كشف المدير الفني لمنتخب فرنسا، ديدييه ديشامب، عن تشكيل اللاعبين لخوض مباراة ألمانيا، في منافسات دوري الأمم الأوروبية.
ويواجه منتخب فرنسا خصمه ألمانيا، في دوري الأمم الأوروبية اليوم الأحد، على ملعب “مرسيدس بنز أرينا” بمدينة شتوتجارت الألمانية، لتحديد صاحبي المركزين الثالث والرابع.
اقرأ أيضاً.. موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة فرنسا وألمانيا اليوم في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.. والمعلق
وودع منتخب ألمانيا بطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية، من نصف النهائي بعد هزيمته أمام البرتغال، بنتيجة 2-1.
فيما تعرض منتخب فرنسا لهزيمة في دور نصف النهائي بمباراة مثيرة أمام إسبانيا بنتيجة 5-4.
ويقود، كيليان مبابي، تشكيل منتخب فرنسا في مواجهة اليوم أمام المنتخب الألماني. تشكيل فرنسا اليوم أمام ألمانيا في دوري الأمم الأوروبية
حراسة المرمى: مايك ماينان.
خط الدفاع: لوكاس هيرنانديز، جوستو، بادي، لوكاس دين.
خط الوسط: أدريان رابيو، تشواميني، ريان شرقي.
خط الهجوم: ماركوس تورام، كولو مواني، كيليان مبابي. تشكيل ألمانيا أمام فرنسا في دوري الأمم الأوروبية
حراسة المرمى: تير شتيجن.
خط الدفاع: جوشوا كيميتش، تاه، روبن كوخ، ديفيد راوم.
Manchester United’s poor run of form continued with a 2-2 draw away from home against Everton. It was a disappointing performance for much of the game from the Red Devils, who were 2-0 down at halftime thanks to first-half goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
In a chaotic final 20 minutes plus stoppage time, Bruno Fernandes scored a well-directed freekick past Jordan Pickford, who was rooted to the spot, to pull one back. Moments later, Manuel Ugarte fired home a spectacular volley, after controlling a loose ball on his chest, to equalise.
There were claims for a last-gasp penalty for the Toffees after Ashley Young was brought down in the box. It was initially given on the field, but the referee reversed his decision after being sent to the monitor to have a second look.
It was a poor performance from United’s defensive unit, who were leaky again as their side went behind in a game once more. Harry Maguire was someone who particularly struggled.
Maguire’s stats vs. Everton
It was a tough day at the office for one of United’s most experienced players, Maguire. The England international was arguably at fault for Doucoure’s goal. He was outjumped by the Everton midfielder, who won the race to Andre Onana’s parry up in the air, nodding home for 2-0.
At times, the United number five showed his dominance. For much of the game, he was strong in the air, although not when it mattered most, and was also progressive and calm on the ball. As per Sofascore, he won six from nine aerial duels and had a 97% pass accuracy.
However, the former Red Devils captain struggled in the crucial moments. The Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst gave him a 4/10 and said his error for Doucoure’s goal was ‘reminiscent’ of one he would have made in Erik ten Hag’s first season.
Harry Maguire
It was a disappointing performance from such a crucial player under Ruben Amorim. Maguire has been in strong form for much of the season, but the Portuguese manager will be hoping this was nothing more than a blip, a one-off game.
However, there is one United player who continues to struggle for form in a United shirt.
The United player who needs to be sold
It has been a dire season in front of goal for United. They loaned out one of their richest sources of goals, Marcus Rashford, and Amad is out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury.
That leaves a lot of pressure on Rasmus Hojlund, who has been anonymous for much of 2024/25. The Dane has just two goals in 21 Premier League games and is now 11 games without a top-flight goal. Against Everton, he was described as a “passenger” by football analyst Waseem.
Luckhurst agreed that Hojlund struggled against the Toffees. He gave him a shockingly low rating of 1/10 and did not hold back in his review. He described the Dane as ‘hopeless’, and said he ‘did very little right all afternoon’.
Hojlund was substituted at the 70-minute mark, replaced by young striker Chido Obi. One academy analyst was full of praise for the youngster, saying there had been “no drop in quality since his introduction”.
Statistically, there was not too much difference between him and Hojlund. In 50 minutes less, Obi had just two fewer touches, with ten to Hojlund’s 12, and won more duels, one out of three to the United number nine’s zero from eight.
Stat
Hojlund
Obi
Minutes played
70
20
Touches
12
10
Passes completed
4/6
7/7
Dribbled past
1
0
Duels won
0/8
1/3
It is becoming concerning that Hojlund simply cannot break this goalless run he is on. At times, he can look out of his depth, which must be frustrating to see from Amorim’s point of view. His side needs goals, and Hojlund is not providing them.
Perhaps his future at Old Trafford is not as guaranteed as it once seemed. Time might be running out in a United shirt for the former Atalanta man. He certainly needs goals soon, or it would not be a surprise if the Red Devils decided to go as far as selling him in the summer.
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Man Utd need to fill the void of Amad Diallo, who is out for the rest of the season.
Captain Ashton Turner Coach Adam VogesSquadAshton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Faf du Plessis, Stephen Eskinazi, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Adam Lyth, Hamish McKenzie, Tymal Mills, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew TyeIn Faf du Plessis, Stephen Eskinazi, Cameron Green, Adam Lyth, Hamish McKenzie Out David Moody, Laurie Evans, Mitchell Marsh, Colin Munro, Kurtis Patterson
What happened in the draft
Scorchers skipped their platinum pick despite former player David Willey’s availability. They retained Laurie Evans, who was a hero in last season’s BBL final, after Sydney Sixers made a play for him, but the Englishman’s contract was later terminated following a positive result on an anti-doping test. Scorchers also selected big-hitting batter Phil Salt, but like Evans he will miss the BBL season after suffering a shoulder injury during England’s recent ODI series against Australia. Left-arm quick Tymal Mills was set to return to Scorchers after seamlessly fitting into their star-studded attack during a short stint last season but was a late withdrawal from the tournament due to a family emergency. Without Evans, Salt, Mills and injured star Mitchell Marsh, Scorchers had to make late changes with former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis and English batters Adam Lyth and Stephen Eskinazi coming into the squad.Related
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Last season: winners
Scorchers returned to the top of the BBL after a remarkable triumph against the odds. Scorchers’ fourth BBL title was arguably their best after only playing one home game due to strict Covid-19 border rules in Western Australia at the time. After beating Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium in their season-opener, Scorchers had to endure more than 50 days on the road but it didn’t matter as they won 11 of 14 games to finish the regular season on top of the ladder. They then twice beat two-time defending champs Sydney Sixers in the finals, including a 79-run thrashing in the decider to cap one of the greatest title campaigns seen in T20 franchise cricket.
International impact
Test allrounder Cameron Green should be available after the South Africa series. He’s only played 13 matches previously in BBL08 and 09 with little success, but there is much intrigue over how he’ll fare ahead of what might well be his first IPL season. Du Plessis and Lyth will be available for the first half of the season before heading to new T20 leagues in UAE and South Africa. Eskinazi, who has a terrific T20 record in England, is available for the whole season.
Key player
Scorchers will boast a new-look batting order this season. Along with the aforementioned Munro, Evans and Marsh, they will also be without opener Kurtis Patterson who signed with Sixers after a big season as a belligerent batter against type. Local batters Cameron Bancroft and Nick Hobson will probably get more of a run than initially expected in a Scorchers batting line-up that suddenly looks a bit vulnerable. They’ll be hoping explosive wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis can fire and he should be available throughout the season. Inglis, who made his T20I and ODI debuts this year, was a late withdrawal from Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign after a freak hand injury sustained while playing golf. He has struggled with the bat in his return but a rapid 85 against South Australia in the Marsh Cup reinforced his match-winning abilities. Inglis is highly rated by national selectors and should figure in calculations for the next ODI and T20 World Cups. A strong BBL will only strengthen his standing.
Young player to watch
Following in the footsteps of Marsh and Green, there is growing hype over emerging allrounder Aaron Hardie who is likely to finally carve out a permanent spot in Scorchers’ line-up. The 23-year-old had a breakout domestic season last year capped by scoring a century in the Sheffield Shield final to help Western Australia end a 23-year title drought. With his batting and seam bowling compared to childhood friend Green, who is five months younger than Hardie, he has caught the eye of national selectors and was part of Australia A ‘s tour to Sri Lanka mid-year and last month represented a formidable Prime Minister’s XI team against West Indies. Hardie’s form has been modest so far this domestic season, but with more responsibility amid a settled role for Scorchers he looms as a new BBL star.
Everything you need to know about Kenneth Taylor's salary details playing for Ajax
Dutch midfielder Kenneth Taylor has been a loyal Ajax player since his early footballing days. He joined the club’s youth academy in 2010 and spent nine years developing his game before earning promotion to Jong Ajax, where he showcased his talent and soon earned a first-team debut.
It was the 2022-23 season that truly marked Taylor’s breakout campaign with the Amsterdam-based club, as he made over 40 appearances and secured a regular spot in the starting XI. For his impressive performances, Taylor was named Ajax Talent of the Season.
Since then, he has continued to grow as a key player for Ajax, becoming one of the most important figures in the squad. Taylor is currently under contract until 2027, though his salary remains relatively modest compared to other stars in the dressing room.
GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology to find out how much he is on in Amsterdam!
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Kenneth Taylor's wages at Ajax in numbers
Kenneth Taylor, under his current five-year contract with Ajax until 2027, receives a weekly salary of €23,077, totaling €1.2 million annually.
Player
Nationality
Weekly wages in Euros
Annual wages in Euros
Kenneth Taylor
Dutch
€23,077
€1,200,000
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTop earners at Ajax
Jordan Henderson, a former Liverpool player, is the highest-paid player at Ajax. Daniele Rugani, an Italian center-back on loan from Juventus, is second. Dutch striker Brian Brobbey ranks third, while Steven Berghuis and Croatian player Josip Sutalo are fourth and fifth, respectively.
Player
Nationality
Weekly wages in Euros
Annual wages in Euros
Jordan Henderson
English
€90,000
€4,680,000
Daniele Rugani
Italian
€75,385
€3,920,000
Brian Brobbery
Dutch
€57,692
€3,000,000
Steven Berghuis
Dutch
€56,731
€2,950,000
Josip Sutalo
Croatian
€48,077
€2,500,000
Top earners in Eredivisie
Jordan Henderson is the highest-paid player at Ajax and in the Eredivisie, with Sergino Dest from PSV following. Daniele Rugani is third, while Brian Brobbey and Steven Berghuis are fourth and fifth.
Player
Club
Weekly wages in Euros
Annual wages in Euros
Jordan Henderson
Ajax
€90,000
€4,680,000
Sergino Dest
PSV
€75,385
€3,920,000
Daniele Rugani
Ajax
€75,385
€3,920,000
Brian Brobbery
Ajax
€57,692
€3,000,000
Steven Berghuis
Ajax
€56,731
€2,950,000
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AFPHighest paid players in the world
The salaries of Eredivisie players are significant but are lower compared to top global football players, with none making the top list.
The top five earners are all from the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo leads with the highest salary at Al Nassr.
Karim Benzema, his former Real Madrid teammate, is second. Riyad Mahrez, previously with Manchester City and now at Al-Ahli, is third.
Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly, both from Senegal, are in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Since relegation back to the Championship ahead of the 2023/24 season, manager Daniel Farke has built a side at Leeds United that has excelled in England’s second tier potentially catapulting them to promotion this season.
The German has led the Whites to top spot in the current campaign, sitting in pole position to end their two-year exile from the Premier League in the coming months.
He already had a phenomenal side upon his arrival at Elland Road, but has gradually injected further quality into the side, massively aiding their chances of securing a return to the top flight.
LeedsUnitedmanagerDaniel Farke celebrates after the match
The likes of Joel Piroe and Ilia Gruev both arrived during the summer of 2023, both cementing their places in the side over recent weeks, playing a vital role in the club’s promotion ambitions.
However, despite the signings made during the aforementioned window, the emergence of one player caught the eye massively, providing for a huge pay day after their play-off final defeat.
Archie Gray’s stats for Leeds in 2023/24
Ahead of the start of last season, very few supporters would’ve predicted how important youngster Archie Gray would be in Farke’s first year at the helm as Leeds boss.
At the tender age of just 17, the talent would make his first-team debut, but would end up cementing his place in the squad, making 52 appearances for his boyhood side – winning the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award as a result.
Archie Gray for Leeds United.
Gray would find the back of the net in what was a crucial clash with Leicester City at Elland Road, but his goal would eventually be credited as a own goal – unable to register a goal during his time Yorkshire.
His first year with the Whites would be his only season after their failure to secure promotion, leaving in a £40m deal to join Tottenham Hotspur, hoping to take his career to the next level as a result.
However, despite featuring 35 times to date, he’s been outperformed by another former Leeds player who failed to deliver during his own spell on loan under Farke.
The former Leeds player who’s outperformed Gray in 2024/25
During the summer of 2023, Leeds also secured a deal to sign Spurs full-back Djed Spence on loan for the entirety of the campaign, but was unable to make his mark at the club.
The Englishman, who cost £20m the summer prior. would fail to deliver at Elland Road, making just seven Championship appearances, many of which were out of position at left-back.
As a result, the 24-year-old would be recalled halfway through his stint in January, returning to his parent side before another temporary spell at Italian outfit Genoa.
However, in the ongoing season, the Lilywhites’ injury issues have plagued Ange Postecoglou’s squad, handing Spence the opportunity to impress in the first-team, taking his chance with both hands.
He’s since been a key player in their backline, along with Gray, but his showings have led to calls for an England call-up amid Thomas Tuchel’s first squad in the coming weeks.
When comparing his stats to those of the Leeds academy graduate, Spence has outperformed the youngster in numerous key areas, highlighting the progression he’s made after his disappointing spell in Yorkshire.
How Spence compares to Gray in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Spence
Gray
Games played
14
20
Goals & assists
2
0
Progressive carries
3.3
0.2
Progressive passes
5.2
2.1
Tackles won
2.5
0.3
Interceptions made
1.1
0.6
Aerials won
1.2
0.7
Aerial success rate
60%
56%
Stats via FBref
He’s managed to excel defensively, winning more tackles and completing more interceptions per 90 than Gray, showcasing how impressive he’s been – unimaginable after his unsuccessful spell under Farke.
It’s great to see the former loanee shining alongside another one-time Leeds star, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing them well in their development even if it’s not at Elland Road.
Many expected Gray to be the star youngster after his big-money move, but ultimately, Spence has managed to outperform him to date, with the teenager still needing the opportunity to star in his regular position to get the best out of his skill set.
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Welsh broadcaster Elis James has warned Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney against signing Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Wrexham seeking promotion to Premier League
Rumoured interest in CR7
James warns against move
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking to William Hill Sports Book of the Year, the BBC presenter and comedian called a potential move for Ronaldo "utterly insane", even in the context of Wrexham's push for promotion to the Premier League. The Portugal star has never played for a club outside the top flight, and the costs of signing him from Al-Nassr would be ridiculous, according to James.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Al-Nassr's star man has been linked with Wrexham in the past, despite the fact that his astronomical wages would surely make a move to north Wales impossible. Reports suggest the Portugal captain is currently earning a jaw-dropping £3 million per week in the Saudi Pro League.
WHAT ELIS JAMES SAID
James said: “Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have gone about things the right way and have been very respectful to the area, the traditions of the club and the Welsh language. They’ve done great things, and football is a sport with a lot of terrible owners but I’d never put those two in that bracket. I get the impression that those two are taking things very seriously and want to get Wrexham into the Premier League. The idea of a marquee signing like Cristiano Ronaldo would be incredible for the social media profile of the club, but the costs involved would be utterly insane and I’m sure there’s far more sensible ways of spending their money. Because they’re Hollywood stars with amazing wealth, when you see the stories in the press about potential superstar signings from bigger clubs, there could always be a kernel of truth in it. I personally don’t think that’s the way to go for them, though."
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WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
CR7 may not be heading to the Racecourse Ground any time soon but you can expect some big marquee signings this summer, as the Red Dragons prepare for their first second-tier season in over 40 years. The squad needs some bolstering during the off-season before Phil Parkinson's side begin their quest for promotion to the Premier League in August.
Celtic swept Aberdeen aside with ease on Tuesday night as they clinched an impressive 5-1 victory at Parkhead to move 16 points clear of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops secured all three points thanks to two goals from Daizen Maeda and goals from captain Callum McGregor, January signing Jota, and substitute Hyun-jun Yang.
Celtic’s fourth goal came via Yang, who came off the bench in the second half, as the winger combined with several teammates before finding the back of the net at the near post.
The 22-year-old whiz has now produced three goals and five assists in all competitions for the Scottish giants, beating his tally of one goal and three assists in his debut campaign in Glasgow last term.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph described the South Korean attacker as a “raw” talent with “real potential” after being impressed by his cameo against the Dons.
It is now down to Yang to kick on and become a regular at Parkhead as he seeks to potentially become the only player from Brendan Rodgers’ first window back at the club to be a success at the club.
Celtic's 2023 summer signings for Rodgers
Ange Postecoglou moved on from Celtic at the end of the 2022/23 campaign to sign for Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and that opened the door for the Hoops to bring the Northern Irish head coach back for a second spell in Glasgow.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
The board backed the former Liverpool and Leicester City boss in the transfer market during his first summer window in charge in 2023, as eight permanent signings were added to the squad.
Maik Nawrocki
£4.1m
2
Luis Palma
£3.9m
12
Gustaf Lagerbielke
£2.8m
0
Odin Thiago Holm
£2.5m
3
Hyun-jun Yang
£2m
25
Marco Tilio
£1.5m
0
Hyeok-kyu Kwon
£830k
0
Tomoki Iwata
£800k
0
As you can see in the table above, the Hoops made several fairly significant signings in an attempt to improve the manager’s options, with two centre-backs being among the top three most expensive additions.
However, only Nawrocki and Yang remain at the club in the present day out of those eight signings, and the former has only played twice in all competitions this season.
Tilio, Kwon, Holm, Palma, and Lagerbielke are all out on loan, and could have a future at Parkhead if things change dramatically, whilst Iwata was sold to League One side Birmingham City last summer.
This suggests that it was far from a successful first summer for Rodgers in the transfer market, as there is an argument to be made that Yang has been the only success out of the eight permanent additions, given that he is the only one to have played fairly regularly this season.
First Impressions
Celtic may have expected to get more out of some of them, given the fees splashed out on their services, and one player who was hyped up by Rodgers at the time was central midfielder Odin Thiago Holm.
Rodgers tipped Odin Thiago Holm for big things
In the summer of 2023, the Scottish giants swooped to sign the Norwegian youngster from Valerenga for a reported fee of £2.5m to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
The Norway U21 international had made 76 first-team appearances for Valerenga in all competitions and contributed with six goals and four assists from a midfield position.
Upon his arrival at Celtic that summer, Rodgers tipped the young talent for big things at Parkhead, telling the club’s official website:
“He is a player who has been in the club’s scouting and recruitment system for some time. I have looked at him closely and believe he is someone who can make a big impact at the club.
“He is a great addition to the quality squad we already have and we really look forward to working with him.”
Odin Holm
As you can tell from the quotes above, Rodgers had high hopes for Holm at Celtic and believed that the central midfielder was going to play a significant role in his side.
Fast-forward almost two years and the Norwegian midfielder should be ruthlessly sold by the Hoops head coach in the summer transfer window later this year.
Why Celtic should sell Odin Thiago Holm
The £4.8k-per-week flop endured a frustrating first season at Parkhead in the 2023/24 campaign, as he failed to make his way into the side on a regular basis.
Holm ended the term with 13 appearances and just 410 minutes of action across all competitions for the Scottish giants, contributing with one goal and one assist.
The 22-year-old dud was an unused substitute on 13 occasions and did not even make the matchday squad 24 times, which shows that he did not do enough in training or on the pitch to convince Rodgers that he was up to the task of playing week-in-week-out for Celtic.
As you can see in the highlights above, the low point of his debut season in Scotland was his red card for a high, studs-up, challenge in the 2-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the group stage of the Champions League.
Holm then made three appearances off the bench in the Premiership in the first half of the current campaign before he was sent out on loan to LAFC in the MLS in the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old Hoops flop is currently out with a calf injury, though, and has yet to make his debut for the American side, whom he is set to be on loan to until the end of the year.
Reo Hatate
27
28
Callum McGregor
31
26
Arne Engels
21
25
Luke McCowan
27
24
Paulo Bernardo
23
22
Odin Thiago Holm
22
3
Francis Turley
19
1
As you can see in the table above, Celtic already have a solid group of young and experienced midfielders who have played regularly in the Premiership this season, which suggests that Holm is unlikely to come back and force his way into the picture, as he is already behind Engels and Bernardo at a similar age.
Therefore, the Hoops should attempt to cut their losses and cash in on the young Norwegian when the summer transfer window opens, or next January at the end of his loan spell with LAFC, as he has been an unsuccessful signing after Rodgers tipped him for big things in Glasgow.
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Coach wants England to “call on good experiences” in bid to reclaim the urn from Australia
Vithushan Ehantharajah21-Dec-2022Brendon McCullum admits next summer’s Ashes series is “a big carrot” for his new and improved England men’s Test side, as thoughts turn to next year’s challenges after a remarkable end to the 2022 campaign.On Tuesday in Karachi, England closed out a convincing 3-0 win over Pakistan to give McCullum a third series victory as head coach. Since taking over at the start of the summer, he and captain Ben Stokes have overseen nine victories in 10 matches.The scale of the red-ball resurgence over the last seven months is such that the scars of a horrendous run of one win in 17 before McCullum and Stokes took over seem to have disappeared. That stretch included a demoralising 4-0 defeat in Australia last winter which led to plenty of introspection in the domestic game – not least the publication of Sir Andrew Strauss’ High Performance Review.Now, however, there is a belief among the England team they are more than a match for all comers in all conditions. Thus, the prospect of beating Australia for the first time since 2015 is a tantalising one.McCullum has been reticent to look far ahead and has not been afraid to express his frustration at England’s Ashes obsession: “You guys do this all the time, eh?” he said when asked about facing Australia on the Karachi outfield. Nevertheless, with just two Tests against New Zealand in February and then a single home Test against Ireland before the five-match series starts at Edgbaston on June 16, he admits the challenge Australia will pose has entered the management’s thoughts.Related
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Steve Smith 'intrigued' by Bazball
McCullum believes efforts to reclaim the urn next season will rely on the experiences banked in Pakistan, which England will need to call on against a fierce adversary. “From our point of view, we will have loose plans about that stuff,” he said, when asked about the Ashes. “It is a big carrot down the line.”At the same time, I want the guys to enjoy what we have been able to achieve here. Just like the summer the message is not look too far ahead. Let’s live in the here and now of what we have achieved. Let that sink it. It will take some time to sink in.”I think it is the same with the success this team has had. We have to allow that to sink in because there will be tough challenges in time. And if you have not banked those good experiences, what have you got to call on?”Since England began making headlines with their aggressive approach while talking up how they are looking to change Test cricket, there have been a few back-and-forths with their rivals Down Under. The ‘Bazball’ moniker for the style of play they have adopted has been a source of amusement in the Australian dressing room, with the team putting up a ‘Ronball’ sign in their dressing room during their recent Test match against West Indies [their head coach Andrew MacDonald is nicknamed ‘Ron’, after Ronald McDonald].On Tuesday, Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori credited his friend and former teammate McCullum for the turnaround he has instigated: “That’s Brendon’s nature,” he said. “There is positivity in everything he does.” He also anticipates an intriguing contest between a heavy-hitting batting line-up and a strong Australian bowling attack, who could provide Stokes’ charges with their toughest challenge yet.Vettori expects England to “give it a go” when he faces his friend McCullum in the Ashes•BCCI”They are going to give it a go, it looks like,” Vettori said. “I think that is what everyone is excited about: that aggressive nature versus an exceptional bowling attack.”Many sceptics are waiting for England’s Test bubble to burst, and predictions of coming unstuck in Pakistan were categorically trumped. However, an Australia bowling line-up with all bases covered could do just that, especially given the manner in which a strong South African pace attack inflicted England’s only defeat under McCullum and Stokes at Lord’s in July.But Mark Wood, the fast bowler who was crucial to securing victory in the second Test in Multan, believes England will relish the opportunity to continue to prove their doubters wrong.”It’s more the fact people keep doubting us,” Wood said, when asked about the anticipation for England trying out their new brand of cricket against Australia. “You can’t go to Pakistan and do that. You’ll never be able to do that against India. Or against New Zealand.”So it’s about [trying to] keep breaking records, keep trying to prove people wrong, play this way and show that, hopefully, other teams will take notice and think they have to be on their ‘A’ game to take on this England team.”
Arsenal’s academy setup has been responsible for the development and progress of countless talents over the years, many of which have made a huge impact on the first-team squad at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly the biggest example in recent years, emerging into the side as a teenager, before rapidly capturing the hearts of the fanbase in North London as a result of his displays.
The 23-year-old, who’s been missing over the last few months through injury, has made over 250 appearances for the Gunners, scoring on 67 occasions – still sitting at the top of the charts for goals and assists combined in the squad for 2024/25.
His absence has undoubtedly contributed to Mikel Arteta’s side’s recent drop, which saw them suffer a painful 1-0 defeat against West Ham United yesterday, inflicting a real blow on their Premier League title ambitions.
However, Saka’s setback has allowed another academy star to feature in his place, staking his claim for a regular starting role even upon the England international’s return to action.
Ethan Nwaneri’s rise at Arsenal in 2024/25
Back in 2022/23, youngster Ethan Nwaneri emerged off the substitutes’ bench against Brentford to make his league debut for his boyhood side at the tender age of just 15 – making him the youngest player in the division’s history.
However, given his youthful years, he’s had to bide his time for an opportunity to flourish under Arteta but has been given his chance to shine over the last couple of months.
The now 17-year-old has made 25 appearances this season, scoring in each competition he’s featured in, including the Carabao Cup, Champions League and Premier League.
Nwaneri has often featured off the right-hand side in Saka’s absence over the last couple of months, softening the blow with his performances which have been way beyond his teenage years.
However, despite his excellent form, he’s still valued lower than one player who slipped through the net in North London, showcasing what the Gunners have missed in allowing him to depart.
Every 2024/25 Premier League club's best youngster
There are plenty of promising youth products in the top flight.
ByRoss Kilvington Feb 22, 2025 The former Arsenal ace who’s worth more than Nwaneri
As previously mentioned, Arsenal has been the home to numerous young stars over the years, as demonstrated by their tally of seven FA Youth Cup wins – the third most of any side in history.
However, not every one of those talents will make it into the professional game, with only 0.012% of all youngsters going on to make an appearance in England’s top flight.
Despite the low odds, one player who the Gunners previously allowed to leave as a teenager did manage to achieve such a feat, with Michael Olise starring after his release from the North London outfit.
The Frenchman was let go by the club, subsequently moving to city rivals Chelsea, but their decision to do so now appears to be a huge mistake given his progression over the last few years.
Olise, who now features for German giants Bayern Munich, has endured a rapid rise to stardom, including in the Premier League, after his £8m move to Crystal Palace from Reading back in 2021.
Crystal Palace's Michael Olise
The 23-year-old racked up 90 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 16 times and registering 25 assists, catching the eye of Vincent Kompany as the Belgian forked out £50m for his signature last summer.
It’s been a move that has allowed Olise to take his career to the next level, notching 20 combined goal contributions in 2024/25 to date, leading to analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing him as “world-class”.
Bukayo Saka
22
Michael Olise
20
Kai Havertz
19
Leandro Trossard
12
Gabriel Martinelli
11
Gabriel Jesus
9
Ethan Nwaneri
8
Raheem Sterling
3
However, as a result of his showings in the Bundesliga, his market value has skyrocketed, with Transfermarkt now valuing the youngster at £54m – with his subsequent value two times higher than Nwaneri, who’s valued at £25m.
There’s no denying that the 17-year-old has a huge future in the game, potentially being a key player for the Gunners for many years to come should he continue on the same trajectory he’s currently on.
However, there must be an ounce of regret with Olise, given his rapid rise of his own, but unfortunately, he will always remain a case of what could’ve been had they kept hold of him as a teenager.
Not just Lewis-Skelly: 4/10 Arsenal star may have cost them the title
Arsenal missed a fantastic opportunity to close the gap on table-toppers, Liverpool, as they fell to defeat against West Ham.
Lancashire 207 and 82 for 1 (Jennings 45*, Bohannon 28*) lead Essex 219 (Critchley 78, Anderson 4-70) by 70 runs Matt Critchley racked up his third fifty for Essex in three LV= Insurance County Championship innings this season on a rain-affected day against Lancashire at Chelmsford.The allrounder enjoyed the better part of an intriguing joust with England paceman James Anderson, who otherwise had Critchley’s team-mates jumping and weaving while taking two more wickets to return figures of 4 for 70.Critchley was last man out for 78 from 154 balls to follow scores of 55 and 53 in last week’s win at Lord’s against Middlesex. It enabled Essex to post 219 and eke out a 12-run advantage that at one time in the day looked beyond them.When a combination of bad light and drizzle curtailed play with 27 overs remaining, Lancashire’s unbeaten second-wicket pair of Keaton Jennings (45) and Josh Bohannon (28) had swung the pendulum back towards the visitors who hold a 70-run lead.Anderson had been almost unplayable in the first hour under slate-grey clouds as he extracted pace and movement from a pitch that had other batters looking like mere mortals. One ball was so full of life and pace that it beat wicketkeeper George Bell’s extravagant dive and raced away for four byes.England hopeful Dan Lawrence had looked comfortable enough against Anderson on the previous evening but failed to add to his overnight 39 when he fended the fifth ball of the morning into slip’s hands.Adam Rossington – who later gave up the wicketkeeping gloves in Lancashire’s second innings to Michael Pepper after damaging a hand – lasted just eight balls before he gave a thick edge to another lifter from Anderson and Luke Wells held on above his right shoulder.A third Essex wicket fell in the first half-hour when Simon Harmer, on nought, fenced at Tom Bailey and Wells snaffled again at first slip.Critchley, who had struggled for consistency last season after his move from Derbyshire, continued to hold up the other end and reached his latest fifty from 100 balls. He played first fiddle in a seventh-wicket stand of 43 in 12 overs with Doug Bracewell, though he was fortunate when dropped by Wells on 53. The enterprising partnership ended when Bracewell chased a wide ball from fellow New Zealander Will Williams and became the fourth slip catch of the morning.When Anderson was rested after a six-over burst worth 2 for 20, it gave Essex some respite and Critchley took advantage by nonchalantly angling Williams past the slips for one of his nine fours.When Anderson did return after the first of three rain breaks, there was not the same venom or spite in his deliveries. Indeed, tail-ender Sam Cook played two controlled drives to the boundary at third off England’s premier strike bowler in a pleasing cameo worth 20.The eighth-wicket pair put on 38 valuable runs that took Essex beyond Lancashire’s first-innings total of 209, but it ended when Cook dollied Colin de Grandhomme to midwicket. Essex were all out soon after when Critchley holed out to deep extra cover to give Williams a third wicket.Lancashire had reached equality when Wells departed for his second single-digit score of the game, going half-forward to Jamie Porter and being judged lbw.However, that brought Bohannon in to join Jennings and the pair patiently pieced together a half-century stand in 16 overs that was embroidered by some loose bowling from Bracewell, who was taken off after conceding a combined total of 24 runs from his third and fourth overs.