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Lionel Messi has a new apprentice at Inter Miami, with the Herons adding Argentine starlet Baltasar Rodriguez to their bid for MLS Cup glory.

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Messi seeing workload carefully managedHerons have acquired more creativityRodriguez joins on loan with option to buyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi remains a talismanic presence at Chase Stadium, as he fills the captain’s armband, but he is unable to play every fixture in a packed schedule at 37 years of age. The all-time great has sat out Inter Miami’s last three matches as no risks are taken on his fitness.

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In a bid to ensure that they have enough creativity at their disposal to compete on multiple fronts, the Herons have moved to acquire another playmaking No.10. Rodriguez is that man, with the 21-year-old being snapped up from Argentine giants Racing on loan for the rest of the 2025 campaign. Said deal includes the option for a permanent transfer to be completed later in the year.

DID YOU KNOW?

Rodriguez, who played under Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano when forming part of Argentina’s U23 squad for the pre-Olympic Tournament in 2024, has already won Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana titles in his homeland, while also gracing the prestigious Copa Libertadores.

WHAT INTER MIAMI SAID

Inter Miami have said in a statement on the club’s : “Rodriguez, 21, joins Inter Miami from Argentine side Racing Club de Avellaneda, where he developed as a youth player prior to debuting for the first team in 2023. The midfielder subsequently established himself as an important player for Racing, racking up 69 appearances across all competitions while contributing seven goals and four assists.

“Notably, he helped the club win the 2024 Copa Sudamericana title, featuring in eight matches and recording a goal and two assists en route to being crowned champions, and the CONMEBOL Recopa Sudamericana 2025 title. Additionally, during his time with Racing, Rodríguez shared the pitch nine times alongside new Inter Miami teammate Tomas Aviles.

“The Monte Hermoso, Argentina native also boasts international experience in his young career. Rodríguez has represented Argentina at the U-23 level, competing with the team at 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament under the management of Inter Miami head coach Mascherano. Rodriguez made five appearances in the tournament, scoring a goal in the process, as Argentina’s U-23 national team qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Notably, Rodriguez featured alongside new Inter Miami teammates Gonzalo Lujan, Federico Redondo and Rocco Rios Novo in Argentina’s squad for CONMEBOL’s Pre-Olympic Tournament.”

The New Zealand batter says he has no no plans of retiring, and that he “still want(s) to learn and still get better”

Deivarayan Muthu30-Jun-20213:54

Ross Taylor – ‘The photo of me, Kane coming off speaks louder than words’

New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has toasted the side’s World Test Championship victory, saying it will “make up” for the 2019 World Cup heartbreak at Lord’s, where they lost losing the final to England.”I guess at the start of my career, there was a few ups and downs,” Taylor said during a virtual media interaction on Wednesday. “We played in a few inconsistent sides, but, no, I guess over the last few years, the team has built into a fantastic consistent side and after the heartbreak of the 2019 World Cup, this is definitely the highlight and I think probably makes up for that.”Fittingly, it was Taylor, New Zealand’s highest run-getter in Test cricket, who sealed the win on the sixth day with a shovelled four off his legs to the midwicket boundary. Taylor, however, refused to see it as “his moment” and fondly looked back at finishing things off with his captain Kane Williamson.”…Once the winning runs were hit, walking off with him [Willamson] and the discussions afterwards, it’s something that I’ll never forget,” he said. “It was still touch and go when I went out there to bat; to get through that hard period and Kane’s been a fantastic captain and ambassador for the game and our country. And for him to be out there and on that last ball before, he sort of gave me a stare: ‘hurry up and finish it’ so that he doesn’t have to. So it was nice to hit the boundary and celebrate what was a tough match with a lot of hard work over the last two or so years.”Will we see this moment immortalised as a statue one day?•Getty ImagesImmediately after Taylor hit the winning runs, he embraced Williamson, patted him on his head, and exchanged glove punches, with the New Zealand fans celebrating in the background. The image of the pair walking off the ground together has become iconic, with the public even suggesting it should be immortalised as a statue at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.”It was just nice to have been there,” Taylor said. “But, I think, I’ve seen the photo a lot. A lot of people have sent it to me and I think the photo of Kane and I come off probably speaks louder than words. The photo says it all, I think. Obviously, we were very happy with what we had achieved but also there was a little bit of relief in there too that we were finally able to get one across the line.”After the heartbreak of 2019, it was nice to finally be out there and be there with Kane and go and celebrate it with a lot of guys – BJ [BJ Watling], Boulty [Trent Boult], Tim [Southee], a lot of guys who have been in this team and experienced a lot of highs and lows over a long period of time.”I’ll leave that [having a statue at the Basin Reserve] to the people to decide but I’m sure if you ask Kane, I know what the answer will be.”‘Just want to keep playing cricket’ – Taylor brushes aside retirement talk
In a recent interview with the ICC, Taylor admitted that, had the 2019 final not turned out as it did, he might have retired after that tournament (or after that summer). On Wednesday, the 37-year-old was asked again whether he was tempted to retire now that he had experienced the high of winning the inaugural WTC, but he brushed it off, saying he still had the drive to play and perform for New Zealand as well as his domestic side Central Districts.’I just want to keep playing cricket, whatever level that is, for as long as I can’•ICC/Getty Images”It’s still sinking in that we can call ourselves world champions, but I’m still loving the game of cricket,” Taylor said. “I still want to learn and still get better, so that’s a good sign. But, yeah, at this stage I just want to keep playing cricket, whatever level that is, for as long as I can… New Zealanders for whatever reason retire at 34 or 35, and once I got to 37 I can understand why they do – you get asked the question a lot, your age comes into question a lot more when you do things exactly the same as what you were doing two years ago, but you’re doing them wrong because of your age which is sometimes a bit hard to swallow. Regardless of when I do pull up stumps, I still feel like I can play domestic cricket, I still love playing for my country and I still love playing for Central Districts as well.”Taylor’s T20I future, however, is uncertain after he had been dropped from that side during New Zealand’s last home summer and was asked to prove his form and fitness in the Super Smash for the Central Stags. Glenn Phillips seamlessly slotted into the middle order instead and ultimately won his first central contract after featuring in each of the 14 T20Is New Zealand played over the 2019-20 home summer. Taylor hasn’t played a T20I since November 2020, and doesn’t see a spot opening up for him anytime soon.”No, I haven’t really thought about anything as I said. My main focus over the last sort of while was just to do everything I can to make the [T20] World Cup side,” he said. “My calf and hammy were playing up leading into that. No, I think the team is pretty settled in the Twenty20 side, and there’s a lot of cricket to be played before and after that. No, I don’t see the team changing much in the near future.”

As teams stand for ‘moment of unity’ in seamer’s debut Test, ECB commits to ‘full investigation’

George Dobell02-Jun-2021Ollie Robinson has “unreservedly apologised” after admitting posting “racist and sexist” comments on Twitter while a teenager.The tweets, sent between April 2012 and June 2013, included use of the ‘N’ word, comments suggesting Muslim people were linked with terrorism, and derogatory comments about women and people of Asian heritage. Robinson was aged 18 and 19 at the time, and representing either Leicestershire, Kent and Yorkshire in second-team cricket.”On the biggest day of my career so far, I am embarrassed by the racist and sexist tweets that I posted over eight years ago, which have today become public,” Robinson said in a statement released shortly after stumps on the opening day of the two-Test series against New Zealand. “I want to make it clear that I’m not racist and I’m not sexist.”I deeply regret my actions, and I am ashamed of making such remarks. I would like to unreservedly apologise to anyone I have offended, my teammates and the game as a whole in what has been a day of action and awareness in combatting discrimination from our sport.”There was some irony in the timing of the discovery. Both England and New Zealand joined in a ‘moment of unity’ ahead of play in an attempted to show a collective stance against any form of discrimination in cricket. England also unveiled training t-shirts to be worn all summer which bear slogans declaring that ‘cricket is a game for everyone’ on the front and denouncing racism, sexism and religious intolerance among other things on the back.”I don’t want something that happened eight years ago to diminish the efforts of my teammates and the ECB as they continue to build meaningful action with their comprehensive initiatives and efforts, which I fully endorse and support,” Robinson continued.”I will continue to educate myself, look for advice and work with the support network that is available to me to learn more about getting better in this area. I am sorry, and I have certainly learned my lesson today.”Ollie Robinson has apologised for offensive tweets posted as a teenager•PA Images via Getty ImagesThe tweets may also expose the ECB to allegations of a failure to conduct due diligence. Robinson has been close to the England team for some time – he has toured with the Lions and spent months in the senior team’s bio-bubble in recent times – so it may raise eyebrows that nobody at the organisation had noticed such comments. Questions might also be raised of Yorkshire, who are currently facing an enquiry into their attitude towards race and inclusivity. Robinson made his first-team debut for the club in August 2013.While the comments were made several years ago, it is possible Robinson could still face disciplinary action from the ECB. A statement from ECB chief executive Tom Harrison made it clear that a “zero tolerance” attitude to such behaviour will be taken and committed to “a full investigation as part of our disciplinary process.””I do not have the words to express how disappointed I am that an England Men’s player has chosen to write tweets of this nature, however long ago that might have been,” Harrison said.”Any person reading those words, particularly a woman or person of colour, would take away an image of cricket and cricketers that is completely unacceptable. We are better than this.”We have a zero-tolerance stance to any form of discrimination and there are rules in place that handle conduct of this nature. We will initiate a full investigation as part of our disciplinary process.”Our England Men’s Team, alongside others from the ECB and our partners across the game, worked together today to create a moment of unity. Using today’s spotlight to reaffirm our commitment to driving forward an anti-discrimination agenda. Our commitment to that effort remains unwavering, and the emergence of these comments from Ollie’s past reiterates the need for ongoing education and engagement on this issue.”England players and staff stand for a Moment of Unity whilst wearing anti-discrimination T-shirts•Getty ImagesUntil the emergence of the tweets, Robinson had enjoyed a memorable day for almost entirely positive reasons. Having been presented with his Test cap by former Sussex colleague Jon Lewis, who is now the bowling coach with England, he impressed in taking two of the first three wickets on a flat pitch. Delivering an excellent probing length, he generated movement in both directions and looked to have the talent to forge a decent career at the top level.”Today should be about my efforts on the field and the pride of making my Test debut for England, but my thoughtless behaviour in the past has tarnished this,” Robinson’s statement continued.While Robinson made no attempt to excuse his behaviour, he did suggest he had “matured as a person” since the tweets were posted. In a subsequent media conference, he also suggested they had been sent in a period of turmoil after his release from Yorkshire. While the tweets came to prominence shortly after lunch, it is understood that the England management did not tell Robinson until the close of play.”I was thoughtless and irresponsible, and regardless of my state of mind at the time, my actions were inexcusable,” Robinson continued. “Since that period, I have matured as a person and fully regret the tweets.”Over the past few years, I have worked hard to turn my life around. I have considerably matured as an adult. The work and education I have gained personally from the PCA, my county Sussex and the England Cricket Team have helped me to come to terms and gain a deep understanding of being a responsible professional cricketer.”Related

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It was not until July 2014 that Yorkshire terminated Robinson’s contract due to “unprofessional” conduct. The club’s coach at the time, Jason Gillespie, was quoted at the time as saying: “When a player consistently displays behaviour that isn’t professional, there has to be a point in time when you say, ‘look, this isn’t really working, you’re obviously not bothered about playing for the club’.”Robinson’s current club, Sussex, issued a statement saying they were “beyond disappointed to read these tweets when they were brought to our attention today” and that “their content was wholly unacceptable”.”We are pleased that Ollie has apologised unreservedly and taken responsibility for a significant mistake that he made as a teenager,” the statement said. “His age does not excuse the content of these tweets in any way and he will now suffer the consequences of his actions.”We know he recognises the severity of the situation and that he is devastated that what should have been a proud day has been overshadowed in this manner. We know also that Ollie will learn some very important lessons from this experience. We will be here to offer any support Ollie needs during that process.”There will be some who dismiss the tweets as the work of an immature young man and suggest Robinson should not be defined by them. Others will point out that we may all have once been young and foolish, but we have not all been young, foolish and racist. Either way, they will be an acute embarrassment to the individual as well as the ECB and do nothing to convince the doubters that the sport is inclusive and welcoming.In the longer term, though, Robinson’s tweets may serve to provide a reminder of where we are as a sport and a society on such issues. By doing so, they underline the importance of the England’s team’s current campaign in ensuring there is greater awareness and education in such areas.

Manchester United have sorted their Erik ten Hag replacement, appointing Ruben Amorim as their new head coach.

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Amorim announced as new Man Utd bossReplaces Ten Hag in dugoutWill not join for two more weeksFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have unveiled their new boss after days of speculation linking Amorim with the job at Old Trafford. The Portuguese manager will leave Sporting on November 11 and sign a contract until 2024 with Manchester United. The club have confirmed that Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge until Amorim arrives.

AdvertisementWHAT MANCHESTER UNITED SAID

In a club statement, Man Utd said: "Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Rúben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements. He has signed a contract until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November once he has fulfilled his obligations with Sporting CP.

"Rúben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football. Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP, the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years. Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Rúben joins."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Amorim is highly rated across Europe for his tactical mind and system. Liverpool were in the hunt for his services in the summer before settling for Arne Slot but now the 39-year-old will be heading to the Premier League as one of the division's youngest managers alongside Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler. Man Utd will have to pay £9.2million ($11.8m) in compensation to Sporting and will have the option to extend his contract by a further year to 2028.

GettyWHAT NEXT?

Van Nistelrooy will do his best to keep things moving in an upward trajectory at Man Utd until Amorim arrives in 10 days. His first game in charge will come after the international break away to Ipswich on November 24. Van Nistelrooy's future remains up in the air after arriving this summer to assist Ten Hag.

South Africa had an appeal turned down after the Pakistan batter brought day three to an unusual close. What do the Laws say?

Danyal Rasool22-Oct-2025There was so much that happened on the third day in Rawalpindi that it was easy to miss the odd circumstances of its end. Off the final ball of a day South Africa thoroughly dominated, Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan drove Keshav Maharaj to cover. There wasn’t a run on, and so he turned around, and, in one deliberate unbroken motion, tapped the base stump with his bat, knocking off the bails.There appeared no indication he believed he had done anything to get him in trouble, but South Africa wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne threw his hands up in appeal immediately, believing Rizwan was out hit wicket. The umpire hadn’t yet called stumps, and fielder who had collected the drive hadn’t yet thrown the ball back to the wicketkeeper. Thus, the ball was not yet dead.Related

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However, umpire Sharfuddoula at the bowling end almost immediately waved off the appeals with a smile, and square-leg umpire Chris Brown backed him up. ESPNcricinfo understands the umpires did not directly explain to the South Africans why they had ruled Rizwan not out.Conventionally, it is the umpires who take the bails off at stumps, with the bails at the non-striker’s end usually removed first owing to the umpire’s proximity to them. Batters do, on occasion, take the bails off – usually with their hands rather than bats – though it is almost always done after the ball is dead and the umpires have called stumps. That none of those criteria were met led to South Africa believing their appeal might be legitimate.The Laws of the game, though, appear to side with Rizwan, and the umpires’ judgment. Law 35.1 states that a batter can only be deemed out hit wicket after the bowler has entered their delivery stride in the course of any action taken by them in preparing to receive or in receiving a delivery in setting off for the first run immediately after playing or playing at the ball if no attempt is made to play the ball, in setting off for the first run in lawfully making a second or further stroke for the purpose of guarding their wicketNone of those criteria were met by Rizwan’s actions, and it remains unclear how committed South Africa were to the appeal. In the moments after, it appeared South Africa did not seem especially aggrieved anyway, with allrounder Senuran Muthusamy downplaying the incident at his press conference, saying he was fielding too far away and was unaware of what happened.South Africa finished the day with strong hopes of levelling the series, with Pakistan leading by 23 runs at stumps with six wickets in hand.

An elite European side are set for new talks with Chelsea over signing one of their players this summer, and talks have also been opened with his representatives.

Chelsea tipped for mass summer sale as Boehly plots overhaul

After sealing Mauricio Pochettino's replacement in new head coach Enzo Maresca, chairman Todd Boehly and the wider recruitment team have wasted no time in backing the Italian with fresh faces.

Chelsea consider offering two players in swap deal to sign £50 million star

It could be two out, one in at Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2024

Centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo arrived on a free transfer from Fulham, with the likes of Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian and Omari Kellyman signing for Chelsea thereafter, as the Blues add some exciting talent to the books as well as senior first-teamers.

Kellyman swapped the Midlands for Stamford Bridge with left-back Ian Maatsen going the other way in a separate deal. Chelsea reached an agreement to sell Maatsen for just over £35 million, with the Dutch defender joining Thiago Silva out the Stamford Bridge exit door.

The 22-year-old impressed on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season, helping them reach the Champions League final, but his excellent displays weren't enough to convince Chelsea to not sell for a decent fee.

Dortmund 3-0 Freiburg

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Dortmund 4-0 Darmstadt

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Union Berlin 0-2 Dortmund

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FC Koln 0-4 Dortmund

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Dortmund 3-1 FC Bochum

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Alongside Maatsen, it is believed a fair few current members of Maresca's squad could be sacrificed over the coming weeks, as co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley look to balance the books and trim Chelsea's bloated team.

Armando Broja, Malang Sarr, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu, Marc Cucurella, Mykhailo Mudryk and Conor Gallagher are all players who could be sold by Chelsea this summer.

Ipswich Town have also opened talks to sign Omari Hutchinson this week, according to multiple reliable sources, while flop £325,000-a-week striker Romelu Lukaku is attracting serious interest from Serie A again.

The Belgian, who Chelsea signed in a £98 million deal from Inter Milan three years ago, has since spent time back at the Nerazzurri on loan. Lukaku also played under Jose Mourinho on another temporary spell at Roma, and it is now believed AC Milan want to strike yet another loan for the 31-year-old.

AC Milan set for new talks to sign Lukaku from Chelsea

La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed earlier this week that Lukaku gave his green light to join Milan, with Sky Italia sharing an update of their own on the matter. The broadcaster says Milan are set for new talks with Chelsea to sign Lukaku, and a meeting has been scheduled with his representatives to gauge the feasibility of a potential transfer.

The Rossoneri are pushing for a loan deal, but Chelsea are apparently demanding they pay a high portion of his wages. Lukaku has proved time and time again he can perform well in Italy, with Leonardo Bonucci branding him a "complete" striker.

All the New South Wales bowlers played their part as Western Australia fell apart for 149

Andrew McGlashan at Bankstown Oval11-Apr-2021A century from Jack Edwards and a four-wicket haul from Sean Abbott carried New South Wales to the Marsh Cup title with a massive 102-run victory over Western Australia.On a surface where it was difficult to force the pace, 20-year-old Edwards played the defining innings with his second List A hundred having been recalled with New South Wales missing David Warner, Steven Smith and Moises Henriques at the IPL.He lifted the Blues from 3 for 50 in the 12th over, in a 118-run stand for the fourth wicket with Daniel Hughes, reaching his century from 117 balls.The Western Australia innings then fell away against Abbott while the rest of New South Wales’ international-standard attack played their part, especially Josh Hazlewood whose first eight overs cost just 17 runs.It was New South Wales’ 12th one-day title in the various forms the competition has taken and they will aim to secure both state competitions when they face Queensland for the Sheffield Shield from Thursday in Brisbane.They had made a brisk start after batting first with Matthew Gilkes going at better than a run-a-ball before being found short by Sam Whiteman’s excellent return from the deep.Kurtis Patterson, captaining in place of Pat Cummins, dragged on against Liam Guthrie to continue a lean season and when Jason Sangha was sharply held by Mitchell Marsh in his follow through the home side were tottering.Hughes, who made a century in final group match, had been given an early life when he was dropped at slip by Marsh off Cameron Green, whose barren time with the ball continued, and alongside Edwards set about restoring the innings at a sedate pace.The pair brought up their half-centuries in quick succession – Hughes from 92 balls and Edwards from 69 – but there was no major acceleration although Edwards did manage to clear cover with one of the shots of the day.After Hughes had been stumped off D’Arcy Short, Ollie Davies accompanied Edwards in another useful stand but was unable to score at his usual high tempo and took two blows – one on the helmet and the other in the box.Edwards went from 79 to his century in one and twos; on another day that approach may have come into question but the end result more than justified the means. After reaching his century he added his third six, a huge strike over the leg side, but late wickets meant the charge was muted.New South Wales did not have to wait long for their first wicket when Mitchell Starc pinned Sam Whiteman lbw in a nine-ball opening over that cost 11. The next nine overs produced just 20 runs as Hazlewood’s first four-over spell cost just six and Abbott struck in his first when Josh Philippe swiped across the line.Abbott was replaced after his opening over but then returned to have Mitchell Marsh caught at mid-off while Short could not get any momentum into his innings as he laboured 56 balls over 26 before being well caught by Abbott, back-tracking from mid-on to take a top edge off Nathan Lyon.Green and Josh Inglis tried to rebuild the way New South Wales had managed but after nine overs Inglis flicked Abbott to deep square leg who removed Ashton Turner, caught at midwicket, in his next over.With Green still there and a deep batting order full of internationals the chase remained just about within reach, but Ashton Agar was given out sweeping – much to his dismay as he lingered at the crease with replays suggesting it came off the arm – and then Green was run out to seal the contest.

The NZ allrounder speaks about growing up in a cricketing family, the challenge of bowling offspin to right-handers, and the planning that helps the team take down bigger oppositions

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Mar-202521:24

The evolution of New Zealand cricket – Tim Southee has the story

There are so many New Zealand cricketers and Plunket Shield cricketers from the Bracewell family. What was it like to grow up around all that?
Yeah, I think it was inspiring to know that your family members have played for New Zealand. For me, it was an interesting one. I grew up down in Dunedin which is quite far from the rest of my family. All the rest of my family were up north.We saw them for Christmas holidays or school holidays every now and again, but we were kind of removed from the family in many respects. I have a brother and sister, and we played a lot of backyard cricket and rugby and things like that. Dad [Mark Bracewell] was a school teacher, so he coached our First XI and First XV (rugby) teams.I idolised my dad growing up and he taught me a lot of the values of how he thought the game should be played. That’s probably the most inspirational part for me – he instilled the right way to play cricket, and sport in general.There must have been some epic backyard cricket games when you all got together for Christmas – some crazy ones where so many people who had played for New Zealand were involved…
I think we came together very rarely as a family but when we did, sport was obviously what brought us close. We played a lot of forceback which is a rugby-kicking game. Cricket battles were particularly intense. One thing we all like to do is be competitive and I think that shines through when you watch any of us play.We like to play as part of a team and really compete as a team. That’s one thing that as a family we pride ourselves on as being good team-mates and trying our best for the team. I guess that comes from a love of rugby and cricket.Every good backyard cricket game has one or two people who never think they’re out, who think that everything that hits the legs are lbws. Who were those kinds of people in your big family games?
I think my brother and I used to have some really good battles. We would always end in a fight at some point around a dubious lbw decision or caught behind. I swear that I used to walk when I hit it, but he would argue on the contrary.They were great games. He’s three years older than me, so he was always challenging me and a lot more skilful than I was and bigger than I was. I never really won many of the arguments as I was growing up.I think part of having to deal with an umpire’s decision and just getting on with it comes from those battles with my brother in the backyard.Related

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You mentioned that your dad instilled some values about how he thought the game should be played. Could you just talk a little bit about that?
He always wanted me to play fair and hard, with a smile on my face, I think. He never pressured me to go play professional sports or anything like that. He just wanted me to enjoy it and have fun.I think I saw a lot of other parents growing up putting a lot of pressure on their children to perform, whereas our conversations were all around did you have fun and that sort of thing. I think that for me puts sport in perspective a little bit. At the end of the day, it’s just a game that we’re playing and it’s not life or death what we’re doing. But if you can enjoy it and accept that there’s going to be hard times and there’s going to be good times and not try and ride the highs and lows too much then hopefully your performance will stay nice and consistent. Making sure that you’re having fun and doing what you love is super important for any young kid out there.Watching this New Zealand team over the last 10 years a lot of those values that you’re talking about seem very much part of the team DNA. Did that upbringing set you up to fit into this team culture?
Absolutely. It’s definitely something that we focus on as a team is not getting too high or too low and just taking it as it comes. I think Mitch Santner, in particular in this tournament, has been amazing at keeping the team nice and calm and not getting overawed by a situation, but also understanding that there’s important moments and we need to try and win those moments. It’s been a really enjoyable team to be a part of and I think part of the reason for that is it so closely aligns with how I enjoy playing the game as well.We’ve got a special group together for this tournament and everyone’s really enjoying each other’s company and having a lot of fun out on the field. Part of the reason is you’re having a bit of success, but I think even if we weren’t having the success on the field, we’d still be having a lot of fun and enjoying each other’s company anyway.Bracewell: “We’ve got a special group together for this tournament and everyone’s really enjoying each other’s company and having a lot of fun out on the field”•ICC/Getty ImagesIf you look at the tournament history over the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an incredible run of getting to semis and finals against what you’d say are much better-resourced teams. How do you feel those values interact with the way you guys are able to take down those oppositions?
It’s almost a bit of the Kiwi way. Kiwi ingenuity is a real thing. You just try to find a way and everyone mucks in. When we shake some of the opposition’s hands and you see how many support staff, they have with them it’s quite overwhelming at times – the amount of people and staff that these opposition teams have.I think that’s a real strength of our group. Everyone has to muck in. You have to give someone throwdowns at the end of training when you’re done to make sure that they’re well prepared. I think you learn a lot about someone else’s game by doing those little things. Everyone in our team is willing to help out and make sure that we’re all ready to go. I think that creates a really great bond between the team.I guess that puts us in good stead when we’re in those tough situations as well. We really understand each other’s game. If you’ve thrown balls to someone for a number of years and then you’re in a tough situation and you understand their game, then you can offer them a little bit more advice than perhaps if you’re relying on support staff or other people to help in those situations. I think it’s actually a real strength of ours.We’re not under-resourced because we’ve got great coaches, but I guess everyone having to muck in and do their little bit gives us a really good understanding of each other’s games.It sounds like you’re saying that there’s a lot of knowledge in the way that New Zealand do things. When you’re playing a better-resourced opposition, is there a hunger to learn about their game as well and to use your strategy really effectively?
I think there’s no secret that we leave no stone unturned. The homework that we do and the preparation that we do leading into games is really important. The communication around how the conditions are on that game is a huge focus for us. I’m sure other teams do that as well. But for us it’s trying to understand how the wicket’s playing and then playing accordingly.We’ve got guys who have played all around the world in different conditions. We rely heavily on guys like Kane [Williamson] and Mitch and Matt Henry to pass on their knowledge of playing in these different conditions, to help us figure out a way to particularly bowl on these surfaces. We’ve got a sprinkle of youth and experience throughout the batting order.Those conversations don’t stop with the batters either. We’re constantly talking about how we can attack different things. I think the value of friendship-based cricket is what we’re seeing in our team as well where guys have played all around the world and with and against high quality international players. You sort of pick their brains around what they’re doing and then try to take that back to the New Zealand team as well.

“We rely heavily on guys like Kane and Mitch and Matt Henry to pass on their knowledge of playing in these different conditions”Bracewell on the knowledge sharing that happens in the New Zealand dressing room

Have there been any plans or strategies that you’ve come up with as a group that you can’t believe worked as well as they did?
I wouldn’t say they’re ground-breakingly different strategies to what any other team is using. I think there’s one thing having the strategy and that’s having the ability to be able to execute on that strategy.I guess Matt Henry’s a really good example of that. We’ve obviously played on wickets in Pakistan and Dubai that aren’t super seamer-friendly, but he always seems to find a way to exploit a batsman’s technique or whatever it is. He just has a funny knack of picking up key wickets at key times.I think he’s one in particular that’s led our bowling attack in this campaign. His ability to get the ball to move sideways off unresponsive wickets is pretty amazing. You look at the way he got Shubman Gill out in Dubai in our last game when bowlers weren’t really getting a lot of movement off the wicket as one example.1:07

What makes New Zealand handle emotions better than other teams?

You came to spin bowling fairly late in life. Did you have any advice from your uncle John or any of the Bracewell clan around making that move?
I speak quite regularly with John around bowling and the philosophy of it. I think a lot of what we talk about is how you can train to improve. I don’t have the years of experience of bowling in a lot of games, so it’s about how can I keep learning even when I’m at training. It’s about how you can maximise your learning opportunities in any situation. That’s been hugely beneficial for me. Whether it’s a net session or things like that, seeing where the ball is going and understanding how different balls are played and how the ball reacts on different surfaces and just trying to learn from every moment that you can has been huge advice for me from John. He’s been hugely helpful.It’s extremely unusual for New Zealand to have as many spin options in an XI. It probably never has happened in a New Zealand team. What is it like to have all these guys, Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips – everybody able to contribute and have a big spin-bowling core?
It’s been awesome. We bounce heaps of ideas off each other. We’re all keen to keep improving and we lean on Mitch Santner a lot for that. He’s obviously the most experienced and the best bowler out of us. We’re all trying to pick his brains and he’s done it for a number of years.The way that he does it – he’s a different style. He tends to take the pace off the ball. Glenn and I both bowl offspin but we’re quite different offspinners. I’m a bit taller and get a bit more bounce whereas he brings the stumps into play a lot more. Rachin and Mitch are left-arm orthodox spinners but also very different in the way they approach things.Even though we’ve got two left-arm orthodox and two offspinners, we’re all very different. I think that really helps. We definitely talk a lot about what the conditions are like and what ball is hardest to hit but we also approach the game quite differently in the way that we play. We all have that batting element as well which is hugely beneficial to the balance of our side too.Michael Bracewell began his career as a batter and back-up wicketkeeper before he reinvented himself as an offspinner•ICC via Getty ImagesIs there something specifically that you’ve learnt from any of the other three guys that you can point to and say I wouldn’t have learnt that if it wasn’t for picking this person’s brain?
I’ve spoken to Mitch a lot about varying pace and how he does it. The subtleties of that is one thing that sets him apart in world cricket. His ability to change his pace without changing his action at all – it’s just in the subtleties of his wrist and I think that’s something that I’ve learnt from, trying to be a bit more unpredictable.Growing up in New Zealand you have to be able to beat guys in the air because the wickets don’t offer a lot of assistance in terms of sideways movement, so we’re usually pretty good at being able to change our pace but I guess trying to make it as hard for the batters to read it as possible is the challenge.In this tournament specifically is there a spell or a wicket you’re especially fond of?
I’ve enjoyed bowling in Pakistan to be honest. I think the difference is that because I’m quite tall I get quite a lot of bounce and often I’m over top of the stumps or the ball sits in the wicket a little bit whereas the wickets over there seem to not bounce quite as much so I’m bringing the stumps into play a lot more. That’s something that I’m going to have to be able to adapt to [for the final in Dubai] is the different length that you have to bowl over here that the ball sits in the wicket a little bit more, so you have to be slightly fuller and bring the stumps into play a bit more.I think that’s the great challenge of international cricket – you play in different parts of the world, and it can even be in the same tournament that you’re playing in two quite different places to bowl, so you have to be quick to learn. I think the experience that we had playing here against India a week ago will certainly put us in good stead for that. We’re the lucky team that’s had to play them already, so you get an idea of what the conditions are like in Dubai.Michael Bracewell: “I think the value of friendship-based cricket is what we’re seeing in our team”•Getty ImagesA lot’s been said about your economy rates and your ability to bowl dots. What do you attribute that to?
I think I’ve just tried to keep it really simple – just try to keep the stumps in play and not let the batters free their arms.I guess a lot’s made of right-handers wanting to target offspin, so it’s been a cool challenge bowling to a lot of right handers and trying to keep them quiet. I feel like I’ve got a pretty decent method of trying to get a couple of dot balls in an over and maybe that means you go for a few more boundaries if you’re a bit loose.I don’t have a lot of variation. I can’t spin the ball the other way or things like that, so I think that keeps my gameplan pretty simple. I can’t imagine how these mystery spinners stand at the top of their mark and decide what ball to bowl because they’ve got so many good balls to bowl. The simplicity probably helps me in a way. I can either try to bowl it fast or slow but it’s all going the same way so there’s not too many options at the top of my mark to figure out what I’m trying to do. Maybe that’s super helpful.You mentioned all four of you have a slightly different style, do you have quite well-defined roles in terms of what you’re trying to do at which stage of an innings?
Yeah, I think one thing we’re all trying to do is find a way to take wickets. We’ve seen that if teams in one-day cricket have wickets coming at the back end it’s very hard to stop teams.A lot of that for me, and I guess for Rachin and Glenn, is if we can build pressure then hopefully the wickets will come, whereas I think Mitch is probably a bit more adept at being able to take those wicket-taking balls. He bowls spectacular balls that get really good batters out, so his style of taking wickets is a little bit different to ours but as a unit if we can build pressure then hopefully we can lure some batters into some false shots and make it easier for the fast bowlers coming into the back end.

“Mitch Santner, in particular in this tournament, has been amazing at keeping the team nice and calm”Bracewell on his captain

Is it strange for you that in this tournament especially there has been a lot of focus on your offspin, when offspin is the last thing you picked up in your cricket? Is it something you’d ever have expected a few years back?
Absolutely not. If you told me that I was going to be an offspinning allrounder even three years ago, I would have said you were crazy. But I really enjoy bowling, and I enjoy the challenge of learning and trying to get better and I think it’s definitely helped. I’ve always thought of myself as a batsman, so I’ve never really put too much pressure on my bowling.Whether I have a good day or a bad day with the ball I’ll get annoyed if I don’t score runs. Maybe it helps to take the pressure off my batting a little bit, but I still very much see myself as a batter who bowls and I think that mindset has helped my bowling. If I’m getting hit around, I don’t find it to be the end of the world, though I take it very seriously and take pride in my performance.I don’t think it’s something that will change as well. It’s a funny situation – being a batter my whole life. It’s just hard to shake that feeling of you hang your hat on whether you score runs or not.I don’t really know how to describe it. I completely understand that I’m playing as a bowler and my batting is a bonus, but it’s still what I hold dear to my heart is my batting. I wouldn’t have it any other way to be honest.It’s your first big final with the New Zealand team. Is it the biggest game of your life so far?
Yeah, it definitely is. It’s a funny feeling. In the days leading up to the semi-final, I was a little bit nervous. But then when I got into the game it was just another game of cricket. I was just completely trying to immerse myself in the process of playing the game and doing what I do and what I love. I think that certainly helped. After the game I thought that experience was amazing and it’s very cool to look back on. I was very proud that I didn’t overthink the situation.2:40

What explains New Zealand’s consistency in ICC events?

I think if you can get into that frame of mind where you’re just really excited about trying to do the simple things well then that’s going to put us in good stead and hopefully the years of mental skills and things like that that we’ve practised over and over again kick in tomorrow. It does just become another game with a little bit more on the line. It does sound really boring, but it’s just doing that process over and over again. The final is just another distraction that tries to take you away from that process so if you cannot let the distractions get in the way and focus on the right things, then you should be able to put in a good performance.Have you had conversations with your dad through the course of the tournament?
We always exchange a few messages and he’s super proud of watching me play and I think the one thing that he enjoys is seeing the smile on my face when I’m out there playing. It’s very cool to get those messages from him, and how much he’s enjoying watching from home.I think the time difference isn’t great so they’re sleeping in quite a bit and staying up quite late, but I don’t think they’d have it any other way. It’s super cool having them follow my career and it’s great that they’re so proud of me and I guess the thing that I enjoy is trying to play the game in the right way and hopefully they can see that through the TV.Has there been any advice or does he leave you to your own devices now?
No no, he’s always been really good at that. He won’t offer too much but he’ll know the right time to say something. He’s been awesome.

Tranmere Rovers may try and emulate Wrexham after their promotion odds sky-rocketed off the back of A$AP Rocky being linked with a club takeover.

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A$AP Rocky linked with Tranmere takeoverClub's promotion odds just shot upCould they emulate Wrexham's success?Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Reports suggest League Two Tranmere are the subject of a £15 million ($20m) majority takeover bid from a United States-based group led by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina and including rapper A$AP Rocky, who is said to be dating singer Rihanna. Now, according to CSDB.gg’s League Two SuperComputer, the Merseyside outfit's chances of getting out of the division have shot up an incredible 909 per cent. This predicts 16th-placed Rovers have a 1.6% chance of winning the league but a 10.5% likelihood of getting into the play-offs – a 238.8% improvement in their chances.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Since Wrexham were taken over by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in early 2021, the Red Dragons have gone from the National League to League One in a few short seasons. It is too soon to say if Tranmere could enjoy a similar fate but this kind of investment could fire them back up the English football pyramid.

DID YOU KNOW?

The SuperComputer also predicts if they make the play-offs this season, they have a 11% chance of going all the way and win promotion to League One. If this takeover takes place, Rovers will become the 31st club in England's top four leagues to be owned by American investors.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Amid all this speculation about a possible takeover, Rovers have to focus on their League Two home clash against Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.

Some of the most gifted and influential football players in history have come from Serbia. These players have made a lasting impression on the international scene, either with the Serbian national team as we know it today or during Yugoslavia’s heyday.

While Yugoslavia were two-time runners-up at the European Championship, the famous nation has never won a trophy since declaring independence in 2006, despite being blessed with a real array of talent.

Here is the list of who we believe are the ten greatest Serbian footballers, based on their overall impact at either club or international level during their careers…

1

Dejan Stanković

1995-2013

2

Blagoje Marjanović

1920-1951

3

Dragan Stojković

1981-2001

4

Nemanja Vidić

2000-2016

5

Predrag Mijatović

1987-2003

6

Branislav Ivanović

2002-2021

7

Aleksandar Mitrović

2011-present

8

Rajko Mitić

1940-1958

9

Nemanja Matić

2006-present

10

Dušan Tadić

2006-present

Euro 2024 Group C: Teams, players, fixtures and venues

Everything you need to know about Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia and England ahead of Euro 2024.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 9, 2024 10 Dušan Tadić 2006-present

Dušan Tadić has excelled at club and international level. When Tadić joined Southampton in 2014, his club career took a major turn, as his goalscoring and inventiveness immediately made an impression. He played in 162 games over his four seasons at Southampton, tallying 24 goals and dishing out 35 assists.

After moving to Ajax in 2018, he helped them win multiple Eredivisie titles and reach in the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season, only to be edged out by Tottenham Hotspur. His stats in Amsterdam were quite remarkable, having bagged 105 goals and 112 assists in just 241 appearances.

Tadić has also been a vital member of Serbia’s international team, winning 111 caps and captaining the side.

International caps

111

International goals

23

Clubs played for

Vojvodina, FC Groningen, FC Twente, Southampton, Ajax, Fenerbahce

9 Nemanja Matić 2006-present

Nemanja Matić has established himself as a formidable midfield player for his clubs and the Serbian national team. The 35-year-old, who is well-known for his strength, tactical acumen, and remarkable game-reading skills, has made a big impact on European football.

During his time playing for Chelsea in England, Matić experienced a great deal of success. His contributions to Chelsea becoming Premier League titles in 2014/15 and 2016/17 were crucial, becoming one of the league’s best defensive midfielders as a result.

He then moved to Manchester United in 2017, where he kept showcasing his midfield abilities and helped the Red Devils reach the Europa League final in 2021, as well as finish second in the 2017/18 Premier League season.

Matić had been a vital member of Serbia’s national team, featuring at the 2018 World Cup, which contributed towards his 48 caps, before his retirement from the international stage in 2019.

International caps

48

International goals

2

Clubs played for

Chelsea, Man Utd, Roma, Lyon, +5 others

8 Rajko Mitić 1940-1958

Rajko Mitić is a highly regarded figure in the history of football in Serbia and Yugoslavia. Prominent for his commitment, aptitude and guidance, Mitić’s professional life is mainly linked to Red Star Belgrade, where he made a lasting impression as a manager and player.

As a player, Mitić had an incredible career at Red Star Belgrade, winning multiple national cups and Yugoslav First League championships in the 1940s and 1950s. His efforts were crucial in making Red Star the undisputed power in Yugoslavian football.

Mitić was acknowledged for his leadership on the pitch when he was appointed as the first captain of the Yugoslavian national team, amassing 58 caps, scoring 32 goals and competing in two FIFA World Cups (1950 and 1954).

If that wasn’t enough, Red Star Belgrade opened the Rajko Mitić Stadium in his honour in 1963.

International caps

58

International goals

32

Clubs played for

BSK Beograd, Red Star

7 Aleksandar Mitrović 2011-present

Aleksandar Mitrović has made a name for himself as a strong striker who possesses aerial skill, physical strength and an innate talent to score goals.

Throughout his career, Mitrović has gone from being a potential talent at Partizan Belgrade to being an important player for clubs all across Europe and a crucial member of the Serbian national team.

The 29-year-old moved to Newcastle United in the Premier League after having a breakout season at Anderlecht, when he finished as the Belgian league’s top scorer. Although he had inconsistent results during his time in England, he proved that he was a strong forward with the ability to play at the highest level.

A move to Fulham triggered a completely new Mitrović, as he bagged 111 goals and assisted 21 during his time in west London, before securing a move to Saudi Arabia, in order to join Al-Hilal

He’s also been a vital member of Serbia’s international team, making big contributions in European Championship and World Cup qualifying, including scoring the goal that took them to the 2022 World Cup. This has led to him being the nation’s top scorer of all time with 59 goals to his name in 98 caps.

International caps

98

International goals

59

Clubs played for

Teleoptik, Partizan, Anderlecht, Newcastle, Fulham, Al-Hilal

6 Branislav Ivanović 2002-2021

Branislav Ivanović’s career has been distinguished by notable successes with Serbia and Chelsea in the Premier League. After joining the Blues in January 2008, he developed into one of the league’s most dependable and well-respected defenders over the course of the following nine years.

His versatility as a centre-back and full-back allowed him to positively impact Chelsea’s offensive set-pieces and defensive stability, which helped the west London club win numerous Premier League crowns, FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.

With 105 caps for Serbia, Ivanović is the second-most-capped player for his country. He was a real leader on the international stage, competing in the 2010 World Cup and multiple European Championship qualification campaigns.

International caps

105

International goals

13

Clubs played for

Srem, OFK Beograd, Lokomotiv Moscow, Chelsea, Zenit, West Brom

5 Predrag Mijatović 1987-2003

Predrag Mijatović gained widespread recognition for his ability as a forward, due to his substantial contributions for club and country. His time at club sides Valencia, Real Madrid and Fiorentina, together with his accomplishments with the national teams of Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro, are particularly noteworthy.

The most memorable moment of Mijatović’s Real Madrid career was his game-winning goal against Juventus in the 1998 Champions League final, which sealed Real Madrid’s first European Cup in 32 years and cemented his place in the club’s history. This high point came from a career in which he was successful in both Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga, scoring 115 goals in total.

As a forward, Mijatović further cemented his position as one of the best in Europe by representing Yugoslavia in important international competitions such as the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He was always a menace to defenders because of his technical prowess and penchant for being in the right place at the right time.

International caps

77

International goals

28

Clubs played for

Buducnost Titograd, Partizan, Valencia, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Levante

4 Nemanja Vidić 2000-2016

There’s no doubting that Nemanja Vidić is regarded as one of the most formidable defenders of his time. His tenure at Manchester United, where he and Rio Ferdinand created a renowned defensive partnership, is what most defines his career.

Vidić joined Manchester United in January 2006, and his aerial skill, aggressive defending, and leadership abilities helped him become an instant mainstay. His talents were essential to Manchester United winning the Champions League in 2008 and several Premier League titles, notably three in a row from 2007 to 2009. Vidić’s excellence was acknowledged on an individual basis with other honours, such as being awarded the Premier League Player of the Season two times.

In the global arena, Vidić amassed 56 international caps, which included 19 for Serbia & Montenegro and a friendly appearance for Yugoslavia. He was a key member of his nation’s sides, as they qualified for two World Cups in 2006 and 2010.

International caps

56

International goals

2

Clubs played for

Red Star, Spartak Subotica, Spartak Moscow, Man Utd, Inter

3 Dragan Stojković 1981-2001

Dragan Stojković is considered one of the most gifted football players to come out of Yugoslavia and a key player in the history of Serbian football. Throughout his brilliant career, Stojković, who was renowned for his exceptional technical abilities, vision and inventiveness, flourished as a midfield player.

At Red Star Belgrade, where he won national championships and demonstrated his extraordinary potential, his club career took off, leading to a transfer to Europe’s more competitive leagues. His time at Marseille in France was especially noteworthy as he helped his side win the French league title and go to the UEFA Champions League final in 1991, ironically against Red Star.

He later secured a move to Japan, where he made 225 appearances for Nagoya Grampus, scoring 68 goals before retiring.

He played for Yugoslavia in a number of major international competitions, such as the World Cup in 1990, where he was a standout performer that helped his side advance to the quarter-finals.

International caps

84

International goals

15

Clubs played for

Radnicki Nis, Red Star, Marseille, Hellas Verona, Nagoya Grampus Eight

2 Blagoje Marjanović 1920-1951

Blagoje Marjanović was a notable Yugoslavian football player who was known for his extraordinary goalscoring ability. As one of the most productive forwards of his day in Yugoslavia and throughout Europe, he spent the majority of his career at BSK Belgrade (now OFK Belgrade).

BSK Belgrade won multiple Yugoslav First League titles while he was a member of the squad from 1926 to 1941, with Marjanović leading the league in scoring for multiple seasons. His goal total is still among the highest in the team’s and the league’s history, and it’s easy to understand why, as he played 566 matches for BSK, scoring 575 goals.

The striker was also one of the greatest goalscorers in Yugoslavia’s history, achieving 58 caps and scoring 37 goals. His participation in the 1928 Summer Olympics and the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay allowed him to demonstrate his talent away from home and solidified his reputation as one of the greatest football players of all time.

International caps

58

International goals

37

Clubs played for

SK Jugoslavija, SK Olimpija, BSK Beograd, Cukaricki, Dinamo Pancevo

1 Dejan Stanković 1995-2013

Dejan Stanković is regarded as one of the best midfield players of his time because of his variety, strength of shot, and outstanding leadership. Throughout his brilliant career, which saw him play in some of Europe’s top leagues, Stanković made a big impact for the Serbian national team, as well as the likes of Lazio and Inter.

He started his professional career at Red Star Belgrade, where he became a vital member of the squad and helped them win several domestic titles. His achievements in Serbia led to him joining Lazio in Serie A, where he continued to show off his skills, helping the team to win the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, Coppa Italia, and Italian Super Cup.

Still, it was at Inter that he solidified his legacy. He became a crucial part of Inter’s heyday after joining the team in 2004, helping his side win multiple league titles and domestic cups. His most notable accomplishment was in 2010, when he assisted Inter in winning the Champions League, the Coppa Italia, and the Serie A title.

On the international stage, he participated in three World Cups (1998, 2006, 2010), becoming noted for doing so for three different countries. Also a participant at Euro 2000, Stankovic earned over 100 caps across his glittering international career.

International caps

103

International goals

15

Clubs played for

Red Star, Lazio, Inter