England decline to enforce follow-on after remarkable maiden hundred sets up 231-run lead

Andrew Miller30-Aug-2024

Gus Atkinson celebrates his maiden Test century•AFP/Getty Images

Gus Atkinson’s magnificent maiden Test century set the tone for another dominant England performance at Lord’s.By the end of a second day that had begun with England sitting pretty on 358 for 7 in their first innings, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were back out there in their second, nudging the lead along to an already imposing 256. Pope, in need of a score after 13 runs in his first three innings as captain, endured a handful of jitters but endured to the close unscathed, after Dan Lawrence had been given out on review for 7, England’s only truly duff note of the day.In between whiles, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 196 in 55.3 overs, a first-innings deficit of 231, having relied once more on the indomitable skills of Kamindu Mendis to haul them out of a familiar top-order tail-spin.By the time he was last man out for a punchy 74 from 120 balls, Kamindu had rescued his side from a nadir of 118 for 7 – and briefly lifted his remarkable Test average back above 100 – with his sixth fifty-plus score in only eight Test innings. However, none of his colleagues could manage more than Dinesh Chandimal’s 23 and, with more than three days remaining on a pitch that is already showing signs of turn, England never gave the follow-on any serious consideration.While it lasted though, Kamindu’s latest onslaught was proof of the spirit that still courses through this Sri Lanka team, even in the midst of another desperate display. On his watch, a previously dominant England attack were given the run-around by an innings containing eight fours and three sixes, one which flew through the window of the MCC Committee Room, and another which left a spectator by the pavilion steps needing treatment for a painful, but thankfully non-serious, blow to the head.Olly Stone dismissed two of Sri Lanka’s top-three on Test return•AFP/Getty Images

Until his intervention, Sri Lanka’s performance had been every bit as off-colour as their dreadful display on the third day of the first Test at Old Trafford. Then, as now, their foothold in the contest came loose during a muddled morning with the ball, with Atkinson the prime beneficiary as he converted his overnight 74 not out into a sublime 103-ball hundred. It was the first of his professional career, and the first by a designated England No.8 or lower since Stuart Broad’s 169 on this same ground against Pakistan in 2010.Despite having had the chance, overnight, to overthink his opportunity, Atkinson’s cool head proved to be almost as remarkable as the feat itself. Just as had been the case on his debut against West Indies in July, when Atkinson had earned himself a total of three honours-board entries with five-fors in each innings and 12 wickets in the match – the prospect of another remarkable slice of Lord’s history could not faze him in the slightest.Facing up to a ball that was only eight overs old, Atkinson launched his day with back-to-back boundaries as Kumara strayed either side of the wicket, and though he was then given out lbw by Paul Reiffel third-ball, the collective groan of the Lord’s crowd quickly turned to cheers as Atkinson’s review showed the ball to be missing leg.From then on, there was no stopping him. Milan Rathnayake offered him another leg-stump freebie, tickled through fine leg, and having powered through to 99 with another pull and a drive off the erratic Kumara, Atkinson needed just three more balls – compared to Joe Root’s 12 on day one – before another firm and focussed push through long-off landed him his milestone from just 103 balls, the sixth-fastest century in a Lord’s Test.Kamindu Mendis was at the centre of Sri Lanka’s resistance again•Getty Images

Atkinson’s disbelieving smile as he saluted all four corners of the ground was the only slight hint that this was no ordinary day out. Matthew Potts, who had played a key role in an 85-run stand for the eighth wicket, fell soon afterwards as Asitha was belatedly called into the attack to strike with a third-ball outswinger.Sri Lanka soon reverted to a short-ball tactic, which initially suited Atkinson fine as he thrashed two more fours behind square off Asitha. But, in his attempt to dump the same bowler into the Grandstand, he finally came a cropper, courtesy of a wonderfully timed leap from Rathnayake at deep midwicket, who dived towards the rope – feet in the air – to cling on over his shoulder and end a mighty innings.And though the bumper ploy wasn’t the best use of Asitha’s merits, he did at least land a deserved moment of personal glory when Stone swung through another short ball to pick out deep fine leg for 15. With figures of 5 for 102, that made him the first Sri Lanka bowler to claim five wickets at Lord’s since Rumesh Ratnayake in 1991.That left Sri Lanka with a tricky 45 minutes to negotiate before the break, and for the third innings in a row, Nishan Madushka wasn’t up to the task. He should have fallen for a duck in Woakes’ second over when Jamie Smith failed to react to a snick that Root couldn’t reach at first slip, but he had made just 7 – his highest score of the series – when Woakes instead found an inside-edge onto his stumps.Then, in the final over of the session, Stone capped his return to the side with his first Test wicket in three long years, by inducing another inside-edge, this time off Dimuth Karunaratne, who wrecked his own stumps as his poor series continued with 7 from 26 balls.Forty minutes and five balls later, Stone had his second. Pathum Nissanka, who could have been run out on 3 by Dan Lawrence’s instinctive shy from short leg, instead fell for 12 as he aimed a gullible flick off the toes and picked out Potts, stationed for that precise shot at leg slip.Angelo Mathews and Chandimal, two of the mainstays of Sri Lanka’s fightback at Old Trafford, picked up the pieces in a fourth-wicket stand of 48. But into the attack came Potts, who was excellent if under-rewarded in the second innings of that first Test.With a relentless stump-to-stump line, allied to a hint of each-way movement, Potts duly struck with the first ball of his fourth over, as Mathews was turned inside-out by one that nipped round his edge and into the top of off. Then, three balls later, Dhananjaya de Silva was caught for a duck, off the splice at second slip by another ball that straightened off the pitch, and Kamindu’s innings had barely begun when Chandimal, looking tentative after another blow to his injured thumb, flicked weakly off his toes to Lawrence at leg gully to leave the innings in tatters on 87 for 6.Thereafter, however, England didn’t find the going quite so easy. Rathnayake, like Atkinson, is flushed with confidence after his unlikely batting heroics at Old Trafford, and he launched his own innings with 14 runs from four balls before Woakes returned to the attack to snick him off for 19, with Smith completing a fine diving take.England then turned to spin, with Shoaib Bashir – finally given a spell at Lord’s after going unused in the West Indies Test – settling into an excellent rhythm before prising out Jayasuriya for a previously resolute 8 from 46 balls, as he finally lost patience to be bowled through the gate on the charge.Kamindu then got a life on 62 at Root, at deep square leg, made a hash of a top-edged pull off Stone and, with sturdy support from Kumara, whose 22-ball duck ended with a direct-hit run-out from Pope, he set about restoring a veneer of respectability. Atkinson, however, lured him into one too many liberties to finish his day on the high it had deserved. By the close, and even allowing for Lawrence’s latest disappointment as a makeshift opener, it didn’t look like changing the destiny of this match, or this series.

The transfer window may be closing for six days this afternoon, but that won’t stop Arsenal from working on potential deals.

Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season, and while they managed to make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, that’ll only fuel the team’s hunger to finally get over the line next year.

The Gunners have been linked to a host of talented players in recent weeks and months, but the one who looks closest to putting pen to paper and moving to North London is Martin Zubimendi.

Yet, as brilliantly talented as the Spaniard is, there is now another international linked with Arsenal, who’d be an even more exciting signing.

Arsenal transfer news

Amazingly, the first reports linking Arsenal to Zubimendi appeared all the way back in January 2023, and while they became a little stronger last summer, they really took off this January.

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It was at the start of this year that Sami Mokbel claimed that the Real Sociedad star would be making his way to the Emirates at some point this summer, but since then, there has been some concern among fans that Real Madrid could turn his head.

After all, there has been no shortage of publications from the midfielder’s homeland claiming that Los Blancos would convince him to turn his back on Arteta and join up with Xabi Alonso.

Fortunately, that all seems to be nothing more than paper talk, as respected journalist David Ornstein revealed this morning that the powers that be at the Emirates consider the move to be “done & signed.” At the same time, Real sources claim that the Spanish giants never truly pursued the player.

In yet more good news, the Gunners have now also been linked to another international star, someone who’d be a more exciting acquisition than Zubimendi: Anthony Gordon.

Yes, according to Ornstein’s latest report for The Athletic, the Gunners are now interested in the Newcastle United star.

He claims that the Toon star has his ‘admirers’ at the Emirates, a claim James McNicholas backs up in the same article.

While no price is mentioned, reports from earlier this month linking the player to Liverpool claim he could cost around £80m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gordon’s ability, it’s one worth fighting for.

Why Gordon will be more exciting than Zubimendi

So, the first thing to say is that when Zubimendi finally makes his way to the Emirates, he will be an incredible signing for Arsenal.

After all, we saw him put in stellar performances for Spain in the semi-final and final of the Nations League, and you don’t get chased by some of the biggest clubs in the world if you aren’t someone special.

However, when it comes down to pure excitement, there is one massive reason why Gordon would provide more of it in North London: his output.

At the end of the day, fans watch football for the goals and attacking trickery which the Newcastle United star should bring to N5 in abundance.

For example, in 48 appearances last season, totalling 3869 minutes, the former Everton star managed to score 12 goals and provide 16 assists, which came out to a superb average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 138.17 minutes.

Appearances

48

42

Minutes

3869′

2946′

Goals

12

9

Assists

16

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.38

Minutes per Goal Involvement

138.17′

184.12′

Even this year, when he’s not been at his very best, the dynamic “nightmare,” as he described himself, scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 2946 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.62 games, or every 184.12 minutes.

Ultimately, while Zubimendi will almost certainly help Arsenal tick and will likely help kickstart plenty of attacks from the base of midfield, it’s Gordon who’ll either finish them or help them along by taking on opposition defenders and getting the fans on their feet.

Therefore, while he won’t be cheap, the club should do all they can to sign the Newcastle star this summer, as he’d be a tremendously exciting addition to the team.

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da cassino： Tottenham Hotspur have now held direct talks to appoint an “outstanding” manager, with Ange Postecoglou heading for the exit door, according to a report.

Ange could be set to leave despite Europa League triumph

da poker： One year ago, INEOS arguably made the mistake of keeping Erik ten Hag in the Manchester United job after the Dutchman led them to victory in the FA Cup, and it appears as though Daniel Levy doesn’t want to make the same error this summer.

Indeed, widespread reports are now suggesting that Levy is set to sack Postecoglou, despite the historic Europa League triumph against Manchester United last month, which puts captain Son Heung-min among some esteemed company.

It may be a divisive decision to sack the manager responsible for leading Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years, but appointing a top-quality replacement could go some way to getting the fans back on side, and contact has now been made with a coach who could be in that category.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna on X, Tottenham have now made “direct contact” with Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who spoke about his project and potential targets for the summer transfer window.

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Several candidates are said to be under consideration as potential replacements for Ange, but Frank is believed to be “high” on the list, and Spurs have now made their first move to appoint the Danish manager.

In another report from France, it is detailed that Ange’s future remains very much up in the air, with talks to discuss his position as manager due to take place at some point in the next week.

Frank could be "outstanding" Ange replacement

Deciding whether to sack the 59-year-old will no doubt be a difficult decision for Levy, given that Tottenham’s torrid Premier League form cannot be ignored, finishing 17th as a result of collecting just 38 points across the entire 2024-25 campaign.

However, the former Celtic boss has suggested his side’s first experience of success will make them more eager to make sure they’re in the same position again, saying: “I also wanted us to think about what’s next, you know — don’t settle for this. We’ve got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club’s got a taste for it. Well, let’s make sure we’re back here again.”

Should Levy decide to sack Ange, there are signs Frank could be a fantastic replacement, having been lauded as an “outstanding” manager by Troy Deeney, while leading Brentford to a very respectable 10th-placed finish last season.

Having transformed the Bees from a Championship club into a solid Premier League side, the 51-year-old, who utilises a 4-3-3 formation, has earned the opportunity to prove himself at the top level, showing a knack for turning attacking talents into some of the biggest stars in their division.

Said Benrahma, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay all thrived under his guidance, with only Watkins able to replicate that form elsewhere, while current forwards Yoane Wissa (19) and Bryan Mbeumo (20) combined for nearly 40 top flight goals this season.

Birmingham City stole most of the headlines in League One last season by sealing a title success on a gigantic 111 points, but Wrexham also gained plenty of airtime themselves when clinching yet another promotion.

This was the Red Dragons’ third promotion success in a row, unbelievably, with Phil Parkinson the manager who has amazingly steered the Welsh giants back into the spotlight away from non-league obscurity, to now being one division below the Premier League.

Wrexham will know that their next step up to the Championship will be their most difficult jump to navigate so far, with plenty of new signings ready to enter the building to ensure the next step-up isn’t so difficult, which includes this exciting striker target potentially joining Parkinson’s ranks.

Wrexham now interested in former PL ace

As per an exclusive report from football journalist Graeme Bailey, Wrexham are now in the race to land Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt this summer.

Unfortunately, they aren’t just a lone suitor having a peek at the two-time Premier League goalscorer, with Chris Davies’ Birmingham also keen on landing a loan deal for the explosive centre-forward, as Leeds look to get rid temporarily after sealing their own dramatic promotion.

Whilst the 23-year-old has found himself stuck on the periphery at Elland Road as of late, he still has plenty of plus points next to his name that will intrigue Parkinson and Co.

He could even be viewed as a better signing for Wrexham to make than the newly promoted side going after an injury-prone Danny Ings, with the soon-to-be free agent forward more known now for his lengthy absences away from the first-team, than his clinical finishing ability.

24/25

17

1

2

23/24

30

1

1

22/23

22

3

2

Why Gelhardt would be a better signing than Ings

Indeed, the table above makes for some pretty grim reading on the ex-Liverpool striker’s end, with Ings only managing five goals for West Ham over his last three unmemorable seasons.

Whereas, in Gelhardt’s defence – despite tumbling down the pecking order in West Yorkshire as of late – he has still proven he can cut it in the Championship when handed a chance to impress out on loan at Hull City last season.

This spectacular effort back in January would get the ball rolling for Gelhardt in his fresh location, with the ex-Hull number 30 going on to bag another four strikes in league action, away from just this wild shot looping over Paul Nardi’s head.

This will instantly put Wrexham at ease about whether the 23-year-old is well-suited to the demands of the Championship after barren patches of form at Leeds. On the contrary, Ings last played at the demanding level all the way back in 2014, with a concern brewing that he just doesn’t have the legs required to kick back into gear in the EFL.

Games played

22

Goals scored

5

Assists

0

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

5

Total duels won*

5.2

To Wrexham’s relief, Gelhardt showed he has plenty left in his tank at Hull last season, with a bite present in his game too when winning 5.2 duels on average per Championship clash, away from also creating five big chances on top of his goal tally of five.

The newly promoted side have also been there and done that when it comes to veterans leading the line, as seen in Steven Fletcher being on their books last campaign, with the loan capture of the 23-year-old “wrecking ball” – as he was once labelled by Jamie Redknapp for his aggressive approach – signalling a newer approach centred on the future.

While Ings’ name might be more instantly recognisable, his best years seem to be behind him now.

When it comes to Gelhardt, however, plenty more could still be in the offing.

Big Rathbone upgrade: Wrexham still in race to sign "outstanding" PL star

Wrexham could be about to land a big upgrade on Oliver Rathbone by signing this Championship-experienced ace.

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MatériaMais Notícias

da supremo： Se você estiver lendo este texto com a expectativa de que exista um batedor de pênaltis na história que tenha cobrado muitíssimas vezes e nunca tenha desperdiçado uma cobrança, ele existe: chama-se Ledio Pano, um albanês que jogou sua carreira inteira por clubes de seu país e da Grécia. Ele marcou todas as suas 50 cobranças de pênalti, de acordo com levantamento da Uefa. Até há dois grandes jogadores da elite que bateram menos pênaltis na carreira e nunca perderam, como Cantona (19 cobranças) e Yaya Touré (15 cobranças).

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da 888casino： Considerando jogadores de elite, um número de cobranças alto (mais de 40) e um aproveitamento de mais de 90%, podemos destacar alguns jogadores que fizeram história na Inglaterra, como Matt Le Tissier, com 48 gols em 49 cobranças, Alan Shearer, com 70 gols em 74 cobranças, Rick Lambert, com 50 gols em 53 cobranças. Dos brasileiros, o que mais se destacou no aproveitamento foi Ronaldo Fenômeno, que fez 45 gols de pênalti em 50 cobranças.

Entre os jogadores em atividade com grande número de cobranças, o que tem o melhor aproveitamento é Lewandowski. Até a temporada 2022/2023, ele fez 73 gols em 82 cobranças (89% de aproveitamento). Em números absolutos de gols de pênaltis, não tem para ninguém: Cristiano Ronaldo, com 153 gols marcados e 29 cobranças desperdiçadas (84% de aproveitamento). E antes que você pergunte de Messi, o argentino tem 109 gols marcados e 31 cobranças desperdiçadas (77% de aproveitamento).

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The 56-year-old will take charge of the franchise from the Global Super League, which begins on November 26

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-2024Rangpur Riders have appointed Mickey Arthur as their head coach. The 56-year-old will take charge of the franchise from the Global Super League, which begins on November 26. He will also be in charge of the Rangpur side during this season’s Bangladesh Premier League.Arthur has recently worked with the Dambulla Aura team in the Lanka Premier League. He is also currently Derbyshire’s director of cricket. Arthur has previously been the head coach of South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.”We have signed Mickey Arthur for the GSL and BPL this year,” Rangpur team director Shanian Taneem said. “It is a one-year deal. He will take care of us for these two tournaments this year. He is a great addition to our side. The local players are really excited to be coached by him. We have been in touch with Mickey for the last seven-eight days to build the squad for GSL and BPL. He is very active, always gladly helping us.”I think he is perfect for Rangpur Riders’ culture. He is a very friendly guy. He will be of great benefit for the Bangladeshi cricketers in particular. He has huge experience. He has already taken care of so many international sides like Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan.”Arthur has also coached in the BPL previously, with the Dhaka Dynamites side in 2015.

The manager also touched on Messi's current fitness as the team has a packed schedule following the Club World Cup

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• Inter Miami to play seven games in July
• Mascherano plans some rotation
• The Herons currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Inter Miami continue to be linked with a move for Rodrigo De Paul, with reports now suggesting the Argentine star midfielder has agreed to personal terms with the Herons. After a week of speculation, ' head coach, Javier Mascherano, addressed the rumors of a potential transfer for the Atletico Madrid star.

  "Everyone knows the kind of player Rodrigo is, but I don’t think it’s right to talk about someone who isn’t part of this squad. It would be disrespectful to those who are here and working every day," he said, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s MLS clash against the New England Revolution.

  Even if De Paul has greenlit the move, there are still obstacles for the South Florida club to overcome. There isn't an open designated player spot as Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets currently occupy those spots, and Atleti are asking for $17 million, which would be one of the highest transfer fees in MLS history. Miami have also had failed transfer pursuits of both Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne, which led to star striker Luis Suarez complaining about the restrictiveness of MLS's roster rules.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reports have mentioned the pursuit of De Paul is directly tied with Messi's current contract negotiations to extend his stay at Inter Miami. Mascherano, a former teammate and friend of Messi, touched on the Argentine legend's future as well.

  When asked about Messi’s current state, Mascherano noted that his star seems content and at peace in Miami: "He looks happy. I think he’s found a place where he can enjoy life, something he might not have fully had at other clubs. In the end, it will be his decision how long he continues."

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  WHAT MASCHERANO SAID

  Inter Miami head into the second match of a grueling seven-game stretch in July, traveling to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, where they’ll face New England on artificial turf. While Mascherano acknowledged that the surface isn't ideal, he downplayed injury concerns.

  "It’s not the best, but it’s also not something we’re overly worried about. Anyone who steps onto the field will be 100 percent ready to compete," he said.

  The Argentine manager also hinted at some squad rotation to manage the heavy schedule, but emphasized his desire to keep a strong core.

  "We’re not only thinking about Wednesday's match, but about the next three games coming in the next 10 days," Mascherano said. "We'll try to manage minutes wisely, but I don’t intend to rotate heavily either. The goal is to field the strongest lineup possible."

  Mascherano has made it clear: If Messi is in good condition, he will be on the field. The manager praised Messi’s unique ability to manage himself during games and said he has no plans to rest his captain unless absolutely necessary.

  "If there’s one player who knows how to manage himself during a match, it’s Leo," Mascherano told reporters. "If he’s feeling good, my intention is always to have him play. We’ll take things day by day, but he knows his body better than anyone."

• WHAT'S NEXT?

  Inter Miami face New England Revolution Wednesday night before returning home to host Nashville in a battle between two of the Eastern Conference's elite teams.

In May 2025, Tottenham Hotspur brought home the Europa League to finally end 17 years of trophyless pain. Having fallen short so often since their EFL Cup triumph in February 2008, there will have been profound joy and relief that their hoodoo is over at last.

Ange Postecoglou endured a largely dismal second season at Spurs in 2024/25, but the club’s European campaign may yet reignite his tenure, amid plenty of poor performances in the Premier League, with Spurs dropping way short of expectations.

But after a dazzling night in Bilbao against Manchester United, European nights are set to continue with Spurs back in the Champions League.

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Spurs have a rich history on the European stage, and here, we have taken a look at the 11 best European matches in Spurs’ history.

11

Tottenham 3-0 Inter

Europa League last-16, first leg (2012/13)

This victory over Inter wasn’t as seismic as the one from their maiden Champions League campaign in 2010/11, but it proved that Spurs could perform at their very best in Europe.

Having finished second in the group stage behind Serie A side Lazio, Spurs progressed to the knockout stages.

An impressive 3-2 aggregate victory over Lyon in the last 32 set up a tie against Inter, and the first leg at White Hart Lane certainly didn’t disappoint.

Goals from Gareth Bale, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jan Vertonghen gave the home side a 3-0 win over the 2010 Champions League winners with one of the club’s finest European results.

They lost the second leg 4-1, but progressed on away goals before losing to Basel in the quarter-finals.

10

Tottenham 2-0 Bayern Munich

UEFA Cup third round, second leg (1983/84)

Having won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963 and the UEFA Cup in 1972, Spurs were going for their third European trophy during the 1983/84 season.

The Lilywhites lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their third-round clash against the Germans, meaning all was to play for in north London.

Steve Archibald levelled the tie with 40 minutes left before Mark Falco netted a late winner, taking Spurs into the quarter-finals.

They reached the final and defeated Anderlecht 4-3 on penalties, marking the last European trophy won by Spurs.

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9

Man City 4-3 Tottenham

Champions League quarter-final, second leg (2018/19)

While this may have been a defeat on the night, Spurs’ gritty display at the Etihad saw them qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League in dramatic fashion.

The first leg finished 1-0 in favour of the north Londoners, and was followed by a frantic start to the second leg, as Man City went into half-time leading 3-2, trailing on away goals.

Sergio Aguero finally put City ahead in the tie during the second half, but Fernando Llorente levelled things up on aggregate once more to hand Spurs the advantage.

Entering the final minutes, City were desperately searching for a winner, and it looked as though Raheem Sterling had put the club through with in the last minute, only for VAR to incredibly rule it out as Spurs reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time.

8

Milan 0-1 Tottenham

Champions League last-16, first leg (2010/11)

Spurs had enjoyed a wonderful debut season in the Champions League group stages. Not only had they defeated defending champions Inter, but they managed to lose just once on their way to reaching the last 16.

Their reward? A tie against Milan. Harry Redknapp set his team up well at the San Siro that evening as a goal from Peter Crouch secured them a 1-0 victory. The game will be best remembered for the clash between Joe Jordan and Gennaro Gattuso on the touchline.

7

Tottenham 3-1 Inter

Champions League group stage (2010/11)

Earlier in the 2010/11 season, Spurs played host to Inter at White Hart Lane in the Champions League group stages. Gareth Bale had scored a stunning hat-trick in a 4-3 defeat to the same team a few weeks prior, but this was a different story.

Bale was the star of the show yet again, but this time, Spurs won. Goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Peter Crouch gave the home side a two-goal advantage before Samuel Eto’o reduced the arrears with 10 minutes to go.

Bale assisted Roman Pavlyuchenko to seal a wonderful 3-1 win that put the club on the brink of qualifying for the last 16 on a night that seemed to rekindle the famous “Glory Glory” nights in north London.

6

Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United

Europa League final (2024/25)

In truth, this wasn’t the greatest of European spectacles, but the euphoria pouring out of the stands at the final whistle more than made up for it as Spurs won their fourth European trophy.

Tottenham entered the Europa League final in terrible form, placing 16th in the Premier League (ironically one place above opponents Manchester United) and in the last chance saloon in terms of breaking their run of seasons without silverware.

But having gained a reputation for becoming chokers when it mattered most, Ange Postecoglou’s side delivered a winning performance after 17 years of waiting, with Brennan Johnson’s scrappy effort settling a tense finale against United.

The Red Devils were largely toothless throughout, with Rasmus Hojlund’s goalbound effort the closest they came to an equaliser, but Micky van de Ven’s sensational acrobatic clearance denied a route back into the game for Ruben Amorim’s side.

Spurs had their backs against the wall for much of the second period, determined not to let another opportunity slip away. A key stop in the dying moments from Guglielmo Vicario effectively secured glory for the Lilywhites, and nearly two decades of failure were over in a flash.

5

Tottenham 1-1 Anderlecht

UEFA Cup final, second leg (1983/84)

Spurs reached their third UEFA Cup final in 12 years as they took on Anderlecht over two legs.

The first game in Brussels saw the teams draw 1-1, leaving the tie finely poised for the second leg in north London. That game also finished 1-1 thanks to a late goal from captain Graham Roberts and the match drifted into extra time.

No more goals were scored, with Spurs eventually winning the game on penalties to claim their second UEFA Cup.

4

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Wolves

UEFA Cup final, second leg (1971/72)

The 1971/72 season saw the inaugural edition of the UEFA Cup take place. It became the third competition organised by UEFA and was fairly similar in structure to the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which had been played between 1955 and 1971.

Spurs would go on to play Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final of the competition, and enjoyed a relatively stress-free route to the final, defeating Milan in the semi-finals.

Spurs won the first leg 2-1 at Molineux before sealing their first UEFA Cup by drawing 1-1 with the Old Gold at White Hart Lane in the second leg.

3

Tottenham 5-1 Atletico Madrid

European Cup Winners' Cup final (1962/63)

During the first half of the 1960s, Spurs were arguably the finest team in England. They became the first club to win the league and FA Cup double in the 20th century during the 1960/61 season, before retaining the FA Cup the following season.

The 1962/63 campaign saw Bill Nicholson’s side fail to win any domestic honours, but they did reach the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup after defeating Rangers, Slovan Bratislava and OFK Beograd to set up a final showdown against holders Atlético Madrid.

The Spanish side weren’t quite up to the level of their city rivals, Real Madrid, but still posed a challenge. However, Nicholson’s side sent them packing with a stunning 5-1 victory.

Captain Danny Blanchflower rallied his side as doubles from Jimmy Greaves and Terry Dyson, plus a strike from John White, secured the club their first European trophy.

In the process, Spurs became the first British side to triumph in a European competition.

2

Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid

Champions League group stage (2017/18)

Mauricio Pochettino was building something special at Spurs, and the 2017/18 season was their second in the Champions League under his leadership.

They crashed out in the group stages during the 2016/17 season, but the following year was very different indeed.

Despite being in a group containing Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and APOEL, Spurs won five of their six matches, including a wonderful 3-1 win over Madrid.

A brace from Dele Alli and a goal from Christian Eriksen gave the home side a 3-0 lead before Cristiano Ronaldo netted a consolation.

Considering Madrid had won the competition in the previous two seasons – and would go on to secure a historic victory against Liverpool that year – this is arguably one of the best results in Spurs’ history.

It is no understatement to say that Glasgow Rangers require a major overhaul this summer.

Not just in the playing squad or staff members, but in mentality. Since the Ibrox side won the Premiership title in 2021, the Gers have won only two trophies since.

In comparison, Celtic have won every available league title on offer and have clinched a domestic double this season, although they did lose to Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final.

Things have to change at Ibrox, and fast. The 49ers’ involvement should give those at the club a boost, but the priority is a new manager.

The likes of Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti have been linked with a move to Glasgow, while several other candidates have been touted for the vacant role.

Whoever becomes the next permanent manager will have work to do in order to improve the first-team squad this summer.

There are various positions that need urgent improvement, no doubt about that. Furthermore, several players could be sold to raise funds and help reduce the wage bill.

Cyriel Dessers may finish the season as the top scorer in the Premiership, but if a reasonable offer comes in this summer, the club should cash in.

Why Rangers must sell Cyriel Dessers

Never has a Rangers player exuded more Jekyll and Hyde-like qualities than Dessers. One minute, he is simply unplayable, causing chaos for opposition defenders domestically and in Europe.

Next, he struggles with the easiest of chances and offers next to nothing in the final third.

There is no doubt about his record in front of goal for the Light Blues since he joined in a deal worth £4.5m from Cremonese in the summer of 2023. Indeed, the Nigerian striker has scored 51 goals and grabbed 16 assists across 109 games for the club during his first two seasons.

On the surface, this is an impressive record in front of goal. He has shone in Europe, with his display against Fenerbahce one of the finest by a Gers forward in quite a while.

Unfortunately, these performances are few and far between. Throughout the 2023/24 league season, Dessers missed a staggering 27 big chances across 35 matches.

Over the same number of games in 2024/25, he missed 21 big chances, a slight improvement, but still not great.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

16

18

Assists

4

2

Shots per game

2.9

2.4

Big chances missed

27

21

Goal conversion percentage

16%

22%

During the winter transfer window, several clubs were linked with making a move for Dessers. Saint-Étienne, Cagliari, and Empoli were all showing interest in securing a move for the 30-year-old.

Much to the disappointment of large sections of the support, the centre-forward remained in Glasgow until the end of the season at least.

He has two years left on his current contract, which suggests now would be the ideal time to cash in and secure a decent fee for the player.

This could be used to fund future signings, especially a couple of younger players with a higher ceiling for growth.

Dessers shouldn’t be the only player to be moved on this summer by the new manager. Nedim Bajrami is reportedly attracting interest from afar, and now might be a good time to part ways with the Albanian.

Nedim Bajrami has offers on the table

According to reports in Albania (as relayed by Glasgow Times), Bajrami has two options on the table with regard to a summer exit away from the Light Blues.

One comes from the Italian top flight, while the other is from the Bundesliga, and the report states that the midfielder is likely to leave Glasgow when the transfer window finally opens.

Much will depend on the price, however, as the 49ers will be keen on recouping much of the £3.4m that was spent on the Albanian last summer.

It’s safe to say he hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of campaigns in Scotland, despite arriving with plenty of hype.

What exactly went wrong with Bajrami?

Why Rangers must sell Nedim Bajrami this summer

The 26-year-old had impressed for his country at Euro 2024, scoring an incredible opener against Italy after just 23 seconds.

A move to Ibrox in the final days of the summer transfer window looked like a real coup for Philippe Clement.

What looked like a potentially transformative signing for the club eventually turned into a waste of money. Across 44 games for Rangers, he only scored five goals and chipped in with four assists, showing that he has rarely made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Considering the sum of money the club had paid, this was hardly the best of returns, especially following a decent start to life in Glasgow.

The midfielder only started 15 Premiership matches, creating only four big chances, averaging one key pass and succeeding with just one dribble per game in the top flight.

In Europe, Bajrami didn’t fare much better. Indeed, he could only muster a single goal from 11 appearances, winning less than half of his total duels per game and averaging 1.3 key passes per game, which shows how ineffective he has been on the European stage since his move to Ibrox.

The nadir came against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup back in February. Rangers suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat – arguably one of their worst domestic losses – but Bajrami was subbed at half-time following a dismal display.

Stevie Clifford, who runs Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the Albanian a month before, saying:

“I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all.

“We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again.

“£4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”

All of these points point towards a likely summer exit when the window opens next month. Should Rangers receive a bid that is deemed acceptable, then they must be ready to cash in.

He didn’t live up to initial expectations, and regardless of who the new manager is, Bajrami’s future already looks settled with the offers that are on the table from other clubs.

Hopefully, he can make better signings this summer.

Gerrard's next Defoe: Rangers could sign PL "living legend" this summer

Rangers must make a move for a current Premier League striker this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 24, 2025

India offspinner has been working on his batting, and has scored 200 runs in the TNPL at a strike rate of 167

Deivarayan Muthu03-Aug-2024At 37, in his first full Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) season, R Ashwin is expanding his range as a batter. He has always been good at finding boundaries down the ground, a skill that Rajasthan Royals leverage when they send him up the order in the IPL in order to provide their finishers a more suitable point of entry. But at this year’s TNPL, Ashwin has been working on playing boundary shots square of the wicket, and it’s paying off.In the Qualifier 2, against Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans at Chepauk on Friday, Ashwin dismantled left-arm fingerspinners R Sai Kishore and S Ajith Ram with a number of reverse sweeps. He was particularly severe on Sai Kishore, scoring 28 off nine balls at a strike rate of over 300. In all, Ashwin has 200 runs in eight innings in this TNPL at a strike rate of 166.66, with five of those innings coming right at the top or No. 3 for Dindigul Dragons.”Look, everything is work in progress, right?,” he said on the eve of the TNPL final against Shahrukh Khan’s Lyca Kovai Kings in Chennai. “You can even ask Shahrukh Khan about it. How does he do power-hitting… how do you hit the ball through the off side and leg side? It’s all about repetitions, and understanding angles and triggers.”Obviously, in the last IPL, I felt like I needed to widen my game and widen my horizons square of the wicket because I know I can hit the ball down the ground, and I can use my feet. Do I want to explore other options is something I had to ask myself. So if I can ask that question and if I can find an answer, it gives me a new avenue to explore and keep myself interested in the game.”Dindigul’s rookie left-arm fingerspinner P Vignesh had missed the Under-19 World Cup cut for India earlier this year but has been particularly impressive with his accuracy and control in this TNPL. In Qualifier 2 against Tiruppur, he came away with figures of 3 for 8 and the Player-of-the-Match award. Like Vignesh, Tiruppur’s offspin-bowling allrounder Mohamed Ali was excluded from India’s Under-19 World Cup squad but has made a mark in the TNPL. Ashwin has urged the next generation of cricketers to embrace setbacks and keep upgrading their skills.”Look, firstly I think missing the Under-19 cut is not the end of the world. Looking at how fragile our next generation can be, I really urge people to look at this game as a part of life,” Ashwin said. “Failure and success is very, very normal, and people become better only through failures. So I know P Vignesh, he has been coming to the Indian team nets, and I think he has improved every day. And this sort of a tournament gives these guys opportunity to be able to express and expand their game. I really hope that they’re ready to expand it constantly, and find answers to the questions that are going to be asked.”Lyca Kovai Kings captain Shahrukh Khan with the TNPL trophy•TNPL/TNCAShahrukh: GT helped improve my game against spinShahrukh has often struggled against spin, especially at the start of his innings, but he has been working on a technical tweak – a trigger movement where he pushes his weight forward – and he believes this will help him be a more rounded batter.”When I was with the Gujarat Titans, we had a camp for about a couple of months there, so I started working a lot on my spin game because they wanted me to bat up the order,” Shahrukh said. “And when you bat up the order, obviously for a batter like me having my concerns against spin bowling, especially, opponent teams would bring in spin when I come out to bat.”So their role was to help me improve my spin game, and it really helped. The front press I’m doing [in the TNPL] is quite obvious now, and it has helped me to score off the front foot and off the back foot as well.”While Shahrukh’s overall strike rate against pace in the IPL is 161.11, it falls sharply to 112 against spin. But in IPL 2024, he managed to lift his strike rate against spin to 168.75 while maintaining a similarly high strike rate against pace. And when Kovai met Dindigul in the league phase in Tirunelveli, Shahrukh took on mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and left-arm spinner Vignesh on his way to an unbeaten 51 off 25 balls.Having lost that game to Dindigul, Shahrukh has called his team to put together their “best cricket” in their quest for a three-peat in the TNPL.”I really don’t know [about the law of averages]. We’re taking it as just another game,” Shahrukh said. “The law of averages and the hat-trick [of titles]… all these things on social media are there, but we aren’t focusing on that. Out of the eight games we’ve played, only in two games we’ve stepped up to the expectations we have as a unit.”I hope even in this game we try and bring it out. As far as I’m concerned, we still haven’t played our best cricket this year, and we will try and do that.”