaratne, and batsman Kusal Perera – both of whom are in the ODI squad.Gunathilaka, who has been in modest form across formats, has been chosen, however – perhaps on potential. It is possible he will open the batting alongside Karunaratne.The two-Test series begins in Chittagong on January 31, before the action moves to Dhaka.

Pep Guardiola told his Manchester City players to look at the gold badge on their shirts as inspiration while they were losing against Everton

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Guardiola used world champions badge to inspire CityTreble winners were losing at EvertonFoden, Alvarez and Silva scored in comeback winWHAT HAPPENED?

Phil Foden has revealed how the coach urged his players to remind themselves that they were world champions during his half-time team talk after City had fallen a goal down at Everton. City thrashed Fluminense 4-0 in last week's Club World Cup final but were given a rude awakening by the Toffees before eventually showing their class and cruising to a 3-1 win.

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"The manager was big on it at half-time to keep believing, we haven't got this badge for no reason so we have to believe in ourselves because we're a top team," Foden told . "I thought we played really well in the first half and it seems to have been the same story as previous games."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

City overcame Jack Harrison's goal against the run of play and dominated the second half. Foden scored the equaliser with a thumping low strike from the edge of the area before a Julian Alvarez penalty and late Bernardo Silva chip clinched all three points.

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'WE BLEW THEM AWAY'

"In the second half, wow. I think we blew them away with the way they played," Foden added. "I want to praise Everton because I think they've been doing really well recently and are a top side. They make it difficult. I'm really happy with the result. It's a difficult place to come."