‘He is not new to us. Yes, he’s bowling quickly, but there’s nothing we’re not accustomed to’ – Floyd Reifer

Andrew Miller10-Jun-2019As if Friday’s fixture in Southampton was not tantalising enough, there will be an extra piquancy in England and West Indies’ World Cup match-up, given the reunion between Jofra Archer and the team for whom he might already have been a mainstay.The Barbados-born Archer, 24, has been one of the stars of the tournament to date, having qualified to play for England in April after the ECB chose late last year to reduce its residency period from seven years to three.And though he is hardly an unknown quantity on account of his exploits in T20 leagues around the world, he’s undoubtedly benefited in some of his early outings from a certain surprise factor – not least his ability to bowl in excess of 90mph from an ambling run-up that scarcely requires him to break sweat.But according to Floyd Reifer, West Indies’ head coach and fellow Bajan, there will be nothing about Archer that can take his players by surprise on Friday – and he should know, having played alongside him in club cricket while he was still a West Indies youth prospect.”To be honest, we knew Jofra for a long time,” said Reifer. “He is from Barbados, where we are from. We knew him from the U15s, U17s, U19s so he is not new to us. Yes, he’s bowling quickly, but there’s nothing that we are not accustomed to. We are looking forward to the challenge. So we will see how it goes on Friday.”Jofra Archer bowled with venom, picking up three key wickets•Getty Images

In a tournament that has already featured some tantalising match-ups, the expectations around Friday’s game have been heightened by the extraordinary feast of attacking batting and fierce quick bowling that lit up the team’s 2-2 series draw in the Caribbean earlier this year.In a see-saw series, England appeared to have struck a decisive blow in posting a hefty 418 for 6 in the fourth match in Grenada, a match in which Jos Buttler cracked a remarkable 150 from 77 balls.But their thunder was stolen in the series decider in St Kitts, where Chris Gayle set a personal seal on a brilliant campaign with 77 from 27 balls, after Oshane Thomas had bombed England out for 113 with figures of 5 for 21. And with a further trial by pace in prospect on Friday, England will doubtless be grateful to have their own spearhead to return the compliment to their opponents.”We are entertainers,” said Reifer. “We are here to entertain so the players come out and entertain us. But yes, we will have a good game. I’m sure Jofra will be chomping at the bit to come at us and we will be ready for him.”Archer’s decision to abandon his aspirations to play for West Indies came after he was overlooked for the Under-19 World Cup in 2014. Instead, he followed the advice of his friend and fellow Bajan-turned-England international, Chris Jordan, and took advantage of his British passport to forge a new career at Sussex. The rest, as they say, is history.Asked if he was disappointed that Archer would be playing against, rather than for, his team on Friday, Reifer laughed and said: “He made his choice.””Jofra is a tremendous talent, we all know that. Like I said, we are looking forward to the game on Friday.”He obviously had the pace [to play international cricket]. He had a few injuries as a young guy. But I’m guessing though he’s fully over those injuries and he is bowling very well for England.”West Indies’ own fast-bowling stocks were depleted for the South Africa game with the absence of Andre Russell, who has been managing a knee problem since the start of the tournament. But Reifer said that his non-selection had merely been a precaution, given the length of the tournament and his importance to the cause.”Yes, Andre will be fit enough for the game on Friday,” he said. “The game against England is a big game for us. We are looking forward to that game. Looking at the weather forecast, it was 90 percent rain today and they had rain over the last couple of days here as well. So it is just a precautionary measure where we are kind of wrapping him in cotton wool.”

Tottenham have made a January approach to sign a "strong" £34 million alternative to heavily-linked Chelsea star Conor Gallagher, and his club have replied.

Spurs eyeing late Gallagher move

After signing both Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin earlier this month, attention has now turned to sealing an agreement for Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa on a buy-to-loan-back deal, as per widespread reports.

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However, links surrounding Gallagher and a possible switch to north London have also refused to go away. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is believed to be keen on a new midfield running man, and one who can alternate with playmaker James Maddison when required (Miguel Delaney).

Postecoglou is allegedly keen on signing Gallagher in particular, coming after they attempted to sign him last summer. Chelsea could still sell the 23-year-old, despite his new-found stardom under Mauricio Pochettino, to raise funds for their own transfer activity.

“My concern is that he will be sacrificed," said Daily Mirror journalist Darren Lewis to the Last Word on Spurs podcast this week.

"He’s a terrific player. I’m not sold on the idea that it would be impossible for him to come to Spurs and here’s why. I didn’t think Chelsea would sell Mason Mount to a rival, and they sold him to Man Utd for £60m. He was a poster boy for the academy, I just think as far as Gallagher is concerned there is that problem with PSR with Chelsea. I think he would be an excellent fit for Spurs, and working for a manager like Postecoglou who puts his arm around a player, I think Gallagher could really settle down.

“This is a Spurs podcast so we won’t dwell too much on Chelsea, but I think there is a possibility that Gallagher could come, yes.”

However, some reports suggest Chelsea won't part company with Gallagher unless it's for big money. Indeed, even price tags of around £60 million are being floated, despite the midfielder's contract expiring next year.

If Spurs can't get a deal over the line for him before Feburary 1, they may well turn to cheaper alternative. According to a report by Calciomercato this week, one such man could be £34 million Atalanta star Ederson.

Spurs make January approach for Ederson

Indeed, as per the Italian news outlet, Spurs want to sign the Brazilian as an "alternative" to Gallagher. It's also believed that Tottenham have "knocked on the door" to sign Ederson as the Lilywhites make an approach, but his side have no interest in selling him mid-season.

This comes as a bit of bad news for Spurs as the list of Gallagher alternatives is cut one shorter, and the 24-year-old has impressed in Serie A this season.

South American football expert Tim Vickery certainly holds him very high esteem, having said this about Ederson on Sky Sports earlier in the month.

"24-years-old, strong, well-built central midfielder. Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well. The first time I remember him was his professional debut really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is eyeing a move for a "fantastic" attacking player who is also wanted by Arsenal, according to a new transfer update.

Liverpool eyeing Salah successors

The Reds are flying at the moment, progressing to the FA Cup fourth round after a 2-0 win away to Arsenal on Sunday, but that's not to say that new signings aren't needed in the near future.

Klopp is expected to be on the lookout for a new forward this month with Mohamed Salah away at AFCON, and the Reds will eventually need to replace the Egyptian King for good too, given his extensive links to the Saudi Pro League over the last 12 months.

It remains to be seen if anyone will arrive at Anfield in the January transfer window or if they wait until the summer, but one player who has been linked with a move to the club is Wolves star Pedro Neto.

The 23-year-old has stood out as one of his side's most impressive players in recent years, providing constant quality out wide and registering seven assists in just 11 Premier League appearances this season.

Jurgen Klopp considers Pedro Neto hijack

According to a new update from Caught Offside, Klopp wants Liverpool to sign Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who is also wanted by Arsenal, with the report reaffirming the Reds' desire to increase their attacking depth in Salah's absence.

"Finally, the Merseyside giants also have two targets in attack, with a potential battle with Arsenal on the cards as Wolves winger Pedro Neto works his way onto Klopp’s radar. The 23-year-old has been hugely impressive in the Premier League this season, and Fabrizio Romano has told CaughtOffside that he expects him to be a summer target for Arsenal."

Neto is a wonderful footballer, not only because he is easy on the eye with his slick dribbling ability, but also because he provides consistent levels of end product, proving that he has substance to his game. He is contracted at Wolves until 2027, however, so he won't be arriving on the cheap.

The Portugal international is someone who can play on either flank, either hitting the byline from the left or cutting inside from the right, and he is a player who should only get better for the next five or six years. Wolves manager Gary O'Neil is a big admirer of him, too, saying of him in September: "He will be hugely important for us, he’s a fantastic player, hugely talented and he’s working extremely hard without the ball as well as bringing big quality with it, so I’m really pleased with Pedro."

Liverpool clearly face stiff competition from Arsenal, who despite their current poor form, are still a side with some brilliant young players who Neto could want to play with, whether it be Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli.

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The influence of Klopp is something that could easily give the Reds the edge, however, given his standing out as one of the greatest man-managers of his generation, and he could be a superb replacement for Salah, even though the Egyptian staying put for a few more years would be preferable.

Aston Villa are keen to build on an impressive campaign in the Premier League and reports suggest that Unai Emery's men have already come to an agreement regarding one of their January targets.

Aston Villa's January plans…

Undoubtedly, the Villans have been one of the success stories in the English top-flight this campaign and have put themselves in contention to win the Premier League title, sitting three points behind Jurgen Klopp's league-leading Liverpool outfit.

Premier League Top Four	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	GD
1. Liverpool	20	13	6	1	45	25
2. Aston Villa	20	13	3	4	42	16
3. Man City	19	12	4	3	40	24
4. Arsenal	20	12	4	4	40	17

Despite this, form has dropped every so slightly at Villa Park following one win in their last three matches, which will prompt Emery to consider bringing in reinforcements to help strengthen his squad depth for the weeks and months to come.

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Recent reports suggest that the Villans will have plenty of financial muscle to throw around as they seek new arrivals due to the fact that roughly £55 million has been brought about courtesy of a new December share issue in the West Midlands.

Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville has long been mooted as a target for Aston Villa and recent claims indicate that he could cost over £25 million to bring to Villa Park in light of his importance to his current employers' promotion push.

Now, it appears that an agreement has been reached regarding another potential incoming as Aston Villa begin to put their foot down in the transfer market, according to a report.

Aston Villa strike deal for Cyril Ngonge

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Aston Villa have come to an agreement with Hellas Verona over Cyril Ngonge after offering a fee of around €10 million (£8.6 million) for the 23-year-old, which has been verbally accepted.

Cyril Ngonge in Serie A across 2023/24 – (Sofascore)
Expected goals	3.96
Scoring frequency	252 mins
Shots per game	2.2
Key passes	1.2
Big chances missed	6
Average match rating	6.95/10

Nevertheless, the report claims that Ngonge, who can play as a number ten, winger or striker, could yet elect to stay in Serie A due to his admiration for the league, and Fiorentina could provide an alternative destination for the Belgian to continue his development.

Labelled "lively" by journalist Josh Bunting last year, Ngonge has operated on the flank and through the middle this term, putting up an impressive five goals and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions (Ngonge statistics – Transfermarkt).

Aston Villa already have a talented forward line and Ngonge would add versatility and pace to Emery's options to pick from in the offensive areas should he move to Villa Park.

Leeds United appear to be closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window after making a breakthrough on Friday. The Whites are now advancing towards an agreement to sign 20-year-old Mateusz Musialowski from Liverpool, six months ahead of the expiry of his contract.

Daniel Farke seems to want attacking reinforcements through the door before Thursday's deadline as well as defensive additions, and while Musialowski technically fits that bill, he's yet to play a senior game, so the manager may also want somebody more experienced who can make more of a short-term impact.

That's where Burnley's Manuel Benson comes in. On Wednesday, Leeds reportedly held a fresh round of talks with the Clarets as they continue to push for his signature.

Now, a journalist has mapped out the current situation involving Benson, subject to a tug-of-war between two Championship promotion hopefuls as we enter the final days of the winter market.

Leeds and Southampton both table offers for Benson

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Ben Jacobs says that Leeds have made an "attractive offer" to sign Benson. Southampton are currently thought to have a slight advantage in the pursuit of a "top-quality player", but he very much remains up for grabs.

"By Championship standards he's obviously a top-quality player, very confident in the league and it's no real surprise therefore that both Leeds and Southampton are in the race. Some sources say Southampton are slightly ahead of Leeds but I think with nothing done, we're just going to have to wait and see because it's two attractive offers on the table for the player.”

Benson has already ripped up the Championship

Benson has already proven beyond doubt that he can be a difference-maker for either Leeds or Southampton as they eye an instant return to the Premier League. When you break it down to a game-by-game level, he was one of the most impactful players in the division last season, as the table below demonstrates.

Goals per 90

0.66

2nd

Goals + assists per 90

0.85

2nd

Expected assisted goals per 90

0.25

7th

Goals – xG

7.0

1st

Benson was also, statistically speaking, the best finisher in the league last year, and while that sounds like an inviting headline, it should be noted that it may be very difficult for him to sustain that level of overperformance, and he could well regress towards the mean. Still, his underlying numbers indicate that he can impact the game as a creator even if he's not scoring.

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Benson has made just four top-flight appearances for Vincent Kompany this season, totalling a mere 73 minutes, so you'd imagine he'll very much be pushing for a route out of Turf Moor. There are clear similarities with David Brooks, who's struggling for minutes at Bournemouth and is also the subject of interest from both Leeds and Southampton. We may well see a situation where one winds up at Elland Road, and the other at St Mary's.

U.S. U-23 men's national team boss Marko Mitrovic announced his June camp roster ahead of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• U.S. U-23 squad's June camp roster drops
• Less than two months until Paris Games
• Look at possible overage players

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The U.S. Olympic team announced their June camp roster on Wednesday, with 25 players called in by Marko Mitrovic in the buildup to the Paris Games.

  The U.S. have one friendly on the cards in June against Japan, and it will serve as the final warmup for the marquee event in France this July.

  13 of the 21 players called in play abroad in Europe, while the remaining eight craft their trade domestically in MLS. Come Paris, Mitrovic will need to reduce his roster size to 18 participants.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE ROSTER IN FULL

  GOALKEEPERS: Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea)

  DEFENDERS: Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy), Bryan Reynolds (KVC Westerlo), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

  MIDFIELDERS: Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia)

  FORWARDS: Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt), Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution), Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara), Damion Downs (Köln), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Griffin Yow (KVC Westerlo)

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  For the first time in the run-up to the Paris Games, Mitrovic called in an overage senior player to join the squad in Walker Zimmerman. The Nashville SC central defender, who has 41 senior national team caps, is expected to take one of three slots in July this summer.

  In a press conference after announcing his June camp roster for a pair of pre-Copa America friendlies against Brazil and Colombia, first-team head coach Gregg Berhalter alluded to who some of those other overage players could be.

  All three of Zimmerman, Auston Trusty and Brandon Vazquez were mentioned, while others like Alejandro Zendejas, Kellyn Acosta and Lennard Maloney have been touted as options, too.

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• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THE U23 USMNT?

  The U.S. open the Paris Games on July 24 against Thierry Henry's France in Group A action. They'll then take on New Zealand and Guinea in tournament action to round out the Group Stage.

  In the buildup to the Games, though, the U23 USMNT have an international friendly against Japan slated for June 11.

The duo are two of the most talented footballers in the world, but configuring them on the same pitch will be a challenge for Carlo Ancelotti

So, it has happened. Kylian Mbappe is finally a Real Madrid player. One of the biggest transfers in football has gone through, with contracts signed and 'Communicado Official' released.

It perhaps suits all parties, too. Paris Saint-Germain won't exactly be elated to lose arguably their greatest-ever player, but the French champions are building a new team with a focus on long-term success — a squad that looks increasingly like an outfit assembled to thrive in a post-Mbappe world.

Madrid, meanwhile, get their white whale. Mbappe, it has been known for some time, is a boyhood Madridista who idolised Cristiano Ronaldo, and has done little to hide his desire for a future move to the Spanish capital.

There's a lot of fantasy football to be played here. Picture it: Vinicius Jr, Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo – all in the same team. But at some point, the fantasy ends and the reality begins. The truth is, Madrid are already loaded when it comes to their forward line, and finding the best role for Mbappe within the current ecosystem is a problem Carlo Ancelotti will have to solve.

Having Mbappe is never a bad thing, but fitting it all together while ensuring current Ballon d'Or favourites Vinicius and Bellingham aren't negatively impacted won't be easy.

GettyPrevious Galactico issues

It is not so simple to throw Mbappe into a team and expect him, and others, to thrive. Recent history, in fact, has shown that it is not a very good idea at all.

The Lionel Messi-Neymar-Mbappe trident figured to be the next great European attacking trio in Paris; instead, it was a disaster. The three never really gelled in attack, and a mixture of injuries, egos, and defensive shortcomings saw one of Europe's most talented sides become a Champions League punchline.

Mbappe wasn't the only problem there. Messi never wanted to be in Paris, while Neymar's notoriously chaotic manner – and failing ankles – didn't help. But Mbappe was supposed to be the centre of the project, PSG's vice-captain who held everything together. Perhaps, though, that was always going to be too much to ask of a player who was still only approaching his mid-20s. Either way, Mbappe never really managed to be the centre-piece, and was instead mired in a power struggle that saw the Parisians' period of promise end in disappointment.

It all makes things a bit ominous for Madrid. Although this is a different side with a far more effective man-manager, the same issues can arise. Bellingham, Vinicius and Rodrygo are, by most accounts, good team-mates, but when big names are involved, toxicity can come into play. And whether by his own fault or otherwise, controversy has always followed Mbappe.

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The first thing that needs to be established here is Madrid's current way of playing and how it gets the best out of Bellingham. The Englishman is not being used as a striker, nor is he really an attacking midfielder. Ancelotti has described Bellingham as a false nine, but even that is inaccurate. For the most part, Bellingham starts from deeper positions, and runs at defences with the ball at his feet.

There are the necessary caveats here. Bellingham's role is warped by the fact that Madrid often face low blocks in La Liga. He also has the freedom to roam – and often wanders further forward. Still, Bellingham is not a striker; he just scores lots of goals. Maintaining that while potentially integrating Mbappe is far from straightforward.

Getty Images/GOALBellingham as a No.9?

Pushing Bellingham higher up the pitch is perhaps the simplest way to configure a new-look Madrid team with Mbappe in it. The Frenchman is most comfortable playing off the left-hand side, Bellingham is an excellent goal-scorer who has proved adept at finding space in the penalty area, and Vinicius should have few problems adapting to the other wing.

Yes, there are some flaws here that would need ironing out, with Vinicius inexperienced at playing off the right, while it remains to be seen whether Bellingham could truly thrive as an out-and-out striker. Rodrygo, meanwhile, would potentially be frozen out – and has been subject of transfer talk in recent weeks. But if Ancelotti wants to subscribe to the idea of getting his best 11 players on the pitch, then this is the ideal way to implement it.

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(C)GettyImagesOr Mbappe in the middle?

Given Bellingham's versatility, though, there is an argument to alter his position for the good of the team. He famously wore the No.22 shirt for boyhood club Birmingham City as he could play as a No.4, No.8 and No.10, and he has shown in his short career that he can adapt quickly.

Both in his final months at Borussia Dortmund and recently for England, Bellingham has played in a hybrid No.8/No.10 role behind a front three. There, he is relied upon to be the team's creator-in-chief, while also using his boundless energy to get back and help out defensively when required.

Putting him into a similar role as part of a midfield trio at Madrid is certainly not off the table, and is likely the role most envisaged him playing when he joined. That would allow Rodrygo a reprieve in terms of a starting role, and would potentially give Vinicius the chance to play in his favoured position on the left. But would moving Mbappe inside be the best move?

The France superstar infamously aimed a dig at former PSG boss Christophe Galtier in October 2022 when he was started as a No.9, using the term "PivotGang" in a barbed social media post. While Mbappe could certainly replicate Karim Benzema's goal-scoring feats at the Bernabeu, he clearly isn't comfortable playing the same role as his compatriot, with the 25-year-old much more comfortable cutting in from wide areas.

يشهد اليوم الخميس الموافق 19-9-2024، إقامة عدد من المباريات ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا وكذلك مسابقتي الدوري السعودي والدوري الإسباني.

وتقام مباريات قوية في اليوم الثالث لمنافسات الجولة الأولى من مرحلة المجموعات لبطولة دوري أبطال أروروبا، وأبرزها مباراتي برشلونة أمام موناكو وآرسنال ضد أتالانتا.

طالع | تشكيل برشلونة المتوقع أمام موناكو اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

ويلتقي برشلونة الإسباني مع موناكو الفرنسي على ملعب “لويس الثاني” في مرحلة الدوري.

وأسفرت قرعة دوري أبطال أوروبا، عن تواجد برشلونة في مجموعة تضم أندية موناكو، بايرن ميونخ، أتالانتا، يونج بويز، بريست، بوروسيا دورتموند، بنفيكا، والنجم الأحمر.

وكذلك تنطلق مباريات الجولة الرابعة من الدوري السعودي اليوم والتي تشهد 3 مباريات على مدار اليوم، حيث يلتقي القادسية أمام الأخدود والعروبة مع الفتح وأخيرا مباراة الوحدة ضد الخلود. مواعيد مباريات اليوم الخميس 19-9-2024 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال أوروبا اليوم

فينورد أمام باير ليفركوزن، الساعة 7:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 1”.

سرفينا زفيزدا ضد بنفيكا، الساعة 7:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 2”.

أتلتيكو مدريد أمام لايبزيج ، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 3”.

برشلونة ضد موناكو، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 1”.

ستاد بريست ضد شتورم جراتس، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 4”.

أتالانتا أمام أرسنال، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 2”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري السعودي اليوم

الأخدود أمام القادسية، وتنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 06:40 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة SSC EXTRA 1 HD.

العروبة ضد الفتح، وتنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة SSC EXTRA 2

الوحدة أمام الخلود، وتنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة SSC1. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإسباني اليوم

ليجانيس ضد أتلتيك بيلباو، وتنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 3.

Light showers are forecast for Sunday in Manchester, but the indications are that we will have a proper contest

Nagraj Gollapudi in Manchester14-Jun-20195:01

Can Pakistan break their World Cup jinx against India?

Old Trafford wore a soggy look at 10am on Friday. Overhead, it was grey. It wasn’t cold, but there was a light shower on.Fifteen minutes later, it was pouring. The pitch had been secured by the hover cover, while the rest of the square was covered by sheets. More sheets covered the outfield in front of the B and D stands. In one corner, in front of the B stand, there was also a mobile lighting rig, generally used to help grow and maintain a good grass cover when natural light is in short supply, typically for winter sports.These were ominous portents 48 hours before the contest that is being promoted as one that one that will bring India and Pakistan to a standstill. It might just too.Already, both teams have endured the frustration of missing out on a full game – and full points – because of the weather. For Pakistan, Sunday’s match will be their fifth. For India, it’s the fourth. Very middle of the tournament. Another washout can’t help.ALSO READ: World Cup – your guide to the soggy scenarioAs the shower in Manchester picked up in intensity, members of the groundstaff would likely have grown anxious, too. They had already walked up a few times to an area on the ground where the tournament sponsors’ logos need to embossed on the turf. This part, to the side of the pitch, outside the square, was exposed to the rain. The logo-painting can only happen once the turf dries.David Richardson takes a stroll around Old Trafford two days before the India v Pakistan game•Getty ImagesBut by 10.45am, the rain had receded. With every ticking minute, it became brighter. The Pakistan squad, which had arrived by then, went to the indoor training centre to practice. The Indians hadn’t left Nottingham yet. The groundstaff rolled their sleeves up and got to work.Incidentally, Old Trafford has not hosted a match since May 22, when Lancashire beat Worcestershire in a County Championship Division Two match. More recently, for the past week, it has rained every day, forcing the pitch to stay under covers for the most part. The sighter of the pitch showed no grass, although historical trend suggests swing bowlers could be in business.Taking World Cup Podcast: Making sense of the India v Pakistan rivalryOn to Sunday then, and the forecast is quite positive, at least till late afternoon when light showers are expected. Everyone, including the ICC and their outgoing chief executive David Richardson, who was at the ground, will have their fingers crossed on that.The World’s Greatest Cricket Celebration – that’s the legend emblazoned atop the Brian Statham End. With an unprecedented four washouts in the tournament so far, and travelling fans stressed about future games and refunds, the tournament organisers are likely to be a worried lot. The ICC has blamed the “extremely unseasonal weather” for their woes. They now desperately need Sunday to be dry enough to host a match, arguably the biggest of the competition.

Declan Rice says England have "no excuses" not to win Euro 2024 and that lifting the trophy is the only way to get over their Euro 2020 final loss.

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England look to go one better than Euro 2020Rice says they have 'no excuses' at Euro 2024Winning tournament will help him get over Italy defeatWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal star Rice believes England can go all the way in Germany this summer and is determined to right the wrongs of their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy at Wembley. With the squad the Three Lions have at their disposal, the 25-year-old thinks they simply have to lift that trophy in a few weeks' time.

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He told the : “We know what we’ve got to do to win. We’ve got no excuses. The Euros are the last thing now that can really help me get over the hurt. Seeing Italy lift that cup in front of us last time: that feeling’s still in our belly. We want to get that now.

“Putting on that shirt before a major tournament again: that is such a good feeling. I feel like we’re ready… I’m ready.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

This may be England's most promising opportunity to win an international tournament for the first time since their 1966 World Cup triumph. And with players such as Rice at their disposal, they certainly have a good a chance as anyone this summer.

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Getty WHAT NEXT?

Rice and his England team-mates begin their Euros campaign on Sunday night against Serbia in their first group stage clash, followed by fixtures against Denmark and Slovenia on June 20 and 25 respectively.