All posts by h716a5.icu

The focus of the cricketers is to participate in the upcoming women’s and men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers

Liam Brickhill30-Jul-2019Zimbabwe’s cricketers will play for free if need be in order to keep cricket in the country alive.”We will play for free as long as we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” a senior squad member told ESPNcricinfo. “Our next assignment is the (T20 World Cup) qualifiers. I will play for free as long as we are assured that we will be paid eventually. We will play qualifiers for the sake of cricket staying alive and for free but to be paid late and not never.”Another player confirmed a willingness to sacrifice in the short term to ensure the long-term survival of cricket and playing careers, saying: “As long as there’s a future and you can see that things are going to fall into place, I have no doubt that most guys would.”The qualifiers remain the focus for Zimbabwe’s cricketers – men and women – although they have been barred from taking part in those events under the terms of their suspension by the ICC. Four members of the national women’s team were also dropped from the ICC’s Global Development Squad, but their exclusion does not extend to all cricket.Zimbabwe are still technically able to play in bilateral series while under suspension. It is understood that the ICC will still appoint match officials for bilateral series that Zimbabwe host. But, at the moment, that likely means players playing for free, and Zimbabwe Cricket is in any case unable to host incoming tours without ICC funding. The Sports and Recreation Commission, which has put an interim committee in place to run cricket in the country, has said there is a contingency plan to deal with player welfare while Zimbabwe are under suspension, but the details of this plan have not apparently been communicated to the players.ALSO READ: Explainer: Zimbabwe’s ICC suspension and its implications Neither of the two senior national squads has been paid in the last two months, and the men were not paid match fees during their recent tour of the Netherlands and Ireland.It appears increasingly unlikely that Zimbabwe will be able to take part in the women’s T20 qualifiers in August, or the men’s chapter in October. Zimbabwe were scheduled to host Afghanistan in August, before travelling to Bangladesh for a tri-series in September. The Future Tours Programme mentions that Zimbabwe will then host West Indies for a Test and five ODIs in October and November, before travelling to India for three T20Is in January next year. Zimbabwe have two Tests against Sri Lanka scheduled straight afterwards, before a trip to Bangladesh in March and a maiden Test against Ireland in Zimbabwe in April.While these fixtures have not been cancelled outright, in reality there is no chance whatsoever of Zimbabwe hosting any cricket while under suspension, whether the players are paid or not. ZC is entirely reliant on ICC funding to host incoming cricket tours, which – apart from Indian visits – could end up as loss-making enterprises.

The India coach wants to leave behind a legacy like the West Indies side of the 1970s and 1980s, and the Australians of the 2000s

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2019India head coach Ravi Shastri wants to turn his team’s consistency into the kind of celebrated golden legacy of the great West Indies and Australia sides of the past.Shastri has just overseen a clean sweep in the Caribbean, where a ruthless India blanked West Indies in all three formats. “This kind of consistency I have not seen any time,” Shastri, who was recently given an extension in the job until the 2021 T20 World Cup, told . “This team has an opportunity to do great things. We have a legacy like the West Indies did in the eighties and Australia did at the turn of the century. This team, too, has an opportunity to leave that kind of legacy, and they are already doing it.”India’s overseas performances have improved significantly in recent years and under Shastri they have won series in West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia, the latter a historic 2-1 triumph earlier this year. India have been No. 1 in the ICC’s Test rankings since October 2016, and were favourites at the recent ODI World Cup, alongside hosts England. Their campaign, however, was ended by a semi-final loss to New Zealand, following a top-order collapse. That was a second successive semi-final exit for India, currently the world’s second-ranked ODI side.In T20Is, India are fourth in the ICC rankings. They won seven straight T20I series, including the four-team Nidahas Trophy, between November 2017 to November 2018, a streak that included away wins in South Africa (2-1), Ireland (2-0) and England (2-1), but they lost series in New Zealand and at home against Australia. “Look at how we have performed in T20, one-dayers and Tests and even in the big ICC tournaments, it is unbelievable,” Shastri said. “People used to say earlier that we only perform at home and we don’t do anything abroad. Now they are saying the opposite as wherever they are going they are performing.”Shastri also rubbished recent reports of differences between Kohli and Rohit, Shastri said India India would not have performed the way they have if there was a rift between the two, neither would the pair have scored as freely as they have in recent series.”Listen, I have been around the dressing room for the last five years. I have seen how the boys have played and how they have complemented the team and know their work ethics. I feel it is absolute nonsense (reports of a rift). I have been there with them and I know the way they play. If that was the case why would Rohit get five hundreds in the World Cup? Why would Virat do what he is doing? How would they have partnerships together?”In a side when you have 15 players there will always be times when there will be opinions that will be different. That is what is needed. I don’t want everyone toeing the same line. You have got to have discussions and someone might then think of a fresh strategy, which has to be encouraged. So you have to give the guys the opportunity to express themselves and then decide what is best. Sometimes it might be the junior-most player in the team who may come up with a strategy which we hadn’t even thought of and we need to bring that to the table. So these should not be seen as a conflict.”

Celtic are back in action once again in the Scottish Premiership this afternoon they travel to Fir Park to take on Motherwell in the lunchtime kick-off.

The Hoops moved to five points behind Rangers in the league table after their rivals picked up all three points in their clash with Hearts on Saturday.

That result makes this match against Motherwell all the more important as any dropped points today would extent Philippe Clement's side's two-point lead heading into the weekend.

Brendan Rodgers watched on as his team dropped two points against Kilmarnock last week, which was a result that allowed their rivals to overtake them on the Sunday.

A stoppage time equaliser from David Watson secured a point for the away side on the day and the Hoops boss could now look to make some changes to the starting XI from that match.

With this in mind, Rodgers must drop Adam Idah from the line-up to make way for creative midfielder Paulo Bernardo to return and for Kyogo Furuhashi to play as the lone striker.

Adam Idah's performance against Kilmarnock in numbers

The Ireland international, who joined on loan from English side Norwich City on deadline day at the start of the month, led the line against Kilmarnock.

Idah endured a rough afternoon as a lack of service meant that he was left isolated, which led to a lack of impact from him at the top end of the pitch.

Despite having 71% of the possession, Celtic failed to create a single chance for the Irish marksman, who did not register a single effort on goal in 67 minutes on the pitch.

Kyogo did, however, score the opening goal from the Hoops and had two shots in total after starting the match in the number ten position behind Idah.

The Norwich loanee lost six of his ten duels, as the opposition found it too easy to get the better of him at times, and did not create any chances for his teammates before being substituted during the second half.

It was a disappointing performance from the Canaries academy graduate after he had enjoyed an impressive first two Premiership matches with the club.

Idah came off the bench to provide an assist for Nicolas Kuhn's equaliser against Aberdeen earlier this month and then scored both of Celtic's goals, both from the penalty spot, in a 2-1 win away at Hibernian in his first start.

His first two games with the club show that the potential is there for him to provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants.

However, playing him and Kyogo alongside each other may not work in every match, as showcased by Idah's struggles against Kilmarnock.

Therefore, bringing Bernardo in as a number ten to provide more natural creativity for Kyogo, and then bringing the Irish forward off the bench, could be a good change for this game against Motherwell.

Paulo Bernardo's Celtic season in numbers

The Hoops signed the 22-year-old whiz on loan from Portuguese side Benfica last summer and he has shown glimpses of his quality in midfield so far this season.

Bernardo, who has been described as a "baller" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has started nine times in the Premiership for the Scottish giants and contributed with two goals, two assists, and three 'big chances' created in total.

One of the Portugal U21 international's best performances in a Celtic shirt to date came in a 3-0 win away at St Mirren at the start of the year.

Sofascore rating

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Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 5 foot 11 magician was on top form in the Premiership clash as he assisted Matt O'Riley and Greg Taylor for goals.

His creativity was also on display in Liga Portugal during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign as he caught the eye on loan with Paços Ferreira.

Bernardo ranked within the top 8% of midfielders in the division for assists (0.24) per 90, whilst also ranking within the top 9% for non-penalty goals (0.24) per 90, as the young gem produced two goals and two assists in nine league starts.

These statistics over the past year or so show that the "tenacious" – as he was described by the aforementioned Mango – dynamo has the quality to split open opposition defences to create chances for attackers when he is at his best.

Why Kyogo could benefit from Bernardo's creativity

Playing Bernardo in a number ten role and getting him closer to Kyogo could benefit the Japan international by getting him into better shooting positions.

The former Vissel Kobe star has already taken 17 shots from outside of the box in 26 league appearances for Celtic this season, having attempted just six in 31 league outings last season.

He racked up a staggering 27 goals in those 31 Premiership games during the 2022/23 campaign but has only plundered nine goals in 26 matches this time around.

It should not be a surprise that his goalscoring numbers are down when you consider that the lack of creativity behind him is resulting in too many long shots being attempted.

Utilising Bernardo's creativity in a number ten position could provide the Japanese marksman with higher-quality opportunities to get his shot off from within the box, rather than from distance, and, therefore, increase his chances of finding the back of the net.

Of course, the Portuguese loanee has not consistently provided high-quality creativity, possibly due to him being deployed as part of a midfield three instead of as a number ten at times, but the potential – as shown by his performance against St Mirren and form in Portugal last term – is there for him to be an excellent option.

Rodgers, therefore, must drop Idah down to the bench to unleash Kyogo as a lone number nine with Bernardo in the hole behind the Japan international.

This would also provide the manager with a fantastic option to change the game as Idah could come on to lead the line and push for a goal if needed in the second half.

England fans were left fuming after a dire first-half performance by the Three Lions against Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024.

England went up against Slovakia in last 16Fell behind to goal from Ivan SchranzFans fumed on social mediaWHAT HAPPENED?

England's uninspiring form at Euro 2024 continued on Sunday as the Three Lions took on Slovakia for a place in the quarter-finals. Southgate made one change to his team, bringing in Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, but saw his team put in another dismal display. England ended up going in at half-time 1-0 down thanks to a goal midway through the half by Slovakia's Ivan Schranz.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Fan @ytalksfootball was clearly furious with England's performance, posting on X: "Holy shit this is beyond a joke. Sack Southgate at HT. These players genuinely look lost. This is beyond stinking out the place. Southgate should be prosecuted for this…"

Another supporter @Gillykins58 wrote: "Bloody hell that was pathetic. Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Sack Southgate!"

However, @joel_mcalary925 could see some positives from the match: "The one good thing that will come out of this is Southgate being finally sacked."

Another fan, @Ronn_uk, is also expecting Southgate to get the boot: "Whatever is going in Euro this is disgrace for England to concede against Slovakia despite having good player. Southgate need to be sacked. Sack Southgate now."

And @OmegaLuke felt the axe could come very soon: "Honestly if we lose today Southgate should be sacked before that plane takes off to bring him back Having this squad of talent & the tactics of a 'togetherness' isn’t going to get you anywhere Take Steve Holland with you too. He’s just as useless."

Getty ImagesWHAT THE PUNDITS ARE SAYING

Meanwhile, Gary Neville fumed at Southgate's decision to omit Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold from his starting XI. The former England and Manchester United defender told ITV Sport: "It’s illegal that Trent Alexander Arnold isn’t playing for England today. The best footballer we’ve ever seen at right-back or full back in this country."

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Fans have been left furious by Southgate's reluctance to make changes to his team at Euro 2024 despite seeing his players underperform in Germany. Supporters at the tournament have also shown their frustrations by throwing beer cups at Southgate after a disappointing draw with Slovenia. The Three Lions made it to the final of Euro 2020 and have a squad packed full of talent, with stars such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in the squad, but have lacked any sense of cohesion or structure so far in the tournament.

It's all change at Anfield following Jurgen Klopp's announcement that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, alongside his coaching staff. And whilst the changes take place off the pitch, FSG could hand their next manager the perfect start by welcoming a Premier League star in a big-money deal.

Liverpool transfer news

Away from the pitch, where Liverpool have just ticked off one of potentially four trophies this season in what would be a historic quadruple, the focus is on finding the manager to take charge of their next era after Klopp.

As of right now, all signs are pointing towards Xabi Alonso, who has reportedly been offered a three-year deal by FSG. The Bayer Leverkusen boss, unbeaten and on course to seal the Bundesliga title over Bayern Munich, has certainly left European football fans and media impressed so far this season.

Before the Reds can welcome the Spaniard, however, they must restructure, starting with a new sporting director. Reports have recently suggested that Michael Edwards is the man that FSG want to turn towards to lead the way in that role, but it seems as though the former Liverpool man is unlikely to accept any return at this stage.

Liverpool may turn to "brilliant" Premier League star in first post-Klopp move

He’s already Premier League proven.

ByTom Cunningham Feb 29, 2024

Although, if Edwards does make a return, then his first task may well be welcoming Pedro Neto. According to Fabrizio Romano's Daily Briefing for Caught Offside, Liverpool have already scouted Neto and are ones to watch in the race to sign the winger this summer, alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal. Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly placed an £80m price-tag on their star man in what would be one of the biggest deals in English football this summer.

"Incredible" Neto has a better output than Diaz

As heroic as Luis Diaz's recent battling performances have been in a red shirt, the former Porto man has often struggled when it comes to contributing to goals at Liverpool. Neto, meanwhile, has proven to be one of the Premier League's best creators this season, with his total of nine assists only beaten by Ollie Watkins, Kieran Trippier and Pascal Groß in the current campaign.

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That said, it's no wonder that Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has had such high praise for Neto, saying via BBC Sport in September: "He has been absolutely incredible for the six or seven weeks I have been here. I am really pleased with where Pedro is at. He has given absolutely everything and showed a big moment of quality [at Luton] which sums up how he has been for me for the last six weeks.

"Let's not talk too soon. It is only six or seven weeks, but he has fully bought into everything we have asked. His work rate, the way he trains, playing within the shape and structure and taking information on board. He is incredibly talented and physically very gifted as well."

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has hit back at comments from Jens Lehmann in which Spain’s squad at Euro 2024 were branded a “team of kids”.

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Barcelona youngster breaking recordsPart of an exciting La Roja squadReady for heavyweight quarter-final tieGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Germany international goalkeeper Lehmann made that jibe ahead of his nation facing La Roja in the quarter-finals of this summer’s European Championship. The ex-Arsenal star said during an appearance on : “We've seen the good results [Spain] have had, without doubt, in the group phase. In terms of technique, they might be better than us. But they're small in terms of height, and they're inexperienced. They're a team of kids. They have very young players. They don't have much international experience.”

AdvertisementWHAT YAMAL SAID

Spain only have seven players under the age of 25 in their squad, including 16-year-old Barcelona wonderkid Yamal. The record-breaking youngster told reporters when being made aware of Lehmann’s “kids” claim: “Well, we’ve already said that all these things help us to come out more motivated. In the end, what is he going to say? He is German, he is going to want to help his national team but, well, it will be seen on the pitch that we will show whether we are small and inexperienced.”

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lehmann’s comments have not been well received in the Germany camp, with World Cup winner Toni Kroos – who is preparing to head into retirement – saying of his fellow countryman: “Lehmann does not represent us. He always has a different opinion than others. They have shown that they have players with experience: [Alvaro] Morata, Rodri, Nacho, [Dani] Carvajal. It’s not true what he says, we expect a very top Spain team. They play very well, but so do we. I am looking forward to a beautiful game.”

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WHAT NEXT?

Spain are set to lock horns with Germany in a heavyweight quarter-final clash on Friday. Said contest would have been a fitting final, given the performances that both sides have put in so far, but only one will make it through to the last four and a showdown with either France or Portugal.

Surendran Chandramohan and Selladore Vijayakumar play the lead in two-run win

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Dubai18-Oct-2019If anyone thought Singapore’s victory over Zimbabwe last month was a one-off shocker, it wasn’t, as Scotland found out the hard way in the opening match of the men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. The defending co-champions tripped at the final hurdle on the day in Dubai, unable to score eight off the last over as Singapore captain Amjad Mahboob bowled a sterling 20th to see his side across by two runs defending 168.Calum MacLeod looked like he was going to take Scotland across the line after sparking a stirring fightback with Tom Sole. Singapore were well ahead of the game with Scotland needing 38 off 19 balls before MacLeod ended the 17th with a six over midwicket and Sole started the 18th sweeping Tim David’s offspin twice through the gap at square leg and deep midwicket for fours. With 24 needed off 16, Scotland continued to pick off twos at will across the next two overs, only suffering a brief hiccup when Tim David ran out Sole with an athletic stop off his own bowling to end the 18th.Safyaan Sharif was on strike to start the 20th but Mahboob bowled a dot and a single to start off the frame. MacLeod then just couldn’t get enough power to clear David at deep midwicket, falling for 44. After a two by Sharif took it down to five off two balls, he chipped in the air towards David once again, and the fielder covered 20 yards running left before pulling off a sensational diving catch. It meant Josh Davey was on strike needing four to tie and force a super over or six to win. But he scuffed a slog along the ground to David at deep midwicket for two to end the match.The pressure had been building earlier in the chase, though, thanks to Selladore Vijayakumar’s miserly offspin. His spell of 3 for 16 in four overs neutralised the roaring start by George Munsey, who reverse-swept left-arm spinner Vinoth Baskaran at will in the Powerplay for a series of fours and sixes over backward point. But the innings lost momentum after Munsey drove to long-on for 46 and the other batsmen struggled to get going the rest of the way.Earlier, Singapore’s fighting total came as a result of two contrasting knocks. They had lost two wickets in the first seven balls after being sent in, including the dangerous David for just 1, bowled by Sharif. But Aritra Dutta entered at No. 4 and counter-attacked with a streaky knock, including two top-edged sixes over fine leg, before pulling a third over deep square-leg off a free hit after an Alasdair Evans no-ball.Dutta’s 32 off 15 balls allowed Surendran Chandramohan to recover from a slow start. Having been 6 off 21 balls, Chandramohan eventually reached his half-century off 53 deliveries to give Singapore a fighting chance. Janak Prakash’s late cameo of 20 off 11 and a key six in the last over by Navin Param during his 13 not out off seven balls ensured Singapore had just enough to defend in the end.

Glasgow Rangers missed the chance to return to the top of the Premiership table on Sunday as their clash against Dundee was postponed due to a heavily waterlogged pitch.

This means that the Ibrox side trail Celtic by one point heading into the international break, although they do have a game in hand.

Perhaps the postponement was a blessing in disguise for Philippe Clement and his men, as the hectic schedule has clearly taken its toll on the players recently, with several looking leggy during the previous two matches.

The Belgian manager has had to utilise the full depth of his playing squad in recent weeks and this has seen some exciting opportunities go to youngsters who are looking to take the next step.

Cole McKinnon is a fine example. The midfielder made his European debut for the Gers against Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 clash, before gaining more senior minutes against Hibs in the Scottish Cup just a few days later.

Combine this with Ross McCausland making his mark in the team, and it feels like Clement is focusing big on unearthing youngsters who can make an impact.

One player who has yet to have a chance under the 49-year-old is Alex Lowry, as the Scot is one of the most talented academy players at Ibrox.

Alex Lowry could be Rangers’ next Barry Ferguson

Every young midfielder who begins to show promise in the academy is touted as the ‘next Barry Ferguson’ when, in reality, he was a once-in-a-generation type of talent.

Lowry is special, however, and if he can get over his injury issues that have hampered his growth over the previous 12 months, he could certainly force his way back into the senior side.

Ferguson made his debut for the Light Blues on the final day of the 1996/97 campaign under the late great Walter Smith, before becoming an established member of the squad following the appointment of Dick Advocaat in 1998.

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Under the Dutchman, Ferguson would become the youngest ever player to captain the club aged just 22 and helped the Gers retain their position as top dogs in Scotland.

Due to financial issues, the Scot was sold to Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2003 for a fee of £7.5m, yet he didn’t last long in England, returning to his beloved Rangers in January 2005.

The former Scotland international stayed until 2009 before leaving the Gers for the last time. Overall, he made 428 appearances for the club, scoring 61 goals and winning 15 major honours.

Ferguson typically operated in the centre of the midfield but was known for his bursts forward into the opposition box and his ability to dictate the play with a sublime passing range.

Lowry is a more attacking-minded midfielder but has shown similar skills to that of Ferguson during his appearances for the Light Blues, and he was sent out on loan to Hearts at the start of the season to gain some much-needed senior game time

Alex Lowry’s statistics at Hearts

At the Gorgie outfit, Lowry made a total of 17 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and registering four assists as he looked to prove to his parent club that he could cut it in the Premiership on a regular basis.

The 20-year-old showed plenty of promise during his loan spell in Edinburgh, especially in the top flight. Not only did he make 12 appearances in the competition, but the midfielder created one big chance, averaged 1.8 key passes per game, succeeded with 1.4 dribbles along with taking 1.6 shots per match as he provided an extra attacking outlet for the club.

He was expected to remain at Hearts until the end of the campaign, but was recalled by Clement in January with ambitions of finding him another temporary move.

It soon transpired that Lowry was injured upon his return, however, ruling him out for six to eight weeks.

Since returning to Glasgow, he has yet to feature as the injury looks set to keep him out for a while longer.

Alex Lowry’s Rangers statistics

After impressing in the academy, Lowry was named on the bench for the Scottish Cup clash against Stirling Albion in January 2022 as Giovanni van Bronckhorst sought to give opportunities to a few players.

When Ianis Hagi suffered a season-ending injury after just 15 minutes, it was Lowry’s chance to shine, and he emerged from the bench to make his debut.

It didn’t take him long to announce himself to the Ibrox faithful, scoring the opening goal of the game shortly after coming on with a cool finish, and it looked as though the Gers had a teen sensation ready to burst through.

He made another six appearances for the first team during the remainder of that season, scoring another goal and registering an assist, but that’s as good as it has gotten for him at Rangers.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Hailed as “gallus” by Scottish coach Andy Goldie, Lowry started just one game for the Light Blues during the 2022/23 campaign as injury issues derailed what should have been a breakthrough season.

The loan spell at Hearts was meant to give him a new-found lease of life, but returning with an injury proves that he may need to wait a while longer before he can impress Clement.

There is no doubting his talent, and Ferguson also took a while to make it from wonderful teenager to established regular, but next season feels like it could be a last chance saloon for the Scot.

McCausland and McKinnon have proven this term that the Belgian manager will give chances to youngsters who are good enough, and there is a case to say that Lowry is more talented than both of them.

If he can recover between now and May while embarking on a productive pre-season, Lowry may force his way into the first-team squad next season.

Jude Bellingham gained the most Instagram followers en route to Euro 2024 final with Harry Kane barely scraping into the top 10.

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England in Euro 2024 finalEnglish players' popularity soars on InstagramBellingham gets the maximum attentionWHAT HAPPENED?

After a few lacklustre group stage performances, the Three Lions are finally beginning to roar in Germany. They scripted a terrific comeback against the Netherlands in the semi-final, thanks to an elegant 90th-minute finish from Ollie Watkins, and are now set to face a marauding Spanish side in the summit clash.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Although the English players are cautious after the Wembley heartbreak to Italy three years ago, the British fans are whipping up the frenzy both on the streets and on social media. This surge in online activity is particularly evident on Instagram, where several English players have seen their follower counts skyrocket during the tournament.

DID YOU KNOW?

According toLive Football Tickets, leading the charge on Instagram is Bellingham, who has emerged as a fan favourite. Since his inclusion in England's final 26-man squad for Euro 2024, Bellingham's follower count has exploded, increasing by an astonishing 1.6 million. Phil Foden ranks second in follower growth during the tournament. The Manchester City midfielder has gained an impressive 414,000 new followers over the past 30 days. Cole Palmer has also enjoyed a substantial boost in his Instagram following as the young forward has seen his followers increase by 393,000. Kobbie Mainoo and Saka are in the fourth and fifth spot, respectively with an increase of 2333,000 and 171,000 followers. While many of his teammates have seen significant increases in their social media following, England captain Kane has experienced a more modest growth with just 103,860 new followers during the tournament, placing him in the tenth spot.

England Players With The Biggest Influx of New Followers 

RankNameIncrease in last 30 days1Jude Bellingham1,603,0802Phil Foden414,9003Cole Palmer393,0304Kobbie Mainoo233,5205Bukayo Saka171,4506Trent Alexander-Arnold146,2207Ivan Toney135,3608Declan Rice115,5309Eberechi Eze106,86010Harry Kane103,860.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

As England prepare to face Spain in the Euro 2024 final, the anticipation continues to build. The team is keen to avoid a repeat of their 2021 Wembley heartbreak against Italy, and their recent form suggests they are well-equipped to challenge the Spanish side in Berlin on Sunday.

Dean Jones, their head coach for the past four seasons, has been sacked

Umar Farooq07-Nov-2019Dean Jones has confirmed that he has been sacked by Islamabad United as head coach, with former captain Misbah-ul-Haq all but having replaced him. The signing of Misbah – who is also Pakistan’s head coach and chief selector – has led to the five other PSL franchises raising objections, bringing up the issue of a potential conflict of interest given his multiple roles.Jones confirmed his sacking via a video message on Twitter, where he expressed his disappointment while also recalling his stint with the team, with whom he won two titles. It is understood, however, that his removal had been on the cards for more than a year and ESPNcricinfo had reported earlier that Misbah was expected to take over.

He coached them to the Pakistan Super League title twice in four seasons, but Islamabad United have decided to part ways with head coach Dean Jones.

( @ProfDeano) pic.twitter.com/jtZQ1pBntA

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 6, 2019

Islamabad are yet to officially announce Misbah’s appointment, but they have had him on board weeks before he signed up for the Pakistan job. It is also understood that the PCB, who had earlier promised to form a policy against holding dual jobs in the same set-up, had agreed to Misbah having multiple jobs within the same organisation.The PCB is now facing significant pressure from the other franchises to discuss the issue. One of the possible solutions floated is to bar Misbah from participating in the selection process on the PSL draft day. Franchises have also objected Misbah’s presence in the dressing room as head coach with Islamabad.The PCB’s chief executive officer Wasim Khan had earlier contended that allowing Misbah to coach at the PSL would ultimately be to “Pakistan’s benefit”. It is also understood that during his time in PSL he will not get a salary from the PCB for his role with the Pakistan national team.Last year, the PCB, under Mani, had removed chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq from the PSL player draft committee because of a potential conflict of interest since he was involved in a talent-hunt programme run by one of the tournament’s franchises, Lahore Qalandars. Tauseef Ahmed, who was part of the national selection committee while also serving as Islamabad United’s spin coach, was also left out of the PSL draft committee.The dual-role issue had also cropped up with former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur, who was also head coach at Karachi Kings for three of his four years in the national job. Similarly, Azhar Mahmood was bowling coach of Pakistan as well as Karachi Kings. The contract signed by them with the PCB originally allowed them to take up dual roles but after Mani took charge as PCB chairman, he came down against it. Arthur, however, has now been removed from the role by Karachi Kings.Misbah’s previous stint with Islamabad had ended on a bad note after he backtracked on his agreement to be their mentor for the 2019 edition. He was picked as a player instead and went on to play for Peshawar Zalmi. Before changing his decision, Misbah reportedly offered Islamabad his services as a player but the franchise was not keen to have him in that role.